A Hood Chick's Story pt. 3: The Final Chapter

by LaShonda DeVaughn

  Jeff recovered from his laughter. “Y’all don’t say bamma in Boston?”

  “Man, I don’t even know what a damn bamma is. Then y’all say ‘what up Joe’, or ‘what’s up Moe’. Who the fuck is Joe and Moe?”

  Jeff kept chuckling loudly, he always told me how much he loved my personality because I kept it real and kept him laughing. “Oh my fault, y’all are used to saying ‘nah son’ or ‘what up dunny’.”

  “Um, that’s New York slang, I’m from Boston, remember?”

  “Well shit, New York, Boston, same shit, all y’all up North cities swagger jack each other. On dogs.” He joked.

  I thought about what happened downstairs and I got serious real quick. “Boo, don’t disrespect me talking to wack ass bitches like that again.”

  “Man you still on that Tiara?” he asked annoyed.

  “Yes I am. You know what I been through with my ex, I don’t have time to go through shit like that. I’m real to you so I need you to be real with me.”

  He pulled out his laptop and loaded it up.

  “Come look at this boo.” He said.

  I sat on his lap at the desk. Dozens of photos from all types of bitches flashed across the screen. Some hoes were photographed with fitted homemade jerseys flossing his team number with cut outs at the nipples hoping to reel him in...One girl held a sign up saying ‘Jeff, let’s have rough sex’.

  I turned my head because I was straight disgusted.

  “Are you serious right now Jeff? You really have all these nasty pictures on your computer?”

  He chuckled. “Nah are they serious, is the question. I don’t even know how half of these chicks got my email address. Trust me, I have no idea how they got access to my contact info. The point is, these hoes be sending their photos to me on the regular just because of who I am.”

  A picture of a girl turned around with the smallest waist and the fattest ass I had ever seen in my life flashed across the screen.

  “Ugh.” I said disgusted.

  “Listen boo, I could hit any one of these girls up and smash tonight if I wanted to. You see all that ass?” he asked pointing at his computer screen. I rolled my eyes and punched him in his arm.

  He chuckled. “Nah, but listen boo, on some real shit. It may look nice on the outside, but I’m good on a bitch like that, Tiara. She probably got more miles on her pussy than I-95. That’s how I think. Your small ass is perfect enough for me.” He said as he pinched my butt.

  “With your itty-bitty ass,” he teased.

  I slapped him on the shoulder because I wasn’t in the mood for joking, “Jeff, you’re not funny.”

  He lifted me off his lap and laid me on the bed.

  “You make me happy Tiara.” I smiled and gave him a seductive look.

  “Come here.” He gestured. I sat up as he stared into my eyes with a serious look on his face. “I never met anyone like you before Tiara. You are real. Your ex was a fool to treat you the way he did. You are one of a kind and I’m a lucky ass nigga.”

  “Jeff, stop with all that game shit.”

  “Man, I’m too old to be playing games Tiara. Stop playing tough boo, I love you. I just showed you all them hoes I could be with if I wanted to. I don’t want them, I been there and done that. And I know that it’s hard for you to accept that girls come along with the territory of being a ball player but a REAL girl rarely, if EVER comes around. I’m lucky as shit and I know not to fuck it up.”

  “Aww,” I said going in for a kiss. He seemed really sincere and I adored him.

  “What I tell you about that mushy shit?” he asked as he tickled me and forced my back onto the mattress.

  “Whatever boo, you like it.” I teased. He pulled off my jeans and squatted down on his knees. He tickled my clit with his tongue. “You like this?” he asked.

  “I do baby, uhhh.” I moaned as he pleasured me. I was in love with this man, he had me. My heart was gone. He held the key to it and I wasn’t going anywhere.

  Chapter 12

  My feelings for him grew progressively over the next few months. He ate so healthy and tried to get me accustomed to eating healthy as well. He always preached to me, “Tiara, I never put any impurities in my body and neither should you.” His fridge at his crib stayed stocked with fruit, vegetables and all types of organic shit. But the two of us meshed well together.

  We were like best friends. He adored my personality and my authenticity. I adored him the same. Especially because he was so hood yet he didn’t have to do the tough guy shit to prove it. He was just a real nigga who spoke his mind, made me feel secure. And he was rich as shit!

  Whenever I went to an event in DC thrown by Jeff, I stayed on my Lil Wayne shit when I came through. Walk around the club…FUCK err body! I was that bitch. I felt like there was a spotlight on me when I walked in. Not because I was Tiara James, the girl that was known not to take no shit but because I had a good man, a beautiful daughter and I relished the lifestyle of a basketball girlfriend. All the other wives and girlfriends couldn’t stand me because I didn’t associate with any of them. I mean truth be told, I watched their men be with other bitches that thought they were their girlfriends and other bitches and other bitches. There was always a never ending parade of hoes flocking around Jeff’s ass too but the reputation I set spread fast. Fucking with Jeff, is fucking with his girl Tiara, period! Ebony teased us saying that we were like rapper Jim Jones and his crazy girlfriend Chrissy or Doug and Jackie Christie from Basketball Wives LA. I would joke back with her telling her, “nah honey, I’m Tiara James from Boston and Jeff is my dude and I am riding.”

