by Candi B
“Zane!” She yelled again. I snapped out of it, and removed my legs from the desk and stood up.
“I got a lot of shit that I need to finish today, and I don’t have time for you, or your drama. You standing in front of me, so that tells me you good, and the school hasn’t called me about Zanaya, so I know my baby good. You can state why the fuck you really here, or you can get the fuck out.”
“Why do you treat me like some hoe off the streets? I’m the mother of your child, and I take damn good care of your daughter. You should treat me with a little more respect!”
Timeka did take good care of Zanaya, I’d give her that, but she didn’t have a choice. Timeka hadn’t worked in four years, because she roached off me. At first, I didn’t mind, because my daughter wasn’t around people I didn’t know, and if Zanaya ever needed anything, one of us could always be there. Shit was about to change, because Zanaya was turning eight, and Timeka could go get a job.
“Man, please silence that bullshit you talking about. That shit you screaming don’t hold no weight with me. Every time I try to be nice, you take it as a nigga trying to get back with you. Don’t walk around here thinking you deserve mother of the year, because let’s keep it real, it ain’t like there is shit else you are doing. I overpay your ass more than enough money to stay at home and take care of our daughter.”
“Nigga, you should be paying me! Did you forget I took care of her while you were on the streets hustling? Nigga, you told me not to work, so she wouldn’t have to go to daycare! You then got this shop and now you think you the shit.”
“No, baby, you think I’m the shit, which is why you here. I know what the fuck I told you, and Zanaya is eight years old! I’m not giving you no more fucking money to pay no other bills. If you can’t find a job and pay your own bills, then give me my fucking daughter.”
“Fuck you, Zane! Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and you gon’ pay me. I promise you that! You can kiss my ass, because it’ll be a cold day in hell before I let you take my daughter.”
“Timeka, get the fuck out my shop, before I call my sister, Tangie, in here to whoop your ass out of here. Don’t call me, or come by my shop, unless it has something to do with Zanaya. Is the weave in your head tight or what? I’m giving you a heads up, and trying to save you the embarrassment, but you just don’t get it.”
“I’m giving you the heads up, if you fuck with my money, it won’t be so nice. I’ll drop your daughter off later tonight.”
“No, you not, I’ll be by later tonight to get her. I moved.”
“What kind of parent doesn’t tell the other parent they moved? Where did you move to so I can change the address on her school forms?”
“Get the fuck out of my office, Timeka.”
Timeka left out of my office mad, and cursing everyone out as she left. Eventually, I would have to tell Timeka my new location, but for a few days, I wanted to be able to enjoy a few days of peace. When me and Timeka argued, she made it bad for everybody, and when my attitude was this way, it was bad for business.
“Damn, you good, bro? Why didn’t you call me to come handle that hoe? You know I can’t stand that bitch.” My younger sister, Tangie, walked in my office.
“Yeah, I know, but all she would have done is called the police, and I don’t need that kind of drama at the shop.”
“You just get custody of Zanaya, and stop dealing with her all the way around. She uses my niece as a clutch, and a checking account, but you know what? It’s all your damn fault.”
“What you mean, sis?”
“Nigga, from the jump, you should have made her get a job, and let Mama, or one of us keep Zanaya. It’s women out here with three and four kids, getting it out the mud. Having a child isn’t an excuse anymore to stay at home and sit on your ass. Timeka is the way she is, because that’s who you created. I mean, I would be mad too if I was in her shoes, but because I’m a woman who ain’t begging no nigga for shit, I’d do what the fuck I had to do. I mean, you got a lot of shit to think about, if she takes you to court, you could be paying her more. You two need to sit down and have a civil conversation.”
“You can’t talk civil to that girl, all she understands is money. She wants to be a family, and I ain’t with it.”
Tangie giggled. “Even I can see that ain’t happening, but not her, just look at your love life, bro. You haven’t brought another woman around in years, and that’s the main reason why she feels she still has a chance. When are you going to get a woman?”
