COMPLICATED

by Chenell Parker

  “You mean to tell me that none of them hoes you been bringing here has made you tap out yet?” Zyra teased. “What about the cute red one with the short hair?”

  “Don’t even mention that hairy bitch to me. I couldn’t even find the pussy through all them weeds and grass she had between her legs,” Zyrian frowned.

  “What about that girl Natalie or Nancy? Whatever her name was.”

  “I didn’t even fuck her. She smelled like piss,” Zyrian said making his sister weak with laughter.

  “And?” Zyra asked through her laughter. “Maybe she’s a squirter.”

  “Man, quit playing with me Zyra. This shit is just ridiculous,” Zyrian frowned.

  “Just keep looking. The way you running through women, you’ll find something that you like eventually. You have to stop being so picky. You find something wrong with every woman you get with.”

  “I want your girl, straight up,” Zyrian admitted. “I bet I won’t find nothing wrong with her fine ass.”

  “Just let that go Zyrian. Rylee ain’t even on that cheating shit. She not gon’ mess around on Mekhi for nothing or nobody,” Zyra said waving him off.

  “She just never ran across the right one yet.”

  “But aren’t you the same one that said he don’t do married women? They got too many available bitches out here for me to settle for another man’s wife,” Zyra said repeating her little brother’s words right back to him.

  “I wasn’t talking about her, though. I told you that she’s the only exception that I would make. And stop always bringing up old shit.”

  “Nigga that was only two days ago,” Zyra clarified.

  “It don’t even matter. I still want her pretty ass. That nigga Mekhi ain’t right.”

  “I don’t like his ass either, but he’s good to my friend. He’s just a show off who brags too damn much. As long as he doesn’t put his hands on her or cheat then I’m good,” Zyra replied.

  Zyrian only nodded his head because he knew the truth. It wasn’t his place to tell his sister or anyone else, though. As bad as he wanted Rylee, he wasn’t about to hate on her husband just to get her. He couldn’t see himself badmouthing another man to his wife. That just wasn’t his style. He talked about it with his cousins from time to time, but that was as far as it went.

  “I’m going to bed and try to forget that sex with your girl ever happened,” Zyrian said making his sister laugh. They both headed up the stairs and disappeared into their own bedrooms.

  ***

  “Nigga you crazy out of your mind,” Buck yelled to his cousin.

  He had just picked Zyrian up from Zyra’s house, and they were headed to the daiquiri shop to shoot some pool.

  “Man, I’m spending money for nothing on a house that I ain’t even living it. Then Zyra act like she be ready to cry every time I mention something about me moving out,” Zyrian replied as he puffed on the loud that they were passing back and forth. He was happy as hell that he wasn’t on any papers, and he could do exactly what he wanted to do.

  “Forget Zyra bruh. She got her own house, and you need your own shit too,” Buck argued.

  “I might get me something else in a few months. It ain’t like I can’t afford it.”

  “Nigga you can afford a few houses. Walking around here acting like you a regular nigga when you got millions sitting up in the bank. You kill me with that shit,” Buck laughed.

  “I am a regular nigga. Money don’t make me no different from nobody else. And I don’t really want to stay in a house that I lived in with Dedy anyway. I need some new memories in a new house. Hopefully, it won’t stay on the market too long.”

  “You just put it up today, so I give it about two or three months before it’s sold. That’s a nice area.”

  “I never even enjoyed the damn house before I got locked up. It’s cool, though. I’m buying my next one in Audubon Place.”

  “Damn cuz, you trying to be surrounded by the rich and famous, huh,” Buck laughed.

  “I’m just trying to enjoy myself and live for a change. Bruh I’m twenty-seven years old and aside from going to jail out of town, I’ve never been out of New Orleans.”

  “You got to stop feeling guilty about spending money that’s rightfully yours. You got more than enough money to travel the world twice,” Buck noted.

  Zyrian only nodded his head, but he didn’t respond. His finances were always a touchy subject for him, and he hated to discuss it. He was happy when his cousin’s phone rang because he didn’t want to continue their conversation. Buck’s phone was mounted on the dashboard of his car, so he pressed the speakerphone button and talked while he drove.

