You're My Little Secret 3

by Chenell Parker

  “Nigga, you don’t even have asthma. Get your stupid ass up off of that ground before I knock you out,” Jaden threatened Co-Co.

  “I wish you would put your hands on me. Don’t get it twisted Jaden. You already know how I get down,” he yelled. His eyes were dry, and he was back up on his feet in no time after that. That’s just how fast he switched things up.

  “Look at your fake ass. You don’t even have any tears,” Jaden fussed. He and Co-Co went back and forth until Candace made them shut up.

  I ignored everybody and watched as the firemen battled the blaze that was once my shop.

  ****

  Three days later, Taylor and I met with the fire chief to discuss what happened. He informed us that it was indeed arson, and the building was set on fire with an accelerant. They even had surveillance videos from two nearby offices, but none of that helped. All we were able to see was three figures dressed in black hoodies throwing something through the front and side windows. The camera quality wasn’t the best so I couldn’t even make out who it was. After getting nowhere with the fire chief, we went to meet with the insurance agent. I filled out the necessary paperwork and gave him the report that the fire chief had given to me. My shop and everything in it was fully insured. I also received some good news earlier this morning. James, whose shop Taylor once worked in, offered to let us use his old shop free of charge. He’d recently moved to a bigger place, and the old one was vacant. It’s not as big as my shop was, but it would get the job done until I got my spot up and running again. I offered to pay him whatever he wanted, but he refused anything that I offered. I know it’s because he feels indebted to me. I paid for a lawyer for him a few years ago when he got himself into a bit of trouble. He’s been trying to find a way to repay me ever since. He didn’t even charge Taylor booth rental when she worked in his shop.

  Once all of the business was handled, we got the keys from James and prepared to go clean up his old spot. David, my brothers, and my cousins came over and gave us a hand. When we finished, it looked like a brand new shop. They still had all of the chairs in the waiting area as well as the stylist chairs. Since I have a business card, I decided to foot the bill to get some new dryers and supplies for everybody. I would get it back once the insurance money came in. I don’t know who set my shop on fire, but they did me a huge favor. The insurance money is going to be three times what my shop was worth. There’s an empty lot next to my shop that I’ve always wanted to purchase. Thanks to the unknown hater, I now have the money to get it. I plan to rebuild from the ground up and this time it’ll be bigger and better than it was before.

  NADIA

  “Mama, I told you that I’m going to think about it. I can’t just up and move anyway. I’m still going to court,” I yelled into my speakerphone.

  I’ve been on the phone arguing with her for the last thirty minutes. She’s been stressing me out about moving to Virginia, but I’m just not ready. I’ve been to visit more times than I can count, but I don’t know about moving there. Virginia is okay, but it’s just something about New Orleans that I can’t explain. Even the food here is worlds apart from anywhere else. I can’t walk into a corner store and get boiled seafood in Virginia like I can do here. They might sell it, but I can guarantee that it won’t be the same.

  “I don’t know who the hell you think you’re yelling at. It’s not like you go to court every day. You can fly back when you have a court date.”

  “I already told you that I can’t take care of your house and mine. This is my last time sending your ass money. Either you come live here or get a damn job. I’m sick of this shit,” she fussed right before she hung up on me.

  I hate having to call her for money. I’ve already used up most of my savings on bills. I ended up having to get a public defender to help me fight my charges because I can’t afford a real attorney. He’s fresh out of law school, so he’s trying to prove himself to his colleagues. He’s been working hard to ensure that I only walk away with probation. I’ve already had two court dates, but they keep pushing it back.

  Kevin said that he was going to help me, but he’s been acting kind of distant lately. I’ve barely seen him since the altercation with Dominic. He came over a few times, but once he got what he wanted he was out the door. A few times he ran off right after I gave him oral sex. He said he knew that I didn’t have anything to do with it, but his actions were showing otherwise. Even now, I’ve been calling and texting him for over an hour, and he still hasn’t responded or answered his phone. I’m pissed, but there isn’t much I can do about it.

  Even Shannon has been acting shady lately. She’s so far up Tiffany’s ass that she barely answers when I call her. She always tells me that she’ll call me back, but she never does.

  It’s times like these that I really miss my friendship with Candace. She always made time for me no matter what. Just thinking about her made me want to see what she has been up to. I sat down on my sofa and pulled up my Facebook page. Candace had unfriended me when we had the fight, but David didn’t. He’s never on here, but I’m still able to keep up because Candace tags him in all of her posts. That’s how I was able to see Brooklyn and Dominic’s daughter. After scrolling through my timeline, I typed in David’s name. I almost died from shock when I saw Brooklyn and Dominic’s picture with the caption, “Mr. & Mrs. Roberts,” right above it. I scrolled through about twenty more pictures of them on the beach with their family and friends or with their kids. I was in shock by the fact that they’re actually married.

  In the beginning, I thought that maybe it was just the sex between them. Even after she had his son I didn’t think, it was that serious. Obviously, I was dead wrong, and the pictures in front of me proved it.

