by Jade Jones
“It felt like I did,” she muttered under her breath. Shayla looked down at her left hand. She couldn’t even bring herself to wear the wedding ring. It seemed pointless after her husband left her high and dry, but that seemed to be an ongoing habit for Romeo.
Frustrated with her friend’s theatrics, Kimberlyn snatched the remote control and turned off the television. Shayla sucked her teeth but she didn’t dare dispute her actions. She knew two months was too long to brood in anger and resentment.
“Get the fuck up! I’m not gonna ask you again!” Kimberlyn snatched the sheets off her body and tossed them on the floor.
“Stop it,” Shayla whined. “You coming at me like you my baby daddy. I don’t appreciate that shit.”
“Shut up! I don’t wanna hear it!” Kimberlyn argued. “We’re going out tonight, even if I have to drag your ass!”
***
I had to leave that hoe alone to get my mind right…
I had to come up on a check to get my mind right…
Two hours later, Shayla was following her girl, Kim through a crowded Rose Bar while TK & Ca$h’s “Mind Right” poured through the subwoofers. Although she wasn’t feeling like herself, she did look nice that evening in a strapless nude bandage dress and cheetah-print Valentino heels. Kimberlyn had curled her hair in loose barrel curls, and her makeup was minimal. As soon as they walked in, every heterosexual man in a 20-feet radius craned their necks to admire them.
Taking her friend by the hand, Kim led them to the back bar where people stood idly while nodding their head to the music. Once they found a small area to stand and converse, Kimberlyn turned to Shayla. “You good?” she asked in regards to her health. This was Shayla’s first time stepping out since her hospital release.
“Feet kinda sore. My body doesn’t feel the same.”
“Well, you definitely look the same,” Kim smiled in an attempt to cheer her friend up.
Shayla grimaced and rolled her eyes. There was no winning with her.
“Stop looking so stank and act like you’re having a good time. I’m finna get a drink from the bar. You want something?”
“No.”
“Okie dokie, then.” Kim sauntered off, leaving Shayla to stew alone in her bad attitude. The expression on her pretty brown face was a clear indicator that she didn’t want to be bothered. Several guys were tempted to speak despite her scowl, but no one was brave enough to approach the frustrated woman. Well…no one except the fine ass nigga posted up in VIP with his boys. He’d been checking for Shayla since she walked over, and not even her standoffish demeanor could intimidate him. As a matter of fact, he loved a bitch with an attitude.
Squeezing through the crowd, he swaggered over towards Shayla before some lame made their move first. He was surprised he didn’t see her fine ass walk in. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice when he walked up, and he had to lean in her ear a little just to be heard over the loud music.
“You too damn pretty to be standin’ over here lookin’ so fuckin’ mean. What nigga in here got on yo’ bad side, ma? Who I gotta run up on?”
Shayla would’ve replied with some smart-mouthed comment if it weren’t for the fact that he was drop dead gorgeous. The specimen before her was 5”11 with peanut butter skin, hazel eyes, thick lips, and a haircut similar to throwback Kendrick.
“No one…just ain’t really feelin’ it,” she answered.
Placing his hand on the small of her back, he steered her closer to him so that he wouldn’t have to shout. The sweet scent of her Elie Saab was intoxicating. He’d always had a thing for chocolate girls too, and the fact that she was sporting her real hair, lashes, and nails was an added bonus. “Shit, lemme buy you a drink.”
“I don’t really drink,” she told him.
Normally, he didn’t like a square, but he was determined to change Shayla’s outlook—especially since she was his type. “Not even wine? No Moscato? You smoke? Lemme buy you a hookah, a sack—hell anything,” he laughed, showing off his dimples. For her, he would be the trick he and his niggas always clowned on.
Shayla couldn’t help but chuckle. Coming from any other guy the shit might’ve sounded desperate, but she was flattered the offer had come from him. He was fine enough to have any beautiful woman in his space, and there he was entertaining her bougie ass.
“You’re funny.”
“I try. What’s ya name? I’m Quay.” He extended his hand.
Shayla politely shook his and he kissed the back of hers. While doing so, she noticed the skull’s mouth tattooed on the back of his hand. The physical contact made the hairs on the nape of her neck stand. It’d been months since she was that close in proximity to a man. “Shayla,” she said, blushing.
