by Nique Luarks
It was bad enough I had to deal with Quindelle not wanting Chasity at the house. When I got back from out of town, we were going to have a long conversation. Nisha, surprisingly, seemed to be the only muthafucka with some sense. I was to blame for how they were feeling, though. And that was the only reason they’d been getting off with the bullshit.
Jaliyah rolled her eyes.
“I’ma get wit’ you later, shorty.” I continued to my truck.
12
Two birds, one stone
Chance
“Thank you for letting me stay here, baby girl.” My daddy dropped his duffel bag on the floor.
Nodding, I made my way to the kitchen for some water. “No problem.”
My mother stayed true to her word and changed the locks. She called me crying the moment my daddy left for work. Carlee, Chase and I stopped by to spend a few hours with her after dropping Rajon off. For almost four decades my father had been all she knew. And now mommy wanted nothing to do with him.
So, to save her the extra drama, I was letting my father use my loft. The rent was paid up until April, and since it was just sitting, I figured why not.
“I need a little time to figure out what I’m going to do about your mom.” He sighed.
After closing the refrigerator, I took a seat at the table. “Just give her space and time.”
“Yeah, well, I think I’m all out of time, and I fear too much space won’t do us any good.”
The sadness in his deep chords didn’t move me a bit.
It was difficult to feel sorry for him when my mommy was cooped up in her bedroom, drowning in her tears.
Shrugging, I stared down at the place mat. “Were you really going to ask her to marry you?”
“Chance.”
I was so disappointed in my father. Since I was a little girl he’d always been the source of my mothers’ pain. I hated having to watch her suffer, but I always stayed out of their business. It wasn’t my place to judge the decisions made. However, there was a great possibility that they weren’t coming back from this.
“I love your mom.” He found a seat at the table. “I just...”
My eyes shot upwards. Eyebrows knitted in irritation as I waited for him to explain why he always ran over my mother. Sitting across from me was the same man I’d once wanted my own husband to mirror. But now I felt like I hardly knew him. For the first time my daddy wasn’t a hero in my eyes; which was probably why I couldn’t look at him for too long.
“Me and your mother are different, baby girl. She’s exactly what I need, but sometimes I just want more.”
Excuse me?!
My mug deepened. “So, let me get this straight.” I chuckled condescendingly. “What you want is more important than what you need.”
“It’s not that simple. Trisha—"
I cut him off. “That’s her name? Trisha?” Arms crossed, I tapped my right foot impatiently.
He nodded. “Yes. Trisha is nothing like your mother. We have so much in common.”
“My mother raised kids for you that she didn’t even bear. Because she wanted to be with you. Not because she needed to.”
My dad leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “You have every right to be mad at me, baby girl. Every right.”
“I’m not mad at you, Daddy,” my head swayed. “I’m disgusted.”
His eyes saddened.
“Watching how you and mommy’s marriage has turned out is discouraging. Almost forty years wasted. And why?” I blinked quickly refusing to cry. “Because your wants are more important than your needs?”
When my phone sounded off, I pushed away from the table.
“Chance I love your mother.”
“Yeah, that’s what you said.” Grabbing my purse, I headed for the door.
“Hey.” Putting my phone on speaker, I prepared Carlee for a bath. “I was just about to call you.”
“What’s wrong?”
I paused. “My dad is having an affair.”
“Damn.” True sounded shocked.
“Tell me about it. When are you coming home? I cooked and don’t want to eat alone. Jaliyah came and got Chase, so I made him a plate to go.”
“Ah, yeah?” His tone shifted, which meant his attitude had too. “What she say?”
I continued undressing my baby. “Nothing really. She wouldn’t even come in. She stood on the porch the entire time I was getting his things together.” It was odd, but I was at peace with being hated for no reason. Jaliyah had been the only one who didn’t give me any real problems over the years, but I guess that ship had finally sailed.
“A’ight.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” I slipped Carlee’s arms through her robe. “Are you staying out late?”
