by A'zayler
“What?”
“I haven’t prayed in so long, I think I forgot how.” Taryn stood there, stunned for a minute.
“You want me to help you?”
“Nah, I’m good.” Brushing past her, he turned off the lamp light and got into bed. Taryn slid in and snuggled up close to him. After laying her head on his back, she wrapped her arms around his waist and said goodnight.
“I love you,” Demoto’s eyes popped open because he knew Taryn hadn’t just said what he thought she did. “I love you Demoto,” she said again, this time a little louder. He turned over so they were facing each other. He didn’t say anything; he just stared at her for a while with his hand caressing the side of her face.
“I love you too.”
Taryn wanted to cry so badly, but she held it in. Her eyes were glossy, but no tears fell. She had known she loved him, but had no clue he felt the same. She had been going back and forth in her mind trying to decide whether or not to tell him, but she was tired of being on the side; they belonged together. She took a chance putting her feelings on the line and it paid off. Jeremiah and Alicia would just have to understand. If they didn’t, then oh well. She couldn’t care less about Alicia; she didn’t like her anyways. Jeremiah was a different story. She never wanted to hurt him, but seeing Demoto love Alicia the way he should have been loving her hurt. If Jeremiah had to hurt in order for her not to, then so be it.
“Taryn, I’m so fucking mad at you right now. Why the fuck you out here stripping and shit?”
“I need the money,” Taryn spoke so low that he could barely hear her.
“Right now ain’t the time to get shy. Speak the fuck up! You weren’t acting shy when you were in that club shaking your ass!” Demoto was practically yelling now. Visuals of her dancing on the stage flashed across his mind. He didn’t want to be mad, but he couldn’t help it. Taryn was supposed to be his; she was better than the stuff she was doing. He hated that she was out in the streets degrading herself for money. Money he would have easily given her. Demoto wasn’t the richest man, but he was far from broke. Ever since he’d been working for Cayman, his riches had increased tremendously. He was something like a millionaire now. He’d done a few important jobs before leaving Australia that blew his account up. He would have given Taryn anything she thought she needed to dance naked for. Taryn knew Demoto wasn’t trying to embarrass her, but listening to him rant made her feel like a piece of dirt. The water that glossed her eyes earlier was now cascading down her cheeks rapidly.
“I’m sorry Moto, but you don’t understand.”
“Understand what? Tell me what the problem is so I can fix it! I’m here for you T! How many times do I have to tell you that before you believe me?” Demoto sat up in the bed with his back to her. The sheet fell around his waist, exposing his broad shoulders and tattoo filled arms. Taryn knew she had messed up. Although she didn’t want to, she knew the only way to ease this was to tell the truth.
“I’m homeless.”
“You’re what?”
“I’m homeless,” she repeated again in a low whisper.
“Yo T, you ain’t making no sense right now. What do you mean you’re homeless?” Demoto didn’t understand what she was talking about. She had told him months ago that she’d moved in with Kia and her father. How was she homeless? He knew Kia would never put her out, so he knew that wasn’t the issue.
“IM FUCKING HOMELESS DEMOTO! What aren’t you understanding? I don’t have anything to call my own. I live at a fucking shelter with other homeless people.” Taryn was now full out crying. The tears that were burning her eyes continued to fall. She couldn’t stop them no matter what she tried. Hopping off the bed, she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. Demoto sat there for a second trying to process what had been said. How could he not have known? Sliding off the bed, he slid on his basketball shorts and went to find her. He could hear her crying inside the bathroom, so he knocked on the door.
“T, come out baby. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. You should have told me, you know I would have helped you. You could have moved in with me and you know that. You didn’t have to stay at no damn shelter. Come out here and talk to me!” Demoto yelled through the door. Taryn sat on the other side of the door trying to calm her breathing. She was so embarrassed now that Demoto knew everything. Many nights she thought things might be easier with the truth out, but she was so wrong. She felt worthless and incompetent. Demoto was a young hustler that was getting it. He was only a few years older than she was and had more than people twice their age. Here she was, the homeless orphan sitting in his bathroom crying over shit she couldn’t change. Thinking about her harsh reality, she started crying more.
“Taryn-Lee, I’ll take care of you. I promise baby. Anything you need, I’ll get it. Just come out and talk to me.” Demoto was now kneeling on the floor with his forehead leaning against the door. He could tell by her cries that she was sitting behind the door. He had gotten onto his knees so she could hear him. He wanted to be as close as she would allow him right now. Just as he was pushing one of his dreads from his face, he heard his brother’s bedroom door open. It was Adisa’s girlfriend. She must have been spending the night.
“You alright Demoto?” she asked.
Instead of talking, he shook his head no. He was about to call Taryn’s name again, but instead he knocked on the door. She didn’t answer, but he could still hear her crying.
“Man Nay, I don’t know what to do. My girl in the bathroom and she won’t come out. I was mad and I think I went a little bit over board with her.” Demoto was stressed out. He was afraid Taryn was about to shut down, and he didn’t want that to happen. He knew she wasn’t trying to hear anything he was saying, so when Adisa’s girlfriend offered to talk to her, he moved to the side.
