It Is What it Is

by Ivory B.

  The stranger watched on in envy as Ty hopped in a Red Range Rover with custom red and black leather interior. The truck was sick. It was clear whomever she was messing with money was long. This only made him angrier because now his anger was coupled with a dose of jealousy. He was jealous that Ty had moved on and was happy with a kid. “Hmm shit is about to change real soon. Daddy’s home,” he said to himself as he rubbed on his goatee and watched Ty speed off.

  Ky continued to cry as Ty looked in the rearview mirror every couple of minutes with paranoia. She was afraid she could’ve been followed. Once she was certain no one was following her she focused on Ky. “Kynah baby stop crying okay, please stop crying, Mommy’s sorry I didn’t get cookies. Do you want McDonalds? We can get cookies from there but you have to stop crying first.” “Umm, hmm,” Ky responded, hiccupping and trying to stop her crying immediately. Just like that the tantrum was over. A promise of a Happy Meal made everything alright. Ty wished it could be that simple for herself but no Happy Meal was going to make this situation better. She gripped the steering wheel with one hand while discreetly wiping away silent tears with her other.

  Ty had a serious headache from the events that night. All she wanted to do was go home, curl up in bed and forget this ever happened. “Mommy who was that mean man?” “What man?” Ty tried to play dumb but Ky was much too smart for that and Ty knew it. “The man at the store Mommy he said bad words.” Oh shit no Ty thought. “Ky do you know how to keep a secret?” “Umm hmm,” Ky said looking a bit unsure. “Listen baby this will be you and Mommy’s secret okay. We won’t tell Daddy anything about going to the store and seeing that mean man. Right?” Ty asked for reassurance. “Yeah!” Ky said excitedly. “Yup Princess this is our secret, just for us girls.” Ty felt horrible but this was self preservation. She couldn’t risk Nice finding out about her past. Now that she was finally happy with a man that loved, adored and treated her like her father used to treat her mother, she couldn’t risk losing that.

  Thank god it was the weekend because Ty had been held up in the house since the previous day afraid to go out. Keema had picked up Kynah earlier that day to spend the night, leaving Ty there to rack her brain till the point she had a headache and fell off to sleep. Ty yelped, jumping up out of her sleep when she felt strong arms pulling her. “Hey, hey, it’s me Ty what’s wrong?” Ty opened her eyes. Looking up at Nice’s handsome face etched with concern. He leaned in brushing a damp piece of hair out of her face. “Damn you wet ma,” Nice assessed as he saw the way his damp t-shirt clung to Ty’s body, it was obvious she’d broke out into a cold sweat while sleeping. “You must’ve been having a nightmare or something you were talkin in your sleep,” Nice said placing a kiss on her forehead. Ty shot up from lying down looking panicked. “Wha…what did I say?” Nice furrowed his brows and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, you was mumbling something.” Whew! She didn’t want to subconsciously say something that would start questions. “Oh Bae you know I stayed up and watched a few scary movies On-Demand, my ass is way too scary for that,” Ty lied. “I’m surprised ya punk ass sat up here and watched a scary movie by ya’self period,” Nice chuckled knowing Ty wasn’t one for Horror movies. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her face one last time. Ty looked over at the nightstand noticing the dozen red roses. “Are those mine?” she asked with a smile. “Nah they for my other chick,” Nice teased. Ty swatted at Nice as he leaned in to kiss her again. “No give them kisses to ya other chick, can you hand me my roses please,” Ty said in a demanding way trying to hold back a smile. Nice reached over and grabbed the flower arrangement handing it to her stealing another kiss in the process. “Thank you baby,” Ty cooed as she took a quick whiff of the roses.

  “I got you something too for my man Blacka’s party tomorrow.” “Party tomorrow?” Ty asked temporarily forgetting any and everything that happened prior to her run in at the grocery store. “Yeah, remember the Black Out party we having for my man Blacka that just touched down from doing a bid?” “Oh yeah,” How the hell could Ty or anyone in Philly, Jersey and New York forget? This party was supposed to be the party of all parties and all the radio stations were promoting it as well.