True’s end went quiet.
“Hello?”
“I won’t be home until tomorrow.”
I stopped what I was doing. “And why not?” We hadn’t been a couple for a full twenty-four hours, and he was pulling this shit.
“’Cause I’m in Vegas.”
“Vegas?” I asked in disbelief. “You’re in Vegas and I’m just now finding out?” Hanging up the phone, I picked Carlee up and started for the bathroom.
True’s ringtone sounded off and I rolled my eyes. First thing in the morning I was going to look at condominiums. As I made sure Carlee’s bath water was perfect, I sat her little bath seat in the tub. My phone began ringing again, and against my better judgment, I headed back for the room. Carlee babbled in my arms, making me smile.
“Can you not look like your daddy?” I giggled. Snatching my phone off the bed, I answered the FaceTime from True.
“Fuck you hang up on me for?”
“Because you’re full of shit.” I snapped.
He ran his hand down his face. “How? I called you as soon as I got settled. I’m not here on no bullshit, Jelly. I’m taking care of business.”
I stared down at my phone. “True c’mon. It’s me. What business do you have in Vegas?” Last time that I checked gambling and fucking off weren’t considered business related.
True shook his head. “We not doin’ that insecure shit, shorty. I told you what it was. Either you gon’ believe me and rock wit’ me, or we can cut this shit short now.”
Who the hell...?
“True you’re not about to give me ultimatums like you don’t know you should’ve told me you were leaving the state!”
“’Cause I didn’t you need worrying, Jelly.”
“Well it’s a little too late for that.” I’m not sure what True was doing in Vegas. But “business” in his world wasn’t what most would consider the norm.
“Man...” he drawled with his palm rested on top of his head. True then tossed his head back and sighed. “You trippin’. I don’t need this shit right now.”
“Okay, bye.”
I hung up and he was calling right back. When I answered we didn’t say anything. Instead we stared at one another, both scowling. True was trying to take advantage of my patience already. Regardless of him taking care of “business”, at some point before he left the house I should’ve known.
True massaged his forehead. “You right.”
I looked off.
“Ain’t no excuse for why you ain’t know before now, Jelly.”
Adjusting Carlee in my arms, I sighed.
“I’m sorry.” True mumbled. “You forgive daddy?”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I rolled my eyes before staring back down at my phone.
“Don’t let the shit that’s going on wit’ yo’ folks effect what we doin’. We straight, Jelly. This shit was a misunderstanding. I’m used to moving how I want without answering to nobody.”
When True’s voice softened, my shoulders relaxed. “I’ma do better at communicating shit like this wit’ you. A’ight?”
“Mmhm.” I grumbled stubbornly.
“We good?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you quit pouting now? Yo
u making me feel bad and shit.” He took a drink from a Styrofoam cup. “Smoke ain’t too far away. He gon’ look out for you until I touch back down.”
“Okay.” Carlee whined making me look down.
“Jellybean.” True smiled, and I put the camera on her. “You bouta get in the bath, stinky?”
Carlee got quiet as her eyes bounced around. I chuckled lightly at her trying to figure out where True was.
“Call me when you lay her down.”
Nodding, I checked the time.
“I love you.” True licked his lips. “I love both of y’all.”
“We love you too.” A sudden wave of uneasiness washed over me. And then a cold chill settled right in my chest. Holding Carlee tighter, I took her small arm and waved goodbye.
True
As I crept down the hallway, soft music played lowly. I followed the mellow joint of what sounded like R. Kelly to a room in the very back. I listened intently as moans bounced off the walls. Drake chuckled and Roman shook his head.
Taking a step back, I lifted my leg and kicked the door open. I rushed in and Roman cut the lights on. My eyes weren’t quite ready for the shit they laid on, but my burner stayed pointed. Rel jumped out of the bed, and the nigga underneath him screamed, pulling the cover up over his head. When Rel took off to the connecting bathroom, I let off a shot that hit his gay ass in the back of his ankle.
