The Wild Child

by Nicole Jackson

  Josairah was seemingly listening closely. “Okay, does he always want to spend time publicly?”

  “Every time,” I admitted with a sigh. “He even mentioned some shit about a reality show.”

  “Oh, hell nah,” Key stressed. “Yeah, you better watch his ass. Yall definitely aint ready for TV yet.”

  “My point exactly.”

  “But Jhyrah, are you sure that some of this stuff aint just in your head?” Josairah quizzed. “You really feel like you can’t trust him? Or is it that you’re stuck on…you know—"

  Keyasia frowned. “Nah, Josairah, don’t try to play her like that. She aint thinking about Jeremy’s ass no more. Right, Jhyrah?”

  I rubbed the side of my face. “You know,” I cleared my throat. “Not too long ago, I thought that I knew what was happening. Me and Dorian was cool, and I thought that I could move on. I mean, he could make me laugh, and the sex was good. But then I went home…to the place that we’d picked out together. Me and Jeremy. And that’s when it hit me. He was gone…and that shit just burns my soul. I try to tell myself that there’s more fish in the sea. I can find love again. But I don’t want to,” I confessed. “At night, I still cry myself to sleep. That hasn’t stopped. Not even with Dorian in the picture. I feel so lost, and it hurts sooooo bad,” I wailed. “And Key, I know that you don’t wanna see me chasing after no nigga. But I can’t help it. My heart is hurting.” I held my chest. “I don’t know what to do without himmmmm.”

  “Aww, cousin, don’t cry,” Keyasia pleaded, as she scooted over to me, pulling me into her arms. “For real, don’t do me like that.” She kissed my cheek. “And I’m sorry if I made you feel like you couldn’t fully have your moment. I understand that getting over heartbreak takes time. I’ve been there and remembered how weak I was for Corinthian. I hated how he had me, and I didn’t want that for you. I wanted you to be stronger than I was, but now I know that you gotta go through this on your own. I can’t guide you through it. The shit is humbling as fuck, but you gotta go through it. And that’s okay, cause whatever don’t kill you can only make you stronger.”

  “True,” Josairah concurred. “Besides, you had fucked up in your situation, Key. You was supposed to swallow your pride. It’s one thing to not let a nigga walk all over you, but you’re supposed to take your lick when you’re at fault. You had fucked all over Wale, killing his babies. And right now, Jhyrah gotta take hers. So, stop acting like it’s a crime for her to miss Jeremy.”

  Keyasia released me and focused on Josairah. “Look here, you lil’ sneaky hoe. Don’t get to calling me out, because that shit is old. You don’t want me to get to digging for the skeletons in your closet.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh through the tears. “Yall are fucking crazy, man.”

  “Hello, how are yall?” someone spoke, causing everybody to life their heads. It was some tall slim, light brown cat standing there.

  “Oh, what’s up, Jagger?” Josairah asked. “Are you and Jahrein done working out?”

  “Not quite. I came up here to grab a bottle of water.”

  “Oh, okay. There’s plenty in the kitchen in the fridge.”

  After Josairah said that, ole boy just stood there staring.

  Me, Keyasia, and Josairah all gave each other silent looks, before Josairah cleared her throat. “Oh, yall, that’s my bad. This is Jah’s teammate, Jagger. Jagger, this is my cousin-in-law, Keyasia and my sister-in-law—”

  “Jhyrah,” he answered for her.

  “O-kay,” I stressed. “How do you know me?”

  He smirked. “Who doesn’t know Jahrein’s little sister? Most of the team is crushing on you.”

  “Including you, right?” Keyasia laughed.

  He nodded shamelessly. “Yeah, including me.”

  I shook my head with a smile.

  “Well, at least I got you to smile,” he acknowledged.

  “You did,” I admitted.

  “So, can I take you out now?”

  “Wait,” I laughed harder. “Just because you made me smile, I should give you a date?”

  “Nah, you should give me a date because I’m a nice guy, who just wants a little of your time. If that’s cool with you.”

  Looking him up and down, I had to admit that he was handsome. Then I loved the fact that he was tall. “Okay.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’ll let you take me out.”