  Blacka was a dude who was down with their whole street fam. He was back home after doing a nickel and his boys were throwing him a grand ole welcome home party. Ty frowned her face up. “Umm baby do I really have to go? I mean…I can stay home while you and your boys do y’all in welcoming ya peoples home.” Nice frowned. “Hell yeah you have to go. You my woman, my arm candy and I need you on my arm. Plus I need to introduce you to my boy. C’mon Ty you betta act like you know these groupie bitches be on it; they don’t take days off. I might fuck around and find Misses Right Now tomorrow night,” Ty burst out laughing rolling her eyes. “Oh yeah, Misses Right Now ha? Ain’t no other bitch in this world can fuck you like I can.” Nice smirked knowing Ty was absolutely right. “Then why you tryna flake out on this party? I already done copped ya outfit and the whole nine.” Ty closed her eyes biting her bottom lip savoring his lips on her neck. “Hmm, what you buy me?” Ty asked as Nice pulled away from her neck and leaned over the edge of the bed shuffling through a shopping bag that was on the floor. He came back up with a little sexy black dress with a strappy back by Armani Exchange. The dress was hot and Ty didn’t expect anything less because Nice was just a fly ass dude. To be honest sometimes Ty caught herself double checking what she had on when she went out with him to make sure she complimented his fresh. Ty screwed her face up. The dress looked really small and she was having doubts on whether or not she would be able to squeeze into that thing. She had undoubtedly put on some extra pounds in what she considered her problem areas, her hips, thighs and ass. Although, the extra pounds didn’t bother Nice he actually went Ape over her body with the extra thickness. “Uhh, Bae what size is that?” “It’s a size 8, your size. Why?” I ain’t gon mention to this nigga I’m flirting with a size 10 right now. “Cause that dress is lookin more like a 4. I don’t know I may have to bring it to the local Armani store for a bigger size. If not that dress is gonna be ridin up my thighs all night and I’ll have to keep pulling it down.” Nice chuckled, “Nah ma, this is gon look dead right on you, trust. Besides you’ll be with Daddy so you good if the dress rides up I got you.” “So, let me get this straight, as long as I’m with Daddy I can dress like a slut?” “You catch on quick,” Nice said sarcastically causing Ty to laugh. “A’ight so where’s my shoes?” “I didn’t get you any,” Nice bluffed. Ty knew better. Nice laughed at the yeah right look Ty flashed him as he bent over and came up with a fly pair of snakeskin peep toe fuck me pumps. “I couldn’t choose so I copped both,” he said as he handed her a strappy pair of Sergio Rossi heels. Now Ty was stumped and she didn’t know which pair to rock. She concluded she would have to put the whole ensemble on to decide which shoes to wear; dress, shoes, and jewelry. Ty smiled before tonguing Nice down. “Thank you baby,” Ty cooed with her lips against his. “No thank you for everything. Most importantly for making me and Ky happy, I love you Pebbles.” Ty laughed lightly at Nice calling her his little pet name. Her eyes started watering. Damn I don’t wanna lose this man, I can’t. This thing from my past it’ll all blow over it has to. I’ll act like it never happened.

  Black Out

  The party was in full swing and everyone from ballers, hustla’s and athletes were in attendance, not to mention independent chicks, jump off’s, and gold diggers alike all on the prowl. Security at the party was airtight as well as the dress code. Niggaz was catching feelings getting mad when they were turned away at the door for not adhering to the dress code. This was an all black affair yet people still showed up wearing everything but black. “Yo I can’t get in?!” A young hustla from DC on the come up screamed. “Man that’s that bullshit!” he barked when the doorman stood stoic with his arms folded across his chest. “You know what it is son; this is a black out, not a white, red, blue or brown. Damn you do know ya colors right?” a big burly secu
rity guard asked. The dude and his crew acted as if they wanted to turn up in retaliation to the security guard trying to publicly play them, but as soon as they noticed them wild wolf pack niggaz standing to the side they piped down and kept it moving.

  It was simple; if you weren’t dressed in black, refused to get checked at the door for heat, or if you were a dude that didn’t own not even a pair of dress pants or hard bottoms this wasn’t the party for you. No timbs, sneakers, hoodies, jeans, fitteds or snap backs. You were getting turned away right at the door if you didn’t abide by these rules. A couple of knuckleheads tried to boss up getting salty after they were turned away and embarrassed at the door. Their little tirades were quickly extinguished once those wolf pack niggaz started showing muscle. Los’ whole team wanted to keep this a peaceful event. Their man had just touched down from doing a nickel and the last thing anyone needed was to catch cases.

  “Ohhhh shit get it girl!” Mika exclaimed looking up at Ty as she approached her and Keema. Keema screwed her face up “Uhhh I can’t wait to drop this load so I can get my sexy back. This bitch coming in here like she tryna have the whole game on lock,” Keema complained in her grumpy pregnant woman voice. Ty laughed looking at Keema who should have been the poster child for how to carry a baby and still be that chick. Keema carried her pregnancies very well; she was still a bad bitch. The Dior baby doll styled dress Keema had on was so cute and her heels although shorter than what she usually rocked were hot as hell.

