Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  “I’m not hurt on the outside.” I gave him a kiss, trying not to put any pressure on his body. He still looked good, all wrapped up.

  “Where is Money? Is Tae and Luvly okay? Ma told me Sap was all right. I want to go see her.”

  “Tae wasn’t hurt, but Trinket was shot in the leg.” Chinoe took in a deep breath. “But she’s all right baby. And Money is going into surgery in about two minutes.”

  “And Luvly, how is the baby?” Mrs. Starr looked me in the eyes. She looked sad and confused. I was trying to read her mind. But I didn’t know how to tell him about Luvly.

  “Please, lay back, Chocolate.” Knock. Knock. “Come in,” Mrs. Starr said.

  Maynea walked in, holding M&M’s hand. Mrs. Starr’s expression was that of joy and thanks for interrupting us telling Chinoe the truth.

  “Maynea, how are you?” They hugged, “Who is this little princess?”

  Maynea picked M&M up and put her on her hip. “M&M, say hello to everyone.”

  “Hi.” She buried her head into her mother’s neck.

  Whispering to Mrs. Starr, “How is Chocolate, Seal?”

  “He’s going to be all right. He’s strong just like Money.” Mrs. Starr winked at Maynea.

  “Maynea?”

  “Yes, Chi-Chi. It’s me, boo.”

  She went over to his bed with Malaney on her hip. “This is M&M.”

  “I would swear this was Sap. Or maybe it’s all the medication. Have you seen her yet?”

  “Only through the window, the doctors were in there.”

  “Well, let me get back up stairs with her. I need to speak with the doctors,” Mrs. Starr said as she kissed Chinoe.

  “I’m going too. I want to meet my grandbaby.”

  As they walked out of the room, Chinoe’s father stuck his head in the door, “Hey there, Brandie.” He gave me a hug and grabbed his son’s hand. “Glad to see you up, boy. You had us all scared.”

  “Old man . . . you know I’m a soldier.” Chinoe’s voice was hoarse.

  “I just wanted to make sure you were up and all right. I’ma go up here and see Money before he go into surgery.”

  “All right, Pop.” Chinoe sat all the way up in the bed trying to clear his throat.

  “You thirsty, baby?”

  “A little. Now what did you say about Luvly and the baby.”

  My eyes became watery and I couldn’t look him in the eyes. So I called the nurse to the room to buy some more time. “Look at all your flowers and gifts.”

  “Who sent all this stuff?”

  “Fans and family.”

  The door squeaked, “Hey, Chinoe. How you doing?” Caymin walked to the other side of the bed.

  “I’m cool.” He looked me in the eyes. “Where is Luvly, Brandie?”

  I held back my tears and tried to push it out of my mouth, “She, she umm . . . she . . . passed a few hours ago.”

  Slow hard tears dropped out of his eyes, “Naw. Stop playing.”

  I was shaking my head from side to side. “No, she’s gone, baby.”

  “Oh, Brandie, why? That was my dawg. My baby. It’s always been me, her, Money and Tae.” Saliva ran out of his mouth uncontrollably, “I’m going to kill that muthafucka.” He started moving hysterically. Tossing and turning, he screamed “Whyyyyyyyy?” so loud that the nurses finally ran into the room. His monitor started beeping.

  More nurses pushed past me and Caymin. “Excuse me, ma’am. We need to get to him.” “Somebody get them outta here.”

  Chinoe’s eyes rolled back into his head. “He’s going into shock. Page the doctor,” one of the nurses said.

  I covered my mouth in shock. “What’s happening?” I screamed. “Is he ok?”

  “No, he’s having a seizure.” I let out a loud scream. “Get them outta here, now!” one of the nurses shouted.

  * * *

  Two hours later, everyone was calm. Chinoe was stable and Luvly’s parents were due in the next hour.

  Cartel had left and told me to give call him. But Caymin was still by my side. “Girl you can go home and get some rest.” I lazily told her.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.” She hugged me and left.

  Mrs. Starr was still up stairs with Sap. Mr. Starr was in the chair opposite mine. “Brandie, why don’t you go home and get a hot bath and some clean clothes? Bring everybody something back to eat.” He pulled out his wallet.