“Hey you in there, are you alright?” she asked through the door. There were a few sounds of movement before the door unlocked and swung open. Taryn rushed out and wrapped her arms around her, nearly making them both fall.
“Janay what are you doing here?” Taryn asked. When she first heard her voice, she thought she might have been hearing things until she heard it again. Demoto looked on in confusion. How the hell they know each other?
“I should be asking you the same thing?” Janay smiled as she broke their hug. Taryn smiled slightly before explaining to her that she and Demoto were friends. He looked out for her occasionally. Janay looked confused for a second.
“But didn’t he just call you his girl?”
“Yeah she’s my fucking girl. She’s just so damn difficult all the time,” Demoto answered for her. After Janay and Taryn explained their reasons for them both being there, they went into the living room to talk. Taryn vented for almost two hours before returning back to Demoto’s room. A few times during their conversation, Demoto popped in and out, pretending to be getting something from the kitchen. First it was chips, then water, now some skittles. Taryn knew he was only trying to be nosey, so she told Janay she would talk to her in the morning. Once she opened the door to Demoto’s room, she found him sprawled across his bed with his Beats on. His eyes were closed and he was rapping along with some Drake song. Taryn stood and watched him for a few moments before his eyes opened and their gazes connected. Immediately, he removed his headphones and placed his iPod on the dresser. After turning back around, he reached one hand out for her to grab. He pulled her down onto the bed and kissed the tip of her nose.
“You still mad at me?”
“I was never mad at you Demoto. I was just ashamed of my situation. I didn’t want you to know. I’ve never lived with Kia. I’ve been living at the women’s shelter ever since the night after I stayed here with you our senior year. I wanted to tell you so bad, but I didn’t know how. I’m making money at Foot Locker, but not nearly as much as I make at the club. I was against it initially, but when Jeremiah took me there and I made over three thousand dollars in one night, I couldn’t stop. I’m too close to being where I want to be financial
ly to stop. This isn’t something I’m trying to make a career out of, I just want to stack enough bread so I can be comfortable.”
“You don’t think I meant it when I told you I would take care of you?”
“I know you did, I just didn’t want to ask you for anything.” Demoto didn’t even bother to respond to her. Instead, he leaned over and pulled a Jordan shoebox from under the bed and opened it. Inside there were stacks of money sealed with rubber bands, along with two guns and some clear tubes filled with different color liquids. He moved everything to the side and grabbed the three bands of money, and gave them her. Taryn tried to protest, but he made sure she knew he wasn’t having it. He returned the box to its rightful place before telling her to place the money in her bag.
“Thank you,” she said as she snuggled against his chest. They were lying in bed wrapped in each other’s arms. Taryn knew Demoto would take care of her, but she still didn’t know how she felt about it all, whereas Demoto knew nothing would ever be the same with them again. His mind was in overdrive. First he had to pay Jeremiah a visit, then take Taryn to get all her shit from the shelter. She had come into his life unexpectedly and found a place in his heart. His world would never be the same again, Taryn was his forever. Tomorrow was a new day, and a fresh start. He was going to make every move count.
Chapter 10
“Can I have blue cheese instead of Zax sauce please?” Kia asked the Zaxby’s employee that was taking her order.
“Excuse me sweetheart, can you add a Wings and Things with a large sweet tea and two chocolate chip cookies to that too please?” Jacko spoke from behind her. Kia turned around and smiled as he handed the lady two twenty dollar bills to pay for their food.
“What you doing here Jacko?”
“I was about to pick up my niece from school when I saw you walk in.” Izzy’s mom had called and asked him to pick her up from school because she was working late. Of course, he had no problem with that. Sitting at the stoplight, he saw Kia walking inside the restaurant. He checked the clock in his car and noticed he had thirty minutes to spare, so he turned and parked.
“Let me find out you stalking me.”
“Nah shawty I’m not stalking you, I just figured we could have lunch together,” he smiled. Lord help me. Kia squeezed her thighs together and turned around. She had been crushing on Jacko since the first day she’d saw him. She remembered it like it was yesterday
“Aye bitch don’t get your ass beat!” Kia yelled at Taryn.
“Man fuck Alicia, I’ll run through that hoe and you know it,” Taryn said as her and Kia burst into laughter.
“That’s what your mouth say–until she going upside that head.” Kia and Taryn had been sitting on the porch all day laughing and playing. She’d spent the night over there after leaving the club last night, and had no plans of leaving any time soon. Kia had just stopped laughing when her daddy came out the front door holding Taryn’s phone. It was Jacko and he was about to come over. As Taryn ran down the address, Kia drank some more of her mango Arizona.
“Girl which one of your men you inviting over here now?”
“Jacko ain’t my man girl, that’s my brother! He coming through to drop off the money for his shoes that’s coming out Saturday. You know since these niggas found out I work at Foot Locker I’m everybody plug now,” Taryn laughed.
