Three Is A Crowd

by Chenell Parker

  “Hello everybody. For those of you who don’t know, this is my boo, Donovan,” Dray said introducing his crazy ass man to everyone.

  Memphis looked at Jersi and she nodded her head. He was silently asking her if that was the same man who had Dray scared to death and she confirmed it. Jersi was pissed and she was happy when Donovan sat down and Dray went to the kitchen for ice. Jersi waited a few seconds before she got up and followed right behind him.

  “Really Dray?” Jersi whispered when she walked into the kitchen.

  “Really what?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

  “You just said that the nigga was trying to kill you a few weeks ago. Now you walk in here with him like everything is all good,” Jersi fussed.

  “Everything is all good. It was just a misunderstanding,” Dray shrugged like it was nothing.

  “You’re a fucking lie! That nigga had you scared to death. Don’t forget that you stayed at my house for two days after that because you didn’t feel comfortable at home. Now you got his crazy ass in mama’s house like it’s all good,” Jersi snapped angrily.

  “Just let it go Jersi. I don’t say nothing about you dipping and dabbing with your married ex-boyfriend. I don’t like that shit either but I mind my business,” Dray replied.

  “Fuck you and I’m telling mama!” Jersi said as she tried to walk off.

  “Bitch! You better not tell her nothing. It’s not even that deep Jersi. He apologized and we’re good now. The damn gun was still on safety. Besides, the nigga apologized with a brand new silver beamer. Look at this shit. Drop top and everything,” Dray said as she showed her pictures of his new car.

  “You already have a Jag and a Bentley truck, so that shouldn’t even faze you. Stop acting like you can’t afford to buy shit for yourself,” Jersi fumed.

  “I can but I don’t want to,” Dray shrugged.

  “That’s all on you. Don’t come crying to me the next time he pulls a gun out on you. Your love for material shit is just ridiculous. You act like we didn’t grow up around all this,” Jersi noted.

  “Stop being so mean to me Jersi. I love you and you know I can’t take it when we’re not right. We don’t argue and I don’t want to start. You’re my chocolate baby alive,” Dray pouted while laying his head on her shoulder.

  “Stop trying to butter me up. I love you too but you need to be careful with him Dray,” Jersi warned.

  “I am sis. I met a bad bitch yesterday and she’s about to get all of my attention for a while. He’s about to be put on the back burner real soon,” Dray replied.

  “Lord, help him,” Jersi said as she looked upwards.

  “Stop worrying about me so much and go enjoy that fine ass man in the other room,” Dray said as he filled his cup up with ice.

  “Trust me, I’ve been enjoying his sexy ass for the past few weeks,” Jersi replied as she walked away and rejoined the party.

  “D on’t give up on me friend. I’m at the end of the line with school and it’s been kicking my ass. The only person who I can make time for is Tre,” Cat said referring to her son.

  She was happy when Jersi invited her out to dinner at The Camellia Grill. She put the books to the side for a while to join her. Being a mother and studying was all that she had time to do lately. Jersi was fussing at her about not joining her at the gym but she just couldn’t fit it into her schedule. She only had two more months to go and she couldn’t wait.

  “What about your boo? Have you been making time for him?” Jersi asked.

  “As much as I can but he’s been complaining too. Bitch, it got so bad that I gave it up in the campus bathroom. You know I’m too grown for that shit but it was the only way for me to shut him up,” Cat replied.

  “Bitch, I don’t know why I even asked. That shit is too funny,” Jersi laughed before sipping her margarita.

  “What about your boo? Is everything still all good with y’all?” Cat asked.

  “Girl yes. He’s staying the night in Baton Rouge. They have a flag football game tomorrow. It took everything in me not to pack a bag and chase after his ass,” Jersi laughed.

  “I’m happy for you boo. I can’t wait for these two months to come and go. I already found a divorce lawyer that I want to use,” Cat noted.

  “You were really serious. For some reason, I thought you would have changed your mind by now,” Jersi replied.

  “Fuck no. I’m not changing nothing but my last name. When these hoes get bold enough to start coming to my house, it’s time for me to go,” Cat countered.

  “I know you fucking lying,” Jersi said in shock.

  “Nope. Bitch walked up on my porch and knocked on my door,” Cat nodded.

  “For what though?” Jersi inquired.

  “Apparently, she told my husband that she was pregnant and he’d been ignoring her,” Cat replied.

  “Nooooo,” Jersi drawled with her mouth hanging open in shock.

  “Yep, sure did,” Cat continued.

  “What did you do?” Jersi asked.

  “I opened the door and let the bitch in,” Cat shrugged.

  “What? Why would you do a thing like that?” Jersi asked in confusion.

  “Just in case the bitch tried to get the police involved after I beat her ass. She would have gone down for trespassing. I let her in, moved my table out of the way and beat the dog shit out of her ass,” Cat answered as Jersi doubled over in laughter.

  “Where was BJ? Jersi inquired.

