“Damn,” Celine said taking a seat. Inga walked back over to me and she grabbed my hand. I closed my eyes and for a moment I pretended that everything was like it used to be. Aiden and Lloyd was alive along with Dante. We were all happy and doing things together. Those days weren’t perfect but man, what I would give to have them alive again.
“It’s okay Elsie. Just let it out and pray. Everything’s going to work out just fine,” Inga whispered, rubbing my hair with her other hand. I nodded as my tears escaped. Yes she was many things, but right now she was being my friend. Tegan was so caught up in her own shit that she couldn’t even be there for me. Now that was some bullshit.
Chapter Seven
Tegan
Me: So have you called her?
Harper: Yeah she not picking up. Are you sure it’s the right number because the phone doesn’t even have a voicemail?
Me: Yes just try harder! We both should be with the people we love. Are you afraid of Hayden?
I laughed hoping my question set him off.
Harper: Don’t fucking ask me no questions like that! He might be my big brother but I’m not scared of him. I’ll just go by her job and take her some flowers. Regardless of what Hayden thinks I do now some things about her. I’ll holla at you later.
Me: bye...
I closed my laptop with a frown on my face. Harper was acting way too damn dumb. I see why Inga wasn’t trying to fuck with him like that. He was just too damn passive. Women liked for a man to take what he wanted and Harper just wasn’t that kind of guy. I needed him to be fucking Inga like yesterday, shit. Get her ass up out of Hayden’s face. I knew once he found out that she did anything with Harper, he would be coming back to me. I looked around my office lost in my own thoughts. Hasan sat inside of his playpen quietly as he played with his toys. He was such a good baby and I loved him so much. He was starting to climb out of his playpen, so anytime that I could get him to cooperate and sit still was a good day to me.
“Mommy is working on bringing daddy home,” I said looking at my son. He smiled and then went back to his toys. He was a living, breathing replica of Hayden and I just wanted my damn man back. Eric was irritating the fuck out of me and I think his ass was still fucking his ex or somebody, because they had been texting his ass all through the night. I wasn’t able to really watch him like that because I made him move out of my house. Hayden dealt with a lot of my shit but Eric living there was not going to fly, so I just made him go. I didn’t have the energy to fight with Hayden on that one, plus his ass had choked me out like I meant nothing to him. I could feel our love slowly dying. I needed him home immediately, so that he could see that I was still the woman he fell in love with.
“Tegan,” another student that I interned with, Adrian, said opening the door. I smiled at her. We shared this office and she was really cool. I lucked up and was placed in a firm that allowed Hasan to come after hours, as long as I kept the room quiet. We did look in on cases but right now we were doing a lot of paperwork, so I figured that was why they didn’t mind but I had to wait for the office to clear out before I could bring him in. They said it was unprofessional to have him her while attorneys were present. True some stayed and worked late hours, but they weren’t on the floor that I worked on, thankfully.
“Hey,” I said smiling at her.
“Hayden is here, should I send him back? I’m finish with my paperwork so I’m about to go,” she said looking tired. I quickly nodded pulling out my makeup bag. She looked at it and smiled. “He is handsome, get that man back girl,” she said grabbing her jacket and bag.
“I intend to, have a good night,” I told her as she headed for the door. She blew kisses at Hasan and walked out of the office, as I applied a light coat of Too Faced lip injector then some nude gloss to my lips. I fingered combed my bone straight hair and smiled. Inga was pretty in a plastic sort of way. She just dressed and looked like she belonged in a damn pageant. Hayden was a street nigga and at the end of the day he wanted a thick boned, baddie on his arms and Inga just wasn’t it; but I was. He could act brand new all he wanted. Every time he came around me he stared at my body. I knew it would be only a matter of time before his ass broke down and came on to me. Skin and bones can’t possibly throw it back and take it like I can.