  “What’s up Mekhi?” Buck asked his boy.

  “Man, I need a ride like right now,” Mekhi said with urgency.

  “A ride from where? And where the hell is your car?” Buck asked.

  “Man I’m at the room in Kenner, but I didn’t drive. I’m with this stupid ass girl, and her piece of shit car broke down. My car is parked at MJ’s, and I need to get back like right now,” Mekhi stressed.

  “Bruh you might have to wait a few minutes. I’m all the way on the Westbank, and I’m not alone. Let me drop my passenger off and I’ll be there.”

  “Man did you not just hear what I said? I really need you right now Buck. Just bring whoever that is with you. I can’t have my wife going to MJ’s looking for me, and I’m not there,” Mekhi panicked. He knew that Buck was probably riding with his girl or one of his other jump offs, but he really didn’t care at the moment. He was desperate.

  “I’m on my way, man. You always doing stupid shit and then be crying about Rylee finding out. I really don’t understand you,” Buck lectured before he hung up.

  He already knew where Mekhi was since that was the only place he went to when he was doing dirt. This wasn’t Buck’s first time picking him up, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. He hated that Zyrain was with him, but he couldn’t do anything to change that. Buck knew that his cousin was really feeling Rylee and Mekhi was making the shit too easy for him.

  “What his punk ass into now?” Zyrian asked.

  “Ain’t no telling,” Buck replied with a shrug.

  “You can bring me back home if you have to, it’s cool,” Zyrian offered.

  “Nah, that nigga sound like he’s about to cry as it is. I don’t want to take twenty minutes to bring you home and another twenty to get to him.”

  About thirty minutes later, Buck and Zyrian pulled up to the Doubletree Hotel in Kenner near the airport. Buck sent Mekhi a text letting him know that he was out front. The two cousins waited patiently for another five minutes until they spotted Mekhi and another woman walking towards the front.

  “I know damn well that nigga ain’t fucking her!” Zyrian angrily yelled when he got a closer look at Mekhi’s female companion.

  “Chill out cuz,” Buck advised.

  “And you knew about this shit?” Zyrian asked.

  “That don’t have nothing to do with me. I know the situation is fucked up, but I’m not getting involved in that. I’m tired of telling this nigga about trying to put me in the middle of his bullshit too.”

  “Man fuck that! You put yourself in the middle by running to his rescue when he’s doing wrong. That nigga is foul for that shit. I can’t believe this dude is that dirty,” Zyrian ranted.

  “I get what you’re saying bruh, but that’s still none of my business. I don’t agree with the shit, but he’s a grown man,” Buck shrugged like his hands were tied.

  Even though his cousin was right, Zyrian couldn’t help but feel some kind of way. Even if nothing ever popped off between him and Rylee, Mekhi still didn’t deserve her. He had one of the baddest females that Zyrian had ever seen on his arm, but he still wasn’t satisfied. Mekhi walked up to the back passenger’s side and pulled the door open. He almost pissed his pants when he saw Zyrian already sitting up front. Buck had heavily tinted windows, so he couldn’t see who was in the car with him when he pul
led up. Mekhi knew that he had somebody with him, but he never imagined that that someone would be Zyrian. He just assumed that his friend had more sense than that. Of all the people to bring, he chose to bring a nigga that Mekhi despised the most. The brother of his wife’s best friend. That was a dumb move on Buck’s part. Not to mention Zyrian was ice grilling him when they did make eye contact. Mekhi prayed that he didn’t tell Zyra because Rylee would know for sure if he did.

  “What the fuck is wrong with her dumb ass?” Buck asked Mekhi when he hopped in the back seat of his car.

  “Her stupid ass is mad because I told her I was leaving. Fuck I look like waiting for her mechanic to show up and fix that raggedy ass car,” Mekhi replied as they pulled out into traffic.

  “Fuck you look like being at a hotel with another bitch in the first place,” Zyrian butted in.

  Mekhi chewed on the inside of his jaw to keep from saying what he really wanted to say. He really wanted to go off on Zyrian, but he didn’t want to make matters worse. He had to stay on Zyrian’s good side to assure that he didn’t go running his mouth to his sister. Mekhi knew that the siblings were close, but he didn’t know how far that closeness went.

