by Lucinda John
“Bitch, you fucking another nigga in my house?!” South yelled, waking me out of my sleep.
I wasn’t trying to be bothered by Jazzy and her questions, so I decided to crash at South’s house for the night. The fact that him and his bitch kept fucking fighting and arguing had me regretting that I stepped foot in their house. Sitting up on the couch, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes then used my good hand to spark up my blunt.
“Get the fuck off me!” Deja screamed.
“Nah, hoe, who the fuck you had in my house?” South demanded.
“South… STOP!” Deja’s voice sounded strained.
The way Deja was gargling, it sounded like he was choking the fuck out of her. I usually was the type of nigga who stayed out of their business, but South was my boy, and I refused to let him go down for murking that hoe. Standing to my feet, I walked to the room where all the shouting was. South had Deja pinned down on the ground while he tried to choke her ass to death. On the floor next to them lay a used condom. I understood South’s frustrations, but no hoe was worth spending life behind bars.
“South, my nigga… just vibe.” I spoke up, yanking him by the back of his shirt.
“Nah, Miami, this hoe is trying me. How the fuck is there a used condom in my fucking house?! The place where I pay bills. I don’t bring no bitch in here, we don’t use fucking condoms, so where the fuck this shit come from?” he seethed.
Hoisting his hand back, South slapped the fuck out of Deja before I jumped in the middle of them.
“On everything I love, kid, if y’all fuck up my hand again, Imma fuck both of y’all up,” I warned both South and Deja.
“Fuck this ran through ass bitch! I’m done fucking with that hoe!” South spat.
“I been stopped fucking with you too,” Deja hurled out at South.
“My nigga, let’s go.” I shook my head at their bullshit.
It was the same ol’ fuck shit. One of them would catch the other cheating, the other would make a scene, they would break up, and be back fucking with each other before the end of the week. Those two sick in the head motherfuckers were a perfect match.
“Fuck this dumb hoe.” Snatching up a duffle bag, South tossed a couple of his things in it before walking off.
“Fuck you too, nigga!” Deja stood to her feet and yelled.
Turning on my heels, I followed South out the front door to the parking lot where our cars were parked.
“My bad, my G… I ain’t know this bitch was on some fuck shit,” South breathed out.
“You the one on some fuck shit. How the fuck you get mad at your bitch for fucking another nigga, when you just climbed out of some bitch’s pussy not too long ago?” I chuckled.
“Deja is a hoe, I know that shit, but that hoe ain’t got no type of respect. I ain’t never fucked a bitch in our crib where we lay our head, yet I walk in the bathroom to piss, and there a used condom tucked next to the toilet bowl. That hoe foul as fuck.”
“Nigga, both you motherfuckers foul!”
“Yeah… I know it.” South waved me off. “Where you about to head to? I know you ain’t going home since you and your bitch beefing and shit. Shit, I wouldn’t put fucking another past Hennessy…”
Whap! Whap!
I rocked South’s jaw with a vicious two-piece, sending him to the ground.
“Nah, nigga, don’t compare my ol’ lady to the hoe you shacked up with. The only thing you and that bitch got in common is matching body counts. Fuck outta here, nigga!” Standing over South, I glared down at him with fire dancing in my eyes. If it wasn’t for him being my right hand, I would have stomped this nigga to his grave.
“Watch your mouth when addressing what’s mine, nigga. Problems with me ain’t what you want, kid.” Stepping over South, I got in my car and pulled off, making my way to the nearest hotel.
“ B itch, this is not like you! Yo’ ass missing work, you stank, your house stank. You look a fucking mess, Henny.” Nookie snapped her fingers in my face.
“Nookie, go on, nie. I ain’t trying to be bothered by you or shit you got to say.” Sucking my teeth, I pulled the blanket over my head.
For the last two weeks, if I wasn’t blowing up Miami’s phone, praying that he would answer for me, I was chasing down Percs with shots of Hennessy. My world was falling apart now that Miami wasn’t in it. I was a fucking mess. My weave was matted up, and I hadn’t even bothered to wash my ass aside from the hoe baths I would take when I couldn’t take the stench that emanated from my skin.
