by J Peach
He was trying to provoke Montrell, I realized.
Montrell went to grab Jerome, who didn’t flinch, but Akil jumped in the middle of the two and pushed Montrell again. “Nigga, I said calm yo’ ass the fuck down—”
“Man, fuck you. My issue ain’t with you. It’s with that hoe ass mothafucka.” Montrell pushed Akil’s hand off him.
“I don’t give a fuck who yo’ issue is with. Yo’ ass in front of my wife’s business, and you acting fuckin’ stupid in front of all these gotdamn kids. This ain’t the place for y’all bullshit. Get gone, real shit, before I beat yo’ ass, nigga,” Akil threatened him.
I didn’t want to see him get his ass beat. I really wanted to go. “Trell, please, just leave.”
He turned on me so fast. I moved back because he looked crazy. “I’m not going no fuckin’ where until you talk to me.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this. What is there for us to talk about? You still don’t even get it. You steady trying to put the blame on him and me, hell on every gotdamn body except for yourself. That’s what you’re not getting, Trell, everything that’s happening is because of your actions, nobody else’s. Until you can understand that, it’s nothing to talk about.” He couldn’t take responsibility for his actions. He didn’t want to admit his wrongs, and he wasn’t going to change.
“I know that! I said I fucked up; I know that. What else do you want me to do or say? I already fuckin’ apologized.”
I let out an irritated growl. “Oh, my God! A fuckin’ sorry isn’t going to fix every gotdamn thing, Montrell!” I screamed, my frustrations getting the best of me. “Trell, move your truck, so I can go. I’m not doing this.” It was taking everything in me not to hit him.
He suddenly grabbed me around my waist and held me tight. My hands went up in surprise. “I’m sorry, Nessa. I fucked up. I know that. The shit was wrong, baby. I’m changing, baby, please don’t do me like this.” Trell dropped to his knees while still squeezing the crap out of me. “I miss you and the kids. I’m going crazy without y’all, please come back home. I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” he begged.
Trell’s voice was thick with emotion. It wasn’t until he stared up at me that I saw he was crying. His eyes were red as tears flowed heavily down his face.
Speechless. I was completely speechless. Never in the years that we’ve dated had I seen him cry. I couldn’t believe he broke down like that, and in front of people. I stood there completely frozen with my arms still half raised, not touching him. I didn’t know what to do. My eyes then met with Jerome’s; still, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to seem heartless and push Montrell off me while he was crying.
“Please, Janessa, don’t do me like this,” he sobbed before his face went into my chest.
“Why the fuck y’all standing around here? Get the fuck out of here. This ain’t no gotdamn show!” Jerome snapped at the people who stood around looking before he walked off.
“Aye, sweetheart, you can go,” the tall, bright skinned man who was with Jerome said when he walked back over to us. I didn’t even notice he had walked off. He pointed behind me. When I glanced back, I saw that Trell’s truck was gone. The guy must have pulled Montrell’s truck back. “Gone take off,” he instructed.
“Ma, let’s go,” Kaeden said from behind me.
“Nessa, please,” Montrell pleaded at the same time.
“Trell, let me go.” I tried to pry his arms off me, but he wasn’t letting up on his tight grip. “Montrell, please, stop.”
“Montrell, stop it! Let her go!” Kaeden yelled as he was suddenly at my side, pushing Trell’s shoulders.
“Kae, get in the car,” I instructed as I finally got out of Montrell’s hold.
I moved back, and he made a grab for me. Before he could, though, the same tall dude with the braids stepped in and put Montrell in a chokehold.
“Ma, let’s go,” Kaeden said, jerking on my hand.
“Janessa, don’t leave me. I’m sorry. Baby, I’m sorry,” Trell yelled while struggling to get out of the hold he was in.
Ignoring him, I hopped in my car with Kaeden and pulled off quickly.
“Momma, you okay?” Kierra asked from the front seat.
Glancing over at my baby girl, I gave her a faint smile. “Yeah, baby, I am.” Coming to a stoplight, I let out an exaggerated breath as the whole scene replayed in my head. I was completely shocked. I couldn’t believe he had broken down like that.
