by Coco Shawndé
“Well Dice got me fucked up. Don’t be one way with me and leading me in the wrong direction in what you want us going in.” he said being honest.
“Yeah, that’s real...you think she still moving on from her baby father?”
“She was done with him when she got that rod in her, and I ain’t telling a bit of a lie.” he laughed. “But nah, she opened up on how she found out that man kept a baby from her. She hurt bout that, but I don’t see no reason for her to be in the mindset of living in her past. No lie, she showed me a whole new her in Vegas, and I was praying we could keep it up upon return. I need to get to the Lou, so I can have a face to face.”
“Fa sho’. Pop up on her ass. She gon’ get tired of you checking her ass, and tighten up.”
Kicking shit with bro, I eventually got off the phone since I hadn’t started cooking. Once looking in the fridge, I was heading to the grocery store to grab more than a few things. Watching the time, I decided to call Miani since I most likely wouldn’t be home when she got there. With the phone just ringing, I didn’t press the issue. Picking up everything I needed, I was back in route to the crib. Taking the groceries inside, I got back to my phone after two missed calls from my sister and Miani. Right when I was getting ready to return Miani call thinking it would be quick, Aci was Facetiming me, and my only option was to slide over and answer.
Due to me being out of town and leaving her to my apartment, she had ample time to decide what she wanted to do. I did go see her, and she let me know there was no more baby once my trip in Vegas was over. I could tell she wasn’t herself after it, and I was glad she went to my mother and told her everything. She even moved out of the apartment and went back home when she didn’t have to.
“What up?” I asked, looking into the camera. I couldn’t see shit but the shower rod and ceiling. “Sis...why the fuck you on the toilet calling me.”
“Because...I’m on the toilet and I think something is wrong. I’m hot...I feel dizzy and sick. Something is wrong.” she cried, and her voice alone let me know she wasn’t bull shitting me.
“Where mom’s?”
“Did you forget? Her and aunty flight don’t land until the morning. Konvict is at the barbershop.” she sobbed. “I don’t think I’ll make it to the hospital if I drive.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m on the way.” I said, grabbing my keys up.
Hitting the dash to get to my sister, I didn't know what had her feeling like this. Her ass rarely got sick, so I was blown with all this. When I got to my mother’s, Aci was pale and throwing up. I got her situated in the car, then I broke every law possible getting her to the emergency room. Right away the doctors and nurses were trying to figure out why her fever was so high, and her body was weak.
“I just had an abortion last week.” she revealed to them. From their faces, you could tell they knew her symptoms were stemming from the abortion. Stepping out of the room, my head was down in my phone when I heard a childlike voice.
“Basi!”
“Yo, what up Little E?” I said seeing him with Dice. Her face froze up when seeing me, then she quickly tried to play it off.
“My momma fell asleep driving!” he said spilling all Miani´s business. It was him and another little boy that I guessed it was Dice’s son.
“Easton.” Dice said, looking down at him. “You and C.J stay right here, so I can talk to Basi.”
Walking to the other side of the hall and a little ways up, she took a deep sigh while I gave her my full attention. “What happened to Miani? She alright?”
“She’s okay. They are discharging her now. A little sore and bruised, but she’ll be fine.” Dice ran down.
“So E wasn’t bullshitting? Ma-Maa fell asleep while driving home?”
“Yeah, and E was in the car with her. She’s not okay about.” she expressed, shaking her head.
“Damn. Why ain’t nobody call me?”
“I’m sorry. Everything was moving fast. I had to pick up C.J, make that drive, and get here so Easton had someone here while he got checked out. Miani wasn’t too happy that Easton was in a different room than her.” she sighed.
“It’s all good. What room she in?” I probed, rubbing my hand down my waves at all what had transpired without my knowledge.
“404... it’s the last one on the left.” she replied. “Wait...Basi why are you here if you didn’t know Miani was hurt?”
“My sister wasn’t feeling too good. Had to bring here like an hour ago.”