Hypnotized by the sexy pair of hazel eyes in front of her, she didn’t notice the guy halfway across the bar watching her intently. Pulling out his iPhone, he dialed up his boss immediately.
Romeo answered on the third ring since it was his business line. “Wus good?”
“Aye, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, chief, but I’m here at Rose Bar right now lookin’ at some nigga all up on yo’ bitch. You want me to blow down?” he offered. The niggas who worked for Romeo was as loyal as they came. If someone disrespected him or Desmond, they took it as them being disrespected personally. He would bleed for his niggas and vice versa.
There was a brief pause on Romeo’s end as he allowed his words to sink in. He knew exactly whom his nigga was referring to. He damn sure wouldn’t have hit him up for one of the young freaks he fucked with.
“Shit, that’s clutch,” Romeo said, grateful that he’d come through. “And nah. Don’t ‘een worry about it. I’m on my way,” Romeo said before disconnecting the call.
While Shayla was cheesing and laughing in Quay’s face, she had no idea that she’d just opened a can of worms.
4
It was nearing midnight when Romeo swaggered in that mothafucka fresher than a newborn baby. An Alexander McQueen sweater hugged his muscular torso, Balmain jeans hung casually off his waist, and a pair of black high top Giuseppes covered his size 11s.
At 6”2, he had skin the color of cinnamon and low jet black hair. From the texture alone, you would’ve thought he was mixed with Spanish. Lashes that curled upward naturally complimented his wide mahogany eyes. Romeo’s best feature was his thick lips.
As usual the hoes’ necks started swiveling the minute he made his presence known. Something about a young, handsome nigga draped in foreign wear and expensive jewelry drove them crazy. The fact that he was also solo left their curiosity piqued and their panties wet. They assumed he was single, but that wasn’t the case for either him or Shayla.
After dapping up the homie who’d informed him, Romeo headed over to his wife. Suddenly, the promise he made to leave her alone flew out the window as soon as he saw her caking with some playboy. The nigga had his arm draped around her like they’d come and were leaving together.
Mmph! Over my dead fucking body.
Kim was surprisingly perched up in VIP with one of his niggas like Desmond was non-existent. Romeo had a half a mind to check her ass too because she knew better than to have his girl out there like that.
This bitch really tryin’ me up on some childish shit, he thought. It hadn’t even been three months since their split, and already Shayla was keeping time with some clown.
Romeo’s blood boiled as he watched them pop bottles and partake in a good ole’ time. Little did she know, her husband was now in the same vicinity. She’d never seen his true bad side, so she didn’t know a young, Piru nigga had a vicious temper—especially when it came to his bitch.
Romeo thought about blowing her spot up immediately, but he decided to sit back and peep how she acted when he wasn’t around. As always Kimberlyn was turnt but luckily Shayla carried herself like a lady. Still, Romeo didn’t enjoy the sight of her boo loving with some young, pretty boy who’d obviously gotten too comfortable.
Shayla was so busy enjoying hers
elf that she didn’t notice Romeo staring daggers at them from across the bar. It was his first time seeing her since that dreaded afternoon. Surprisingly, she looked good for someone who’d just overcome a traumatic experience. She’d even lost a little weight, but Romeo was certain that it wasn’t voluntarily. Lying in a hospital for several weeks could make anyone shed a few pounds.
Resentment manifested in the pit of his stomach as he watched dude whisper in Shayla’s ear. She laughed and he wanted to pistol whip the mothafucka. Romeo started to grab his iron, but she stood to her feet and excused herself.
“Where you going?” Kimberlyn slurred. She was already fucked up, so Shayla knew she’d be stuck driving them home.
“To the bathroom. I’ll be back.”
“Gon’ head. I’ll keep an eye and a hand on her,” Kim’s admirer said.
She giggled in response, loving every minute of the overwhelming attention. Kimberlyn didn’t tell Shayla, but this was actually her first time stepping out since her breakup with Desmond. Honestly, she needed the outing more than Shayla did. Dressed in tight high-waist denim shorts, a leather bustier, and red bottoms, it was clear that she was obviously trying to fuck up Desmond’s name. She should’ve been thanking the Lord he wasn’t anywhere around, because he might’ve dragged her drunk ass out the club by her hair. Kimberlyn was definitely on one that night.
