Hoodwinked

  “There is no messing with her again. It was a one time thing. I don’t even know her.”

  “Her family will take a minute to accept you if they accept you,” Tucker continued as if I wasn’t pleading my case that I wanted nothing to do with Pia. “Women aren’t supposed to date down, they date up---.”

  “Now what the fuck does that mean?” I snapped, stopping the game altogether as Michael caught up with us from the other side of the court. “And Pia, and I aren’t together. I’m getting tired of telling y'all that. We’ll never be----.”

  “Ohhh that’s the worst thing you can do, date down,” Jason cooed, grabbing the ball as the game resumed with him taking his weak shot. I slapped the ball down towards Michael who caught it, and made a dash for it to the other hoop. “Never date down! Always date equally or up! That’s why so many marriages are arranged!”

  “Why am I a step down?! I don’t even want her! You know what type of women I attract! She’s nowhere near that level!” I yelled.

  “Just how it is,” Tucker shrugged.

  “Because I don’t come from money----.”

  “Because you don’t come from a notable family… Money is only a small portion of it. You gotta have the correct schooling, upbringing---.”

  “I’m educated with a degree, my own business. Multiple businesses, own my own house---.”

  “That isn’t enough,” Tucker shrugged. “Like your sister? She’s married to me. She carries my last name now which means she married up. As expected. There are people in my family that will never accept her, and there are even more people who overlook her lack of background because of who she is as a person. Once she has a baby, all of that will change of course---.”

  “But nobody says you dated down,” I argued.

  “We’re Freeman,” Tucker said. “We don’t see women as our equal or anywhere near our level in the first place. Not that I!” Pointing to himself, trying to backtrack. “Feel that way about your sister, I’m just explaining to you how I was raised. It's not enough to be educated or have a little bit of money as a black man.”

  “Not nearly enough,” Jason agreed. “If I buy a new car. One of those newer models with all the works? I’m going to want a certain type of woman to ride beside me. It’s the image we care about at the end of the day. My wife doesn’t exactly fit the mold that people expect me to be with, but who can turn down a beautiful black woman with hazel eyes, and three beautiful identical daughters? If anything, she elevated my brand without realizing it. People love her more than me it seems to be quite frank.”

  “Your partner needs to have the right temperament, and demeanor.”

  “Are y'all talking about women or dogs?” I asked. “When I get married, my wife will be exactly that. My wife. Not socially what everyone expects her to be for me. The woman I choose to spend the rest of my life with, as long as she takes care of home, and me, I got her.”

  “It’s more complicated than that with us,” Tucker said as Jason added,

  “It’s a certain breeding process, a pecking order. Pia may not be your type, but she is expected to date above you, whatever that may be.”

  “Are we still playing or nah?!” Michael yelled from the other side. “The fuck we talking about all this marriage crap!?”

  “Yall really serious with this shit?” I laughed. “We’re talking about Pia. I’ve seen her brothers, they’re not----.”

  “One is a young attorney making a name for himself and is about to be married to one of the wealthiest families in Atlanta. Probably going to be one of the biggest weddings next year---.”

  “The other one is an asshole,” Jason cut in. “Next time you decide you want to fight, you call me. I’ll show up just for the fun of it.”

  “Crazy. I don’t want that woman in no way shape or form. Trust me,” I laughed as the sound of doors echoed open into the wide gym. We looked back seeing four guys walking in with their things, unnaturally tall to say they were the average build, but the way they strolled in, I could tell they played basketball professionally or used to in college. In a place like this, we were bound to see anybody.

  “Speaking of Pia,” Tucker muttered as I looked at him with furrowed brows. His usual yellow face was a bright red around the cheeks as he nudged in their direction. “That’s the boyfriend or ex-boyfriend walking in now…”

  “Are y'all playing the damn game or nah?” Michael asked again, coming up to us with his hands on his hips. I looked back, and started scanning the four men until I watched the only nigga to ever play pro drop down on the stands. Reddish-brown beard full with brown freckle spots on the side of his face. He laughed at something one of his friends said before he made eye contact with me.

  He froze.