“Are you going to forgive him?” she asked me.
I really didn’t know how to answer that question. I wasn’t pissed at Trell for what he had done… I was more so pissed at myself for allowing everything to happen in that manner. I made the situation comfortable for him; that was the only reason it continued for so long.
After his break down, I believed he was sorry. However, seeing that wasn’t enough to make me go back to him. Even if it wasn’t for that show, I still didn’t think that was enough. No matter how many times he said he was sorry, he hadn’t really changed. The way he pulled up and acted said all that.
“Whatever you decide to do, I’m okay with it as long as you’re happy,” Keke responded in my silence.
Again, I smiled at her. “Thanks, Kierra.” Grabbing her hand, I gave it a slight squeeze. “To answer your question, I forgave Trell a long time ago. And just because I forgive him, it doesn’t mean we’re going to get back together. Hating or staying mad at someone for too long is draining, I learned that years ago.”
“Jerome seems… different,” she tacked on.
Glancing over at her, I started laughing at the curious look on her face. “We’re not going there, Keke. He’s just a friend, that’s it.”
“And student. You don’t have to share with me. I’m just saying, he seems… cool, I guess.” She mumbled that last bit with a shrug.
Glancing into the mirror at Kaeden, my smile left. His face was contorted into a ball of anger. “Kae, you okay?” He shrugged but didn’t respond as his eyes diverted from mine to his balled-up fist. “Look, I’m sorry y’all had to see that back there. And everything he said—”
“We know it wasn’t true. You don’t have to explain anything. He was just mad and saying stuff,” Kierra stated as she grabbed my ringing phone.
My kids were wise way beyond their age. They shouldn’t have to be understanding of situations like that. I just wanted them to be kids and not have to worry about anything.
“Momma, it’s Trell…” she mumbled, holding the phone out to me.
Taking it, I rejected the call then put the phone in the cupholder. I just wanted him to leave me alone, and he wasn’t getting that. I knew he was going to be a problem and make shit far worse than it had to be.
Jerome
“I don’t know, Jolly, I think you might need to leave that babe alone. Whatever kind of shit shorty working with is poison yo, deadass.” Akil laughed as we leaned against Nya’s studio.
Everything had died down, and everyone had cleared out the moment Janessa took off. I wanted to keep her ex there and whoop his ass, but given where we were, it wasn’t the time. Plus, I already had some shit planned for that nigga.
“Fuck you, Killah.” I snapped at Akil for what he said, only because I had thought that same bullshit. She definitely had some wicked shit about her that I still didn’t understand myself. The way she got in my head when we first met definitely had me fucked up.
Even though I was feeling all that shit, at that moment, I would be lying if I said that seeing her stand up to that punk mothafucka didn’t have my ass hard as fuck. I was ready to meet up with shorty and fuck the shit out of her ass. That babe just kept on surprising me.
“Don’t tell him that.” Nya hit Akil in the shoulder while glaring at him.
“Man, fuck all that. Somebody needs to tell his ass that shit. Did you not see that grown mothafucka on his knees bawling like a bitch? I don’t want no bitch that’s gonna make me break down like that. Shorty working with some voodoo s
hit,” Akil continued to say while cracking the fuck up.
I didn’t find that shit funny, though.
I felt what Akil was saying, and it wasn’t the nigga breaking down that had me feeling uneasy, it was the conflicted look that showed on Janessa’s face that was fuckin’ with me. That was the reason why I didn’t go after her or call to see how she was doing. Although she stood up to that nigga, it didn’t tell me where her head was really at with seeing dude break down.
“Akilious, shut the hell up because if I decided to leave yo’ ass, you would be just like that, so stop with that bullshit.” Titanya pointed out while rolling her eyes at him.
“No, the fuck I wouldn’t be. If you wanna go, shid, bounce. Just know me and AJ gonna be right behind yo’ ass—”
Nya broke out laughing and pushed him. “Shut up, Akil. You’re so irritating. Rome, don’t pay him no mind. He’s an asshole.” She placed her arm on my shoulder. “What are you thinking?” she questioned.
