The Wrong Side Of Love: A Hood Love Story

by Charmanie Saquea

  “Man, get your girl,” Zeek told his cousin. “She always wanna fuck some shit up.”

  “Jay, this is Mr. Rude ass I was telling you about,” Coco laughed.

  “Oh shit, girl, this nigga is rude all the damn time, but anyways. Coco, this is Tariq and you already know Zeek, Tariq, this is my baby sister Coco,” Jayliah introduced.

  “Well, Tariq, I hope you plan on getting my sister a new car and putting whoever that bitch is in check. I don’t play when it comes to that one,” Coco warned him.

  “Damn, you two are definitely sisters. But why I can’t just get her car fixed; why I gotta buy her a new one?” Tariq laughed.

  Both girls looked at him like he was crazy and he couldn’t do anything but laugh and throw his hands up in surrender.

  Zeek pulled Coco away from the other two so they could talk.

  “So what’s up, you still on that bullshit or what? I usually don’t give second chances, but I’m willing to bend the rules a little for you,” he told her as he rubbed his goatee.

  “Who said I wanted a second chance?” Coco asked.

  “You do, you might as well stop playing. I’m the type of nigga who always gets what I want, so let’s just put the games to an end right now,” Zeek told her as he handed her his phone.

  Coco bit her lip as she contemplated what she was going to do. She had just gotten out of a messy relationship with Trae and she didn’t know if she was ready to jump into something else so soon. On the other hand, something about Zeek enthralled her.

  Throwing caution to wind, she took his phone from him and plugged her number in. Taking it back, Zeek bent down to her ear and whispered in it.

  “I expect you to be waiting by the phone for me to call,” he said, making sure his lips brushed up against her earlobe.

  Coco just shook her head. What did I just sign myself up for?

  Chapter Three

  Zeek felt eyes burning a hole in his back as he buckled up his pants. Pulling his shirt over his head, he made sure he had everything he came with as he prepared to leave.

  “What, man?” he asked without breaking his stride.

  “Nothing, not a damn thing, Ezekiel.”

  “Alright, I’m gone.” He shrugged.

  “You should stay gone for a while, I mean, that’s what you’re going to do anyways.”

  “No problem. I was doing your ass a favor by stopping by. I can get anybody I want to fuck and suck my dick,” he told her.

  Zeek and Chanel’s relationship had become rocky lately. She went from being his main lady to feeling like just another notch in his belt. Now she barely saw Zeek unless he was stopping by to give her some money or something, and half the time he sent somebody else to do it. She wasn't dumb, she knew when a nigga either didn't want you anymore or was fucking somebody else. In their case, she figured it had to be the latter because he wouldn't come around if he didn't want her.

  Truth be told, Zeek was just bored with her now and had outgrown her. The only reason he kept her around was because she was a good fuck and he had love for her, but he wasn’t in love with her. He honestly didn’t know if he ever was. Now he was on to something different and Coco had just jumped on his radar. If she acted right, she could possibly be his new main lady.

  As soon as he reached his car, he called Tariq.

  “What?”

  Zeek had to pull the phone away from his ear to make sure he’d dialed the right number.

  “Who is this?” he asked the female, already knowing it was Jayliah.

  “Who you think it is?” Jayliah questioned.

  “Come on, Brittany, stop playing and give my boy the phone before I tell his girl,” he said.

  The line got quiet for a few seconds and Zeek was trying not to laugh. He knew Jayliah was trying not to go off but it was short lived.

  “Tariq! Who the fuck is Brittany?” she yelled.

  Zeek could hear Tariq yelling in the background before his voice came over the phone. He could hear Jayliah threatening to shoot him in his sleep.

  “Shut the fuck up! I told you I don't know that bitch,” Tariq yelled. “Nigga, you play too much, you must wanna be the cause for her getting her ass whooped today,” he huffed.

  Zeek couldn't do anything but laugh. He honestly didn't think Jayliah was going to take the bait. He knew he had most likely fucked up Tariq’s chances of getting some pussy tonight but he couldn't help it, it was too funny.