  “Standing right there watching like I told him to. I dared his bitch ass to stop me. After I was done, I made them talk right there in front of me. The bitch told me everything and he ended up giving her money for an abortion. How do you think I got that new car that I picked you up in? Nigga thinks money can fix everything. I made him give me ten grand and added it to my freedom money,” Cat rambled.

  “The fuck is freedom money?” Jersi asked.

  “The money that I’m using to be free of his ass,” Cat replied.

  She had Jersi laughing the entire night until it was almost time for them to go. The waitress had just served up their final round of margarita’s when the loud sounds of clapping could be heard at a table to the back of the restaurant. The employees gathered in the area and sang their rendition of the happy birthday song to someone. Jersi and Cat looked along with other patrons until the workers disbursed. When she locked eyes with Blake, Jersi groaned inwardly. She spotted Mariah blowing candles out on a cake with a birthday crown adorning her head.

  “I guess the wicked bitch is celebrating another year of destroying lives today,” Jersi said while rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah, her birthday is on April 1st,” Cat acknowledged.

  “That explains a lot. She really is the April fool,” Jersi spat as Cat chuckled.

  It only took a few minutes before Blake’s disrespectful ass made his way over to them but Jersi was busy replying to a text from Memphis when he did. He stood there like he expected her to acknowledge him but he had her fucked up.

  “What’s up Cat? I saw that nice ass car you riding around in,” Blake said while smiling at his sister-in-law.

  “You know how it goes. Most of my gifts come from your brother’s fuck ups,” Cat shrugged nonchalantly.

  “Where you been hiding at Jersi?” Blake asked while looking at her.

  “In plain sight. What’s up with your disrespectful ass?” Jersi countered.

  “What disrespect? I came to say hello to my sister-in-law,” he replied right as the waitress came over with the bill. Blake didn’t even think twice before he pulled out his wallet and took out some cash to cover it.

  “Thanks boo and tell wifey that I said happy birthday. I wish her husband was eating me instead of her birthday cake though,” Jersi flirted.

  She didn’t want Blake or his lips nowhere on her but she saw that Mariah was watching and decided to give her a show. There were two other ladies and two men at the table and they were obviously having a couples gathering.

  “Shit
, you ain’t said nothing that I didn’t want to hear,” Blake said while licking his lips.

  Cat was speechless as she watched the entire scene unfold before her very eyes. Mariah was in the same boat as her but Cat wasn’t waiting around for somebody to throw her a life jacket. She was making moves that would be beneficial to her and her son. Sadly, he was suffering just as much as she was when he had to witness the constant arguing between her and his father.

  “Nah, we can’t do that. It’s your wife’s birthday,” Jersi said as if she gave a fuck.

  “What that mean to me?” Blake questioned.

  “If it don’t mean nothing to you, it means even less to me,” Jersi replied right as Mariah came storming up to their table.

  “Are you fucking serious right now? You left me and our friends at the table to come talk to this bitch,” Mariah fumed, trying her best to keep her voice down.

  “Chill out Mariah,” Blake warned.

  “Don’t tell me to chill out. I just saw you pay for her food,” Mariah barked.

  “You do see Cat sitting here, right? That’s my fucking family,” Blake argued.

  “That’s bullshit. You’re using Cat as an excuse to foot the bill for your side bitch,” Mariah spat as she scowled at Jersi.

  “Happy birthday boo. You look cute,” Jersi smiled.

  “Keep trying to be funny and see if I don’t dog walk your trick ass in here,” Mariah hissed.

  “So, about an hour Blake? That should be enough time, right?” Jersi asked as his face turned red with guilt.

  “What is she talking about Blake? An hour for what?” Mariah asked, unable to keep her voice down any longer.

  “Stop causing a scene and let’s go,” Blake gritted as he grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

  “What is she talking about Blake? Huh? What’s happening in an hour?” Mariah continued to yell.

  Blake was embarrassed as he grabbed their items from the table and walked towards the exit. Mariah was screaming and crying like a fool and he was over it.

  “Well damn,” Cat said as she hit the table and laughed.

  Her night had gone better than she expected. Mariah had shown her ass and even her friends looked embarrassed as they followed them out. Cat wondered what Mariah thought the outcome of her actions would be. She thought it was cute when she bragged about taking other people’s men. Shit got real when the shoe was placed on the other foot though.

  “Damn. He must have dropped that bitch off on the bridge and made her walk the rest of the way,” Jersi laughed as she showed Cat the text that Blake had just sent to her.

  “That nigga dropped his wife off just to go put his mouth on the next bitch. Pathetic just like his big brother,” Cat replied while shaking her head.

  She drove Jersi to her car and watched as she got inside. Cat drove away, counting down the months, weeks and days until she was no longer a married woman.

  “Are you and Blake okay boo?” Karma asked Mariah over the phone.