“I don’t know, to be honest.” I shrugged because I didn’t know what I was really thinking; my mind was all over the place.
One second, I was hard and ready to fuck, and then the next, all I saw was Janessa’s conflicted expression.
“Are you still meeting up with her tonight at the gym?” She continued with her questions.
I shrugged her arm off me and moved to the parking lot. I was starting to feel crowded, and I couldn’t really think. “I don’t know, why?”
She stared at me for a second, then sighed. “I want to talk to her about this. I’ve been in a similar situation, and it’s not an easy one to get out of, especially when there’s a lot of history in the relationship. Let me talk to her. The girls and I can take her out tonight and just talk. I know what she’s dealing with.”
I didn’t know why she was telling me any of that. If she wanted to take Nessa out, that was her choice. It didn’t have shit to do with me.
“If that’s what you wanna do, gone ’head and hit her up,” I told her as Mac pulled into the parking lot.
After everything went down, and Janessa pulled off, I called him to come and pick me up.
“Rome, don’t shut her out, not now, especially when I know you care for her. Whatever you might be thinking, it could all just be in your head. So, don’t push her away,” Titanya stated. There was a plea behind her words and in her tone.
Why would she even care if I fucked with Nessa or not?
“I’ll get up with y’all later.” I tossed up two fingers then hopped in Mac’s car. He pulled away from the dance studio, and twenty minutes later, we pulled into the pool hall.
Once we got inside, we ordered some drinks, then went to a pool table and started shooting around. While we did, I ran down to him what happened.
“Yo, that mothafucka was bawling like a bitch?” He laughed questioningly, and I nodded. “Damn. I wish I was there to see that shit. From the way that mothafucka acts all high and mighty, I didn’t see that nigga breaking down like no bitch, though. But fuck that nigga for the moment. I found an empty little spot that we can transform into a setup for ol’ boy. If you want shit to go down like that, then this location is the best.”
I nodded as I thought on how I wanted shit to play out with that nigga Montrell. I had to admit I hated how slowly shit was moving with the plan, but Montrell’s ass never fell through; it was always just his boy Que.
“Yo, didn’t that nigga just see you with Akil? Ain’t he gonna know some shit is off because y’all was together?” Mac asked before finishing off his drink.
“I doubt the nigga even thought about that, given his main focus was on Janessa. Plus, yo’ ass gonna be there. You gonna be Shaun’s go to nigga, like his second or some shit. Shaun gon’ let him know that business is gonna be handled straight through you—”
“Hold the fuck up. When did I become part of this plan? Nigga, I told you, I left this shit alone… I’mma straight businessman now.” He laughed while pouring himself another drink. “How the fuck you gonna include me in a plan without telling me? Nigga, fuck you.”
I didn’t think that through, but I still shrugged no less. “I’ll owe you one, how about that?” I offered, and he looked at me like I was dumb. The blank look on his face made me laugh. “Yo’ ass said that you missed this shit. So, how I see it… I’m bringing excitement back into yo’ life. Nigga, I know this shit boring as fuck. Running a club, stocking beers and shit. Best thing is…” I nodded toward Blaze as he walked into the club. “Yo’ pops don’t even have to know. I won’t tell if you don’t.” I shot the pool ball into the pocket. I stood up straight and glanced at him. His eyes were slanted, and my finger moved across my heart in the motion of a cross. “Cross my heart.”
Mac broke out laughing. “Man, you a weird mothafucka. You the only nigga I know who does that shit. And that nigga ain’t my pops.” He mumbled that last bit then turned away from me. “What’s up?” He shook up with Blaze once he reached us.
Blaze shot a short glance my way but didn’t say shit.
Laughing, I turned my attention back to the pool table and started shooting around until the pair finished their conversation. Once I shot the ball in the pocket, I grabbed my glass and filled it. My phone started vibrating. I took it out and saw a message from Janessa.
Janessa: Will be there in ten minutes.
I looked at the time, and it was 7pm. Time had flown by so fast that I lost track of it. I hit her back.
