Heartbreak And Past Mistakes

by Chenell Parker

  He picked out a few pairs of shoes that he wanted before they left to hit up a few more stores. It was still early, so they went to get something to eat before they went back to Lyric’s house for the rest of the night.

  ***

  “How many you got Lyric?” Melody asked as she looked over at her daughter.

  Lyric and Bronx were at her parents’ house playing spades. Melody invited them over since her husband was grilling and she was cooking. She and Lyric were playing against the men and they were up by a few points.

  “Three,” Lyric replied like she was unsure.

  “Three? Let me see your hand. You never were any good at spades. I should have teamed up with my husband and let you lose with your man,” Melody replied.

  “Come on Mel, don’t start cheating and shit. You can’t play your hand and Lyric’s too,” Lenard fussed.

  “Let mommy see baby,” Melody said as she ignored what her husband was saying.

  “I quit.” Lyric frowned as she threw her cards on the table.

  “Didn’t I tell you? You thought I was lying, huh?” Lenard asked as he looked over at Bronx.

  “Don’t talk about me, daddy. You know I was never any good at spades,” Lyric laughed.

  “Don’t worry about it baby. You know I got you. We’ll practice until you get better,” Bronx said as he kissed Lyric’s cheek.

  “So Bronx, do you have any kids?” Melody asked him.

  “Told you,” Lenard said to Bronx as he laughed.

  “You told him what? These are the questions that you should be asking as her father,” Melody replied.

  “Maybe I would if she was a minor. I keep telling you that Lyric is not a child,” Lenard noted.

  “No ma’am, I don’t have any kids,” Bronx said, answering the question that he was asked.

  “How’s your credit?” Melody asked.

  “Ma!” Lyric yelled as she covered her face in embarrassment.

  “Chill out Mel,” Lenard warned.

  “What? That’s my baby and I need to know these things,” Melody replied.

  “She’s my baby too, but I’m not gonna treat her like one,” Lenard noted.

  “Thank you, daddy,” Lyric said as she smiled at him.

  “Truthfully, I really don’t have any credit. I buy everything that I want outright. I never really did mess with credit cards.” Bronx shrugged.

  “No credit is worse than having bad credit. But don’t worry, I can help you with that. Are you in any debt?” Melody questioned.

  “Ma, stop!” Lyric yelled.

  “I’m good baby. I can handle myself,” Bronx assured her as Lenard shook his head.

  “Thank you, Bronx. I’m only asking a few questions. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Melody said.

  “I don’t have nothing to hide. Ask me whatever you want,” Bronx replied.

  “How do you really feel about my baby?” Melody inquired.

  “That’s enough ma. You’re doing too much. This is so embarrassing,” Lyric argued.

  “After being in labor with you for seventy-eight hours at only fourteen years old, I think I’ve earned the right to get in your business just a little,” Melody replied.

  “No, you haven’t because I’m grown. It’s one thing if I put you in it, but you take things too far sometimes. And I really wish you pick a number and stick with it. Every time you tell the story about you being in labor, the number of hours get higher and higher,” Lyric pointed out.

  “And it wasn’t but four hours and she was doped up for most of it,” Lenard noted.

  “I’m not trying to make you feel uncomfortable Bronx. I just want to know what you expect to gain out of a relationship with my baby,” Melody said.

  “A wife,” Bronx replied as he looked Melody right in her eyes.

  “Are you satisfied now Mel?” Lenard asked her.

  “Yes, very. Good answer by the way. You have my seal of approval,” Melody replied with a smile.

  Hearing her say that caused Lyric and Bronx to relax a bit. Lyric never had to worry about her father because he was a genuinely friendly person. He liked everybody and Lyric never knew him to have an enemy. Melody was a different story and she was always into it with somebody. She still didn’t like people who she went to high school with and that was just ridiculous.

  Once Melody finished with her interrogation, the rest of the night went smoothly. Lenard and Bronx had more in common than she assumed and that was proven every time they paid her parents a visit. Her father smoked morning, noon, and night, and so did her man. Every time they got together, they always made their way out back to smoke and talk. Lyric helped her mother clean up and she and Bronx were on their way soon after. They were both tired after being gone all day and happy when they made it back to her house. Lyric didn’t know if he was staying the night but, when he told her to set the alarm, she knew that he was.

