by King, Deja
“For real! Them shits look mad pricey.”
“They are. They cost like twenty-five g’s.”
“Get the fuck outta here! What that nigga do?”
“He’s a drug dealer. That’s why I’m keeping the relationship on the low because my mother already told me to stay away from him.”
“How did she find out he’s a drug dealer.”
“My grandfather snitched.”
“Leave it up to Quentin to try and spoil your fun but you know he means well. He love him some Aaliyah.”
“Shut up!”
“You know I’m telling the truth. So when am I going to meet your boyfriend?”
“We should all go out to dinner while you’re here. That’ll be nice. D’Mario’s been dying to know who the hell is this Amir cat I always be talking about. Now he can find out.”
“So how serious are things between you two?”
“He’s like my first real boyfriend so serious enough.”
“Have you guys, you know…”
“Are you asking me if we’ve had sex yet?”
“Nope. So that makes me the only virgin in the clique because I know you and Justina have been getting it in for a minute now.”
“She told you?”
“Of course! She couldn’t wait to tell me how amazing the sex was.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m good with you all’s relationship now. D’Mario makes me happy. So I guess you can say I’m over that crush or whatever you want to call it that I had on you.”
“That’s good to hear and I’m glad you’ve moved on and happy with D’Mario,” I lied. Call me selfish but I didn’t want Aaliyah to get over whatever it was that she felt for me. In my mind she was mine.
> “We’re here.”
“Damn, this shit is in the cut.”
“I know,” Aaliyah laughed. “When D’Mario first took me here he said if you wanted to creep and not be seen this was the spot to go to. But wait till you eat the food, it’s so delicious.”
“As hungry as I am anything would be good,” I said holding the door open as Aaliyah and I walked inside.
“Tell the hostess to get us a table because I can’t eat anything until I go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Cool.” I wasted no time getting to the hostess. “Let me get a table for two.”
“Sure, do you want to be seated now or wait for your guest?”
“You can go ahead and seat me and when she comes out the bathroom, bring her to our table.”
“No problem, follow me.” While trailing behind the hostess the moonlight coming through the window shined on a couple in the back corner. Their deep, intense kissing got my attention. As my eyes zoomed on them closer my mouth dropped. I immediately turned around and made my way back to the front. I knew the hostess was going to wonder what the hell happened to me but I didn’t care. I was rushing so quickly that I ended up bumping right into Aaliyah.
“Amir, where are you going?”
“I changed my mind. I don’t have the taste for Italian food. Let’s go someplace else.”
“I promise you; once you taste the food you’re going to love it. Now come on, I don’t feel like going somewhere else,” Aaliyah said grabbing my arm. Before I could stop her, that same moonlight that stopped me in my tracks had the exact same affect on her.
“Aaliyah, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see that.”
“This can’t be happening.” I could see the tears swell up in her eyes and it was breaking my heart.
“Let’s go. You can deal with it later.”
“No, I’ma deal with it right now.” Aaliyah stormed off and I was right behind her.
“Please don’t let this turn ugly,” I whispered under my breath.
“This is where you’ve been sneaking off to!”
“Aaliyah, what are you doing here?”
“The question is what are you doing here? You’re in a restaurant tonguing down some other man! How could you do this to me!”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Who is he? Wait you’re that man that I met at Amir’s house. You’re Genesis’s friend.”
“Aaliyah, stop it.”
“No mother, you stop it! How could you do this? Have you been having an affair with him since back then? That was months ago.” Aaliyah’s voice was so loud that people in the restaurant were now staring in our direction trying to see what was going on. None of us needed that type of attention so I decided to try again to get Aaliyah to leave.
“Aaliyah, we need to go.”
“Did you know about this and not tell me?”
“Of course not! I had no idea that your mom and Lorenzo were seeing each other.”
“Don’t lie to me, Amir.”
“I’m not. Now let’s go. We can talk about this in the car.”
“Aaliyah, Amir is right. Let’s discuss this outside.” With reluctance Aaliyah followed her mom outside and I sat down with Lorenzo.
“You don’t owe me an explanation but I need to know, does my dad know about this?”
mesn >K. El
“Yes, I told him a few weeks ago. I hate that you and Aaliyah had to find out like this.”
“She’s married and Aaliyah is Nico’s daughter but I’m not telling you nothing that you don’t already know. No disrespect but this some messy shit.”
“None taken and you’re absolutely right. Trust me I didn’t plan to fall for her but I did.”
“What you tryna say that ya’ll in love? What part don’t you get, >
“Oh, I get that.”
“You just don’t care. I know Nico doesn’t know.”
“Of course not.”
“How do adults expect for kids to make the right decisions when they can’t make it their damn selves. Great fuckin’ example you guys are,” I groaned getting up from the table.
“Amir, wait.”
“What is it?”
“I like you. You’re an exceptional young man. Don’t let this define our relationship.”