Shayla almost blindly walked past Romeo, but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. At first, she assumed some lame was trying to get her attention until she met her husband’s icy gaze.
“I see you feelin’ better now and on ya feet.” Sarcasm oozed from Romeo’s tone as he spoke.
Shayla knew that he’d probably seen her kicking it with Quay but she didn’t give a fuck. “What do you care?” she asked, snatching away. “It wasn’t like your ass was there to see me through it.”
Shayla’s comment instantly hit him below the belt but he figured he had that shit coming. “Look, I know you ain’t tryin’ to fuck with a nigga right now, but I only fell back ‘cuz I—”
“’Cuz you what?” Shayla snapped. “’Cuz you’re a fucking coward?”
Romeo’s mood quickly fluctuated from apologetic to anger. He was insulted that she’d even say some stupid shit like that. Hell, just a few months back he’d volunteered his life to save hers when her dumb ass got kidnapped. “Don’t ever in yo’ fuckin’ life call me that bullshit.”
“Whatever. A hit dog will holler,” she said without sympathy. Shayla tried to walk past him, but Romeo grabbed her arm again. “Get the fuck out my way, Romeo. We have nothing to talk about.”
“The hell we don’t. Who the fuck is that nigga you kicked back with like shit’s sweet? He might not know a nigga, but you betta act like you do,” he warned.
“Get your gotdamn hands off me! I don’t owe you an explanation. It’s been two fucking months! As far as I’m concerned we’re over!” She tried to walk around him again, but he grabbed her waist. If he didn’t let her handle her business soon, she would pee on herself. “Move!” Shayla demanded.
Before Romeo could give a rebuttal, Quay walked up with one of his patnas. “Aye, is everything cool, baby?” He was asking her, but staring hard as fuck at Romeo. He narrowed his eyes a little, because he didn’t appreciate him grabbing all up on Shayla.
Hell nah. Did this mufucka just call my bitch ‘baby’? Romeo almost lost it. “Man, Shayla…you betta tell this fuck nigga—”
“Everything’s fine now,” she said, cutting Romeo off.
It felt like a kick in the nuts as he watched her take his hand and walk off like Quay was her husband and he was the buster.
This bitch got me fucked up, Romeo seethed. Fortunately, he didn’t believe in hitting women, but Shayla was definitely asking for it.
5
“Who was that? One of ya lil’ fans?” Quay asked after Shayla returned to VIP. After emptying her bladder she was finally feeling better, but she could tell from Romeo’s expression that his problems had only just begun.
Her husband was now posted at the bar, taking shots to the head out of pure frustration. He didn’t like that his girl was choosing. He definitely didn’t appreciate the way she shitted on him for homeboy. Every so often he looked over in her direction. It was strange; he didn’t want to see her with dude, but he wasn’t ready to leave either. Truthfully, he just wanted to babysit Shayla and make sure she didn’t go home with Quay.
“He’s…nobody,” Shayla waved him off.
Quay nodded his head and dropped the subject, even though he knew it was more to the story. “Aight then. We gon’ leave it at that,” he said. “Anyway, what’chu gettin’ into later on? We finna get up out this bih and prolly hit an after hours spot.”
Shayla looked over at Kimberlyn who was taking IG selfies with her new boo. She was really fucking tripping too because she knew her baby daddy followed her. “My girl’s fucked up. I should probably get her home.”
“Well, shit, take down my math. I’m tryin’ to see you again. Maybe we can link up, and grab some breakfast in the morning.”
Shayla gave Quay a once over and hesitated. With his tattoos, Alexander Wang tee, fitted jeans, and Timberland boots he screamed dope boy. He had a simple, yet sexy swag about him, but she wouldn’t have been surprised if he was bad news.
“I don’t know…are you trouble, Quay?” A smile tugged at the corner of her full lips but she was dead ass. Shayla couldn’t take another bad boy or street nigga. Romeo was more than enough to last a lifetime.
