The One He Craves

by A Marie Johnson

  I didn’t even have time to reply to her. As soon as Emani stopped talking, I saw Nim standing in the doorway of the kitchen, and I couldn’t do a damn thing but sigh and run a hand over my hair. I knew me talking with Emani probably looked wrong as hell in Nim's eyes, and she probably wouldn’t believe the it wasn’t what it looked like speech.

  After over four months of not dealing with Emani on a romantic relationship type of level, she was still a pain in my fucking ass and I was sick of it.

  “So what was that about? You and Emani in the kitchen?”

  Nim’s bothered ass waited until we got in the bed and a nigga was ready to crash before she brought up Emani cornering me in the kitchen. I tried to talk to her stubborn-self about it during the car ride home, but she swore up and down she was fine and wasn’t trippin’ off that girl.

  Lying ass woman.

  I tried to pull her closer to me before I explained the situation but the elbow she threw into my side stopped me.

  “For real, mami? Are you really tripping off of some shit that was nothing?”

  “It didn’t look like nothing to me.” I didn’t have to see her face to know she was pouting.

  “Nim, are you really going to be insecure right now like you’re not the one in my bed?”

  That statement must’ve sent her over the edge because she tried her best to hop up from the bed, but I kept her still and wrapped my arms tightly around her waist.

  I placed a soft kiss against the back of her neck and she relaxed at the feel of my lips.

  “I’m sorry, baby, I didn’t mean no harm by that. I’m man enough to admit what I said probably came off as me being insensitive. All I was trying to say was you should know you don’t have anything to worry about because you got me.” A few more kisses were placed on her neck before they trailed a path to the back of her ear. “I’m yours, Nim. Can’t you tell that by now? Are you not the woman I’m laid up with right now?”

  “Are you not the woman I’m laid up with right now,” she mimicked and giggled. “Don’t use that corny played out line on me, Dretti. It makes me feel like some regular, degular, shmegular bitch.”

  “It may sound corny and played out but it’s the truth. There’s no place I’d rather be right now other than right here with you. There’s no other woman I’d rather have in my bed but you. So if that makes me corny, shit, that’s what Ima be. I don’t mind being that for you.” I popped her hard on the ass and she yelped. “Don’t ever try to play me like that again, either. You know damn well I don’t look at you like you’re some regular, degular, shmegular bitch. Now that shit was corny.” We both laughed because we both knew what she’d said was foolish.

  As we settled into a comfortable silence, I battled with whether or not I should tell her about me and Emani’s past. I wished she would’ve allowed me to explain it to her when I offered to during the car ride to my crib because now that she was cuddled with me in bed I felt it wouldn’t be the right time to get into all of that.

  Fuck!

  I couldn’t decide if waiting until the next day to tell her about my past relations with her cousin would be a good or bad choice. It wasn’t like I still wanted the girl or anything.

  “Thank you for being there for me today, Dretti. You don’t know how much you meeting my family meant to me. I’m so happy they like you.” Nim snuggled her back as close as she could against my chest and the smile in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.

  Damn. I’d feel like a fucked up man if I told her about me and Emani right after she told me how happy she felt about me meeting her people.

  Nah.

  I couldn’t lay that information on Nim tonight, and I could only hope she’d be understanding tomorrow because I refused to lose her over a ho. Cousin or not. I wouldn’t allow it.

  19

  Nim

  “I saw you across the room and couldn’t miss the opportunity to come speak. What’s your name, love?”

  The smile in Bria’s eyes didn’t go missed by me or the man stepping to her. It was a nervous smile but a cute one nonetheless. Bria cleared her throat and wiped one of her hands down her dress.

  “It’s Bria,” she said shyly and held the same hand out for a shake.

  Wait a dang minute, though.

  Since when was my best friend shy? This man was smooth because being shy over a potential new boo was a first for her. We’d only been inside of Steeze’s mansion party for the past thirty minutes, and she already had a prospective new man lined up just like she wanted.

