My Baby Is a West Coast King

by Shvonne Latrice

  “You can’t speak, Mischief?” she spat before Ishmael got in.

  “Sup.”

  Ishmael got in the front seat, and leaned over to kiss her neck. Once we got on the road, Ishmael plugged up his phone and played some music while rolling a few blunts. I was twisted enough, so I was gonna pass on that. My temper was already bad, and getting even more lifted would have me acting a straight fool.

  The party was down in crowded ass Hollywood, so I was thankful that I didn’t drive. I hated coming down here for functions because the shit was a damn mess, always. After Chaz paid for Sammi to park valet, we exited the car and hit the corner to get inside of the club. I saw my baby on the banner, so I realized this was that nigga Zaelyn’s birthday party.

  “Oh shit, nigga, that’s your girl,” Kordell pointed at the banner. Laine was looking sexy ass hell in that dress. I hadn’t hit for a few days now, since she was tripping, but hopefully, tonight I would be slamming her.

  “What’s good, man?” I dapped up the bouncer because I knew him from Compton High.

  “Nothing much, gon’ head in,” he gestured for the five of us to walk.

  “Kordell! Kordell, baby take me with you!” some random hoe yelled, but we just kept it pushing on inside. Bitches act just as dumb when you’re locally famous versus if you were international. Everybody on the west knew the Hunnit Boyz and Mischief, and the women were always ready and willing.

  As we made our way through, I felt Sammi’s eyes on me but I was focused on looking for someone else. Chaz went up to the VIP area so we all followed, and when I looked behind the deejay to see Zaelyn’s booth, I spotted Laine. She was wearing a tight ass red dress with no straps, and was cut out around her stomach, showing her belly ring. The dress stopped mid thigh, exposing her sexy golden legs. Her pretty feet appeared to be in some type of heels where here toes were out, and her hair was hanging down, looking all wavy and shit the way she liked.

  “Damn, your girl looks good as fuck,” Ishmael commented, and I just glanced at him before nodding my head.

  “Why you wear this shit? Yo’ ass stay banging on bacon,” Chaz touched my jacket and I just laughed, keeping my eyes on Laine.

  Kordell was smoking his blunt with some random girl in his lap already, as Ishmael hugged on Sammi who had her eyes on me. She was starting to annoy the fuck out of the kid, and Ishmael was dumb as hell for not seeing how on my dick his bitch was.

  I bobbed my head to the music and when I looked down onto the dance floor, which was right up under us, a girl smiled and waved at me. She was fine, and from looking down I could already see she had a fat ass. I loved thick bitches, and she for sure fit the criteria.

  “Come up,” I mouthed and nodded my head.

  She tousled her golden blond hair, and then grabbed her friend’s hand before they came up the stairs leading to the VIP.

  “Nigga, are you serious? Laine is right there,” Chaz pointed.

  When he did, I saw some nigga wrap his arms around her waist and kiss her neck.

  “Shai,” Chaz said, already knowing it was a wrap for this party.

  “Nah, move.” I made my way around him and barged into the VIP next to us. “Aye blood, she’s off limits.” I approached the guy trying to hug all up on mine.

  “Shai—”

  “Who are you?” he looked me up and down with a frown.

  “I’m about to be your worst nightmare, muthafucka, so you’d better keep yo’ hands off her,” I hissed, getting in his face. I could feel Laine grab my bicep.

  “Ain’t my fault your bitch is all on me—”

  WHAM!

  I sent him flying back, and he fell onto the table knocking a gang of shit over.

  “Shai!” Laine squealed, as people started to panic.

  “You want it?” I raised my shirt to show my 9mm when the dude hopped back up like he wanted to fight. He quickly changed his mind, and stormed off holding his nose.

  “Over here!” Laine hissed and switched off with her sexy ass. I laughed and followed her. People parted like I was Moses or some shit, because I guess they were scared I was gonna shoot their asses. “Seriously?” Laine asked once we slipped into some small room on the first floor in the back of the club.

  Sliding my hands into my jacket pockets, I leaned up against the wall, and stared down at her from under my hat.