“See, now you about to make me kick you out my office, but I just ain’t on that right now. It’s hard finding a decent woman. These hoe’s mouths too big, and they don’t like to listen.”
I couldn’t tell you the last time I had a girl. After graduation, my hustle went full throttle. Getting pussy, or fucking around with different hoes, was never on my mind. Bitches found out I was making money, so the pussy came served on a platter, but I never let one bitch pussy tie me down. My ol man wasn’t too happy when he found out I was hustling, but since he knew I wasn’t about to give it up, he told me some valuable game. Money before the hoes, and no matter what, never fold. I stayed true to those words. I stayed true to the game, and the game paid me back royalty. One day, I’ll think about settling down, but it wasn’t going to be today.
“Trust me, these niggas ain’t shit either, but you gotta let your guard down once in a while. You know Mama is looking for you to make her a granny again.” We laughed.
“Hell yeah, but you, Tasie, and Taye, can give her some grandkids too, fuck that.” We laughed again. My mama always hassled me about more kids, like my sisters couldn’t pop any out.
“Well, I see some customers coming in, let me help them, and we’ll talk some more later.”
“Yea, ok, talk about kids and you gets to running, that’s cool though. I’m about to run home real quick, tell Berg I’ll be back.”
“Ok, cool, I’ll be here doing nothing.” Berg walked in. He looked at Tangie, and she rolled her eyes at him, and walked out my office. Those two never could get along with each other.
On the way to my new condo, I thought about what Tangie said. Tangie was my younger sister, and the third born. My sister, Tasie, lived in Detroit, and she was another one who drove her baby daddy crazy. Our oldest sister, Taye, was in the Navy, and had been deployed for almost two years now. Me and Tangie were the closest out of our other two sisters. Tangie had a love for cars too, so it was only right I gave her a job at the shop. This was my third time moving in two years. Timeka would always pop us, causing a scene, or calling the landlord and telling them I was selling drugs. This time I dropped a few coins on something that was mine, I was my own landlord. I just wanted to go home and lay down, even if my bed was lonely. Each condo came with an assigned parking spot that was included in out HOA fees. I paid ten dollars a month, so the U-Haul that was in my spot, was about to pay me ten dollars, or get the fuck out my spot.
“Excuse me, but could you please move the truck? This is my spot,” I asked the woman standing by the truck. Damn, she was cornbread thick, I said to myself.
“Excuse me, but I’m using it right now, park in the next one.”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me, but that’s my assigned spot, a spot that I pay for.”
“I’ve had a fucked up day, and I really don’t want to leave a bad impression on the neighborhood just yet, so either park somewhere else, or pick this motherfucker up and move it yourself.”
I was floored. This bitch took a chair out the back of the truck, and went up the stairs. I watched her fat ass jiggle in the yoga pants she wore as she walked up the stairs and open the door that was in front of mine. She was cute and fine ass fuck, but her mouth was too loose for my liking. I parked my car and did what she told me. The keys were still in the ignition, so I got inside it, drove it out my parking spot, and left it in the middle of the parking lot.
“Just what the hell you think you doing?” She shouted, from the window.
/>
“Instead of picking it up, I drove it and moved the motherfucker myself.” I replied.
“Girl, I like dat nigga!” Another girl came out of her apartment, who was equally pretty. She looked me up and down when she walked passed me.
She got in the driver’s seat, and whipped the truck around. Loud mouth met me at the top of the stairs, and I was blown away, shorty was bad. I met her hazel eyes, and quickly broke eye contact. Her braids were in a bun, and she had a scarf over them. Her cinnamon ass stood there with her hands on wide hips, and I could see that ass bouncing from the front. Her chest and breasts were full of sweat, and I was tempted to see what shorty tasted like.
“You got a lot of nerve moving that damn truck!”
“You got a lot of nerve parking in my parking spot.”
“It was only going to be for a couple of hours, and then I was going to move it.”
“I don’t care if it was minutes, I wanted to park in MY parking spot. Got it?” What the hell she thought this was?