  Steeze’s party was also going smoothly so far, even though it had basically just started. Everyone was currently in the spacious living room standing close to or underneath the large chandelier and on top of the shiny marble flooring. The room wasn’t crowded to the point where people were shoulder to shoulder but they were deep enough to fill every corner of it. Keyon was spinning the classic jam “Return of the Mack” by Mack Morrison, and I was still waiting for Andretti to show up because he wouldn’t be DJing until later in the evening.

  “Nah, ma. We give hugs where I’m from,” Mr. Smooth responded to Bria and pulled her in for a hug. I’ll be damned if she didn’t melt into his arms when he did too. He placed a kiss on the side of her neck before he pulled away and said, “A nigga would be lying if he said he wasn’t a kid on Christmas happy he got to speak to the finest woman in the room.”

  Without any shame, his eyes roved over her entire body. The yellow, tight-fitting dress she wore complemented every one of her curves and his appreciation for it didn’t go unnoticed.

  “I know you just got here with your people though, gorgeous, so if I’m lucky I’ll run into you a little later tonight.” Mr. Smooth winked at her as he walked away backward and disappeared into the crowd, and I couldn’t even be mad at his low-key diss toward me.

  It was admirable he thought she was the finest woman in the party.

  I turned toward Bria who was still standing in awe like she couldn’t believe what transpired moments ago. When she finally turned to look at me she smiled widely and shook her head in disbelief.

  “Pinch me, bitch, because I must’ve been dreaming. Did that really just happen? Did that fine ass nigga just pull me in for a hug, put his lips on my neck, and tell me I was the finest woman in the room?”

  “He did.” I smiled as well. Bria’s giddiness was contagious. “And he was super fine, huh?”

  “Girlaaa, fine as fuck!” We both giggled. “Oh my God, Nim. I didn’t even get his name.” Bria whined.

  “That’s because his game was on point, boo. He didn’t give you his name because he wants you to find him later. He had to give you a reason to see him again.”

  Bria’s eyes appeared shocked by my revelation and her eyebrows rose.

  “Okayyy, Nim. Let me find out Andretti’s the one who put your ass up on that game. You called that out too good.”

  We both shared another laugh.

  “He may have taught me a little something, something.” The smile on my face appeared without my permission. It was something that always happened whenever I heard Andretti’s name. “Seriously, though. You should go see what he’s about, Bria. It’s not like he was one of those ‘Damn, ma, you bad as fuck’ headass dudes who turn you off as soon as they speak to you. He was really respectful, and you never know, he might be the distraction you didn’t know you needed.”

  “Yeah. We’ll see, but speaking of distractions…” Bria used her finger to motion towards whoever she saw coming our way. “Yours is heading over now.”

  My entire face lit up when I turned around and saw Andretti casually strolling our way with a sexy smile spread across his handsome face. When he made it to us, he pulled me to him with one hand and used his other one to cup my chin. He stared back and forth between my eyes before placing the softest and sweetest kiss on my lips. Once he pulled away, he looked at Bria and they both grinned at each other.

  “What’s up, Bria? How you doing, ma?”

  “I’m go
od, Dretti, the best friend stealer.” Bria playfully rolled her eyes at Andretti and he chuckled. “Let me go ahead and excuse myself now because I already know I don’t exist now that you’re here.” We all shared a laugh, and Bria turned to me and said, “I guess this is a sign I should go find that fine ass man and see what’s up. I’ll catch y’all lovebirds later.”

  “Be safe!” I yelled to her back as she walked away giggling.

  “What nigga is she tryna push up on? ‘Cause it’s a few niggas in here she should probably steer clear of,” Andretti said and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  “I’m not sure what his name is, but he was brown-skinned and had a red fitted-cap on his head. You know him?”

