by Tina J
“Well you should’ve never brought her.” I assumed he didn’t wanna leave the Mecca bitch in Virginia when he returned.
“Not her stupid ass.”
“Then who you talking about? Is your mom staying?” I know how close he is with her.
“Armonie.”
“Armonie? My best friend Armonie?” I pointed to myself.
“What other Armonie is it?”
“Be quiet. I’m asking because y’all not even that close.” He took another pull.
“I know y’all ain’t fuck because she would’ve told me.” He remained quiet as if he were in a zone.
“Has the nigga been by the house?” He stared into the backyard.
“Yea. The same day you mentioned leaving he stopped by. I told him she stayed at her parents’ house.”
“Has he been back?”
“Not that I know of, but I’ve been working and going to school. We haven’t really seen one another.” He nodded and a small grin crept on his face.
“Are you feeling her or something? I mean what’s the sudden concern?”
“I feel bad because you know what my mom went through.”
“Yea.” I said and took a few pulls.
“I’m hoping her taking time to herself will allow her to see she deserves better.”
“You mean better than you telling Mecca her business.” He turned his neck real fast.
“That was an accident man. I beat dude’s ass in the bathroom, and she questioned why my hand was fucked up. I wasn’t thinking she’d bring it up and throw it in her face.” He seemed very apologetic.
“Why do I feel like you low key feeling my friend?”
“I’m gonna move up here with the family because we have people in Virginia to handle things. If it’s a problem I can hop a flight.”
“You doing a lot for someone who basically just met her.”
“I know Monie.”
“Yea but y’all weren’t close and...”
“Damn cuz. You interrogating the shit outta me. I may as well have Mecca out here.” He barked. I noticed how he ignored my statement about him feeling Armonie.
“My bad. I won’t bring it up again but know this.” I stood to go inside.
“Mecca ain’t welcomed at my house again and if you decide to pursue Armonie, DON’T.” He lifted his head to look at me.
“She don’t need anymore drama in her life right now and the bitch you have is nothing but drama.” I swung my body around and left him sitting out there. I loved my cousin but if he’s dealing with this bitch, Armonie is off limits.
“Hey daddy.” He was in the kitchen rubbing on my mom.
“Guess I’m invisible.” She joked.
“Hey ma. I need to talk to daddy tho.”
“You ok?” She asked with a concerned look.
“Yea. It’s about the new building and stuff.” She waved me off because me and my dad could talk for hours about those things.
“Let’s go.” VJ barked at Mecca and her stupid ass jumped up. Yea Armonie don’t need no one else tryna control her. I followed my dad in his office.
“What’s up?”
“Ok so, I have a dilemma.”
“With who?” He poured himself a drink.
“How you know it’s with a who?” I asked.
“Because you mentioned discussing business and now you’re saying you have a dilemma. Can’t be about no business because the building ain’t done.” I snickered. My dad could see straight through me like everyone else; which is why I hated lying to Armonie’s parents.
“Well, there’s this guy.” His face cringed up. He knows what Eddie said about me and Brayden whooped his ass. It was bad too. Eddie ended up in the hospital. Oh well.
“Hear me out.” He leaned back in his chair with his hands intertwined on his stomach. You know the way teachers look down on students.
“This guy and I argue every time we see each other. I mean it’s gets really bad and he knows how to press all my buttons.” I told him.
“Ok.”
“Ok so. We were out and he sorta disrespected me.” My father sat up quick.
“Not like that, well I guess if you didn’t know our relationship you’d assume otherwise.” He wasn’t saying anything.
“Anyway, he’s the one who fought VJ for standing up for me.”
“Keep going.” He waved his hand in circles to tell me to hurry up.
“Well he says some foul things to me but is it sad that I don’t look at it the way others would because we go back and forth all the time. It just happened to be in front of VJ this time.”
“Ariel your mother taught you a long time ago never to let a man say what he wants and laugh it off as a joke because he’ll think it’s ok to do it.”
