Can't Leave It Alone

by Nicole Jackson

  Amir shook his head as he stared at Tutu. “What?” Tutu asked as he realized that all eyes were on him.

  “Man, why did yall bring De-De’s ex here?” Amir questioned his cousin.

  “Ay.” Tutu threw his hands up. “I didn’t have shit to do with that. I didn’t even know that it would be a problem.”

  Desmond sipped a little vodka as he eyed Jada. It was just like her to pull a stunt like this. He wasn’t surprised. She’d done it all, before they officially got together. The difference was he didn’t care about those other chicks she interfered with. Ryan was an entirely different story, and he was wishing that Jada would just let things go. She needed to move on. He had.

  “That broad is full of games, main.” He shook his head.

  Jahrein chuckled. “Shit, aint they all?”

  “Ay, man, you niggas can have that headache.” Sincere, Trinity’s husband, added.

  They all laughed as Jahrein placed a hand on Desmond’s shoulder. “Ay, I feel your pain my nigga. I feel you.”

  Desmond couldn’t help chuckling. “Fuck you.”

  For the next hour the card and domino games continued, taking much of the focus off the elephant in the room. Once the last few hands were played out, they all began socializing. Both the women and men were mingling, while Jada sat silently. She’d been sipping Grey Goose and had a nice buzz going. Soon, all kind of thoughts were racing through her head.

  She sat and stared at Ryan. She was laughing her head off like everything was gravy. She didn’t have any worry lines gathering around her eyes. In fact, she and Desmond seemed genuinely happy, despite how their reuniting had caused so much turmoil in her life. The scene caused her insides to churn. She was feinding for a chance to explode on them, and fuck up everybody’s night.

  “Ooh, remember that time Ryan helped you steal Jahrein’s car?” Raquel drunkenly asked Raven as they all reminisced.

  “Ay, that shit wasn’t funny. Yall had me fucking up some shit, thinking that one of those niggas took my ride.” Jahrein pointed a finger as he laughed.

  Desmond shook his head. “Ryan, you’s a straight up criminal.”

  “Well…I learned from the best.” Ryan winked.

  “I wonder who that could be.” He sighed as he stood. “Ay, Amir, where yall bathroom?”

  “Straight down that hall to the left.” Amir pointed.

  “Alright.” Desmond nodded as he headed in that direction.

  A few minutes ticked by, before Jada seemingly eased her way to the bathroom as well. Everybody was so busy joking that she slid by unnoticed. She tipped down the hall, until she stood in front of the bathroom door. She took a deep breath before turning the doorknob and letting herself in.

  Desmond was sitting on the toilet smoking a blunt. “What the fuck…”

  She closed the door behind her. “Look, we need to talk.”

  He shrugged and allowed smoke to seep from his nose. “So, talk.”

  She stared at him for a few seconds trying to catch her bearings. She hated his nonchalant attitude. “I’m trying to understand, for the life of me, how could you throw away the five years we shared together.”

  He sighed. “I thought that we already been through this. It’s not about you, Jada. I mean, you good people. The thing is, deep down you knew what the deal was. It was like this unspoken thing between us. You liked to pretend like Ryan never existed, but did that ever change anything for me?”

  “But she left you.” She whined. “How could you still want her after that?”

  He looked her up and down, all around.

  “What?” she asked confused.

  “How many bullets you took on my account?”

  “None.” She huffed as she folded her arms.

  “That’s right.” He nodded. “So, there is no way for you to place yourself in Ryan’s shoes. As mad as I was about her leaving, I always understood why. This shit between me and you, Jada, will never be right as long as I got unfinished business with her.”

  “So…” Jada’s words were cut off as someone pushed the door open.

  “What the fuck is going on in here?” Ryan barked, damn near foaming at the mouth.

  Desmond shot to his feet. “Nothing.” He tried to explain.

  “Well, why the fuck is you and this bitch in here with the door closed?”

  “Who the fuck are you calling a bitch?!” Jada shouted as she stepped in Ryan’s face.

  “Bitch!” Ryan spewed as she big faced Jada down to the floor.

  “Wait, wait, whoa…” Desmond pulled her back.

  “Get the fuck off of me.” She swung wildly.

