“Oh, wow, I thought that was you. I used to see your face all over YouTube. Me and my girls were lowkey crushing, for real,” Rumor flirted.
Mix licked his lips. “Is that right?”
“Yesss. I’ma have to call my girl up and tell her about this. You have any new music out?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “I had a few legal situations to handle. I really aint been fucking with music, but it’s been calling me lately. I got a lot of shit to talk about. So, I might make my way to the studio.”
“You should,” Rumor encouraged. “What’s your IG?” she picked up her phone.
He smirked. “Ion really be on the social shit, lil’ mama.”
“Aww, there you go. You sound like Naveriah with that,” Rumor teased, playfully shoving him. “Let me guess, it’s the best way to keep all your little girlfriends from finding out about each other. I know you have at least two or three of them.”
“Nah,” he chuckled. “You got me all wrong.”
“Oh, really?” she arched a brow. “So, it’s just one girl in your life?”
Taking another sip of beer, Mix opted not to answer that question.
Levi tapped Nunnie’s thigh, while leaning over to whisper in her ear. “Get out of those people’s conversation.”
Unintendedly, she shrugged him off. “Move,” she grumbled.
Frowning, he gripped her chair, scooting her over his way a tad. Of course, this stopped Mix in his tracks, as he glanced their way.
“What’s your problem?” Levi whispered.
Nunnie rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “I’m still trying to figure out why you decided to invite your cousin here. She’s fucking up the whole vibe.”
His scowl deepened. “What?”
“You heard me,” Nunnie scoffed. “Suddenly, her high sadity ass is a rap fanatic, up here dominating the conversation, dick-riding. We can’t get a word in edge wise. This aint the fucking love connection. We didn’t come out for this. This aint the time for all that.”
“But why does it matter? Your cousin seems to be enjoying her conversation.”
“Yeah, while your fucking cousin is practically begging to suck his dick. Dreka and Tink aint finna be with us all day. She haven’t even allowed them to really catch up. She’s just been running her dick eaters since she sat her ugly ass down.”
Levi jerked his neck back. “Damn. The hell is all the hostility coming from?”
“Whatever.”
“Yeah, I really think we should hang, I mean, unless there’s somebody who might get a little upset,” Rumor continued to press the issue with Mix.
Reclining in his chair, Mix gave her a suave grin. “Hang and do what?”
“The baby needs changing,” Nunnie announced, as she placed Maizie in Mix’s arms, rudely cutting into their conversation.
Levi furrowed his brows. “Well, if he needs changing, bae, then hand him here. That’s me and your responsibility. Mix don’t have nothing to do with that.”
Of course, hearing that ignited something inside of Mix. “Nah, I got him.”
Rumor narrowed her eyes, finding the whole scenario unfolding before her eyes rather peculiar, and she didn’t understand how her cousin didn’t peep it.
Completely ignoring Levi, Nunnie handed off the baby’s diaper and a package of wipes. Dreka and Tink both stuffed their mouths with food, as they laughed at Nunnie’s antics. It was clear as day that not too much had changed between her and Mix, and even during these extreme circumstances what they felt internally couldn’t help bubbling to the surface.
Shaking his head, Mix focused on his son’s handsome little face. “What’s up, man? You boo-booed?” He stood up. “I’ll be back,” he said to no one in particular, before traveling to the bathroom.
“Well,” Rumor took a nice stretch. “That was sweet of him. Looking out for his baby cousin. He’ll be a good daddy whenever he decides to have kids…wait, or does he already have some?” she glanced around the table.
Tink nodded with a smile. “He got a little boy.”
“Oh, so, he has a baby mama out here somewhere?” Levi glimpsed at Nunnie.
She sighed, “I gotta pee.” She stood up. “I’ll be right back.” Before anyone could say another word, she scurried off.
Twisting over to the restroom area, she found that Mix was standing in line, waiting. Anxiously, she grabbed his forearm, pulling him aside.
“The fuck is your problem?” she immediately went in.
“What chu mean? I’m chilling.”
