by Natavia
“To see Tierra?” she asked.
“Yo, Dream. We haven’t been talkin’ about shit else but Naya so let’s keep it that way.”
She sat up in the bed with heavy bags under her eyes and a scarf around her head. I hated seeing her that way and I felt bad for shorty, but I had to get my bread up.
“I know you went right to her when you left the hospital a few days ago. You’re not even touchin’ me the way you used to,” she said.
“Why do you want me to make you more upset? You askin’ me shit you know the answer to, Yomi,” I replied.
She got out of bed like she wanted to swing on me while I was putting on my wife beater.
“Get back in bed, Tryst. It’s only seven o’clock in the morning!” she said.
“We ain’t together, shorty. I’m here so you won’t feel alone so just go with the flow. Why you wanna bring shit up during a time like this?”
“This is the perfect time!” she replied.
“You cannot question me! The fuck is wrong wit’ you? Go sit the fuck down!”
Dream blocked the door as I was on my way out of the bedroom. Something told me to sleep in another room because I knew her depression was going to make her act out of character.
“You’re not going anywhere!” she screamed. She sounded like she was in pain but so was I. Shorty dropped a bomb on me when she told me she was fucking for money. I had money, plenty of it. Dream must’ve thought I was broke or something. Maybe I appeared that way because I wasn’t a flashy nigga. I thought she was smart and different, but she was a hoodrat. I didn’t want to be in love with her anymore but here I was feeling sorry for her.
“I’m not losing you to someone else. I messed up but I’m not havin’ this baby by myself, so you have to deal with it,” she said.
“A baby ain’t never going to keep a nigga. I still want a blood test, the same way I wanted one for Jasma. If you can’t deal with that then you might have to deal with it alone.”
She wiped the tears that fell from her eyes as she looked at me. “Why are you tryin’ to make me the bad guy? I’m still here! I’m just not here how you want me to be, bruh, so just chill out!”
Dream pushed my arm when I reached around her to turn the door knob. I didn’t know how to approach her in a different way because we’d never got into a dramatic argument.
“I cannot believe you. Get back in bed and get some rest. I’ll be back home later. I’ve got to meet Bentley in an hour!”
“Bentley betrayed you by not tellin’ you the truth about who he was to you and he threatened your family. But you wanna go and kiss that nigga’s ass! You’re over here takin’ care of your high school girlfriend’s daughter so she can get high with her trailer trash boyfriend! You’re makin’ exceptions for them but what about me? Make one for me!” she said.
“Jasma is my daughter! I got the papers in the mail yesterday. Bentley is puttin’ me in a position to feed my family, includin’ your broke ass! I am makin’ an exception for you which is why you’re even in my face! I don’t like you, bruh, I just feel sorry for you. Take it how you want to but I’m out!”
I shoved her out the way and her back hit the corner of the dresser. Dream was getting real fly at the mouth and I didn’t have to listen to it. She was coming at me too sideways when I had other shit to deal with. It hurt to say, but I had to put shorty at the back of my mind.
Deerie was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when I went downstairs. I told her to look out for Jasma while I was gone.
“Why were you two fighting?” she asked. I grabbed a few pieces of turkey bacon off the stove.
“Shorty trippin’. I can’t do this to be honest. I tried to be there for her, but I don’t do all that disrespectful talkin’.”
“I’ll look out for her. Call me later,” Deerie said. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a knot of money and told her to keep it.
“What’s this for?” she asked.
“For lookin’ out for Jasma. I appreciate it.”
“I’ll do it for free,” she said.
“Yo, keep that and get your hair fixed. If you leave out, take Dream witchu so she can get hers done. Don’t tell her hoe ass it’s from me neither.”
“Awww, you still love your wife,” she said.
“Yeah aight. Get up with me later!” I called out on my way out of the kitchen.
I left the house and felt a sense of relief. It had been a minute since I stayed in the crib for days, cooped up in a room. I had thirty minutes to meet Bentley.
