“So what were you going to tell me?” JaNair asked as she and Ta’Jae played in each other’s hair.
“Oh, I just wanted to let you know that—”
“What type of shit is this, Semaj?” I looked up at a twisted-faced Tasha and instantly got a headache. See, this was the shit I was just talking about. “Uh-huh, you got me fucked up for real. Bitches playing in my baby’s hair and shit. C’mon, Ta’Jae, we about to go.”
“But I wanna stay with Daddy, Mommy,” she whined.
“No! Your daddy is out of his mind right now. How in the hell are you gonna be laid up with the next bitch and have my daughter in the same bed y’all probably just fucked in?”
“You got one more time to call me out of my name,” JaNair smoothly said as she still had Ta’Jae on her lap. I knew I needed to get a hold of things before shit got way out of hand, so I hopped out of the bed and addressed my baby mama.
“Look, Tasha, first off, you’re not going to come up in here and be rude to my company like that, so this name-calling shit is unnecessary. Second, I would never disrespect my daughter, myself, or whoever I’m with by putting them in an awkward situation. Lastly, I’m gonna tell you this, like I’ve told you so many times before. If I wanna have Ta’Jae around ten different women, that’s none of your damn business. As long as my baby has a smile on her face and is enjoying herself, I’m cool with that. Now, if you don’t have anything to tell me about our daughter, then you can go. I’ll call you when I get ready to drop her off in a couple of days.”
She looked at me, then over my shoulder at JaNair, back to me again, and rolled her eyes. I could tell she wanted to say something else, but thought against it and left.
For the next hour, we chilled and watched the Disney Channel until I finally couldn’t take any more and dozed off. When I woke up a couple of hours later, both Ta’Jae and JaNair were lying next to me sound asleep.
I couldn’t help but to smile at the way my two favorite ladies were cuddled up to each other. Just seeing the way JaNair held my daughter as if she was her own had me feeling her even more. I sure hope this trip down to Texas doesn’t cause us to lose whatever it is that’s happening between us, because I could get used to waking up to this every day.
LaNiece
“Mama, do we really have to do this?” I whined as I walked around the kitchen. Who has a family dinner just to spill secrets anyway? This was the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of. Maybe I should just leave and stay gone for a few hours. Naw, Ms. Pam would kick my ass up and down the street as soon as I got back.
“We . . .” she said pointing between the two of us, “aren’t doing anything. This is all about you, LaNiece, and what you did. Don’t nobody bring this on themselves but you, so, yes, this is about to happen.
“You know I don’t like that sneaky shit, especially amongst family. So whether or not you like it, you’re going to sit here like an adult, talk this shit out, and enjoy the home-cooked meal I’ve been slaving over all day.”
“Well, can we at least leave the forks and knives in the kitchen, or better yet, can we use plastic and paper everything instead? I don’t want Niecey to hurt me or my baby,” I said rubbing my belly while popping one of the yeast rolls my mama just took out of the oven into my mouth.
“Girl, shut your scary ass up. Niecey isn’t going to hurt you or my grandbaby. She’s not crazy. You weren’t scared when you opened up your legs to Will, so why be scared of what might happen now? Honestly, though, I don’t think you have anything to really worry about. Niecey seems like she’s really into that little white boy she’s been seeing, so don’t be so nervous.”
I understood everything that my mom was saying, but still, you never know. Sister or no sister. Pregnant or not. When some people hear certain truths, they tend to snap, and Niecey was not to be excluded. They didn’t have a show with that title for nothing.
I left my mom in the kitchen to finish getting everything ready. It was really no use for me to be in there, especially when all I was doing was sampling everything she had on the stove. I walked back into the living room, took a seat in my favorite recliner, and turned on the TV. As always, after flipping through damn near 500 channels, I still couldn’t find anything to watch, so I decided to catch up on all of my shows I had recorded on DVR until the festivities started.
Those Memphis detectives on The First 48 were just about to interrogate their prime suspect when the doorbell chimed.
