by Khadijah J
“Got damn, y’all fine as fuck.” Some thirsty nigga stopped and stared us up and down. Yanni’s crazy self flicked him off, talking about I belonged to her. I started cracking up.
Around five in the morning, we finally made it back to our hotel. I had to help my friend with her shoes and put her bonnet on. I had to literally, force her to take her contacts out, because she was about to be ko’d in them. I shook my head as she passed out in my bed, snoring and everything. If anybody deserved to let their hair down and have fun, it was Aliyanna.
FOURTEEN
KEN
Life was great, oh so great. When I graduated from U of M, I had already started executing my business plans. I got my pops his own auto body shop that he’d dreamed of. I went through hell and high water starting my own disposal and trash company. Once I got that shit started and running, I got my tow truck company up and running, and that was doing good. I made my first hotel purchase in 2013, only for them to slap me with a bunch of fines and shit. Once I got all that shit squared away, and learned the business, they turned me into a beast. I started a chain of hotels in popular cities. I was a self-made millionaire, soon to be billionaire, and what was even more dope, was that everybody in my circle was getting to the money too. P had his shit going on, and so did Kenzo. Kenzo even got locked up for a couple of years, but once my nigga got out, I put his ass on harder than ever.
My pops sister’s son came down, because my auntie couldn’t control his young ass no more. After going upside the lil nigga’s head a few times to set him straight, I put him on too. I told these niggas everyday that there is too much fucking money in the world for us not to go out there and get some too. Most people knew of me, but didn’t know me, because I didn’t want to be known. I was always a lowkey nigga. I rather always stay under the radar. I was a self made boss, so of course, bitches flocked. I had a select few I indulged in, but after the shit happened with Briana, I ain’t have no room for no bitch right now.
“Wassup?” I answered.
“Nigga, did you get any of the messages I sent you?” My cousin, Shareema, asked me. Reema was a hood rat that worked for me as well and she was family.
“Nah, my bad, I must’ve been busy.” I told her.
“You remember Leon?” She asked.
“Nah, don’t ring a bell.” I told her, and she smacked her lips. Why the fuck black people always get mad when you don’t know who they talking about?
“You know Leon, Ken! Long head Leon? Light bright, cornball ass Leon, that think he the shit now cause he work for Zay?” She asked. I chuckled.
“Why you coming at that man like that? Damn, what he do to you?” I laughed.
“No, the question is what he did to you! He posted a picture of your ‘daughter,’ by Briana, and said ‘99 percent mine.’ On top of that, I saw them all together when she was in town last weekend at Kroger. This bitch foul, bro, and I’m on her ass as soon as you give me the say so. I swear, now that I look at that baby, she look just like his long head ass!” She amped on the phone.
“Hold up, let me hit you back.” I hung up. Looking at all the shit she sent me, I shook my head as my blood boiled. This bitch, Briana, was outta fucking pocket, but I knew the shit. I’m a chocolate nigga, and Briana’s brown skin ass don’t produce no damn light bright ass child. I asked her though did she have something to tell me? But she said she didn’t, so I left it that.
I even told my pops why I ain’t feel no connection or nothing for my own seed, and was I a fucked-up individual. He even told me to get a blood test done. But for two years, I ignored everything, and that’s why that shit blew up in my face. It was all good though, you live, you learn, and you keep it fucking pushing. I was good on women right now, they were good for cocking them legs and mouths open, and that was it right now. So far, I hadn’t been proved different. All the women I’d encountered always proved to be untrustworthy.
“About time you made it!” Manda smiled at me. I chuckled.
“Wassup, OG one and two?” I kissed her cheek and dapped my pops up. He had finally found him a good woman. Manda bent over backwards for my pops, and loved the fuck outta his ugly ass. Not to mention, she looked damned good for her age.
“Yo ass always late.” My pops started in on me.
“Not always. Just most of the time, but I had business to handle so.” I told him.
“Yeah, I know what that mean.” He chuckled.
“Smells good, Manda.” I told her, as she sat the food out on the table. We prayed over the food and dug in.