“I do know but he’s been around forever and it’s how we talk.” I rested my head on the seat.
“Do you look at it as being disrespectful?”
“Sometimes but I give it right back to him.”
“Why is this a problem? Am I missing something besides you telling me you’re gonna make sure he respects you from now on?”
“No it’s just Haven’s a different breed and...”
“I know damn well this conversation better not involve Haven Banks.” I put my head down.
“Ariel. That nigga crazier than your brother and we know he ain’t got it all.” I started laughing.
“Daddy, he is but now that we’ve been together intimately...”
“Ariel really? Outta all the men in the world you choose the got damn Reaper?” Yea my dad knew all about him because him and Brayden been friends since kids.
“It just happened.”
“Nothing just happens.”
“Fine. He had the key Armonie gave him, dropped over one night and neither of us objected to the sexual chemistry that took place.” I was trying not to say sex. He may be my father and listen when I speak but the word sex to my father is like poison. He doesn’t wanna hear his first daughter is having sex or my younger sister.
“Sounds like its more than just a sexual chemistry.” He stood and poured himself another drink.
“Actually no. He’s rude, ignorant, arrogant, embarrassing and don’t know how to be quiet.”
“Then why did you sleep with him?” He turned to me with the cup at his mouth.
“I don’t know. I don’t regret it but I also don’t want him thinking I’m one of his jump offs. So the question I have is, how do I tell him it was a one-time thing?”
“Was it?”
“Yea. We haven’t spoken since that night.”
“He may already be looking at it the same as you. But if you wanna know, text or call him.”
“I guess.” He sat next to me.
“You can have this exact conversation with your mom, aunts and whoever else and we’re all gonna say the same thing.”
“What’s that?” He lifted my head to make me face him.
“You’re feeling him more than you want to and unsure of where his head is. Since he hasn’t contacted you, you’re tryna figure out a way to distance yourself because you don’t wanna be caught up in his web of women. But let me be the first to tell you.” He laid back on the small loveseat and I rested my head on his shoulder.
“If you’re feeling him and he’s the asshole we all know him to be, make him work for you.”
“What you mean?”
“Your brother and his crew probably have a bunch of women they sleep with and share. Make it where he doesn’t wanna be with another woman. Make him sweat you.”
“Sweat me?” Haven doesn’t sweat anyone.
“Don’t be like these other chicks out here who see dollar signs and want to be on his arm for the wrong reasons. If he wants to get anymore sexual chemistry from you, he has to prove it’s you and only you.” I laughed when he didn’t use the word sex.
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Then no matter how good it was, he isn’t worth it.” I nodded and stayed put.
My father put a lot of things in perspective for me. I ended up staying for dinner and bringing a plate to Armonie. Imagine my surprise seeing Freddy on the couch. I’m disappointed but not surprised. She’s scared for her life, yet all this could be avoided if she mentioned it to her parents.
“Mommy sent you a plate.” I told her walking in the kitchen.
“He won’t leave.” She whispered and looked in the living room to make sure he wasn’t coming.
“What?” I said above a whisper.
“He came over unexpectedly to talk. He apologized and I told him to go because it’s late and he hasn’t moved. I don’t even think he went to the bathroom once I said it.” We busted out laughing.
“You want me to call VJ over?” She gave me a weird look.
“VJ? I thought he left.”
“Nope. He’s still here and thinking about moving in the area.” I told her.
“Oh.” I saw the same stupid grin creep on her face that he had on his.
“Bitch, I know y’all didn’t fuck.”
“No we didn’t because she still holding out. I know the pussy better have me strung out for as long as she got me waiting.” I’m glad he didn’t hear the beginning of the conversation.
“Freddy, I asked you to leave an hour ago.” I guess she wasn’t lying.
“You did but it’s too many crazy people out here. I’m gonna stay the night.” He walked out. I went to say something and she stopped me.