“If you want your man back, this is not how you going to get him!” Nookie popped her lips.
“Well, if you ain’t here to tell me how to get my man back, then move around!”
“Uh, uh! I was just about to help you, but that fucked up attitude of yours just blew me,” Nookie squealed, clapping her hands after every word she spoke.
“How you gon’ help me, Nookie?”
First, I need you to clean this fucking apartment, wash your ass, and cook me something because a bitch hungry as fuck.”
“Get the fuck out my house!” I yelled.
“On some real shit, Hennessy, this could help your situation. I’ll even help you clean this nasty ass house.”
“Man, whatever.” Kicking the blankets off my body, I walked into the bathroom for a much-needed shower.
Looking in the mirror, I cringed at the bitch looking back at me. There were bags under my eyes due to a lack of sleep, my eyes were swollen and puffy as hell, and the bird’s nest that sat at the top of my head had to go. Removing the clothes from my body, I stepped into the shower. Standing underneath the stream of hot water, I allowed it to run down my skin for a minute before reaching for my sponge and lathering it up with my Olay body wash. Once my face was cleansed, body washed, and coochie fresh, I walked out of the shower feeling somewhat better.
With a towel wrapped tightly around my body, I walked in on Nookie straightening my living room. Watching her clean up my spot while she bobbed to the radio forced a slight smile to grace the corners of my lips. I used to think Deja and I were close until I realized Nookie was more of a friend than she was.
Entering my room, I made my way to the closet for something to wear. Seeing all of Miami’s clothes still neatly hung up on hangers the same way he left them gave me a little bit of hope that he was still coming home.
Reaching in the dirty clothes hamper, I pulled out the last t-shirt he wore and put it on. Immediately, I was engulfed in Miami’s manly scent. Slipping a pair of boy shorts over my ass, I wrapped my weave up into a ponytail before I started the task of cleaning up the bedroom.
Opening the windows, I allowed fresh air to seep through the room, removing some of the odor that was trapped inside. Stripping the blankets off the bed, I hummed Michel’le’s “Something In My Heart” while I sprayed the mattress down with a bottle of Febreze Fabric Refresher. Tearing everything in the room apart, I re-arranged and re-organized until I was out of breath. It took three long hours, but with the help of Nookie, our entire apartment had been cleaned thoroughly.
“So, wassup with this plan?” I asked Nookie as she sewed dark blue weave into my hair.
“Tell Miami I did it.”
“Poe ass hoe, what?” I turned and looked at her.
Poe ass hoe was a phrase we would call each other, but we didn’t mean shit by it. It was similar to us calling each other ‘bitch.’ We were just cool like that.
“Tell him that night we got drunk as fuck and started touching on each other.” Nookie playfully ran her hands down my thighs.
“Hoe, I would never.” I scrunched my nose up.
“I mean, just blame that shit on me. Tell him I kissed you, started sucking on your neck, then you pushed me away and went home,” Nookie suggested.
“You think that shit is going to work?” I questioned, praying that it would.
“I mean… shit, that’s up to you. Bitch, you gotta thrown on your acting skills and cry. Let that nigga know you was scared to spi
ll the real tea on what went down.”
“That shit just gon’ have to work.” I shrugged.
“Girl, once I get you back right, he ain’t gon’ have a choice but to accept that bullshit ass sob story you about to feed him.”
“I know that’s right.” I high fived my girl. She was really coming through for me.
“What about that nigga, Dre? You still fucking with him?” Nookie turned my head, so she could peer down at me.
“I never started back fucking with that nigga, to begin with. I just don’t know why it’s easy to turn every single nigga that tries to push up on me down, but when it comes to him, it’s like a bitch loses all common sense. I know Miami is the one for me. I love that nigga. That nigga found me at my lowest and elevated me to where I am now. Ain’t no way I’m letting him go for Dre’s ass,” I spilled from the heart.
“I hear you, girl. Well, I wouldn’t be your real friend if I didn’t tell you that Miami is a real nigga. Hold the fuck on to him!”
