by Tiece
“Yeah, I guess we’ll see. That bitch is always up to no good. You just never know, Stephen. You just never know.” Nina said. “Now, I’m going to relax a little bit. I’ll see you when you get here.”
“A’ight,” Stephen said knowing that arguing with Nina was a no win situation, and with that they ended their call.
Nina rested her head back on her pillow. She could admit to herself that she’d been distant and probably acting stranger by the days, but what Rick had done to her was no joke. They’d had a history together along with two kids. She loved him very much at one point in her life and for him to turn around and do her like that was devastating. What was even worse was that she couldn’t front him about it, because he died taking all of his dirty deeds with him.
“Bastard,” she whispered feeling more than betrayed by a man she thought loved her, at least, a little bit. “And to think if Faye’s baby is either Rick’s or Stephen’s,” she said with an irritated shake of the head. “Either way that baby is going to be family with my kids. This has got to be one of the most fucked up situations I’ve ever had to deal with,” she added thinking about Faye’s trifling ass. “And no telling what that conniving bitch has up her sleeve.”
****
Faye sat on the edge of April’s bed almost in Indian style as they listened to the smooth R&B tones of Jazmine Sullivan, Forever Don’t Last. Faye was caught up in her feelings. She was almost two months pregnant and she honestly didn’t know who her child’s father was. If it was Rick’s baby she’d have a fight on her hands with his mom, because she was certainly going to try and get her grandbaby. However, on the other hand, if the baby was Stephen’s he might just leave her be as long as she’d let him be with Nina and not try to mess up their relationship again. Either way, it didn’t look good for her or her baby.
She sighed out loud while letting out an irritated breath of air. “I’m so aggravated,” Faye said.
“Tell me about it,” April said with her head rested back on her pillow. “I don’t think you can be any more frustrated than me.”
“Why are you so frustrated? You found out that Jay is your baby’s daddy. He was the one that you wanted to have the baby by anyway.”
“Well, I would’ve actually taken it either way,” April said. “However, knowing that its Jason’s baby now definitely changes things,” she added.
Faye raised a concerned eyebrow. “How so?” she curiously asked.
“For one, Sheila called off that engagement. She wants nothing to do with him if he has anything to do with me. You should see him. The nigga is walking around here like a sick fucking puppy right about now.”
“Well, I can only imagine. Hell, he thought he was outta of the woods with this one.”
“Me too,” April said. “I just can’t believe that Luke’s father would stoop to such drastic measures to keep his son from Scarlett. He must really see that bitch as the slut she is. I can’t blame him for doing that shit.”
Faye frowned as she glanced back at her best friend. “Yeah, but he messed with your head too. Don’t forget that. You’d gotten used to the fact that Luke was going to be your baby’s daddy.”
“I had, but the honest truth was that Luke would’ve never gotten over Scarlett. I don’t care what I would’ve done or how happy he would’ve been about this baby. He really loves that two dollar hoe for some reason.”
Faye burst out laughing. “You crazy girl.” She commented.
“No, I’m for real.” April said. “I don’t know what it is about her, but he seems blinded by whatever moves she’s putting on him.” At that moment her thoughts reflected on the time when she’d been standing in Luke’s bedroom doorway and caught them having sex. “Jay on the other hand had left his bitch for me. But, let‘s face it. A nigga can’t stand when the tables turn and Sheila had certainly played her cards right, because he went right back to her.”
“Well, he ain’t with her no more.” Faye said with a smirk on her face.
“He’s not with her, because she doesn’t want to be with him. Big difference,” she added. “His ass won’t even talk to me, but just wait until I tell him what really happened with that paternity test. He is going to be livid. I might seem cool about this shit, but that’ll teach Luke’s father about messing with shit that he has no business fucking with. You know Jay’s daddy is gonna eat him alive.”
“Serves him right,” Faye stated.
“Watch this,” she said dialing Jay’s number and putting the phone on speaker. On the second ring he answered.
“What April?”
“Damn, is that the way you talk to your baby mama?” She asked with a slick roll of her eyes then looked over at Faye with tooted lips.
“Man, what the hell do you want? I’m busy. If it ain’t about the baby then don’t call me.” He said clearly with an attitude.
“You’re going to have to get over this break-up sooner or later. It’s not my fault. You keep forgetting that at one point you didn’t want to be with the chick. You were here, remember? Now, you’re acting like you have amnesia.”
“I wish I did so I wouldn’t have to remember you.” Jay chimed in.
“Yeah, yeah whatever,” she said. “You better learn to be nice to your baby mama. She may start to treat you how you’re treating her. However, she can play this game even nastier.”
“So, you’ve proven.” Jay said. “I’ll talk to you later.” And with that, he ended their call.
