Complicated 3

by Chenell Parker

  “Yeah, but I’m gonna get my shit straight. I need to build my bank account back up to catch up on my child support payments. This club shit took most of my money, but it’s all good. If I keep a crowd like this, I’ll be rolling in the big faces real soon,” Mekhi spoke after a long moment of silence.

  “Why do you keep saying you? Us nigga, me and you,” Tommy yelled angrily.

  “Calm down bruh. That’s just a slip of the tongue. Don’t take the shit personal,” Mekhi chuckled as he held his hands up in surrender.

  He had to really watch what he said around Tommy. Although they owned the business together now, Mekhi didn’t see that lasting for longer than six months. Janice had finally handled her business and got Tommy to sign the contract that she had drawn up. Mekhi would play the game for now, but Club MJ’s would soon be replacing that lame ass name that he let Tommy talk him into. Tommy was cool, but he was no businessman. If he was, he would have never signed a contract without reading it first. It also helped that his cousin knew and trusted Janice. It probably helped that Tommy saw his signature first, and that’s just the way he planned it. Things couldn’t have gone better even if he wanted them to. Tommy didn’t even drink. He had no business being a club owner. It just wasn’t in him.

  “What the fuck is that nigga doing?” Tommy yelled when he saw Big Moe grab one of the patrons by his collar and drag him out.

  “He’s doing his job,” Mekhi laughed as she watched his bouncer in action.

  “Man, I don’t know why you hired that fucking convict. We gon’ be out of business before we really start. This is our first night open, and he’s starting already,” Tommy fussed as he made his way down the red velvet covered staircase.

  “That’s exactly what we need. A nigga who’s not scared to get his hands dirty,” Mekhi replied as he followed him.

  Big Moe’s criminal record was probably a mile long, but Mekhi really didn’t care. He needed somebody like that to have his back. Big Moe had gone to jail for murder, robbery and everything in between. Mekhi actually met him at the courthouse when he picked Janice up one day. Big Moe had just been given probation for an assault charge and was in desperate need of a job. After talking to him for a while, Mekhi decided that he would be a perfect bouncer for his new club. He didn’t think that he and Big Moe would become so close in such a short amount of time, but they did.

  “What’s going on? What you put dude out for?” Tommy asked Big Moe when he walked up on him.

  “Nigga don’t ask me no questions. I don’t work for you,” Big Moe barked as he towered over Tommy and looked down at him.

  “The fuck you mean? This is our place of business that you’re in. I can ask you what I want,” Tommy replied, unbothered by the much bigger man.

  “Nigga what?” Big Moe sneered.

  “Whoa, calm down bruh. What happened?” Mekhi questioned as he stepped in between the two men.

  “That was a nigga that I was locked up with,” Big Moe replied while he continued to mean mug Tommy. “Nigga thought he was getting in free, but I had to turn his ass around.”

  “That’s what’s up. My own mama ain’t getting in this bitch free tonight. I’m trying to get it,” Mekhi said as checked out a chick who was on the dance floor twerking to the music.

  He was mesmerized by the way her hips moved in sync with the beat, and he wanted to know who she was. She was kind of thick, but she was nicely toned with a cute baby face. He could tell that she was fashionable just by the style and color of her hair. The black jumper that she wore clung to her curves like it was painted on.

  “Don’t even think about it. We’re supposed to be making sure shit runs smooth for our opening night. Leave them hoes alone,” Tommy said when he saw how Mekhi was staring at the woman on the dance floor.

  Mekhi ignored what was being said as continued to focus on the big boned cutie as she did her thing on the dance floor. A crowd of people had formed around her, but she somehow managed to lock eyes with him. When she winked at him and smiled, Mekhi knew right then that he would be getting a room for the two of them. That was the one and only thing that he loved about being divorced. He could come and go as he pleased without having to answer to anyone. Aside from a few females that he entertained every now and then, Mekhi was single and unattached. Both Brandy and Janice wanted to change that, but he was good on a relationship.

