Love Me or Leave Me Alone 2

by Nikisha Mock

  She was looking like she wanted to cry. She walked up to me, real calm-like. She looked into my eyes and touched my face. I was about to back up and move her hand but she moved it for me. Indigo moved her hand from my face, took it way back to the outfield, and then slapped the dog shit out of me! I didn’t take a second to react. I didn’t think, I just hit her with the one hitter quitter and knocked her skinny ass clear across the room.

  “What the fuck? Bitch, get your grimy ass the fuck up out my shit before I really fuck you up,” I said looking down at her wanting to spit on her dumbass.

  “I can’t believe you hit me like that! You gonna pay for this shit!” she yelled, crying and trying to get up from the floor.

  “Oh, you're threatening me now? Miss me with all that, alright? All I planned to do was talk to you about everything I been seeing and you come in here on 100. Well forget all that. You’re on your own. But if you think people don’t know that you down at Al’s fucking for money then you’re even more stupid than you look right now. And sniffing that powder up your nose is only going to lead to more trouble than you’re ready for, trust me, I know. I was really down for you ma, but you tried to play me. So get on up out of here before one of us ends up in jail,” I told her.

  I was done with her ass. I was thinking that now the real drama would begin at work but so what, let her try it. Once I’m done with you, I’m done with you. I had nothing else left for Indigo. She was bad news for me.

  She was still crying as she got up and walked out. I didn’t feel bad for her ass at all.

  “Oh well, two tears in a bucket,” I said to myself and turned on The Boondocks for a good laugh.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Eva

  My kids called and asked if they can stay a few extra days with my mom. Since she didn’t mind, I let them because I was really starting to get used to the break. Sure, I missed them, but the house was so peaceful and I admit I was enjoying it. Tyler didn’t mind either because he enjoyed that I was able to let loose and moan all loud the way he loves.

  I was kind of bored and Tyler said he’d be home later so we could go out. I was just chilling at home, minding my own business when, uh oh. What do we have here? I was surfing the internet and got a message from none other than the good doctor.

  Hello, Eva. How are you doing today?

  I was stuck. Should I respond? What does he want exactly? Isn’t this unethical? I laughed at all the questions that were running through my mind. I looked around the room as if someone could see me and then I decided I would humor him for a minute.

  Well hey there, Doc! What’s up?

  Nothing much. Just sitting here, bored on a Saturday night. Lol

  Oh, I’m sure you could find something to do if you wanted too.

  Touché my dear. I guess I could. But that would all depend on you.

  Wait. What do I have to do with you finding something to do?

  Oh nothing. Listen, I just wanted to reach out to you but I’m sure you’re busy. I’ll see you soon, right?

  You sure will. Later Doc!

  Oh and Eva? Do me a favor?

  Ummm…okay? Lol

  Don’t call me Doc. Call me Byron lol

  Got it! Lol J

  That was weird. There was something up with Byron. He obviously wants to flirt with me but perhaps he’s holding back because I’m his patient. I decided I was just going to humor him for a while but I would have to be careful. I loved Ty and there was no other man for me.

  Speaking of Ty, I was really excited about going out with him. It had been awhile since we went out together and just basically had some fun. I decided to go and get pampered so I treated myself to a mani/pedi and got my hair done.

  I opted for a mini dress with some nice heels for the evening. I wanted to show off my curves so I could have fantasies of Ty taking me out of it by the end of the night. I realized that I hadn’t talked to my girl Ayanna so I decided to give her a call.

  “What’s up, girl?” she answered the phone sounding real chipper.

  “Hey girl. Hadn’t talked to you so I wanted to check in with you. Everything was cool the other night when you left the club, right?” I asked.

  “Girl yes those simple chicks ain’t stupid. The only person that was waiting for me when I left the club was Cam. We had quite a few words that night,” she said.

  “Oh lord, what happened, Yanna?”