April shook her head. “I told you. He doesn’t wanna talk to me period, but he’ll come around.” Faye just shook her head, because April had a lot to work on with Jay. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in her anymore. “Anyways,” April continued as she changed the subject. “What’s up with this crazy shit going on with you? Have the police just let it go?”
“They didn’t have a choice. I told them that I knew nothing about what they were trying to get me to confess to. I explained that Rick and I were lovers at one point, but I had no idea what he had going on that day. I ain’t gonna lie, April. When Rick’s mom played that video I almost died. I couldn’t believe that Rick had been so careless for one, but seeing Nina lay up like that in the bed looking very drug induced kinda scared me. If Rick would do that to his baby mama then no telling what he’d do to me.”
“It’s crazy to even think about that, but you’re right.” April said.
“I wanted him to break up her and Stephen and I did tell him what to do, but honest to God, I didn’t think that he’d do it. I asked to alter the tape and all, because I hadn’t seen it; but he wouldn’t let me. Hell, that’s how I got caught up in this shit in the first place. Now, his mama wants to behead me and take my child. That’s fucked up.”
“That is fucked up,” April chimed in. “She can’t take your baby without proving that you’re an unfit mother so you just need to be on your best behavior. Plus, who do you really think the father is?”
Faye sat quietly for a moment. She didn’t know who the hell the father was. She had tricked Stephen by poking holes in his condom while she was ovulating, unbeknownst to him. However, she also fucked Rick during the same time. “I can’t even call it.” She admitted.
“What’s up with this shit? How the fuck do we get caught up in some crazy shit of not knowing who the hell our baby daddy’s are?” April teased.
“They say that God don’t like ugly and I know what my problem was, but I was straight up being ugly and doing some underhanded shit. I can’t blame anybody, but myself.”
“More power to you for owning up to that, because I don’t own up to shit. It is what it is and now that Jay is my baby’s father then it’s just a matter of time before I reel him back in. Just watch and see.”
***
Later in the evening, Anton sat on his front porch chilling while sipping from a Corona. He was in his feelings since Samantha had messaged him to check on him. He hadn’t had a decent conversation with her in months and to hear from her now was almost unbelieva
ble. He had hurt her for sure and wanted nothing more than to make up for that. Now, he was outside waiting for her to pull up so they could catch up since she claimed that she had missed having him around.
He sat up noticing a red Camaro pull up in the driveway. He knew that Samantha didn’t have a ride like that so he stood to his feet to get a good look at who it was as they got out of the car. A tall, bowlegged man headed his way as his eyes squinted in hopes of making out the person.
“Aww shit,” he said just above a whisper while noticing that the man was 10-10. Anton shook his head, and then sat back down. There was no way that he was greeting him. Already in his mind he was wishing that he’d leave.
10-10 noticed the reaction he’d gotten and couldn’t help but respect Anton’s feelings for him, but some kind of way he wanted to get through to him and with Scarlett over at Troy’s house and Gwen not around, this might’ve been the perfect opportunity.
“Hey,” he spoke walking up on the porch.
“What’s up?” Anton nonchalantly spoke back then turned up his beer.
“Nothing much,” 10-10 spoke. “Your mom here?” he asked.
“Yeah, she’s in the shower. She should be out soon.” Anton stated.
“It’s a nice day out today.” He said trying to make small talk.
“Yeah, it’s a’ight.” Anton responded.
10-10 studied him over. He was indeed his son. Now that he’d gotten his hair cut, in his eyes, he looked more and more like him. Anton didn’t have the big curls that he and his nephews had, but he still carried their genes with him.
“Aye my man,” 10-10 said in an attempt to get through to him. “I truly wanna apologize for that compromising position that you caught your mom and I in. I can’t say that I’m sorry enough.”
Anton turned up his beer. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for hearing no shit like that. Just the thought of it made him want to throw up. “You ain’t gotta keep apologizing for that.”
“I know, but I want too. I had no right and I’m sorry. I’ve been working on myself and getting it together. I like talking to your mama now, because she’s also clean. I feel that we can help each other.”
Anton laughed out loud. “Two ex-crack heads hanging together can’t be a good thing.”
“It can be a good thing, because I’m not going back down that road. I can help her stay clean.”
“Help Gwen?” he questioned. “You talking about my mama?” he shook his head. “I highly doubt it. You know nothing about my mama.”
10-10 stood there thinking to himself that he knew more about Gwen than Anton would ever know. “I’ve lost more than you can possibly imagine. I only want to make up for the lost time I’ve missed out on with my loved ones, son. I’m not here to get your mama to use drugs or even to do wrong. We’re actually good friends and have been cool with each other for a long time. I wanna see her doing well for herself. Hell, I I’m working on the same positive path for myself.”
Anton nodded his head. Listening to 10-10 talk in this light made him look at him differently. Who was he to judge anyone and their past? If he could forgive Gwen for all the wrong she’d done to them over the years then he could forgive anybody for their past transgressions, even 10-10 for letting Gwen suck his filthy dick inside of their house.
