“I don’t care about that shit, Nunu. If you want me here, you gon play this shit my way. You hear me?”
Obediently, she nodded.
“Alright then. So, like I said, I’m not finna be disrespected in here. So, you better find a way to keep that nigga’s hands off you, or I’ll break them muthafuckas. And you need to find a game plan too. Get your shit together. Cause come three weeks from now…we out this bitch. Me, you, and the baby.”
“Okay,” she exhaled, before crawling off him. Hurriedly, she eased back into her clothes, and climbed to her feet. “Let me grab the baby.”
“Nah,” Mix halted her, as he adjusted his clothes. “He good. Leave him right there.”
“Maizun, are you really gonna stop me from tending to my own child? He probably needs a bottle by now. I’m surprised he’s not crying.”
“Okay.” Mix stood up. “Well, go fix him one, but we chilling. And Ion care how that shit look to that nigga. That’s for you to handle. This my son, and that aint something I’m finna play with you or him about. On God.”
She rolled her eyes, as she turned to head out the room. “Whatever.”
Stepping into the hallway, she noticed Levi traveling down the hallway.
He smiled. “I was just about to come looking for you. Is he all set up in there?”
“Not really. I think his stuff is still in his car. We were just talking, and I was letting him know what was what,” she claimed, while gripping the back of her neck.
Levi tipped right into her face, causing her heart to skip a beat. Usually, he was super affectionate, and she still had Mix’s orders ringing loud in her head, while his cum dripped from her kitty. “What’s the matter?” he attempted to ease an arm around her waist.
She stepped back, out of his reach, causing his hand to fall to his side. “Nothing. I just have a little headache. I think that I’ma go soak in the tub for a minute.”
He furrowed his brows. “Oh, is that right? Even while you got company?”
She shrugged. “Well, now that I know he’ll he be here for a while, it’s cool. We have time to catch up.”
Levi slowly nodded. “Alright…wait, where’s Maizie?”
“Mix has him.”
Levi narrowed his eyes. “Well, don’t you think it’s time to feed him and whatnot? I know he’s probably tired of holding him at this point.”
Nunnie lifted her hands. “He said that he had it. So, I’m going to bring him a bottle and a diaper and let them rock out.”
“What?” Levi curled his lips. “And how do you know that I don’t want to spend some time with my own son, Naveriah?”
She grimaced. “Oh, Levi, don’t start. You see Maizie all the time. So, it won’t kill you to share. It’s not that serious.”
“But you know I have to go to work tomor—” he tried to reason, as Nunnie strutted off, leaving him to finish the discussion alone. Shaking his head, he realized that he needed to get a grip on things, because clearly Nunnie thought that she was running shit around there.
Chapter 16
Figuring that she’d played possum long enough, Nunnie finally rolled out of bed. The night before had been hell, as Levi behaved liked a horny teenaged boy, dry humping her for hours. Of course, she’d ignored him, swearing that she had a migraine. Now, it was her hope that she’d waited him out, and he was off to work. Therefore, after brushing her teeth, she headed downstairs cheerfully, expecting to find Mix and their baby somewhere.
“You’re finally up, I see,” Levi voiced from the couch.
“Yeah, I am,” she walked slowly. “Where’s Mix and the baby?”
“That’s what I was going to ask you. I saw him strapping the baby into his car from the window. By the time I stepped outside, he was pulling away from the house. I tried flagging him down and he just tooted his horn, I guess assuming that I was waving or some shit.”
Nunnie did everything within her power to stifle a giggle, knowing that Levi could have very well dived in front of Mix’s car, and Mix would have kept pushing, driving smooth the fuck over him. It was clear as day that Maizun was going to do as he pleased with his child and it was nothing that either of them could do about it. Frankly, Nunnie was pleased with the fact that Mix was instantly taken with their child and she didn’t have to force anything. So, she’d let him do him in that regard, and just deal with whatever backlash she’d receive from Levi as it came.
“Well, I’m sure they didn’t go too far,” she laughed, as she texted him on her cell.
“I’m saying, you sure that cat aint some type of weirdo? I don’t know too many guys who just willingly keep babies that small. It just don’t seem right.”