“I will, the moment he brings his ass home.” Dropping my gaze down to the weed tray that sat in my lap, I rolled a fat blunt before taking a few tokes and passing it to Nookie.
My heart pounded out of my chest as I pulled up to the lot where Miami conducted his car wash business. He was busy detailing a car, but I could see his fine, shirtless ass from behind the dark shades that concealed my eyes from the sun. Parking away from Miami’s van and his customer, I placed a Perc on my tongue and gulped it down with the now hot bottle of water that sat in my cup holder. Finishing off the small blunt I had left, I exhaled the deep breath I was desperately clinging to. Once the effects of the drugs began to calm my nerves, I prepared my approach.
Pulling down my visor, I made sure the bob Nookie had skillfully etched in my head was still on point. The dark blue hair lay against my face, blending in with my warm skin complexion to perfection. Making sure my lips were popping with my clear gloss, I unraveled a piece of gum and popped it in my mouth before quickly spraying my body down with a few pumps of my perfume. The moment my clear flip flops touched the pavement, I wiggled my flawlessly painted white toes that matched my full set of white nails. Clad in a tight fitting, tube dress that stopped midthigh, I walked over to Miami, feeling myself.
“You always get me right, boo,” the girl who was getting her Toyota washed cooed at Miami. She was invading his personal space, standing dangerously close to him.
“Anything for my loyal customers.” He smiled at her. “On the real, though, stop driving with them heels on. You gon’ fuck around and put a hole in your carpet.”
“Thanks for the advice, bae.” Reaching in her bra, she pulled out some money and handed it to him. “Your tip in there.” She winked.
Rolling my eyes, I watched as Miami helped her in the car. It wasn’t until he placed his injured hand on the hood of the trashy hoe’s car that I realized how injured it was. Low key, I started to feel bad about lying to him, but I knew the truth would cause more damage than it would do good.
“What the fuck you want?” Miami spat, snapping me out of my thoughts. I must have been staring so hard that I hadn’t noticed he spotted me.
Face to face with my soulmate, I couldn’t help but notice how sexy he looked with sweat dripping down his chiseled chest. Miami was such a pretty boy as he stood there with his du-rag wrapped around his head, protecting his waves. Dressed in a pair of baller shorts, I could see the Polo band of his boxers peeking through. Miami didn’t have to try to look sexy; he was fine as fuck just standing there with a deep scowl on his face.
“Man… I got shit to do, so if you ain’t about to say shit, move the fuck around!” He growled.
Stepping back, he whistled at one of his fiends who was walking past. Motioning for the crack head to walk around the back of his van, he quickly and discreetly completed the drug transaction before motioning over the next person in line to get their car wash. Stomping my way over to him, I didn’t give a fuck that my feet were soaked from stepping in a puddle, I needed him to listen to me.
“Miami, I need to talk to you.”
“Run ya motor!” He spoke to me as if I was a nigga on the streets.
“Five minutes.” I pleaded.
“Ayo, South, take over for me right quick.” Using the towel that was draped around his shoulder, Miami wiped the sweat from his face. “Wassup, man?” He licked his lips.
“I’m ready to tell the truth about the hickey.”
“You still on that shit?” Miami chuckled. “I ain’t stunting you, Henny. Once I get this cast off my hand, I’ll be by the crib to grab my things.”
“Just listen to me, please.”
Miami stood with his feet shoulder width apart, and his hands crossed in front of him. The unfazed look he carried bothered me. I wasn’t used to Miami handling me like I was just another broad on the block.
“Talk. You keep telling me to listen, but you ain’t saying shit.”
“Alright…” Toying with my fingernails, I tried to remember the lie I spent hours rehearsing.
“Ummm.” I cleared my throat. “The hickey came from Nookie,” I let out.
“Get the fuck out of here. It took your ass two weeks to come up with that lie?!” Miami shook his head in disgust.
“I’m not lying, Miami, real shit. That night we went out, we never made it to the club since Deja flawed us out. Instead, we went to the liquor store, grabbed a bottle, then sat around drinking and smoking. We started dancing around and bullshitting, then next thing I know, me and Nookie was kissing. I was drunk and high as fuck, so what we were doing didn’t register until she was trying to slip her hand up my dress. I pushed her off, she apologized, and I came straight home. That’s the truth, Miami, I promise you!”