  “Take me back to MJ’s,” Mekhi instructed Buck while he sent his wife a text.

  “Yeah, and me you need to link up later on. I need to holla at you about a few things,” Buck replied.

  This was going to be his last time telling Mekhi about the stupid stunts that he pulled. Rylee was his girl, and he didn’t want her to think that he was helping her husband do her wrong. Buck couldn’t figure out why Mekhi cheated in the first place. He was on the outside looking in, but Rylee seemed to really have her shit together. It wasn’t just about her looks. She was a smart woman who was about her business. And according to Mekhi, she was also every man’s fantasy in the bedroom. Buck didn’t really believe in perfection, but Rylee seemed like the perfect wife who married a no good ungrateful man.

  “You coming in for a minute?” Mekhi asked Buck when they pulled up to MJ’s.

  “Nah, me and Zyrian already had plans. I’ll get up with you later.”

  Buck pulled off shaking his head in disgust as soon as Mekhi got out of his car.

  “Stupid ass,” Buck mumbled loud enough for his cousin to hear.

  “Don’t tell that clown ass nigga nothing. I ain’t even gon’ have to go after his wife. He’s pushing her right to me and don’t even know it,” Zyrian smirked.

  Chapter 9

  “Girl you are too stupid. I would have been told that nigga’s wife about my baby if I were you,” Shay’s cousin Karen told her.

  “I said the same thing. He got that hoe living lovely in some estate while you and my niece are living in the middle of the ghetto,” Shay’s sister Deidra chimed in.

  Shay was already aggravated, and her family wasn’t making it any better. She hadn’t heard from Mekhi in over a month and the two hundred dollars that he sent her had been spent since day one. Even Carolyn and his sisters were acting shady. Shay asked them if her daughter could come over two weeks ago and they had yet to answer her. Mekhi had forgotten to pay Mekhya’s nursery bill, and she couldn’t go back until he did. Shay had been depending on her sister and other family members to watch her baby girl while she went to work. Thankfully the other two were in pre-k three and four, so she didn’t have to worry about them.

  “And you gon’ have to find somebody else to watch Mekhya tomorrow because I already made plans,” Karen said interrupting Shay’s thoughts.

  “Yep and I have to work in the morning, so I can’t help you either,” Deidra countered.

  “I’m so sick of this shit,” Shay cursed as angry tears spilled from her eyes.

  “I fault you for all of this. You let Mekhi throw you a few coins just to shut you up when you know you could be getting way more than that. He lied and told you that he was living in a townhouse until we followed his ass home one day and saw how he was really living. Then he’s on Facebook and Instagram bragging about how much he spent on the Benz that he just got his wife. You can’t even get that nigga to keep up with his daughter’s nursery bill,” Deidra said adding salt to the already fresh wound.

  “You need to pop up at that nigga house and drop Mekhya right off to his ass,” Karen suggested.

  “Bitch you must be crazy. Mekhya barely knows who he is. He’ll never mistreat my daughter just because he’s mad at me,” Shay argued.

  “Okay, but you need to at least let his wife know about the double life that he’s living. That nigga is getting away with the shit because you’re letting him. You probably can’t even go to work in the morning because you don’t have a babysitter,” Karen lectured.

  “Oh, I’m going to work. You can best believe that shit. I’m barely making ends meet now so missing a day is out of the question. I bet I pack Mekhya’s shit and be knocking at Carolyn’s door bright and early in the morning,” Shay swore.

  “I hear you, but I still think you’re knocking at the wrong door. Carolyn is just the grandmother, and she don’t owe you nothing. I do think she’s wrong for ignoring you like she’s been doing, but she’s not obligated to watch your baby. You want to lay the blame on everybody except for the one who’s really responsible,” Deidra said.

  “Y’all just don’t get it. Carolyn and her daughters do whatever Mekhi tells them to do. He tells them when to get Mekhya, how long to keep her and when to bring her back. He’s been all into that bike club shit, and he probably hasn’t told them much of anything lately. They’re too dumb to think for themselves, so they don’t move without his say so,” Shay reasoned.