  “What I do? He was touching you and I ain’t like it,” I spoke without enthusiasm. That molly and champagne had me slightly gone still.

  “So what! I thought that was what we did, deal with other people when we weren’t around each other!”

  “You fucked him?” I leaned up off of the wall, hot as a muthafucka just thinking about any other nigga digging in my pussy.

  “No, I’ve only been with you since I’ve been out here. And I don’t even like him.” Letting out an exasperated sigh, she said, “You cannot do this shit, Shai. This is my work, and you are not my man!”

  “I do what I want.”

  “You know what, just leave me be and don’t talk to me ever again. Thank you.”

  “Aight, aight, I’m sorry about embarrassing you on your job and shit, babe. I just… a feeling came over me when I saw that nigga kiss on you. I can’t and won’t allow another nigga to push up on you, especially in my presence.” I had my arm wrapped around her waist as I stared down at her. She looked off, not wanting to make eye contact with me.

  Since she hadn’t said anything, I started kissing her lips and backing her into the wall. My hands rubbed up her smooth thighs until I reached between her legs. It was heat radiating from it, which had my dick hard just thinking about how good she felt. Ever since I got it raw, my head had been gone.

  “Stop, I can’t afford to do this,” she pushed my hand from between her legs.

  “Baby, I’m sorry,” I spoke against her lips before kissing her again. I was too horny for her to turn me down.

  “It’s not that. Every time we do this,” she pointed from me to her, “I get more attached to you and I don’t wanna be.”

  “I want you to be.”

  I kept her pinned against the wall, and hooked her chin to look up at me. I pecked her lightly, and then pulled away to look into her sad eyes. I wanted to give her what she was asking for, but I knew how that shit would end. I would fuck up and she would hate me.

  “You want me to be attached to you and alone, while you go do whatever with these other bitches. It’s not about to happen. I’m not like those other girls that do whatever you want them to. If you want to be the only one touching me, man up.” She slipped past me and I grabbed her arm to stop her so she looked at me.

  I didn’t know what to say, so she just snatched away and stormed out. I couldn’t give her what she wanted from me at this point, so it was best I let her go.

  After going back out into the club, I went up to the VIP where my brothers were. I was surprised they didn’t throw my ass out, especially now that I realized the dude I punched was Zaelyn and this was his party.

  Shrugging at my thoughts, I took a seat on the plush couch next to Chaz, and just scanned the area with my hands in my pocket. Kordell was nowhere to be found, which meant he was fucking some bitch in the bathroom, and Ishmael and Sammi were tonguing it up. I was praying that she left me alone and went back to him.

  “How can he kiss her hoe ass knowing yo’ dick been in her mouth?” Chaz frowned as I laughed and shrugged.

  I glanced over to the VIP Laine was in, and saw her taking pictures with people and looking good enough to eat. That was over though, so I looked away in order to ease the bulge rising in my jeans. As I adjusted my hat, the girl that I told to come up, slid into my lap. Suddenly I wasn’t in the mood, and still high as a muthafucka.

  “Fuck you doing sliding in my lap like you my bitch?” I hissed, making her hop up like my jeans were burning her. I stood up to look down, making sure none of her hoe secretions had stained my jeans.

  “Whatever, fuck you nig—”

  I graspe
d the back of her neck tightly, not to hurt her but just to get a good grip. I then leaned down and whispered somewhat calmly in her ear, “Watch ya mouth.”

  She nodded her head and when I let her go, she rushed out of the VIP and back down to the dance floor like a roach when you hit the lights.

  “Bro, you nuts,” Chaz shook his head, laughing and texting on his phone.

  As I sat down I saw Laine looking at me, so I mouthed “I love you,” and grinned. She flipped me the bird, and when I gestured to go fuck in the bathroom with a smile, she turned her attention elsewhere.

  For the rest of the night I watched her, making sure no nigga got in her space. And I guess after what I did to the birthday boy, no one wanted to. Whatever the reason was, I was just happy no one disrespected me by approaching her. I didn’t give a fuck what she said, I would never allow another muthafucka to push up on her in my presence. Girlfriend or not, that pussy had my name on it.