Quay licked his thick lips and smiled. His bushy eyebrows knitted together closely. Another centimeter and he’d have a full-blown unibrow. “What’chu mean by that?” he asked.
“You know exactly what I mean,” she said. “Are you trouble? Yes or no?”
“I keep my nose clean if that’s what’chu askin’.”
“Yeah, unh-huh. What do you do for a living, Quay?”
“You been chillin’ with me in VIP for the last two hours and now you wanna know how a nigga get by?” he laughed.
“We’re in the bar. That’s different,” Shayla told him. “But when you talk about getting up outside of here, I feel like I deserve to know. Look, it’s nothing personal but I’ve had my share of drama with so-called thugs. I’m over it.”
“Don’t make me pay for what the last nigga did,” Quay said. He glanced in Romeo’s direction. If looks could kill Quay would’ve been murdered a dozen times over. “I’m not him,” he acknowledged.
“I didn’t say you were. I just said I was over dating bad boys.”
“First off, I’m not a boy. I’m a grown ass man. Don’t put us all in the same box, bay. I’m a real nigga.”
“Okay. Well, why don’t you be real and tell me what it is you do for a living.”
“I work in a warehouse,” he finally said. “Shipping and receiving.”
Shayla nodded her head appreciatively. She’d take a nigga with a nine to five any day over a dope dealer. She’d long since outgrown that type of man. “You work in a warehouse?” she repeated skeptically, as if she needed confirmation.
“Yep. We all do,” he said, motioning towards his friends.
“So you aren’t into any shit?” she asked.
Quay held up his hand. “Scouts honor. I’mma good dude. I’d never have you out there like that,” he promised. Quay would never reveal that he and his homies were in fact jack boys.
“Okay,” Shayla said, naively believing him.
“So you gon’ take down my math or what?”
Shayla did and he told her to text him letting him know she made it home safely. With the way Romeo was lurking around he could tell dude was crazy, but luckily he was too. Shayla’s ex had the right one.
“Aye, fuck with me, aight,” Quay said. After giving her an innocent peck on the cheek, he and his friends dispersed.
Shayla watched as they left the bar together. She was just about to collect her drunken friend and leave too when she noticed a f
amiliar face walk in. “Oh. My. God.” Shayla paused between each word for added effect.
“Bitch, is that Dexter?” Kimberlyn slurred. Her ass was so lit that she smelled like a wine factory.
Shayla gritted her teeth in anger. She didn’t know which one she was more disgusted with; the sight of her former boyfriend or Nina’s bulging belly. “Yeah, that’s his trifling ass.” Shayla couldn’t believe he’d gotten her thot ass pregnant—and right after he caused her to miscarry.
When Nina noticed her girl, Kim she started smiling and waving excitedly in their direction. Taking Dexter by the hand—so that all the hoes knew he was hers—she quickly made her way over.
Oh Lord. Here we go, Shayla thought.
“Hey, Kimmy! Long time no see! A bitch get a new man and act like she can’t call nobody!” Nina didn’t bother greeting Shayla as she hugged Kimberlyn tight.
As always, Kim felt like she was stuck in the middle of their mess. Nina was her girl and all, but she did think it was fucked up that she got with Dexter. She knew he was Shayla’s ex and she still jumped on board. And while they may’ve not necessarily been friends they were cordial to a certain extent. Apparently, Nina didn’t believe in the overrated girl code.
“Whatever. It ain’t even like that. I actually just been staying out the way. This is my first time out in months.”
“Oh word? How’re you and Desmond?”
Kimberlyn blew a raspberry, spitting all over Shayla in the process. She was too drunk to notice though. “Girl, I ain’t foolin’ with that nigga.”
“Ya’ll mufuckas stay on that break up to make up tip.”
“’Sup Shayla?” Dexter greeted. He noticed her standing there with her arms folded so he decided to break the ice.
Shayla forced the phoniest smile she could muster up for the sake of being polite. Her ex-boyfriend looked a little different since the last time she’d seen him—like he was under serious stress. No one knew it, but he’d started drinking heavily after discovering that he was about to be a daddy. In all honesty, he wasn’t ready to have a baby, yet when he mentioned an abortion Nina slapped him and held out on the pussy for two whole weeks.