  “I just confronted him about everything. I confronted him about his trifling ass sister and also about Lana. Imagine my surprise when he told me he’d still been messing with Lana. All I could do was shake my head. I know Cam’s type. I know he’s in the streets and he has a little change so the hoes will come running. I also know that sometimes guys have some sort of bond and connection with the women they have kids by so they keep going back. But I wanted to believe him so bad when he said he wasn’t messing with anybody else. In the words of Jill Scott, I never intended to be this chick. I swear,” she sighed.

  I felt sorry for her. Ayanna was a tough cookie and she always had been. But when you got under her skin, her heart was big and she loved hard, just like many of us. So to hear that Cam had been sleeping with his baby mama had to be hard for her.

  “Damn. I really didn’t see that one coming although I don’t know why. I guess sometimes we inadvertently become naïve to the things these men tell us because we’re so caught up in how they have us feeling that we ignore the warning signs. Either way, you’ll be okay. So what did you tell him?”

  “Call me crazy, but all I wanted to do was get home so I drove there and he had let one of his homeboys take his car so he came with me. Of course, he was apologetic and he claims it is over with him and Lana. He says it’s all about me. Well if it is then I’m about to put that to the test. I’m not stupid and I’m not one of these young girls who are desperate to have a man. I will drop him and keep it moving with no hesitation. But for now, I’m just watching things closely. I’m sick of that damn Fallon though. I don’t want to have to bust his sister’s ass but I can and I will if necessary.”

  “I know that’s right but clearly she’s not about that life so don’t even worry about it. I’m sitting here getting ready for my night out with Ty. I don’t know where he’s taking me but I’m glad to be getting out of this house with him,” I said changing the subject.

  “Aww, you two make me sick with your love bug asses. Just kidding. Go out and have some fun for me girl. I’ll be at the club watching titties and asses jiggle and serving drinks to dirty old men and thirsty women,” she laughed.

  “Make that money girl, don’t let it make you!” I joked.

  “It won’t! Bye girl,” she laughed and we ended the call.

  I sent Tyler a text to tell him that I would be ready by nine and he responded saying he was on his way home. I was ready for a good time tonight. Spending time with the man I love is always a plus.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Eva

  Tyler took me to a new club called Mirage. We met up with Jay and Brian. Brian had a date with him. To my surprise, Ciara wasn’t with Jay. He looked like something was bothering him. I chuckled to myself. If she wasn’t there that meant that she must have gone out with her new boo like she said she was. I was glad she did.

  Jay really messed up a good thing with her so if she wasn’t readily available to him now that he seemed to have regained his sanity then oh well, that was too bad and he would have to just deal with it. The club scene was the same as always.

  There were women dressed half-naked and men staring at the women that were dressed half-naked. But Tyler and his crew had a VIP section and the bottles were popping so I sat back and enjoyed myself. Some old school reggae came on and I jumped up to wind like a Jamaican queen. Everybody in our section started laughing and screaming because everybody knows I cannot dance but alcohol gives me that “I can do anything” syndrome so I let loose. I even shook it in front of Tyler for a minute. He smacked my ass and told me to sit down. It was
all in good fun.

  I felt someone staring in our direction so I looked up to meet their gaze. There were two chicks standing off to the side. One of them was really pretty. She was dark-skinned with long hair in a Gabriel Union type of style, and her eyes were slanted, as if maybe she was part Asian. I peeped her attire. Nice. Expensive. Red bottoms on her feet. I was not mad at homegirl at all.

  The two of them were ice grilling like crazy. Brian’s date noticed it too and she looked at me. I raised an eyebrow. We carried on with the party but from time to time I glanced back over there and the two girls were still talking and looking in our direction.

  At one point, Jay whispered something to Tyler and I thought I saw them glance over at the girls too. It figures that Jay’s ass would be out scoping fresh meat. He really disappointed me because he turned out to be nothing that we all thought he was. Before Jay had the chance to step down from the VIP section, the girls approached us.