  Laine

  Just four short days later…

  I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing, so I reached onto my dresser to grab it. I was hoping it was Mischief even though I shouldn’t have been. Ever since that incident at the club, we hadn’t talked, and honestly that was for the best. The further we stayed away from one another, the easier it would be for me to forget about this nigga and focus only on my career.

  “Hello?” I answered after seeing it was Erynne.

  “So what if I told you I was coming out to visit you.”

  “Are you serious?” I sat up, peeling the covers off of me and seeing that Cassie, for the fifth time this week, wasn’t in her bed in the morning.

  “Yes, I’ve been working overtime and doing a lot of hair on the side, so I think I will have enough to pay my rent, cell phone, and car note, then come out there.”

  “Hey, I can get you a ticket no problem. I told you work is coming in for me like crazy, Erynne.”

  “I know, but I don’t want—”

  “How many damn times have you loaned me money even though you probably needed it as cushion for yourself?”

  “I lost count,” she chuckled.

  “Shit, me too, so let me do this for you. How much time did you get off work, and what days?” I pulled out my small notebook and grabbed my pen so I could write it down.

  “Well, I planned to come next weekend from Thursday until Monday.”

  “Damn, bitch, they let you off for that long?”

  “Well, I never call off so my vacation hours just built up. They have no choice in the matter, really.”

  “Alright then, I will get your ticket after I get ready, and then I will send you the information, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Oh my gosh, bitch, I’m so happy you’re coming. We’re about to have a blast.”

  “Don’t I know it. I see the pictures you post, and the ones that nigga Jude posts too. You always look so pretty. I be at work bragging like crazy!”

  We laughed in unison.

  “I love you,” I sighed, smiling. I really missed my best friend. She got in my ass about my priorities a lot, but I loved that about her.

  “I love you more, boo. So how are things with Mischief?” she sang, and I could hear her grinning.

  “Things are over with. I haven’t talked to him since he rolled up at that club I worked and knocked that guy Zaelyn across the face.”

  “Girl, I read about that shit on one of them gossip blogs, but they didn’t say who punched him. All they said was some gang banger knocked Zae on his ass.”

  Laughing, I replied, “Well that’s him. He’s so rude, mean, and crazy but I just, ugh, I just love him.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Not love him like that, bitch, I mean like, I really like him. People don’t know him like I do, so they don’t even realize how calm and collect he can be. He’s so sweet when he wants to be but…”

  “But what?”

  “He’s just like every other nigga, Erynne.” I stood up to start collecting my things for a nice hot shower, so I could reply to some emails on my new Mac computer. I smiled just thinking about the fact that I actually had a laptop.

  “Every other nigga? Laine, you’ve been in one damn relationship,” she giggled.

  “No, I know, but I’ve dealt with dudes before Tarik. I didn’t have sex with them for obvious reasons, but I still spent time with them.”

  “So what’s Mischief’s problem?”

  “He claims he isn’t ready to be in a relationship. I just met him so I’m not asking that he be my man just yet, but I’m asking that he at least just focus on me until we figure something out.”

  “I get it. Well fuck him then. But let me ask you before we get off the phone, does he have any friends? I’m single and trying to mingle while I’m out there.”

  “Friends? Just some gang bangers that he wouldn’t let me meet. But he has two brothers, Kordell and Chaz. Oh, and a cousin Ishmael.”

  “And? What they looking like?”

  “They’re all like six feet six and above—”

  “That’s all I need to hear! Got damn! I’m mad at you for not putting me on before! Get off my phone!”

  “Bye, crazy,” I laughed just before we hung up the phone. Erynne was shy as hell, but she loved to play like she wasn’t which I found to be funny.

  I went to the bathroom and tied my hair up into a bun before brushing, flossing, and using Listerine. I then cleaned my face with my scrub, before hopping into the shower with my Olay body wash. I’d been feeling down these past few days, despite work rolling in like clockwork, but now that I knew Erynne was coming next week, my mood had improved.