  Ty flopped down next to Keema and stuck her tongue out touching her cheek briefly. Keema jumped back and squealed. “Uhhh bitch! Get off me,” Keema screamed through laughter as Ty draped her arm over Keema’s shoulder. “I still think you sexy baby,” Ty cooed playfully. Mika laughed at them so hard she nearly spilled her Martini on her dress. “Mika what you doing over there looking like you tryna take somebody man tonight?” Ty teased. Mika sipped her drink holding a finger up wiggling it like she intended to be a very bad girl that night. Keema shifted in her seat to give Ty another look “Umm, umm,” Keema said feeling a slight tinge of jealousy and pride at the same time. Keema was jealous at the fact she couldn’t rock a dress like that in her condition but took pride in seeing her bestie killen’em that night. Everything about Ty was on point. Ty giggled “Girl stop lookin at me like that you giving me the creeps. Nice was lookin at me the same way before we left the house.” “Yeah cause mah nigga was probably thinking he gon beat that pussy like Anna Mae when he get you home tonight. And he ain’t gon make you eat the cake he gon eat it, eat the cake, eat the cake!” Mika sang through laughter. The three of them burst out into hard laughter at Mika’s comment.

  The girls were seated in the large VIP section on a sofa and decorative chair adjacent from where all the guys were. Mika tapped Ty on the leg as she watched everyone in VIP rushing over to the windows looking down at the entrance below. “Ayo I wanna know who got the balls to do some disrespectful shit like this?” a dude yelled as he looked through the huge floor to ceiling windows of the VIP section. Both Ty and Mika jumped up being nosey wanting to see what was going on. “Wait for me,” Keema complained trying to get up from the couch as fast as she could. Ty helped Keema up as they walked over pushing through the crowd to get a spot at the window.

  Down below sat a cocaine white Rolls Royce Phantom. The driver parked in front of the club hopped out and walked round the back opening the door and out steps Los in a winter white Armani suit looking fresh to death. He held his hand out to help Lucky ease out of the car without having her floor length winter white chinchilla touch the ground. The security downstairs had the doors open immediately on seeing Los. A whole gang of Wolf Pack members started showing him love with daps and manly hugs. People waiting online gawked in awe at the power couple. A few heads that were parking lot pimpin because they got turned away for not adhering to the dress code looked on in envy. Carlos wasn’t done stuttin; once he got into the club he helped Lucky with her jacket taking it off exposing her off white Prada mini dress with the dangerously plunging back, which put her tattoo with his name on full blast. The dress was sexy but still classy. Her long hair was pulled back into a sleek stylish ponytail so not to take away from the style of the dress. “Dis mufucka right here!” Nice barked with a smile on his face shaking his head back and forth at his brother’s antics. He rushed towards the VIP exit right away to meet Los downstairs. Los and Lucky had been gone for two whole weeks now and they were truly missed by everyone. Los was making his way upstairs to the VIP section being stopped every couple of seconds as if the party was for him. Lucky was really feeling the whole atmosphere of the party so far. The best way to describe the party scene was Jay-Z’s Roc Boys music video. Everything about this party was reminiscent of that video, from the way the men and women were dressed, to bottles poppin everywhere and people dancing seemingly having a good time. The men were on their grown man shit, looking dapper in expensive couture attire while the ladies weren’t to be outdone or out shined because they came out dressed to kill. Everyone seemed to be having a ball without drama.

  “Baby c’mon I wanna see my girls,” Lucky complained as Los dapped out a dude that he knew. Los placed his hand firmly on the small of her back for support as she climbed the stairs to the VIP section in her 4 1/2 inch Giuseppe heels. They were met by Nice at the top of the landing sporting a big grin. Lucky reached up and hugged him instantly really missing him. “What up lil Sis?” Nice asked as he stepped back holding up Lucky’s hand to get a better look at her. He said nothing only shook his head with a smirk on his face. Lucky started laughing reading his facial expression. “Talk to your brother, he picked my dress out,” Lucky said in her own defense. “After I talk to you about ya little disappearing act,” He let Lucky’s hand go not without giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Bruh we gon have to talk about this,” Nice said through a chuckle in reference to Lucky’s dress before giving Los a manly hug. Next thing Lucky knew the Bromance was in full swing as Jah and the rest of Los’ boys came over.