  The DJ turned the music down and Jeff got on the mic. He loved to flex and let niggas know that it was his night. It’s just like him to do some cocky shit like turn down the music in a night club, knowing niggas came to party and dance.

  “I want everybody’s attention. I got an announcement to make.” He turned to his brother Jonathan, “Come here bro.” he said as Jonathan entered the DJ booth looking like he was up to something. “This is my bro, my nigga and I love him. I’m proud of whatever you do bro and I’m gonna turn the mic over to you.”

  Ebony and I looked at each other in confusion, wondering what was going on. Jeff didn’t inform me beforehand that he was up to something, so I was just as surprised as everyone else. Jonathan took the mic. “I never did no shit like this before but I wanted to step out there like a real man.” He took a deep breath and reached in his pocket and looked in our direction, “Ebony will you marry me?” he asked. Her brown cheeks turned rosy red. Her jaw dropped open and she looked at me with an ecstatic gleam in her eye. I was truly happy for her. She deserved it. She was such a great person and had been single for too long. Her last boyfriend got married on her and she never got into anything serious after that. Jonathan was an engineer. He wasn’t balling like Jeff but of course if his brother was rich, he was rich. A hint of jealousy came over me because she got her ring first. But, I knew it was only a matter of time before I got mine.

  On our ride home, I noticed that Jeff was acting a bit standoffish.

  “Baby, I’m so happy for Ebony and Jonathan.” I said reclining back in his huge Escladade seats.

  “Me too,” he said nonchalantly. “What they got is real.” He expressed in a thick tone.

  I stared out of my window, wondering what he meant and then I had to ask. “What you mean by that boo? What we got is real too.”

  “Tiara, I never been the type of nigga to beat around the bush so I’m gonna tell you like this. We been together for almost six months and I still haven’t met your daughter. I’m tired of asking you when shit’s gonna be really official. You’re always so quick to drop her off before I get to meet her. If what we have is so real, you wouldn’t be trying to hide who you are and you would let me in fully. What’s with you?” he asked.

  “Jeff, it’s not like that.” I said.

  “Well what’s it like Tiara? How can we say we’re in love if you can’t even let me
meet your daughter? She’s a part of you Tiara so I love her already and I haven’t even met her yet.”

  I sat back and folded my arms. Jeff didn’t understand that it was hard for me to let him into that part of my life. I didn’t want Shayonna hurt in case Jeff and I didn’t work out.

  “Baby, I know how you feel and I’m sorry, I just don’t want to bring her around a man and then things don’t work out with us.”

  “Why wouldn’t they work out Tiara? I love your ass. What don’t you get?”

  “Jeff, I been through a lot okay, you wouldn’t understand.”

  He raised his tone. “Yeah you’re right, I wouldn’t understand Tiara! That’s because I’m in love with a girl who chooses to tell me bits and pieces about herself. What’s wrong with you? Why are you so scared to share your world with me? You can’t live your life caged in. You have to give yourself to someone eventually. And until you learn how to open up and be my queen, I’ll holla at you.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “Don’t do this Jeff.” I cried. “I want to share myself with you, I want to share all of me with you, but it’s hard baby, it’s hard.” I cried harder.

  “Yeah, I get it, I’m done.” He stated firmly. He pulled up to the front of my spot. “Let yourself out.” He said looking in the other direction.

  “Baby?” I felt like I was begging him to understand. He refused to turn his head back in my direction. There was no convincing him to understand me. “Jeff, just be patient with me baby, please.”

  Finally he looked at me. It seemed as if he was about to cry. “I hear what you’re saying boo, but check this out. I’m pushing 30 right now. I ain’t gonna be playing ball much longer, I’m ready to start my own family, I want kids and to be married. Obviously you ain’t ready for that, so I have to find someone who is. I’ll holla at you, Tiara.”

  He cut eye contact and sat back as if he wanted me to get out.

  I took in a breath trying to fight back tears. “Okay, you know what Jeff, I’m gonna let you cool off for a little bit and then I’m gonna hit you up. We’ll talk about this when we’re both not riled up. Just know from the bottom of my heart Jeff, I love you.”

  “Bye Tiara.” He said moving the clutch into drive. I slowly let myself out and slammed the door with my heart crushed inside my chest. I climbed the stairs to my house drowning in sorrow. I really hoped that I didn’t just lose my man. But he was right, I had to give him all of me. It wasn’t fair to him and it was time.

  I felt like shit that night. I debated with myself on whether I should allow him into Shayonna’s life just yet. I was so overprotective of her. I just didn’t want her heart broken in any way, plus she was head over heels for her father. But, it was time that I gave Jeff my heart and soul. It seemed as if that was the only thing left to do for him to feel like I deserved a ring.

  I called him early the next day and he cut me short quick. He said that he’d call me after his game. I waited on pins and needles for his call and finally it came through.

