by Yoshe
Brandi mean-mugged her best friend. “What the hell are you talkin’ about, Sheba? I’m chillin’! I’m only gettin’ money with my baby daddy, and trust me, it’s a whole lotta money out there to be made! We can get fresh as hell. I mean, my baby is even wearin’ Gucci shit! Chanel will be fly . . . oh, and you can move out your mama’s house—” Brandi said.
Sheba cut her off. “Look, Brandi, you my sister and everything but I ain’t tryin’ to be out in these streets like that. I got my daughter and you got a son. I’m about to go to school, get my fuckin’ diploma, then take my black ass to work at a regular nine to five gig. We did our boostin’ thing but it’s over now. We’re mothers. You wanna do that hustlin’ shit, which is not cool, but that’s you. I will still love you, but don’t call me until you made a decision ta get your shit together. Plus, I’m never gettin’ in that damn overpriced death trap—ever!” Sheba then walked away with her head held high.
Brandi was stunned and felt like a lost little girl. Now that she didn’t have Sheba by her side, she felt fucked up. She looked at the plush leather in her car and then looked back at Shamari, who was laced with designer clothes from head to toe. Brandi looked in the rear view mirror at herself and shrugged her shoulders. As far as she concerned, she did have her shit together. That’s why she was driving a Benz and Sheba’s high and mighty-ass was walking to the fucking train station in the cold. Brandi laughed and pulled off, beeping her horn at Sheba as she drove by.
“What’s goin’ on with my baby? Is he all right in there?” Sheba asked, referring to her godson, Shamari.
“Girl, please! That boy is driving me up the wall! Sometimes, I think that I’m being punished for all me and Maleek’s dirt because he is giving me straight hell! Everytime I look around, I’m finding out something new about him.”
“You see, Brandi? I told your ass that you done spoiled his ass!” Brandi agreed. “What the hell he done did now? Don’t he go to court tomorrow?”
“Yeah, he’s going to court tomorrow. Anyway, girl, I found out that he was trying to buy a kilo from Peeto and he had to try to get the money up for it. That’s why he was out there robbing people. But that’s not it. He got some girl named Amber pregnant! She‘s eight and-a-half months, Sheba. I’m just so through with his ass!”
“What? Pregnant? Peeto? Lawd, that’s the last man that Shaki needs to mess with! You know the rumor is he’s the reason Maleek got killed.”
Brandi was unusually quiet with that statement. She was actually the one that started that rumor back in the day. A wave of guilt swept through her body. She never even told her best friend about her part in Maleek’s death.
“What the hell is goin’ on with Shaki? He graduated from high school just to go and mess up his life like this? First, Peeto, jail, and now this girl is pregnant!” Sheba said.
“Yeah, I met her today. Her name is Amber and she is a very nice girl with a good family and a good head on her shoulders. Honestly, she doesn’t need to be with no Shaki. She’s lucky that I didn’t know about this sooner because I would have taken her ass to have an abortion.”
“Well, Brandi, we love Shaki to death but it is what it is. He has to take responsibility for his own actions.” They both paused to take everything in. “So you got a grandchild on the way, huh? You old biddy! How do you feel?” Sheba started cracking up.
Brandi laughed too. “Fuck you, Sheba! I don’t feel old and I damn sure ain’t gonna let no grandbaby stop me from doing my thing!” She listened to Sheba take a drag from a cigarette. “Oh, yeah, by the way, I met this guy. A nice guy.”
Sheba yelled into the phone. “Aw, shit! Not you, Brandi Lynn! It’s about time! But wait, umm, does he have a friend?” Sheba asked.
Brandi said with a laugh. Sheba always made her feel better.
“I dunno, child, with your thirsty self! I didn’t even get with him like that yet. In case you were wondering what he does for a living, he’s a correction officer. I met him while I was visiting Shaki on Rikers. And he’s fine as hell, girl! I noticed him as soon as I walked through the door but I knew that I wasn’t there for my own personal pleasure. You know how bad I hate going to Rikers, so I wanted to get in and get out. He must have seen me, too, because he made his way over to our table to speak and you know that son of mine acted like a damn fool. Shaki embarrassed the hell out of me! Anyway, the guy is a young tender. He’s only like thirty years old and, Sheba, he got it all together.”