  “Hey, what’s going on in here?” Zyrie asked as she stood in the doorway.

  “Man, I’m trying to calm this girl down. Tell Tericka to come get her girl.” Desmond instructed as he pulled Ryan back towards the living room.

  By this time, Jada had scrambled back to her feet and went after Ryan. Luckily, Zyrie’s quick reflexes were in full effect, as she grabbed her. “Naw, aint none of that shit up my house.” She spoke sternly.

  “Let me go! Im’a kill that bitch!” Jada cried.

  Everyone in the living room raced to the hall to see what the commotion was about. Ryan was still trying to escape Desmond’s grasp. “Kill me bitch! I wanna see you try!”

  Desmond tightened his grip as Ryan continuously fought against him. He had to use all of his strength to restrain her. Zyrie wasn’t as strong as Desmond and eventually lost a grip on Jada. So, she lunged at Ryan, wrapping her hands into her hair. She pulled her fist back and it pummeled into her face.

  “Nu-uh!” Dina shouted as she ran over, not thinking about her reaction. All she saw was some bitch getting the best of her cousin. So, she grabbed Jada from the back, snatching her down by her hair.

  Desmond released Ryan after realizing that he’d unintentionally left her exposed. She quickly joined her cousin, punching Jada in her face. The two threw vicious blows, before Desmond was able to pull them away.

  Jada was left lying on the floor with a bloody mouth and nose. “You okay?” Tericka asked as she helped her to her feet.

  Jada nodded as she tried to go after Ryan again. Tericka caught her before she could reach them. “No, Jada. It aint worth it.” She tried convincing her.

  “No, fuck these bitches! Desmond, you just gon let these hoes jump me?!” Jada ranted and raved as she practically hopped up and down.

  Something struck a nerve with Dina as she turned around, facing Jada. “Bitch, what he was gon do?” she asked as she inched closer.

  Trinity knew her friend, so she placed a hand on her shoulder. “D, you at Zyrie’s house, man. Let the bitch make it, if for nothing else at least give Zye and Amir that respect.”

  Dina nodded. “That broad don’t know me, man.”

  By that time Desmond had successfully pulled Ryan to the living room, and away from Jada.

  “Where that bitch at?” Ryan asked as she tried to step around him.

  “Man, chill out. Grab your purse and let’s go.” He demanded.

  She placed her hands on her hips as she twisted her neck. “I aint going no muthafuckin where. That bitch gon have to see me.”

  “Let’s go.” He growled as he shoved her. “Stop acting so fucking stupid.”

  Everybody held Dina back as they allowed Jada to walk back to the living room. Tericka had told her that they were leaving, so they assumed that she was grabbing her purse.

  “Desmond, I can’t believe you.” She started again.

  On instinct, Desmond grabbed Ryan before she could go after her. “Bitch you need to believe it. He don’t want you.” She spat.

  Everybody ran back to the living room, being nosy.

  “Well, I aint going nowhere. He’s going to deal with me for the next eighteen years and there aint shit you can do about that.”

  “What?!”

  “Yeah, hoe, you heard me. I’m pregnant.”

  “What, bitch! You pregnant? She’s pregnant
?” Ryan looked back at Desmond.

  “Man, that bitch is lying. I don’t fuck her raw.” Desmond shook his head.

  “Oh yeah, Desmond? Well, a DNA can clear that up.” Jada smiled.

  “You aint gotta worry about a DNA cause I’ma knock that bastard out of your ass!” Ryan roared.

  “Okay, okay. Time to go.” Desmond gritted as he pulled Ryan towards the door. “Ay, one of you niggas get her purse for me.” He called after him as he dragged her out the door.

  Jada tried to follow after them. “He’ll be back with me, sooner or later. You just have your fun, bitch. Then once I drop this baby we’ll see what’s up.”

  “Bitch, shut up!” Dina shouted as she moved in on her.

  Both Raven and Raquel had to pull her back. “Tericka, get your girl.” Raquel ordered.

  Tericka scooped up Jada’s purse and handed it to her, blocking her path to Desmond and Ryan. “Girl, just leave that shit alone. Let’s go.”

  Jada shook her head. “Naw, it aint over. That bitch don’t know who she fucking with.”