My pops was reminiscing, and cracking jokes the entire dinner. I shook my head and just shrugged the shit off. He cracked me up, but it was so good to see him in this element. He was happy, and that was all that matter as I told Manda.
“When y’all leave for Miami?” My pops asked.
“You going to Miami without me?” Manda shrieked.
“Dang, Pops and Manda, it was a last minute thing. Just the four of us going for business.” I told her. She nodded, as I chuckled at her facial expression.
“Yeah, business my ass.” Manda joked. I laughed at her and we continued eating.
I had to finish up my business encounters a week in advance, so these motherfuckers wouldn’t bother me while I was on vacation. These niggas were ready to get wild as hell, especially this young nigga, Zell. He was turning twenty-three, and this nigga couldn’t wait to get to Miami and celebrate. We sat first class, of course, and before I knew it, we were in Miami.
“This nigga pissy drunk, bro!” P shook his head, looking at Zell in the club. We were in VIP and this nigga was slumped over drooling. I shook my head, getting pissed. He a grown ass man, and no matter how much I tried to school this nigga, he just ain’t listen. We dragged his ass back to the hotel and then went to King of Diamonds, blowing a few bands. When we got back to the room we all went into our room and this dumb nigga was throwing up in the tub.
“Aye, nigga! You a grown ass man, you should never be out here like that. I understand you young, but gotdamn, you ain’t gotta be dumb too!” Kenzo shook his head in disgust, closing the bathroom door.
“Clean that shit up too.” P yelled. I shook my head and went to my room, passing the fuck out.
The next morning it was bright as hell outside and looking on the patio this nigga P was prowling.
“Nigga, it’s so many fine ass females out there.” P yelled.
“Nigga, I’m sick of seeing these fake ass broads pumped up with plastic.” Kenzo took a shot.
“Shit don’t even add up.” I added, putting on my shoes.
“Y’all niggas ready?” Zell asked.
“Nah, nigga, are you ready to hold your weight?” I asked.
“Yeah, you get smashed today, nigga, you getting left where you pass out at.” P said.
“Whatever, y’all tweaking. Let’s roll.” Zell walked out the door, and we all sat there laughing.
“Who this lil nigga think he is?” Kenzo asked.
We went to go eat, then we made our way to the beach. A nigga took his shirt off and was walking, it was so damn hot. My niggas were walking right with my black ass.
“Damn, y’all all fine as fuck. I’m Bresha.” Some girl walked up to P, and introduced herself. We heard some bells dinging and I knew it was them stupid ass bikes.
“Watch out, coming through!” I heard as three girls zipped past us.
“Watch out!” I heard, but it was too late, shorty had run dead smack into the back of me. Not only did that shit hurt, but I know she was hurting, cause she scrapped her leg and fell face first in the sand. P bust out laughing.
“Damn, shorty, you don’t know how to ride a bike though?” Zell asked. I turned around to help her off the ground, but when she moved all her hair out her face, I paused. She was like something outta this world. She had the smoothest, silkiest looking, brown skin, and a head full of black hair. Looking into her bubble shaped eyes and natural lashes had a nigga ready to say yeah to whatever she asked. Her face, these bit
ches was out here with full faces of make up, and she looked like she was all natural.
“Got damn, let me help you up.” Some random nigga walking pass, doubled back. I mugged the shit outta him, and he put his hands up. I tossed the bike to the side, and helped her off the ground. She looked up in my eyes, and a nigga was stuck. In fact, she looked familiar.
FIFTEEN
YANNI
Miami was so exciting. I had been having so much fun here. I didn’t do much when I was at home, just work, and went to dance every now and again. Whenever we went out of town, I always let my hair down. I wore my contacts, so I didn’t have to worry about my glasses while intoxicated. I had been through so much, and for a few years, it made me scared to live my life to the fullest. I had to realize even though I didn’t know it at the time, I was letting my fears control my life. One day, I told Shianne, and we prayed together and then started letting go and letting God.