Nunnie snapped her head up. “Come again?”
“I asked if you were sure—”
“Levi, I’ma need you to be real careful about the shit you say, okay? Now, you bring your people through here, and most of their ugly asses definitely look like some registered sex offenders, but Ion say shit. Everything about them muthafuckas is weird, but you don’t hear me talking. But you wanna call Mix out for taking his flesh and blood with him? That’s his family. Shit, I trust him with my child before I trust you—”
“Wait, what? You trust him, before you trust me?” Levi questioned incredulously. “I’m the man who provides any and everything that baby needs, and you’d really fix your mouth to say that?”
“Financially providing something is cool, but that doesn’t tell me where your heart is at. Your wallet can’t prove shit to me. We are not for sale, Levi. Sometimes I think you forget that.”
He shot to his feet. “And when I try to show you in other ways, what do you do? Huh? Turn me away!” he fumed.
She jerked her neck back. “Okay, calm down. Where’s all this aggression coming from?”
“You bring this shit out of me!” he beat his chest. “I bust my ass to provide for you and you give me your ass to kiss!”
“Oh, nigga, please! Just because I don’t let you poke on me every second of the day don’t mean that I’m not treating you right! Let’s not forget that most days I have to tend to a newborn. I keep your kids whenever they come over and you have to work. I cook. I clean. I run around, doing all the little shit you leave on the fucking to-do list for me. Never mind it’s really shit that I should be officially on payroll for, cause I aint apart of ya trucking company. Aint no guaranteed check in this for me. I gotta stay on my back to keep you happy or else my ass is out the door. I can’t afford too many days of attitudes, cause your support is only fluid when I’m fucking.”
“So, that’s how you feel?”
She folded her arms across her breasts. “Oh, so you telling me that it aint like that?”
Levi’s jaw dropped. “I’m really floored that after all this time this is the way you see me. I could see you having your hang-ups in the beginning, but since day one, haven’t I’ve been consistent, if nothing else?”
She hesitated. “I guess.”
“Nah, fuck that. Haven’t I or have I?”
“Yeah, Levi,” she admitted. “You have been, but that doesn’t change the fact that you make me feel like a piece of meat most of the time. Now, if you were looking for honesty, that’s honesty for your ass.”
He clutched the bridged of his nose. “Wait, wait, where is this coming from?”
“It’s the way I feel. You wanna stand here and make this relationship sound so deep when it’s really all about your deep seeded lust. With all the resources you have, you never talk about bettering my life. It’s about giving me enough to satisfy me right here and now to keep your dick hard. That don’t feel permanent. If anything, it feels like I’m disposable and I need to play the game right to survive. I’m your plaything at best, Levi. That’s why my baby has been introduced to more of your family than I’ve ever met.”
Levi grimaced. “Have you ever thought that the baby’s met more family because I actually treat and see him as my own child? I take him everywhere, Naveriah. Even on the days
where you’d prefer to run with your sister somewhere.”
“Oh, please,” she waved him off. “Let’s not pretend that there’s certain family members you go visit and never extend the invitation to me. Never. Your daddy being the main one. Let’s not forget two of your brothers, who are married to white bitches too. You go over there almost every Sunday and never ask me if I wanna go, and have the nerve to pack my child up to go, instead. But you think that we’re standing over here on solid ground. The fuck?”
Before Levi could offer a rebuttal, someone rang the doorbell.
Nunnie sighed. “I got it.”
“Nah,” Levi halted her, as he stomped to the door. “I got it.”
“Whatever,” she grumbled, as she listened to him snatch the front door open.
“What yall got going on over here?” Nunnie heard Dreka question.
Levi shook his head, as he allowed Dreka and Tink to saunter into the house. “And how are you ladies doing this fine afternoon?”
“We’re good,” Tink giggled. “I’m surprised to see you home. We thought that you’d be at work around this time.”
“Yeah? Well, I decided to take the day off.”
“Ooh,” Dreka poked out her bottom lip, as she stepped into the living room, and spotted her sister. The unpleasant expression on her face couldn’t be missed. “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
Nunnie shook her head. “You don’t even wanna know. But what’s up?”