  Brown low cut fade still shined with oil, and grease spots like he was fresh from the barbershop, but I suddenly smirked with a laugh. Shaking my head as I looked at Tucker.

  “I’ma fuck this nigga up,” I said pointedly as Jason laughed.

  “I don’t think he knows who you are,” Tucker said, taking the ball to bounce. “He probably thinks you’re some weird fan staring at him. Just quit staring at him. You’re being obvious.”

  “Nah, he knows,” Michael laughed as we looked back at the group seeing his eyes were on me. “I think they all know. Hell, the kid looks just like Homer.”

  “You saying Pia dating me is a step down, but this carrot top face ass nigga here is on her level?” I laughed, feeling all five of my sisters come out of me in the form of petty.

  “I thought you didn’t care about her---.”

  “I don’t. Never have, never will but don’t insult me by comparing me, a real man. A real black man, about his black shit to this leprechaun. Pia can do a whole lot better than that.”

  “Chill out before we end up getting dragged out of here,” Michael warned as he snatched the ball. “Let’s just come here, and do what we came to do. Ball. That’s it. Not all this gossiping shit.”

  “You talk to Nasia?” Jason continued, snatching the ball from Michael as he took off with a dribble, and attempted to make a shot.

  “For what?!” I let out, smacking the ball down from the net. Feet were screeching and scraping against the court as we fought for the ball before I took off.

  “Travel!” Tucker accused. “You’re traveling!”

  “I’m not!” I laughed, taking a shot from the three only to hit a hard brick against the board. “And why would I talk to Nasia?”

  “Ex-girlfriend, in the same city as you are right now. Been together for years---.”

  “Nasia knows my number, and where to find me. I’m not chasing her down anymore.”

  A sudden burst of laughter came from the stands as I cut my eyes over to the group of athletes. The redhead Pia dated named Deandre stood up with a slap of his hands to another before stripping down to his basketball shorts. I was bigger and undoubtedly stronger than him. He might have gotten me beat by height, but just barely. I couldn’t see what Pia saw in him, or what he saw in her.

  “Aye, you staring again,” Michael whispered, coming up behind me. “And hard. Homer chill out.”

  “Y’all mind if we split the court?!” One of them yelled. “Unless y'all wanna do a four on four game real quick?”

  Jason and Tucker exchanged looks while Dre, and I stared at one another. He leaned over to say something to one of his friends, mouth bright red like he had on fucking lipstick. Everything about him irritated me for some reason, and my temper and attitude didn’t allow me to sit, and settle in my own thoughts for too long.

  “You looking at me like it's a problem,” I started, shaking one leg out before loosening up the other like I was about to run.

  “Here we go,” Michael groaned with a toss of his hands as he walked off to the side. “Homer, let’s go! We not doing this, this early in the mornin’ bruh!”

  Dre looked at me with a cocked head like he was taken aback.

  “Nah, it’s no problem. Seems like you’re the o
ne with the problem man, not me.”

  “Homer,” Tucker cut in, standing in front of me with that warning look. “Now is not the time or place. Especially the place. I just got into this damn club---.”

  “We’re just talking, that’s it. Nothing more---.”

  “You’re Violet’s father, right?” He asked as I stepped aside to look at him. “I’m Deandre. I---.”

  “I know who you are. We’on need to speak no further than that,” trying my hardest to find the last ounce of respect I had for Tucker. I turned to walk off, grabbing my shirt off the floor to swipe over my shoulder before sitting down on the first row of bleachers.

  “I’ma sit this one out,” I said, watching my brother follow behind as he took a seat a few rows up. Legs stretched out, already texting on his phone. Probably to our sisters.

  “What you so mad for? He didn’t know about you either so what’s the problem?”

  “Ain’t no problem, and I’m not mad. Just don’t like him around my daughter.”

  “I’on even think him, and Pia are together,” Michael said in a low voice as the two of us stared at the men on the court with my eyes following Dre’s every move. Something about him didn’t sit right with me.

  “Homer? Chill out with the staring,” Michael muttered as I watched Dre shake his head, smiling to himself before I focused on Tucker who was pointing at me, and giving me the silent, chill out.

