“Look at you looking all sexy and stuff,” Jersi said when her mother got into the car and kissed her cheek.
“I love this outfit that you got for me. It’s so comfortable,” Dena replied as they pulled off.
“Yeah, I like them too. Where do you want to go first?” Jersi asked her.
“Let’s go to the mall first. I wanna get a few more of these outfits in different colors. Your father owes me for cancelling our dinner plans last night. We’re about to shop on his dime,” Dena laughed.
“It’s not like he’ll care anyway but I’ll never turn down a free shopping spree,” Jersi replied.
She and Dena hit up three different malls and made two trips to both their houses to drop bags off. After getting something to eat, Dena wanted to go to Whole Foods to get something to cook for her husband later that night. Jersi needed a few things too so that was perfect. After spending the entire day with her mother, she was too tired to do anything else but crash.
“This Salmon is so fresh Jersi. I’m gonna get some for you and Dray and put it in the vacuum sealed bags,” Dena said as she pushed her cart down the aisle.
“Okay,” Jersi said as she posted some of the selfies that she took of them earlier on Instagram.
“What else do you need? I know Dray doesn’t have a damn thing in his house,” Dena fussed while shaking her head.
She was only supposed to be getting a few things for herself but mostly everything in the basket was for her kids. Dray never went to the store because he knew that his mother always did it for him.
“I got everything I need but Dray doesn’t need anything else. He’s barely home. Him and Sassy went to Atlanta and left me,” Jersi argued.
“You had to work baby. You can’t be running all over the place with those two characters,” Dena said as she walked to the front of the store to check out.
Once they were done, they walked to the parking lot and started unloading the bags into the trunk.
“Y’all need help?” A familiar voice walked up and asked.
Jersi locked eyes with Memphis but she quickly turned away. She wasn’t ready for him to meet her mother. That would make things seem more serious than they actually were. She was sure that he was waiting on an introduction but that wasn’t happening. He looked offended when Jersi got back into the car without even speaking.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate your assistance,” Dena smiled once he was done.
“You’re welcome ma’am. Have a good day,” Memphis said as he walked off shaking his head.
Jersi wanted to call him back and apologize but the heated look on his face stopped her. She didn’t know what the hell was wrong with her. She liked Memphis more than she’d liked anyone in a long time and she’d just pushed him away.
“Damn,” Jersi mumbled to herself.
“Damn what?” her mother asked.
“Nothing, just thinking about something,” Jersi replied.
She rode to her mother’s house deep in thought as Dena talked her head off. An occasional yes or no was all Jersi said to let her know that she wasn’t completely ignoring her. Once she dropped her mother off home, Jersi dialed Memphis’s number and hoped he picked up. After calling three times back to back she knew that her calls were never going to get answered. It was late in the evening but she knew that he was probably at the gym. He had on his workout clothes when she saw him but that didn’t mean anything. He could have been stopping at the store once he was off for the day. Deciding to take a chance, Jersi went to the gym and was happy when she saw his metallic silver Chevy Tahoe parked out front. She was nervous about seeing him but she had to face the music. She was wrong and she had no problem admitting that.
Jersi checked her appearance in the mirror before she got out of her car and headed into the gym. She spotted Memphis standing there talking to that Lila bitch who couldn’t keep her hands to herself. Jersi wanted to snatch her nasty ass when she saw her laugh and grab on to Memphis’ arm. The front desk clerk, Erin, smiled as soon as she saw her.
“Hey girl. You look too cute to be coming to work out,” Erin said when Jersi walked up.
“No, I didn’t come to work out. Can I talk to you for a minute Memphis?” Jersi asked nervously.
“You need to stretch before we get started,” Memphis said to Lila while completely ignoring Jersi.
“I won’t take up too much of your time. I know you’re busy,” Jersi said, attempting to talk to Memphis again.
“You see me standing here Erin?” Memphis asked his longtime friend.
“What kind of crazy question is that? Of course I see you standing there,” Erin replied in confusion.
“Oh okay. I was beginning to think that I was invisible. I guess that’s only to certain people though,” Memphis replied as he walked away without a second thought. Lila had a smile on her face and she followed right behind him.
“What the hell just happened here?” Erin questioned out loud.
She knew that whatever it was had to do with Jersi. She and Memphis had been friends since high school, so they talked a lot. She knew that he was feeling Jersi and he told her so himself. She didn’t know what happened and it wasn’t her business to ask.
“It’s cool Erin. Have a good one,” Jersi replied as she walked to her car trying to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes.
As soon as she got to her car, she let them fall freely while kicking herself for always doing something stupid. She couldn’t even be mad about the way that Memphis had played her. She did the exact same thing to him and karma came back too fast for her liking.
