The Wrong Side Of Love 3: A Hood Love Story

by Charmanie Saquea

  “He can come. He better get here by next week some time because I don't know how much longer this little boy is going to stay in here.”

  Coco’s due date was in two weeks but she was still in the hospital. She didn't want to stay in the hospital until it was time for her to have her son. That was just something she wasn't going to do. If she had to, she was going to do a damn hospital break and the next time they would be seeing her was when she was having real contractions.

  Chapter Ten

  Zeek opened the door to his hotel room with a sigh. He wasn't in the mood for the shit that was about to happen nor did he think it was necessary. He and Coco were two grown adults that could handle situations by themselves who didn't need somebody trying to be the mediator and bring them together.

  “Hey, ma,” he said as he kissed his mother on the cheek.

  “Mhm,” she said as she cut her eyes at him.

  “This is—”

  “Save it, Zeek. I'm not here to meet nobody. She not even important right now,” Joyce said, offending Nina, who sat there looking stupid.

  “Okay, what's up?” he asked.

  “I just came to check on you, honestly. I talked to Coco and she explained to me that you two had an exchange of words and I know how you can be, so I wanted to see you.”

  “Honestly, ma, and this is no disrespect to you but fuck Coco! There was no exchange of words because she was doing all the talking and that shit she said to me was foul as fuck,” Zeek told his mother.

  Zeek didn't get hurt by much in life but that shit that Coco spat at him had really hurt him. Just to know that she wasn't even happy to be carrying his child or to be literally bonded with him in some type of way hurt him. Anyone who knew the two of them knew their relationship, or lack thereof, was anything less than perfect but he never would have thought she felt that deeply about it.

  Joyce just looked at her son in pity. When her kids were little, before tragedy struck, she knew out of all her kids, Zeek would give her the most trouble. He possessed the same stubbornness and bullheaded qualities as his father. Zeek always felt as if things had to go his way and as long as he was pleased or happy, what anyone else felt didn't matter to him.

  “Let me tell you something, Junior,” Joyce said as she sat down and made herself comfortable.

  Zeek was a little thrown off because his mother hadn't called him Junior since before his father was killed. Not only did it bring back memories but it felt good to him to hear her call him that again.

  “What's up, mama?” Zeek asked with a little smile on his face.

  “I was the first person to find out that Coco was carrying my grandbaby. Sure was. In fact, I told her she was pregnant. That girl was so hurt and confused that she didn't know what to do. But you know me. I sat her down and I talked to her real good and made her realize a few things but you, Ezekiel, you need to realize a few things as well,” Joyce told him.

  “A few things like what? I'm good, ma. If she don't want me around then that's on her.”

  “Have you taken the time out to think why she doesn't want you around?” she said as she cut her eyes at Nina. “One of these days, and real soon, you are going to have to realize the world does not revolve around your cocky ass. You always want things to go your way and when they don't, you like to throw fits like you’re a little boy. You are about to be a father, Zeek. That means whatever issues you and Coco have need to be put on the back burner for his sake. Nothing else matters but him. If you two aren't going to do it for yourselves, at least have the decency to do it for him.”

  Zeek nodded his head as he took everything she was saying to him in.

  “And another thing. Make sure people know their places and don't step out of bounds,” she said as she pointed her head at Nina.

  “Excuse me? I'm the wife. You need to let the baby mother know her place. All this talk about her and her feelings but what about me?” Nina mumbled as she went into the bedroom.

  “You do know I'm not too old to hand out an ass whopping, right?” Joyce asked. “Little girl got me all bent.”

  “Don't even worry about it, ma. I'll handle her. Trust me,” Zeek laughed.

  “Mhm, but I'm going to get on up out of here because I know you have a lot to think about,” Joyce said as she kissed her son’s cheek.