“This bitch been drunk all weekend.” Shae teased me. I flicked her off and sipped my Fat Tuesday drink. These slushee drinks were what had me fucked up all weekend. That, and the bottles that Shi kept in our room. We finished our food and drinks before renting bikes and riding through the streets. Niggas was stopping cars for us and everything, but Shi and I weren’t paying them no attention. But Shae and Rae kept stopping to talk to niggas. I was minding my own business, every time. It felt so good to let the wind blow through my hair and let it run wild. I was good and tipsy, I didn’t know how I was operating this bike, honestly. We got back on the path that was along the beach, and was just cruising. Dodging through people, we were cruising. Looking cute and everything in our bathing suits and cover ups. I had my shades on and could barely see, which, was why I was following Shianne’s every move. But this wanch made a quick weave, and left me no choice but to crash into this stranger’s strong ass back. What killed me was how I fell face down in the sand. I looked up at the guy with half of my head covered in sand, livid.
My blood calmed down for a second looking into his fine ass face. I was trying so hard not to drool, and completely ignored his friends cracking joked on me. I dug my shades out the sand too, as he helped me up with his rough hands. Looking him up and down, he had this handsome look on his face. He had on a bucket hat, but when he bent down to help me up, I could see everything up close and personal. His perfect face was constructed by God himself. He had thick, bushy eyebrows, smooth skin, with these low, coal black eyes, that held long lashes. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his lips were the perfect size. He was so fine, like, oh my Lord, I needed to go to the room to take a shower.
“You alright?” He asked. Looking at his chest, he had tattoos on his chest and a right sleeve. I just couldn’t take him. Everything about him, from his head, that held more waves than the Miami beach, down to his big ass feet, screamed “run, bitch, and run fast.”
“Yeah, next time somebody says watch out, maybe you should actually move. You’re not made of steel.” I frowned, and picked up my bike, ready to go, but I noticed that my girls were preoccupied with the rest of his crew. I smacked my lips. He smirked at me.
“What’s your name?” He asked.
“Excuse me?” I frowned.
“Como te llamas?” He asked, and I chuckled. But since he wanted to be funny, I was too.
“Mi nombre es Kate.” I told him. He chuckled.
“Yo name ain’t no damn Kate.” His voice was so deep, and held so much authority.
“Yes, it is.” I replied, with a straight face.
“So, I’mma call you “Mine.” Cause I know yo name ain’t no damn Kate.” He smirked. At the thought of being all his, my heart fluttered. Jesus, give me the strength, a man this fine could only end in heartbreak and mistakes.
“Alright, well, we’ll get up with y’all later then.” Shae snapped me back into reality. I instantly was on ten. Like, how y’all gon’ make plans for the rest of us? Mr. Fine ass future baby daddy smirked at me. He stared me up and down cockily, chuckled then walked off.
“Y’all, let’s go.” I snapped and got on my bike.
“Alright, I’m gon’ call you later.” Shae smirked at the guy, that was all over her.
“Thanks for making sure I was okay, Shi,” I snapped at her as they walked off.
“Well, bitch, I saw that fine ass man helping you off the ground, so I figured I’d give y’all a minute. Especially since you were drooling and shit. My bad, sis.” She joked.
“Forreal, all of them was fine as fuck, especially the ones y’all was talking to. Rae, what was up with big sexy over there? He was fine too.” Shae asked.
“Not a damn thing. He was acting stuck up.” She rolled her eyes.
“Maybe he’ll loosen up once we link with them tonight.” Shae shrugged.
“Um, yeah, about that. What’s up with that? We been chilling, hanging with just us all weekend, now all of a sudden y’all trying to chill with these niggas.” I asked, getting on my bike.
“Girl, relax. We only got two more nights here, and we only live once, miss uptight and perfect.” Rae joked. I shrugged them off, and we continued to enjoy the rest of our time riding the bikes.
Later on that night, we had decided before heading out to go out to eat at the Sugar Factory with the guys we met earlier. I learned that there names were Kenzo, Zell, Pierre, and the finest one in my eyes, name was Kentrell. Getting dressed, I had on a crop top that hung off the shoulder, that was a turquoise color, and some white shorts that hugged my thighs tightly with some turquoise heels. After washing my hair, due to me falling in the sand, I had to take my time out to actually do a wash and go with all my hair products. I wasted six hours I couldn’t get back on my vacation.