“I wish I could come see you tonight. I’m stressed the fuck out,” Carter hissed as he and Jersi got on the elevator at the end of the work day.
“Why can’t you?” Jersi asked.
“I’m getting the kids this weekend. I have to pick them up tonight,” Carter sighed.
“That’s good Carter. That’s what you’ve been wanting,” Jersi said excitedly.
Carter and his ex-wife had a horrible divorce and she often used the kids as leverage. They had been going back and forth to court for months and it seemed as if things were working out in his favor. His ex-wife did whatever her mother told her to do and that was the reason why Carter left her. She was having a hard time letting go and she made his life pure hell.
“Yeah, that is what I wanted but I don’t have time for Miracle’s drama. I know she’s gonna be calling every five minutes since I’ll have the kids and she’ll show up to my house if I don’t answer. It’s all good though. I’m documenting everything for the judge. I hope you’re free Sunday when I drop them off home. I’ll definitely need to come see you,” Carter replied as they got off the elevator and walked towards the exit.
“I should be. But listen, I need your advice about something,” Jersi said.
“Okay. What’s up?” Carter asked.
“So, I met someone about a month ago and shit went left already,” Jersi admitted.
“Damn Jersi. The hell happened that fast?” Carter asked.
“I happened. I fucked up but I tried to make it right,” Jersi said as she ran everything down to him.
“I can’t even lie, I wouldn’t be fucking with you right now if I was him either. That shit was foul. Why you play that man like that?” Carter questioned.
“I just wasn’t ready for him to meet my mama,” Jersi replied.
“That’s all fine and good but you could have handled it better than that. You could have at least spoke to the man Jersi,” Carter said.
“I know I was wrong and I feel bad as fuck about what I did. I don’t know Carter. I like him, but he’s really not my type. He’s not attractive but I’m attracted to him if that makes sense.”
“Nah, that don’t make sense at all. You’re too mature to even let some childish shit like that come out of your mouth. I never took you as the type to let a person’s physical appearance determine how you feel about them. That ain’t even you Jersi,” Carter
scolded as they exited the building.
“I know and truthfully, his appearance didn’t stop me from falling for him. He’s cool and we have a lot of fun together,” Jersi admitted.
“You need to tell him that Jersi,” Carter advised.
“I tried but he won’t talk to me. I’ve called a million times and he ignores me when I go to his job. I don’t know what else to do. It’s been a three days now,” Jersi sighed.
“Keep trying until that nigga get his mind right. Let me know if I need to fall back. I don’t want what we’re doing to affect what you’re trying to build with him. I can’t even lie, it’ll be hard as hell to replace you. Not many females can handle the kind of arrangement that we have. These hoes be catching feelings and falling in love and shit,” Carter laughed as they stood in front of their cars that were right next to each other.
“Yeah, I already know. But thanks Carter. I can always count on you to give it to me straight,” Jersi said as she hugged him.
“And you really need to think about taking that senior accountant test. You can pass that shit with your eyes closed. I still have all my notes and the book that I used to study for the test. It’s all yours if you want it,” Carter offered as he hugged her back
“Really Carter? You got me fucked up if you think my kids are about to be around another bitch,” his ex-wife Miracle yelled as she seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
“Why are you here Miracle? I told you that I was coming to get them when I got off,” Carter said as calmly as he could.
“Fuck that! We’re here right now. Is this the reason why you can’t answer your phone? You all booed up with the next bitch,” Miracle fumed.
“Out of respect for your kids, I’ll give her a pass and be on my way,” Jersi said as she unlocked her car and put her purse inside.
Carter’s kids were in the back seat and an older woman was sitting in the front. Jersi assumed that it was Miracle’s mother because the two women looked so much alike.
“That bitch better run,” Miracle said when Jersi got into her car.
She shook her head as she drove away and watched Carter arguing with his ex. She was dead ass wrong for bringing the drama to his job. Jersi tried her luck and called Memphis again as she drove. Just like she assumed, he sent her straight to voicemail. She wasn’t ready to go inside, so she hit Dray up to make sure he was home.
It took her about ten minutes to get to her brother’s house but he was already outside when she got there. His friend Donovan was there too and they appeared to be arguing.
“Hey. Is everything okay?” Jersi asked as she walked up to them.
“It will be once he gets the fuck on,” Dray ranted.
“Why are you putting your sister in our business like that?” Donovan fumed.
“I’m sorry y’all. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jersi said as she attempted to walk away.
“You don’t have to go nowhere sis. Kick rocks Donovan. This conversation is over and so are we,” Dray yelled.
“Just like that Draymond. We can’t even sit down and discuss this like adults,” Donovan said sounding like he was hurt.