  I stepped out and dried off, then went into my room to slip on some tights and a sports bra. I wasn’t planning on working out today, but this was such a comfy outfit.

  As I made my way downstairs, I spoke to some of the girls who I’d gotten to know a little better. One in particular was named Kady, and even though at first I thought she was a stuck up bitch, I realized she was just shy and quiet. We had a good time at Zaelyn’s party together though.

  Once I’d gotten to the kitchen, I made myself an omelet and a waffle, with a glass of juice to go with it, before sitting down at the table. As I was scarfing my food down, Jude came in wearing shades like the sun was in the house.

  “Good morning,” I said, covering my mouth since I was chewing.

  “Morning, beautiful. How are you?” He sat adjacent to me.

  “I’m great, you?”

  “I’m alright. I’m proud of how much work you’re getting. I’ve never seen anyone come in this house and skyrocket like you and Cassie have, since Rita and Kady.”

  “Wow, really? I mean, between me and you, I didn’t really recognize any of the other girls except Rita and Kady when I got here.”

  We chuckled together.

  “I’m sure. But because I see so much promise in you, Laine, I wanted to talk to you about the company you keep.”

  “I’m not from here, Jude. I don’t have any company really.” I shoved some more of the omelet into my mouth.

  “That guy, Mischief. You’ve been with him, right?”

  I opened and closed my mouth, because I didn’t expect him to know that. The only people that knew about Mischief and I were Cassie and Rita. Kady too, but that was only because she witnessed him hit Zaelyn.

  “Yeah, umm, do you know him?”

  “I don’t know him but I know of him. Producer, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah, Mischief is pretty popular on the L.A. scene, he and his brothers. They’re in a rap group called the Hunnit Boyz. Listen, Laine, Mischief is an extremely talented guy, but his head ain’t screwed on all the way. You do know that he’s a gang banger, right?”

  “Yes.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I felt like a daughter being scolded by her father in this moment.

  “Okay, so don’t surround yourself with that madness, baby girl. You got make-up lines that are in Sephora,
emailing you to use your face. You’re better than some unhinged producer who is probably leading you on. Now don’t get me wrong, he’s going places because his producing talent is out of this world, but you deserve better.” He pinched my chin and smiled.

  “I don’t talk to him anymore, Jude, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  “Then why is he outside of the house right now?”

  “He is?” I shrieked, more excited than I should have been.

  “Yeah, you didn’t just see all the ladies rushing to the front of the house?”

  “I did but, I didn’t think anything of it. I’m so sorry, Jude. I will get rid of him and make sure he never comes back.”

  “Thanks. I don’t need him bringing his Crip homies over here.”

  “He’s a Blood… you’re right, it doesn’t even matter,” I chuckled nervously. “Okay, be right back.”

  I covered my food with a napkin, and then rushed towards the front of the mansion. I saw the door was wide open, and all of the girls except Kady, Rita, and Cassie were outside giggling and surrounding Mischief like he wasn’t some ain’t shit nigga. Of course, his expression was stoic as he looked down at them, leaning up against his black Impala, moving his lips, saying something.

  “Did you need something?” I moved closer to the crowd of girls and him. I tried to frown even though I wanted to swoon at his sexy evil mug.

  “Laine, this is Mischief,” this chick named Amelia said, smiling and licking her lips at him.

  “Ladies, can we have a moment,” he stated dryly, his eyes never leaving mine. I glanced away because he had me feeling uncomfortable.

  Once they left, I asked, “Can I help you?”

  “You look good as fuck right now.” His hands were planted deeply in the pockets of his black bomber jacket. Everything he had on was black, except his red chucks, the red rag in his pocket, and his baseball cap that read Bompton.

  “Mischief.”

  “Aight man, umm,” he ran his hand down his face and adjusted his hat. “I miss you, kind of.”

  “Kind of?”

  “Nah, man, I do. I miss talking to you and shit like that, you know. Not to mention I wanna fuck.”