No Matter What

by Nicole Jackson

  Mix licked his lips, while nodding. He knew right then that Levi was a crab ass nigga. At the end of the day, Levi undoubtedly didn’t owe him anything, but Mix knew when a man was trying to chump him. He was trying to offer him a position that wouldn’t get him very far. Probably enough to just survive, if that’s what you wanted to call it. He clearly didn’t want to provide Mix with the tools to somehow rise close to his level and obtaining a CDL license. He wanted to see Mix as a worker. Nothing more. But it was cool, Mix wasn’t surprised, because he could see it in Levi’s eyes. The nigga had a real problem with his presence, and what made him the saddest man ever was that he didn’t have the balls to just come out and say it.

  Chapter 19

  “Yeah, we’ll get that squared away when you get here. I got you. Dave, Steve, and Chris will have theirs too. So, I’ll just collect everybody’s then, and handle it first thing in the morning. As always. Cool,” Levi spoke into his cell, as he gazed out of his window.

  “Hey,” Nunnie spoke, as she eased into the bedroom.

  He turned to face her, ending his call in the process. “Oh, you do remember where this room is, huh?”

  She sighed. “Levi, it’s Thanksgiving morning. Please don’t start.”

  “Oh, you don’t want drama, huh?” he posed.

  “Nope. I surely don’t.”

  “So, why are you sleeping in every room of this house, except for this fucking bedroom?” he gritted.

  She bucked her eyes. “Look at how you’re talking and ask yourself that.”

  “Nah, hell, nah.” He shook his head. “You’re not flipping this shit around on me this time. If anything, you’re the fucking problem. You and your supposed fucking cousin.”

  She formed a bitter face. “Me and my supposed cousin?”

  “Yes, you and your supposed cousin. Since he stepped through the door nothing has been right around here, and you fucking know it.”

  Nunnie sassily placed her hands on her hips. “Okay, and what about you and your supposed cousin? That bitch done seemingly dropped her whole life to hang around here and dick watch. And now she’s acting like I’m the fucking guest. She clearly don’t respect me as the lady of this house, and I blame you. You must’ve told that bitch that it was like that. Cause she’s coming at me like I’m temporary and this is really just your shit.”

  Levi stomped up to her. “Maybe you have forgotten, but this is my shit. I pay the bills. And I run it. I’m the only shot caller around these parts. Besides, you need to pipe the hell down, and listen for a change. You might actually learn something. Clearly, Rumor knows about cooking and managing a household, so maybe she should be the lady around here and show you how to get shit done. Shit, somebody gotta show you, cause you know nothing.”

  “Wow,” Nunnie gasped. “I know nothing? Well then, why don’t you and that bitch just live here together?”

  “Oh, if you don’t get back to what the fuck got you in here in the first place…that very well may happen.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What got me in here?”

  He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Let’s not play these childish games, anymore, alright? We know what you’re good at, and it aint much. So, if you aint laying on your back, then you’ll be out on your ass in no time. That I can promise you. Then you’ll be homeless just like your cousin will be tomorrow, because that muthafucka gots to go.”

  Nunnie stood there, as her chest heaved up and down. Of course, she was infuriated, but she had her hand in the mouth of the lion.

  Arrogantly Levi kissed her cheek. “Now, go downstairs and make sure that my house is cleaned, before my guests show up.”

  Without uttering a word, Nunnie stomped towards the door.

  “Oh, and Naveriah,” he called out to her, before she could head out.

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  “If you value your place in this home…I expect the skin sucked off my dick tonight.”

  ***

  Dreka and Tink sat back on the sectional next to Nunnie confusingly, as they glanced around the living room. They’d been there for an hour and had been trying to figure out what the hell was going on. From the door, the entire vibe in the house had been off. Instead of Nunnie playing hostess, like any woman would in their home, it was Rumor flouncing around, running the show. She was literally instructing people on where to sit, where to eat, what bathrooms they could use, and had seemingly invited a whole slew of personal friends. Therefore, the house was overrun with people that Nunnie wasn’t remotely familiar with.

  “Rumor, somebody is in the bathroom down the hallway,” some chick announced. “Is there another one I can use?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Rumor responded. “Hold up one second. I’ma take you upstairs and show you one of the guests’ bathrooms.”