“Nigga, you chilling?” she twisted her neck. “Don’t make me act a muthafuckin’ fool in this bitch, cause I will. Cause you really playing with me, right now. You got me fucked up. You and that hoe. Keep acting like I won’t slap the fuck out of you. Do that hoe know that I’m pregnant?”
“Pregnant?” he chuckled heartily. “What? Girl, I just fucked you yesterday for the first time in I don’t know how long. So, how the fuck you can be one day pregnant, I’d love to know.”
“Cause, I just know,” she gritted. “It’s a cum baby, bitch. Your fucking semen is still swimming all up in through me and you got the nerve to be smiling in another bitch’s face. Nigga, I will kill you. On my son!”
Grabbing her face, Mix pushed her up against the wall. “Shut up,” he dictated, right before shoving his tongue into her mouth.
For a few seconds Nunnie became lost within the feeling, until she came back to her senses. Then she pulled away. “Mix, no. We can’t get down like this.”
Slowly, he nodded. “See, that’s what the fuck I’m talking about. You standing here telling me that I can’t fucking kiss you. This shit is crazy, Nunu. I’m not finna walk a straight line for this nigga. At this point, it’s obvious that you done made some promises to the nigga. You fucking with him and you trying to force me into this side nigga role that I aint never gone fit into. You should’ve learned that shit from when you was fucking with Save. I don’t respect the next nigga…especially when it comes to you. But fuck all that. I aint finna force you to fuck with me, either. Cause it’s clear that it’s something about this nigga that got you stuck—”
“Wait, wait, where is all these assumptions coming from?” she wanted to know.
“The fuck you mean?” he bucked his eyes. “It’s obvious. We playing these fucking childish ass games like we haven’t fucking missed out on enough time as it is. And instead of you just saying fuck it and leaving the nigga, you over here, laying up with him, and trying to keep me too.”
She pursed her lips. “Even you don’t believe that shit. If anything, it’s been you off somewhere living your life, leaving me to hold the bag. And now you want me to leave the only security I have with this baby on my hip when you yourself don’t have no guarantees—”
“Say, fuck all that.” He waved her off. “Like I said, man. As of right now, the way I see it, you making a choice to be with this nigga. Excuses be damned. Like you said the other day. Your sister got a crib now and we both know that she’d never turn you away. Your circumstances look a whole lot better than they did a little while back, so the baby might not be in the lap of luxury, but he’d still have a roof over his head. And shit, Lickz told me that Dreka’s whole hustle is putting hoes in apartments. So, miss me with the bullshit. You aint trying to let go of your for sho’ thing, and that’s cool. But in the meantime, I’ma see what’s out here, Nunu. So, lil’ mama is cool by me. I’m a free man, and I’ma play it however it comes.”
Sliding her tongue across her teeth, Nunnie nodded. “Yeah, okay, bitch ass nigga. I got you.” she stomped back to the table.
“Yeah, bae, it’s just been decided,” Levi rambled the moment she sat back down.
“What?” she looked around confusingly.
“Instead of going to my parents’ this year, me and Rumor decided to switch it up and have all the cousins over at our place this Thursday for Thanksgiving. I think that Rumor’s slick ass was trying to get close to Mix, but either way it�
��s a good idea, so that’s the play.”
“Oh,” Nunnie cleared her throat. “That’s what’s up,” she forced out a plastic smile, as murderous thoughts ran rampant through her mind. She knew right then that something had to shake, because this shit couldn’t go on for much longer. Either Rumor or Mix was going to force her to beat their asses.
***
“What I’m trying to figure out is why the fuck she aint taking her ass home,” Nunnie fussed, while she stepped into her Ethika boy shorts. “The bitch is wearing out her welcome. You know I aint never really fucked with her like that no how.” She pulled her sports bra over her breasts.
Levi lied across the bed, studying her curvaceous body. She bore no evidence of birthing a baby just three months prior and was still firm and tight like young girl should be. Everything about Nunnie’s physique drove him wild, and then she had unhinged beauty that was unmatched. Sometimes he’d still wake up in awe with her, as she’d flounce around with those tight abs, but incredibly thick frame that only God himself could create.