  “You want me to go get her for you boss man?” Big Moe offered, taking Mekhi away from his thoughts.

  “Nah, give her a little time. She gon’ come to me,” Mekhi said in his usual arrogant tone.

  He kept trying to place the woman’s face, but he couldn’t remember where he knew her from. He took a seat at the bar and continued to watch everybody enjoy themselves around him. Tommy was busy making sure everything ran smoothly, but Mekhi didn’t help him. He wasn’t used to being hands on with the small stuff in his business. That was his reason for hiring managers to do it for him.

  “Can I get two shots of Patron and two wine coolers please?” A female voice said to the side of Mekhi. He looked over and smirked when he saw the female who had been dancing standing at the bar right next to him. He knew that she would make her way over eventually, but it happened sooner than he wanted it to.

  “Two shots huh? You must be trying to get white girl wasted. You might need somebody to drive you home tonight,” Mekhi flirted.

  “Are you offering?” She asked flirting right back with him.

  “It’s on me Mike,” Mekhi said to the bartender who sat the woman’s drinks down in front of her.

  “No problem boss,” Mike replied as he turned around and assisted another customer.

  “Boss,” the woman smiled. “So this is your club?”

  “It sure is,” Mekhi smiled as his chest swelled with pride.

  “Oh okay, so my girl was right. She said that you were the boss, but I didn’t believe her.”

  Mekhi’s smile instantly faded when she said that. He thought back to when he first met Janice and thought that she was probably setting him up again. He’d been served so much in the past that he didn’t trust anyone who came around him now.

  “What’s your name and who is your girl?” Mekhi questioned.

  “My name is Carla, and that’s my girl Arial on the dance floor,” she said pointing at another woman who was dancing.

  “Damn,” Mekhi mumbled when the other woman did a split and started popping her ass cheeks. She looked familiar too, but he was having a hard time figuring out just how he knew the two women. Just by the looks of them he knew that they were nobody special. They looked like common hood rats who were out having a good time.

  “What’s your name?” Carla asked him.

  “Mekhi,” he answered with his hand extended.

  “Girlfriend or wife?” Carla inquired as she shook his hand.

  “Neither,” Mekhi smiled as he watched Carla visibly relax.

  They made small talk and enjoyed each other’s company until Carla excused herself to go to the bathroom. As soon as she made sure that the coast was clear, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

  “You were right cousin. This is his club. I’m sitting at the bar talking to him now,” Carla said as soon as her cousin answered the phone.

  “I knew it. That grand opening shit had Mekhi’s name written all over it,” Shay yelled excitedly.

  As soon as she heard them announcing the opening of the new club on the radio she knew it had to be him. He did the same thing for the grand opening of MJ’s. That was how she ended up going there with her sister and cousin to begin with. Her cousins Arial and Carla were party animals, so it was nothing for them to hit up a club or two every night. She didn’t even have to ask twice before they agreed to do her the favor.

  “He keeps saying that I look familiar, but he only saw me the one time at your house. That was a long time ago when you first had Mekhya though,” Carla replied.

  “Did he tell you where he lives?” Shay asked.

 
“You know he’s not that dumb girl. But this is definitely his club,” Carla replied.

  “That’s good enough for me. I got a nice cake baking for that deadbeat. My case worker is about to tag that ass,” Shay laughed. “Good looking out cousin. Call me when you leave.”

  “I will,” Carla agreed right before she hung up the phone.

  After using the bathroom, Carla washed her hands and freshened up her lipstick. Although she was on a mission for Shay, Carla was enjoying her conversation with Mekhi. If it weren’t for the fact that he was Mekhya’s father, she would have definitely given him some play. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she opened the door and jumped when she saw Mekhi and the bouncer standing there with her cousin Arial.

  “You know, it took me a while, but I finally figured out where I know y’all two hood rats from. Tell that bitch Shay that she needs to come a little bit harder than this to catch me slipping,” Mekhi smirked.