“Nothing. We got some free time and decided to come see what you and the baby was up to. We probably would’ve been warmer the other day had you brought him with you.”
Nunnie rolled her eyes. “Whatever hoe.”
“Yeah, but where is he, anyway?” Tink questioned.
Levi glared at Nunnie. “Yeah, that’s definitely a good question.”
***
“My nigga is back in the city. I see you, boy,” Lickz smiled, as he and Mix leaned up against his Benz. They were chilling in the parking lot of Brewster Park, in the heart of Mix’s old stomping grounds.
“Hell yeah,” Mix uttered nonchalantly, while rocking Maizie in his arms.
“Aye, I’m still tripping on your pulling up on a nigga with a whole baby. This shit is blowing my mind. Straight up. I aint know all that was going on with Nunnie. Now, I kinda get why she think I’m the enemy and shit. She went through a whole pregnancy by herself.”
Mix shook his head. “Yeah, but she wasn’t being straight up with nobody, including me. So, you can’t really take the blame for that.”
“No bullshit?” Lickz lifted his chin. “But where her crazy ass at, right now? She cool with you having her lil’ baby out here like this?”
“Shit, she aint got a choice.”
Lickz nodded. “I heard that. But what’s up with your legal situation? What you plan on doing about that? What, just try to stay out the way?”
“Shit, pretty much—” Mix got out, before he noticed Save’s cousin Big Ashley stomping down the sidewalk.
“Oh, nigga, you bold!” she shouted, drawing attention to herself.
“This hoe here,” Lickz mumbled. “She feeds off the bullshit. But be the first one to call the laws if a nigga lay hands on her big ass.”
Mix licked her lips, playing it cool. “What’s up, Ashley?”
“Nah, nigga don’t try to act like it’s all good in the fucking neighborhood. Like you aint have my cousin laid up in the hospital for months, fighting for his life. All over some dumb lil’ hoe.”
Mix calmly nodded. “Oh, okay. So, I was supposed to let that nigga take her out that day at the store? Is that what you telling me?”
Big Ashley dramatically sucked her teeth. “I seriously doubt it was that serious.”
“Oh, but it was. You know that, Ashley. Everybody with a half of a brain knows that. That man had been threatening her for months.”
“And what nigga wouldn’t?” she bucked her eyes. “Let’s not forget that you done came to my mama’s house on a many of days with Save. Yall was boys then. But he was just supposed to accept you showing up on the block with his bitch in the way that you went about it? Come on, now.”
Mix gently rocked his son. “I’m done talking about it.”
“Yeah, well, I’ma call down to the DA office and see why the fuck you freely roaming the streets, after shooting my fucking cousin. How ‘bout that?” she snapped, while twisting off.
“Ashley,” Mix called out to her.
“Yeah,” she turned to look back at him.
“They never told you?”
She squinted. “Told me what?”
“That snitches end up in ditches.”
Noticing the steely glare Mix was giving her, Ashley decided to keep any further comments to herself, as she kept it moving further in the opposite direction.
Lickz chuckled. “That shut her loud ass right the fuck up.”
Mix simply nodded.
“But aye, where you staying, right now?”
Mix exhaled. “With Nunnie out in the burbs, but Ion really like her living arrangements, so Ion know how long that shit finna last. Shit, I was contemplating shaking the spot today.”
Lickz shook his head. “Nah, it sounds like she’s out the way, and that’s where you need to be, my nigga. At least, until you got a solid plan. Save got too many family members that wanna see you in jail, and hanging out here in the hood on the regular is gonna trigger a lot of old shit. Shit, it might be best for you to shake the spot right now, cause I wouldn’t put it past ole girl to call them laws on ya ass. You know how them hoes is. She’ll have them laws swoop into this lot real quick.”
Mix smirked. “No bullshit. I was already on that. I know that hoe, so I’m about to move around. I’ma fuck with ya.” He clasped hands with Lickz.
“Alright, boy. Stay safe,” Lickz urged. “And take care of that lil’ one.”