“Oh, okay.” she slowly nodded. “Well I’m about to take the boys down, then I’ll see you.”
Parting ways, I went to see about Aci. She was balled up in the bed, but awake. “That was your girlfriend out thurr?”
“Nah.” I smiled, seeing she still was nosey as hell even when sick. “That was Dice.”
“Who is Dice?”
“Damn, I told you her name. Why can’t that be enough?” I implored with my head hanging to the side.
“My stomach hurt right now, so I’m not about to play with you.” she said cracking a smile.
“A’ight, go easy. I’m about to step out for a minute. Call me if you need something.” I told her,
“Thanks brother, but I just need to figure out what’s wrong with me.” She answered with a dreadful tone.
“I’ll check up on that too.” I told her before walking out.
Walking down the hall, I didn’t know why I was feeling nervous. The vibe at the hospital was never a good one. Knocking on the door, Miani sweet voice responded. Walking in, she was on the phone dressed in her scrubs. I didn’t know why I had this picture in my head of her laid up in bed with machines beeping. She looked well physically. Other than a scratch under her eye and a busted lip, she was looking like the regular Miani.
“Dice called you?” She said cracking a smile, and coming to get a hug. She tried to let go too soon for me, and I held onto her, letting her know she wasn’t going nowhere. “I’m fine Obasi.”
“You the same person that didn’t call nobody to let them know you were too tired off that double to drive.”
“You right...but I knew you were cooking, and it was late. I make the drive all the time...tonight...I just was really tired. I have been in here crying because I really put myself and my baby in a situation that could have killed us. I totaled my G-Wagon. I’m glad it's gone because it just has memories I don’t care to have. Seeing it destroyed, it was actually a relief.” she vented.
“Fuck that truck. We were getting you something else to whip anyway. We can replace materials every day, but not you and Little E.” I let her know.
“I wanna kiss you but my lip got a few stitches inside and it hurt.” she whined.
“Huh, I ain’t gon kiss you hard like I normally do.” I said gently planting my lips on hers. We stayed like that until the boys came running in the room.
“Momma! What you doing?” Little E said, stepping between us. “What you doing?” he said pointing at me like I had him fucked up. Since Vegas, we didn’t rush things, even with Easton. He was used to me being around, but with us showing affection, he wasn’t used to that scene.
“Basi was giving me a kiss.” Miani explained.
“Why?”
“Because he loves me.” she said looking at me, and laughing. “C’mon boy. You was acting all hurt just an hour ago. You fine now, huh?”
“Yep! So, can I go to football next week?”
Easton went back and forth with Miani because he really wanted to play. I had no idea they were about to be playing with Yosohn, but all three of them were about to be around each other no matter what now.
“Dice is going to take me home. I’m off the next two weeks, so-”
“I’m going to kidnap you.” I said bringing her close to me.
“That’s fine.” she giggled.
“No driving. You call me.” I ordered. She waved me off, but I was dead ass. Even when she did go back to work, best believe I was escorting her there and back. If
she didn’t like it, she could quit! It wasn’t like she was working for a paycheck, and I wasn't counting her pockets. Since her divorce, she was more than good. Ralph had to cut that check for her, and I knew he was sick. A large lump sum like that and you still gotta dish out money monthly, Miani had not a worry. She had the money, and I was simply here making her happy, so she could have complete happiness.
Miani was discharged, and I walked them out to Dice´s truck. Afterwards I was back sitting with Aci all night. It came about that she had a minor infection that was caught early, and they prescribed her some meds that were supposed to get her back together. We didn’t leave until the morning due to them wanting her temp to go down. Once it did, she was receiving her discharge papers.
Grabbing some breakfast from Chick-fil-A, I dropped her off back at my mom’s. It just so happened, that my mother was pulling up from her out of town trip.
“I was banking on her flight being delayed.” Aci sighed. Already knowing my mother didn’t agree with abortions, she wasn’t going to sugar coat her feelings now that Aci caught an infection from having one. My mother had that blunt mindset, and she didn’t give it to us easy even though we were her children.