“I hear you, Lorenzo, but I need to go check on Aaliyah.” When I got outside Aaliyah and her mom were in the parking lot exchanging heated words. That was better than what I imagined it would be. As I got up closer on them I could hear what was being said and to my surprise Precious was not backing down.
“Aaliyah, of course this isn’t how I wanted you to find out about Lorenzo but I’m not going to apologize to you for finding some happiness and holding on to it.”
“You make it seem like there is no happiness left with daddy.”
“What house have you been living in?” Precious asked sarcastically. “There isn’t any happiness left in my marriage and hasn’t been for a very long time and you know that.”
“But you don’t throw your family away for some meaningless affair.”
“It’s not meaningless. Lorenzo is very important to me.”
“Are you saying you’re going to leave daddy for him?”
“I don’t know but it’s my decision to make and I would appreciate it if you give me that.”
“Is that what you call a polite way of asking me not to expose your affair?”
“Yes it is. Until you get married and you’re able to survive the good, bad and the ugly, hold off on being judgmental.”
“Fine, I’ll keep your little secret but while you’re contemplating whether to fight for your marriage, think about Xavier. I’m eighteen so I’ll get over it. But Xavier is just a kid who needs his mother and father together. So while you’re in that restaurant tonguing down Lorenzo, think about that. Let’s go, Amir.”
“Goodnight,” I said to Precious before following Aaliyah back to her car. The entire situation was fucked up but I didn’t think Precious or Lorenzo were bad people they just made a bad decision they would no doubt cause even greater consequences.
“I can’t believe this shit! Amir, you promise you didn’t know about this?” Aal
iyah asked me again when we got in the car.
“I promise. Why is it so hard for you to believe me?”
“Your dad and Lorenzo are close. I would think your dad would’ve mentioned it to you.”
“So would I but he didn’t. Maybe he didn’t want to put me in the middle of it. He knew I would feel obligated to tell you.”
“Then why were you trying to get me out the restaurant and hide it from me?”
“Because exactly what I was trying to avoid, happened. I didn’t want you and your mother having a blowout in the middle of a fuckin’ restaurant. When I saw them together my first reaction was to protect you and that meant not letting you see it. But once I got you far away from there I had every intention of letting you know.”
“I apologize for doubting you.”
“You don’t have to. I know how fucked up you’re feeling right now. They not even my parents and I’m feeling fucked up. Then I’m thinking about Nico.”
“What about my dad?”
“Lorenzo is doing business with him. I don’t know how long that will last once he finds out.”
“Do you think I should tell him?”
“Hell No! This shit is fucked up but like my dad would say, this grown folks business and stay the fuck out of it.”
“But it isn’t right. Lorenzo is fucking my mother but then doing business with my dad.”
ownlign="l “See I shouldn’t have even said anything. In all honesty the shit is actually separate. Lorenzo’s personal life doesn’t have anything to do with his business. It’s not like your mother is married to Nico and Lorenzo stepped in and started having an affair with her.”
“So now you’re defending him!”
“All I’m trying to say is that I don’t believe Lorenzo was trying to slight Nico so don’t tell your dad, either one of them. Let your mother handle this. Trust me everything will come to the light without you even putting your two cents in…it always does.”
“Fine, I won’t say anything.”
“You give me your word?”
“Yes, I put that on our friendship. But hopefully my mother realizes her marriage is worth saving and ends that bullshit relationship with Lorenzo. You know what’s crazy about this?”
“What?”
“My mom and dad constantly argued over Nico. My dad just knew there was something going on between them. How ironic is it that he’s not even the one my mother turned to.”
After Aaliyah said that, we both remained silent for the duration of the car ride. Our appetites were now nonexistent and all we both wanted to do was go home. This shit had ruined our evening and I hoped it wasn’t a precursor for how the rest of my birthday weekend would go.
“You are still coming tomorrow?” I questioned Aaliyah before getting out her car to go in the house.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss your birthday party for nothing. You always come through for me.”
“And I always will.” I gave Aaliyah a kiss on her cheek and went in the house. I knew a birthday party wouldn’t make Aaliyah forget what went down tonight but maybe some fun would be an excellent deviation.
When I entered the house, from the two story circular entry I could see my dad pouring himself a drink at the bar. “Amir, will you come here,” he yelled out from the living room.
I was in no rush to get to my dad so instead I did a mental tour of our new house in order to slow down my pace. I already knew what he wanted to discuss and I was a tad dismayed with him for not telling me about Lorenzo and Precious. I was hoping by the time I made it to him some of that anger would’ve subsided. So I stamesed. So red up at the sky-high ceilings, admired the glided moldings and massive fireplace and even complimented how stunning the chandeliers were in my mind. “What is it?”
“Lorenzo called and told me what happened,” my dad stated, getting straight to the point.
“Yeah it got ugly real quick.”
“How’s Aaliyah doing?”
“Not good. She thought I knew what was going on between them and didn’t tell her?”
“You explained to her you didn’t.”
“Of course but I would’ve known if you had told me.”
