by Tina J
“Where’s VJ?”
“He went to check on the house with Brayden and then Virginia.”
“Virginia?” I questioned and ate some bacon off the tray.
“Yea. He’s packing up and moving here.” I swung my body around to face her.
“Really?” She smiled.
“Yea. Do you know he said after this one he wants to get me pregnant again?” I almost choked.
“Talking about, lets get them out the way.” She shook her head.
“Anyway, he has some movers coming here to pack me up.” She was placing things in a tote.
“Pack you up?” I asked and handed her the other tray filled with food. She sat down at the table.
“The reason he went to check on the house is because they were delivering the furniture. He wanted to make sure they put everything in the right room.”
“Damn y’all really about to move in with each other.”
“I know right. I never thought I’d free myself of Freddy. Then VJ comes along and becomes my knight and shining armor. I give him my virginity and now it’s like we’re stuck like glue.”
“I’d say.”
KNOCK! KNOCK! We looked towards the door. She went to answer but I stopped her. She may not be with Freddy, but he still knows about this place.
I opened the door and three men stood there dressed in Cart hart jumpers. I asked for their credentials and stepped out the way as they asked Armonie where the things were she wanted moved. The things from the condo were here too. She pointed and for the next four hours we watched them move her out the hotel and into this humongous house with a big backyard and wrap around porch.
“Damn bitch. I need this bed in my life.” I fell back on the bed that was bigger than a California king.
“I picked this.” She used the small stepping stool to get on since it had height and climbed on.
“I would stay in here all the time. What size TV is this?” I asked because it almost took uo the whole wall.
“I think a 72 inch. Shit, it had to be big because of the room size. You can’t have a 42 inch in here.
“I know that’s right. You ok?” I noticed her grabbing her stomach.
“Same pains as before. When I walk too much the baby gets agitated, I guess.” We started laughing. I answered the FaceTime call coming through.
“Check on Monie for me please. I keep calling and she’s not answering.” I could hear VJ panicking through the phone.
“Wait! Are you in my new crib?” He asked.
“First of all, hello to you too.”
“Whatever. How is she?” He asked and spoke to someone wherever he was.
“Second, I want this bed and third she’s having pains.”
“Fuck! I told her I could wait to come here and get my stuff, but she told me she’s ok. Let me call her mom.”
“Oh, I’m not good enough to be here with her?”
“Cut the shit Ariel. I know you have to work but I’m glad you’re there in case something goes wrong. I’m calling her mom to stay when you’re gone.”
“Nice save punk. Anyway, she fell asleep.” I turned the phone to her.
“Ariel please stay with her until her mom comes.”
“Why you so worried?” He ran his hand down his face.
“When we left Sunday dinner, she kept throwing up on the way home. I took her to the hospital, and they placed her on labor and delivery. Long story short, she was dilated two centimeters and she had some mucus leaking. She’s supposed to be on bed rest or the next time she comes, they’ll admit her.”
“What?”
“Yea. Only you, her parents and her grams know. She didn’t want anyone worrying about her.”
“I’m glad you told me because she was going to Walmart with me.”
“Nah she needs to stay home. Let me call her mom.” He said sounded more relieved I was staying and her mom was coming.
“Ok. I’m off today but Mrs. Banks can come if she wants.”
“A’ight. Thanks cuz.” I could tell he appreciated me being here.
“You already know.”
“Let her take a bath if she asked because it seems to relax her. Just don’t leave because she’ll need help getting out. And we have a lot of steps, so watch her going up and down.”
“Got it. Hurry back because if she goes in labor, I’m going in the room with her mom.” I stuck my tongue out and disconnected the call.
I stared at Armonie and shook my head. I made sure the downstairs door was locked, took my shoes off and fell asleep next to her.
***********************
“Hey you.” I walked in Haven’s office. Once Armonie’s mom came, I talked to her for a while and decided to join my man at work.
“Why you dressed like that?” He glanced over my short dress.
“You don’t like it?” I placed the food down I brought him and sat directly in front of him with my legs gapped open.
“You know I do.” I leaned down to kiss him and felt his hand in between my thighs.
“We haven’t fucked here yet.” He said.
“And we won’t.” He backed away.
“You fucked your ho’s here. If you wanna taste this pussy, I suggest you get a new office.”
“Don’t get it fucked up Ariel, if I want it, I’ll take it.”
“Whatever.”
“But I respect it.” I looked at him because the rude ass, arrogant Haven Banks had been changing right before my eyes.
“I want you to see something.” He helped me off the desk and grabbed my hand.
“Oh shit now. You’re holding my hand in public.” I joked. He stopped and looked at me.
“Public my ass. Ain’t nobody up here.” I pinched him on the side. He hated that.
“A’ight Ariel.” We walked out his office and into one of the other doors down the hall.
“What’s this?” There was tarp on the floor, paint cans, ladders and other stuff that was covered.
“My new office.” I snapped my neck.
“When Juicy died, I fucked mad bitches in the other office.” I sucked my teeth.