  “Let’s go to Destin next weekend,” Bronx suggested when he and Lyric were lying in bed later that night.

  “And do what?” Lyric asked.

  “Chill, what else? We’re always doing something local. Let’s go take a ride or hop on a plane somewhere,” he replied.

  “I don’t know about hopping on a plane on such short notice, but we can drive to Destin. I’ll see if Mr. Malone will be okay with me taking off Friday and we can leave that morning if you want to.”

  “Yeah, that’s cool. Your boring ass concert is the weekend after that,” he noted.

  “Boy, you sound crazy. That concert gon’ be lit as fuck. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I’m sure I can find somebody else to take your place.”

  “You trying to get choked out in here Lyric? Stop playing with me,” Bronx said as he bit her cheek.

  “Ahhh! I told you to stop doing that shit!” Lyric fussed as she pushed him away from her. It felt like Bronx broke the skin on her cheek and she kept feeling the spot to make sure she wasn’t bleeding.

  “Stop saying stupid shit then,” Bronx said as he tried to pull her close.

  “Move, I’m not trying to be all hugged up with you tonight.” Lyric frowned.

  “Stop acting like that and come here,” Bronx said as he reached for her again.

  “No Bronx, I’m serious. I’m tired and I’m going to sleep,” Lyric replied.

  Lyric was being her usual spoiled self, but he knew just how to get her mind right. Bronx turned over on his back and kicked the covers from his naked body. Lyric had turned over and had her back to him. She was probably pouting like she always did when she was mad. She was serious about him not touching her and she was on the edge of the bed to make sure that he didn’t.

  “Come here girl,” he called out to her again.

  “Didn’t I just tell you that I was going to sleep?” Lyric snapped.

  “Come sit on my face,” Bronx said, knowing just how to calm her down.

  Lyric wasn’t tired anymore. She turned over and crawled over to him, doing what he told her to. She sat right on his face and held on while he worked his magic and put her to sleep a little while later.

  Chapter 23

  “Baby, we can’t park here. It says handicap parking only. You’re gonna get a ticket,” Lyric said when Bronx parked outside of the venue where the concert was being held.

  “You gon’ be walking cripple before the night is out with them high ass heels on,” he replied.

  “I’m a pro at this boo. I’ve been wearing six inches since I was sixteen. I can do anything with these heels on that you can do in your tennis shoes,” Lyric assured him.

  “You proved that last weekend on the hotel balcony. Butt ass naked with red bottoms on. That shit was sexy as hell,” Bronx winked.

  “Shut up,” Lyric laughed.

  Their weekend in Destin was so peaceful and relaxing. Three days wasn’t enough and Lyric didn’t want to come back. Bronx promised to bring her somewhere else when she took a vacation from the firm and she couldn’t wait.


  “You look good as fuck girl,” Bronx said when they got out of the car.

  “Thanks boo and so do you.” Lyric smiled.

  Lyric wore a black one-shoulder jumper with her big buckle double G belt and matching clutch. Her Gucci heels gave the outfit life and so did her wild hair. Bronx kept it simple with a black Gucci polo, jeans, and his black Gucci high tops. He smelled just as good as he looked and Lyric couldn’t stop kissing him.

  “You better chill out before you start something. Don’t make me bend you over in here,” Bronx told her when she kissed his neck again.

  “You can’t. I don’t have on a dress,” Lyric replied.

  “As if I give a fuck. I know they got a bathroom around here somewhere” he noted.

  “You just smell so good,” she purred as she nuzzled her face in his neck.

  “You know I love you, right?” Bronx asked, making her lift her head up to look at him.

  Lyric started not to say anything but she had to keep it real. For weeks, she had battled with herself about how she really felt about him, but it was pointless. The feelings were mutual and it would be childish of her not to say so.

  “I love you too, baby.” Lyric smiled as she kissed his lips.