  When I looked on further and saw their house, I was livid. It’s beautiful inside and out. I couldn’t take it, and I didn’t want to see anymore after that. I logged off and resisted the urge to toss my phone across the room. How that dumb naïve bitch managed to get Dominic to do all of that for her is beyond my comprehension. I felt myself getting depressed, and I didn’t know how to stop it. I picked up my phone to call Kevin, but it started ringing right when I did.

  “Well damn, it took you long enough to call me back. I guess your new friend don’t want to be bothered with you no more,” I snapped when I answered the phone for Shannon.

  “Let me find out you’re jealous,” she laughed. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing, I’m bored out of my mind,” I replied honestly.

  “Come get me and let’s go somewhere,” she suggested.

  “Where’s Kevin?”

  “He’s probably with one of his bitches. I haven’t seen him all day,” she replied.

  I got heated hearing that. I guess that’s why his dog ass didn’t answer the phone when I called. He’s not my man so I shouldn’t be mad, but I am.

  “Where do you want to go?” I asked her.

  “Somewhere quiet so we can talk and drink,” she replied. That’s music to my ears because I’m definitely in need of a drink.

  “Okay, let me put on some clothes and I’m on my way.”

  “Wait, I didn’t even tell you where I am,” she yelled.

  “You’re at home right?”

  “Yeah, but we don’t live in the same place anymore.”

  “Damn, y’all moved again?”

  “Yep, but I’ll meet you somewhere. I don’t want any drama with Kyle. You can pick me up in front of the Walmart on Bullard.”

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I said before hanging up. Since I’d just taken my shower, I found a pair of leggings with a matching shirt to put on. After putting on my tennis shoes, I touched up my straight hair with the flat iron and made my way out the door. The Walmart where Shannon wanted to meet was about fifteen minutes away from my house. She claimed they moved, but I think that’s a lie. Tiffany is probably there, and she doesn’t want to cause a scene. She doesn’t have to worry about that though. I’m no longer interested i
n Kyle. It’s her man that I want.

  As soon as I pulled up to the store I saw Shannon standing out front on her phone. I turned my head and laughed when I saw the leggings that she wore. Shannon has the worst shape that I’ve ever seen in my life. I can’t believe she even feels comfortable enough to wear tights. Then she had on a short shirt calling attention to her flat backside. I’m still trying to figure out what the hell Kevin saw in her.

  “Hey girl,” I said when she hopped into my car.

  “Hey,” she said dryly like she didn’t feel like being bothered.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind,” she answered. She sounded happier when I talked to her a few minutes ago. She probably got into it with Kevin. That always puts her in a bad mood.

  “So where are we going?” I asked her.

  “Get on the interstate, I’ll direct you,” she answered.

  “Okay, let me get some gas first.” I drove a few blocks down and pulled up to the gas station. When I got out to pump, I saw Shannon texting on her phone. A few seconds later I heard her on the phone arguing with somebody who I’m sure was Kevin. I can’t make out what she was saying, but she was mad about something.

  “Are you alright girl?” I asked when I got back in the car.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Don’t let Kevin’s dog ass stress you out.”

  She looked at me like I was crazy, but she didn’t reply. The rest of the ride was quiet with the exception of her giving me directions on where to go. When we got to the drawbridge downtown, I had a feeling that I knew right where she was taking me. We’re headed to the same bar that Kevin and I went to not long ago. It’s the same place where we saw Dominic and Brooklyn’s brothers. There isn’t any other place around here that we could be going to. I’m curious as to how she knows about the place, so I try to pick her brain.

  “Where are you trying to go? It looks deserted around here,” I said.

  “It’s a bar that Kevin took me to. It’s quiet, and not many people go there,” she replied.

  I wanted to scream when she said that. I showed that bastard my little getaway spot and he had the nerve to bring Shannon’s trifling ass there. I’m surprised that he even went back after the beat down that Dominic gave him. I couldn’t wait to see his ass just to tell him off. Shannon was talking, but I was so mad that I tuned her out. I’m too busy focusing on how I want to handle her man whenever I see him.

  “Nadia,” Shannon called out shaking me from my thoughts. We were in front of the building, but I’m in another world.

  “I’m sorry friend. What were you saying?”

  “Friend?” She questioned with raised brows.

  “Yes, I’ve always called you friend. So that’s a problem now?” I asked.

  “It wasn’t before, but it is now. Especially since you’re sleeping with your so called friend’s man,” she snapped.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked nervously. I tried to be extra careful when dealing with Kevin, so I wondered how she knew. It really doesn’t matter because I’ll never confess to anything no matter what she says.

  “I’m talking about you sitting on the phone with me while I cried to you about my man. You knew where he was the whole time because he was in your bed. Please don’t play yourself and lie to me. I already know everything that happened including you bringing him here. You set him up for Dominic and Brooklyn’s brothers to get at him,” she said.

  “I don’t know what Kevin has been telling you, but that’s a lie. I didn’t have anything to do with him getting beat up, and I’ve never slept with him,” I lied.

  “So whose voice is this? And whose lips are these wrapped around my man’s dick?” She asked angrily.