  “That's what happens when you mess with them crazy chicks,” Zeek told Tariq.

  “Fuck you, nigga, I hope you don't think her sister is going to be any different…Speaking of, you know that nigga Trae is a little upset with you right now,” Tariq chuckled.

  “Well, good for him, I want his wannabe thugged out ass to feel some type of way. The only reason he even got put on is because your little brother, Marco, vouched for him.”

  “I agree about the wannabe part, he don't even seem like he about that life. That's why I don't trust him,” Tariq said.

  “As long as he don't try to act tough, he’ll be alright. Especially when he find out I'm fucking his girl,” Zeek chuckled.

  “Man, leave that little ass girl alone. What about Chanel?” Tariq asked.

  “What about her? I just left her ass, she ain't going nowhere yet,” Zeek informed him.

  “You crazy as hell but don't forget we meeting up later,” Tariq said before hanging up.

  ___

  Coco had just left one of her patients’ rooms when her supervisor called her to the desk. Wondering what was wrong, she rushed to see why she was called.

  “Jacole, a family member just called and said you need to get home now. You have a family emergency. Don’t worry about your patients, Sarah just walked in to take over your shift.”

  Hearing that, Coco’s heart fell to her stomach. She thanked him and rushed to gather her things as her mind was going all over the place. Checking her phone, she noted that she didn’t have any missed calls from her sister or her parents.

  “Hello?” her mom answered.

  “Mommy, what’s up? What’s wrong?” Coco asked as she sped out of the parking lot.

  “What are you talking about? Nothing’s wrong.”

  “So why did I just get called of my job because someone called and said I had a family emergency?” Coco asked, dumfounded.

  “Jacole, you work at the hospital. Don’t you think if there was an emergency, we would have been up there?” her mom asked smartly.

  “First of all, Sondra, a family emergency doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go to the hospital. All you had to say was it wasn’t you. Maybe it was my sister, so let me call and check on her,” Coco said with an attitude.

  “Whatever, ain’t no telling what that—“

  Coco didn’t even give her a chance to finish what she was about to say. That’s exactly why she dealt with her parents, especially her mom, from a distance. Her mom was stuck up and thought the world rose and set on her. She tried to be bougie, knowing good and damn well she was born and raised in the hood. She was always so judgmental and it made Coco sick.

  “What’s up, girl?” Jayliah answered her phone.

  “So I take it nothing is wrong with you, either?” Coco sighed.

  “Uh, is it supposed to be?” Jayliah asked confused.

  “Somebody called up to my job and said I need to get home because I have a family emergency. I called your parents and they’re straight, so I thought it was you. Obviously, somebody on some bullshit, so I’m going to take my black ass home. Come see me later?”

  “Of course, you cooking?” Jayliah asked.

  “Is that the only way you will come see me?” Coco laughed.

  “No, I’m just asking,” Jayliah laughed. “I’ll be over later.”

  “Okay.”

  To say that Coco was mad would be an understatement. She was missing out on money because somebody wanted to play games. When she pulled up to her apartment, she instantly caught an attitude and was
ready to fight. Trae had his black ass leaning against his car like he was waiting on her to show up.

  “I know this bitch didn’t,” she mumbled. “What kind of games are you playing, Trae?”

  “Get out of the car, Coco, I’m not about to have my business all out in the streets,” Trae told her.

  Coco sat there in her car refusing to get out. She didn’t have anything to say to Trae and he shouldn’t have shit to say to her either.

  “I thought it was fuck me with my fat ass,” she said.

  “So you’re not going to get out of the car?” he asked.

  Rolling her eyes, Coco turned her car off, rolled her windows up and got out of the car. She stood there with her arms folded, glaring at him.

  “You might as well say what you have to say right here because you’re not going in my house,” she told him.

  “So you’re fucking Zeek now?” he asked.