“I’m not saying it to make you upset. I’m saying it because this club ain’t going nowhere and you’re my woman. I couldn’t have you coming here and spending time in a place others had me.”
“Wow.”
“It’s gonna be a little while before it’s finished but the window is going over there so I can still look out on the dance floor. I’m knocking down that wall to make the office a little bigger because Colby and Jax always here. They may as well have somewhere to sit.”
“Why not give them an office?”
“I asked and they said no because it’ll go to waste. We always in the same room so it wouldn’t make sense. Plus, Jax took over his pops club and Colby opening up his own spot.” He led me to another area. The room was bigger than the other and if he’s breaking down walls it will be very big.
“This area over here is for you and my pain in the ass sister and cousins.” He pointed to a spot on the other side of the room.
“Haven.”
“I’m tryna show you I’m not going nowhere.” He had me about to shed a tear.
“But you didn’t have to include me.”
“Why not? When yo ass running the hospital your pops building, my ass better have a spot in your office.” I threw my head back laughing.
“You will baby.” I draped my arms around his neck. He lifted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist.
“I better.” He said.
“If I tell you something, promise you won’t get mad.” He looked at me.
“You pregnant?” I smiled.
“I haven’t checked yet.” He put me down.
“What’s up?”
“Promise you won’t get mad.” I repeated myself.
“Say it Ariel.”
“I love you. Like I’m in love with you and I’m scared you’re gonna hurt me again...” He shushed me with his finger and th
en replaced it with a kiss.
“I love you too ma.”
“You do?”
“Yea but I swear if you fuck me over like Juicy...” It was my turn to shush him with my finger.
“Never Haven. I love you too much and I don’t wanna deal with you tryna kill me.” I stood in front of him and pointed to my zipper.
“I’d probably do you worse because we’ve known one another longer. Damn.” He slid the dress off my shoulder. I kept my heels on.
“I’m not worried about it because cheating isn’t even in my vocabulary. But you letting me christen this room with you is.”
“This is our room Ariel.” He reached behind to lock the door and the two of us christened this room a few times.
Armonie
“Thanks mommy.” My mother was staying with me while VJ went to VA. Oh best believe my father came too. He wasn’t letting her stay anywhere without him and he wanted to make sure I was ok.
“You’re welcome. A few more weeks and my first grand baby will be here.”
“I know. Did daddy put the crib together?”
“Girl please. I had to stop him from breaking it.” I turned to her. The crib was expensive and since VJ was in Virginia I didn’t want to wait for him to come back to put it together. I wanted to have everything ready.
“Why?” I was cracking up as she told me he felt the directions were stupid and he did more cursing then actually putting it up.
“I’ll be downstairs.”
“Ok.” She closed the door and I grabbed my pajamas. I picked the phone and answered for VJ.
“Hey babe.”
“Hey. How you feeling?” He asked.
“Lonely because my man isn’t here.” He chuckled in the phone.
“I’ll be back in a few days.”
“What’s taking so long?” I whined.
“Monie. I only been gone two days.”
“It feels like forever.” He thought I was funny.
“I’m done packing but you do remember my entire family is moving there, right?” I rolled my eyes. He decided to help all of them.
“Yes.”
“Ok then. You know I’m helping them too.” He reminded me.
“They don’t need you tho. I do.” I continued whining.
“You tryna make me feel bad?”
“No but...”
“I promise to make it up to you when I get back.”
“K.” I smiled.
“Look how happy you got hearing me say that.” He started laughing.
“It’s not my fault you got me hooked.”
“I can say the same thing.” I felt myself blushing. He and I stayed on the phone for a half hour.
After hanging up, I went downstairs and my mom was in the kitchen with grams cooking. I didn’t even know she stopped by, but then again aunt Passion and Venus were there too, which meant my uncles were most likely in the back with my dad.
“Hey honey.” My aunts hugged me.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“Oh, we can’t come over?” My aunt Venus asked.
“Of course. It’s just I hadn’t seen or heard from anyone since the dinner.” I took a seat on the couch and rested my hand on the top of my belly.
“Grams wanted to make you food and I wanted to see my niece.” My aunt Passion said and handed me a small bag.
“Aunty the baby shower is in three weeks.” My child didn’t need a thing, but my mom wanted to have one.
“Open it.” I moved the tissue paper out the way and lifted the blue Tiffany box.” I opened it and gasped at the bracelet with two charms. One said, number one mom and the other was a baby with the birthstone in the middle.
“Thank you.” I asked her to put it on. My aunt Venus handed me one and it too was a Tiffany’s bag. I opened it and there was a necklace with my name hanging from it.
“Y’all didn’t have to buy me anything.” They both hugged me.
“Have you spoken to Haven?” I asked my aunt Passion because Ariel told me what happened after we left.
“Yea. He stopped by to apologize like the brat he is.” She smiled.
“What about uncle Wolf?”
“You know he ripped him a new asshole and then they went to smoke.” She rolled her eyes.
“Have you spoken to him?” My mom strolled in with Grams.