Helping my mother with her bags, she was asking more than a few questions. She wanted to know why I was here this early, where I was coming from, and what I was doing now. Laughing her off, I didn’t speak on the hospital. I let Aci tell it all when we got inside. Surprisingly, my mother didn’t have some witty remark. She told Aci to get in her bed and that she would make her some hot tea. Sitting with my mom in the kitchen while she started the tea, we talked.
“How was your trip?” I asked.
“Good as always. Me and my girls always get down when we get together.” she winked, as if they were the life of the party.
“Y’all wild.” I chuckled.
Going forward in conversation, we got on me. My mother knew it was a change up with me, but she didn’t know about Miani exactly. Her first request was that I bring her and Easton by since that was my girlfriend. I told her as soon as Miani was moving around more since the car accident, it was no problem. Miani had never met her, and no one else in my family. I rarely spoke of them, but that was because that was just how I was. They meant the world and were all I had, so I cherished them by keeping them to myself. Now I was bringing my first girl around and the shit didn’t seem so bad.
“You look good Ma-Maa.” I said admiring Miani as she sat in my front seat. We had been thugging it together since the accident. Everywhere I slid through, she was riding shotgun. Even making plays, I kept her with me. She knew she was always good in the hood, whether she stepped by herself or with me.
“Thanks baby. I really wish I´d changed my outfit though.” she said, pushing the visor back up since she was done looking at herself in the mirror.
“You fine...real fine.” I said, kissing her lips. “Let’s go.”
Stepping out of the car, I was fixing my fresh out the box Air Force 1s. When I looked out, Miani gave me no time to open her door. Before I could say something about her waiting on me, she was eyeing the Porsche in the driveway.
“Who’s Porsche??” she said with shades on, but I could tell she held much interest in the owner.
“My sis.” I said, exiting the car completely, and standing tall. Closing the door, I hit the locks. “C’mon.” I said taking her hand into mine. I could feel her nervous energy, so I wrapped my arm around her waist. “You don’t have to be nervous. My people cool.”
She gave a shy smile that was forced, but I decided to just get in the house, so she could see for herself.
“O.G dawg!” I said slapping five with Konvict.
“What up boss man.” he said giving me a brotherly hug. “How you doing, Miss?”
“I’m fine.” Miani shyly replied.
“Miani this is Konvict, the man of the house.” I nodded, giving him my approval. I could have went about him being with my mother in many ways, but that wasn’t me. I was a laid back nigga and certain shit didn’t move my spirit like most. As long as my mother was happy, I would let them rock. Plus, I knew Konvict would hold the house down and assure my mother was good. “He´s also my barber that I had cut Easton hair.”
“Oh okay. Yeah, the barbershop owner.” she added.
“That’s me.” Konvict smiled, looking happier than I´d ever seen him. “Y’all gone inside. I’m about to work on the old school in the garage. Catch me out thurr playa, so I can run it up with you.” he said tilting his head at me. I knew then he probably needed some dirty, so I nodded back.
“Is my son in my house and not speaking to me.” My mother said, coming from the back.
“How about I just got hurr.” I chuckled, giving my ole lady a hug. I introduced Miani to her right away, and they got to talking about womanly shit right off the back. My mother adored the dress Miani had on and was trying to find out the address to the boutique. One thing about my mother, her fashion was on point. She dressed in the same brands as the young folks and stayed on point.
Sitting back, I enjoyed watching my two favorite woman converse. I ended up watching the game on the big screen, and dozed off in the lazy boy. When I woke up, Miani was sitting on the couch on the other side, and her face let me know something was off. Wiping my hand down my face, I sat all the way up. Even with me waking up, she never once looked my way.
“Miani, what’s up?”
“Nothing.” she said, keeping it short.
