Love- a Forgotten Art

by Ivy Symone

  I scoff with a chuckle, “I guess you and your clowns do?”

  “You sho do got a lot of fuckin’ mouth—” Alejandro starts

  Ammo roars, “Who the fuck you talkin’ to? That’s still my sister and you ain’t finna talk to her crazy, my nigga.”

  “Hey!” Walt bellows. “Enough! There’s no need for this foolishness. We’re all working as a team here.”

  “What team?” I ask.

  “Dasani,” Walt sighs.

  Natalia raises her hand to speak.

  “This isn’t class, Nat,” Babie remarks.

  Natalia rolls her eyes but keep her focus on Walt. “As I was saying, Mother Pearl can’t take risks like what you’re asking of Deuce.”

  Ignoring Natalia’s statements, Walt continues to wear a smug smirk and asks, “How’s your granny doing these days anyway?”

  “She’s doing good,” Natalia answers cutting her eyes toward Karin, but continuing to speak to Walt. “She’s your mother-in-law; reach out to her sometime.”

  Walt chuckles, “Oh no, that woman can’t stand me.”

  Natalia looks at Karin. “Auntie, don’t be a stranger either.”

  Karin casually picks at her manicured nails and mumble, “I’ll get around to it.”

  My mama is a trip. It’s been years since she has had any type of relationship with her family. And it’s all because of the life she chose to live with Walt. He’ll make his argument and say that he has never made my mama choose between him or her family, but it’s evident in their behavior. Thankfully, her choice to stay away didn’t prevent her from allowing me to still go around. Honestly, I think it was only because it was easier to get rid of me for long periods of time during school breaks so that she could keep up with Walt back in the day.

  I continue with my opposition. “Walt, as I was saying, the way I run things, and have been doing so for the past two years with much success and class, I will not allow you to ruin Mother Pearl’s reputation by doing any of that illegal shit. That’s over with for me. I left that kind of shit behind.”

  “Dasani.” My mama calls out sternly, demanding in her tone for my cooperation.

  “Lady, I ain’t tryna hear what you have to say right now,” I spit toward her.

  Walt sighs, and rests his face in his palm as he props his elbow up on the table. “Deuce, why must you be so difficult?”

  Reese speaks up. “She done got beside herself, Daddy. I told you she wasn’t gonna be down.”

  “You shut the fuck up,” I snap.

  “Dasani!” My mama bellows as Reese gives me a threatening glare.

  Ammo snickers followed by one of his signature sniffles. Just looking at his crazed expression, I can tell he has done a few lines of coke right before this meeting.

  Continuing and ignoring Reese, Karin says, “Dasani, just hear your father out.”

  I’m tired of hearing her weak ass speak at this point.

  In all honesty, I would be lying if I say it never crossed my mind that one day Walt would come to me on some bullshit trying to use my legitimate company to move drugs. I knew it was coming. Since I left the streets for a cleaner life, he has been trying to pull me back into this world of his to keep my hands just as dirty as his.

  “Now,” Walt starts, “as I was saying earlier, Queen—” He stops to give the blonde one a lustful wink. She does a little flirty snicker. Karin’s lips get a little tight, but she dares not say a damn thing.

  Walt continues, “Queen and Giselle will get with you sometime this week about the new employees you’ll be hiring from their team. Remember, you’re still running the show; so, I’m sure you will tell them how you’d want to do things.”

  “Walt,” Alejandro interjected. “Make sure she understands we need to have access to the warehouse as well to make sure operations are running smoothly.”

  I’m immediately incensed. “Y’all ain’t having access to shit.”

  Alejandro sucks his teeth in frustration. “We can just take our business elsewhere, Walt.”

  “No, no, no,” Walt says emphatically. “Just give me a minute. She’ll come around.”

  I snap, “No, I won’t either. C’mon Nat, fuck this shit.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  I’m bothered as hell when Natalia and I get back in my vehicle. I don’t hesitate to switch gear into drive and peel off. Walt and his proposal got me heated. Why does he think I would for a second entertain the idea of running drugs through my warehouse? My brand is global now. My products sit on the shelves of major store chains. I’ve been recognized by so many organizations and have received several accolades and plaques in my honor. No way am I going to jeopardize the name I’ve established for myself.