  “I can’t believe that you’re still making excuses for him. Honestly, I don’t blame Mekhi for doing what he does to you because you let him. There is no way in hell that you should be living like this when your baby daddy is making thousands of dollars a night. But if you like it, I love it. Let’s go, Karen,” Deidra said to her cousin as they prepared to leave.

  Shay understood everything that they were saying, but it wasn’t that easy. She hated how things were between her and Mekhi, but she wasn’t sure about how to approach the situation. She never had to worry about that with the fathers of her other kids because she didn’t even know where they were. They stuck around long enough to see the double lines on the pregnancy test, and they were done. They were both in relationships when she got pregnant as well, but they didn’t have shit to offer her or her daughters. Mekhi was the best one by far, but she still couldn’t get him to do right. Shay didn’t tell her sister and cousin, but Rylee was the only reason why she never went to Mekhi’s home. Shay’s intentions were never to hurt her because Rylee and Mekhya were the only innocent ones in the scenario. True, at times she got pissed and blamed Rylee for Mekhi’s actions, but that was only her anger talking. She knew that his wife had no clue what was going on, and he intended to keep it that way. Mekhi was determined to make sure that their daughter stayed hidden at all cost.

  “Makhya!” Shay yelled out for her baby girl.

  When Mekhya appeared in the doorway, Shay motioned for her to come closer to her.

  “Give me my phone,” she instructed her two-year-old who was playing a game on the device. As soon as Mekhya handed her the phone, Shay dialed Carolyn’s number for the fourth time that day.

  “Yes, Shay,” Mekhi’s sister Mena answered sounding disgusted.

  “Where is Carolyn?” Shay asked sounding just as disgusted as she was.

  “She’s still not here Shay. Just like she wasn’t here the last few times that you called,” Mena snapped before hanging up the phone in her face.

  “Stupid bitch,” Shay cursed as she jumped up from the sofa.

  She went to her daughter’s bedroom and grabbed Mekhya’s overnight bag. She mumbled obscenities under her breath the entire time that she grabbed clothes and shoes from various places in the room and threw them in the bag. Shay knew that Mena was lying because Carolyn rarely went anywhere. Her daughters were always with her whe
n she did, so she couldn’t have gone far. None of them even had a car, so they had to wait for Kendrick to bring them everywhere. Carolyn could run from a phone call, but Shay was done calling her. She and Mekhya were about to pay her a much needed visit, but Shay would be leaving alone. Mekhi usually determined when his daughter visited his family, but Shay was about to make the decision for him.

  ***

  “Baby I need a favor if you can do it,” Mekhi said to Rylee as he stepped into the walk-in shower with her.

  They’d been ripping and running all day, and they were finally settled in at home. After taking his wife on an intense shopping spree, Mekhi took her out to eat at one of her favorite restaurants. Landry’s Seafood sold some of the best food in New Orleans, and Rylee loved just about everything on the menu. Afterward, they went home where she damn near fucked him into a coma. Mekhi was out like a light after that, and the ringing of his phone is what ended his slumber. He woke up to find his wife in the shower and decided to join her.

  “Okay, what’s up?” She asked as she turned around and began to lather her husband’s body with soap.

  “We got our bike club meeting tomorrow, and I’m supposed to bring some food. I forgot all about it, but Buck just called and reminded me. You think you can grab something for me and drop it off at the house?” Mekhi asked referring to the renovated house that now served as their club’s meeting place.

  “Yeah, I can do that. What did you have in mind?” Rylee asked.

  “They usually have like party foods and stuff, but whatever you bring is fine. I know its last minute.”

  “Amber and my auntie make party sandwiches all the time. I can get them to do that, and I’ll buy some other stuff,” Rylee suggested.

  “That’s perfect baby. I really appreciate it,” Mekhi said while giving his wife a kiss.

  Rylee smiled at him as she continued to wash him off. When they got out of the shower, Rylee immediately called her cousin to see if she and her mother would be able to help her out the following day. Once Amber gave her the okay, Rylee made a grocery list of everything that she would need. After grabbing her iPad to finish reading her book, she joined her husband in their bed. Rylee read for about an hour before drifting off into a peaceful night’s sleep.