Your Man Chose Me

by Racquel Williams

  “Really? That’s the kids’ daddy, right? How long this been going on?”

  “To be honest, T, this shit been going on for a minute but I didn’t want to see it. Now he just straight disrespectful. He hasn’t been home to check on me or the girls. I swear, I can’t do this shit anymore.”

  “Did you talk to him about it? You can’t let these niggas do what they want to do, you know that. Put his ass out. You’re a strong person; you don’t need no nigga to survive. You better put his ass on child support.”

  “Girl, trust me I ain’t stuttin’ that nigga. I already got him back when I fucked his worst enemy in our bed. That nigga must not know who he fucking with for real.”

  I was shocked by her last statement. Damn, I wanted her to get the nigga back, but to fuck another nigga in the bed they shared was just lowdown. I looked at her and all I saw was evil. No love, just pure, dark evil. I felt bad for the nigga because whatever she had up her sleeve was not good at all.

  “Enough about me and my fucked-up life. What’s going on with you, Miss College Lady?”

  “Girl, nothing, I have another year to go, then I will get my associate’s degree in psychology. Then I plan on going to another school to get my bachelor’s.”

  “You go, girl. Ever since we were growing up, you were always the one with the brains.”

  “I got something to tell you,” I blurted out.

  “What, bitch, you won some money?” She laughed.

  “Nah, better than that. I’m pregnant.”

  “You pregnant? I didn’t even think you were fucking.”

  “Bitch, bye. I ain’t no fucking Virgin Mary. You must’ve forgot the shit we used to do when we were young.”

  “That don’t count, ’cause I plan on taking that shit to the grave. But anyways, are you serious? Who is the lucky baby daddy?”

  “You don’t know him; we go to the same school. We have been seeing each other for a minute now. It wasn’t planned, but it happened, so here I am knocked up.” I smiled.

  “Well, congrats, boo, and welcome to motherhood. I hope your baby daddy is way better than mines, ’cause these bum-ass niggas be sweet as fuck before the babies.”

  “Well, I think my boo is kind of different. He already has two daughters and he is great with them. His old dumbass baby mama is the one who be acting up. I’m trying to tell him to get custody of the girls and we can raise them. He told me so many stories about the stupid shit she be doing. I swear some of these bitches make it hard for the rest of us.”

  “Yeah, but you can’t really listen to a nigga when he pillow talks. Some these niggas will say anything to get the pussy and they be straight up lying. Just make sure that this is what you want, because being a mama ain’t all it’s pumped up to be.”

  “I got you. I just know he is different from these other dudes.”

  “Yeah, a’ight. Anyway, when am I gonna meet this Mr. Wonderful? What did you say his name was?”

  “His name is Micah.”

  “What a coincidence. Ant’s middle name is Micah. I pray he ain’t nothing like Anthony.”

  I didn’t respond. I just smiled. She seemed bitter. Whatever that dude did to her, it definitely took a toll on her.

  We chatted for a little while longer then I decided to leave. “Well, I’m about to go. I have to go study. How about we set up a date so I can meet my brother-in-law and you can meet yours?”

  “I would love that; that’s if Ant and I stay together. Call me and we can definitely do dinner.”

  “All right, sis, take care. We need to talk more. I really miss you and my nieces. Say hi to Mama for me when you see her.”

  “I sure will. You know she asks about you all the time.”

  I hugged her and went out the door noticing the sun was still beaming down. I loved warm weather but, for some reason, since I’d been pregnant it kind of bothered me. I was ready to go home and lie down under the AC.

  I got into my car and pulled off but, before I could turn, I looked up and I saw Ayana peeping through the curtains. Something didn’t seem right with her. I couldn’t put my hands on it, but she was so different from the girl I grew up with. I swear I sensed jealousy and nothing but negative vibes coming from her. I drove down the street in total silence as I replayed in my head something that she said: “What a coincidence. Ant’s middle name is Micah. I pray he ain’t nothing like Anthony.” Oh, hell no, I hope not, I thought as I sped all the way to Decatur.