  “Are you okay?” Natalia asks after five minutes of driving in silence.

  “I’m fine,” I mumble.

  “You don’t seem fine.”

  “But I am,” I try to assure her, though I’m not so sure myself.

  “No, you’re not,” she says teasingly. “Deuce, it’s okay not to be fine. I mean, Mother Pearl ain’t my company, but I’m mad for you. Niggas always wanna fuck shit up. And your mama…I can’t believe her snooty ass. I swear sometimes I can’t tell that my granny even have her as a daughter.”

  “Yeah, that’s Karin for you,” I say warily. Honestly, I admit, “Nat, but it’s not just them that’s bothering me though.”

  “It’s you and Cam?”

  Cam is my girl. We’ve been together almost a year. She’s spoiled and got a smart-ass mouth on her, but I helped to make her that way. To keep her happy, I give her just about anything she wants. Well, I used to. In practicing better business habits, I’m learning to apply the same discipline to my personal spending. Cam hasn’t been a big fan of my new financial approach and that’s the reason for our recent arguments.

  I shake my head. “Naw, me and her straight. Long as she shut the fuck up and know her place.”

  “Whatever,” Natalia laughs. “You swear you be acting all hard and shit, but as soon as that big-headed ass hoe get to whining, you turn into a soft ass bitch.”

  It’s no secret that my cousin hates Cam. Hell, a lot of people can’t tolerate her, but like Natalia says, I have a soft spot for her. Cam only wilds out because she ain’t never experienced self-love. She’s hurting over her failures and lack of affection and support from her parents. She has a daddy that ain’t never been in her life but wants to pass judgment on her life choices. He disapproves of her bisexuality, and every chance he gets, he reminds her that she’s going to hell. I’ve never met the man before, but whenever I see him, I’ma jab his ass in the throat. Her mother acts as her peer and competitor rather than being her parent. My girl is suffering, and I try my best to replace what she seeks in them.

  Speaking of Cam, her number pops up on my display. I answer through Car Play. “What’s up, bae?”

  “Where you at?” she asks.

  Natalia releases a frustrated breath and pretends to be occupied by her phone.

  “I’m in Citrine Valley right now. I’m on my way home. What’s up?”

  “I need some money.”

  Natalia dramatically turn her head to stare at me. I ignore her. I ask, “What for?”

  “I’m tryna get something new to wear for tonight. Tyesha want me to go to this party with her.”

  Now I’m annoyed. “What party?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What the fuck you mean you don’t know? We ain’t seen each other in three days. I’m back in the city and you wanna be out all night.”

  “Who said I’ma be out all night? Damn, I have been home with the kids those whole three days too. I need to get out the house.”

  “That’s why I asked you to come with me to Gemsville,” I state.

  She scoffs. “Don’t nobody wanna attend one of them boring ass bougie luncheons and listen to you say the same shit to a bunch of googly-eyed bitches.”

  Natalia mouths, “Hang up!”

  Truth i
s, I’m glad she wants to go out tonight. I’m trying to embrace my “hot girl summer” side too. This feminine shit is starting to feel so natural on me.

  I concede. “How much you need?”

  Natalia shakes her head at me. She mouths, “You bet not.”

  I can hear Cam smiling now. “About twenty-five.”

  “Twenty-five!” I exclaim.

  “I’m going to Lovenia’s boutique. It’s a dress down there I want. And I gotta get the shoes and accessories too bae,” she explains innocently.

  “Cam, you better take your ass to Forever 21 or some shit.”

  She laughs.

  Natalia adds, “Or to Target.”

  “Who said that?” Cam asks.

  “Nobody,” I try to say, but Natalia talks over me.

  “Bitch, you know who said it,” Natalia says coldly.

  “Fuck you, hoe,” Cam spats. “Bae, getcho cousin. She know she ain’t even supposed to talk to me.”