Just as Kia opened her mouth to speak, a dark gray Corvette pulled into her driveway. It came to a halt, and out hopped a sexy brown skin boy with shoulder length dreads. He had on a black tank top and basketball shorts. Tattoos flooded his arms and neck. He was so pigeon-toed that he looked like he was going to trip over his own feet. He had the cutest walk Kia had ever seen. As he approached the porch, he caught her staring and smiled.
“What y’all pretty ladies doing out here?”
“Waiting on you,” Kia flirted.
“Is that right?”
“You know it,” she smiled at him. He smiled back and she thought she would faint. He looked good and smelled better.
“Pretty Lee, you been holding out on your boy. Why you ain’t never brought this beauty around before?” he asked as he handed her five hundred-dollar bills.
“My bad Jackie, this my bestie Kia. Kia, this my brother Jacko.” Kia reached her hand out to shake Jacko’s, and when she did he kissed it.
“Nice to meet you beautiful. You got a man?” Jacko liked Taryn’s friend. She was pretty and just his type. He’d always had a thing for brown-skinned women. She was small but not too small, which was even better. Jacko wasn’t a big man, so he needed his women to be small.
“I do now,” she smiled.
“Word?” Jacko asked as he smiled at her. She was feisty as hell too, definitely his style. He passed her his phone so they could exchange numbers. From that day on, they would text and converse over the phone occasionally, but that was it. She really liked him, but he didn’t seem as interested in her so she fell back some. She was there when he needed her and vice versa, and that was good with her for now. She knew her attraction wouldn’t stay this calm for long, but she had no other choice. She wasn’t the type of female to beg for attention. If it wasn’t given freely, she didn’t want it. Jacko knew how she felt, so she wouldn’t say it again. His attitude was so off and on that she didn’t know when he was going to do what. Some days he treated her like a friend, and other days he almost flirted her panties off.
“You want to sit by the window or right here in the middle?” Jacko asked, breaking her from her walk down memory lane.
“Umm, we can sit by the window,” Kia said as she followed him to the back. Jacko watched Kia eat the blue cheese-soaked French fries and smiled.
“What the fuck you smiling for, Jack?” Kia asked as she smiled across the table at him. He shook his head and continued eating his food. He liked Kia a lot; she was smart, beautiful, and a thug like him, but he couldn’t be with her. She was one of the only women he’d met that intrigued him, but he she was his boss’s daughter. He and Buck had been talking Double O business for the past couple of weeks, and he wasn’t ready to mess up his money over a female.
He’d never told her, but that day after he left her house he ran into Buck at a business meeting. Buck wanted him to run some money scams for Cayman. They talked for a while before he walked Buck out to his car. In the midst of their conversation, he noticed a picture of Kia and Taryn sitting on his dashboard. He hadn’t wanted to ask who they were, but he had to. The moment Buck told him they were his daughters, he knew he had to back off. He explained to Buck that he knew the girls from school, but left it at that. He’d thought Buck was going to blow his cover the day he picked them up from the house, but he hadn’t. If he hadn’t needed them to pick up some money from him, he would have pulled off the moment he and Buck locked eyes. Being that Buck was a cool old dude, he just winked and continued to talk to the girls. Jacko knew then why everybody in the hood loved and respected him.
“I’ma make you mine one day Kia, just wait on it.”
“I been waiting, but we’ll see.”
“I’m for real,” Jacko said as he checked his watch. It was almost time to get Izzy from school, so he had to wrap up their lunch. Before dumping their trash, he asked what she had planned for the day. When she said nothing, he invited her over to his place for a movie that night and she accepted. He was ecstatic because he thought she was going to say no. As he masked his excitement, they walked to her car. They leaned against the trunk as he pulled her in for a hug. The moment their bodies connected and he smelled her perfume, he got hard. He pulled her closer to him, kissing the side of her neck. Kia moved around a little once she felt his growing manhood along her thigh.
“Boy you so nasty.”
“I can’t help it. You looking and smelling good! I can’t wait to see you tonight,” he said with his voice full of excitement. Kia laughed and pulled the bottom of his face to hers until their mouths met. She kissed him softly, trying to pry his lips open with her tongue. She c
ould tell he was skeptical at first, but obliged. When he did finally kiss her, she wished he hadn’t. He kissed her so deep that her knees got weak. She was glad he was already holding her up. She let him kiss her for a little while longer before breaking their embrace and walking to her driver side door.
“I’ll see you later sexy,” he winked and walked to his car. Kia sat in her driver seat and watched him in the rearview mirror. She didn’t want him to catch her looking at him, so she cranked up and drove out of the parking lot. He went one way and she went the other. Tonight can’t come fast enough!
*****
Taryn’s chest heaved up and down so hard you would have thought she’d just run a marathon. She sat in the passenger seat of Demoto’s car with her arms folded tightly across her chest. She was so angry she could hardly keep still. She and Demoto were riding across town to Jeremiah’s house, and she was pissed. She had done everything but flip over backwards for Demoto not to do this. She didn’t want any friction between he and Jeremiah on her behalf. She and Janay had spent majority of the morning trying to convince him to let her tell Jeremiah herself, but he wouldn’t listen. Taryn wasn’t sure if she was angrier at him or herself. Had she been more careful, he would have never found out about her dancing.