The funniest thing was that stunning ass Naveriah was truly mean as hell. If she had a problem with a person, then she had absolutely no problem letting it be known. Therefore, it was made clear that Rumor had never been one of her favorite people. So, she preferred for her to stay out of her personal space, and Levi would usually respect her wishes, but now suddenly something was different. And she could smell the bullshit a mile away.
“Bae, I’m really tired of this weird tension between us. I don’t want to argue tonight, okay,” Levi yawned. “Just come lay your fine ass down and let me smell your sweet ass skin. That’s all I want.”
Nunnie sucked her teeth. “Nigga, please. Aint nobody trying to lay down, right now.” She stomped over to the bed and scooped up the baby. “You go to sleep. I’m good.” She headed to the door.
“Wait, where are you going?” he questioned, as he sat up in the bed.
“Downstairs,” she responded, never bothering to stop or turn around.
After jogging downstairs, Nunnie sauntered into the living room, stumbling across Mix and Rumor lounging on the couch together, sitting awfully close.
Stamping her feet, she made her way over to a recliner and flopped down, causing them both to glance her way.
“Oh, girl, I knew for sure that yall were tucked away for the night,” Rumor tittered.
Nunnie pursed her lips. “It’s barely nine o’clock. I don’t know what made you think that.”
“Oh,” Rumor let out a fake laugh, as she focused back on Mix.
Nunnie shook her head. She always knew that Rumor was a thirst trap. All it took was for her to think that Mix was in the music industry and she was ready to drop them panties. And he wasn’t even trying. Everything about him was laid back that day, from his golden Robin’s jeans to his white tee to his ice white Red Bottoms. Nunnie knew that Mix was just that nigga and could make anything look good, and Rumor was just eating the shit up.
“Have anybody ever told you that you have a soothing voice?” Rumor questioned Mix.
“Nah,” he smirked. “That’s a first.”
“Oh, give me a fucking break,” Nunnie huffed out.
Rumor frowned, as she glimpsed at Nunnie. “What’s the problem?”
“What are yall in here yapping about?” Levi enquired, as he waltzed into the room with a beer in hand.
Rumor smiled, while neither Nunnie nor Mix bothered acknowledging him.
“Oh, nothing much,” Rumor decided to speak up. “Me and Mix here were just chatting, before Nunnie came in.”
Nunnie fluttered her lashes. “You said that like I was intruding on something, when I could’ve sworn that I stay here. I mean, you could always take your little party over to your apartment if you want more privacy.”
“Girl,” Rumor lightly giggled, trying to keep it cute. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. You always take things so personal,” she teasingly poked out her bottom lip. “Lighten up.”
Nunnie sucked the air through the side of her teeth. “Yeah, whatever.”
“Yeah, you should definitely relax,” Levi co-signed, as he stepped over to the opposite end of the sectional and copped a squat. He chugged his beer down, before releasing a loud belch. “I told you to come lay down, but nah. I guess you’re Ms. Busy Body tonight. All up in everybody else’s business.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch the memo. When did this become some kind of hook up spot? This is the fucking living room, where people are supposed to collectively talk. You make it seem like they’re on a private date or some shit,” Nunnie chided. “And you’re more vocal about it than Mix is. He got a room he sleeps in, but he’s posted up down here with her. Clearly, he aint worried about having her alone,” she threw out there.
Rumor lifted both brows. “Well, damn, Naveriah, just trample all over my little feelings.”
Mix shook his head. “Nunu, you somethin’ petty, huh?”
Hearing that, Nunnie sprang to her feet. “Nah, you know me. I haven’t even activated my petty mode, yet.” She twisted over to Levi, and placed a sleeping Maizie in his arms. “It’s levels to this shit.”
Mix sat up in the couch and dropped the smirk he’d been wearing. Nunnie knew then that she had his full attention, as he stared a hole into the side of her head. So, from there his engagement with Rumor was pretty non-existent, as he divided his time in between glaring at Nunnie and watching Levi fall asleep with his son on his chest.