  He stood grinning from ear to ear. “Girl, you just don’t know. I swear you just made my day.”

  Chapter 27

  Jhyrah

  “Come on, you better catch up,” Jagger insisted, as he skated off, pulling up his sagging jeans.

  I laughed hysterically, feeling like I’d been duped. After agreeing to go out with him, I’d gotten cold feet at the last minute. So, I called myself picking the craziest place to go to, hoping to deter him. Lookwood Skating Rink was in the heart of Fifth Ward and was a landmark in the ghetto. I didn’t know much about Jagger other than that he was from Memphis, and I assumed that he’d run for the hills, once he realized that I wanted him to kick it in the hood. Instead, he’d been completely down, and even brought a few of his little cousins along for the ride. Of course, I’d brought my little sisters Jahreiah, Reagan, and Jaylah along as well. Thankfully, they were too busy skating to give Jagger a hard time, but they’d already expressed the fact that they didn’t like him the moment they’d laid eyes on the man. Even Reagan rudely asked where was her Jerememe, as she liked to call him, right in Jagger’s face. I was relieved when he merely laughed it off and moved right along.

  Jagger was so comfortable around all the children there, although several of them were rough around the edges. That’s when it dawned on me that Jagger’s ass was probably from the hood himself, so he fit right in. Hell, even when a few older kids and parents realized that he was a Rockets’ player, he kept the same laid-back demeanor. Countless people asked to take pictures with us, and he was so cool about it all. That unquestionably gave him points in my book. Then the nigga even managed to make my stiff ass sisters laugh. They were team Jeremy for sure, but he was working his magic on them. Then just as I thought that he couldn’t get any sweeter, he announced that all food and drinks was on him, for the entire skating rink. That was some shit that my daddy would pull, and I loved somebody who could flex their muscle in the form of giving back.

  “Come on, Jhyrah,” he urged, as he showed out, skating backwards, as he faced me. “You wanted to skate, so skate.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” I declared, before spinning around, and skating backwards myself. I was glad that I wore some jeggings, which were easy to maneuver around in.

  “Baby, I’m ready to give all of my love. Baby, just not a little bit. I wanna give all of

  it—” Classic Gerald Levert floated from the speakers.

  Feeling the music, I swayed my hips, and snapped my fingers, reminding myself of my mama. I couldn’t help but laugh, as I enjoyed music that was before my time. Smoothly, I skated over to Jagger, and he placed his hands on my waist. Then together, we moved in sync.

  “Girl, I wanna give you. Every little bit. Every little piece. Every little part of me. To show you my love just can’t be beat. Baby, I’m ready. To give all of my love—”

  “You see how you fit perfectly into my arms?” he spoke into my ear.

  “Uh huh,” I laughed.

  “Don’t laugh. It aint funny. You’re gonna be my girl when it’s all said and down. Just watch and see.”

  “Baby, I’m ready. Baby, I’m ready. Baby, I’m ready—”

  Swirling my hips, I listened to him whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Surprisingly, the date turned out much better than I expected. I really didn’t know what I was doing, but I was quickly realizing that I was ready to play the field. Fuck heartache. I was so done with that.

  ***

  It was Sunday, and I was kicking it at my favorite brunch spot, Phil and Derick’s, with the girls. It was one of those rare occasions where we were all together, and spiri
ts were high. It was me, Keyasia, Josairah, Daynah, Mya, Taraj, Jazel, Rye, and Cavalli. The music was on point. The bottomless mimosas were hitting, as I shimmed in my seat. I was clutching a wine glass, while feeling pretty and nice. I’d been laughing non-stop, which told me that the old Jhyrah was back!

  My social life was booming as well as my businesses. I’d broken out of that depressing shit and had reclaimed my life. Swinging my hair from left to right, I sipped from my glass. I was on a natural high and nobody could tell me nothing. Me, Taraj, Mya, Josairah, and Cavalli were more amped than everybody else, because we could drink. The rest of those hoes were pregnant, including Keyasia’s lying ass. That girl was determined to deny her pregnancy, even though her damn baby bump was evident.

  I was well on my way to being tipsy, when Daynah lightly elbowed me. “Friend, look at this bullshit.” She handed me her phone.