“I got it!” I yelled out to my mom, although she wasn’t showing any signs of getting it in the first place.
When I opened the door, my all-right mood instantly changed when I saw who was standing on the porch.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Mya?” I didn’t even care about the annoyance dripping from each word.
“Well, hello to you, LaLa. I see you still trying to fit into those size nine clothes when you’re obviously a what . . . 18/20 now?”
She smirked after her little jab, and I wanted to slap the hell out of her.
“Again, I ask . . . What the fuck are you doing here, Mya?”
She barged into the house without being invited in.
“Damn, Mama Pam has it smelling good as hell in here. Is she making roast?” She licked her lips. “Hell, whatever it is, I can’t wait to eat it. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a while.”
“And I’m pretty sure it will be a little longer,” I said standing by the door still holding it wide open. I guess she wasn’t taking the hint that she wasn’t welcomed because she went over to the couch and sat her ass down.
“Oh, you can close the door now. I’m not going anywhere. Niecey invited me over to eat with y’all tonight. She figured this would be the perfect time for her to introduce Justin Bieber Sr. to us since this is supposed to be a family dinner and all.” She winked her eye. “Oh, and by the way, LaLa, will Li’l Ray or Big Will be joining us tonight? I mean, they are family too, right?”
See, this is why I hated this bitch. I couldn’t wait until all the shit she’s been doing caught up to her. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone found her body thrown on the side of the road one day. I was just about to let off in her ass when Niecey burst through the door with a casually dressed Toby following behind her.
“Mama, we’re here!” she yelled out closing the door and walking toward me. “Toby, this is my sister LaNiece, who you’ve probably seen before because she’s best friends with JaNair. And this here,” she said, rubbing my stomach, “is my nephew, Ray Jr.”
“So you’re having a boy?” Toby asked as he shook my hand.
“I’m not sure, but my sister seems to think I am. Every time we try to find out the sex, this little knucklehead closes its legs.”
“Ray Jr., huh?” I heard Mya’s ass question. “What if it’s a girl? What are you going to name her then? Raynisha? Personally, I like the name Willow, but that’s just me,” she said trying to be funny.
“I like Willow, but Romella could be cute too, huh?” That shut her ass right up. I knew she couldn’t stand the fact that I might be pregnant by Jerome. She’d never get him if I was.
“To be honest, sis, I hate both of those names, but if that’s what you wanna name my niece, then I gotta live with it,” Niecey said.
After we chatted for a few more minutes, my mom finally came out and told us that dinner was ready. Of course, Mya’s bum ass was the first one to the table, but once we all sat down and Niecey formally introduced Toby to our mother, we dug in.
“Ms. Pam, I’ve never tasted a roast as tender and flavorful as yours. I hope the next time you make it, you give me a call or a plate.”
“Ahh, thanks, baby. But you feel free to come by anytime I cook because everything I make is off the chain, so you’ll love it all.”
We all shared a laugh, then got quiet again. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts and enjoying the rest of their meal. I was hoping and praying that my mom would forget about the big confession since technically, everyone was family,
but as always, my hopes and prayers fell on deaf ears.
“OK, you guys. For dessert, I made a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. While I clear this table and get dessert ready, LaLa, why don’t you tell your sister what you needed to tell her.”
I looked at my mom with pleading eyes as everyone else’s looked at me. Even Mya’s bitch ass was focused on me. She’d been texting away on her phone all night to only God knows who.
My mother cleared her throat and gave me that look she always gives when she wasn’t playing. I also noticed how she discreetly raised her hand showing me that she had already collected all of the forks and knives from the table.
I gave her a small smile, then looked at my twin. I could tell the moment she knew some shit was about to go down because the happiness she just had on her face instantly mirrored the look of hurt I had on mine. It was one of the perks that came with being a twin, only this time, it didn’t feel like a perk.
“What’s wrong, LaLa? Is it the baby? You know you can tell me anything,” she said as Toby rubbed her back.