  “Oh, no. No money. I got it. Any requests?”

  “Popeye’s will be good.”

  “Anything in particular?”

  “White meat for Seal, and sweet tea for both of us. Since we got here by ambulance, see if Maynea will let you use her car. “

  “Okay.

  Chinoe was resting, so I kissed him on the forehead.

  A short chocolate sister with thick, shoulder-length hair walked past me as I walked out. Probably from the agency or some family I hadn’t met. I headed to Money’s room to see if Maynea would let me use her car.

  “Excuse me, Maynea. Did you drive here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there anyway you will let me, a stranger, use your car to go home and take a shower.”

  “Sure. I’ll take you. M&M needs to lay down, and I’m starving.”

  Taeko met us at the door. “How was his surgery?”

  “He’s out of the woods.”

  “Good.” Taeko let go of a deep breath.

  “And your baby?”

  “She’s doing fine. Maynea, I’m glad you here.” They embraced, Taeko rubbing up and down Maynea’s back.

  “We are about to go get something to eat. Would you and Joi like me to bring something back?”

  “Yeah, something for Joi, she hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”

  Me and Maynea headed to my house.

  Chapter Seventy-Nine

  Brandie

  Pulling into the driveway, Maynea’s mouth dropped open. “This is your home?”

  “Yes.”

  “Girl, what the hell did you do—rob a bank?”

  “No, pockets.” We both laughed. “I was a dancer and the house was a gift.”

  “From a sugar daddy?”

  “A friend.”

  “Umm, hmm, girl. I’m not stupid. Friends buy you cards and flowers, not a damn castle.”

  We walked through the door and she got over excited. “This is some beautiful furniture. That is gorgeous.” She pointed to the curio full of teddy bears. I’m gone keep my eye on her and my things. They both might come up missing. “Very expensive taste I see. How long have you and Chinoe been together?”

  “Physically seven months. Mentally, a lifetime.”

  “What do you mean mentally?”

  “I use to think about Chinoe ever since I saw his picture on his mother’s desk in school.”

  “Oh, you were in homebound school? Little smart ass, hunh?”

  “Yeah. And when he graduated, he saw me in the mall and has been in love every since. He didn’t get a chance to talk to me though. Not until the night of Sap’s birthday party.”

  “That little girl looks like she could be mine.” Maynea had tears in her eyes. “I don’t think that little boy is going to make it though. His lung collapsed.” She wiped her tears. “Did you know Luvly?”

  Tears filled my eyes, “Yes, we had gotten real close over these past few months.” The hurt punched me in the soul.

  “Yeah. When I used to come in and out of town, she would be my comforter, no matter how much wrong I did. Have you seen her father?”

  “No.”

  “Umm Um, he is fine, Italian, with that mocha skin and big curly hair. We dated once.”

  “When?”

  “When Luvly’s mother was pregnant with her. Her or the boys don’t know about that though.” Maynea winked and put her finger up to her lips.

  “Oh.”

  “I used to be wild, Brandie. On drugs, selling my ass. Everything was an open door for me. Despite my mother and father being great
parents, I was just a bad child. But I’m straight now. My life is in order. I just want my family back.” She hugged her body as if it were her family.

  “Money and Malaney have different fathers, but I am their mother, damn it! Money’s father has always been around him, even though he doesn’t know him as his father. He’s so proud of Money. So am I.

  “I have a young daughter now, I can’t have my nose open and still raise her. And those babies have lost their mother. But I’m young enough to help raise them. I won’t leave their side again.”

  She was very open and honest. I guess that could be taken as good and bad. “How old are you, Maynea? You look good—around my age.”

  “I’ve been blessed. The drugs didn’t destroy my looks. I’m thirty-eight.”

  Damn, she had Money young.

  “Yeahhhhh, I was extremely young when I had Money. Pregnant at thirteen, fourteen when I gave birth.”

  My coochie was hurting for her. “You want something to drink?”

  “Yep.”