“So, you tryna tell me my bitch was out bumping pussies with her homie? Shit, if it’s like that, invite her over, so I can have some fun too,” Miami said with a straight face.
“Miami, be for real, man!”
“Nah, Hennessy, you be for real! What you take me as, a dumb nigga? Nah, kid, I ain’t stupid!”
“If a nigga was all over me, why the fuck would I come home and fuck on you?”
“Cuz you a hoe, just like your hoe ass friend, Deja.”
“That’s how you feel, Miami?” I sulked.
“Shit, how else am I supposed to feel? Tell me, shorty, talk to me.” Miami leaned his frame against the wall.
The fact that he was calling me shorty again had me feeling a bit at ease.
“Miami, I’m telling you the truth, baby. Please, just come back home. These past two weeks have been hell for me. It’s hard for me to function without you. I didn’t realize how much I needed you until you walked away, taking my ability to breathe with you. My heart beats for you, Miami, just you. Please don’t do this to me… to us,” I sobbed.
Pulling me into his arms with his good arm, Miami held me while I cried. The stench of ‘outside’ and the mixture of his sweat didn’t bother me, I was where I wanted to be, back in my man’s arms.
“Your homegirl left that hickey on you?” Miami asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s your word, shorty?”
“Yes, baby.” I sniffled, hating that I was lying to him.
“Alright, bet. Go back to the crib. I’ll be there once I finish up here.” Kissing me on the forehead, Miami pushed me away.
“You promise?” I asked in a childlike voice.
“In this world, all you got is your word. If you ain’t got your word, then you ain’t got shit. Remember that. Like I said, I’ll be at the crib when I wrap shit up over here.”
“Okay, daddy.” Looking Miami in the eyes, I could tell his words were his way of sending me a warning.
However, I refused to confess the truth. That was some shit I was going to take to the grave.
“I feel so bad about this, bae. I’m so sorry.” Reaching for Miami’s injured cast, I pressed my lips on it.
The scribbling on his cast caught my atten
tion. Pulling his hand back, I got a better glimpse of the phone number that was written with a heart. Etching each digit in my mind, I made sure I had the number memorized just in case I had to play like Barbara and call Shirley on some woman to woman type shit.
“Who the fuck is that?” Glancing down at the number one more time, I made sure I had it stored in my memory before looking up at him.
“Don’t question shit regarding what I did when I was single.” He shrugged.
“You was fucking around on me, Miami?”
“Shorty, go to the crib. I’ll be there.”
“Yeah, okay,” I mumbled before stomping my way into the gas station to purchase a Sharpie.
Walking up on Miami, who was engaged in a conversation with South, I reached for his cast and scribbled out the number before writing my name in big, bold letters that covered the cast. Satisfied with my handiwork, I looked up at Miami, daring him to talk his shit.
“You done?” Miami was nonchalant with his words.
“Yup! I’ll see you later, baby.” Standing on my tippy toes to kiss Miami, I skipped away to my car, elated that I had my man back. Finally.
“ W here you about to go?” Hennessy questioned.
Looking over at her, I noted how sexy she looked with her hair tied, naked face, dressed in nothing but one of my t-shirts. Hennessy had that natural beauty that even a blind man couldn’t deny. Her looks were so soft, pure, and innocent. One look at her, and you would never guess all the bullshit she’s been through.
“I’m about to get this cast taken off my hand,” I replied while lacing up my Jordan’s.
“It’s almost eight o’clock at night. Where the fuck you going to do that at? All the clinics are closed right now.” Henny looked at me as if I was spewing shit out of my mouth.
“I know somebody.” Walking over to Henny, I kissed her lips. “I won’t be gone long.” Smacking Henny on the ass, I watched it jiggle before walking out of the door.
Shit between Henny and me wasn’t one hundred percent back to how it used to be, but they were getting better. In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think she was fucking with me. Part of me wanted to call her out on that bullshit ass story she tried to feed me, but the other part of me needed to believe that Hennessy wouldn’t do me like that.