  I called Micah as soon as I got to the house. I was too eager to see him. I hoped what I was thinking was wrong, but there were too many coincidences: Micah had two daughters; Ayana’s baby daddy had two daughters. And they had similar names. Was she the one he was talking about? Her drunken mother, his baby mama from hell; could it really be my best friend?

  “Calm down, it’s just coincidence,” I tried to coach myself. I rubbed my stomach and walked into the shower. I needed to relax a little and water always soothes my soul.

  I must’ve dozed off because I heard footsteps, so I jumped up and saw Micah standing over me.

  “I was trying not to wake you.”

  “It’s fine, I need to get up anyway. I need to talk to you.”

  “What’s up, you good?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. I need to ask you a question.”

  “Ask away.”

  “What’s your baby mother’s name?”

  “What is this about?”

  “I think I went to school with her. What’s her name?”

  “Ayana.”

  The walls started to close in. I felt dizzy and my vision became blurred. “I don’t feel too good,” I mumbled as everything went dark.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Tiana

  I woke up in DeKalb Medical. I learned from Micah that I fainted. The doctor told me my blood sugar was low and that I was dehydrated. I also needed iron pills because the iron in my blood was low. Damn, I went in with one issue and left with a bunch of other issues. I was well aware that I had to take care of myself and my baby.

  On the way home I stared out the window. My heart was broken and my whole perfect little life was shattered. How did I end up in this fucked-up situation? I was really pregnant by my best friend’s baby daddy. I turned to take a look at him. Did he know? Did he know he was screwing me and my best friend? Tears filled my eyes. I wanted to sink into a hole right about now. This was one big-ass mess that I managed to get myself in.

  “Babe, you a’ight? You crying?” he inquired.

  “Nah, I’m fine, just a little tired,” I lied. I wanted to let him know how much I was hurting. I wanted him to hold me. I loved him and I needed him bad as hell!

  When we got to the house, I made some soup and got into the bed. I just needed to lie down, rest my soul, and figure things out.

  “Get some rest. I’m going to be gone for a minute. I have some business to handle.” He kissed me on the forehead.

  After I heard the garage door go down, I dialed Ayana’s number. I had a question for her.

  “Hello, you got home okay?”

  “Yes, I did. Lemme ask you a question. What school your baby daddy go to?”

  “Georgia Tech, why?”

  “You know that’s my school. I’ma keep an ear out for you, see if I hear anything.”

  “Thanks, boo.”

  I sank under the covers as tears started flowing. This couldn’t be real. There was no way in hell me and Ayana were fucking the same damn nigga and neither one of us knew it. The big question was, did he know he was fucking two best friends? I cried until my eyes started to burn and my head started to hurt. I wished I had someone to talk to, but the only person I could talk to was the woman of the man I was fucking.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Ayana

  I didn’t know what breeze blew Tiana’s ass over here, but the bitch acted like she was the shit ever since she started college. She must have known that I wouldn’t fool with her ass. It was hard for me to keep a straight face when she ca
me over here. The reality was I didn’t fuck with that bitch like that. It pissed me off even more when she sat up here acting like the nigga she was fucking was the shit. Bitch, please. It was only a matter of time before that nigga saw right through that “made in China” bitch. That bitch would find out soon that her shit stank just like the rest of ours. I couldn’t wait for the day when that bitch called me crying the fucking blues. The bitch pissed me off when she started talking ’bout my mama. That bitch must not have remembered that it was my drunken mother who fed her hungry ass and put a roof over her head. I saw her ass cleaned that shit up fast, ’cause I was ready to knock that bitch’s head off for real.

  I kept calling Anthony’s phone because it was now turned on again, but he still wasn’t picking up. I got into my car and decided to drive around to all the spots that I knew he could possibly be chilling at. I grabbed my little. 25 and put in my purse. I got it while I was dancing at the club. You can never be too careful; especially when you dance, these old lame-ass niggas be trying it.

  I got on I-20 and headed to Decatur. I tried to see if I spotted his car anywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. I decided to head to the barber shop on Candler Road; that’s where most of the hood niggas hung out at. The barber shop was really a front for the dope shop. All the dope boys be there and all the thirsty bitches be there also.