“Yeah, nigga, I got it. You a lil punk ass I see. What real nigga gon’ let two women move furniture anyway? Take yo lil soft ass on inside.” She dismissed me.
I chuckled, and without asking, I got into her personal space. My lips brushed up against hers with every word. “That’s why your mouth too damn big, because you been fucking with them sucka ass niggas. You wanna feel something hard, touch my dick. Who’s quiet now? Who’s a soft ass now?”
“Get off me.” Her breathing picked up, and I could see her hardened nipples through her top. She was just as aroused as I was.
“That’s what I thought, welcome to the neighborhood, neighbor.” I brushed my lips against hers again, and a soft moan escaped from her lips.
I stepped away from her, and her head was slightly tilted back, and her eyes were closed. She opened her deep brown eyes, and I stared into them, wondering what made this beautiful woman so mean. There was something about her that told me this tough bitch act was just an act, and she was yelling for someone to save her. I opened my door and slammed it behind me. Something told me that wouldn’t be the last time I would have to shut her up again.
Ivy
Whew, chile, walking around naked in my new apartment, was giving me so much life right now. I had been on a happy high since I got back from Cali. Things had been progressing for me, and I thank it was God’s reward for getting rid of that no-good ass nigga. I got a raise at work, my brothers were killing it on the streets, and surprised me with a new Range Rover, my skin was glowing, and my ass had gotten a little fatter. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why Xavier was blowing my phone up, but he signed the papers just like I did, so what could he want? He was losing his mind, showing up to my job and coming by the old apartment. The restraining order wasn’t keeping him away, and I was running out of options, so I packed my things and moved in with Sunjai for a few weeks. My daddy hooked me up with a realtor, and he found these two bedroom-two bathroom condo that was in my budget. It was newly remodeled, and had everything I was looking for as a starter home. When my coins got right, I was going to buy me a house and lease the condo out.
“Stop calling me!” I yelled in the receiver. I pressed the end button on my phone, and threw it on the couch.
This was getting ridiculous. I had no good service ass Sprint, change my number three times, and each time, Xavier somehow got the number. The nerve of his ass to call me and ask for a reconciliation. Word around town was he had fallen off, and it wasn’t hard to believe, because my brothers, Roddrick and Demarcus, were working with Big Rick and running shit now. I wish people would stop feeling the need to tell me his business, because I didn’t give two shits, as long as it didn’t involve me or my brothers. Xavier was getting what he deserved, and I was moving on with my life.
I heard some noise outside my door, and peaked through my window. It was my rude and obnoxious ass neighbor with his daughter. Since our first encounter, we hadn’t said two words to each other, but that still didn’t stop me from stalking his fine ass. Every night he came home dirty, and I loved me a dirty, hard-working ass, nigga. The only thing I hated was his durag, other than that, the sight was beautiful. He was tall, chocolate, and had a perfect set of white teeth. He had a nice lil round butt in his work pants, and was slightly bow legged. I thought about knocking on his door one day to ask for a cup of sugar, but that wouldn’t have gone well if I was standing outside in my bra and panties. Whatever sparked between us the other day, was still in the atmosphere, because I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Boooo!” Sunjai jumped in front of the window. I screamed and closed the blinds.
I ran to the door and opened it. “Bitch, get your dumb ass in here!” I pulled her into my condo.
“Girl, go put some clothes on, with your childish ass. Do that man know you be stalking him?”
“Stop talking so damn loud, and no! I’m sure he knows now, with your loud mouth ass! What you want any damn way?” I went into my room to slip on some clothes and came back out.
“To see if you cooked, and I wanted you to go to the nail shop with me.”
“My fridge is empty, and if I did cook, bitch, I don’t have enough for you, slut. I can’t believe you did me like that! You know I’m getting that ass back, and ooohhh, it’s going to be epic.”
“Bring dat shit, boo, you know this right up my alley. Now, come on, Bejing is waiting on me.” We laughed.
“Girl, you know that lady’s name is not Bejing, and hold up, let me get my purse.”