  Once Carla excused herself to the bathroom, Mekhi finally figured things out. It was when he saw Arial’s tattoo on her back that he was able to put it all together. Shay, her sister, and their cousin Karen had the exact same tube of lipstick inked on their backs as well. He quickly got Big Moe to snatch Arial up from the dance floor, and they waited for Carla near the bathroom. It was just like Shay to send her people to do her dirty work, but he didn’t put anything pass her. He still wanted to beat her ass for giving Rylee and Zyrian a copy of the paternity test. For the life of him, Mekhi couldn’t figure out how they all knew each other. That was until he and Brandy were out one night that she answered the question that had been driving him crazy. Apparently Shay or Dedy, as they called her, was Zyrian’s ex-girlfriend. She was who he was with before he got locked up. Mekhi remembered her saying that her boyfriend was in jail when they first met, but he would have never thought that it was Zyrian. Mekhi couldn’t help, but to think that Zyrian going to jail started off a chain reaction of unfortunate events in his life. Zyra and Rylee would have never met, and he would have never met and impregnated Shay if he hadn’t been locked up.

  “She wouldn’t have to go through all of this if you just took care of your daughter. What kind of man does that,” Carla yelled snapping Mekhi back to the present.

  “Big Moe, show these two hoes to the exit,” Mekhi demanded as he walked away. Doing as he was told, Big Moe grabbed Carla’s arm and pulled her towards the front door along with her cousin Arial. Of course, the women didn’t go quietly. They were screaming obscenities at Mekhi, causing the other people in the club to stop and stare at them. Tommy watched the entire scene unfold and shook his head in disgust. Not even twenty-four hours in business and Mekhi had drama popping off already. Tommy already had regrets about going into business with him. But it was too late for all of that now.

  Chapter 10

  “Are you nervous baby?” Zyrian asked as he and Rylee laid down in their bed and watched TV. She had four big pillows propping her up because she was uncomfortable when she was too low.

  “Not really, I just know that it’s painful,” Rylee replied as he rubbed her stomach.

  She and Zyrian had just come from another doctor’s appointment and got some news about their babies. Rylee was sure that she was going to have a vaginal delivery, but she was told that she couldn’t. Apparently one of the twins were breached, so her doctor scheduled her for a cesarean the following week. They were both happy that the babies would be born soon, but Rylee wasn’t ready to experience the pain from it all. Everything was set in place for their arrival, so they weren’t worried about that.

  “That’s probably Amber and Derrick,” Zyrian said when their doorbell started ringing. He got up and jogged downstairs to open up the door for them. Zyrian’s aunt was having a seafood boil for her birthday, and he and Rylee were supposed to go. He really wanted to stay home, so he was happy when his wife changed her mind at the last minute. Sara cooked some food for them, and Amber offered to drop it off before she and Derrick went to the gathering.

  “I really wish you were coming Rylee,” Amber said as she sat in the chair on the side of her cousin’s bed. “I hate being around Derrick’s people by myself.”

  “I already told you what to do. That’s all on you if you wanna continue being a doormat for bitches to walk all over. I can’t wait until I drop these babies and I heal up. I’m coming for everybody who tried to come for me while I was pregnant,” Rylee promised.

  “You better not Rylee. Zyrian is going to go crazy if you’re out there fighting,” Amber replied.

  “I’ll deal with him when the time comes. But try to have fun, Amber. You’re too uptight. You must not have done what Zyra and I told you to do huh,” Rylee inquired.

  “Nope. I’ve been avoiding it as much as possible,” Amber confessed.

  “Keep avoiding it and watch another bitch hop on the dick for you.”

  “Do you and Zyrian still have sex? It must be hard with you being big and pregnant like that.”

  “What you mean? I’m going into labor riding the dick. This stomach don’t stop a damn thing,” Rylee said looking at her crazy.

  “Oh my God girl. You are too crazy,” Amber laughed right as Zyrina walked back into the room.

  “Your man is ready to bounce Amber,” he announced.

  “Okay,” she replied as she got up and gave Rylee a hug. “I’m coming to the hospital with y’all next week. My boss already gave me the day off.”