“Hey,” Hayden said stepping into my office. He was looking so damn good in his black jeans and black collared, short-sleeved Polo that I had to lick my lips. He had a fresh taper that was lined to perfection then there was those damn eyes of his. Shit. I squirmed in my seat as I looked up at him. His eyes found Hasan and his whole face lit up. We were supposed to be having baby time with him, which is what the family courts mediator suggested, and I loved every minute of it; however, I didn’t think Inga knew about it so I needed to bring that shit to her attention immediately. I secretly took a few photos of him and Hasan together and posted it to my Instagram page with the hashtags #familytime, #daddyshere, #lovemymen. I laughed putting my phone away. I prayed that one of our mutual friends showed her that shit.
“So have you been behaving yourself?” Hayden asked. I nodded smiling at him. This just felt so right. He belonged to me and he always would.
“I’ve been a good girl,” I said and licked my lips. Hayden looked down at my mouth and quickly looked away.
“I talked to your mom and she invited me to her birthday party that Inga is throwing her. She said that Inga’s food made her sick,” I said with a chuckle. Hayden looked at me and laughed because he and I both knew Inga’s ass couldn’t cook for shit.
“Hell nah, my mom is crazy and she don’t need to be calling you with that shit. I’ma talk to her ass about that. Iggy can cook. I’ve been showing her shit and then she took some classes last month that helped her out. You know her momma spoiled all of her kids so she never had to cook,” he said smiling. I hated how he had pet names for this hoe. I groaned but kept on a smile. Soon that bitch would be none existent, a distant memory so I just needed to buy my time.
“Well how are the bars doing? I miss going to them,” I said thinking back on when he opened his first one and how we used to party so hard up in each and every one of them. Those were the good old days.
“Yeah, you can always go by them Tegan, and they are doing well. My last investment really paid off so I’ma about to open up a shopping center on 8Mile and Vandyke. I’m also thinking about buying a nightclub with Elijah.” I smiled, proud of him. One of the many things I loved about Hayden was how determined he was do everything he dreamed about. To him the sky was the limit and he felt he could never have enough money.
“Hayden that’s good! We should celebrate, let’s go out to eat or maybe take Hasan to the bounce house,” I suggested standing up. Hayden eyed my body that was covered up nicely in a black sheath dress. I made sure to accidentally drop something so that he could get a peek of my ass since he didn’t have one at home to look at. I knew I was seeing him today so yeah, I have no panties on. I heard him clear his throat and I slowly stood up.
“So you wanna go celebrate?” I asked him. He looked up at me with unsure, worried eyes. I didn’t like how he felt that we couldn’t even be friends. That was some straight up bullshit.
“Hayden, we were friends before we were anything else. Hasan and I are still your family too. Don’t we owe it to our son to spend time together with just us?” I asked him. Hayden nodded as Hasan played with his cell phone.
“You right, let’s go. We can take my car,” he said standing up. I smiled so hard I thought my damn face was going to get stuck like that. I quickly got my stuff together while Hayden held Hasan. Together we all walked out of my office. Hayden strapped Hasan into his car seat that stayed in Hayden’s truck at all times, while I climbed into the front seat where I belonged. I settled in and sighed.
“Aye, I think Hasan pulled my watch off in your office. I’ll be right back,” Hayden said and walked away from the truck. I pulled my phone out and quickly snapped more pictures of us in it with the hashtag #rid
ingwithbabydaddytoday. I decided to just send one to Inga’s ass to ensure that she sees this one. Hayden climbed back into the truck as I was putting my phone away. He smiled at me and my heart actually skipped a beat. It was like the old days. I wanted to be his wife again, the woman in his life and the only way that could happen was to eliminate Inga. She gave no fucks about tearing my family apart so I give no fucks about ending her life. Every action has an equal but opposite reaction. It was time for that bitch to get her karma back.
“Aye, let’s go by the bar in Southfield so the crew can see Hasan. They been giving me hell for not bringing him around,” he said pulling away. I nodded not really caring where we went as long, as we were together. Hayden and I joked the whole way there like the old days. When we arrived at the first sports bar and grill that he ever opened, he grabbed Hasan while I stood by the door. The doorman, Steve opened it for me cheesing. Hayden and I had grown up with him.