  “Baby, there’s too many brown-skinned niggas with red-fitted caps on in here.” Andretti laughed and shook his head at me. “Ima check whoever it is out in a second, though. Right now I’m more concerned about you and this tight ass dress you got on. Who you tryna impress, mami?”

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I smiled up at Andretti and kissed his lips again.

  “Just some handsome ass man that goes by the name of Dretti.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Andretti smiled back at me and nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck before he whispered lowly in my ear. “I can’t wait to get your beautiful ass alone, Nim. You stay teasing a nigga and…”

  “Aye!” Keyon interrupted our intimate moment and cut the music. “Shoutout to my partna, Dretti, and his pretty ass woman Nim! She did her thang putting all of this shit together for y’all. So this one’s for you, baby.”

  “Watch your goddamn mouth, Key!” Andretti yelled over the crowd, and everyone laughed at the two while Keyon started spinning one of Meek Mill’s latest songs.

  “You feel the vibe, it's contagious… Look in your eyes, shit is dangerous… Grateful I had all the patience…”

  Andretti held me tightly as we swayed back and forth and danced as if we were the only two people in the room. The way he stared into my eyes made butterflies swarm every which way in my tummy and I tried not to grow shy under his intense gaze.

  “I love you, Nim,” he said and kissed the side of my neck. “I don’t think you understand how a nigga really feels about you, baby.”

  “I love you too, Dretti…”

  Before I could finish what I was saying to Andretti, a round of clapping sounded off, and I felt someone tap me on the shoulder soon after.

  “Congratulations, Nim!” Emani’s annoying and louder than usual voice was super close to my ear.

  I stepped back from Andretti’s hold and stared at her rudely, wondering what the hell she was congratulating me for. The knowing look she was giving Andretti made my body grow hot, and I looked back and forth between the two before I addressed her.

  “What the fuck are you talking about, Emani?”

  “Nim…” Andretti started to say something, but I held my hand up and silenced him.

  Emani smirked at me before she bit down on her lip and stared seductively at Andretti.

  “Oh, so you didn’t tell her about us? That’s classic, Andretti. I figured a man like you would’ve been honest with Nim as soon as you left my dad’s party yesterday…”

  “What the fuck is she talking about, Andretti?” I didn’t even bother to look back at Emani. I kept my hard stare on Andretti and prayed to God he didn’t know what she was talking about. But the uneasy look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. “Wow,” I chuckled and stepped to the side of both of them. “Andretti, I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”

  “Nim, baby, look…”

  “You’re so fucking pathetic, Andretti!” Emani raised her voice and tried to walk up on Andretti, but he lightly pushed her back and gave her the same icy glare he’d given Britton last night.

  “I swear to God, Emani. If you don’t get out of my muthafuckin’ face ASAP.”

  “No!” I yelled at Andretti and pushed him hard in the chest. “You need to walk away! You can’t be mad at anybody but your fucking self right now, Dretti. Walk away!”

  Andretti started to protest, but the disgusted look I gave him caused him to let out a hard breath, and he nodded his head and did as I asked him to, but not before saying a few parting words first.

  “Ima give you what you’re asking for right now, Nim, but believe me when I say we’re gonna talk about this later, baby.” Andretti pulled me into him by the top of my dress, placed a kiss on my forehead as if I didn’t look like I wanted to murder his crazy ass right now, and walked towards the area Keyon was spinning the music.

  I watched him until I could barely see him anymore and turned my attention back to Emani’s immature ass. Seven years had gone by and she was still a sheisty bitch.

  “All these years later, and you still want to make my life a living hell.” I laughed and held my hands tightly together. They were itching to choke the hell out of her. “Are you proud of yourself, Emani? You’ve had the joy of fucking another man of mine. Does that shit make you feel good about yourself?”

  Emani laughed devilishly and folded her arms against her chest.

  “I don’t know, Nim.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t.”