  “Umm, excuse me, Tyler? Can you come here for a minute?” the pretty dark-skinned girl said.

  Hold up wait a minute. What in the entire hell?

  Tyler looked nervous as hell. I leaned over a little so that I could turn and look him directly in the eye. He refused to make eye contact with me. That was his first mistake. Brian was trying hard not to laugh and about to fail. Jay brushed his hand across his face and just stared back at the girls. The other girl winked at him and said hey to him. Not one to play myself, I remained completely calm on the outside. Inside, I was smoking Joe mad!

  “Tyler, she’s talking to you. Don’t be rude, baby. Go and see what she wants,” I said sweetly in his ear.

  He looked at me as if I was crazy. But he hadn’t seen crazy yet.

  “Hey, uhhh. What’s up, Tamia? Hey, Tracey,” Tyler stuttered. That was his second mistake.

  “What’s up, Tamia? That’s all you got for me?” Now she had a serious attitude. I was amused.

  “Yooo, go ahead with all that, girl. We trying to party over here,” Jay interjected, trying to deflect the attention off of his homeboy and on to himself.

  “Jay, don’t try to play us. Y’all over here trying to party, huh? Well, invite us in. Y’all always do anyway so what’s so different about tonight?” the one that had winked at Jay said.

  “I think it’s time to go dance. You feel like dancing baby?” Brian said to his date.

  She looked over at me as if to ask if I was okay. I winked at her and nodded. The two of them left the booth so now it was just me, Jay, my man, and the two ladies who were still standing there, arms folded and looking for answers.

  “Tamia, let me holla at you a little later, alright?” Tyler said casually. This time I couldn’t hold my tongue.

  “No, Tyler, why wait? She obviously has something very important to speak with you about. Why don’t you go on over and see what she wants? It’s clear you two know each other,” I said while looking back and forth between him and this mystery woman.

  “Know each other? Oh we most definitely know each other, right, Ty?” she replied and licked her lips.

  It took every bit of energy I had not to reach out and slap the shit out of Ty. What kind of shit was this? Am I in the Twilight Zone? Am I being punked?

  “Aye! That ain’t cool girl. Stay in your lane,” Jay yelled.

  He was getting flustered. But why? Ciara wasn’t here and he had no reason to be trying to hide anything from me because I didn’t give a damn what he did or who he did it with. But Tyler? Oh, this fool had some real explaining to do.

  “Nah, chill Jay. I got this. Baby, I’ll be right back, okay?” Tyler said to me in the sweetest voice I guess he could come up with and then he stepped down to be face to face with his friend.

  I shook my head and was highly pissed off. Jay tried to make random small talk but I gave him a look that could kill and he got the message and shut up. I sent Ayanna a text and told her the shit was hitting the fan. I sent Ciara the same text. Ciara wanted to know where I was and if I was okay. I told her I was more than okay but Tyler might be homeless by the end of the night. I gave them the short and sweet version of what was going down. Ayanna wanted to get off work and come meet us but I told her not to worry about it. I was staying until I got some answers and then so help me I was going to call a cab and take my ass home.

  It looked like Tyler was pissed at this Tamia girl for blowing up his spot the way she did. She didn’t look moved at all and actually smiled sweetly at him and tried to rub on his arm but he took a step back. He kept looking over in my direction so she did the same. I was hoping my expression was unreadable. I was furious but I couldn’t let this chick have the satisfaction of seeing me lose it. Unless I had to.

  A few minutes passed and whatever Tyler said must have satisfied this Tamia chick because she shook her head and then her and her friend walked off. Tyler just stood there for a minute and then he looked up at me.

  I mouthed the words what…the…fuck? He understood because he put his head down and walked back up into the booth. He sat down beside me but couldn’t find his tongue because he didn’t speak at first so I helped him out.

  “Who is Tamia and why is she so important that you left me up here to sit and watch the two of you carry on a conversation?” I said all of that in the calmest and coolest voice I could find. I looked up at Jay and he was trying hard not to look over at us but he was listening. I was sure of it.