When we walked in, we were seated, and everyone sat next to whoever they were feeling. I sat down under Kentrell’s piercing glare, and completely ignored him, looking straight at the menu. Everything looked delicious, but I was wondering how we were able to be seated inside the restaurant, versus outside, because last I checked, it was a long waiting list. That meant someone either had pull, or someone had been waiting to go to The Sugar Factory.
“Aliyanna.” His deep voice said, sexily. It ran chills down my spine and I got goosebumps.
“I told you, my name is Kate.” I made the mistake of looking up in his eyes, accidentally becoming mesmerized. Shocking myself, I kept my composure and kept his stare. Looking at his face in every aspect, as if I was looking for something. He was just.
“I’m trying to find a flaw, but I haven’t spotted one yet.” He smirked.
“You must not be looking hard enough, Kentrell.” I teased.
“Hey. How’s everyone doing?” The waitress came to take our order on our end. I broke our stare down, to direct my attention to our waitress, but I could feel him still staring at me as I placed my drink and food order. He rattled off his order quickly, then was focused back on me. I couldn’t even get comfortable, he was just eyeing me the entire time. It wasn’t a lustful stare either, his eyes never left my face.
“How old are you, Aliyanna?”
“I’m twenty four, and how do you know my name?” I asked.
“You’re home girl, Shae told Zell, since you kept lying to me about your name.”
“I wasn’t lying,” I started.
“Are you a mature twenty-four-year-old, or you still in your college mentality?” He asked. There was no humor or anything in his voice, which was kind of throwing me for a loop. He was seriously trying to get some info out of me, but I wasn’t budging. Just when I opened my mouth, the waiter came with my drink, making it smoke. I smiled and took a sip, it was delicious.
“Like I was about to say, My name is Aliyanna Ray. I’m twenty-four, I’ll be twenty-five in November. I wouldn’t classify myself as an immature twenty-four-year-old, because I’ve been through a lot of stuff that made me have to grow up quick. How old are you, Kentrell? Are you a grown man about his business, or a immature lil boy that likes to play games?” He chuckled, staring me
deep in the eyes.
“Kentrell Armon Rockwell. I’m twenty five, I’ll be twenty six in August. I’m a man that believes in showing actions, rather than talking about something. I see something I like, I go get it, by any means, and I make it mine.” He stared at me intensely. It was like he had an underlying message to what he was saying. Taking a sip of my drink, as he continued to look me up and down.
“You keep looking at me? Did you find that flaw yet?” I asked.
“Nah, I was actually looking for your halo. Or horns in disguise, under the wig.” He chuckled. I instantly shook my head, trying to stifle my laughter.
“Oh, Kentrell, you have jokes!” I giggled. “Well, you can stop looking, because I’m not perfect, nor do I have horns. I’m a child of the good Lord!” I smiled.
“Oh yeah?” He nodded.
“Yes! So, you can stop looking at me now.” I told him.
“Ah, I’m not gon’ stop looking.”
“Why?”
“Cause I see something I like. I’m sitting here trying to think of all the ways I’mma make you mine.”
“It seems to me as if you’re a smooth talker, Mr. I let my actions do the talking.” I teased.
“Here’s you’re meal, and yours. Do you guys need anything else?” The waitress interrupted.
“No, we’re fine, thank you.” I smiled. Everyone joined hands as I led us in prayer. After everyone said Amen, I sanitized my hands and started on my food. We were eating in pure silence, before I asked for a box, and he was finished.
“What y’all got on the itinerary tonight?” Zell asked Shi.
“Umm, actually, we about to hit the club leaving here.” She told him.
“What club? Y’all could just come with us, we got VIP and shit.” Zell smirked. I raised an eyebrow, as Kentrell excused himself from the table to take a phone call. I shook my head, because that meant he had a bitch or a wife he had to answer to but he was all in my face. They made their small talk while I was in my own world, until Kentrell sat his fine self-back across from me.
“Why you all frowned up? I was gone all of two minutes.” He joked. I sat there stoned face looking at him. I ignored him completely, and stood up, excusing myself to the rest room. I handled my business and washed my hands, when Rae came around the corner.