“There’s nothing to discuss. Come on Jersi. He’ll get tired of standing out here eventually,” Dray said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.
Jersi stopped in the living room when she saw the mess that had been made. One of Dray’s crystal lamps was shattered and a few of his pictures had fallen off the wall and broke. His table was turned over and the tv and the stand that it was on was destroyed. He had holes in the wall and the entire living room was a mess.
“What the hell happened in here?” Jersi questioned.
“That bastard popped up over here when I had company. He was knocking like the damn police. I opened the door and he just forced his way in,” Dray replied as they both cleaned up the mess that was made.
“Did y’all have a fight?” Jersi asked.
“No, he fought with my boo. Crazy muthafucker tore my shit all the way up. He’s gonna pay for all this. Don’t even worry about cleaning it up sis. I’m about send his ass some pictures and a price quote,” Dray fussed.
“Fuck him Dray. You got enough money to replace this shit ten times. He seems kind of nutty to me. I’m surprised his ass lasted this long with you anyway. Why would you even want to continue dealing with his unstable ass?” Jersi asked.
“Because he spoils me and a bitch likes to be spoiled sometimes,” Dray replied as his fingers moved at the speed of lightning texting on his phone.
“You’re spoiled enough Draya,” Jersi noted.
“I’m so pissed right now. A bitch didn’t even get no dick,” Dray ranted.
“Maybe you don’t need no dick. Mama told you to stop bringing all those random women and men to your house but you just don’t listen,” Jersi fussed.
“Donovan is not random. He’s been around for years. He’s trying to be on some exclusive shit and that’s not happening. He knew what it was from day one. It’s not my fault that he caught feelings and I didn’t.”
“Let him be Dray. I’ll replace whatever was damaged,” Jersi offered as she continued to clean up.
“Bitch, stop trying to play me like I’m broke. I got money just like you but I’m not spending my shit to replace what another nigga destroyed. He’s gonna pay for my shit and that’s all there is to it. And what’s this I hear about you fucking with Blake again. I hope like hell that’s a lie,” Dray said.
“Who told you that?” Jersi asked.
“Sassy saw his bitch in the mall and she was crying to him about it. She said the nigga be sleeping out and shit. Sassy called Blake and he told him that y’all were back together,” Dray said repeating what Blake’s brother had told him.
“Fuck him and her,” Jersi replied.
“Okay, but that’s not my telling me what I want to know though,” Dray noted.
“The nigga went down on me a few times and I fucked him once. The oral was bomb but the sex was trash. We are not back together and we never will be. I haven’t talked to him since we stayed the night at the penthouse that he rented,” Jersi rambled.
“Bitch what? That nigga rented a penthouse?” Dray asked.
“Yep, for six whole months. It’s in the heart of downtown,” Jersi noted.
“It is nice? Me and Sassy can probably throw a party in there,” Dray said thinking only of himself.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Jersi admitted.
“I don’t agree with you dealing with him Jersi. I don’t want you to get your feelings hurt again,” Dray said.
“I have to have feelings before they can get hurt. I’m just showing that hoe Mariah how it feels when the shoe is on the other foot. I won’t be satisfied until she hurts the same way that she hurt me. That goes for her husband too,” Jersi frowned.
“You know I’m not the one to lecture you. I just want you to be careful. I would hate to body one of these hoes for playing with my heart and that’s exactly what you are to me,” Dray said right before someone rang his doorbell.
“I hope that’s not Donovan,” Jersi said as she looked at the door.
“Nope, that’s his replacement,” Dray said as he sashayed to the door and opened it.
“Damn,” Jersi said as her mouth dropped to the floor.
Dray’s friend was fine as hell with a cute boyish face. He didn’t even look like he would entertain another man but looks were so deceiving. The way he pulled Dray close and kissed him was proof of that. He didn’t even care that Jersi was standing right there as he tongued wrestled with her brother.
“Excuse the mess babe. My sister and her boyfriend just had a fight. Are you sure you’re okay sis?” Dray asked while giving Jersi a knowing look.
“Uh…I’m…Yeah, I’m okay now,” Jersi stuttered while keeping up the charade.
“Okay. Call me if you need me. Love you boo,” Dray said as he walked her to the door.
“I love you too and you owe me lunch bitch,” Jersi whispere
d as she walked out of the house and to her car.
She was sexually frustrated and Carter was on daddy duty. She would rather watch porn and dust off her vibrator before she called Blake’s lame ass. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she had to accept the fact that Memphis was really done with her. She didn’t like it but it was her own fault. As if she’d talked him up, Blake called her phone and she reluctantly answered.
Three Is A Crowd Page 10