  “Evidently, you don’t know who you fucking with.” Dina chided.

  In some ways Tutu felt responsible for the madness at hand, so he decided to put an end to it. “Ay, let’s go.” He told Jada.

  “Okay.” She nodded as she turned to Zyrie. “I didn’t mean to cause all this here at your house and for that I’m sorry.”

  “Bitch, don’t nobody wanna here that sorry shit.” Dina fumed. Jada had really done nothing to her, but she’d violated family. Fucking with one you had to deal with all of them.

  “This aint got nothing to do with you.” Jada frowned.

  “It don’t matter. If you put your hands on my people, then I’ma lay hands on you.”

  “Alright let’s go.” Tutu shook his head as he headed to his car.

  “Let me bring Ryan her purse.” Raven said as she picked up Ryan’s bag. She walked ahead of Jada and Tericka and strolled over to Desmond’s car. They were already sitting inside with the windows rolled up, arguing. She knocked on Ryan’s window. “I got your purse.”

  Ryan slid the window down. “Thank you.” She took her bag and tossed it into the backseat.

  “You’re welcome. And don’t let that girl get to you. Yall arguing and tripping with each other is what she wants. Don’t give her the satisfaction.” Raven offered.

  Desmond sucked his teeth. “That’s what I’m trying to tell her.”

  “Whatever.” Ryan rolled her eyes.

  Raven shook her head. “You so damn hard headed. Just call me when yall make it home.”

  “I will.” She nodded as Desmond pulled away from the curb.

  He tried focusing on the road before breaking the silence between them. “You need to listen to what people are telling you. All that shit that just happened wasn’t even called for.”

  She snapped her neck. “What? I didn’t do shit wrong. What the fuck were you doing in the bathroom with her?”

  “Man, I was smoking some dro and she just walked in. She claimed that she needed to talk.”

  “About what?” her nostrils flared.

  “About why I left her, I guess.”

  “Yeah, okay.” She folded her arms. “That bitch got the wrong one. And if she is pregnant she better hope that we didn’t knock that muthafucka out of her.”

  Desmond shook his head. “Man, that girl aint pregnant, and if she is it aint for me.”

  “And how do you know?”

  “Cuz we used condoms.”

  She scrounged. “Yeah fucking right. You expect me to believe that you was strapping up? As far as I know you don’t know how to use the muthafuckas.”

  He smiled to himself. “That’s just a line I’d use on you.”

  “What?” She raised a brow.

  “Yeah, I would tell you that shit. You know, to shut you up.”

  “You know what, fuck you.” She gave him the finger.

  “Alright.” He grinned. “When?”

  Chapter 13

  Jacob sat staring at Ryan’s photo. She’d taken it one night after fucking him senseless. She was smiling from ear to ear as she gazed at him. Yeah, those were the good times.

  “She’s a cold bitch.” He mumbled as he bit his bottom lip. Two months had passed since the altercation at the condo and he hadn’t spoken to her since. He’d attempted calling her cell, but it was no longer in service.

  He was still trying to wrap his mind around the notion that she never really gave a damn about him. Initially, she was just one of his kept women, but with time things changed. She was always so laid back and understanding, and soon he realized that there were few women that could compare. So, he decided to make it official. Usually, when he decides that he wants something, he gets it. It had been years since any woman had denied him. Of course, his ego was crushed, but it was more than just that. She’d disrespected him, and made him look weak. This could not go unpunished.

  ******

  Ryan, Raven, Raquel, Zyrie, Dina, Paris, and Trinity were all at Raven’s house receiving massages. The women all wore white robes as they sipped finely blended fresh strawberries and pink lemonade mixed with a hint of Patron and Ciroc, and gossiped.

  “Man, that bitch is crazy. You gotta watch her. Does she know where yall live?” Raquel asked Ryan, referring to Jada.

  Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Raven lifted a brow at her ever suspicious sister. “Quel, what do you mean by she’s crazy?”

  “I’m saying, she got this fatal attraction vibe about her.” Raquel elaborated. “She seems like the type that will slit her wrist over a nigga.”

  Everybody giggled.

  “I’m still a little pissed at Tericka.” Zyrie admitted. “I had told her all about the incident in the garages of the condos, so I figured that she had enough sense to leave ole girl at home.”