“I don’t want no problems. Can I stay in your room?” She looked petrified.
“Armonie you can’t live like this. We can’t live like this.”
“I know and we’ll get the locks changed tomorrow. Fuck it. Let’s move.” I asked if she was sure because I’ve been tryna get outta here, but she loved this place.
“We can stay in one of the condos my dad owns.”
“The new ones?” She questioned.
“Yup. And bitch we not done discussing my cousin.” She sucked her teeth and ran up the steps. I’m gonna leave it alone for now but she’s gonna tell me something.
Haven
“Tha fuck you doing down here?” I barked at my cousins’ man and he jumped outta his sleep.
“Armonie got an attitude and stayed in the room with Ariel.” I stared at him. The shit sound suspect as fuck.
“Shit sound crazy.” I said to see if he’d tell me why she really made him stay down here.
“Yea. You know how she do.”
“I do. Now bounce nigga.” He looked at me.
“You heard what the fuck I said. Bounce motherfucker.” He took his time putting on his sneakers and I told myself to give him a minute but something in me said he was doing the shit on purpose. I remained calm because what I’m here for, I honestly don’t need Armonie waking up. I walked over and opened the door for him.
“Is there a reason you making me leave?”
“Not really. I just don’t want you here when I am.” I shrugged and watched him slowly walk to the door.
“Can I say bye to her?”
“Nigga if she got yo ass on the couch then she ain’t tryna hear you say shit.”
“A’ight man relax. No need to...” I slammed the door in his face and made a mental note to monitor him.
I locked the door and went up the steps to find my cousin and Ariel asleep in the room. Of course I’m aggravated because I wanted to fuck. I had to figure out a way to get Ariel out the bed without waking Armonie. I could just tap her on the arm but being the dick I am, I snatched the covers off and pulled her to her feet.
“What the fuck?”
“I’ma need you to brush your teeth before I throw up.” I spoke as quietly as I could. Armonie tossed and turned for a second and then I heard light snoring.
“Haven why...”
“Ah...” I stopped her and pointed to the bathroom. She stormed in there and I heard the water cut on. Instead of waiting, I went in the guest bedroom and noticed a few things boxed up. What the hell is that about? I sat on the bed and took my sneakers and clothes off.
“What are you doing here Haven and...” I closed the door and pinned her against it. I wasn’t about to answer a hundred questions.
“No Haven. You are not about to use me for sex.” She moaned out while I kissed and sucked on her neck.
“I’m not using you for shit. I’m gonna continue fucking you.” I lifted the shirt over her head and helped her step outta the shorts. Clearly, she want it because she’s not stopping me.
“No more sex Haven. Shit yes. Don’t stop baby.” Is all I heard as I bent down, inserted two fingers and clamped down on her clit. I’m not into eating bitch’s pussy unless she mine but I know Ariel ain’t no ho regardless of what I say. She’s a homebody like Armonie and goes out once in a while.
“I’m cumming Haven.” She grabbed onto my head and let me taste her sweetness. I didn’t get a chance to do it the last time.
“No more sex huh?” I lifted her legs in the crook of my arms and rammed in. I wasn’t tryna hurt her but she needs to know I’m not leaving.
“I ain’t gonna lie Ariel. You got some of the best pussy I ever had and that’s including my ex. Shit.” I went in circles, pulled out and plunged back in. Ariel’s eyes were rolling, and the sound of her juices took over the whole room.
“Haven.”
“What up?” I stopped, grabbed her hands and flipped her over.
“Don’t stop baby.” She started throwing her ass back and that’s all it took. We went at it until we both tapped out.
“Haven I’m not tryna trap you or give you an ultimatum.” I was putting my sneakers on. I didn’t want my cousin seeing me here.
“Go head.”
“I meant what I said about using me for sex. If we’re not a couple, then no more fucking.”
“A couple?” I turned around.