Eventually, Rumor grew tired of vying for some attention and drifted off to sleep herself. So then, Mix blatantly sat there staring at Nunnie while she fiddled with her cell, now ignoring him.
“Oh, let me go check on these clothes,” she mumbled to herself out of nowhere, before easing off the recliner, and heading to the laundry room.
Nunnie was halfway down the hallway, when she felt someone step up behind her.
“Ewe,” she cringed without turning around. “Why are you following me?”
“Nah, the real muthafuckin’ question is why are you trying me? It’s like you want me to explode in this bitch. Playing with the baby aint gon do non’ but get you hurt, Nunu. On everything I love,” Mix promised.
“Yeah, yeah,” she threw a hand in his face, as she switched into the laundry room.
Of course, he was right behind her. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him, locking them in. He then tugged at his slightly sagging jeans, while licking his lips. “What I tell you about playing with me? Now, if I beat your ass in this lil’ room you’d think that I’m wrong.”
“Beat my ass?” she bucked her eyes. “Maizun, you’d put your hands on me?”
“Do you really wanna test them boundaries to find out? Is that what you wanna do? Or are you gonna recognize that I’ma muthafuckin’ man, and regardless of how mad you get, there’s just certain shit I aint finna play about…like I’m already knowing that this shit here aint finna last too much longer, cause I can’t do it. I don’t give a fuck about this being that nigga’s house. Ion wanna talk to his bitch ass. Ion wanna see ‘im. And I definitely don’t want him holding my muthafuckin’ son. I aint built like that. Every second in here, breathing his fucking air is chipping away at my soul. Fucking with my manhood.”
“Maizun, it’s just been two days,” she attempted to reason.
“And that’s fucking two days too many,” he snapped.
“Okay, but what happens if you leave here? You told me that you barely have your bond money, and I know that you’ll chip away at that to live off. So, that means that you’ll leave here in need of money and a place to stay. All that just sounds like too much weight immediately placed on your shoulders with no real plan. You’ll go in circles again, but only this time, the threat of jail will be closer. Realer. When you can just take advantage of this situation for now. Keep that money in your pocket, and perhaps even hap up on some other opportunities to make more money. It really aint that bad, Maizun. Fuck Levi. I’m talking about doing wh
at’s beneficial for you.”
“It’s crazy that you really try to make this nigga’s house my only option,” he sputtered.
“I never said that. What I did say was let’s try and make the best out of a fucked-up situation. Shit, I don’t know. I’m winging this, as I go myself. I just know that I wanted you with me and the baby and I made it happen. Matters how it happen. And I also know that you a fugitive and not everybody would welcome us into their homes with open arms. Then you have to consider that my sister got some niggas living with them. Some niggas from another hood. You aint familiar with them. Who’s to say that you’d be comfortable in the house with them? Who’s to say that you should? All I’m saying is that your back is against the wall, and this situation might be the simplest to deal with, once you really think about it. I mean, until there’s means of going into a spot of our own.”
Mix laughed despite himself. “Aye, do you hear yourself? Like for real. The simplest to deal with? Aint nothing simple about this shit. I’m supposed to be alright with you going to be with this nigga tonight?”
She gulped. “I don’t know. I guess not. But let me ask you this. How was I supposed to go to bed all those nights I didn’t hear from you at all? All those nights that I was out here by myself pregnant. With your baby. I mean, you act like I’m asking so much of you, when you left me back in this city for right at a year. Life happened. And now I’m just trying to help you in the only way that I know how. That’s it, and you make it sound like it’s the worst thing or that I’m wrong for not just jumping up, when I have our baby to think about. It was you that forced me to realize that I couldn’t rely on nobody. Not even you. So, I’m wired like this now. It’s survival mode, Maizun. This aint about love.”
He moved in on her. “So, you don’t love me?”
She shook her head. “You not listening right. When did I say that? I said that this situation aint about love. It’s about me trying to get in position.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Get in what position? Because from what I can see, he just got you kept, and the minute he snatches the rug from underneath your feet, it’s over for you. That aint the position to be in. Letting a nigga spoon feed you, while always being one argument away from being homeless your damn self.”
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