by Nique Luarks
Sasha and Erin sat in Tone’s entertainment room drinking and watching Scarface with Tone. Sasha was wrapped up in a cover and Erin was cuddled up underneath Tone. Sasha was happy Erin was happy. She appreciated Tone making sure she was good as well; he was something like a big brother. Erin could deny it all she wanted but Sasha could sense the love between the two. She only wished she could say the same for her and Shawn. She sipped on her wine as she watched Scarface kill his sister’s husband.
Erin scoffed. “Why’d he do that? That wasn’t right man.” She gave a disappointed sigh.
Sasha laughed. Erin could be so dramatic. She watched as Tone pulled Erin closer to him. He spoke in a soft but stern tone. “He did it because he had to. Respect is essential. The minute you let anybody overstep that boundary of respect without consequence, everybody will question your power. Disrespect is non-negotiable.” He rubbed Erin’s back.
Sasha shook her head in understanding. “That’s exactly why I’m done with Shawn’s ass.”
Erin lifted her head to look at Sasha. “What happened?”
Sasha laughed, Erin really did know her better than anybody else. She used to hate it growing up, but now that they were older she appreciated that fact that Erin could read between the lines, without her having to say too much. She put her glass to her lips. “He called me and asked me to come back home.” She took a sip and held the glass tight.
To her surprise Tone spoke. “Look Sasha, I don’t know the whole situation with dude, but before you go back remember this. People treat you accordingly. Make that nigga work for it ma, can’t nobody tell you how to live your life.”
Erin sighed. “You going back?”
Sasha looked down at her glass. “I miss him so much. I thought I hated him, but I don’t. But I can’t just go back. He needs to realize what type of woman he has and appreciate me. I just want to be happy again.” Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Erin went to sit by her, as Tone put the movie on pause and left the room to give them some privacy. Erin rubbed her back. “You don’t have to act all hard for me Sasha. I know this feeling. I had to suffer through it with Vell. Heartbreak is real, and the shit hurts.”
Sasha wiped her eyes. “Yea, but you’re so tough E. I never saw you cry over Vell, be sad yea, but cry no. I just wish I could be stronger. He got me feeling so weak man.”
Erin shook her head, “Sasha I cried every night. I went to work to clear my mind of him, and when that didn’t work I had you.” Erin hugged her. “Just like now you got me.”
Chapter Fifteen: Unfortunate
Skyy paced her living room floor, contemplating on how she was going to break the news to Deidra that Skylar was her sister. She knew they wouldn’t be together after it was all said and done, but she owed it to Deidra to keep it real and be upfront. So many questions were running through her head. But the main thing that concerned her was would Deidra hate her? Deidra’s parents had been married almost all her life, and Skyy bringing a baby in was destined to ruin their happy home.
Skyy finally built up the courage, looking down at her Galaxy 6 to make the dreadful call to Deidra. Her nerves were bad, causing her hands to shake uncontrollably making it nearly impossible to make the call. She took a slow deep breath and coached herself through it. “Skyy this isn’t your fault. How were you supposed to know Derick’s no good, lying ass was Deidra’s daddy? She’ll understand because she loves you.” she tried to convince herself.
Hitting dial she waited for Deidra to answer the phone. To her surprise Deidra walked through the front cheesing like a Cheshire cat. Skyy hung the phone up and smiled back.
“Hey baby, I was just calling you.” Skyy didn’t want to have this conversation in person. If she was forced to break Deidra’s heart she would rather do it over the phone, rather than face to face and see the disappointment.
Deidra sat her keys on the table. “Guess what?” She was almost jumping up and down.
Skyy laughed at how giddy she was being. She’d never seen Deidra like this. It was sexy how her eyes lit up with excitement. Skyy put her phone in her pocket. “What’s going on?”
Deidra scooped her up into her arms and hugged her. “You know I love you right? You and Skylar mean everything to me.”
Skyy felt sadness set in, but she didn’t let Deidra see it. “Yea baby, you mean everything to us too. That’s why-“
Deidra cut her off, “I bought the house baby. You don’t have to stay in this little ass apartment no more. I broke my lease today.” Deidra held up the keys grinning.