“Please don’t kill me.” Ole dude beneath the covers cried. “I don’t know him. I just met him a few hours ago.”
Rel whimpered loudly from the floor. “Help! Somebody help me! They’re going to—" he was silenced once Drake’s gun came down hard on the top of his head.
“I don’t wanna die.” Rel’s gay friend wailed. “I’ll do anything. I won’t say a word.” He promised right before I sent a bullet between his eyes. The silencer on my gun could barely be heard.
Making my way over to Rel, I snatched him up by the wife beater he was wearing, and he jolted awake. He looked around in a daze before bursting into a fit of tears. Drake walked out of the room and Roman stood off to the side while I dragged Rel in front of the mirror on the wall. Gripping the back of his dome, I slammed his face hard against the glass, cracking it in multiple places. Blood leaked from Rel’s face as I forcibly slammed his head into it again, this time shattering the mirror.
I let him and go, and his body dropped hitting the floor with a loud thud. Tucking my gun, I stood over him.
“I’m sorry. I—I’m sorry. I wasn’t tryin’—to... hurt her.” Tears streamed down his bloody, swollen face. Rel held his arm up high to try and shield himself. I grabbed his hand and twisted that muthafucka until it popped, and he screamed in agony.
“Ayo, True. Speed this shit for somebody hear this hoe ass nigga.” Drake reentered the room opening a candy bar.
When Rel’s cries grew louder, I swiftly removed my gun from behind me and pointed it at his head. That shut his ass up quick.
“I was going to let her go.” He swore holding his broken hand close to his chest. “When she ran into the bathroom, I promise I came to my senses.”
My mind flipped back to the fear in Chance’s eyes when my baby told me she thought she was trapped. The bathroom had been way too high for her to jump. But she contemplated on taking that leap just to escape. My eyes shot toward the window, and then back down to Rel. I smirked and then shot him in the nuts.
“Aaaaarrgghhh!” he howled. “Oh...oh my God help me!”’
“Ro, open that window.” Roman wasted no time as I snatched Rel’s punk ass up off the floor.
His head swayed, and eyes closed as he went in and out, mumbling something about a hospital. Fuck a hospital, though. I was gon’ see this nigga in hell. I drug him to the window by the back of his shirt. We reached the sill, and I lifted him slightly before tossing him out of it.
Stepping back, I started out of the room. We quickly exited the apartment and headed straight for the back stairwell. Drake pulled the door open, and I chuckled when my eyes landed on the numbers located on the wall. The whole way down I was sure that nigga regretted staying on the fourteenth floor. Rushing out the back door, I jumped in the whip pulling my shirt and the matching black ski mask over my head.
We didn’t even bother going back to the hideout spot even though Drake wanted to go to the casino for an hour. We jumped right back on the jet and flew back home. I got home at around six in the morning. I knew there was a likely chance my Jelly was up getting ready for work. Even though I was tired, the moment I stuck my key in the front door I sucked that shit up.
I trailed upstairs and when I got close to our bedroom, I could hear the shower running. Heading for Carlee’s room, I poked my head inside to see she was snug. I chuckled at her little finger in her mouth. Any other day around this time I’d be waking her little cranky ass up to get her ready for the day. My little mama wasn’t a morning person. I decided right then to let her sleep in.
Trekking back to our room, I pulled my clothes off. After tossing my phones onto the bed, I ambled to the bathroom. Jelly was singing along to some chick named “Mahalia.” I only knew that because she had two favorites by her she’d put on repeat while she cooked and cleaned. When I opened the shower door, she looked back at me nonchalantly.
I wrapped my arms around her body and squeezed. She laid her head back against my chest and sighed. Water rained down on us from all three shower heads soothing me; washing off the murders I’d just committed. Chance reached to the side and grabbed the body wash and my towel. Once she lathered it up to her liking, she turned around to face me.