  As usual, the concert was late getting started. They had a DJ on stage playing music, but Lyric was ready to see the show. She sent Kierra a text to see if her and Nova were there, but she hadn’t replied yet. She and Bronx went to get something to drink and the show started as soon as they got back to their seats. Mint Condition was closing the show but they had a few of her favorites that were on before them. When Joe hit the stage, Lyric stood up the entire time and sang along to every song. Bronx was behind her enjoying the feel of her dancing up on him. The concert was boring as hell to him, but he was happy that Lyric was enjoying herself. When it was intermission time, they both went to the bathroom and got something else to drink.

  “We hitting the hot tub tonight, so don’t even try to go to sleep,” Bronx said as he pulled Lyric up from her seat and sat her on his lap.

  “Okay,” Lyric said as she looked at Kierra’s text message.

  “Don’t piss me off Lyric. Who do you keep texting?” Bronx asked her.

  “My cousin. She’s in here somewhere and we keep playing phone tag. She wants to meet you,” Lyric replied.

  “Damn, nigga got it like that. The whole family trying to see me,” Bronx said arrogantly.

  “Don’t get too cocky nigga. She invited me to come, but I told her that you already got the tickets. They know how private I am so she used this as her opportunity to meet you.”

  “Where is she?” Bronx asked.

  “That’s what I’m trying to see now. Once the show starts again, it’ll be too late,” Lyric said, right as her phone vibrated in her hand.

  “Where are you cousin?” Kierra yelled as soon as she picked up.

  “I’m in the first row on the left side,” Lyric replied.

  “That’s why I didn’t see you. We’re on the right side. It’s packed up in here, but I’m about to find you before the show starts. What do you have on?” Kierra asked.

  “Nothing that will make me stand out. We both have on all black,” Lyric laughed.

  “Fuck it. I’m about to walk up the middle aisle and I dare one of these flashlight cops to stop me,” Kierra replied.

  “Okay, I’ll stand in the middle aisle too, in case I see you first,” Lyric said as she stood up.

  “I have on a red and leopard print dress. I’m coming right now,” Kierra said before she hung up.

  “What did she say?” Bronx asked as he got up and stood behind Lyric.

  “She’s coming now,” Lyric replied as he started to kiss her neck.

  “I hope this shit be over soon. I’m ready to get up out of here,” Bronx said as he pulled Lyric back into him.

  She and Bronx were all hugged up and kissing, but she made sure to keep looking out for Kierra. When she spotted her, she smiled and waved her over. Kierra looked confused and she wasn’t the only one. Lyric thought that Nova was with her, but Kierra was with someone else.

  “There she is,” Lyric said as Bronx held her close.

  “That’s your cousin?” he asked as he looked up and locked eyes with Kierra.

  “Yeah,” Lyric replied.

  “Fuck!” Bronx hissed.

  “Why? Do you know her?” Lyric asked, praying that he said no.

  There was no way in hell that she would be able to continue being with him if he was with her cousin first. Suddenly, she felt foolish for being so secretive with everyone. Maybe if she had told Kierra about him at first, she would have told her that she had him first and Lyric wouldn’t have even given him a chance. Before Bronx could even answer, Lyric was forcefully pushed and almost fell. She probably would have hit the floor if Bronx wasn’t there to catch her. At first, Lyric thought that her cousin pushed her until she looked into the angry face of Kierra’s cousin Zina.

  “Nigga, you got me all the way fucked up. So, this is why you don’t come home every night? Huh? Because you’re laid up with the next bitch?” Zina fumed as she looked at Deuce.

  “What is she talking about Bronx?” Lyric asked nervously.

  “Bronx? Oh, so you got this bitch calling you by your government,” Zina fumed.

  “Man, let’s go,” he said as he grabbed Lyric’s hand.

  “Do you know who this is Lyric? That’s Zina’s husband Deuce,” Kierra pointed out.

  “What?” Lyric whispered as she let Bronx’s hand go and backed away from him.