I heard Mya smack her lips, but I paid her no mind. My mom finally returned with the cake and started to cut us each a piece.
“Niecey, I don’t know how to tell you this, but—”
“Damn it, LaNiece, spit it out already!” Mother snapped.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Li’l Ray might not be my baby’s father.”
“OK . . . Who else could it be then?”
I went with the harmless name first. “Jerome.”
A look of confusion came across her face. “JaNair’s Jerome?” I nodded my head yes. Toby, who was now on his second piece of cake, just shook his head. Mya started to text away on her phone again.
“Wow, LaLa! Does JaNair know?”
I shook my head no, then decided to put my big girl panties on and get this over with.
“Jerome isn’t the only possibility. There’s one more person.” The room got so quiet I became nervous.
“Damn it, LaLa, stop beating around the bush and just spit it out already!”
Mya
This shit was better than The Jerry Springer Show. I knew as soon as LaLa told Niecey who the other baby daddy could be, all hell was going to break loose.
“Yeah, LaLa, spit it out already,” I taunted. She shot me a murderous look, but I didn’t care. I just sat back in my seat and smiled.
I started to laugh when she whispered that name low as hell. I knew by the look on Niecey’s face that she didn’t catch it yet. So me being the messy person that I was, I spoke up again and asked her to repeat herself.
“Mya, shut your ass up. This is between LaNiece and ShaNiece unless you have some shit to add too?” Mama Pam hissed.
I started to say something back but thought about it. I liked to pick and choose my battles, and I knew I’d never win against Mama Pam, so I shut my mouth. Instead, I redirected my attention back to LaLa. Niecey had just asked her to restate the name she gave, and the spotlight was now on her.
“The other possible father is Big Will,” LaLa finally blurted out.
My eyes instantly went to Niecey because I just knew shit was about to get real.
She blew out a breath, then sat back in her chair. She looked at Toby who was just sitting there all calm and collected like he didn’t just hear what LaLa said.
“I’m so sorry, Niecey,” LaLa cried. “I never meant for that to happen.
It was only one time, and if it’s any consolation, it was during one of y’all’s off-again periods.”
Niecey threw her head back and started to laugh uncontrollably. Once she calmed down, she looked at Toby and asked, “Are you ready to go, baby, because I am?”
What! I silently screamed in my head. That was it? I was expecting so much more to happen.
Toby and Niecey got up from their chairs and went over to Mama Pam to say their good-byes. After hugs, kisses, and foil-wrapped plates were given, Niecey turned to face her twin.
“You know, LaLa, I’m not even tripping off of Will possibly being your child’s father, because as you can see,” she looked up at Toby lovingly, “I moved on to someone way better, someone who wouldn’t even think about putting his dick in your corroded-ass pussy. So for that, you won’t have any problem out of me.”
I couldn’t believe it. Niecey was taking this way better than I thought she would. I guess new dick will do that for you. Toby grabbed her hand and was leading their way to the door but suddenly stopped when Niecey jerked her hand from his hold.
She turned back to LaLa. “As far as us being sisters, I can forgive you one day, I’m sure. However, the fact that you are my sister and would do something like this to me will never be forgotten.”
Niecey charged at LaLa so fast she never had time to react. When she drew back her arm and slapped the shit out of LaLa, Toby, Mama Pam, and I couldn’t do anything but wince in pain and hold our cheeks.
“Just so you know, that’s just a little taste of what’s gonna happen to you once you drop that baby,” she screamed as Toby pulled her off of a damn near unconscious LaLa.
I didn’t want to laugh, but I couldn’t stop it from coming. That’s what LaLa’s ass gets for fucking my—
“And what the fuck are you laughing at, Mya? I can’t wait until JaNair finds out that you fucked Jerome too. You know as well as I do that she’s gonna beat the brakes off of both y’all’s ass when she does. Hell, she done already kick your ass outta her house and got you living from post to pillar. When will you ever learn? With friends like you and family like my sister, it’s no wonder why bitches stay in and out of jail,” Niecey screamed.