  Frowning, Dreka lightly elbowed her sister. “Nunnie, are you sure this bitch is biologically related to Levi?”

  Nunnie cut her eyes at her. “Why you ask?”

  “Cause…something aint right in the water. Levi said that this was for all the cousins, but I haven’t seen anybody related to him, yet. Not anybody he’s introduced us to in the past. The most I’ve seen come through from his side is a few home boys. So, I’m trying to figure out what piece of evidence have you ever gotten that solidified them being family in your eyes.”

  Nunnie shrugged. “Man, I don’t know. The hoe came over here one day with one of his brothers, but we both know that it could’ve been a cover up. And I don’t go over his parents’ house like that to really question his family tree. So, he could bring anybody through this bitch.”

  Tink shook her head. “Nah, bitch, that hoe aint his cousin. She’s auditioning for your position. She’s see-through. That chasing Mix shit is just a convenient cover up. That nigga Levi knows it too. He’s far from stupid. He’s just capitalizing on the situation, while your ass is thinking that you’re getting over. He been on the fuck-shit from day one.”

  Nunnie shrugged. “Probably so.”

  Dreka nudged her sister. “So, what chu gon do? You just gon let that slick hoe trick you out of your spot?”

  Nunnie rolled her eyes. “Girl please. Nah, what I’m finna do is sit back and watch her duck ass work herself like a Hebrew slave to impress Levi’s lame ass. She can do all that grunt work. I aint mad at her. Better her than me.”

  Tink giggled. “This hoe here is too cocky, boy, I tell ya. What if he tells you at the end of the night that he wants her and that you need to pack your shit, Nunnie?”

  Nunnie locked eyes with her. “Tink, let me let you in on a little secret. I never convinced this nigga to choose me. Clearly, he knew this hoe first. Probably fucked her, before he ever knew my name, yet he got me up in this bitch. So, ole girl is running around trying to convince him of something that should come naturally. If he aint see it in her before me, then he won’t see it in her after me. Why is this bitch trying to convince some man to choose her is the bigger question.”

  Tink poked out her bottom lip. “Can’t argue there.”

  “But don’t be surprised if that hoe take your man, though,” Dreka taunted. “And then you’ll be homeless for sure.”

  “Fuck you.” Nunnie gave her the finger.

  “But seriously, you better watch that nigga Levi,” Dreka warned. “Find out if this hoe is really related to him or if he’s pulling a stunt.”

  Nunnie took a deep breath. “Dreka, it really don’t matter.”

  “And why not?” Dreka arched a brow.

  “Cause I really don’t think that I’ll be living here by tomorrow.”

  “Oh,” Dreka uttered, not expecting that. “What made you come to that decision?”

  Nunnie sucked her teeth. “Just a bunch of shit. I don’t even feel like getting into it. Just know that I’m over it all. And before I really just lose it in here, I’ma walk away.”

  Tink shook her head. “That’s the anger talking. That hoe aint going nowhere. And leave this big ass house behind? Where sh
e had access to a Beamer? No bills. Trips to the mall. Trips to the salon. Fully sponsored. Nah, her ass aint going nowhere. I’ll believe that shit when I see it.”

  Dreka snickered. “Too many dicks under the same roof got her ass stressed. Sis ass is confused. Don’t know which way is up or down.”

  Nunnie huffed. “Fuck yall.”

  “Hey, excuse me,” some random light skinned chick interrupted, as she slid onto the sectional with them. “Please tell me where did you get that Fendi outfit. I just love it,” she addressed Dreka.

  “Oh, I got it from Saks,” Dreka smiled, always down to discuss fashion.

  Tink glanced around. “I wonder where Sass and Trigga disappeared to?”

  Nunnie sighed. “Aint no telling. I’ma go see,” she volunteered, as she scooted off the couch.

  Tink looked Nunnie up and down. “Bitch, don’t hurt nobody in that lil’ ass dress. I see you, with ya big fine ass. I see why you aint sweating the small shit. Ole girl gotta put in overtime to compete. My friend is packing the big fucking guns, do you hear me?”