“Damn Tegan, what’s up?” he asked pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back smiling.
“Nothing, you been okay?” Steve smiled at me then his eyes looked at Hayden and Hasan as they walked up. Hayden was carrying my baby like he couldn’t walk.
“Damn, you got the baby with you today. What up Hasan?” Steve said grabbing him from Hayden. Hayden looked like a proud father as he watched Steve hold Hasan. I decided to go get a drink while they kicked it. I walked up to the bar in the already packed place and ordered a drink. Hayden’s bar was the hottest spot to be, so even on a Monday his shit was packed. He walked up holding Hasan and all of the bartenders smiled, but it was phony. I knew they were secretly wishing he were holding their child instead. After getting my drink, Hayden took us to the back of the bar reserved for strictly family. When he was feeling good he would rent it out, but usually he used it for him and his boys. Familiar faces greeted us when we walked into the room. Harper, Hayden’s younger brother, sat in the spacious party room along with their other half-brother, Romelo and his wife. A few friends we went to school with as well sat inside the room. When I spotted Romelo’s, wife I could tell by the look on her face that she was going to tell Inga I was here. I never liked that bitch so I wasn’t surprised to see her on Inga’s Instagram page like they were the best of friends. I couldn’t mess with a chick that was everybody’s friend. At the end of the day, a friend of my enemy is my enemy so now her ass was on my “fuck you list” as well.
“What up sis?” Harper said standing up. I wanted to curse his ass out and ask him why wasn’t he out chasing Inga; instead, I smiled at him. Harper was sexy as hell and resembled Hayden. He was just a lot more laid back and into computers and things like that. “And you got my man with y’all. I’m glad to see y’all working things out for Hasan,” he said grabbing him from Hayden. Hayden looked at him and they both just stared at each other for a moment. It was like his words did something to Hayden because I turned to say something to him and he was walking out of the room with his phone pressed to his ear.
“So how you been doing?” Harper asked me smiling. I looked at him.
“So why didn’t you tell me that you was chilling with Hayden today?” Harper shrugged.
“Shit, I didn’t know that I was. I was in the area and decided to stop by. I dropped off them flowers to Inga’s job but I didn’t get to see her. I’m on it though so strop stressing sis, we got this,” he said confidently. I wished I could believe his pretty boy ass.
“Yeah okay. Now would be the perfect time to sit outside of her job and wait on her since Hayden is up here with me.” Harper looked at me and chuckled.
“’T’, I’m not going to fucking stalk her. I want her to come back to me because she wants to,” he said and laughed. I wanted to tell him that technically she was never with him, but Hayden walking back into the room stopped me. He walked over to us and grabbed Hasan from Harper. He sat him down on the ground and Hasan ran off like that’s what he had been waiting for. We all laughed as he ran over to Romelo and his wife.
“Let’s get a drink,” I said looking at Hayden. He smiled at me and walked off. Harper and I followed after him. Hayden made us all a drink from behind the personal bar that was fully stocked in the room. He handed me mine and I tossed it back. I sat my drink on the bar’s countertop as Hayden poured Harper’s drink.
“So how Inga and my niece been doing? I wouldn’t know since you don’t invite a nigga over,” Harper said holding his drink. I groaned not understanding why he decided to bring her ass up. Hayden smirked as he fixed me another drink.
“They been good. Why you all of a sudden worried about them?” he asked with his eyes on me. I tried my best not to cower under his gaze. Hayden handed me my drink and looked at Harper. “So what, now you worried about Inga and your niece? I been with her for over a fucking year now,” he said putting a little bass in his voice. Harper chuckled.
“Look, I was just checking on them. You don’t have to keep her hidden from me big bro, I wouldn’t try to push up on her. I see she chose the brother she wants to be with,” Harper replied. Hayden opened a bottled water and licked his lips. I imagined his soft lips against my body as I stared at him.