“Please know and understand that this friendship or whatever the fuck it is that we had is now null and void. Don’t call me for shit, don’t ask me for shit, and don’t even speak to me for shit when you see me in the streets.”
Mama Pam looked around the room and shook her head, disappointment etched across her face.
“Toby, can you please take Niecey with you for a few days. She and LaLa do not need to be in the same house right now.” Toby nodded his head, grabbed Niecey’s hand, and left. She then turned her attention toward me. “Mya, I think it’s time for you to go as well. And I hope all that stuff that ShaNiece just said about you messing with your cousin’s man isn’t true. You young people are always burning the wrong bridges. What’s gonna happen when that thing you have in between your legs stops working? What you gonna do when you really need someone to have your back and none of them so-called niggas you fuck with are nowhere to be found?” She shook her head and got up from the table. When she came back from the kitchen, she handed Niecey an ice pack for her cheek.
I wanted to ask for a to-go plate but thought against it. I made sure I had everything I came with and finally left. While pulling off, I thought about everything Mama Pam had just said to me. Maybe I do need to change some of my ways. Naw, who am I kidding? I’m not about to change shit, and Mama Pam’s ass sure would be singing a different tune if Jerome gave her the dick one time.
When I got to Cassan’s house, I unlocked the door with the key he had given to me and walked in. As always, the place was messy as ever. This nigga didn’t believe in picking up shit. He’d come in from work, take off his clothes, and just throw them any and everywhere. I guess he felt that since I’ve been living here for the last few weeks, I’d clean up after him. His ass truly had another think coming if he believed that. My stay here was only temporary since JaNair’s bitch ass changed the locks on me, so there was no use in me acting like wifey.
Just thinking about the way JaNair did me had me hot as hell. I could’ve been a real bitch and reported her for doing an unlawful eviction, but since I’d be taking her man from her soon, I felt payback would be served.
So far, the plan that I came up with for Jerome was going as planned. I ended up getting his new number from one of the new waitresses at Lotus Bomb. Of course, I had to hit her up in the parking lot since I was banned from coming back up i
n there. Surprisingly, whenever I do text Jerome, he hits me back, but that’s only because I told him I could help him with getting JaNair back.
Yeah, I knew all about their little breakup. Unbeknownst to LaLa, she butt dialed my phone while they were in the restaurant that day. I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but I did hear the part about Jerome and Tangie having a baby together and knowing JaNair, I knew the first place she was headed when she left was going to be to Jerome’s house.
I made my way up to the restaurant undetected, thanks to Cassan’s ride, and followed her for about forty-five minutes until we ended up in front of some house in the valley. The place was beautiful, and I could picture myself being Susie Homemaker and everything here.
I had parked about two houses down, so I couldn’t make out what was being said, but when I saw JaNair storm off and Jerome chase after her, I knew something went down.
Shit was crazy how things were starting to happen on their own. That’s why I told LaLa I didn’t need her help with my plan. Besides, I knew sooner or later, her conscience was going to start fucking with her, and she’d end up telling JaNair everything before I wanted her to know. I had something for LaLa’s ass, though.
Keys rattling in the door only told me one thing: Cassan was home. And as always when he walked in, everything went to the floor.
“What’s up, Mya?” He looked around. “Why haven’t you cleaned up around here?”
I rolled my eyes. “Because you don’t pay me to.”
“Because I don’t pay you to? What do you think paying the rent, so you can have a roof over your head, the bills, so you don’t have to wash your ass in the dark, and groceries, so you won’t starve to death, means?” He laughed. “That’s what’s wrong with bitches like you. You think shit is just supposed to be handed to you and you can get anything that you want. But news flash, Mya, in the real world, it doesn’t work like that. If that was the case, you’d still be at your cousin’s house and not here.”
What Bae Won't Do Saga Page 17