  Zeek pondered over what his mom said. She was right about everything she’d said. Even though he couldn't stand Coco at the moment, they were about to be parents very soon. The two of them had to put all bullshit to the side whenever it came to their son. He would give her a few more days of being in her feelings then he would call her to have a decent, adult-like conversation with her so they could get to the bottom of things.

  ___

  “Hey Marco!” Coco yelled as their FaceTime connected. “What you doing?”

  “What's up, big mama, I miss you, too. Damn, you big as fuck!” Marco laughed as she showed her round belly in the camera.

  Coco was finally out of the hospital and she couldn't be happier. Her blood pressure had finally gone down and she was now dilated to two centimeters and still having contractions.

  “Ooohwee, you sure do know how to make a girl feel beautiful,” she said sarcastically.

  “I'm just playing, sis. But what's up? How is everything on your end?”

  “Marco, please. My name wouldn't be Jacole if my life wasn't fucked up. I sure do wish I could make your bitch ass cousin disappear.”

  Marco laughed because he knew Zeek was out there causing hell. He wouldn't be him if he didn't. Marco couldn't wait for the day when Zeek and Coco stopped playing and just made it official. He was really pulling for them and he had faith that they would eventually get it together.

  “What's wrong with y'all niggas now?” Marco asked.

  “He had the nerve to bring that bitch out here, Marco! I don't give a damn what me and him have going on. For him to actually send for the bitch so she can be out here is the ultimate disrespect to me. So I went the fuck off on that nigga. I’m done being the nice Coco; her ass got hurt too much. That nigga about to see a side of me that he's going to wish he hadn't. As soon as I drop this load, it's on,” Coco ranted.

  “Nah, Coco Puffs,” Marco joked, “don't be that baby mama, alright? It's too many niggas out here dealing with crazy baby mamas and them bitches really be on some other shit. I don’t want you to be added to the long list.”

  “Fuck Zeek. He’s going to get everything he dished out and I can promise you that one,” Coco told Marco.

  Just then, Ishmael walked in the room. He walked over to Coco and kissed her, not realizing that she was on FaceTime until he heard Marco’s voice.

  “Who that?” Marco asked with a funny look on his face, trying to figure out what the hell Coco had going on.

  “That's bae,” Coco smiled as Ishmael laid at the foot of her bed and started messaging her feet.

  “No wonder Zeek cutting the fuck up. I knew it had to be some shit.”

  Coco rolled her eyes. “Anyway, enough about me. What's happening that way?”

  “Shit, since Zeek got out, Elias snake ass went MIA. Like nobody has seen or heard from that nigga.”

  Coco shook her head in disappointment. She knew if it wasn't for her being pregnant and living across the country, Zeek would have been handled Elias. Coco knew how much it meant to Zeek that he handled Elias, especially since he was the one who was responsible for Chico’s death. Now, Zeek may never get his revenge.

  “Zeek should have handled him before coming out here,” Coco said.

  “Yea, right. Zeek must have known he was getting out that day because as soon as he was free, Wolf handed his ass a plane ticket to California. The first thing he said was he wanted to be with you and his baby,” Marco informed her.

  Coco shifted uncomfortably. She really wasn't trying to hear that right now, especially when she was highly pissed off at Zeek. On top of that, Ishmael was sitting there looking at her like he was waiting for her to talk about so
mething other than Zeek.

  “Yea, well. What else been going on?”

  “I've been having these business meetings lately. I'm trying to find a new career, Co. I mean, I could never fully be out because my brother and cousin are in but I need something different now. I don’t think that shit is for me anymore,” Marco explained.

  “That's good, Marco! I’m happy to hear that but I don’t think you should let anyone hold you back from doing what you want to do. Zeek and Tariq are two grown ass men that aren't going to get out until they feel they're ready. You can't keep one foot in and one foot out just off the strength of them because those streets will have a way of pulling you all the way back in and even deeper than you are now,” Coco let him know.

  “You're right, Co and I hear everything you're saying. Believe me, I do. But I definitely can't get out right now until Zeek come back for good because Riq tripping. So now the shit falling on my shoulders to handle.”