“Nigga, you wouldn’t be able to take her away from me even if I dropped her off at your house and gave her permission to fuck you. That’s my wife and even before that, I had that shit on lock so I’m not hiding her from you. I’m simply living my fucking life and you wasn’t concerned about them last week or the months before that, so don’t come starting no shit now because when I say it won’t end well, I’m not playing. I don’t fuck around when it comes to mine Harper,” he said and drunk down his water. I swallowed the anger that I felt at how protective he was over that bitch and looked down at my drink.
“And you shouldn’t. I’m your brother so don’t come at me like I’m some nigga out on the streets. I’m not interested in Inga in any kind of way. You know what, I’m gone ‘cause you done pissed me the fuck off,” Harper said and walked away leaving his drink. He shouldn’t have brought Inga up any fucking way because now Hayden was really going to keep her away from him.
“Damn, me and that nigga haven’t argued about Inga since Aiden’s funeral, now he tripping on me. Funny how that works, huh?” Hayden asked chuckling. He looked at me and the smile wiped off of his face. “I’m far from a dumb nigga. I allow you to do the shit you do off of the strength of Hasan. Don’t think for a second that you are going to slide in and tear apart what Inga and I have built. Doing sneaky shit like getting Harper worked up on some shit that will never happen is the quickest way to get yourself cut the fuck off. You see how happy you are today because I threw you a bone? It could be like this all of the time if you could just accept the fact that we will never be together again. Start back up with them mind games ‘T’ and I’ma fuck around and take Hasan from you then you won’t even have him, because the reality is you been lost me,” he said, shook his head and walked away. I cleared my throat and fought back my tears. There was a time when he would have never talked to me this way, now he was calling me out and shit. Deep down in my heart I knew it was all because of Inga. I was his queen until he fucked her…
Chapter Eight
Inga
“Do you like it baby?” Hayden asked walking up behind me. I looked around the spacious four-level suite nodding. It was very cute and romantic but the reason we were here had me in my feelings. All last week I was getting calls about Hayden being all over Tegan’s Instagram and Facebook page. I really didn’t care because she is his ex-wife and Hasan’s mother, so I knew that there would be times when they had to be around each other. What pissed me off was when Romelo’s wife called and said that Hayden brought her into the bar. It was one thing to discuss Hasan and do things concerning him but to just be chilling with this bitch after all that she had done to me, pissed me off. I tried to apologize to her but she didn’t wanna accept that, so now I knew she was just doing whatever she could to fuck up my marriage and sadly it was working because I was not feeling Hayden a
t all at the moment.
Being with Dante had me shell shocked. I had no tolerance for the bullshit. Hayden was with Tegan for a very long time so maybe the love was still there. Hell, maybe he wanted his cake with some extra shit on the side. What I did know was that I wasn’t about to keep playing games with either of them. I would just pack me and my daughter’s things up and leave his ass before I allowed for another man to play me and not give me the love that I was giving him.
“It’s nice,” I said as I looked at the suite that had an upstairs and a downstairs in it. A huge champagne glass Jacuzzi sat in the middle of the room and you had to get in it on the second floor. It was cheesy as hell but in a very romantic way.
“I thought it was a good place to fuck and make love,” Hayden murmured hugging me from the back. I rolled my eyes hating that even when I was mad at him, I still loved his sexy ass.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I replied with an attitude. Hayden chuckled as his hands roamed over my body. His mother and her damn cornbread, along with this baby had put ten pounds on me and I was still gaining weight. I knew Hayden was loving every pound as his hands caressed my breasts.
“I don’t wanna keep fighting Iggy. Damn, please, can we have a weekend where we just chill and be happy? I said I was sorry baby.”
“Sorry doesn’t just make shit instantly okay. What you should have been doing was checking her for putting us through hell, but instead you were having drinks with her ass,” I snapped at him. Hayden groaned and I could feel his heart beat increase as it pressed against my back.
“I was trying to give her a chance because she’s Hasan’s mother. I wasn’t having no fucking drinks with her. The people at the bar wanted to see Hasan so I took him up there. Please don’t look into that shit and make it something that it wasn’t.”
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