  “She ain’t gotta get—”

  “Y’all stop.” I place a calming hand on Natalia’s thigh and ask with my eyes for her to stop. Natalia huffs and turn her attention back to her phone.

  “Bae, just send the money to my account,” Cam says before hanging up.

  I turn to Natalia. “Why you always do that?”

  “I can’t stand that bitch!”

  “But you know that’s my girl. I can’t have my two favorite people at each other’s heads like that, Nat. You know I hate that.”

  “You should tell her that. Cuz, I don’t even know why you still fuck with that hoe. Nobody likes her.”

  “She’s not that bad.”

  “The hell you say, cuz. And I bet her thottin’ ass tryna get to that party tonight.”

  “What party?”

  “The party her baby daddy gon be at.”

  “Her baby daddy? Ari’s daddy? He’s returned to Jewel City?” My insecurities immediately switch on.

  “He just touched down; him and his team. Box told me they throwing some elite party tonight in honor of them.”

  My blood begins to boil as my foot press down on the gas pedal. This hoe thinks she slick. I put up with a lot of shit coming from Cam, but she ain’t about to play me for a fool.

  When talking about her baby daddy, she never really goes into details about him. She always refers to him as “my baby daddy” with a bad taste in her mouth whenever she did speak about him. She carries on as if she hates him, but I always sense there’s more she isn’t telling me. When he calls, she always walks out of hearing range. I see the smiles on her face and hear the little giggles. Whenever I ask her if there’s still any feelings, she denies them.

  “Is Box going to this party?” I ask.

  “Yeah, he was letting me know.”

  “Are you going?”

  She shakes her head. “I just wanna get home and chill.”

  “You ain’t tryna spy on Box?” I tease.

  “Fuck Box with his box head ass,” she chuckles. “The nigga can run me my money and kick rocks.”

  I shake my head. “You and him crack me up.”

  My cousin is independent and a no-nonsense type of woman. She doesn’t do repeat offenders. She’ll mess around in the sheets with them, but for the most part, she keeps her heart guarded. She has lost her passion for finding love. She thinks all men are dogs and they can’t be trusted. She’ll entertain them for a few seconds, and then they have to go. And it’s a shame too because all of my niggas be wanting to holler at her. Natalia is gorgeous. Tall, thick thighs, big ass, small waist, and barks and bites like a pit.

  Box is the only man I know that keeps trying with her, and he goes back just to get his head bitten off. They co-parent their five-year-old son, but Box has other baby mamas and kids. Natalia can’t tolerate the drama that comes with that.

  “You feel like going somewhere with me tonight?” I propose.

  “Where you going?”

  “Just out,” I say. I’m not ready to tell her about my encounter with Prime. I want to point him out to her first, then see what she says. Depending on her response, I may divulge my experience and my dilemma.

  Right now, I need to confront Cam about her true intentions.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As soon as Natalia and I step into my place, I can tell Cam ain’t done a damn thing as far as cleaning and have let her daughter run amok. Ari’s dolls and her tricycle are amongst my posh décor in the rotunda. Toilet paper trails out of the powder room, and the light is on with no one in sight.

  I quickly lift the toilet paper from the floor and turn the light off. I lead the way down the hall on the left that spills into the kitchen and family room. I’m not surprised by the condition of this area.

  “She ain’t worth shit,” Natalia murmurs as she begins tidying up the kitchen.

  I let out a frustrated groan. “I’ll be back.”

  I backtrack across the rotunda toward the other end of the hall where my bedroom is. Just like the kitchen and family room, it’s a natural disaster.

  I can hear her moving about in the bathroom. I slowly approach. She’s finger combing her hair. The vanity is cluttered with products, hair tools, and makeup.

  She looks at me through my reflection in the mirror and smile. “Hey bae!”

  I’m a little salty so she doesn’t get a reciprocated greeting. Instead I ask, “When were you going to tell me your baby daddy was in Jewel City?”

  She lowers her arms and her smile disappears. “Who cares that he’s here?”

  “Cam, don’t try to psych me out, okay. I know you tryna get to some lil party they having tonight where he’ll be.”

