by J Peach
The male just stood off to the side at first, watching the chick spray paint my car. My chest started hurting as she started smashing my windows. That chick swung with purpose, she was pissed.
It was messed up because I could begin to tell why she was mad, why the fuck she was beating the hell out my baby with a damn bat.
She tried smashing the windshield, but the bat only got stuck. Seeing that, the male she was with helped. With two swings my windshield shattered, he then went to the back window doing the same while the girl slashed my tires.
“This is some bullshit. Who would wanna do something like this? Besides your girl, I don’t know anybody else who doesn’t like me. Instead of coming to me, they fuck with my car. Oh, my God! Ugh! This some bullshit! I wish I knew who the fuck they are.
“Can I use your phone to call King?” Every time something went wrong and I was in distress the first person I always turned to was my brother. No matter what it was I knew he’d be there for me. He was the only person I could ever go to and ask for something without feeling little about it.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll figure out who did this and I’ll get you a car tomorrow.”
After what just happened, Blaze would be the last person I’d go to for anything. With him spitting out how much he did and what he done bought me showed just how much he looked at a person he did things for. Never with me, not again.
“Don’t worry about it.” I went to his desk, picked the office phone up and called King. After the third ring he answered.
“Who this?” He must not have had Blaze’s office number.
“It’s me, I’m at The Shack. Somebody done smashed up my car and flattened the tires. Can you come get me, please?” The blurring music in his background turned off as he started to speak.
“You, i’ight?” King asked if I knew who done it but I didn’t and that alone had me wanting to cry. I loved that car.
“No, this fuck’d up. They spray painted my shit and busted all my windows.” Mumbling into the phone, I laid my head on the desk, today just hadn’t been my day at all.
First the shit with Britt, then Blaze showing up at my job. The fuckin’ police, Blaze’s kid thing, then his ass again. Now this shit.
This is too fuckin much.
“I’m on my way, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, i’ight?”
Nodding, I sighed into the phone. “Okay, bye.” I laid my head on the desk.
“You ain’t have to call him, yo ass could’ve just came home with me.”
Not saying anything at first, my mind just kind of ran through possible people who would want to do that. Every which way my mind turned it always ended up at Blaze.
“It was probably that stripper cop bitch you were kissing,” I accused.
“I didn’t kiss that fuckin’ girl, she kissed me and I told yo ass about it.” He sounded defensive. I didn’t care. I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t be rolling yo— Oh, shit! I didn’t even tell you. Ol’ girl that went to Britt school wasn’t the stripper bitch, I don’t know who the fuck she was or why her ass showed up at the club. Even went back to the club lookin fah her ass.
She wasn’t there, tho, even talked to the owner, but everything she gave him was fake. That bitch ghost.” Blaze said that last bit as he went into thought, his brows furrowed as his eyes squinted. “Shid, I don’t know who that chick is. I don’t like that I can’t find out either.” Blaze saying that had me feeling uneasy about the woman.
“I need a drink, today is just not mine. God!” My fingers ran through my long, dark, sandy brown hair before letting my palms press against my forehead. I closed my eyes. This was all too much and for what?
Hell, I didn’t even know what for.
“Come here.” Shaking my head, I ignored him. I wasn’t about to play with Blaze. I just wanted to go home but didn’t even have that to go to. Opening my eyes, they landed on the picture of Leslie and her baby boy. I needed a distraction and that seemed to be it.
“He looks just like you, but he’s cute. Blake… He looks like a Blake.” A laugh left my mouth. He was a very handsome kid, no doubt. He had Blaze’s big head, nose, light brown skin complexion and dimples to the tee. “What do you think he’s like?” I asked.
I was kind of hurt about it at first, but then I realized how stupid I was. I wanted to know what Blaze’s child was like. It was crazy to even say that.
Pulling my chair away from the desk, Blaze pulled me up while grabbing the picture. He took me to the sitting area. I went to sit next to him, but he simply pulled me into his lap.