  “She’s….a friend, baby. She’s just a friend,” Tyler said almost in a whisper.

  “A friend, huh? And just how long have the two of you been friends? Because I don’t recall ever hearing the name Tamia in the years that we have been together.”

  “Baby, look, can we not do this here? Please?”

  “Do what, Ty? I just asked a simple question. And why not here? What is it that you’re hiding from me? Now would be a good time to come with it because I’m about two seconds from flipping this table over on you.”

  I guess he knew I was serious. He looked at me and then he spoke to Jay.

  “Aye man, we out. Hit me up tomorrow,” he said as he stood up and gave Jay a pound.

  “Alright man. Later, Eva,” Jay said to me.

  “Shut up. Don’t speak to me. Don’t say my name. I can’t stand you for what you continue to do to my friend and if I have anything to do with it I will make sure that she stays far away from your trifling lying ass,” I said, feeling like I could spit on him.

  “I’m not the one you need to be checking. Like I said, later,” Jay said and seemingly dismissed me.

  Touché asshole. Tou-muthafuckin-ché.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ciara

  “This food is really good or either I was really hungry,” I laughed.

  “Oh the food is definitely good here. I was hoping you would like it,” Darren said.

  “I do. And these margaritas! Honey, these things are strong! I have a slight buzz off just this first one.”

  “Hey, it’s not right if it’s not strong. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. I was starting to think you weren’t interested. You kind of disappeared on me,” he said and laughed a little but I knew he was serious.

  I sighed. “I know. My bad. See, my previous relationship ended on a nasty note and I had been dealing with that. But lately things have kind of gotten messy and he’s calling and trying to come around again. I’m telling you this because I want to be all the way up front with you. I had a lot of time to think about it and the truth is, he doesn’t deserve anymore of my time and energy. So I quickly dismissed any crazy idea I was beginning to have. I apologize for not responding sooner than I did. I didn’t mean to make you think I’m not interested because I am.”

  He had a facial expression that I couldn’t read and then he spoke.

  “Well, first off, I appreciate you being up front and honest with me because a lot of women would have just lied. I respect you even more for that, Ciara. And don’t sweat it. You do what you have to, my offer to get to know you better is very
much still on the table. As long as you keep it real with me, I’m definitely going to stay straight up with you. So you good, alright?” he said and smiled.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. I almost messed this one up before it even had the chance to get started. No way could I allow Jay to mess things up for me. Just then, I got a text from Eva and she was telling me what was going down with her and Tyler at the club. She said Jay was there. I was surprised because he had been blowing up my phone with text after text all night. Men. Sometimes I do not understand them at all.

  Somebody told me once that women will never understand why men do what they do. I was told that just because a man has sex with another woman does not always mean that he doesn’t love her or even that she’s not satisfying him sexually. Men just have a natural desire to be with other women from time to time. My response to that was that is a load of bullshit. If you love your woman the way you say you do, then you would never do anything to hurt her or make her cry. And what do you think cheating on her would do to her? I rest my damn case.

  “What are you over there thinking about? I can see the wheels in your pretty little head turning,” Darren joked.

  “I’m sorry. I was just thinking about relationships and men and how things usually aren’t what they seem, ya know? I hate to sound so skeptical but life has made me this way,” I said.

  “I can understand that but see, what you can’t do is allow the bad experiences make you think that this is how all experiences with me will be. I can show you something different if you let me. I’m too old to be trying to run game, Ciara. I just enjoy your company and hopefully you enjoy mine. That’s all I’m asking of you right now is just a little of your time. Now let’s drink the rest of this margarita pitcher so I can take you home and take advantage of you,” he said and then busted out laughing.

  I did too. Darren was so calm and cool and I loved the way he put things into perspective. He really didn’t sound like he was trying to run game. Time would tell but for now, I decided to just enjoy hanging out with him. It was something different and I was thinking that I would get to like it a lot.