  I pulled up on the side and checked my hair to make sure I was on point. I saw some of them hating-ass bitches standing outside so I sashayed past them and walked into the shop.

  I walked over to Big Mike’s stall. “Hey, Big Mike, you seen Ant?”

  “Hey, Ayana. Nah. I seen that nigga earlier today.”

  “Oh, okay, thanks.” As I proceeded to walk out, that’s when Tahj’s bitch-ass sister walked in front of me.

  “I see somebody looking for their baby daddy.” She chuckled.

  “Bitch, get the fuck out of my way. Since you fucking him, you should be wondering where he at also.”

  “No, honey, like you said I’m only fucking him. He’s your dick and you’re his baby mama so that’s your job to worry about him. I only fuck him and get the money.”

  By the time the words left that ho’s mouth, I had jumped on her. I started taking punches at that ho’s face.

  “Fight, fight,” I heard the other bitches screaming; and a crowd rushed over.

  That bitch was matching my blows, but I was determined not to lose this fight. I stomped that bitch so hard blood started spilling out of her mouth.

  “That’s enough,” I heard Big Mike yell. He snatched me up in the air and carried me to the back of the store.

  “Put me down,” I yelled. I was angry and I was ready to finish whupping that bitch’s ass.

  “Man, chill out! What’s wrong with you, out here showing out like this? Ant gon’ be pissed as hell when he finds out that you been out here fighting.”

  “Fuck Ant. All y’all knew he was fucking that ol’ raggedy-ass bitch, but y’all kept it on the low. Matter of fact, fuck all y’all for real. Now let me fucking go.”

  “I’ma press charges on that bitch,” I heard that bitch scream.

  “Bitch, fuck you. You rat-ass bitch.”

  “I’ll let you go if you promise to go home. Ain’t no need for you to be out here trying to go to jail. You got kids, ma.”

  “A’ight, man, I’m leaving, but if that bitch say anything else, that ass is mine.”

  He held my arm and walked me out of the shop. That old scary-ass bitch didn’t even leap. He let me go and I got into my car. I was so angry that I was shaking. I leaned my head on my steering wheel as I cried. I was hurting so bad, I just wanted to use this car and run over all them bitches out here. This nigga Anthony done made a fool out of me and now he got the entire hood looking at me like I’m a fool.

  I turned the car on and busted a U-turn and sped off. I saw that bitch through the mirror still popping shit. I wasn’t moved. That bitch better go wash that blood off her face. My head was hurting from that bitch pulling my weave and I felt a knot on my forehead.

  I pulled into my driveway and that’s when I noticed Ant’s car. I figured news traveled fast so he found his way home. I walked in and he was sitting in the living room.

  “So, this what you do now? Out in the streets fighting like you done lost your mind?”

  “Boy, fuck you. You’ve been gone for four fucking days and now you have the fucking nerve to come up in here checking me about a bitch you been fucking?”

  “Yo, I told you I was going to be handling some business. I can’t afford to sit around here when I got moves to make. You want nice shit and to live in a big house. How the fuck you think you get these things? You don’t fucking work,” he yelled.

  “Boy, whatever, you ain’t the first dope boy I fucked with. You not hustling twenty-four hours a day. You have to wash your ass and change your clothes, so where the fuck you do that at?”

  “You know what, Ayana, this shit is getting old. I’m tired of doing this! The bitching and the accusations, I want this to end, B, for real. I just want to be in my kids’ lives; that’s all I want.”

  “What the fuck you saying? You done? Who is this bitch who makes you want to walk away from your family? Is the pussy that fucking good for you to say fuck us?”

  “It ain’t about that. I am not happy, and you’re not happy. Why should we keep going through this bullshit? Now you out in these fucking streets fighting like you ain’t got no damn sense.”

  “Boy, like I said, you just mad ’cause I stomped a hole in your bitch’s face. The next time you try to play me for another bitch, please make sure that ho is something to look at. You the only one who want a bitch half the hood done ran through. I pray to God you put on a condom when you was running up in that ho.”