Skyy’s stomach dropped to her feet. “Baby…wow. I didn’t think you were serious. I know we’ve looked around, but I didn’t think you would actually go through with it.” Tears filled her eyes.
Deidra hugged her again, “Don’t cry baby, you know I’d do anything for you. Like my mom’s said, it’s time for me to grow up. What better person to grow old with than you?” Deidra wiped the tears from Skyy’s face as they ran down her cheeks.
Skyy hugged her back. “I know, that’s why I love you so much. I just don’t want things to ever change between us Dee.” Deidra thought she was crying over the house. Skyy was ecstatic about moving into a bigger space, a house, and especially with Deidra. But she knew it could never happen, and that’s what hurt the most.
Deidra pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, you ain’t gotta worry about that. We locked in.” Deidra pulled her back in for an embrace.
Skyy hugged her tight and inhaled her cologne. “There’s something I need to tell you.” Skyy wiped her face and nose with the sleeve of her thermal shirt. Her heart began beating rapidly and her palms became sweaty. She looked down at the floor regretting ever meeting Derick.
Deidra rubbed her arm; she’d never seen Skyy so upset. She was for sure the news about the house would make her day. Yet here Skyy was acting like someone killed her puppy. “You good? What’s the matter Skyy? Is Skylar ok?” Deidra looked around the apartment for anything out of the ordinary.
Skyy shook her head. “Skylar’s fine, I dropped her off with my mom.” Skyy looked into Deidra’s eyes seeing how concerned she was. She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t end their relationship like this. She was so zoned out in her thoughts she didn’t realize Deidra was calling her name until she shook her gently.
“Skyy what the fuck is going on?” Deidra was getting aggravated out of fear. “Tell me something, shit. You’re standing here crying, what happened?”
Skyy sighed, “I … I can’t break my lease. I can’t afford to.” She’d chickened out. She couldn’t ruin something so great with Deidra like this. Maybe she could talk to Derick and come up with a different conclusion. Derick had already ruined her life once, there was no way she was about to let him do it again.
Deidra gave a sigh of relief. “Shit, you had me thinking you was cheating or something. Don’t worry about your lease, I got that. You just worry about packing you and Skylar up, and coming home with me.”
Sasha stood in the mirror looking at her reflection, pleased at how well her outfit had come out. Since it was damn near in the negatives she’d decided on a simple skin tight bodycon long sleeve dress that stopped right at her thighs and her black Jimmy Choo stilettoes. Her signature bob was slayed in red and her makeup was beat. It was two days before Christmas, and she was meeting Skyy down at The Well, a local bar in the Waldo area, for a few drinks.
She grabbed her clutch and made her way out the door. Erin had gone out to California with Tone so she was all alone. She was happy when Skyy practically begged her to go out. It was bad enough she was spending Christmas alone, so when the offer came she didn’t hesitate to say hell yes. Sasha pulled off making sure to drive extra careful because of the freezing rain that was now falling from the sky.
She parked her car and made her way into the packed bar. Men tried to get her attention but she wasn’t feeling it. She’d come to have a few drinks with her girl and leave, not to mix and mingle
with the opposite sex. Skyy waved at her from the bar and she headed in her direction. The bar was crowded for a Thursday night making it difficult for Sasha to push through the massive crowd of people. She finally made it to the bar and sat down in the open seat Skyy saved for her.
They shared a side hug. “Girl it’s packed!” Sasha looked around the room fanning her face.
Skyy nodded. “I know, I think its somebody’s birthday.” She ushered for the bartender. After ordering two shots of Patron for both of them, Skyy faced Sasha. “So what you been up to? I haven’t seen you since that shit at Erin’s? Is she still mad at me?” Erin wouldn’t openly admit she was still mad about her and Jeanette fighting in her house, but Skyy knew better.
Sasha took her first shot. “She said she over it, but you know how Erin is, aint no telling. How’s everything with Deidra?” Sasha grabbed for her second shot.