  “Wait, what's wrong with Tariq?” Coco questioned.

  “Man, ever since him and Jay…I can't even say him and Jay because I'm sure that shit was all him but ever since he called the engagement and damn relationship off, he been on some other shit. I'm talking drinking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The nigga been fucking anything moving and I'm just praying to God he wrapping it up, and he look like he ain't slept in two months. I’m talking, this nigga is straight out The Walking Dead,” Marco filled Coco in on what was going on with Tariq.

  “Oh my goodness, what the hell is going on?” she stressed. “Honestly, Marc, you can't put the blame on them not being together solely on Riq. Jayliah played her part too and she was wrong for what she did but the way Riq went about handling it was wrong as well. Instead of sitting down to talk about it like married couples do, he threw in the towel and said fuck this relationship. Now both of their asses are miserable because of their own selfishness,” Coco voiced her opinion.

  “I can't argue with you, Coco. I completely agree. Hurry and have that baby so Jay can come get her nigga,” Marco laughed.

  “I definitely will. Be on the lookout because I'm going to be blowing your phone up with pictures,” Coco let him know before they ended their FaceTime call.

  After talking to Coco, Marco was even more eager to get his business started. Marco never wanted to deal with the street shit but he’d gotten in the game to have his brother and cousin’s backs. Now, since they were living their lives and doing whatever made them happy, he felt it was time he did the same.

  Chapter Eleven

  Zeek sat up in bed with his head back as Nina’s head bobbed up and down in his lap while she tried to swallow his dick. He felt himself about to cum so he grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her up. Nina wiped the spit from her mouth as she happily climbed on his dick. Zeek was the first black man that Nina had ever been with and it was safe to say that she was definitely turned out.

  “Espera un minuto!” Nina said through a painful moan. (Hold on a minute)

  Zeek ignored her as he held her waist and dug into her from the bottom. He was definitely about to take out all his frustrations on her pussy. Often times, Zeek wondered why he kept Nina around and hadn't gotten rid of her yet but whenever he slid up in her or she wrapped her lips around his dick, he remembered why. Nina was his little freak that did whatever he told her to do in the bedroom with no complaints.

  “Ay, Papi!” Nina yelled as Zeek fucked her unmercifully.

  “Shut the fuck up,” he growled as he switched positions and laid her body down while choking her. Zeek wasn't in the mood to hear all that hollering and shit and he sure as hell wasn't trying to make love with her ass. He just wanted to bust a nut, nothing more. When he felt her pussy contracting around his dick and felt her juices, that's when it hit him that he didn't have a condom on.

  Shit, I'm fucking up, Zeek thought as he felt himself about to nut. He continued to fuck Nina until he couldn't hold off any more and he pulled out and released on her stomach. He was already dealing with one dysfunctional baby mama, the last thing he needed was to get Nina pregnant and have Coco ready to kill his ass.

  “Really? On my stomach?” Nina complain.

  Zeek ignored Nina as she attempted to get out of the bed but her legs were weak. She stumbled a little before finally getting it together and making her way to the bathroom. Zeek laid there for a few as he began to doze off. Just as he was about to fall asleep, his phone rang.

  “Yea?” he answered, slightly irritated.

  “Zeek, my water broke,” Coco said calmly into the phone.

  “WHAT?” he yelled as he jumped up. “Fuck, where you at? You good?” he panicked.

  “Me and Jay are at the airport waiting for my dad to come out but you can meet us at the hospital.”

  Zeek heard Jayliah in the background saying their dad was walking out the airport now.

  “Alright, I'm on my way,” Zeek said as they hung up.

  Zeek was wondering how the hell Coco was being so calm at a time like this. He wasn't the one that was pregnant but he was nervous as shit. He was so nervous that he couldn't even think straight. He ran into the bathroom and damn near shoved Nina out the shower as he got in. This was a surreal moment to Zeek. He was actually about to be someone's daddy. After taking a shower, he quickly got dressed.