  Paris rolled her eyes. “You know how hoes can be. They probably talked about the shit on the way there. Plotting. I wish I could’ve been there to see everything.”

  “So, why didn’t you come?” Raven questioned.

  Paris sighed. “I told yall my baby had a fever.”

  “So, why didn’t Jay Rock stay with her?” Raquel butted in.

  “Girl, you know how he is. He felt like we should both stay at home. He was getting on my last damn nerves. For every little thing he wants to rush her to the emergency room.”

  Raquel giggled. “Paris, I don’t care how much time passes by, I still find it funny how much Jay done changed. Growing up, I thought he’d be the last nigga to be a family man.”

  “Shit, you and me both.” Paris shook her head.

  Raven snaked her neck. “Well, I think that he’s keeping your ass close to keep you away from Bee.”

  Everybody laughed. Paris was the oldest out of everyone and it was a known fact that she was once in a crazy love triangle with her husband and her first love. She’d decided to stay with her kids’ father, Jay Rock, but people suspected that she was still creeping with Bee.

  “Girl please.” Paris waved Raven off. “Jay Rock would kill my ass. I aint crazy. That nigga got eyes and ears everywhere.”

  “And he probably got somebody following your ass.” Raquel added, jokingly. Still, it was no secret that Jay Rock had niggas keeping an eye on Paris. No one made a big deal about it, because there were a few others in the room that had to deal with similar situations.

  “Anyways…on a more positive note, how’s life with Desmond, Ryan?” Raven asked deciding to change the subject.

  Ryan shrugged. “It’s good.”

  “Good?” Trinity repeated. “It’s gotta be better than good, because I peeped how your ass been glowing and shit.”

  Ryan broke out into giggles like a little school girl. “Okay, okay. I feel like I’m sixteen again.”

  Everybody smiled, happy for her.

  “That’s good.” Dina nodded. “I know the twins love having the nigga around.”

  Ryan sighed. �
�Girl, do they? That’s the only real thing me and Desmond beef about. The twins are crazy about their daddy, and he’s nuts about them. Sometimes at night he’ll tell me that it still hurts how he missed so much of their lives. I just keep telling him that I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, that is some heavy shit.” Raven nodded, thinking about her own drama. “Sometimes I feel guilty about the situation with JJ.” She admitted.

  “But you shouldn’t.” Raquel spoke up. “You and Ryan had two different situations. Jahrein had cheated on you and made an outside child. There are plenty of women that would have felt like you. It’s a good thing that yall were able to work through it for the sake of JJ, though.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Raven nodded.

  “How did JJ end up living with you, anyway, Raven?” Paris questioned.

  “Umm…I had found out that Jahrein had let his ex, Melissa, stay in one of our rental properties. She was keeping his son for him. Once I found out I was ready to leave his ass, because we had agreed that he was supposed to cut off ties with JJ. But this time Jahrein stood his ground and admitted that he was going to continue being in his son’s life. At that time a lot of other shit was happening, so the subject got put on the backburner. Still, once everything had settled down, he asked me if he could move JJ in. I told him hell no.

  That turned into a big thing, and I left for a little while. I had pulled the shit before, but this was different. Our kids now understood what was going on, and it was really bothering them. My oldest daughter started messing up in school, Jahreiah started peeing in the bed, shit was just a mess. I was actually filing for a divorce. Jahrein found out and lost it. We had a knock down drag out fight. I was just so mad that I wasn’t trying to hear shit. Then he got me in front of the kids and explained the whole situation to them. He asked them if they could accept JJ. I was surprised that most of them been knew about him, and were okay with him staying with us. Then Jahrein basically put it out there that I had the fate of our family in my hands. So, I gave in. A few weeks later he moved JJ in. At first I would smile through it and then cry myself to sleep at night. I guess, Jahrein felt guilty, so he was trying any and everything to make me happy. None of that worked, so we actually went to counseling. There were just a lot of things that I still had bottled up inside. I got to the real issue, and I wasn’t over the act that made JJ. We talked through a lot of things, and it helped the both of us to understand each other better. As time went on, I got used to JJ being around and learned to accept him.”