  She and her husband had gone to dinner with them the night before to celebrate Mariah’s birthday. The night started out fine but it ended in disaster. Mariah tried to fight Blake outside of the restaurant and they had to intervene. It got so bad that Karma and her husband had to bring Mariah home. Blake was over it and left her right there in the restaurant parking lot. Karma felt so bad for her friends. She thought that Blake and Mariah’s marriage was perfect but she was obviously mistaken.

  “Yeah girl, we’re good. Just a little lover’s quarrel,” Mariah giggled.

  “Well, that’s good to hear. Y’all had me worried for a minute,” Karma said.

  “No need to worry girl. He spent all night and most of the morning making it up to me. I think we both had a little too much to drink,” Mariah laughed. Truthfully, she hadn’t had a thing to drink since she missed cycle. It just sounded like a believable lie.

  “I definitely understand that. I won’t hold you boo. Tell Blake that I said hi,” Karma said before she hung up.

  “I would if his bitch ass was here,” Mariah spat as she threw her phone on the sofa next to her.

  Blake didn’t even bother coming home last night and Mariah was sick. They were supposed to end her birthday wrapped up in each other’s arms but she spent the night driving around the city trying to locate her husband instead. She was pissed because she didn’t even know where to look. She didn’t know where Jersi lived or nothing else about the bitch. She was stressing and ready to pull her hair out from the roots. Mariah didn’t even recognize her own reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy and she had huge bags underneath them. She was physically exhausted and mentally drained. Here it was after two in the afternoon and she hadn’t seen her husband since the night before. He turned his phone off and probably fucked his side bitch until the sun came up.

  “I don’t deserve this,” Mariah sobbed as she curled up on the sofa in a fetal position.

  It was at those times that she wished her mother was still alive. She needed the kind of comforting that only a mother could give. She needed nurturing from the one person who knew her best. She was lost in thought when she heard the front door open and saw Blake walk in. He looked at her in disgust before walking off to their bedroom. He never even acknowledged her or tried to explain where he’d been all night. He was behaving like he didn’t even have a wife at home. Mariah jumped up and went after him. She didn’t care that he was in the bathroom. She opened the door and laid into his ass.

  “What the hell is happening to you Blake? The lying, cheating and disrespect is not you,” Mariah yelled as she looked at him.

  “Can I take a piss Mariah? Damn. This is why I stay away some nights. All you do is fuss and cry. I’m sick of that shit,” Blake spat angrily.

  He wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. He was sexually frustrated and the person who he wanted sex from wasn’t giving it up. Besides letting him go down on her, Jersi didn’t want to do anything else. He had to beg her just to do that and she was the one receiving the pleasure from it.

  “You made me this way Blake. We were happy before you snuck off to be with her for Christmas. I don’t understand what happened between us,” Mariah sobbed, pulling him away from his thoughts.

  “You’re what happened between us!” he yelled making her jump.

  “How can you blame your lying, cheating ways on me?” Mariah inquired.

  “I told you that I wasn’t over her but you just couldn’t accept that. I was wrong for cheating on Jersi with you and I tried to break it off. You couldn’t take rejection so you did the one thing that you knew would keep me around,” Blake said.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” she asked in confusion.

  “I’m not stupid Mariah. I know you stopped taking your birth control pills to trap me. I overheard you on the phone one day telling Karma all about how you did it. I did the right thing and married your ass but you forced my hand. I told you that I was still in love with another woman but you didn’t care. You told me that I would get over it eventually but that time never came. So, the next time you wanna blame somebody for the problems in our marriage, look in the fucking mirror,” Blake ranted.

  “You couldn’t have loved her that much if you slept with me,” Mariah spat.

  “I know that’s what you made yourself believe,” Blake said while shaking his head.

  “So, you’re basically telling me to my face that you’re having an affair,” Mariah said while looking at him.

  “I don’t need to tell you what you already know,” Blake replied as he looked right back at her.

  There was no need for her to assume any longer when her husband had basically just confessed. Her heart was broken and she was scared. She had nothing without Blake and she couldn’t go back to living the way she did before. She wasn’t that girl anymore and she looked down on people who lived like she used to. Her father told her that she didn’t belong in Blake’s world but she was too dumb to listen. After all, she was the mothe
r to his only kids. That had to count for something. Although she hadn’t taken a pregnancy test yet, she was praying for positive results. She needed another lifeline and another baby was just the thing to get her marriage back on track.

  “C ome on baby. Come see me,” Memphis begged Jersi over the phone.

  “No Memphis. I need to concentrate and really work out. Fuck around and be big as a house if I keep messing with you,” Jersi replied.

  She had slacked off going to the gym and all she and Memphis did was fuck and eat. It got so bad that they started sneaking off to get it in even when she did go to the gym. Memphis had the keys to open every door in the building and he used them often. Since he was working at one of the other locations, she decided to go in and hit the treadmill for a while. He wasn’t there to distract her and she needed to focus. She changed in the bathroom at work and went straight to the gym afterwards.