I put on my shoes, got my phone off the couch, grabbed my purse and keys, and we were out. Today was too damn hot to be outside, and I preferred to stay in the house, but Sunjai wasn’t going to let me do that. On the way down the stairs, I saw his curtains move, and the little girl appeared and waved at me. I waved back, and she moved from the window. Her childish ass daddy appeared and flicked me off.
“Fuck you too!” I mouthed, so the little girl couldn’t hear me. I pointed my finger back at him and patted my ass, as in to tell him to kiss it. Me and Sunjai made it downstairs, and we got into my car, because her air wasn’t working.
“Why don’t y’all formally introduce yourselves and then go fuck each other’s brains out, because that is what’s going to happen anyway.”
“So you Cleo now? You see the future?” I said, in my best Jamaican accent. “Girl, he is sooooo damn rude, but that motherfucker is sooooo damn fine too.” We laughed. “I’ll skip over the introduction, and just fuck him!” We both fell out laughing.
“Girl, that man is fine, but let me tell you about Melo’s cockroach ass. So, I’m getting off work, and he calls me and tells me to stop by the store to get some butter. So, I’m thinking this nigga on some freaky shit, and want to smooth it and put it all over my ass, so he can lick it off, right?”
I looked at her crazy. “What the fuck, Sunjai? Butter? Girl, what in the Food Network is going on over there?”
“Wait, bitch, let me finish, so I’m like, this nigga up to something. I get to thinking, and I’m like, this nigga got high cholesterol, and his sneaky ass can’t eat butter. So, I push the whip going sixty in a thirty, bitch, on the way to the house. Girl, I'm sweating and shit, hands itching like I'm a crack head, and shit. I pull up to the house, and he is standing outside talking to some bitch. Girl, I couldn't put my car in park fast enough. He sees me, I jump out the car, and he takes off running, girl. I mean, he is running full speed, like I'm the police, down the walkway. I look over at the bobble head hoe, and she looks at me and says, ‘oh, you must be his sister?’ Girl, the next thing I know, her head went through the car window, and I ran full throttle trying to catch Melo’s ass."
I was laughing so hard, I couldn't speak. Sunjai and I both used to run track in high school, and we were both fast. Melo was an extra friendly ass nigga, and when Sunjai was away, he most definitely went out to play. I wouldn't be surprised if the girl was just riding by, and Melo stopped her.
"Don'
t it look like I lost five pounds? I chased his sorry ass all through the apartment complex, girl. I didn't even know these legs still had it, bitch. I'm still out of breath, and that motherfucker hasn't been home in two days." We were both laughing so hard.
"You two need y’all own reality TV show, I ain't lying. You know he ain't coming back, because he ain't trying to get hot grits poured on him again. I've always rooted for Melo, but he told that bitch you were his sister, and she knows where y’all live. Oh, hell no, Sunjai. What the hell was Melo thinking?"
"Niggas don't never think about the shit they do, and that's why I'm done. He had another bitch at my door, and I can't trust him as far as I see him. Running around that apartment complex made me realize I was chasing something that didn't want to be caught. I deserve so much than Melo’s cheating ass." Sunjai got emotional.
"Oh, I know not. Don't you do it! What was it that you used to tell me all the time? ‘Don't cry behind any nigga that doesn’t give a damn about why you are crying.’"
"Girl, ain't nobody crying, my contacts just dry as hell." She sniffled, and we laughed.
When Sunjai got emotional, that meant she was passionate, and I knew she was serious about not messing with Melo anymore. My girl had her ways, but she was loyal to him, and Melo kept dogging her out. She was always happy and upbeat, so it never occurred to me until now, that is was just a mask, covering up the hurt Melo caused her. She had been there time, after time, for me, and now it was time for me to be there for her. Customs Nail Shop was always busy, and was the spot to some of the most ratchet hoes the city of Detroit produced. Sunjai had offered to pay, since I paid last time, but my girl was depressed, so I took up the bill again.