  I scowled, as I noticed my face posted in Theshaderoom once again. This time, it was multiple clips. The post was hashtagged as a three-way love affair. The first picture was of me and Jagger at the skating rink, hugged up. The second was of me and Dorian out in Hawaii. Then the last one was a video where Dorian was being interviewed.

  “So, what’s going on with you and Jhyrah Braxton, man?” Sway, the interviewer questioned. “I’ve noticed that you guys have been spotted around together quite a few times.”

  Dorian was smiling hard, as he rubbed his goatee. “Aww, man, you’re really gonna put me on the spot huh?”

  “Hey,” Sway shrugged.

  “You’re funny, man. But yeah, Jhyrah…she’s my girl. I can’t lie. I was after that for a minute, and I finally scooped her up. I’m not gonna lie.”

  It was funny that his ass mentioned lying twice, because that’s exactly what he was doing. Not at any time had we agreed to or even discussed being exclusive, yet he wanted to lay claim to something. Publicly at that. It all seemed calculated to me, because nobody probably would have paid the interview dust if my name hadn’t been mentioned. But now the shit was viral, making me look like the biggest hoe around.

  Scrolling through the comments made my blood boil. There was thousands of women and men condemning me. My hands shook as I rapidly typed a response.

  It’s funny that someone can be a hoe, all while being completely single. Tell me how that works.

  Of course, my notifications went off like crazy, but I didn’t bother with that. Instead, I scrolled to my page, and went live, while my girls were still cackling in the background, mostly oblivious to what was going down.

  Wasting no time, I went in. “Look, I’ma get straight to the point. It’s been brought to my attention that people are alleging that I’m out here dealing with two guys at the same time. So, I’m here to clear the air. Contrary to what’s being said, I am completely single. So, I’ve been dating. I didn’t know that this was against some kind of law. Men do it all the time, but yall wanna label me a whore and everything else. That’s crazy because dating somebody doesn’t equate to fucking them. I’m just living. Don’t think that I didn’t notice all those hateful comments, either. Particularly from broads who seem to be mad because men choose me. Just because your DMs aint popping doesn’t mean that you need to come for me, sis. You hoes don’t know me for nothing, but have so much to say. Yeah, I know that it kills you to know that after yall have run my name through the mud that these niggas are still approaching. I know this has to make you sick to your stomach. But stay mad. Be big mad. Cause I’ma do whatever the fuck I want. And you know why? Because I’m single and ready to mingle. So, aint no three-way love nothing, bih. Now, you hoes get you some business and stay the fuck out of mine. Periodt.”

  ***

  I was trying to get some sleep, when my phone vibrated for the millionth time. I’d turned my ringer off when Dorian refused to stop calling, and now the vibrating was driving my crazy too. Lifting my phone, I was prepared to power my phone completely off, before I realized that I had a text from Keyasia.

  Sitting up in bed, I scratched my head, wondering why she’d text me at three in the morning. Opening up the text, I read it.

  Did you see this bullshit???

  Below the text was a video, so I played it. Immediately, I recognized myself being filmed from a side angle. I was on top of Dorian, riding him. Of course, I was ass naked, and was clutching my own breasts, while fucking the hell out of him. Clear as day was Jeremy’s name, tatted on my hip, which could be seen in several of my photos on my page. Sadly, I had no clue that this had been recorded, which told me that Dorian’s ass was a slithering snake.

  Heat resonated from my body, as I called Keyasia.

  “Hello,” she answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, where did you get this from?”

  She breathed into the phone. “From Instagram, Jhyrah.”

  “Instagram?” my heart palpitated. “You’re playing, right?”

  “No, I wish that I was. It’s all over. I don’t think that it will last long because it goes against Instagram’s policies. I’ve been reporting the video for hours now.”

  My chest heaved up and down. “Okay, Key, let me call you back.” I abruptly ended the call.

  Rocking back and forth, I felt like I was about to lose my mind. Just when I thought that things were beginning to look up. The devil had to be riding my back and he wasn’t letting up. I was fucking tired. “This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening,” I sobbed. “No,” I hyperventilated. “Nooooo, this can’t be happeniiiiiiing.”