“Oh, you know that I’ma do that without a doubt. Without a doubt.”
***
“Yeah, Nunnie, so where is my nephew?” Dreka pressed, as they all stood around in the living room.
Nunnie scratched her forehead, as she attempted to drum up an explanation, but was interrupted before she could come up with one.
“Aye-aye,” Mix announced his presence in the room, after letting himself into the unlocked front door.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Dreka and Tink’s eyes bucked, as they both held back laughter.
“Mix, what—” Dreka got out.
“Oh, I was so excited that I forgot to tell you, Dreka,” Nunnie immediately cut her off. “He came back into town, yesterday. Cuz is back.”
Tink’s eyes brightened more as she covered her mouth, and then to play it off, she pretended to cough.
“Ooh, okay,” Dreka caught on. “That’s what up. Why you didn’t get Nunnie to bring you by the crib, cousin?”
Mix kept an even expression, already tired of playing this game with Nunnie. He wasn’t built for this shit. He wasn’t about to go out of his way to convince that nigga of anything. If he caught on, then he just caught on, and he’d deal with him right then and there.
“I just got back to the city yesterday,” Mix responded to Dreka.
“For real? Well, where you stayed last night?” Dreka messily pried.
“Over here,” Nunnie answered for Mix.
Surely, if Dreka and Tink had any drinks in their mouths they would’ve spit it out at that point, because Nunnie had taken her fuck shit to a whole new level today.
“Oh, okay,” Dreka tried her mightiest to keep it together, while clutching her forehead. “I just can’t believe that cousin is back in the city. We really gotta go out to lunch now and celebrate. Let’s go somewhere and eat, yall. We really gotta catch up.”
“Hell, yes we do,” Tink co-signed, as she let out a soft giggle, not being able to help herself.
Nunnie rubbed her flat stomach. “Yeah, I can eat.”
“Okay, well, if that’s the case, let’s go
to the Turkey Leg Hut. My treat,” Levi offered.
Nunnie narrowed her eyes. “I thought you had to work today?”
“The company will still run without me. That’s the beauty of being the boss.” He gave her a wink, before lifting his cell. “Now, let me call Rumor.”
Nunnie frowned. “For what?”
“Well, I was I telling her about Mix and now she wants to meet him. So, this would be the perfect time.”
“What? Who said that Mix wanted to be hooked up?” Nunnie snapped.
Levi frowned. “Calm down, that’s not for you to decide.” He turned to look at Mix. “You cool with my cousin tagging along, huh, my man? I mean, there’s no pressure—”
Mix shrugged. “Say, this your world, my nigga.”
“Well, alright then,” Levi carried on. “Like I was saying. Lunch on me.”
Chapter 17
“So, you’re from 5th Ward, right?” Rumor probed, while sitting in the middle of the Turkey Leg Hut.
Mix nodded, while chugging down a beer. “Yep.”
She squinted her eyes. “Wait, don’t think I’m crazy, but were you in Gwuap’s music video? Because if feels like I’ve seen your face somewhere before.”
Once again, he nodded. “Yeah, I was in a few of his videos. I was even featured on a song.”
Nunnie sat next to Mix, rolling her eyes. She knew that he dabbled in music and was better than average at it, but he’d expressed it not being his passion. He actually lowkey had dreams of producing behind the scenes, but that was something that he’d never shared with anyone but her.
Both Dreka and Tink couldn’t stop laughing, as Rumor hardbody pushed up on Mix. Then to add insult to injury she was a drop-dead gorgeous girl. She possessed copper brown skin, huge round dough shaped hazel eyes, dimples, packaged in a perfect oval shaped face. Then she was shapely with sharp hips and a nice ass. Her curly bundles gave her an exotic appeal, while she kept tossing most of the hair over her shoulders every few minutes, driving Nunnie crazy.
Impatiently, Nunnie rocked her leg while holding her baby. Levi sat right next to her, attempting to vie for some attention, but she had nothing for him. Mix was on the opposite side of her, begging for her to slap his ass. He was sitting there actually engaging with Rumor when he shouldn’t have had anything to say to the bitch.
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