“I don’t know. Leslie was a bitch and she had him for two years so she done rubbed off on ’em. Shid, he probably got the bitchiness in him too.” He sounded so serious.
Only Blaze, I swear.
Hitting him, I shook my head. “You did not imply that this baby is a bitch because of his mom. Really Blaze? You’re an asshole, let’s pray he didn’t take after you.” Bowing my head, I grabbed Blaze hands. “Father God, please, if you love us as much as we know you do, please, God, don’t make Blake be anything like Blaze. Lord, you know we don’t need two of him.”
Blaze pulled my hair hard, laughing. “You wrong fah that. What’s wrong with me?”
My laughter stopped immediately at his question. Is he really asking me that?
“It’ll take me a year just to describe half the things wrong with you.” My tone was serious, but I wasn’t.
“Fuck you, man. I’m not a bad dude, just misunderstood is all.” With saying that he became serious. “Look, about earlier.” Shaking my head, I tired getting off his lap. “Peaches, chill, damn. I’m tryna talk to yo ass. Can I do that?”
“Blaze, I don’t want to do this again. We always doing this but nothing ever gets resolved.” We were always talking about the same stuff that only ended with me putting myself out. I would end up crying with Blaze not willing to change, so there wasn’t a point in it any more.
Getting back together should’ve been last thing on his mind. He could possibly have a child, he needed to worry about that. Possibly shouldn’t have even be used because that was his kid.
Successfully getting off his lap, I sat on the side of him, the both of us quiet, lost in our own thoughts.
The rip of paper had me glancing at Blaze to see him tearing Leslie’s face from the picture before looking at it.
“I do, you know,” Blaze started saying, looking at me then back down to the photo. “It probably don’t seem like it, tho. I ain’t never said that shit to nobody but my moms, yo. Just because I don’t say it or walk around like a fuckin’ awestruck nigga with my head in yo ass don’t mean shit,” he went on and I sat there quiet, listening to him, slightly confused as to what he’s saying.
“Man, damn. Why the fuck yo ass do this shit? Most bitches wouldn’t give a fuck as long as a nigga making shit happen, but not you,” he snapped at me, shaking his head.
“Peaches, I ain’t quitting what I do. I been doing this shit for years and I’m good and smart with my shit, yo. You can’t come in waving demands and shit, expecting a nigga to change because you don’t like what the fuck I do. I could’ve lied to yo ass about it, but I’m not gon’ do it. I’m not stopping ‘cause it’s what I do. I’m sorry but it’s my choice.” Again, he looked at me, his eyes locking with mine.
“It’s obvious you can’t live with my lifestyle, I get it Peach, believe me. But you gon’ make yo choice regardless. Just know I do, yo, I love the fuck outda yo ass, man. Regardless of the bullshit I may say, you got a nigga. Real shit, you fuck with me like no other. That shit fucks with me.
“I don’t do the emotional shit, but today it got me when you walked out, the shit you said. It ain’t that I’m not tryna feel like a bitch, that ain’t ever the case ‘cause I’m not a hoe ass nigga. We both know that I’m just not no expressive ass mothafucka and I’m stubborn as fuck. Point is, I’m not gon’ stop what I’m doin’ because you scared of a what if. This is the life I live, tho. So I can�
�t give you that, but I do love yo ass.”
His eyes stayed locked with mine the whole time he talked.
My mind was literally blank, I couldn’t think. I didn’t know what to think. Blaze’s lifestyle wasn’t really the problem, it was his selfishness. But at that moment I didn’t see any of that. Blaze was vulnerable and I literally didn’t know how to respond. He was showing me a different side of him and if I messed up now, I’d never get a chance to see him that open again.
This is what I wanted right?
Blaze open?
Yeah, it was, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of it being too late.
“Blaze I love you too—” The door burst open and Blaze quickly pulled his gun.
“Peaches—”
“What the fuck I tell yo dumbass about that shit? You ain’t gon’ be satisfied until I shoot yo stupid ass.” Blaze snapped at King as he burst through the door.