  “Yo, I ain’t tryin’a hear all that. I ain’t never fuck that bitch. I put that on my seeds, but believe what the fuck you want to believe. Like I said, it’s over between us. You can have the house; I’ll find me something else.” He turned to walk away.

  I ran up behind him and grabbed his shirt. “You can’t fucking do that. Me and my kids need you,” I busted out crying.

  “Man, chill out. I’ve been telling you that I am tired of arguing and going through this old hood-like love. I’m in the streets and when I come home I don’t need a homie. I need a woman who has my back, one I can sit and talk with. You never listen; all you give a fuck about is the money. You remember when I told you that I wanted to go back to school and learn a trade? You laughed in my face and asked me who was I gon’ be with working nine to five. That was the motherfucking day I realized that you was only a money-hungry bitch and you didn’t give a fuck that I was throwing rocks at the penitentiary.”

  I raised my hand and slapped the shit out of him. He quickly grabbed my arm and shoved me to the side. “Ay, B, keep yo’ hands off me. I swear, I don’t want to but I will beat your motherfucking ass.” He took step toward me.

  “You can try it if you want to. You know damn well you ain’t man enough to try me like that. Boy, you must not love your motherfucking life. I got niggas lined up waiting for me to say the word,” I spat with venom.

  “Bitch, fuck you and them niggas. I bet you not one of them fuck niggas will ever say shit to me. Man, I ain’t going to keep going through this shit with you.” He turned around and walked quickly through the front door.

  I fell on my knees and started bawling. I popped all that shit, but I loved him. “I love you,” I yelled out. I was hoping he would turn back around and tell me that he was sorry. I waited a few minutes but nothing happened. With tears flowing and snot running out my nose, I sat on the carpet by the door. I was feeling so weak. I felt a sharp pain, like my soul had been torn apart. I wondered, did he just leave me to go see her, whoever the hell she is?

  My thoughts were interrupted with the ringing of a cell phone. I quickly got up and walked to the living room. His iPhone 6 was on the coffee table and, boy, was it going off. I couldn’t re
sist so I picked it up. The 404 number that was calling lit up the screen with the title Babe. I answered it but I was too late; the person had already hung up.

  “No. Damn you, Ant!” I yelled out as I tossed his phone on the couch. I quickly picked it back up and started browsing. I didn’t know what I was going to find but I knew it wasn’t going to be good. I grabbed a piece of paper and I wrote down every female’s number or any number that looked suspect to me. I knew some of them were friends but, fuck it, everybody was a suspect at the moment. I saw messages, but none was from this “Babe.” I took one last glance and threw the phone down.

  I poured a glass of wine, turned the lights off, and walked upstairs. I was on a mission to find out who this bitch was who my nigga was referring to as Babe. I hoped that bitch was ready for some drama, because if I couldn’t have him, then no one was going to have him.

  I drank the wine, which triggered my emotions. I started crying again. I grabbed my phone and started dialing numbers one by one.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Tiana

  Micah stormed through the door with anger plastered across his face. I had never seen him so angry before and it kind of scared me. He sat at the edge of the bed fuming with anger.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Nah, ma, it’s my ol’ dumbass baby mama. Her ass was out there fighting and shit while my fucking kids are at her mama house. I swear, T, I just want to choke that bitch for real. I’m tired, yo.”

  “Calm down, baby. I know you mad but I can’t support you putting your hand on no female. I already told you, you need to take her to court to get your kids. The judge will see that you are the fit parent.”

  “Ma, I’m a street nigga. I ’ont fuck with no fucking system. What the fuck I look like going up in their court? Sometimes I just want to off the bitch so I can have my motherfucking kids.”

  I couldn’t believe he was talking like that. It made me shiver inside ’cause I was carrying his seed and, one day, I may have been the one he was angry with.

  “Ma, don’t look at me like that. I love you. I would never think about doing anything to you or my seed. You just don’t understand the kind of shit this bitch puts me through. I’ve been good to her, and she ain’t had to work or provide a dollar. I bust my ass in them streets to provide for them. My niggas called me a fool and laughed at me, ’cause they said I was wifing a whore. Ain’t none of that matter. I really loved her, T,” he cried.