**********
Bentley looked at his watch when I walked into his restaurant. Five dudes were posted up in the corner suited up with bullet-proof vests and army guns.
“You’re almost a minute late,” he said.
“Morning traffic.”
“Follow me,” he said.
Bentley wasn’t dressed in his usual dress clothes. He was wearing khaki shorts, a V-neck shirt and a pair of tan shoes. Usually I meet him late at night but never early in the morning. His bodyguards were behind me as I followed Bentley into the back room where his office was located. He coughed into a napkin before he sat at his desk.
“Give me a moment with my grandson,” he told his men.
“Are you sure?” one of them asked Bentley.
“Nigga, get the fuck out of my office!” Bentley said. They left, closing the door behind them.
“Summer colds are hard to get rid of,” I said.
“Shidddd, you ain’t telling me nothing I don’t know, young blood,” he replied.
“We could’ve done this another time.”
“Life is too short for that. I want you to meet someone, they will be here shortly,” he said, looking at his watch. Bentley’s hand was trembling when he picked up a bottle of water. He wasn’t his normal self, usually his attitude was big enough to fill the room, but this time he was quiet, calm and frail.
“Where is that rascal brother of yours?” he asked.
“His girlfriend passed away so he’s chillin.”
“Those men out there look after me whenever I’m getting my hands dirty. You need a team to do the same for you. You’re a very important man now, you can’t be alone making moves,” he said.
“I make moves alone because I don’t want anyone in my business. Too many people around makes me nervous.”
Bentley’s phone rang, and he answered. All he said into the phone was “come in.”
A second later, the door opened, and a familiar person walked in.
What type of game is Bentley playing?
“Tryst Christianson. How’s it going?” Mayor Robinson asked. Bentley said he knew people in high places, but I wasn’t expecting the mayor to show up.
“I’m good.”
“Timothy and I go wayyyy back. We also went to college together. He’s my silent partner,” Bentley said.
“Silent partner?” I asked in disbelief.
“You think politicians don’t get their hands dirty? You know why he’s here,” Bentley said.
“Yo, Bentley I don’t know about this.”
“Timothy is what keeps us out of trouble. This isn’t just some dope boy game, son. This is your future! I’m talking about being a millionaire in a year. You aren’t a puppy anymore, this is a game for the big dogs. I’m showing you a different world,” Bentley said.
“Fifty bricks for a few months then we’re going to double it,” the mayor said. I sat back in my chair, letting my thoughts run wild. Having the mayor supply you was some shit you only see in movies.
“Sebastian’s not down with this is he?” I asked the mayor.
“Sebastian isn’t a smart boy. My son will cost me to lose it all,” the mayor said, and Bentley chuckled followed by a cough.
“That thing didn’t come back did it?” the mayor asked Bentley.
“It’s just a summer cold, Tim.”
“I sure hope so,” the mayor replied to Bentley.
“Nice talking to you, Tryst. Now that you see my face, you
’ll know how serious this is. Don’t be a stranger. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know,” he said. Timothy shook hands with me and Bentley before he left the office. He wasn’t much of a talker. The mayor was in and out within five minutes. I stayed behind for almost an hour discussing how I was going to transport fifty bricks, and the strip club that was supposed to be finished by the end of the year.
Two hours later…
I rang the doorbell to Tierra’s crib since she texted me and told me she cooked for me. She opened the door after the second ring.
“I didn’t think you was coming since you have been avoidin’ me,” she said with an attitude. She was wearing a cami and tight spandex shorts. It wouldn’t be like her not to wear tight clothes anyway. I followed her into the kitchen and she had my plate at the table with a glass of orange juice.
“Have you talked to Trell yet?” she asked while I washed my hands.
“I’m not talkin’ to that nigga until he tells me why he stole my shit.”
“How is Dream feelin’?” she asked.
“She straight.”
Regardless of how I felt, it wasn’t none of Tierra’s business how Dream was feeling. I sat at the table and Tierra joined me. I could talk about street stuff with her but as far as my personal life, I just couldn’t. That part of me was for Dream before we got on bad terms.