  Nunnie smirked, while quietly bringing the heat in her off the shoulders long sleeved black mini sweater dress. She kept it simple with a pair of furry glittery Ugg’s. “Whatever, hoe. Be right back.” She winked, before sauntering off.

  Without realizing it, an hour drifted by, and Nunnie hadn’t returned although Dreka and Tink’s boyfriends had resurfaced on their own. Eventually, Mix wandered into the room with Maizie in his arms.

  “What’s up?” he greeted everyone sitting on the sectional, before focusing on Dreka. “Aye, where your sister at?”

  Dreka frowned. “Shit, I thought her ass was somewhere in here with you.”

  “Nah, she aint been with me,” Mix claimed. “I thought that she was down here with yall.”

  Tink lifted a brow. “Where Levi?”

  Mix cracked his knuckles. “She aint with that nigga. That much I know for sho. He in the backyard.”

  The foursome chuckled.

  “Why you gotta say it like that, Mix?” Dreka messily teased, although there were several people within earshot. Hell, at this point it was clear this was a shit show, and she saw no point in playing it safe. The shit was about to hit the fan, and she wanted a front row seat. “She can’t be in the backyard with him?”

  “Nah, she know what it is—”

  “Hey, Mix,” Rumor called out to him, as she twisted into the living room. “You mind coming to help me get something out the trunk?”

  “Why the fuck she aint ask all these other muthafuckas she invited around here?” Tink mumbled.

  “Exactly,” Dreka co-signed.

  “You paying?” Mix questioned with a straight face, causing everyone around to laugh.

  Rumor’s jaw dropped. “Really, Mix? That’s how you wanna do me?”

  Dreka grimaced. “This hoe acting like she been knowing him forever.”

  “That’s what I’m saying.”

  Seeing Dreka and Tink chatter in her face, Rumor rolled her eyes. “No for real, though, Mix, can you please come here? Let me talk to you for a second.”

  “Yeah,” Mix agreed, before stepping up to Dreka and placing Maizie in her arms. “Hold him for me. I’ll be right back.”

  “Alright,” Dreka agreed.

  Mix then spun around and followed Rumor out of the room. Once she headed upstairs, he shook his head. “I thought that you needed to get something out of your trunk?”

  She lightly laughed.

  He squinted, as he noticed how she was moving about in the house like it was hers. It was very odd behavior, when she was just supposed to be this cousin that, according to Nunnie, didn’t even come over very often.

  “Come on.” She pushed the door of a bathroom open. “Let me show you something.”

  Standing in the doorway, Mix paused. “Come on where?”

  “Come in here?” she urged.

  He furrowed his brows. “For what?”

  She grabbed his hand. “Come here,” she whined.

  Sluggishly, he allowed her to pull him into the bathroom. “What’s up?”

  Biting her bottom lip, she closed the door. “I’m trying to see what’s up with you.”

  He squinted. “What you mean?”

  “I’m saying.” She brushed her palm across his broad chest. “At this point you have to know that I’m interested in you, but you’re lukewarm with me. I mean, at first, I thought that it was mutual, and then you just shut down on me. What’s up with that?”

  He scowled, while stroking his waves. “Man,” he drawled. “You trying over think some shit, like you my gal or some shit. It aint that deep. Fuck, it gotta be your timing. Shit just aint panning out.”

  “But why?” she pouted, while stomping her feet.

  He licked his lips. “Look, lil’ mama, I’m in a situation that I aint too much fucking with. So, a nigga’s mind be all over the place. My focus just aint on trying to build nothing right now, keeping it real. So, that’s what it is. I can’t vibe with you under the circumstances.”

  “Oh.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “I thought that it might have something to do with something that Naveriah may have told you about me. It’s obvious that we don’t see eye to eye. I think she’s jealous of me for some reason. I think it has something to do with the fact that Levi always tells her that she needs to be more like me—”

  “Hey,” Mix halted her. “We aint finna stand in here and gossip about Nunu. Is that what you called me in here for?”

  She lifted her head. “No.” she inched closer. “Not at all,” she bit her lip. “Damn, I never thought that Nike joggers and a windbreaker could look so sexy on a man,” she tucked her lips into her mouth. “But Mix, it’s just me and you in here. Let’s see if this chemistry is real.”