“Nigga, fuck you. Peaches, you good?” King asked, coming to me.
“Yeah, just a little messed up about my car, but I’m good now,” I told him, glancing at Blaze. He wasn’t paying me any attention, he was too busy mugging. “Jerron, what are you doing here?” I asked, going over to him.
“That’s what the fuck I’m tryna figure out?” Blaze said, making me look at him. But he was staring at King who shrugged.
“I’ve been calling you. I thought you was still at the police station, when I didn’t hear nothing else from you, I called King. He told me when he heard something he’d call. So I came after he called. You sure you’re okay?” Jerron asked, his fingers combing through the back of my hair.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry I didn’t call, I don’t have a phone no more, but I was just gon’ come by when I left here,” I explained as he pulled me into him, hugging me. Laughing, I returned his hug. “Ron, I’m okay, I promise.”
“Next time take yo ass to a payphone and call. I was on my way to the police station when King called. I ain’t know which one you were at so I was going to all of them to find you. Don’t do this shit no mo.”
Laughing at how worried he was, I just nodded my head. “I won’t, I promise. But there won’t be a next time,” I promised him.
“You two mothafuckas stop with that cake ass shit. Peaches, you tell me what the fuck happened with yo car and where the fuck yo phone at?” King said.
“Some bitch totaled it, smashed my baby up bad, too. Who did it? I don’t know, your guess is as good as mine. My phone, don’t worry about it, I’ll get another one in the morning. Blaze’s cameras caught them smashing up the car, but you can’t see they’re faces.” I told King and he looked at Blaze who mugging Ron hard as fuck. “Blaze, show King the tape.”
“Yo nigga gotda get the fuck up outda here. I don’t know why his ass thought it was cool to come back here,” Blaze was saying.
“B, play the damn tape—” King started, but Blaze cut him off.
“Get that nigga out my office. King, yo ass being stupid, I hardly let yo ass back here so what makes you think it’s cool to bring this bitch ass nigga in here?” Blaze snapped, mugging Ron the entire time he spoke to King.
“Nigga, if you got problems we can handle, then what’s good?” Ron replied, pulling his jeans up.
“Y’all, please don’t do this. You know what? Blaze just show King the tape, I’ll wait with Ron out front.” I didn’t want any trouble between the two and them being in the same room was going to start just that. “Come on.” Ron didn’t move, he just stood there staring at Blaze just as hard. “Jerron, let’s go.” I pushed him harder in the chest, but he didn’t flinch.
Maybe it’s best we leave.
“On second thought, we gon’ go, I’m tired and just wanna go to bed. King, I’ll call you once we make it there.” Going up to my brother, I hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for coming, I’ll explain everything tomorrow,” I said before looking at Blaze. “I’ll text you my parents address in the morning when I get there. I’ll be ready at ten, so don’t be late.”
“I don’t get a kiss?” Blaze asked, making me laugh.
“No, but you know I love you.” Smiling at Blaze, I grabbed Jerron’s hand, pulling him towards the door.
“You can still come to my place and show me how much you love me.”
Rolling my eyes, I kept walking. “You’re an asshole, Blaze, bye.” I walked out of his office. Linking my arm with Jerron’s, I let out a heavy sigh.
“Long day?” Ron asked. All I could do was nod my head.
“You just don’t know, my body feels so tired. I just wanna sleep,” I said while pushing open the club’s doors. Once we made it outside, Ron suddenly picked me up bridal style. “Ron!” I squeaked out in surprise.
“You said your body tired. I was worried about you, I thought you got hit with an assault charge and just didn’t want to tell me.” Laughing at him, I rolled my eyes.
“If I was charged, do you think they’d let me answer my phone. Plus, if I was charged I wouldn’t have called you, not with my only call.” Joking, I gave him a duh look.
“Oh, it’s like that, huh? I should drop yo ass.” Acting like he was about to made me start laughing again. “You better go to a payphone next time.” Looking up at him, my hands went to his face.
“I promise.” After putting me in the truck, he went to his side, started it up and looked at me.