“I’m going to the mall in a few. Do you want to go with me?” Tierra asked.
“Yeah, I ain’t doing shit right now.”
“I need to find somethin’ for my date tonight,” she threw out there. Shorty was trying to make me jealous because I wasn’t biting the bait she was throwing out. To be honest, I was tired of holding out myself. I didn’t want her to replace Dream, but I was a nigga that loved pussy, and fucking Dream again wasn’t on my mind. I kept eating while she talked about her date. Besides, I was still thinking about how I was going to push more work with it being just me. I trusted Tierra but at the same time I didn’t want her knowing about the new business moves I had going on because I didn’t want Trell to know. After a while, I wasn’t even listening to Tierra anymore.
She took my plate to the sink before she went upstairs to get dressed. Dream called me, but I ignored her. It was crazy how excited I was when the doctor told us she was pregnant when deep down I was afraid to be a father. Shid, I guess love makes a nigga want the world with his shorty. Tierra came back downstairs wearing a pair of tight jeans and a half-top with wedge heels.
“Who is driving?” she asked.
“You can.”
She walked past me throwing her hips. “Yo, you childish,” I said. She looked back at me, and blew me a kiss.
“You can touch it,” she replied.
Tierra locked her crib after we left the house. I wasn’t doing shit wrong, but it felt fucked up to be chilling with Tierra. It wasn’t the first time I chilled with her and even considered her like my aunt at one point. Dream called me again, but I let it ring.
“I’ll be quiet if you answer. I know it’s not anybody but Dream’s ass. You know you’re always bendin’ backwards for her and I don’t know why,” Tierra said.
“Yo, Tee. I can go on about my business if you keep this up. Shorty just lost her sister and you keep fishin’ for information.”
“I’m just being honest witchu. You’re only twenty years old. You should be having fun instead of trying to play someone’s husband that you’re too good for. I know you know she was a prostitute. That shit is all over the city and it’s not a good look for someone like you. She’s bringin’ too much heat your way! I’ve seen niggas get caught up over a bitch!” she said.
I didn’t have a comeback because she was spitting real game. Dream wasn’t good for me, but I didn’t need anybody telling me what I already knew. My father would’ve beat my ass if he knew I was head over heels for a hoe. Just thinking about fucking shorty raw had me feeling like a lame nigga. I bet she thought I was corny for constantly expressing how much I loved her. I rolled up a blunt while Tierra backed out of the driveway. I needed the kush to let my mind wander. Tierra was listening to an old school song and it made me think about my mother, Kimberly who I was sort of missing.
An hour later…
Tierra was in Victoria’s Secret smelling fragrances. I was ready to leave the mall as soon as we walked in. Within an hour we had been inside six stores. She went from the smell goods to the thongs. I was a sucka for a thong disappearing between thick cheeks.
“I think the purple one would look good on your skin complexion,” I said.
“Do you want to see me in them?” she teased.
“Naw, I’m good.”
“Bullshit, I know you’re curious. I can teach your young ass some things. Don’t knock it until you try it,” she said.
“I might have you dick whipped. Be careful what you ask for. I’m young but I ain’t a lil’ nigga if you know what I mean.”
Tierra smacked her teeth while looking through the negligees. Dream called me again, so thinking it could be an emergency I answered the phone.
“I’m sorry for gettin’ out of character earlier but I just need you right now. Please come home,” Dream sniffled into the phone.
“I apologize, too, but I’m not coming home any time soon. Just get some rest and stop stressin’. Stress isn’t good on the baby, remember what the doctor said?”
“I lost my sister and I don’t know where my mother is at. She could be dead too, what if she doesn’t show up for the funeral? I have to look for her,” Dream said.
“Yo, just take a nap and I’ll be there before you wake up.”
“Okay,” she said then hung up.
Tierra was standing right behind me when I turned around. She must’ve heard my conversation with Dream.
“Dream is pregnant?” she asked.
“Damn, Tee. The fuck! Give me some privacy.”