Me: Can’t do it today. Something came up. But you should still go there, and I’ll hit you up later. Bet?
“Rome!” Mac yelled, getting my attention.
“What’s up?” I slid my phone back in my pocket then turned my attention to him.
His head motioned toward the back offices. I followed him to his office. I had just sat down when the room door opened, and Blaze walked in. He went to the couch that was behind me and sat down. I didn’t like for folks to sit or stand behind me. It was unnerving as fuck. Instinctively, I moved my chair sideways, so I had eyes on everybody.
“Shid, don’t mind me. I’m just here listening,” Blaze stated, seeming to be uncaring, but I saw the twitch to his mouth.
My brows shot up at that, and I looked back at Mac. “He’s listening to what exactly?”
Mac pointed to me. “You telling me this plan of yours.”
I glanced between the two of them and laughed. The nigga really told that mothafucka everything. “So, he gave you his okay?”
“No, the fuck I didn’t. I keep telling his dumb ass to stay the fuck away from you. But, his stupid, grown ass won’t listen to me. So, I’mma just sit in and listen to this plan yo’ ass done came up with. But I’mma tell yo’ ass like this. If—”
My hand waved, cutting him off. “I know, I know, if something happens to yo’ son—” I shot Mac a glare before my gaze fell back on Blaze. “—you gonna try to kill me. You told me that already. Got you.”
Mac started laughing. “Y’all mothafuckas, man. Shut the fuck up. Rome, gone tell me what you need me to do.”
“Fuck you,” I told him before jumping into the plan.
“I’m glad you decided to come out with us tonight,” Nya said, placing a drink in front of me. “Sha, Yonni, can y’all give us a minute? I really wanna talk to her in private,” she told her girls.
Sha’s face turned up, and she glanced at me. “How you know we don’t wanna be nosy? Whatever you say to her, yo’ ass can say in front of us. Otherwise, I’mma think you talking about us.” She pointed between herself and Yonni. Nya glared hard at her best friend, and she simply rolled her eyes. “Come on, Yonni, let’s go so our best friend can be two-faced with someone new.” She shot me a short glance before grabbing her twin’s hand and pulling her off.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her childish behavior and the way she dragged her sister off. I pointed to Sha’yonna. “I like her. And, thanks for inviting me out, Nya. I really needed to get out.”
Although it took a couple of days,
along with several calls and text messages, trying to get me to come out with her, I finally gave in. For the life of me, I couldn’t get Trell’s breakdown out of my head. It was on constant replay. On top of that, Jerome blew off our last two boxing sessions for reasons unknown. Hell, he was barely even talking to me. He was distant.
“So…” she started off before taking a sip from her drink. She seemed to be contemplating something before a heavy sigh left her mouth. “How are you doing with everything that happened the other day?”
“Um… I’m dealing. To be honest, Nya, this conversation, I really don’t wanna have. I wanna do anything other than talk about that day.” A breath blew from my mouth at her question. I wasn’t expecting her to ask that. I didn’t want to talk about Montrell’s breakdown.
I twirled the straw around in my cup before taking a drink from it. The alcohol in the daiquiri was strong as hell. I wasn’t complaining, though, because given where I figured our conversation was heading, I was going to need that damn drink to be just like that.
Nya chuckled and nodded. “I completely understand that. I was in a similar situation not too long ago. That’s why I wanted to reach out to you, just in case you wanted to talk.”
My brows furrowed as I looked into my drink before meeting her eyes. “So, you ask me out so we could bond over abuse stories?”
Nya’s eyes widened slightly before her mouth opened and closed. She was at a loss for words.
“That’s what I figured. You weren’t in a situation like mine, so our conversation wouldn’t be about the same thing.” My head nodded as I took another drink.
Nya chuckled and sat up. “You right, I wasn’t in an abusive relationship… however, my ex did become this crazy, possessive person that I didn’t know and tried to kill me.”
My eyes jumped to hers so fast. It was my turn to be stuck. Nya just didn’t seem like the type of person who would ever be in a situation like that. She just seemed so well put together.