by J Peach
“I wasn’t doing nothing. I saw Rome and wanted to speak is all,” Kaeden explained when he saw me. I glared at him, and he smiled sheepishly. “I probably should’ve told you that first, huh? I’m sorry.” He came over and hugged me. “Did I tell you how pretty you are today?”
My lips twisted, and I rolled my eyes at him before laughing. “You’re not cute, and yeah, you should’ve. Don’t be running off to random cars like that. You know better.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Promise.” He hugged me tight once more.
“I think he needs his ass whooped. He’s playing you,” Jerome commented, laughing as he got out of the car.
Kaeden let me go and turned on him. “Dude? Why would you tell her that?” He looked at me and twisted his lips. “He’s lying, no, I’m not. You know that.” He turned back to Jerome. “You still cussing at kids?” he suddenly shot back at him.
Jerome’s eyes shifted to me after a few seconds. His hand rubbed over his mouth as if he was muffling a laugh. “Janessa, you not speaking?” He questioned, ignoring what Kaeden asked him, and that seemed to make Kae laugh.
“Didn’t she speak to you earlier at school? I know when I see my teachers outside of school, I pretend not to know them. Maybe she’s pretending not to know you,” Kaeden chimed in with a nonchalant shrug.
“Kae!” My hand covered my mouth as I chuckled.
“Oh, you think that shit is funny, huh? That’s what you’re doing? Pretending like you don’t know me?” Jerome asked.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Not at all, I was going to speak.” I felt so weird talking to him in front of Kaeden. I honestly didn’t know what to say aside from hey. What was I supposed to ask? What conversation could we have while Kaeden was right there? It felt so awkward, staring at him.
“What you been up to? You still boxing?” Kaeden went over and leaned against the car beside Jerome.
“Yeah, I work there. When yo’ ass coming up there for training?” He spoke to Kaeden as if they were just two friends conversing.
Kaeden pointed to me. “She don’t want me to box. I think it’s because she don’t want me around you like that. I mean, you can’t blame her. You don’t know how to talk to kids.”
My mouth fell open at his assumption before I laughed. Pulling him to me, I popped him upside the head. “Don’t lie or make false assumptions, Kae. It’s not because of him that you can’t do boxing. Plus, I never said you couldn’t. I’m still thinking about it. Maybe this summer, you can. We’ll see.”
“Yeah, that would probably be best because I won’t have basketball or football to get in the way. That’s cool,” Kaeden said as he started bouncing the ball.
I laughed at him then looked at Jerome, only to find his eyes on me. “What?”
His head shook, and he chuckled. “Shit. Yo’ ass standing there stuck like you don’t know what the fuck to say.”
Again, I laughed lightly. “Because I don’t. Plus, I know how your mouth is… and having a conversation in front of my son with you…” My head shook, and I laughed. Jerome’s mouth was terrible, I didn’t need him talking recklessly in front of Kaeden.
His head tilted as he stared me over. That smirk quickly came to his lips. “Oh, that’s fucked up. I’m offended like a mothafucka, real shit,” he said, taking the ball from Kaeden as he went to bounce it between his legs. “It’s cool, though, I see how you trying to play me. We still on for tonight?” he spoke while shaking Kaeden. “Come on, lil’ dude, yo’ ass got to be faster than that, especially if you plan on balling.”
“Oh, you gon’ talk junk. Now when I break yo’ ankles, don’t be getting mad. Let me tie my shoes.” Kaeden got down and started tying his laces.
“You not gonna answer my question?” Jerome asked, getting my attention.
“Yeah, of course, we are. Am I ready for tonight? Hell no! You work me to damn hard.” Training with Jerome was cool and all, but he worked the hell out of me. My body be aching something serious after every session with him.
“What y’all got planned?” Kaeden asked, standing up.
“You a nosy ass little boy. Mind yo’ manners and come step out here, so I can shake yo’ ass up right quick.” Jerome beckoned Kaeden out into the parking lot.
Although I knew he couldn’t help how he spoke, that didn’t stop me from glaring at him. I watched the pair as they played in the parking lot. The glare on my face faded as Jerome pulled the back of Kaeden’s shirt over his head, which made him mad.