Skyy rolled her eyes. “Everything with Deidra is fucked up.” Skyy told her how she’d met up with Derick and how he was demanding to have a relationship with Skylar. She then went on to tell her how Deidra had bought a house and she wasn’t able to break the news to her.
Sasha sighed. “Damn…I swear I hate him for you.” She waved to the bartender for two more shots. “So you’re telling her? I think you should before he pulls a fast one, and then she’s really going to hate you.”
Skyy reached for her shots. “I know, I have to tell her. I just don’t know how.” She threw back her shots and let the Patron ease her mind, even though it would only be temporary relief.
Sasha and Skyy were now on their way out of the bar feeling themselves, giggling uncontrollably. They held each other up as they headed out the door and into the brisk cold air. Skyy tripped over her own two feet nearly sending both of them crashing down. Sasha gripped her with all her might, and once she was sure they were safe from a fall she burst out in a fit of laughter.
“Bitch...you, you gone make us fall wit your drunk ass.” Sasha slurred as she held on to Skyy. Skyy ignored her and started to cross the street. Sasha felt herself being snatched back as a car zoomed past them almost running them over. She screamed late.
“Are y’all ok, let me call a cab.” an unfamiliar voice spoke behind Sasha. She turned to face the stranger that had just saved her and Skyy, and to her surprise Malcolm stood in front her.
Sasha fixed her dress, and stood up straight. “Um, no we’re good thank you.” She couldn’t help but notice how fine he was. He wore a simple white vee neck t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and some coke white huaraches. He had a tattoo sleeve on his right arm that she’d never noticed, probably because the only time she’d seen him was at the office.
Malcolm looked her over. “Don’t I know you?” Squinting his eyes and tilting his head to the side he rubbed his chin. “Sasha, right? You work for my brother Michael, or at least you used to. How have you been?”
Sasha gave a surprised look. At the office she couldn’t even get a simple goodbye from Malcolm, now here he was asking her how she’d been. “Good and you?” She stumbled a little, as she tried holding Skyy up.
Skyy interrupted. “I’m happy that y’all know each other but I’m going home. It’s cold out here.” She tried to walk off but Sasha grabbed her arm.
“I don’t think so, you can barely walk.” She laughed at how drunk they were.
Malcolm offered to help. “I can take both of you home, if you want, I was leaving anyways.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.
Sasha looked down at a drunken Skyy and sucked her teeth. She was too lit to drive and she was definitely not letting Skyy drive home alone. “What about our cars?”
Malcolm pulled out his phone, making a call. “Don’t worry about, I’ll handle it.”
Jeanette placed the plate of fried chicken, macaroni, and green beans in front of a pouting little Kory. He started picking at it and whining. “KJ, stop it and eat, or go to bed.” She sat down at the table across from him. “I’m not playing.”
Little Kory huffed. “This is nasty, I don’t even like green beans.”
Jeanette rolled her eyes. “Well tonight you love them. Eat up.” She watched as he stabbed at the macaroni with an attitude. She was about to send him to his room when she heard the front door open. She rolled her eyes and continued eating. She wasn’t in the mood for Kory’s bullshit tonight. She was happy that she’d filed the restraining order against him, because sooner than later she knew things between them would only get worse.
Kory rubbed his eyes as she sat down at the table with them. “What’s up little man?” He rubbed the top of his sons head. He ignored Jeanette as he reached for a plate and some silverware.
Jeanette stood up and went to the kitchen counter. “Kory, we need to talk. I can’t allow you to live off me anymore.” She opened the kitchen drawer closest to her and pulled out a white folder. “This relationship is destroying me, and you…you’re destroying me.” she sighed as tears welled up in her eyes.
Kory scoffed. “Don’t start. I’m not in the mood for your crybaby ass tonight.” He bit into his chicken, giving her a mean mug.
Jeanette sat back down at the table. “Lil’ Kory, go to your room please so I can talk to your daddy.” She opened the folder up pulling out some papers. Lil’ Kory hopped up from his seat glad he was getting away with not having to eat green beans.
Kory shook his head putting his fork down and leaning back into his chair. “What now?” He snatched the papers out of her hands and quickly skimmed through them. “Restraining order, on who?” he asked with his eyes still glued to the pages in his hands.