  “That’s what’s up,” Zyrian smiled.

  He really liked Amber. She was kind of shy and corny, but she loved his wife to death. Rylee’s family was small, but they were close. Some of them were anyway.

  “Have fun boo,” Rylee said.

  “And listen Amber, cousin or not, don’t let China talk stupid to you. Derrick told me about what happened last time. I got in that nigga shit too. He’s your man and he’s supposed to step in and put them bitches in their places. I wish a muthafucka would step to my wife in my presence,” Zyrian said as he walked her back downstairs.

  “Okay,” Amber nodded.

  “I’m serious Amber. And if that nigga don’t have your back this time, break up with his ass and move on,” Zyrian said while looking directly at his cousin.

  “Now why would you tell her some shit like that?” Derrick frowned.

  “Because she needs to hear it. I’m not sugar coating shit for you or Amber. The fuck she need you for if you’re just as scary as she is? You’re her man, and you better start acting like it, nigga. I told you about that shit already,” Zyrian replied.

  He hated to be so harsh with his little cousin, but he was too soft. Derrick was an only child, and he was spoiled rotten. His mama sheltered him so much after his daddy got killed that Zyrian was surprised he wasn’t gay. It took a lot for his auntie to even let her only son start hanging with his cousins to begin with.

  “We’re gone,” Derrick said as he grabbed Amber’s hand and left.

  Although he hated Zyrian’s bluntness at times, he had to admit that his cousin was right. He felt bad about how his cousins talked to Amber that last time, and he should have stepped in and said something. Instead, his mother came to his girlfriend’s defense making him seem like a little boy. He looked over at Amber as he drove and she looked aggravated already and they hadn’t even arrived.

  “We don’t have to go to my auntie’s party if you don’t want to,” Derrick said as he gave her hand a light squeeze.

  “You don’t wanna go anymore?” Amber asked.

  “Yeah, but I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “I’ll be okay. Besides, I told your mama that I would be there. I’ll just sit with her the entire time,” Amber replied.

  Derrick nodded his head and proceeded in the direction of his aunt’s house. It took them about fifteen minutes to get there, and it was already packed. Thankfully his aunt owned the vacant lot across from her home, so they didn’t have a problem finding somewhere to park. As soon as they walked into the yard,
China, her boyfriend Kirk and Brandy, were the first people that their eyes landed on. After speaking to a few of his family members, Derrick grabbed Amber’s hand and led her over to the area where his mother was standing.

  “Hey ma,” Derrick spoke getting his mother’s attention. She had on an apron, so he knew that she was helping her sister out.

  “Hey y’all,” Derrick’s mother Shelly spoke.

  She gave her son and his girlfriend a hug before rushing off to go fix them a plate. Derrick found two unoccupied chairs and led Amber under the tent to sit down. Shelly handed them their plates a short time later before rushing off to go do something else. Since his mother was busy, Derrick made it his business to stay with Amber, so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

  “You okay,” he asked her for the second time in less than an hour.

  “I’m fine,” Amber responded with a smile. “You don’t have to babysit me. You can go talk to some of your cousins.”

  “Nah, I’m good right here with you,” Derrick replied right as Grim and another one of his cousins walked over and spoke to them.

  “You still with this lame ass nigga Amber,” Grim joked with a chuckle.

  “Yep,” Amber replied while laughing with him.

  “You know I got me a bike now huh lil cuz?” The other man said excitedly.

  “Yeah, what kind?” Derrick smiled.

  “It’s out front. Come see it,” he urged.

  Derrick wanted to go, but he didn’t want to leave Amber alone. He looked at her and shook his head, declining his cousin’s request.

  “You can go, Derrick. I’ll be okay,” Amber promised.

  He was about to decline again until he saw his mother walking their way. When Shelly sat down next to Amber, he got up and followed his cousin’s outside to go see the bike. Amber felt comfortable with Derrick’s mom sitting there, but it wasn’t long before Shelly was getting up to go do something else. To occupy time until Derrick came back, Amber pulled out her phone and started playing a game.