Sheba smiled from ear to ear. “Wow, sounds like he’s a good catch. Does he have any children?” Sheba asked.
“No. He doesn’t have any children,” Brandi replied.
Sheba was quiet. “Now that could be a problem. He don’t have any kids? What if y’all get with each other and he wants to have some kids by you?”
“I didn’t think about that. I don’t know, Sheba, I like this guy, but I gotta take it slow. I don’t want to get all involved with this guy and get my feelings hurt. It’s been a while since I been in a serious relationship with anyone and of course, Shaki don’t like him.”
Sheba sucked her teeth. For years, Brandi had made Shamari her life. She was tired of it.
“Brandi, for once stop worryin’ about what Shaki thinks! You need to live your life ’cause your son is damn sure gonna live his. He’s the one runnin’ around here tryin’ to sell drugs, robbin’, and havin’ babies! You wanna talk to the CO guy? You do just that and have fun. You have dedicated yourself to Shamari all his life, making sure that he was well taken care of. Now it’s time for you to find some happiness of your own and if that means talkin’ to this man, then do that.” Brandi sighed. Sheba was always giving her some great advice.
After they hung up, she managed to do some things around the house to keep her mind off Shamari and Sean. Thinking about what Sheba said, Brandi felt more rejuvenated than she had felt in years. The only problem was that she was scared of falling in love. She was in love with Maleek and when he broke her heart, he ended up dead. If Sean was the man for her, Brandi hoped he wouldn’t break her heart. She would hate for him to end up the same way Maleek did.
Chapter 15
It was Sunday evening and Vanita was back in town from her excursion. She was surprised to discover that Yadira was staying at Sean’s house. Curious to find out how that happened, she conveniently invited herself over to Sean’s place just to see what was going on. When she saw Yadi’s bruised body, she got angry all over again.
“That mangy bastard!” she said about Devin. “I told you the the next thing that he was goin’ to do was put his hands on you!”
Yadi shook her head in agreement. She would never tell Vanita that she was the one that started the fight.
“Yeah, Nita. You was right, as usual.”
Vanita looked around Sean’s digs. “Girl, this house is nice! Is this Sean’s by himself?”
Yadi smiled. She wouldn’t mind living in the beautiful brownstone with Sean. Of course, she was fantasizing about something that was never going to happen.
“He does have a tenant that lives on the top floor. His grandparents passed and they left it to him. It’s been in his family for forty years and it was passed down to their youngest grandchild, which is Sean.”
“Wow, that’s what’s up!” Vanita replied, as she looked around at the decorating. She loved how Sean played with the sienna and brown shades, giving the brownstone an earthy feel. She admired the runners on the hardwood floors and the family portraits that seemed to be all over the house. His taste in artwork was excellent and it consisted of mostly abstract paintings, which Vanita loved. She would have never guessed Sean had such flavor.
“Sean’s home is lovely but I think that you and Jada need to come and stay with me while you get yourself together.”
Yadi put a large coffee mug to her full lips. “Why?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders. “We’re fine right here; Sean said that I could stay here as long as I want.”
Vanita looked at Yadi, with her eyes half closed. “You fucked him,
didn’t you?”
Yadi put the cup down and walked to the refrigerator. “Nita, don’t start with me!” she said.
Vanita shook her head. “Here you are tryin’ to leave one relationship and here you go startin’ another one! What’s wrong with you?”
Yadi swung her head around. “I can handle myself, Vanita! Why are you actin’ like I don’t know what I’m doin’?
Vanita sighed. “Yadi, think about it. You’re very weak right now. If you gave up the sex, you gonna end up fallin’ for Sean. I mean, look at him. He’s handsome, got a good career, and look at this damn house! He don’t have no kids or baby mama drama, and he is a single man and obviously, a real man to take you and your daughter in. Somethin’ you have never experienced with Devin. You gonna start feelin’ a way when he’s out with other women and he starts treatin’ you like a roommate again. You’re workin’ on your emotions right now!”