“Nah, what’s wrong??” Standing to my feet, I walked over to her. Grabbing her chin, I just gazed into her eyes, lost as fuck. I could hear my mother and sister in the kitchen, but it gave me no clue on why Miani was giving such a cold look. “Tell me right now what the fuck is wrong with you.” Her eyes went down, and she moved her head. Grabbing her chin again, I let her know I wasn’t fucking playing. She needed to open her mouth and tell me what was wrong with her.
“It’s not the time to talk about it.” she said, refusing to tell me. Before I could get a word in with her, my mother was demanding us all to get to the table for grace. Carrying on with dinner, Aci got introduced to Miani. Konvict cleaned up before joining everyone else at the table. Everything was cool, despite Miani being cold with me earlier. She acted like everything was okay now, and I knew they didn’t detect anything, but I knew her all too well.
We were at my mother´s another hour before we were leaving out.
“He’s so cute.” My mother told Miani, holding her phone as she looked at a picture of Easton.
“He really is.” Aci said, cheesing wide.
“Thank you.” Miani gushed, taking her phone back.
“You bet not step foot back hurr without bringing him hurr to see me. When you come, he comes too. Hell, he can come without you and Basi. Just drop him off with me and Konvict.” my mother lectured. That made Miani laugh because she knew in her head that she was too overprotective to just drop him off. The day I took Easton to the barber shop with me, she was calling every second just to check in with us. Saying our goodbyes, I knew we would be back since my mother wasn’t liking the fact that Easton didn’t come with us.
Sitting back in the car, I refused to pull off until Miani told me what all that was for back inside when I woke up right before dinner. I watched her as she eyed my sister´s car, and I didn’t know if she crossed paths with her before or what. Back at the dinner table, they said little to one another, and I didn’t suspect shit.
“That’s your sister car?” She asked, knowing I already answered.
“Yeah...why?”
“Ralph brought her the car?” she probed.
“Ralph…” I said thinking back when I picked Aci up and found out she was pregnant. “Shid, I’on know. How the fuck you know that nigga?” I asked, turning to look at her.
“That’s my ex-husband. Your sister, was apparently his mistress...You told me your sister was pregnant. I never suspected it all this time...In Vegas when you said you had a lot going on, a
nd how your sister had got herself tied up with an older man. Never thought that it was with my ex-husband. Ralph.” she said looking out the window.
Until now, I didn’t put together who Ralph was on both ends. Dating Miani, it was never my concern who the nigga was. My only concern was that he was officially out of the picture. All I was worried about was securing my spot and building with this woman. All those other details held no concern to me. To be real, it interests me none and still doesn’t.
“My fault, I didn’t know this shit.” I honestly spoke.
“Nobody did and how friendly your sister was, I don’t think she paid attention to who I might be.” she said, pinching her lips together. “Can we go?”
“Yeah.” I replied, pulling away from the house. I did appreciate Miani waiting to tell me, because I didn’t want that fresh on me while I was surrounded at the dinner table. That shit was awkward on me, so I couldn’t imagine what position that put Miani in.
“What you thinking?” I asked her, not helping myself. I wanted to know was she still harboring feelings for her ex-husband, because I didn’t want to be tied into that shit. I wasn’t being blamed for the next nigga´s fuck up. Ralph was a coward, and I wanted that nigga dead if she really wanted to know what I was thinking. “You upset?”
“Upset, like sad? About Ralph getting your sister pregnant?? Hell no. There’s a little anger there, but I think it's because I’m trying not to hate him. That’s already too much of my energy I’m giving away. This wasn’t the first baby pop up by him. This time, it ain’t on me since we are divorced. Aci is brand new news, so yeah, it’s a damn feeling if that makes any sense. A million things run through my mind, but now it´s a waste in the end. I’m in a totally different mindset today. I have been emotionally detached from him for so long, shit just don’t stick. I’m thinking about getting home...with you.” she said giving me a smile.
“What you on?”
“Can I get on some dick?” she said leaning from her seat to mine.