“Ready?” I leaned into the seats, yawning. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Turning in my seat and facing him, I yawned again before smiling. “What?”
“I said you weren’t getting that dance…”
“Oh, I’mma get it, believe that,” Ron said, glancing down at me as his hand came to my face. “What happened with you today?” My eyes closed as I let out a heavy sigh.
“It seems like so much, but it’s not a lot. Everything was just stressful which makes it seem like more. Where do I start?”
Then I told him everything that happened since he dropped me off that morning, excluding Blaze’s dead baby momma and child. Everything else, I told him.
Chapter 41
Peaches
Once we finally made it to Ron’s place, I was dead tired. He grabbed my hand and led me upstairs to the master bedroom. It was about the same size as mine, the colors black and grey. The bedpost was black, comforter designed in both colors mixed in a cute way with matching silk pillows.
Seeing the silk pillows, I kind of smile because I didn’t have to worry about wrapping my hair.
I went to his black dresser trying to find his t-shirt drawer. Ron came to me and closed the drawers I was going through. He handed me a shirt and some of his shorts.
“The bathroom’s right there, I’ll warm you up something to eat. Go shower,” after giving me a face cloth and a dry towel he left the room.
Going into the bathroom, I took a quick shower.
***
Ron had fried us some burgers which were surprisingly good, I’d never pegged him as a cook. We now laid on the couch in his room’s sitting area watching TV. Ron hadn’t said anything about it, but I knew he was pissed with what happened between Blaze and me.
He was just trying to avoid the argument the subject would cause. Plus, with the long day I’ve had, he was going to put it off probably until tomorrow or the day after. But the subject is bound to pop back up sooner or later.
Ron’s fingers ran through my hair as he kissed the top of my head.
“What’s your plans for tomorrow since your jobless now?” Ron asked.
Shrugging, I turned on my side to look up at him. “Nothing really. I have to get a new phone, I’m moving back into my parent’s house –which I’m going to try to put off for as long as I can. I haven’t been there since they died, so I’m kind of scared of going back. Then I promised Blaze I’d ride with him tomorrow— Ron, don’t do that.” As I mentioned Blaze’s name, Ron made this noise in back of his throat, his head falling back against the arm of the couch.
“I ain’t said shit.” With the way
he stated that, I knew he wanted to say more but was trying not to.
“Then say it, Jerron. We cool, so speak your mind. Don’t be around here huffing and puffing, say what you want.” Sitting up straight, I turned to face him.
“Let’s go to bed, i’ight. I know you tired.” He pulled me with him to the bed. He took off his shirt, then got under the covers.
He was mad.
The way his face scrunched up and the crease in the middle of his forehead, Jerron had a sexy, angry face. Hell, he was sexy when he wasn’t angry.
“Why you just standing there, get yo ass in the bed,” he said, nodding to the other side. Rolling my eyes at him, I took off the shorts he gave me. Pulling the covers back, I climbed on top of him. “Peaches, I ain’t gon play with you, so gon’ with that,” he told me, trying to throw me off him.
“Stop, Ron, before I bite you. No, serious, Jerron. You can make accusations on Blaze all you want, half of which you may be right, but you don’t know him. We go through our thing, but it’s just that, our thing. And no matter the outcome of it, I’ll always have his back like I know he’ll have mine. Just like I’ll have yours if we ever fell out, no matter what.
“You know if it’s important and you need me I got you, there’s no difference, you know that, you know me. So don’t act all mad because he needs me right now even after what happened.” My hands massaged his chest and neck the whole time during my explanation as his hands did my thighs up to my hips and then back down.
“I know and I hate that about you. That’s why I’m not trying to say anything I’ll regret because you’re just being you. So I can’t be mad at that, but that doesn’t mean I like how he handles you. I don’t like that shit and I wanna touch his ass in my way. But I don’t wanna hurt you. My way would most definitely hurt you, that’s the only reason I ain’t at dude the way I wanna be at his ass.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips at his words.