  Coco tried to hide the smirk that threatening to form on her face.

  “Jealous much?” she asked.

  “You know he don’t give a fuck about you, right? All he wants to do is fuck you then forget about your ass; he got a girl that he’s been with for years and he’s not going to leave her for you. You don’t have to believe me, though, ask Marco, that is his cousin. He’ll tell you all about Chanel. When he’s done making your ass look stupid, don’t try to come running back to me with your loving the crew ass. I knew you would eventually end up like that hoe ass sister of yours,” Trae spat.

  “Are you done, Trae?” Coco asked.

  She didn’t even give him time to answer as she turned to head for her house. She didn’t have time for Trae and his shenanigans today. He had already fucked up her day by making her miss out on her money. She was starting to wonder what she saw in him in the first place.

  Chapter Four

  It had been a month since Trae had his bitch fit and since she had given Zeek her number. She wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t seen or heard from either of them lately. She didn’t care, though, because her focus was on work and studying for her exam so she could become an RN.

  Just like Trae said, Zeek had a girl by the name of Chanel that he had been with for six years that he was still messing with. On top of that, the chick he came to see at the hospital was one of his other chicks who he had to get a DNA test for to prove that the baby wasn’t his. One thing she wasn’t beat for was drama so she was going to leave that nigga right where he was at.

  It was eleven at night when she was studying when she heard her front door slam shut.

  “Stop slamming my door, Jayliah!” she yelled.

  Her sister was the only person who had a key to her apartment and felt the need to stop by at any time of the day or night. She figured since she was so deeply in love she wouldn’t even want to be bothered. Hearing a big thump in her living room, Coco got up to see what the hell her sister was doing.

  “Jay, what the…”

  “What’s up?” Zeek asked.

  Coco stood there wondering how in the hell he got into her apartment until she noticed Jayliah’s key ring in his hand.

  “You just gonna stand there or fix me something to eat? I’m hungry as hell,” Zeek said.

  “Wait, I haven’t seen you in a whole month then you walk in my house with my sister’s key, tossing around demands? Did I miss something here?” Coco asked.

  Zeek looked at her sideways. “I thought I told you to be waiting for me? What, did you think I was playing?”

  Coco laughed at him. This nigga is crazy. “Look, I don’t know what you thought this was but I’m not the one. You can leave my key on the table and take your ass right on back to Chanel because this is not about to happen,” she said as she pointed between the two of them.

  Ignoring her, Zeek walked past her to her bedroom with a bag in his hands. Coco stood there scratching her head trying to figure out why the hell he was still in her house. Doing an about face, she followed him to her bedroom where he was getting undressed.

  “Uhh—”

  “Shut the fuck up and go fix me something to eat like I said. Didn’t we already have a talk before about that damn mouth?” Zeek snapped.

  Instantly, Coco’s mouth snapped shut and she stood there with a pout on her face for a few before she found her herself heading for the kitchen. She didn’t know what the hell was wrong with her because no nigga had ever spoken to her like that and gotten away with it. Even Trae had never spoken to her like that without her slapping the shit out of him.

  “He got me fucked up,” she mumbled.

  Coco wasn't about to cook him shit so she warmed up a plate for him of the food she had earlier. The whole time she stood there waiting for the spaghetti, tilapia, and garlic bread to warm up, she was trying to figure out what the hell she was doing. She didn't know Zeek from a can of paint, yet he was in her house at damn near midnight like he belonged there.

  Taking the plate out the microwave and pouring him something to drink, she headed back towards her room. She placed the plate the items on the night stand and shook her head.

  “How he gonna ask me to fix him something to eat and he sleep?” she asked herself.

  “I'm not sleep,” Zeek said as he sat up.

  Coco handed him his plate before climbing back in bed and picking her book back up. She looked back up at Zeek when she noticed he was staring at her.

  “What?”

  “You not gon feed me?” he questioned.

  Coco almost fell out the bed because she was laughing so hard; she literally had tears falling from her eyes. She got ahold of herself and turned towards Zeek, getting serious.