“Come on, little dude. How the fuck—”
“Jerome!” I snapped, getting their attention. “Watch your mouth. He’s a kid. Every word you say to him shouldn’t be a cuss word.”
Jerome’s hand rubbed over his mouth. “My bad. I got to work on that. I ain’t mean no harm. Honest.” He placed a hand over his heart.
His gestures were so odd to me, but I liked them. My teeth gripped my bottom lip, and I looked away from him. He just caused such excitement to my body.
“Momma, it’s cool. This ain’t nothing compared to what I hear at school. Those kids and teachers cuss so much it don’t make no sense. Oh, and the parents that come up there and go off,” Kaeden exclaimed as he stole the ball from Jerome.
Looking at my son, I chuckled at him. He was just too damn mature for himself. “You’re too much, Kae. I’mma have to go up to that school and find out about all this cussing and stuff.”
“Rome, what you about to do once you’re done up here?” Kaeden jumped back as Jerome tried to get the ball.
His brows furrowed, and he glanced at me. I shrugged because I didn’t know the reason for Kaeden’s question. Jerome’s attention went back to Kae as he hit him in the leg with the ball.
“Kaeden! Don’t do that.” I scolded him.
Jerome laughed and waved me off. “He’s good. But I told yo’ ass he hit me with that damn ball at the gym, and yo’ ass ain’t wanna believe me. Little dude funny as shit, though,” he stated as he got on Kaeden and stole the ball from him. He then clipped his legs from under him, making Kaeden fall.
Kaeden broke out laughing. “Dude, you can’t do that!” He pushed himself up and brushed off his clothes. “You didn’t answer my question. What you doing once y’all leave here?” he repeated.
“Something. With yo’ nosy ass. Why?” Jerome responded while bouncing the ball over to the car and leaning against it.
Kaeden followed his action, leaning against Akil’s car. “I’m not nosy. I just wanna know if you had something to do. If not, then you could come and get ice cream with us once we leave here.”
Jerome’s brows furrowed as he stared down at Kaeden, seeming at a loss for words. “Shid…” His eyes then slid to mine.
“Mommy!” I heard Keke yell before feeling her arms go around my waist as her chin lay on my shoulder. “What y’all over here doing?” she questioned.
“Nothing. How was dance?” I asked her.
She moved from behind me to my side. “Fun like always…” her words trailed off. “I know you.” She pointed to Jerome. “You the dude that cussed at my brother for playing in the hallway,” she told him before she glanced over at Kaeden. Her lips soon formed into an O. “You are who Kae was talking about. He thinks you’re cool or whatever.” She shrugged, and Kaeden glared at her. She rolled her eyes at him. “Thanks, though,” she said in a low tone of voice, but I heard her.
The fact that she was thanking him confused me. “Why are you thanking him? What did he do?”
“So, you coming to get ice cream with us or what?” Kaeden chimed in loudly, bringing our attention back to him.
I glared at him because he knew what she was talking about and didn’t want her to say anything. Those two had a bond that was so strong. It was one I loved, but it also annoyed the hell out of me when they did stuff like keeping secrets.
“Who said I was taking y’all out for ice cream in the first place?” That only made my glare deepen.
Kaeden broke out into
a wide smile. He probably thought he had distracted me from what Kierra said. He hadn’t. My question was going to get answered.
“That’s why I was asking Jerome if he wanted to go. If he would’ve said yeah, I was going to ask you to take us out for ice cream—”
Jerome broke out laughing. “Yo! How the fuck you gonna use me so yo’ ass can get some ice cream? Yo’ little ass too gotdamn much, man.” He pointed at me. “I don’t know what the fuck you gon’ do with the little homie.”
“Whoop his butt, that’s what I’mma do.” My glare soon faded at Kaeden’s wide grin. My eyes rolled, and I looked away from him, trying to contain my laughter. “You get on my nerves, Kae. Now, Keke, why did you thank Jerome? What did he do? And Kae, if you cut her off, I’m going to beat you,” I threatened him, although they knew that was a damn lie.
Keke shrugged. “Kae told me what he said and did. Apparently, he told Kae that he likes you and feels the need to look after you because he likes you—”
“Wait, I said what now?” Jerome cut in, glancing between the two kids.