  “Dre? Dre! Man come on! Let it go!”

  “Nah, I’m just being friendly! I can do that right?!” Dre laughed. I looked back seeing him do a light jog towards the bleachers. “Just grabbing my stuff, and stretching before we start! Go head and warm up without me! I’ll be ready for the game!”

  He reached to take his shirt off, exposing the freckled arms, and backside before sitting down a body’s length beside me as he leaned forward. Thick white socks pulled up to his calves, he reached in his duffle bag to grab a bottle of water before looking at me.

  He started laughing to himself again with a shake of his head as he looked up at me.

  “She has your exact face man. How Pia was able to look at her, and not think of you is crazy to me.”

  I just listened. Knowing Tucker was anxiously waiting on the court, praying nothing happened to where he had to jump in or worse, get kicked out of his precious club.

  “Ball!” Someone yelled as the game began with sneakers running up, and down the court.

  “I told her I wanted to meet you because I wanted to see what kind of man you are…. What kind of man was going to be around Violet for the rest of her life, and if you were worthy of that…”

  “Ahh shit,” Michael muttered with a scratch of his head.

  “That ain’t for you to decide. That’s for her to decide,” I said in a low voice. “We don’t have no reason to ever meet or speak ever again because I don’t have shit that deals with you. You playing house with my baby mama. That’s it. That’s still my child. Not yours. She’ll never be yours.”

  “I know that now,” he let out with a simple shrug before smiling. “When I marry her, that will be a different story. I’ll be her stepfather---.”

  “Nigga you can have Pia. I’ll let her know that too when I go back over there to pick my clothes up, but you not gon be step shit to nobody. Have your own kids, and worry about them.”

  He looked at me as I glanced at my phone with not a care in the world. Didn’t give a fuck if I was being petty or acting like my sisters. Marry her? The fuck you think marriage will change? Pia? You marrying Pia? Nah. She could have done much better than this clown ass nigga.

  “Man to man, you should be glad I was in your daughter’s life. I protected and loved her as my own so focus on Violet, and I’ll focus on Pia and everything that comes with being with her. Including her daughter,” he said, standing up as I laughed.

  “Man to man, I don’t want shit to do with Pia.” Leaning back in my seat with my arms stretched. “Check yo insecurities with somebody else, not me. Leave my daughter alone, all I ask.”

  “You still want her so yeah, I have to tell---.”

  “I don’t want Pia bruh. Why does everybody think I want her!?” I suddenly snapped. “Ain’t shit a woman who lied to me for two years about a fucking child can do to hold my attention past a good nut. You can have her.”

  “You sure?” He asked, rubbing his nose with a sniff.

  My mind suddenly went back to the dark hotel room where I could hear heavy panting, soft moans, and rhythmic squeaks of the hotel bed. Pia was on top of me with her hands digging into my shoulders to hold on while I grabbed her waist to keep up. Half of her body was scarred on one side with damaged skin, rolls that never ended, hair that stuck to her face as she moaned. When she moaned, I moaned. Her body’s questions were my body’s response. Connected on a level I have never experienced.

  “Homer,” she breathed as my vision of her grew dark. The harder she went, the more I felt myself slipping away when she called my name out again.

  “Homer? Homer? Homer?”

  “Hey?”

  “Homer?!” My brother suddenly yelled as I blinked, looking at Dre who just stared in confusion before seeing Michael come down the stands. The rest paused the game to look at me.

  “I asked you have you slept with her outside of that one time?” Dre asked, voice no longer calm. Michael’s eyes grew wide, looking anxiously from me to her boyfriend while Tucker gripped the top of his head, fearing for the worst outcome. Jason just slowly smiled, waiting for the show to begin.

  “Homer, you haven’t messed with Pia after that one time, right? You were with Nasia,” Michael added slowly, trying to encourage me to speak, but I stared at Dre who suddenly grew agitated, showing his true colors. One move as small as him flexing his fingers, and cracking his knuckles set me off.

  “What you gon do about it if I have?” I asked, standing up with my head tilted to the side.