  “I don’t know what’s in here. I’ve been at Chinoe’s for about two months straight.”

  “Water is fine. Can I lay her down?”

  “There’s a bedroom around the corner to the left.”

  The mail was piled up, bills that I’d been neglecting. The one piece that caught my eye was a huge bright pink envelope with silver writing. FRAGILE was posted on the front.

  “So you and Chi-Chi are serious?”

  “Yes. We’ve had our share of problems, but we’re working them out.” I gave her a beauty queen smile.

  “You are a pretty girl. Rare to see a true beauty.”

  I smiled at her and continued to open the package marked FRAGILE.

  Oh, hell Naw! It was pictures of Chinoe naked. I turned them over to see if they had a name on them, where they were taken, or any evidence that this was not my man.

  The dates on them were when he was in New York. A letter dropped out of the envelope.

  I didn’t want to be rude to Maynea and show my natural ass, so I slid the package into a drawer. I pinched myself and took in a deep breath. I opened the drawer one more time hoping all of sure they were real. And yep, there they were.

  I was puzzled. There was no return address. And my last name, nor my address were on the envelope. So who ever delivered it came to my house. Who?

  “So Chinoe is a super model now?”

  I slid the drawer close. “Yep, he’s a big time model now.” Obviously, he posed nude for somebody.

  “I always knew these boys would make something out of themselves. Just, I wasn’t there to see it with my own eyes. That bothers me so much. Shidd, them boys got mo’ money than my Daddy ever won or seen. “

  I was listening to her, but my mind was focused on the envelope of pictures. It was eating me alive. What the hell has Chinoe done?

  Chapter Eighty

  Chocolate

  I was trying to calculate everything that happened, but nothing added up.

  Luvly was gone and Money was fighting for his life. It was all my fault! I saw Diamond standing at that door. I knew he was up to no good, but I was too interested in saving my own ass. I could have saved all of us, but being selfish cost me more than I ever expected to lose.

  I opened my eyes to another nightmare. “What are you doing here?” My dad was sitting behind the curtain taking a nap. I hoped he didn’t wake up and hear me get rude.

  With tears streaming down her face, “I heard about what happened, on the news. I’m sorry about Luvly. Are you okay?” She reached for my hand, but I snatched it away.

  “Yeah, you’ve said your piece so go.”

  “I’m sorry for being such a bitch. But I was and still am in love with you. I couldn’t help myself. And to be honest if I had to do it all over again, I probably would.”

  The look in her eyes was the same look Nikki had the night of graduation.

  “Thanks for the apology, but it’s not accepted.” She was the reason I neglected seeing about Diamond.

  “But, Chinoe, what did you expect me to do? Take what you told me in New York and then forget it once we got back to Atlanta. Love doesn’t just die when you want it to. If that is the case, I would be in Italy still. I know you never loved me but the pretending was nice. I never thought I would be standing in front of a man spilling my guts to him.” She kneeled down beside my bed. Her teary eyes glued to my face. She looked helpless and innocent. No makeup, hair pulled back. “Tell me that you really love Brandie and I will leave. Tell me those three nights in New York meant nothing. I can’t say that I won’t keep trying.”

  “I do love her. I want her to be my wife, be the mother of my kids, want to grow old with her. I regret New York.” She put her head down on my hand, “I was hurting and wanted to drown, and you happen to be the available alcohol. I used you, and that was wrong.”

  Crying, she pulled herself to her feet, “Bye, Chinoe. I’m not going to stop until you are mine.”

  I watched her leave out the door, wishing it was my life she was walking out of.

  “Son, don’t fall into your old man’s past. Let these women know the truth in the beginning. Leading them on only makes matters worse.”

  “I know, Pops, but I slipped. I’m man enough to admit I’ve made a bad situation worse.”

  “I’m not the one you need to admit it to. Son, I’m about to tell you something that I think you’re old enough to know. A long time ago I met your mother after I had been involved with another girl. I knew that I didn’t want to have a long-term relationship with this girl, but she was fine and setting it out. She was young and naive. But so was I. I screwed her without love or protection. That’s why I never pressured you to have sex. I wanted you to hold your manhood until you found a worthy woman to share it with.