  Silent tears crept down my cheeks when she pulled out Kevin’s phone and played a video. I remembered that day clearly. It was the same day that Dominic beat Kevin up. I thought he was on his phone playing a game, but he was recording me the whole time. He recorded when I talked on the phone with her and when I talked about her to him. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he even recorded me giving him oral sex. I felt like a damn fool, and I’m sure I looked like one too. The way I’ve been behaving for the past year is not like me at all. I let a man take me off of my square, and my life has gone downhill ever since. Now I know why Shannon called me out of the blue all of the sudden. The only thing I could do at that point was apologize.

  “Shannon, I’m so sorry. I swear I never meant for any of this to happen. I got into a fight with Kyle and Tiffany, and Kevin were there. He kissed me first, but I shouldn’t have let it go as far as it did. It’s over, and it’ll never happen again,” I cried.

  “If that’s true then why are you still calling and texting him? Why are you begging him to come see you? At one time, I considered you my only friend. I told you everything about my past and my family. You knew all about me being hurt in the past, but you turned around and did the same thing. No apology you give me will ever be good enough for how you betrayed me. I should have known that you couldn’t be trusted when you started sleeping with Kyle behind your best friend’s back. But unlike her, I’m not letting you have what’s mine,” she said as she punched me in my face.

  It wasn’t just a regular punch. She had something in her hand because it felt like a bone or something in my face cracked. She tried to hit me again, but I slapped her hand away, and a silver padlock fell out of it. That’s when I realized that Kyle and Kevin were right. This bitch is really crazy. When she reached down to pick it up, I started swinging on her like I was just as crazy as she was. She shook the licks off and still managed to pick up her lock and hit me again. My nose snapped, and blood started pouring from it like a hose. That still didn’t stop her because she kept swinging. I turned my head and got most of the licks to the back of my head. I was so scared, but I refused to give up. I tried to open my car door to get out, but she grabbed me back by my hair. This time when I swung I hit her in her right eye. The lock fell from her hand again, but she didn’t try to pick it up this time. This crazy bitch pulled a blade from her bra and started swinging it at me. I raised my arm to block her from cutting my face and ended up getting my arm sliced open.

  “Ahhh,” I screamed as the pain shot throughout my entire body. It’s like my entire life flashed before my eyes. I know if I don’t do something fast I probably won’t make it out of this alive. Kyle, Kevin or any other man was worth me losing my life. Shannon had a crazed look in her eyes that I had never seen before. I wasn’t about to let her cut me again, so I shifted my entire body to the side and lifted my leg up to kick her. Thankfully the kick was hard enough to shake her and allow me to open my door. The interior of my car was full of blood, but that was the least of my worries right then. I needed to make it out of this situation alive and get some help before I lost too much blood. There are only two other cars in the parking lot, and I prayed that someone was in the bar that could help me. I felt the swelling in my left eye, and I could barely see out of it. As soon as I got out of the car I saw Shannon rushing to get out as well. I tried looking on the ground for something that I could use to defend myself. She wasn’t fighting fair, and neither would I. I couldn’t even make it to the door of the bar before she ran up on me again.

  “Don’t get scared now bitch. You weren’t scared when you had my man’s dick halfway down your throat,” Shannon yelled.

  When she grabbed my hair again, it was like something in me clicked. I forgot about all the pain that I was in, and I started swinging on her like my life depended on it. I didn’t care about the deep cut to my arm or the swelling in my eye. She needed to know that she bleeds just like the next bitch. It didn’t take long before I got the best of her and had her on the ground. I soon found out that without her weapons to help her she really couldn’t fight. I grabbed a handful of her braids and started banging her head into the concrete the same way that Candace had done me a few months ago. My arm was killi
ng me, but I refused to let up on her. I wanted to knock her out and use that as an opportunity to run. Unfortunately, that never happened.

  A few minutes into the fight, my hair was pulled from the back as I was forcefully slammed to the ground. The impact was so hard that I actually saw stars. My entire body was on fire, and I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.

  “Get up Shannon,” I heard a male voice say.

  I looked on in horror as Kevin helped his girlfriend up from the ground. That bastard was in on it the whole time. He must have been sitting close by watching her attack me. He never even made an attempt to intervene until Shannon started losing the fight. As soon as she was up on her feet she rushed over and started her attack again. She punched me in my face and pulled my hair while Kevin just stood there and watched. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer begging God to either let me pass out or die. The pain was just that unbearable.

  “That’s enough Shannon somebody’s coming,” Kevin whispered. I saw headlights headed in our direction, and I was grateful to whoever it was for possibly saving my life.

  “Being set up don’t feel too good, huh?” Shannon had said before they ran off.

  I couldn’t move or respond to anything that she said. I heard the screeching of tires a few minutes before two women discovered my beaten and bloodied body on the sidewalk near my car.

  ****

  I woke up in the hospital to find my mother’s tearstained face at my bedside. Her eyes were red and swollen, and I knew that she had been crying. She was on the phone, so she didn’t even know that I was up.

  “Ma,” I called out weakly to get her attention. She immediately ended her call and rushed over to me.

  “Thank God you’re up. How are you feeling baby?” She asked as she grabbed my hand.

  “My whole body is hurting, and my mouth is dry,” I complained.