  “It’s a simple question man. I’m not with all this talking, just answer yes or no.”

  I laughed, directly in his face and found myself sitting right back down in front of him. No longer feeling the need to flex at his punk ass. Yet, I couldn’t find it in me to answer the damn question because I shouldn’t have to. It should go without saying I didn’t mess with her.

  “I don’t have to answer shit bruh. Go on before you get yourself hurt fucking with me. I ain’t one of these lil rich boys out here.”

  Dre laughed as he looked back at his friends before squaring up in front of me, making it clear he wasn’t going to move, but it was there. That look in his eyes of uncertainty. He had no idea if I really messed with Pia or not so I laughed too.

  “Yeah haha nigga, keep on,” I tisked with my teeth. “You can stand here all day. If you was bout it, you would have made a move. I don’t have to ans----.”

  “Did you fuck with Pia or nah?!” He yelled as I shot up from my seat, hearing Tucker scream.

  “No, no no no noooo,” Tucker let out. “Not in here! We’re not doing this in here!”

  “Michael, get him out of here!” Jason yelled. “I got his stuff----.”

  “Nigga wassup?!” I barked, shoulder to shoulder as he stood up on the last step before mine with us in each other’s faces, and ears. “Keep talking that big boy shit nigguh!”

  “The fact that you even put your hands on her should be enough for me to beat yo ass!”

  “Oh you talking about when she was throat deep on my dick or when I was waist deep in that pus---.”

  “HOMER?!” Michael screamed as fists immediately began to fly with bodies swarming towards the two of us. Our backs hit the bleachers hard as hands tried to pry and pull us apart. As quickly as we charged at one another is just as quickly as it stopped when security in black suits came rushing in.

  “Nigga if I catch you around my fucking child! I’ma kill you!” I threatened, being pulled off in the opposite direction. “Stay the FUCK away from my seed ol’ pussy ass nigga! That’s why yo ass just got knocked
the FUCK out!”

  “Let’s go,” security said, pulling me through the double doors that led outside. “All of you get your things, and get out.”

  “How do they get to stay, and we’re the ones being put out?!” Tucker asked incredulously as security grabbed at his arm. “No! Answer me! I paid my dues like everyone else! How are----.”

  “Tucker let it go----.”

  “Put them out the same way you’re putting us out!”

  The metal door slammed directly in front of our faces as we stood on the outside of the club grounds. Seeing hills of golf courses and large buildings stretched out like a campus with us by the side parking lot where visitors park. Tucker glared at me, thick brows furrowed while I threw my hands up.

  “He came at me first! What was I supposed to do?!”

  “Assure his insecure ass you don’t want that woman!” He yelled. “DAMN! My keys are inside the building! Security!” Tucker yelled, banging on the door. “You can’t do that to us!”

  Jason let out a smug grin, showing off the small cut on his lower lip as he threw his hands on his hips.

  “We can always ball at my house?” He suggested. “Wife might have something cooked up.”

  …

  “Thanks, babe.” Jason smiled like a kid in a candy store at his wife as she placed plates down before each of us at the table in the backyard. Large umbrella opened up above us, blocking the sun with the yard set up like a kitchen. Jason had everything from the large super grill to the sink, and cabinets all built-in overlooking the thick forest in his backyard. His wife Diega had to be the coolest woman aside from my sister Trinity to walk this earth. She almost looked identical to this Dre nigga with her braids that came to her waist, and freckles that covered her body to the point where you could hardly see her brown skin, and bright hazel eyes that flickered with amusement when Tucker told the story on how we got kicked out of the country club. Her body was average at best. No particular shape other than her recently giving birth to three girls at once. She still carried her pregnancy, but she was petite, so she filled out. Diega wasn’t anything like the girls Jason and Tucker spoke about. Wasn’t really like any girl I’ve ever met before, but I could tell she went through more than the average. Diega was all street, all hood, and played no games when it came to herself or her children. In turn, Jason didn’t play when it came to her. As much shit as he talked, he wouldn’t leave her for all the money in the world or do anything to compromise that.