  Jeremy

  My eyes fluttered open, as I heard my cell going off. Reaching over to the nightstand, I picked it up, realizing that Jared was calling. “Nigga, this better be a fucking emergency,” I grumbled into the phone.

  “You must didn’t see that text I sent you.”

  “Hell, nah. I was sleep. What’s up?”

  “Look at the text first,” he insisted.

  Sucking my teeth, I placed the call on speaker, before scrolling to my texts. Clicking on Jared’s messages, I noticed a video. Pressing play, I immediately recognized Jhyrah, riding some nigga who clearly wasn’t me.

  “What the fuck?” I fumed. “Where did you get this and who the fuck is that nigga?”

  “That’s Dorian, nigga, and I got it from the Gram. His bitch ass is claiming that he lost his phone.”

  “He lost his phone? Oh, he wanna be famous famous.”

  “Exactly,” my brother agreed. “That nigga wanna be a face on a t-shirt famous. I know I’m sliding him on sight. No exceptions.”

  “Nah, nah, you aint gotta even lift a hand, bro. And we aint waiting on fate to handle him, either. He’s getting touched. ASAP.”

  “For sho’. I couldn’t agree more. That nigga can’t walk around, thinking it’s safe.”

  “Oh, without a doubt,” I concurred. “But let me hit you back.”

  “Alright.” He ended the call.

  “Bae, what’s going on?” Vita questioned sleepily, as she lied next to me.

  “Oh, nothing. Nothing I can’t handle, anyway. I didn’t mean to wake you up. Go back to sleep.”

  Scooting over, she spooned me, while I stared into darkness. Regardless, of what had happened between me and Jhyrah, she was fam. Therefore, I was taking Dorian’s move personal, and he was gonna feel me, and I put that on everything I love.

  Jhyrah

  “Jhyrah, I think that’s enough.”

  I ignored Daynah, as I guzzled down a bottle of peach Cîroc.

  “Bitch, for real,” she gritted, snatching the bottle out of my hand, causing some of it to splash into my face. “That’s enough.”

  Glaring at her, I wiped my face with the back of my arm. She and Taraj sat staring at me.

  “Jhyrah, talk to us,” Daynah pleaded. “Are you okay?”

  “Girl,” I rolled my eyes. “I’m perfectly fine. I don’t know why you’re acting like it’s a crisis because I’m having a little drink.”

  Taraj shook her head. “Jhyrah, drinking most of t
hat big ass bottle is not the same as having a little drink.”

  “Whatever. Like I said, I’m alright,” I uttered, although I was actually anything but.

  Truthfully, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going most days. Just when I was beginning to get things on track, my life quickly unraveled. Dorian leaking that video had brought to my knees. I was weak and felt defeated. I had been avoiding my parents like they had Ebola. Naturally, my daddy was infuriated, so much so that my Uncle Jalero had to talk him off the ledge. That man was actually about to put a hit out on Dorian, but that would’ve been like throwing bricks at the penitentiary. We were public figures and if something happened to Dorian right now me and my family would be the prime suspects. We all stood to lose too much, which was why no one had touched Dorian, yet. Hell, even more brothers were ready to risk it all to take him out, but I cried to them, begging them to let it go, for now. Everything had to die down first, while in the meantime Dorian was going around talking big shit. According to him, I was a pass-around, door knob, all of that. Then the numerous hating bitches made it no better. Apparently, I’d sparked a huge debate about celebrity men being superficial and how hoes were always winning in today’s society. Just a bunch of bullshit as strangers call themselves labeling me.

  “Look, Jhyrah,” Taraj spoke up. “I know that you might feel that nobody knows what it feels like to be in your shoes, but you’re wrong. A few years back, I had a lame ass rapper lie on me, publicly. No, he didn’t have me on film doing anything, but several niggas lied on their dicks. And even before then, niggas used to kick dirt on my name, while outsiders sat back and passed judgment. That shit will drive you crazy if you let it, and I’m praying that you don’t allow this to conquer you. You’re one of the most solid chicks I know, and I hate to see you like this. Please don’t let them haters win, man. Pray about it, and then dust this shit off. This is fucking small to a giant, you know?”