  My heart pumped hard as I talked to him. “Baby I just want to come over and talk.” I said.

  “Aiight, I’m staying at the W again. We won today, so niggas are celebrating.” He said.

  “Okay baby, I’m on my way.”

  I headed over with a clear head. As soon as I stepped inside, Jeff hugged me tight. “I love you boo.” He said.

  “I love you too.” I said as tears escaped my eyes.

  He lifted my head. “You’re crying boo?”

  “Yes Jeff, I am.” I said.

  “The tough girl is crying again, huh?”

  “It’s not funny baby. I’m not tough on purpose, this is just who I am. It’s hard to fully explain my past to you without you judging me.”

  “Why the fuck would I judge you Tiara? I’m from the hood too.”

  “Yeah Jeff, you’re from the hood, but your mom and dad are still together. You didn’t want for nothing. My father is a crack head and my mom is an alcoholic. My mom disowned me after I tried taking my little brother out the hood. I took him away but I couldn’t keep him away from his friends and he kept going back to the hood.” I zoned out reliving my little brother’s loss.

  “Some niggas ended up killing him and my big brother is doing a bid right now for getting revenge. See, I have no family Jeff. You got a family, a perfect life. Me, I’m taking it one day at a time. I moved here to try to make a better life for my daughter.”

  “Baby, I get it.”

  “No you don’t. My story doesn’t end there. One of my ex’s friends raped my daughter, Jeff.”

  The way he peered into my eyes told me that he couldn’t find the right words to say. “Baby come here,” he said embracing me tightly. He could only offer me a hug. He was gentle and I felt his sympathy in his touch.

  “I couldn’t protect her Jeff, he took my baby’s innocence and I couldn’t save her.” I cried.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry.” He said squeezing me tighter.

  I cried on his chest for a while and then he stared into my eyes. “You let me in baby. This is the first time you were vulnerable. You finally trust me. This proves that our love is real. This is it. This is where it stops baby, God sent me to you for a reason. I’m going to make sure that I protect my family. You and Shayonna.”

  My heart lit up, I was totally in love with this man. He wiped my tears with his thumbs.

  “Listen baby, I’m letting my guard down. I’m going to bring Shayonna over tomorrow to meet you.”

  Jeff smiled so large I could see his gums. Finally things were solidified for him. He took me to the bed and made love to me like we had never made love before. We had long stopped using protection but I felt like he was the love of my life and I looked forward to our future together.

  I left his hotel room all smiles that night. I took in a deep breath, thinking about what I had told him. That was it, once he met Shayonna we would become a family. I was actually giving him all of me. There was no longer a desire to hold back. Jeff was my baby and I loved the fuck outta him.

  As I walked closer to the elevator I peeped one of his teammates standing inside his room door with it cracked open.

  “A yo, your name is Tiara right, you’re from Boston?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I said stopping in my tracks. I squinted my eyes wondering where the tall younger dude knew me from. He had fresh groomed braids and a baby face.

  “My name is K.D., I grew up in Boston. I’m from Dorchester over by Fields Corner,” He began. “I moved up here to go to college before I got drafted. I went to school with your little brother Sharod.”

  My heart instantly fluttered. Any mention of Sharod’s name always struck an emotional cord.

  “That was my nigga.” He said opening the door and stepping outside of it.

  Scoping out the tall, young athletic dude, I realized that Sharod would’ve been just about his age if he were still alive.

  “Yo, matter fact, I got pictures of us together when y’all lived in that building. Niggas used to think we were brothers and shit because we both rocked braids and had a baby face.”

  “Oh for real?” I asked with a smile, picturing Sharod and all of his hair.”

  I kept peeping dude’s face but I didn’t remember him from back home. But then again, Sharod had a ton of friends back in the day.

  “I really don’t remember you.” I said.

  “Really?” he asked. “Me and Sharod used to hang tough. I miss that dude.” He shook his head and stared into the ground. “Damn seeing you just brung back a bunch of memories.” He said.

  I smiled. “I know, I miss him too.” I said.

  “I always take his pictures on the road with me and I keep em’ hung up above my bed wherever I travel. I always said he was like my guardian angel.” He smiled. “After he died I went hard with ball trying to get out the hood. Matter fact, let me show you these pics that I took with him the very last time I saw him.” He gestured for me to come into his room. I peeked back in the
direction of Paul’s room. I knew viewing the pictures was an innocent act but at the same time it wasn’t a good look for me to walk into some unknown dude’s spot.

  “Nah that’s aiight, I believe you.” I said.

  He pushed his lips to the side. “Yo, don’t look so nervous, we from the same hood. It’s good to see someone out here from the Bean. And yo, I got a few pics with Tre too. How he doing? He still locked up?” he asked.

  His mentioning Tre had me really thinking dude was official. Knowing both of my brothers and even asking about my big bro proved that he had to respect me. Anyone that knew Tre knew how crazy he was and what he could do even from behind bars, so I knew this dude meant no harm. I felt somewhat comfortable and curious to see what flicks he had of my brothers. I had missed them both so much.