  “Fuck you too, Kierra! Scandalous ass bitch. I talk to you about my marital problems and you go hook my husband up with your other cousin,” Zina raged.

  “What! I didn’t know anything about this,” Kierra replied.

  “Yeah right,” Zina said skeptically.

  Kierra couldn’t pay her to believe that her husband was cheating with her cousin and she didn’t know anything about it. Zina had a feeling that another woman was in the picture, but she was surprised to see who it was. Lyric was a bad bitch in her own right and Zina was in her feelings. She was exactly the kind of woman that Deuce wanted her to be.

  “You’re married Bronx?” Lyric questioned as she looked at him.

  Not only was the nigga married, but he was married to the first cousin of her first cousin. That had to be a joke. A bad joke at that. She was being pranked and she needed the cameras to come out of hiding so that she could have a good laugh.

  “Yes bitch, he’s married!” Zina yelled as she held up her ring finger.

  Bronx was Deuce? That couldn’t be right. He was nothing like the man who Kierra and Zina described. Bronx wasn’t an ex drug dealer who owned a club. He couldn’t have a wife either. Lyric had gone to his house more than once and she had never seen a wife or anyone else there. She was confused and she was sure that the expression on her face showed it.

  “Baby, let’s go. We can talk about this later,” Bronx said as he grabbed Lyric’s hand again.

  “You and baby ain’t going nowhere!” Zina yelled as she tugged at his shirt.

  “Chill out Zina. You already know that I don’t do drama,” Bronx replied.

  They had an audience and some people had their phones out recording them. Security was making their way over to them and Bronx was aggravated with it all.

  “Come on cousin. Let her go!” Kierra yelled as she pulled Lyric away from Bronx.

  “Aye, y’all gotta get back to your seats or we have to escort you out,” one of the ghetto ass security guards said as he walked up to them.

  “I can’t believe this shit,” Lyric said as she snatched away from Kierra and started walking away.

  It was official and she was done. Fuck relationships, dating and anything else that had to do with the opposite sex. Not even an hour ago, the nigga was telling her that he loved her and now she had to deal with an angry wife that she didn’t even know he had. Lyric had so many questions and she was so confused. Bronx stay
ed nights at her house and he took her away for the entire weekend just the week before. Lyric didn’t know what kind of marriage he had but it couldn’t be a good one.

  “So, you running behind these hoes now Deuce?” Zina fumed as she chased her husband as he chased another woman.

  Being cheated on was nothing new to her, especially when dealing with niggas who were in the game. It was nothing for Zina to get out there and bang it out with another bitch behind her man. Both her children’s fathers had cheated on her and her father cheated on her mother. Hell, Zina had a sister that was a month younger than her and a brother who was six months older. Her mother was well taken care of so, another bitch was never her concern. Zina didn’t let it get to her either but, for some reason, she thought that Deuce was different. Although they argued and clashed a lot, she never thought that infidelity would ever be one of their problems. He was too real and outspoken for that. If anything, she would have expected him to tell her that he wanted somebody else instead of sneaking around to do it.

  “Come here Lyric. Damn, at least let a nigga explain,” Bronx begged as they excited the arena.

  “We don’t have shit to talk about. Fuck you and whatever it was that we had. The shit obviously wasn’t real!” Lyric yelled.

  “Are you serious right now Lyric? You can be mad, I’ll give you that, but don’t try to downplay this shit,” Bronx argued as he grabbed her arm.

  “Let her go Deuce. She doesn’t want to talk, so leave her alone,” Kierra said.

  “Man, Kierra, just stay out of this,” Bronx replied.

  “I need a ride home,” Lyric said as she pulled up the Uber app on her phone.

  “The fuck you mean? You came with me and you’re leaving with me,” Bronx replied.

  “That’s your second time having me fucked up tonight. Ain’t no way in hell am I standing here while you leave with this hoe.”

  “Your husband is the hoe. Don’t even try to come for me, boo. I was just as much in the dark as you were,” Lyric noted.

  “Bitch please. All y’all hoes are the same. A nigga flash a little money in your face and y’all hop on his dick with the quickness,” Zina retorted.