  After I slept with this girl in April, one week later, I met the woman of my dreams. Seal was out of sight. The baddest thing I’d ever seen.”

  I had to admit, my mom was bad. She was good-looking as a young woman. And now she looks even better.

  “We started dating and we fell in love. I was in love the first day I saw her. Five months later your mother was pregnant. We were young but very much in love. When this other women found out, she started claiming me daddy to her child. When I calculated the days and months, it was possible. She had her baby January 1st and your mother had you June 5th. I kept this a secret for four years. But when I moved your mother to Atlanta, there was no more hiding it. The other woman was hoeing, strung out on drugs and I felt like it was because of me. She had my son, but her parents had money so I stayed in the background of his life, always there, but not letting my identity be known.”

  “So . . . I have a brother?” I asked confused, angry.

  “Yes, you do; a best friend and a biological brother. Your mother and I were never able to get over that secret. We stayed together despite what I’d done, for you. And I still loved Seal, but she couldn’t trust me, and a lot of the time I couldn’t trust myself.”

  “Where is my brother now? What’s his name?” I asked intensly.

  “Money Loane.”

  “What, Money? Money? My mother knew and never told me? Why? Goddamn ya’ll!” My fist hit the bed. My father sat back and let me vent. He knew that the news caught me off guard. “All this time, that’s why we’ve been in each others life for . . .” Tears got caught in my throat, like a sour pickle.

  “Never wanted you separated.”

  My dad hugged me with no arm between us. Heart to heart.

  “Sitting in this hospital seeing both my boys and my grandbaby suffering, I’m losing my mind. Running from room to room, not knowing if ya’ll was going to make it. I made up my mind that today was the day that both of ya’ll would know the truth . . .”

  Maybe that’s why I always felt so close to Money. I closed my eyes and tried to think myself back at the party having fun, celebrating the new millennium and Money’s birthday. But when I opened my eyes, I was still in t
he damn hospital bed with tubes running all through my body. My dad was still sitting in front of me looking sad, disappointed in himself.

  I needed Brandie by my side. I wanted to be laying next to her, rubbing her silky hair, telling her how much she meant to me and how wonderful I was going to make our life.

  Chapter Eighty-One

  The Resting of Luvly Mancini

  A loving daughter, caring mother, trusting friend, and an adoring lover lay in a yellow marble, and platinum casket that sat high above the pews. Closed and concealed from the world, her body never being viewed by her loved ones. Several pictures of her from first born to a sixty-inch picture from the night of her departure surrounded the casket. Yellow, purple, and white flowers accent the heavenly site.

  * * *

  Money slumped lifelessly in the front pew with a wet face, holding on to his daughter for dear life. She was the only sanity he had left. Why Luvly, his first love, his one and only true love, why not him? Why did her mother and father have a closed casket? They wouldn’t even let him see his baby one last time.

  Stop playing, Luvly. Walk yo’ silly ass around the corner or jump out of the casket and yell “surprise.” Come on now . . . stop runnin’ game! Oh, baby . . . what am . . . what am I going to do without you? There is no substitute. You are my wife . . . my wife . . . ahhhh, mannnnn.

  Money jumped out of his seat, almost dropping Sap and ran to Luvly’s casket, “Baby, I’m sorry . . . please, come back,” He beat on the casket, making it rock. “I’m gone kill that muthafucka. I swear on everything, he is dead!

  “Ahhhhh, Luvlyyyyy, come backkkkkkk!”

  Chocolate and Taeko tried to pull him back, while everyone in the church stood and gaped at the star studded event. Only when Moe kneeled down beside him and gently patted him on the back, whispered something in his ear, did Money release the casket and return to his seat.

  “Just come back to me love. No matter how mad you made me, got on my nerves and shitted on my heart, I never wished anything bad to happen to you. Luvly, I can’t eat . . . I can’t sleep, it’s so hard to swallow. There is a big lump in my throat and it won’t go down. It’s so hard to breathe, baby, please come back to me, I can’t breathe!”