“I came over to tell you we can leave. I don’t see anything in here,” she said with an attitude.
This is what I get for comin’ here.
Tierra left the store with a nasty attitude. I was fucking with her on our way to another store.
“You old enough to be my mother, why you keep worryin’ about what I got goin’ on?” I asked her.
“You don’t act your age, and besides thirty-three is making me look twenty-five. Plus, I catch you lookin’ at my ass,” she said.
“I can look all I want, I’m just not touchin’.”
We went to Nordstrom’s and Tierra went straight to the shoe department. The perfume counter was close by, and one of the fragrances was familiar. It was a Juicy Couture fragrance Dream wore occasionally.
“Do you like these?” Tierra asked, holding up a pair of heels.
“Naw, they a little old-fashioned. I’m gonna go to the kids’ section for Jasma. Holla at me when you’re finished here.”
“Okay,” she said.
I was in the children’s department trying to figure out what I should get for Jasma when I came across baby clothes and thought about Dream and her baby.
“Oh, my bad, brother,” a man said after he bumped me. I nodded my head at him to let him know I wasn’t tripping over it because the store was crowded. I didn’t have the patience for shopping so I grabbed everything in Jasma’s size. I paid for the items before going back to the shoe section. Tierra was standing in line with three boxes of shoes. I sat in one of the chairs and waited for her. While I was chilling, the same nigga that bumped into me was staring at me. He was with a middle-aged woman, possibly his wife. She wanted his attention for a pair of sandals, but he was still grilling me. I shrugged it off and continued to wait for Tierra. By the time she was finished, ten minutes had passed.
“I didn’t wear you out that easily,” she said.
“Naw, but it’s too many people in here. We gotta bounce or somethin’.”
“We only went to six stores,” she said.
I stood up to grab the bags for her. On our way out, the dude t
hat was grilling me was looking at the men’s shoes. He was still watching me, but he was by himself.
“Who are you lookin’ at?” Tierra asked.
“That nigga bumped into me a few minutes ago and I ain’t think nothing of it but he muggin’ over here.”
Tierra turned to see who I was talking about. “That’s the guy Dream was talkin’ to when your mother had that cookout for the church. Remember, the one that told Dream he owns her because he pays for it?” she asked.
“That’s gotta be Adrian.”
It was my first time seeing his face. I couldn’t picture Dream with his corny swag and oversized jean shorts. All I saw was red. I wanted to bust on him even though I wasn’t a killer. Deerie told me about him harassing Dream and stealing her money. It didn’t matter what Dream did, I was her protector! I walked over to him and he got scared. Tierra called out to me, but I muted her out.
“Yo, what’s good?” I asked.
“I don’t want any problems, I thought I knew you from somewhere,” he replied.
“Yeah, you know me from snoopin’ around my crib. So, what’s up? You ain’t gotta watch me like you on some gay shit.”
“My wife is here. Can we talk about this some other time?” he whispered.
“Tryst, let’s go,” Tierra said, pulling on my arm.
“Listen to the young lady,” Adrian said.
I gave his bitch-ass a crucial right hook, and he fell into a table of shoes. Tierra lost her balance and fell when she grabbed me, but it was too late. I couldn’t pull away from Adrian, the disrespectful shit I couldn’t get with.
“SECURITY IS COMING!” Tierra said.
Adrian crawled away when a few salesclerks intervened.
“Step your bitch-ass outside so I can fuck you up again!” I said.
“Call the cops!” Adrian yelled out.
Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t have a gun on me because I would’ve committed murder in front of everybody. I was heated because he was a lame that Dream gave herself to but the thought of him paying her to do some nasty shit to him had my mind gone. That was my pussy he was slipping in!
“That’s my baby she’s carrying! I know all about it, so you can tell her she can’t keep me away from my child! This isn’t the last of me!” Adrian said, his wife now standing next to him. She slapped him, and as she raised her hand to slap him again, he grabbed her arm. The attention was no longer on me, so I dipped between the crowd, pulling Tierra with me because the police came running into the store.