  He eyes wandered over her body. “How can we do that?”

  “Hmm.” She placed a finger on her chin. “How about you bend me over on this counter…and fuck the shit out of me.”

  “Damn, baby,” Mix licked his lips. “You a lil’ sexy somethin’. Look like that pussy probably fire too.”

  Rumor smiled from ear to ear. “So, come see what it’s hitting for,” she urged.

  He tilted his head sideways, examining the fat ass she was lugging around. “Say…as tempting as that sounds…I’ma have to pass.”

  Rumor’s jaw dropped. “Say what?”

  “Pssshh,” he sputtered, before turning to leave her in the bathroom alone.

  “He needs to be changed,” Dreka announced, as she stood in the hallway with Maizie, catching him as he exited the bathroom.

  “Fuck,” Mix mumbled, as Rumor stepped out of the bathroom, right behind him.

  Dreka arched a brow, as Rumor sauntered past them, and headed back downstairs without addressing anybody.

  “Hand him here, man, I’ll change him,” Mix volunteered, as he retrieved the baby.

  “Okay, I’m heading back downstairs,” Dreka announced.

  Taking the baby into the room he’d sleep in, Mix changed his diaper. Needing to collect his thoughts, he didn’t immediately go back downstairs, after he was done.

  “I can’t live in this level of dysfunction,” he told himself. “I don’t care what the fuck Nunu say. Main, this shit aint for me. Something gotta fucking give. Pronto. This some Young and the Restless bullshit, right here. Hell, nah. I aint with it.” he stood up with the baby in his arms. “Hell, nah,” he mumbled, as he headed out of the room.

  Traveling back into the living room he noticed that everyone on the sectional was laughing, as they glanced his way. Of course, Nunnie was still missing from the scene.

  “This dog ass nigga here,” Tink laughed, as Mix approached them.

  He waved her off. “Aye, did uh, Nunnie ever come down here?” he enquired.

  “Nah,” Tink responded. “I been down here the entire time, and she haven’t showed her face. Even Levi came through here about 30 minutes ago looking for her.”

  He frowned. �
�Yeah? Well, let me see what the fuck is going on.”

  Holding Maizie, he wandered around, searching the house for Nunnie. After a while, Maizie began to whine, just as Mix stumbled upon Levi entertaining his boys in the game room. Seemingly not wanting to be left out, Rumor was in the room, as well. Weirdly, she was sitting in Levi’s lap, while he had his arm looped around her waist. Of course, once she noticed Mix, she hopped up and tried to laugh it off.

  “Aye, Maizie, man,” Levi smiled, while easing out of his seat, just as Mix was turning to leave out of the room. “You want daddy to get you? Cuz working your nerves?” he stepped up to Mix. “I got him, man.” He held out his arms.

  Mix grimaced in no mood for the bullshit, as he glimpsed around the room. “I didn’t know your ex dropped your kids off.”

  Levi frowned. “Say what?”

  “I’m saying, your kids are here or something?” Mix questioned, as Levi’s boys looked on.

  “No. Not that I’m aware of,” Levi curled his lips.

  Mix griped the tip of his nose. “Well, then, I’m trying to figure out who you talking about. Come to daddy? Nah, playboy.” He nixed him off, before stomping out of the room.

  Finding himself back in the living room, Mix was where he’d started. “Man, where the fuck is this broad at?” he vented, as he texted Nunnie on his cell. “I told her last night that we wasn’t sitting around this clown ass nigga all day,” he spoke freely, not giving a damn who heard him. “We supposed to be taking the baby to see my granny before it gets too late.”

  Studying him, Dreka pursed her lips. “Uh huh, nigga. I see you.”

  “Huh?” Mix lifted his head.

  “You trying to get to Nunnie, before we do.”

  He frowned, as he sucked his teeth. “The fuck is you talking about, Dreka?”

  “Nigga, you know,” she claimed. “Act like I didn’t catch you coming out of the bathroom with that hoe.”

  Trigga shook his head, as he popped her thigh. “Aye, mind ya business, main.”