“That you like my momma, and you think she’s beautiful, and you wanna look after her. Even though y’all not dating,” Kierra broke down.
“You told my son that?” I questioned him.
His brows were furrowed as if in thought. “Fuck if I know. I said a lot of shit that day to him.” He shot Kaeden a glare, who in turn, gave a sheepish look.
“What the hell did y’all talk about that day?” I asked them.
“Nothing, really. I just wanted some advice from a man, and he gave me some. That’s it, Momma, I promise,” Kaeden assured me.
Even so, I still felt it was something more. I didn’t understand why it was such a secret. And what kind of advice would he need? What could have Jerome said that would’ve helped him?
Jerome pushed off the car and came over to me. His mouth came to my ear as his arm went around my waist. “Let him keep his secrets. You know if it was anything serious, I would’ve told you what was up,” he whispered before kissing my ear.
A part of me believed that he would. I also knew it wasn’t something damning either. If it was, given the relationship I had with both of my kids, I had faith that the pair would come to me and talk about whatever it was. Even though I was curious as hell, I wasn’t going to push Kae to tell me.
I nodded at what he said. “You’re right. And I trust that you would.”
Jerome hummed against my ear. “You gonna give me a kiss before you go?” he asked.
I laughed and was about to push him away when he was shoved back.
“Yo, Rome, now you getting too friendly with my momma. I know you like her and all, but you ain’t in that good with me,” Kaeden told him while standing protectively in front of me.
I broke out laughing. “Oh, my God! He’s not in that good with you? What the hell does that even mean, Kaeden?”
“Mommy, yo’ son. I keep saying you need to beat that boy.” Kierra chuckled.
“I mean, we not that friendly for him to be this close to you. He needs to back up.” Kaeden sounded so serious as he jumped at Jerome.
Jerome was cracking up. “Damn, homie, I see how it is.” His hands rose as he took several more steps backward. “You got it, killa.” He glanced at me, his smirk on full blast. “I won’t touch her no more without asking you first. Bet?” he bargained while holding his hand out.
Kaeden looked at his palm for a few seconds before taking it. “Cool. So, you gonna roll with us and get some ice cream, then probably to like Sky Zone or something like that?”
I popped him upside his head, still laughing. “Kaeden, I never said I was taking you to get no damn ice cream, and now you wanna go to Sky Zone too? Boy, go get in the car. I’m not about to play with you.” I stared at Jerome apologetically. “I’m sorry, he’s really trying to use you.”
“He’s straight. Maybe one day we can do that, little dude, if that’s cool with yo’ moms,” he told him while reaching in his pocket and grabbing his phone.
“You got this mothafucka around my fuckin’ kids now, Nessa?”
At the sound of Montrell’s voice, a strong irritation filled my body. For the past few weeks, I had been avoiding him, his calls, and text messages. I just didn’t want to deal with him or his insecurities anymore. I damn sure wasn’t in the mood to hear him ask for us to start over. After our last encounter, I just didn’t want to deal with him at all.
“Janessa, you don’t hear me talking to you? Kaeden, get the fuck away from that mothafucka!” he yelled at Kae.
That was when I turned to face him. “What you’re not going to do is talk to my son like that. Why are you even here, Trell? What part of we’re done, don’t you understand? I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore, so just leave us alone. Keke, Kae, go get in the car.”
“No, y’all don’t. Stay right there.” He told them. “This what the fuck you doing? Having them around the same mothafucka you cheated on me with? Now stand yo’ ass right there and lie to my fuckin’ face and tell me how you ain’t fuckin’ that nigga, Janessa. You got this nigga around my fuckin’ kids. Bitch, is you fuckin’ stupid?” he screamed at me, enraged. “Kaeden, Kierra, go get in my truck and wait for me,” he ordered them.
Trell had lost his damn mind. At that moment, I was really convinced of that. “Montrell, they’re not going anywhere with you. Why would you come up here with this bullshit? Of all places, you wanna come here and act an ass publicly?” I glanced behind me and saw the kids still standing there. “Go get in the car! Now!” I yelled at them.
The pair jumped and took off running to my car.
“You a dirty ass bitch, for real, Nessa. After every fuckin’ thing, this how you wanna play shit? All because of that hoe ass nigga?”