Jeanette rubbed the side of her neck nervously. “On you, I went I got it a couple days ago.” She watched his face turn up and his chest heave up and down quickly. He balled his fist up and slammed it down on the table, causing her to flinch.
“Bitch! Are you serious!?” He stood up rapidly with the papers still in hand. “This how you doing it? You ungrateful muthafucka?” he asked her becoming belligerent. He ripped the papers up and threw them in her face. “I’m not going nowhere!”
Jeanette grabbed the pieces of paper as they fell in her lap. “Get out!” She stood up and jumped in his face unafraid. “Get the fuck out of my house!”
Kory’s eyes widened in shock, as he watched her stand her ground, with her finger in his face. All the years he’d known Jeanette she’d never been so outspoken, yet these last couple of weeks she seemed to be transforming into a totally different person. He snatched her by her shirt collar and spoke coolly into her ear. “I’m not going nowhere.”
He roughly released Jeanette and she started seeing red. She rushed back over to the drawer she’d just come from and pulled out a black 9mm Glock. Pointing it directly at him, she moved slowly in his direction. “Kory, get out.” She spoke calmly but firmly. Within a blank of an eye Kory was rushing towards her. She closed her eyes and pulled the trigger.
Erin combed through her hair as she sang along to Kelly Rowland. She and Tone had been in California for three days now and she genuinely enjoyed his company. They’d gone shopping all day the day before and made love all night. Tone was a breath of fresh of air and she loved being around him. The chemistry they shared was so deep it scared her a little. Tone brought out feelings she’d forgot even existed.
They were going to the beach today and she was hype. She’d never been to the beach, but she was ready to put her toes in the sand. Erin pulled her hair into a messy bun and laid her edges down. Putting on her midnight blue, strappy wireless chain bikini set she stepped back to check out how her body looked in the swim suit. Giving her tattooed body an approval, she grabbed her towel and headed towards the suite’s living room area.
“Santonio?” she called out as she slipped her feet into her gold sandals. When he didn’t answer she went looking for him. “Santonio?” she called out again opening the bedroom doors.
Tone was laid out on the bed with his feet propped up, skimming through his phone. “Wassup?”
Erin
noticed the attitude in his tone of voice. Plopping down on the bed beside him she tried snatching his phone out his hand. He quickly moved his phone away from her and gave her a mean look. Erin smacked her lips. “What’s your problem?” She’d only been away from him for thirty minutes, what could have possibly changed between them that fast.
Tone ignored her still skimming through his phone. Standing up, she placed her hands on her hips. She was tired of Tone’s bipolar ass. One minute he was happy, all up under her, laughing. Then as soon as something was going wrong with “business”, he treated her like a common bitch. She was going to put an end to that, and she was going to do it now.
Erin fixed her face, clearing her throat to speak, but Tone spoke instead. “Erin, don’t say nothing that’s gone piss me off.” Tone knew Erin was outspoken, and unfiltered, if she felt the need to set something straight, she did it, and in that order.
Erin rolled her eyes. “Naw, I just asked nicely what the problem was, and you ignored me. So let’s get some shit straight. You’re not ‘bout to ignore me, when I haven’t did shit to you.” She was frustrated, and didn’t even want to go to the beach anymore.
Tone looked her over slowly, and then looked back down at his phone. “Take that fuckin swimming suit off. You got too much ass for it.” He continued scrolling through his phone. Erin looked damn good in that bathing suit. Her tattoos on her arms and thighs popped, and her smooth caramel complexion was oiled up and flawless.
“I’m not taking nothing off.” Erin rolled her neck. “Did you not hear what I just said? I don’t have to put up with this shit.” She rushed over to her luggage opening her bags. “I’m going home; you can enjoy the rest of this trip by your damn self.”
Tone laughed to himself, here Erin was being her usual dramatic self. “You’re not going nowhere. Now go and take that damn swim suit off.” He didn’t feel like arguing with Erin for two reasons. One, that wasn’t his style and two, he needed to get down to the bottom of some he say/she say bullshit.