Yadi looked at Vanita. “We always liked each other, Nita, and you know that. You told me to talk to him!”
“Yeah, I did but look at what’s goin’ on here. You and your baby father had a physical altercation, then you talkin’ about to stayin’ here for a while. That’s baggage that I’m sure Sean don’t want or need right now. Be fair to him and be fair to yourself. Get your shit together and if he hollers at you then it’s all good. You have to close one chapter of your life before you can move on to the next.”
Yadi looked at Vanita, Once again she had managed to drop some jewels on her. Thinking about what Vanita said, Yadi figured that she was going to do it the right way. She would tell Sean when he came home that she decided to stay with her friend. She didn’t want to be a burden to him anymore.
Later that afternoon when Sean arrived home from work, it was unusually quiet and he wondered if Yadi was there. For the days that they stayed, he had grown accustomed to little Jada running to the door, yelling “Mr. Sean!” to the top of her lungs. He came home, sort of looking forward to sweeping Jada up in his arms, looking adorable with her long jet-black pigtails and dark eyelashes to match. He walked upstairs, called out Yadi’s name and she answered immediately. Sean stepped into the guest bedroom and saw Yadi packing her things.
“Where are you goin’?” he asked. “Where’s Jada?”
“Jada’s at Vanita’s house,” Yadi answered, as she continued to do what she was doing. She didn’t look at Sean when she replied.
“Vanita was here?” he asked.
Yadi looked up. “Yeah, she just got back in town and she came over here to check on me and Jada. That’s when we both came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea for me to stay with her.”
Sean seemed disappointed. “Yadi, I told you it was no problem for you and Jay-Jay to stay here with me. I got all this room that I don’t need and, and it’s not like we on top of each other!” They both paused, as they recalled the night they had sex. “Well, you know what I mean” he quickly added.
“I know what you mean, Sean, but I feel we made a big mistake by havin’ sex with each other the other night. I don’t want to get the wrong impression and I definitely wouldn’t want to give the wrong one, neither. You are a great person and a sweetheart but . . . it’s not you, it’s me.”
“Oh, boy, Yadira, you makin’ this shit sound like we was in a relationship. You’re my buddy. I got mad love for you . . . .”
“That’s why I gotta leave this house, Sean. I think I’m fallin’ in love with you.”
When she went to walk away, Sean grabbed Yadi by her waist. He pulled her to him and slowly began kissing her. They made out in the hallway and eventually the make out session led to Sean entering Yadi’s wet pussy doggie style and sexing her from the back.
As Yadi stood by the stairs with her hair hanging over the banister, she played with her clitoris while Sean stroked her G-spot from inside her moist vagina. Sean gently planted kisses on her spine and she moaned with delight as the tears fell from her eyes. Yadi didn’t want to leave but she knew that with the sex being as good as it was and her feelings for him, it was a deadly combination.
Sean felt himself about to climax while watching her plump ass ripple, as he slowly pumped in and out of Yadi’s wetness. Yadi turned around to face Sean and they kissed as he re-entered her from the front so that he could feel the friction of her clitoris brushing against his dick. As Yadi pulled Sean closer to her, he went deeper inside of her. Their bodies moved simultaneously and the smacking of her soaked pussy could be heard throughout the quiet house. The sounds of their moans bounced off the walls. They both had back-to-back orgasms and ended collapsing against the banister.
When they finished, Yadi disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up. When she returned, she looked at Sean without saying a word. Sean cared about Yadi and he didn’t want to lead her on but what Sean didn’t realize was that he was giving her false hope by having sex with her.
At that moment, Sean felt that they had both served their purpose and maybe it was best that she left before things got out of control. Yadi brushed by him with her bags, and walked downstairs and out of the front door. Sean stood in the spare bedroom, staring into space while he listened to her pull off. He wondered if he had made a mistake by allowing the vulnerable Yadi into his home. Only time would tell.
After Yadi was gone, Sean walked into his bedroom and slammed the door. Just two weeks before this, his life was perfect. He was just another single brother with a woman or two, with no commitments and no headaches. Now he had two beautiful women tugging him back and forth, emotionally and physically. He didn’t know what to do. How did he let this happen?