“That’s a nice car you’re in.” Anton said to start up small talk since Gwen hadn’t come out the house yet.
“Yeah, it’s one that I’m test driving. I’m thinking about getting it.” He said.
“Wow,” Anton said looking 10-10 up and down. “You working now?”
10-10 grinned. “Nah, but it’ll be a gift to me for staying sober and clean.”
“Damn, that’s some gift.” Anton said. “Who’s getting that for you? They must have some money.”
“It’s actually my money,” he said surprising Anton. “I’ve had money in an account that I couldn’t touch until I got myself together. Let’s just say that I’ve gotten myself together.”
Anton smiled with a nod of the head. “That’s good 10-10. That’s really good.”
“Anthony,” 10-10 corrected him.
“What was that?” Anton asked with a frown.
“Anthony… My name is Anthony. I’d prefer to be called that now.”
“No problem, Anthony. I actually like that better than 10-10.” They shared a genuine laugh as Gwen stepped outside on the porch.
“Ant-thony,” she said feeling caught off guard that he was actually outside talking with her son. “What are you doing here?”
Anthony smiled at her. “I’d thought I’d come take you for a cruise in my new car.”
Gwen looked out at the car then she looked over at Anton. “You alright, son?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Anthony is a pretty cool fella.” He said.
Gwen put on a fake smile. “Yeah,” she said like she was uninterested in what he was talking about. At that moment, all she wanted to do was get Anthony from around Anton. He seemed hell bent on telling him that he was his father and right now she couldn’t have that. She was already trying to figure out how she’d explain Anthony being Troy’s uncle. That issue would be something that she’d deal with when they’d cross that bridge. She looked at Anthony just ready to go. “Let’s go,” she told him. “I need a ride to the store, anyway.”
Anthony looked at Anton, and then reached out his hand. “It was good talking to you, son.”
“Likewise,” Anton said.
Gwen was fuming inside as she and Anthony made it out to the car. “You’re gonna keep right on and I’m gonna fuck you up.” She told him where only he could hear her.
“Gwen, stop acting bad all the time. Just be a lady for once. It looks better on you.” He said with a smile.
“Yeah whatever,” Gwen responded.
Anton sat on the porch and finished off his Corona with a smile on his face. It was good to see Gwen in hopefully some decent company and now he was about to have a little company himself. The evening couldn’t have gone any better than it had. He smiled once looking down to see that he’d gotten a text message.
I’ll be pulling up soon. Sam
“Things are finally starting to look up.” He said smiling like a chessy cat.
Chapter 13
The next day, Scarlett was driving down Washington Road running an errand. She and Troy had talked about having a little get together of just him, Dmitri, one of his home boys, her, and her friends. Since Dmitri was staying the night in Augusta on some business Troy offered him a room at his house for him to stay so Troy definitely wanted to show him a good time.
Scarlett was feeling good about their small kickback. However, she hadn’t asked Sheila to come yet due to all the things she’d been going through and she hadn’t asked Nina to come yet either, because Nina was also going through the motions. In her mind, she was going to get them to come out one way or the other. Troy was taking this little gathering very seriously. He wanted her to know that it was important for her to know the people that were an important part of his life. Dmitri was like a brother to him and with Slim being gone it meant a lot to him that he would be around. In a sense, it was already evident to her that inviting Sheila and Nina over was for his homey’s. Little did he know, Nina and Sheila were handfuls in their own rights and would never go for a hook up of any kind; at least not by her.
As she approached the red light she looked over to the right of her to see the Publix grocery store. A smile crept across her face as she thought about Luke and the first time she’d ever been out in public with a man that showed her such a nice time. Luke was definitely her saver and he taught her what it was like to be treated kindly and with respect. He had love for her and she knew it and even though there were still feelings there for him, she’d gotten used to hiding them.
As the red light changed to green, Scarlett pulled off, but then immediately whipped Troy’s black, GS 350 Lexus into the Publix parking lot. “I may as well get the chaser and the beer from here
.” She said just above a whisper while parking in an empty parking space close to the grocery store entrance. Shopping at Publix never would’ve crossed her mind, but Luke taking her there also took her back down memory lane. It was crazy how in such little time things had changed so drastically for them. She rubbed her stomach as she got out of the car, shutting the door closed behind her. Thoughts of her baby being Luke’s constantly crossed her mind. She couldn’t rest well at night, because she wanted to know so badly. Even though it didn’t really concern Troy much, she was irritably confused as hell about it. The sooner she knew the sooner she’d feel better. Well, at least that’s the way it would seem it should be depending on the paternity results.
Scarlett walked through the entrance doors of the grocery store. Instantly, thoughts flashed in her mind about Luke and the night they’d walked into Publix, hand in hand.