“I’m not saying I wanna be your girl. I’m saying I’m a good woman and should be respected. How am I gonna find a good man if I’m sleeping with you?” I stood.
“You’re not.”
“Excuse me!” I shocked myself saying it to her.
“Love don’t live here anymore Ariel.” I pointed to the spot in my chest where my heart would be. Juicy did a number on me, so I didn’t want a girl.
“I get what you saying. But if another nigga get in between these motherfucking thighs, I’ll hang you upside down and gut your insides out.”
“HAVEN!”
“You heard what the fuck I said.” She jumped off the bed and I had to contain myself watching her breasts bounce up and down due to her still being naked.
“You don’t get to sleep with other women and tell me to close my legs. You are not my man and...” I moved closer and she backed up against the wall.
“I can do what I want, and you got one time to let me hear you dipped out.” I moved the messy hair out her face.
“You belong to me and only me.” Ariel was definitely beautiful and worth more than I could give her. However, being selfish, I’m not tryna hear it.
“And who do you belong to?”
“Nobody but I’ll never allow a bitch to approach you. You’ll never hear about anything I do in the streets and I’ll make sure you’re always satisfied.”
“This isn’t right Haven.”
“You shouldn’t have given me any.”
“That’s bullshit. You fuck bitches all the time.”
“You’re not a bitch and I definitely don’t just fuck you and we both know it.” She couldn’t say shit. Both nights we slept together our connection was deep. We weren’t only exploring each other but making sure we left a mark and it’s exactly what we did.
“Take heed to my warning Ariel. I’d hate to end you, but I will.” I kissed her forehead and walked out. She can act crazy if she wants, she know the Reaper don’t discriminate.
***********************
“What’s up with your cousin?” I asked Brayden while we sat in the truck waiting for this nigga
to come out.
Ever since I left Armonie’s house a few nights ago, I’ve been looking into her man. He’s not a bad guy that I know of but something ain’t right. I’ve never known my cousin to make him sleep on the couch and if he’s the one who broke her virginity, why wouldn’t he be in bed with her tryna fuck? Not that I wanna hear about her in bed with a man and I’m not even sure she lost her virginity but something’s up.
“Which one?” He passed me the blunt.
“The one I had the boys fight.”
“Nigga how you gonna have him jumped when he helped your cousin?” Brayden is the only nigga I fuck with who could question me about anything besides my family.
“Yo! He was whooping Jerome ass. I couldn’t let him go out like that. I swear your cousin was about to kill him.”
“Yea. VJ know all different types of fighting techniques. He only gets that bad if someone pissed him off.”
“It makes me wonder if he’s the one who beat this punk up in the bathroom.” Freddy stepped out the house checking his surroundings before getting in his car. Who he looking for?
“He’s the one.” I looked at him.
“Why he fight him?”
“Look Haven. You my boy but that’s some shit you need to discuss with Freddy and Armonie.” When he said that my antennas went up again.
“That’s what your cousin said at the restaurant.”
“Definitely look into it. Let’s go.” He put the blunt out and pulled behind Freddy. I couldn’t help but think about what he said. I’m gonna get it outta Ariel because Armonie scary ass ain’t gonna say shit.
We drove two cars behind him and parked down the street when he pulled up to his mother’s house. There were mad people outside like it was a party. Some were posted on the porch drinking, others in front of cars and chicks twerking their dirty ass in the street.
“Ain’t that your cousin?” He pointed to Armonie who stood there with Stormy and Ariel.
“Yup.” I sent a message to Ariel’s phone.
Me: If you give a nigga your phone number or even conversation, I’m gonna ram my dick in your ass. I saw her look down and then searched the area.
Me: Don’t worry about if I’m there or not, just know I mean it.
Ariel: Fuck you punk. You don’t scare me. I noticed some guy walk over with Freddy and stand in her face. She shook her head no and walked behind Armonie and Stormy. The dude was staring at her ass and it aggravated me.