Sean was definitely physically attracted to Yadi. However, after leaving the bedroom, what did she really have to offer him but good sex? He wanted a woman who was independent and strong-willed, not someone who was emotionally needy, like Yadira Cruz. He needed someone he could depend on, a woman who could hold him down if things got rough. Being beautiful on the outside just wasn’t enough for Sean. On the other hand, Brandi Wallace was a good catch. The only problem with her was that her son was a pain in the ass. Sean didn’t have any children but he would never expect a woman to choose him over her child. He just thought that Shamari was very disrespectful toward him, as a man. If he and Brandi decided to be in a serious relationship, how was he supposed to deal with Shamari and that attitude of his? He was a man before he was a correction officer so Sean certainly wasn’t going to allow anyone, especially some young punk, to disrespect him in any manner.
He didn’t understand what was wrong with the youth today. Sean was raised to respect his elders, and because of Shamari’s behavior, he had no other choice but to question Brandi’s parenting techniques. What if Sean wanted to have a child of his own? How would that fly with Shamari, who seemed selfish, thoughtless, and inconsiderate? That wasn’t a good look.
Even though Yadi’s confidence and self-esteem were shot, her parenting skills seemed exemplary. She seemed liked she took great care of Jada and Jada was a delightful child to be around. Although Jada was only four years old, he could only imagine what Shamari was like at her age. People probably hated to see his ass coming.
Sean’s cell phone rang and he smiled as he looked at the caller ID.
“She’s gonna live a long time,” Sean said, when he answered the phone. “I was just thinkin’ about you.”
Brandi chuckled. “Oh, really? I’ve been thinking about you too. What are you doing?”
Sean stood up to slip out of the dark blue uniform. He stood in the middle of his bedroom with his underwear and wife beater on.
“Comin’ out of this monkey suit. You sound like you’re real relaxed,” he said.
“Yeah, I am. I was sitting here sipping on some merlot and listening to my Jamie Foxx CD,” Brandi replied.
Sean was turned on. “What do you have on?” he asked, while grabbing himself, still horny after having sex with Yadira.
“Umm, let’s see. Nothing special. Just a pair of boy shorts and a tank top.”<
br />
“Oooh, that’s sounds good. Why don’t you come over?”
Brandi was excited but played it off. “I don’t know, Sean.”
“Please. Come on over, baby. I wanna see you.” Sean gave her the address.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” Brandi said.
Sean gathered his stuff and ran into the shower to wash Yadi’s scent off his body.
Chapter 16
Brandi pulled up in her Lexus and parked in front of Sean’s house. She had on an ankle-length mink, with a fuzzy beret on her head to fight the winter cold. Her chocolate brown, thigh-length stiletto boots clicked on the sidewalk as she opened the metal gate and walked toward the stairs that led to Sean’s front door. The double doors were made of oak and glass and she could look right into his foyer from outside. She leaned over the banister and tried to catch a glimpse inside his living room but heavy drapes covered the huge windows. She turned around and Sean was standing at the door, with a wife beater and sweats on.
“C’mon, girl!” he shouted, while waving her inside. “It’s colder than a mug out here!” They both walked in and Sean guided her into the enormous living room.
“Your house is gorgeous, Sean! Did you decorate it yourself?” she asked.
“Some things I picked out but my mother and aunt helped me wit’ da rest,” he replied.
“Okay. So do your brother and sister live in Brooklyn?” she asked, while looking around Sean’s living room.
“My sister, older sister, Mena, lives in Westchester with her husband and their two children. My brother, Twan, the police officer and he’s divorced with three kids. He lives in Harlem.”
Brandi nodded her head. “All right, Harlem world! So y’all pretty close, huh?”
“Yeah, we are. I have a big family. My mother has like five brothers and a sister. We’re real tight. What about you?”
“Well, my mother and I talk from time to time. She didn’t agree with a lot of things I chose to do when I was growing up and I think I hurt her a lot. She’s just getting over them, actually. I have three brothers who, you know, are your typical street guys; getting locked up, hustling, kids everywhere, but other than that, we just kind of do our own thing. We get together for holidays and family events and stuff like that, though.”