  “What's the rush?” Nina asked.

  “My son on his way,” Zeek said as he put on his shoes.

  “Oh,” was Nina’s simple reply as she watched him run out like the room was on fire.

  The only thing that mattered to Zeek at this time was witnessing his firstborn come into the world.

  ___

  Coco was once again in the hospital but this time for a joyous reason. Even though she didn't want to, she was laughing through her pain at Zeek. They had officially been in the hospital for a half day and there was still no baby. Every five minutes Zeek was trying to check between her legs to see if his son was coming and it was so comical to see.

  “Owww!” Coco said as she was hit with another contraction.

  “Don't tense up, Co. That makes the pain worse,” Jayliah told her.

  “Something’s wrong,” Coco said.

  “What's wrong?” Zeek asked as he jumped up on alert.

  Thankfully there had been no beef or drama between the two of them. For the time being, they were getting along and Zeek had been being very attentive to Coco and her needs. Even when Ishmael was there, Zeek didn't act out or say anything to him.

  “I feel pressure down there, I feel like I have to pee but I don’t,” Coco explained.

  “Daddy, page the doctor,” Jayliah told their dad.

  Steven wasted no time paging the doctor. Less than a minute later, a bubbly nurse walked in.

  “What can I help you with Mommy?” she asked Coco.

  “I feel a lot of pressure…wait.” Coco had to take a minute because a contraction hit her.

  “Breathe through it,” her nurse coached her.

  Her nurse propped Coco’s legs up to see how far she was dilated. When she noticed Coco had reached ten centimeters, she went to get her doctor. Seconds later, everyone rushed into the room.

  “Okay, Jacole, I'm going to count to ten and I want you to give me one big push and hold it, okay?” her doctor instructed.

  With Jayliah on her right holding one hand and Zeek on her left holding the other, Coco took a breath and pushed with everything she had in her. Steven cheered his daughter on from the sideline.

  “I can't,” Coco said, out of breath.

  “You're doing fine, take a breather and we're going to do it again.

  After a few seconds, Coco was back to pushing.

  “I see the head!” the doctor announced. “Come on, Jacole. You’re doing perfect.”

  When Zeek heard that, he took a peek between Coco's legs and damn near passed out. He couldn't believe that her pussy was stretching like that. He was definitely going to be embedded to her after this.

  “It's a boy!” th
e doctor announced, pulling Zeek from his thoughts.

  “What's up, doc? Why he blue and shit? He not crying either,” Zeek asked. Zeek didn't even get to finish getting his question out all the way before his son was whisked away so they could work on him.

  “My baby,” Coco said weakly. “What's wrong with my baby?” she cried.

  “Jacole, your son came out with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, which meant he wasn't getting any oxygen. He was not breathing but they are working hard to resuscitate him.”

  With those words, it felt as if Coco and Zeek’s worlds came crashing down around them. Coco was trying to figure out how everything went from being perfect to a disaster with the snap of a finger. Zeek just knew this was karma coming back to bite him in the ass for all the wrong he had done in the past. This was payback for all the lives he had taken in his lifetime.

  “We got him!” Coco heard, along with the faint cries from her son.

  Zeek rushed over to look at his son. Even with him throwing a fit, he looked just like him, light brown eyes and all.

  “Ezekiel Armond Clay III,” Zeek heard Coco say.

  He didn't think the smile on his face could get any bigger but hearing her name his son after him and his father did the job. He knew if his dad were alive today, he would be proud that his first grandchild was a boy and that he carried his name. Zeek walked over to Coco and kissed her forehead. “Thank you,” he told her as she drifted in and out of sleep.

  “You're welcome,” she whispered.

  Zeek walked back over to his son and just stared down at him in amazement. He never thought he would see the day where he would have a miniature version of himself but he was proud as hell.

  “The best feeling in the world, huh?” Steven asked Zeek as he came and stood by him.