  Lucky spotted her girls and took off to the other side of the VIP room to join them. They watched with slightly opened mouths as she approached all giddy with her hand behind her back. Once she was right up on them she pulled her hand from behind her back and held it in front of her. There was a short pause before Keema, Ty, and Mika went crazy. “Oh my god! Damn that nigga laced you!” Keema screamed snatching Lucky’s hand to get a closer look. Lucky shook her head up and down with a cheesy smile on her face. “Shit If that’s what it takes for a nigga to put a ring on it I need to run away too” Ty pouted. Nice overheard Ty as he was walking past them heading towards the restroom. He turned to address her comment pointing an accusing finger at her “Don’t get no ideas, do it if you bad, I’ll be all over that ass,” he threatened playfully. The ladies cracked up at his threat. “I’m so happy!” Keema squealed. “Now that’s what the fuck I’m talkin bout!” Mika grabbed Lucky’s hand and examined the ring. “Damn girl can you fit your hand in ya purse?” She joked. Then Mika became serious as she examined Lucky’s ring finger there was a second ring as well. Although the ring wasn’t a traditional wedding band it was ridiculously flooded with diamonds and a big centered emerald. “Hold up hoe, why you got two damn rings on ya finger?” Mika asked Lucky looked at her with wide eyes holding back a smile. “No the fuck you didn’t?!” Mika shouted. Lucky shook her head yes. And the girls really went crazy. “Unh, unh, hold the hell up, you did what?!” Ty exclaimed. “Where? When? Why the hell didn’t we know? You wait till I tell Mommy,” Ty threatened with attitude. Lucky laughed. “She knows already I told her last night.”

  Lucky went into details about how they went through with a ceremony but were planning to have a big wedding within the next year that all of them were going to have to help her plan. “I keep telling this man he don’t have to go all out on a wedding because I feel like we are truly already married. It wouldn’t matter to me if we went down to the court house and called it a day. Y’all know Los though, h
e too cocky to do anything half ass’d. He told me he’s only planning on getting married once, so if he gon do it he gon do it big,” Lucky said through laughter. “I’m glad we did the ceremony there in Colombia though, because I know he really wanted that for his great grandmother who’s up there in age. Then when we do get married some of his family won’t be able to make the wedding, you know with them not being citizens and everything.” After Lucky explained her and Los’ impromptu wedding ceremony the girls weren’t mad at all. They were happy for her, really happy. Lucky’s skin and eyes were glowing, she literally had love all over her and it was exuding from her pores.

  Keema looked over at Lucky glowing. “You see this bitch coming up in here shutting shit down,” Keema laughed. “Hold up, stand up and turn around,” Keema demanded. “Now where you get all that from? Cause when you left here you was lookin straight crackish.” Keema reached out slapping Lucky’s behind. “Let me find out you went and got some bootie shots or was it that arroz con pollo?” Keema joked. “Nah I bet it was Los dickin you down for the last coupla weeks all crazy,” Ty interjected. The girls fell out into laughter. “Ass shots my ass, girl please you know I’m all natural. I was eating everything that wasn’t movin and I been keepin up on my protein shakes religiously.” Lucky said moving her hand up and down in front of her mouth as if she were giving head. Her blunt comment caused them to breakout into laughter. “Ewe Lucky you so nasty,” Keema said through laughter still not quite used to Lucky talking so freely about sex. “Let me find out that shit work better than Ensures cause Lucky definitely got her weight up ya heard,” Mika said giving Lucky a high five. “Keema look at you, you look so pretty, I can’t wait to see my lil pumpkin,” Lucky said palming Keema’s belly gently. “Girl I can’t wait either, it’s always like this with my pregnancies. I get to the last two months and all I wanna do is hurry and drop the load. Oh yeah, I came up with some names,” Keema said. Lucky screwed her face up with disappointment because she had actually thought of a name for the baby. “Okay how does Jahnae or Jahnelle sound?” Keema asked. Ty huffed and rolled her eyes “Girl I still don’t understand why you gotta put that damn man name all up in it,” Ty complained “Cause that’s my husband hoe and I’m paying homage. We all know if yo ass was knocked up you’d be naming your baby after Nice too,” Keema accused. “Well I ain’t gotta worry about that cause I stay up on my pills.” “They don’t always work, ain’t no birth control ahunnit percent.” Lucky laughed at Keema and Ty going back and forth, aint shit changed while she was gone. “The names are alright… but while I was gone I thought of a name for her, how about Jahzera?” Lucky asked. Keema smiled. “Ooh I like that! You know I really like that,” Keema concluded shaking her head in approval. “Hold up ain’t that a news channel or something? And Keem you are so phony cause I thought we agreed on Jahnae. Now as soon as Lucky come up in here you wanna switch sides,” Ty complained. “Oh shut up Ty you know the name is cute.” Ty smiled “Yeah it’s cute Luck.” “I love it too,” Mika concluded. It was set as far as Keema was concerned Auntie Lucky had named the baby; she just had to run it by Jah.