  “You know what,” I stepped so close to her face I could feel her breath against my lips. “In order to keep my peace of mind, I already fucking forgive your shady ass. At the end of the day, I’m always going to be good, Emani, because everything I do is out of love. Everything you fucking do is out of spite and, well, you know they say karma is a bitch.” I pushed her in the chest and she stumbled backward in her heels. “I heard it’s really damn hot where you’re going. I suggest you not bring that cheap ass lace front with you when you go to hell.”

  “Fuck that ho, Nim,” Bria said and shook her head. We were sitting on the front porch of the mansion, sipping Lime-A-Ritas and talking about the mess Emani pulled a little over an hour ago. “You went seven years without speaking to her, so you can go another seventy without ever seeing her shady ass again. She’s a miserable bitch and that’ll probably never change. For whatever reason, she’s always been jealous of you, and jealousy and love don’t fucking mix. She’ll never love you like she should, bestie.”

  “Oh, I know.” I nodded my head and threw back the rest of my drink. “I don’t think she’s capable of truly loving anyone. She’s too damn sheisty to have a loving bone in her body.”

  I honestly didn’t know what Emani’s real problem with me was or why she was determined to ruin my life, but it had been that way since we were kids. She was a fake and evil person who found making other people miserable a turn on, and I was completely done with her for good this time. There was no coming back from what she’d done tonight.

  “I still can’t believe she found out about you and Andretti from her fucking bartending friend,” Bria said in a confused tone. “Like how and why was that even possible?”

  After Emani and I got into it earlier, Bria was determined to beat the evil out of her, but Keyon stopped their argument from escalating into something physical. While the two of them were going back and forth with each other, Emani let it slip that she found out about Andretti and me from one of her friends who happened to be a bartender at Longhorn Steakhouse. Apparently, the friend had been working the night Andretti and I argued, and she called Emani and told her all about it after her shift.

  “I don’t know, Bria,” I said with a shrug. “And I don’t even care anymore. I’m so sick of talking about Emani and her sheisty ways. So let’s just change the subject.”

  “You’re right,” Bria agreed. “The more we talk about it the more I’m going to want to go pull up on her. She’s lucky she got out of here with that raggedy ass wig she had on her head because I was seconds away from snatching the shit off.”

  Bria and I both laughed because the wig Emani had on was a hot mess.

  “Are you going to go find Andretti? Or are you cool on him?”

  “I don’t know,” I answer
ed and thought on the question for a little longer. “It was wrong of him not to tell me about their past, Bria. He could’ve saved me the trouble tonight if he had of been honest with me yesterday.”

  “Yeah, he could’ve, and it would’ve saved you some embarrassment, but you also told him you didn’t want to talk about her when he brought her up to you too. What was he supposed to do? Force the information on you?”

  “Yes,” was the first answer I yelled. “OK…” I said as I evaluated the situation more. “So maybe I shouldn’t have told him I didn’t want to talk about her, but still… he could’ve said something. Or gave me some kind of hint, you know?”

  “That’s true too…” Bria’s voice trailed off and she turned her head towards the double front doors of the mansion. “Wait, do you hear that? Sounds like people are arguing or fighting or something.”

  She stood up and I followed behind her.

  “Yeah, it kind of does,” I said as we walked back into the house.

  As soon as we stepped inside the music cut, and we saw Keyon rush over toward a crowded circle of people. The closer we got to the crowd the more I was able to recognize the two voices going at it with each other.

  Andretti was yelling at Exon, and Exon was yelling back at him too.

  What the hell?

  I wasn’t aware the two knew each other, and I immediately began to feel like my night was about to get a lot worse.

  Bria and I reached the circle of people crowding around Andretti and Exon, and we both pushed through them to take a look at what was going on. Keyon was holding Andretti back by his neck and some heavyset man was holding Exon around his chest as the two argued with each other.

  “Let me fucking go, Key!” Andretti shouted and tried his best to get out of Keyon’s hold, but he wouldn’t let him go. “Ima fucking kill that bitch ass nigga!”