  Defensively, she snaps, “There you go accusing me. How come you don’t trust me, Deuce?”

  “I try to but you’re always on some bullshit!”

  “But this ain’t that. Bae, I don’t care about no damn P. I ain’t talked to that nigga in forever.”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “See how quick you lie? You just talked to his ass last week.”

  “He talked to Ari,” she counters.

  “You talked to him too.”

  She tries to walk up on me and place her arms around me. I step back out of her reach.

  She lets out a surrendering sigh. “C’mon bae, don’t be like that. I ain’t thinking about that nigga. I’m going somewhere with Tyesha tonight.”

  “You know I’ll know, right? It’ll get back to me that you were there.”

  “I know that, Deuce. I ain’t stupid. So why would I risk some shit like that?”

  This time I let her wrap her arms around me. I can smell the essential oils in the products from my hair line coming from her hair. It’s a light and clean aroma. She uses the hell out of all of the products and makeup, but she hardly ever comes to any functions. She always says that it’s my thing and she doesn’t want to interfere. I remind her that it’s our thing and I want her there. Natalia thinks she’s jealous of my success. I don’t see it. I mean, why would she be jealous of something that benefits her?

  “Bae, I don’t wanna argue, okay?” She’s being extra sweet and affectionate. She plants a soft kiss on my lips. She pouts and bats her long mink lashes. “I just really wanna get out of the house. You know how the kids exhaust me. I just need a break.”

  I hold her, squeezing her ass in the process. “I know Cam, but don’t make me look stupid.”

  “Never bae,” she smiles.

  And just like that I soften. As long as she’s happy, I’m happy.

  “Is Ari already gone?” I ask. I gesture around. “I hope you plan to clean all this up before you leave.”

  “Milani actually came and got her since she had to come this way. And isn’t Ms. Flora coming tomorrow?” she asks as she returns to tending to her short natural raspberry colored tresses.

  “Yeah she’s coming but that doesn’t mean leave her hours’ worth of work to do,” I gripe picking up a white towel from the floor.

  “Isn’t that what you
pay her for? Cleaning ladies clean.”

  I shake my head as I walk out of the bathroom, and out of our bedroom. I drop the towel off at the laundry room and go into the formal living room to survey if there’s any damages. Living room and dining room seem to have been untouched. I walk on around to the family room and kitchen. Natalia has practically done all of Flora’s work in the kitchen.

  “I don’t see how you can deal with that bitch,” Natalia gripes. She’s helping herself to some sliced fruit and sitting at the breakfast bar. “Is she still here?”

  “Yeah, she’s back there getting ready,” I say and sit next to her.

  “Well, I’m finna go; I don’t even wanna see her or I’ma spazz out on her ass. I’ll see you tonight. Just text me—”

  I interrupt her. “No, I need you to keep riding with me today.”

  “Girl, my car been in this damn garage for almost a week, Deuce.”

  I chuckle. I often have Natalia with me so she usually just parks in my building’s garage while we travel in my vehicle. If I didn’t need her for tonight, she could hop in her own car and take off, but I need her.

  “I know,” I lower my voice. “I might need you to drive home in my car though.”

  Natalia gives me a suspicious look. “Deuce, what’chu up to?”

  I just grin and shake my head.

  Natalia waves me on. “Well, go get your stuff and c’mon before that hoe walks in here.”

  I don’t doubt Natalia will go off, but I’m not trying to grab my clothes in front of Cam. She’ll wonder what I’m up to. Any other time, I’d be comfortable with telling her where I’m going, but not this time. Shit, I’m not even comfortable with myself going where I’m going.

  I get a text alert on my phone. The number isn’t saved in my phone, but I know who it is. I smile as I lift the phone closer to my face.

  “What has you smiling?” Natalia asks as she slurps the juice from a piece of pineapple.

  I shake my head, avoiding answering her. I read the text making sure it’s not in her view.

  I absolutely cannot wait to see you again

  I’m blushing now.

  “Who is that?” Natalia demands to know. She grabs at my phone, but I hold it out of her reach.