“I knew it would be a mistake. You would’ve felt compelled to tell Aaliyah and I couldn’t let that happen.”
“That didn’t work out because now she knows.”
“Were you able to convince her to stay quiet about what she knows?”
“I think so.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“She gave me her word but I can’t control what she does.”
“The two of you are very close. You need to make sure she understands how important it is that she keeps what she knows to herself.”
“I did but understandably she’s hurt.”
“And we all regret that but this has to be handled delicately.”
“You mean because of Nico.”
“Yes. We’re running a lucrative business and unfortunately I’m afraid that Nico won’t be able to separate the business from the personal.”
“You always taught me that was the number one rule in this game.”
“It is but everybody has that one person in their life that the rule doesn’t applym" sn’t to and for Nico it’s Precious.”
“Maybe you should’ve informed Lorenzo of that before he took Precious to bed.” My dad began shaking the ice cubes in his glass around before pouring himself another drink. I knew that meant he was trying not to let his temper get the best of him.
“Son, I can appreciate that you’re upset that Aaliyah has been hurt by what her mother and Lorenzo are doing but it is happening and from what they both told me it’s not going to stop anytime soon. So we have to find the best way to deal with it. Right now that means everybody remaining silent, including you.”
“Aaliyah already knows who else would I tell?”
“Your girlfriend Justina.”
“I comprehend the importance of silence.”
“Excellent because you’ve been asking me for a very long time to let you be a part of the organization and loyalty to our business is essential. If you can’t keep your emotions under control it won’t work.”
“I told you I was ready and I am. I’m fully aware of the rules and I’ll follow them.”
“That’s what I needed to hear,” my dad said nodding his head and loosening the tie on his white shirt. “Are you ready for your party tomorrow?” switching the subject quickly was my dad’s way of saying that the other conversation was over without actually saying it.
“Yes I am. I’m finally eighteen about to graduate and move on to the next phase of my life. Having a big celebration is a great way to start it off.”
“I think you and everybody else will have a wonderful time. Get some rest tonight you have a big day tomorrow.”
“Will do. Goodnight, dad.”
“Goodnight.” No matter how calm and in control my dad conducted himself there was no denying this affair that Lorenzo and Precious were having was stressing him out. I’m sure it had been from the moment he found out. Now with Aaliyah in the loop that brought another element of tension. He knew I could be trusted but he didn’t hold the same assurance in Aaliyah but only time would tell.
***
I stood at the top of the double adjoining spiral stairwell and watched as the guest arrived to my birthday party. My da>
“You look unfuckin’ believable tonight.”
“My dad almost had a seizure when I came out my bedroom. He tried to bribe me to change my outfit but it was more important to me to give you a hard-on when you saw me than anything he was offering.”
“You made the right choice because all I want to do right now is take you in my bedroom. I can’t wait for you to see it. It’s bigger than a one bedroom New York City apartment and it has panoramic views of the entire Los Angeles Basin.
“So what are we waiting for?” I couldn’t help but smile at Justina’s question.
“It’s n
ot time yet, baby. But before the nights over I’m going to make sure you give me my birthday present.”
“No worries by me because I’m going to make sure I do too. I already know where we’ll be spending the majority of our time while you’re here,” she teased kissing my neck.
“Are you trying to get me to fuck you right here on the stairs.”
“That would be sexy, especially in this house. Did I mention how gorgeous this place is? I remember you telling me your dad was buying a house on the west coast but I didn’t know he was getting a European styled mansion in Holmby Hills.”
“I was as shocked as you when he first showed it to me. He always claimed we were bachelors and didn’t need a huge house. I guess he changed his mind.”
“He beyond changed his mind. He went to the complete left. When my dad was driving up that long winding cobblestone driveway and my mom saw the motor court that look like it could fit a zillion cars she told my dad she wanted a new house because this one made her feel poor.”
“Your mother has always been dramatic.”
“True but she’s right this place is gorgeous and you’re in the perfect location. With Aaliyah living in Beverly Hills, me in Bel-Air and you in w R and yoHolmby Hills we’re representing what they call the “Platinum Triangle” of Los Angeles.”
“Is that what they call it?”
“Yep! Now that your dad bought this amazing place, maybe you should consider going to college out here.”
“I love LA but I’m an east coast New York type of dude. Maybe you should consider going to school in NYC. Aaliyah is and if you come the clique will be there and we can run New York.”
“My mother wants me here but I’m working on it because there is no place I would rather be than with you.”
“I can’t believe they came together,” I mumbled under my breath getting distracted.
“What did you say?”
“I said I wondered when Aaliyah would get here since her parents just came in.”
“Together?”
“Yeah, why do you say it like that?” I was checking to see if Aaliyah couldn’t hold it in and confided everything to Justina.
“Aaliyah told me a few weeks ago their marriage was in serious trouble so I’m surprised they came together. But maybe they’re trying to work it out, which would be great for Aaliyah and especially her brother.”