“No. I’m ok though.” They all looked at me.
“Him and VJ never have to speak and I understand why he was upset about grams trying to make them. But he stood there talking shit to VJ the entire time; well indirectly anyway.”
“I’m not excusing him but we all know the type of person Haven is. Just know they may not ever speak but it shouldn’t stop you from attending dinner.” My aunt Passion said.
“I’m not going to come without VJ and I don’t want them fighting.” I started crying.
“Stop crying.” Grams said and took my hands in hers.
“The way they met were under bad circumstances and both of them have to get over themselves.” I looked at grams.
“Both of them Armonie.”
“Grams, Haven started with him both times. Is it fair to ask VJ to let it go?” They all looked at me.
“Exactly! I love my cousin but he’s my man and I have to keep them away from each other.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Grams said and went in the kitchen to check the food. Everyone wanted peace just like I did. However; I’d never ask VJ to speak to my cousin after all the things that have gone down.
Four hours went by and after eating and joking around with everyone, I was tired. The clock read ten and my body surely felt it. I gave all them a hug, a kiss goodbye and retreated upstairs after helping them clean up. Or should I say watch because none of them let me do anything.
“Hey.” My dad walked in my room and laid on the bed with me.
“Hey.”
“Did I ever tell you the story about me and your two uncles who just left?” He asked.
“No.” I never knew they didn’t speak and none of them brought it up. You would think they’d been cool forever.
“Well I didn’t know them in the beginning and when we did meet, it was at the hospital after my father had Wolf shot.”
“Really?”
“Yup. I had just confessed to cheating on your mom the day before and tryna get her to take me back.”
“You cheated on mommy?” I was learning a lotta new stuff.
“Yes but only because my ex was blackmailing me. She knew the true purpose of why I dated your mom. Instead of telling my future wife, I slept with her to keep quiet.” I turned my face up.
“You look just like your mom making that face.” I didn’t say anything
“Anyway, the following day your mom told me who murdered her parents and it all hit me on why my father put a hit on her. She received a phone call from your aunt Passion about your uncle getting shot, right after. When we got there, I still had no clue who he was until Wesley stormed in yelling about killing the guy who shot our brother.”
“Interesting.” I said.
“Oh it was. Long story short, me and your mom stayed together but I didn’t fuck with her brothers and she never asked me. We got into a lot of arguments, Wolf and I shot one another and it wasn’t until you and your mom almost died, and I had to bail them outta jail, did we speak. Even then it was kinda strained.”
“Wow daddy.”
“In the end, we all had one thing in common which was killing my father.”
“Oh.” He made me look at him.
“I’m telling you this to say, VJ and Haven may never speak and that’s fine. As long as they both have your best interest at heart and protect you at all cost, their friendship don’t matter.”
“But I want them to be friend’s daddy.”
“You can’t force a friendship on men. They have egos and their pride. If it’s something they wanna do, let it happen on its own.” He stood up and kissed my forehead.
�
�Thanks.”
“Anytime. Now let me go help your mother sleep good.”
“Ughhhh.” He laughed and closed the door on the way out. I grabbed the phone and FaceTime’d VJ.
“You ready for bed?” He answered lying down in the hotel room. He could’ve stayed at his parents, but he said his mom was driving him crazy about his arm and the whole situation altogether.
“Where are your clothes mister?” I smiled staring at his bare chest.
“My girl likes when I sleep naked.”
“Yea well your girl not there.” He laughed.
“Nah but she’ll be next to me soon enough. Let me see my son.” He asked me to show him my belly.
“VJ the baby could be a girl.”
“Nope.” I shook my head and lifted my shirt for him to see.
“I’ll be home in a few days son. Keep your mommy safe.” I felt him kick my stomach.
“Ok babe. I’m putting the charger on and the phone on the nightstand.” Since he’s been gone, he had me sleeping with FaceTime on so he can watch me. If anything happens, he could call my parents.
“Love you Monie.” I always smiled when he said it.
“Love you too. Hurry home.” I blew him a kiss and waited for sleep to find me.
*************************
“GUESS WHAT BITCH!” Ariel barge in my room shouting.
“Yo! Why the fuck you wake her up?” VJ barked in the phone.
“What the hell? You two are losers.” She picked the phone up and started talking shit to him. I flipped the covers and went to wash my face and get it together.
“Tell Monie to call me when you leave.” I heard VJ say.
“Ok babe.” I yelled from the bathroom.
“Bitch, Haven told me he loved me and I think he got me pregnant last night too.” I spit my toothpaste out.
“Girl he’s even changing his club around to make sure I know it’s all about me.”
“Awww Ariel. I’m so happy for you.” I cleaned my mouth and stepped out.
“Have you mentioned the reason you weren’t getting pregnant?” Ariel had the depo shot right before her and Haven started sleeping together. She knew they were careful, so she never went back to get the new shot when it was due. It’s been a few months and she’s not pregnant, which eventually he’s gonna wonder.
“Hell no bitch. Are you crazy?” I turned to her.