Taking a small step back, Chance gently washed me. I tipped my head back and relaxed. When she got to my neck, she made sure to massage releasing some of the tension. I opened my eyes and looked down at her.
Cupping her face, I kissed her softly. Chance slipped her tongue in my mouth and I picked her up. She wrapped her arms around my neck, legs around my torso, and hugged me tightly. I was grateful for her, thankful that even though I was a fuck up, she’d stuck around.
And her love hadn’t changed one bit.
“I’m glad you’re back.” She pecked my lips.
Pressing her back up against the shower door, I slid her down my dick. “Me too.”
13
No frauds…
Chance
“Where you going?” True stood in the doorway. “Where’s Carlee?”
I smiled, securing my earrings. “Out with Erin, Ava, and Skyy. And she’s with mommy.”
Nodding, he entered all the way. “I don’t feel good.”
I faced him just as he dropped down onto the bed. “What’s the matter?”
“My head and stomach hurt.” True placed his arm behind his head, and then closed his eyes.
“Did you take an aspirin or Tylenol?” I headed for the bathroom. “I think it’s a ginger ale in the fridge.” Stepping in front of the medicine cabinet, I opened it and roamed the shelves. “True?”
“Huh?” He mumbled.
“Have you taken anything?” I asked again, grabbing the aspirin. I opened the bottle and poured two pills in my hand.
True sighed. “Nah.”
“I’ll be back.” I sat the bottle on the dresser, picking my phone up. Dialing Erin, I descended the steps. She answered the phone laughing with a blunt in hand. “Hey, E.”
“Hey. We’re waiting on Skyy’s slow ass. You know she takes forever.”
I chuckled. “I’m already knowing how she do. Where’s Av?”
“Right here!” Ava called out right before her face came into view. “You on the way over here? Erin ass got edibles trying to kill me.” She cackled.
Rolling my eyes, I removed a Sprite from the refrigerator. “I’m not going to be able to make it.”
“What?” Erin jumped on the phone. “Why?”
“True’s getting sick, so I want to make sure I’m here just in case he needs me.”
“That crybaby ass nigga better go call Granny Ann’s old ass
.” Ava laughed.
Erin chuckled. “You ignorant.”
“No, I’m dead ass.”
Shaking my head, I climbed the stairs. “Ava, if it was Roman you know you’d stay home to take care of him.”
“Exactly.” Erin co-signed knowingly.
Ava scoffed. “Tuh. Roman ass knows I’m not a doctor or a nurse.”
I entered our room. “Ava, bye,” she stayed flexing like Roman didn’t run their relationship. “E, tell Skyy I said happy birthday.”
“Will do.”
“Y’all come by the shop tomorrow so we can catch up. Coffee and pastries on me.” I stood over True.
“Bet.” Ava chimed in. “I’ll bring the alcohol.”
Erin laughed. “Later, Chance.”
“Later, ladies.” I hung up and sat down on the bed. “Here. Sit up and take these, please.” I tapped his arm.
True sluggishly sat up, and I handed him the Sprite. When he held his hand out I gave him the pills.
“There wasn’t any ginger ale.” I touched his forehead. “You a have fever, too.”
“My shit pounding like a muthafucka.” He leaned forward. “Probably dying or some shit.”
Rubbing his back, I chuckled lightly. “You’re not dying, True.”
Quickly taking the pills, he leaned forward and huffed.
“I’ll make some soup and tea for you and then you can try to get some sleep.”
True leaned forward on his knees. “A’ight. Lay with me for a minute, though.” True leaned back and I got on his chest.
I chuckled when he sighed pitifully. “Poor baby.”
He sucked his teeth.
“I told you about going outside without a coat on. Quit trying to be cute and bundle up when you go outside.” I caressed his stomach.
“I do wear a coat.”
“You put on a jacket.”
True shrugged. “Same thing.”
“No, they’re not.”
He rubbed my back gently. “You look sexy.”