  “What's up, Zeek? For real? I'm not about to be around here treating you like you're a king or something. You're a grown ass man who I'm pretty sure can feed himself. Now what do you want from me?” she questioned him.

  “So I'm not a king?” he asked.

  She looked at him sideways. “You're not my king. Let Chanel take care of you, that's not my job.”

  “First off, stop worrying about Chanel, that’s my job. The only thing you should be concerned with is your job and position in my life and how long you’ll keep it with that damn attitude and smart ass mouth,” Zeek told her before stuffing food in his mouth.

  “You’re so cocky and full of yourself. Who said I want a position in your life? I just got out of a relationship and I’m not trying to be in one. Especially with a nigga who is still playing house with the next female and coming to the hospital to see about babies and shit,” Coco told him.

  Zeek shook his head. “Stop assuming you know shit when you don’t.”

  “Oh, I know all about you and Ms. Kayla. I was well-informed about you coming to the hospital to make sure her baby wasn’t yours.” Coco shook her head.

  She’d asked Marco if that was true but instead of him giving her a straight up answer, he said she would have to ask Zeek himself. Knowing he was more than likely trying to stick up for him, she figured it was true. The streets talk.

  Zeek busted out laughing but Coco didn’t catch what was so funny. “I hope you’re not paying whoever gave you that information because you need to fire their ass. Kayla is like a damn little sister to me. Her daughters are me and Tariq’s goddaughters. Their dad got killed six months ago, so he wasn’t there to witness his last child enter the world. I was up there to make sure she and the baby were straight. Make this the last time I have to explain myself.”

  Feeling like shit, Coco just turned her attention back to her books. She knew better than anybody else than you couldn’t believe everything that you hear but something was telling her to run away from Zeek and to run fast. She seriously wasn’t trying to be with this man but she could already tell he wasn’t having that.

  Chapter Five

  Zeek rode around Detroit checking on his traps. He always did random pop ups to keep his workers on their toes, they never knew when he was going to make an appearance and they knew better than to get caught slipping. Zeek was notori
ous for beating somebody’s ass without even breaking a sweat.

  “Yo!” he answered his ringing phone.

  “Where you at, nigga? I been looking for you since last night. I stopped by your house and your black ass wasn’t even there.”

  “I crashed somewhere else, but what’s up? Where you at? I’m about to ride down on you,” Zeek told Tariq.

  “You already know where you can find me, nigga,” Tariq said.

  “I’m on my way.”

  As he drove to Highland Park, Zeek thought about how far he had come. At just the age of thirteen, Zeek and his siblings witnessed the death of their father at the hands of the Detroit police. They claimed it was a case of mistaken identity when they ran up on their front lawn with their guns drawn and pointed at Ezekiel Senior, who was working on his car at the time. Zeek was playing with his younger sister a few feet away when they heard gunshots.

  To this day, Zeek could remember his mother’s screams and cries as her husband’s body was filled with lead. According to the police, he was reaching for a gun until the realized it was just a monkey wrench he was holding. Zeek’s mother fell into a deep depression after that and tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion, which resulted in her kids being sent to live with their grandmother until she was mentally stable.

  Now, being the man of the house, Zeek knew it was up to him to make sure his sisters, as well as his mother and grandmother were well taken care of. He turned to the streets at just the age of thirteen, running errands for the local corner boys. Chico, who ran the streets at the time, took Zeek under his wing as his protégé and everybody knew he was molding him to take over the throne after him.

  Six years ago, Chico was caught slipping and was gunned down while leaving the strip club. That was the second father figure that Zeek had lost and he was stuck. Not only was Zeek stuck, but the streets of Detroit were as well. Doing what he knew Chico would have wanted, Zeek stepped up and took over the streets. He would be lying if he said that everyone was happy, especially Chico’s brother Red. He felt since he was Chico’s younger brother, he should have been the next in line but everyone knew Zeek was next.