I just threw my hands up. I wasn’t about to stand there and argue with him, especially when he couldn’t take accountability for his actions, which were the cause of everything. He was like a broken record, and I was tired of hearing it play.
“Okay, Montrell, whatever. I’m done doing this with you.” Glancing at Jerome, I gave him a faint smile. “I’ll see you later.” Jerome simply nodded, not once taking his eyes off Montrell.
It was then that I noticed another guy with long, braided hair beside Jerome. He must have been in the car that whole time.
As I started for my car, I noticed the stares of the parents who were picking up their kids, but I didn’t even care. I was mad more so than embarrassed. I couldn’t believe he brought that shit there of all places.
“You gon’ say that shit in my face? You gon’ see him later? For what? I thought you wasn’t fuckin’ with that nigga? What the fuck you got to see him for? Huh?” he yelled, following behind me. He suddenly grabbed my arm and forcibly turned me toward him. “You don’t fuckin’ hear me talking to you?”
Instinctively, I slapped the shit out of him. I was surprised by the action but quickly recovered as I saw that he was too. Behind him, I saw Jerome move toward him, and I shook my head. I didn’t need him trying to come to my rescue every time Montrell showed up. It was about time I saved myself and not rely on anyone else to do it.
“That’s what’s not going to happen. All this jerking and grabbing on me and shit is over, Trell. I’m done letting you put your damn hands on me. Don’t fuckin’ touch me again. I’m done, we’re over, there’s nothing for us to talk about, especially not when you’re like this. If having a conversation was what you wanted, then you pulled up all wrong. Not only that, but you’re going to do all this shit in front of my kids, You’re trippin’, for real. I got to go.” I turned away from him and went to my car, only to see that his truck was blocking me in. “Can you move your truck?”
“Hell no, I’m trying to talk to you, Janessa! I been trying to reach yo’ ass for weeks, but I’m trippin’? Bitch, and you gon’ hit me? I should knock yo’ ass the fuck out, but I’m changing. That’s the only reason I ain’t knocked yo’ shit back yet. Yo’ ass re
al different now, though. You done got this new job and shit. Now it’s fuck me, right?” he continued to yell.
I turned away from him again as he was talking. I just didn’t want to deal with him. The whole scene he was causing was a first ever. Every issue we’ve had was always handled in private. “Okay, Trell. Can you move your truck now, I’m ready to go?” I wasn’t about to entertain the fight he wanted to have, especially not in public of all places.
“Fuck that, I ain’t moving shit. Yo’ ass done got around these new mothafuckas and done lost yo’ mind. You letting these mothafuckas get in yo’ fuckin’ head and shit, especially that punk mothafucka—”
“Okay, Montrell! Think whatever you want, believe whatever you do. I don’t care. Now move your gotdamn truck so we can go. Like, you’re really showing your ass right now in front of all these folks. This is embarrassing. Move, so I can leave!” I screamed at him. I was so frustrated with how he was acting.
“Fuck this mothafuckin’ car—” Montrell suddenly jumped on my car and started stomping on the windshield. “Yo’ ass ain’t going nowhere until you fuckin’ talk to me! I’ll break this bitch—”
“Trell! What the hell!” I yelled in shock. I was completely surprised by his actions.
“Nigga, what the fuck is you doing?” Akil snapped as Jerome snatched Montrell off my car. “Yo, you need to calm the fuck down.” Akil shoved him hard as he fought against Jerome’s hold.
“Nigga, fuck you,” he spat at him before finally breaking free of Jerome’s grasp. “Get yo’ gotdamn hands off me! Touch me again, and I’ll kill yo’ punk ass.” Montrell pushed Jerome off him. “All this shit is yo’ fuckin’ fault. You done got in her gotdamn head and twisted shit around.”
Jerome laughed at that. “That’s what I did, huh? Shid, if I was able to twist a damn thing, that’s yo’ fault, bitch. If you was on yo’ shit right, then a mothafucka like me wouldn’t have been able to do that. Man, get yo’ bitch ass from up here before I beat the fuck out of yo’ hoe ass again. The only reason I ain’t dropped yo’ puss ass is because of shorty.” Jerome glanced at me and winked.