“I’m pregnant by the way.” I grinned at her as the waitress brought my food. It seemed like she did that shit right on time.
“No’ honey, I’m fine.” My mom smiled at the waitress after she took Chenaye’s order. Speaking of Chenaye, she said nothing, and just watched with her eyes bucked as if this was reality TV. My mom waited until the waitress walked away, and then stood up. “Goldie, you are a huge disappointment. That man will never marry you, and you will be left alone with a baby, no money, no pride, and no dignity. You can never please a man who isn’t close to God like that Quinton. He’s going to ruin your life once he gets bored with you, and I can’t wait.” She grabbed her gloves and walked off.
“Neither of our fathers married you!” I yelled after her, but she ignored me. I didn’t know my point in saying that, but it was the first thing that came to mind that I knew would hurt her.
I hated to admit it, but she’d successfully gotten under my skin. That’s exactly why I avoided talking to my mother. She had the ability to make me feel like shit with just her words. She was so damn mean, and every thing that came out of her mouth dripped with venom. She could kill you with her words, and right now I was feeling like I had a huge sword in my back. A little part of me wanted to cry, but I refused to give her such satisfaction. She wasn’t here, but I was sure her golden child would run back and tell her.
“You’re pregnant?” Chenaye smiled.
“Tell me whatever you have to tell me so that I can go.” I began scarfing down my fries like a nigga on death row.
“You have to promise not to tell mama.” She nibbled on the corner of her lip, and I thought I saw a few sweat beads on her forehead despite the cool crisp air.
“I promise I won’t say anything during our girls’ night out,” I stated sarcastically as I bit my burger.
“Okay. I have a boyfriend, and we’re in love.”
“That’s great, Chenaye. So I guess Rhys is no longer someone you’re interested in?” She cleared her throat, and then shook her head ‘no’. “Good, he has a new girlfriend anyway.”
“He does?” Her eyes became filled with sadness, odd for someone who wasn’t interested in him.
“Yes, he does.”
“Oh, who cares. We need to hang out more you know. We need to come together so that you will have some family and stuff.”
“Maybe.” I sipped my lemonade.
Chenaye and I continued lunch, and surprisingly she didn’t annoy me that much. I would be lying if I said I didn’t light up when I heard her say my mother was irritating her. Maybe it would be good to have my sister, especially if she wasn’t gonna be conversing with my mom on the daily.
Once we finished our food, we promised to hang out again, before I went and got into my car. When I did, I immediately called Britain.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered, making me smile widely as hell.
“Britain, are you happy?”
“With certain things, why?”
“Certain things like what?”
“You, and the baby. That’s about it right now until further notice.”
“Oh okay, well I will see you later.”
“Why did you ask me that?” I could tell he was frowning.
“Just wanted to know that was all. Are you coming over tonight?”
“Yes, but late.”
“Okay.” I nodded and quickly hung up.
And that’s exactly why I stayed clear of my mom; she always made sure to get in my head.
Chenaye Daugherty
I watched as Goldie drove away in her new G-wagon, courtesy of Britain. She thought she was the shit just because her pussy was able to finally come through for her. She’d been a skank for a while now, and it had finally paid off. Was I jealous? Absolutely. I’d done everything I was supposed to do, and the right way, yet here I was without a man and jealous of my scum of a sister. Well, I had a man, but not the one I wanted. You could definitely say I’d settled, but that was only for the time being.
Being jealous of Goldie was nothing new for me, and begun the day my mother and her father brought her home. My father, Walter Daugherty, was a crazy and abusive man who could never hold a job. One night he went to a bar, met a woman, and was about to take her home until her husband showed up and killed his trifling ass. Once he was gone, my mother began dating all kinds of men. I was only about four years old, but I remember distinctly. Every time I looked up she was bringing someone home, and having him buy us things. She had finally hit the jackpot when she met Johnathan Taylor. Mr. Taylor was a wealthy lawyer, nice looking, and was a great man to my mother. My mom was obsessed with him, and therefore she was obsessed with the child they produced, Goldie. She even named Goldie after her favorite color.
From then on everything was about Goldie, and it was almost as if I wasn’t a part of the family. Johnathan tried to include me in things, but it seemed like my mother was the one who preferred that I stay an outcast. I was sure that if she could wish me away at that time, she would have done so.
My mom loved Mr. Taylor, a little too much, which eventually ran him off. He took back the engagement ring and left us, causing my mother to become depressed and gain weight. However, he did promise that if my mother kept Goldie from him, he would support us. He continued to do that until my mom got married to her current husband, Roger. When that happened, he assumed her new man could take care of home, and started only giving money to Goldie as long as she agreed to stay away from he and his wife.
So see, I’ve always had the bad end of the stick, and I refused to continue to let that happen. The only reason my mother liked me more now was because I put on this Christian hat for her and did whatever she told me. Goldie rebelled and therefore she no longer liked her.
I enjoyed things the way they were when shit was going bad for my little sister, but now that her life was looking up, I needed her to help me get mine going in the same direction. Only way that could happen would be to get me back with the love of my life, Rhys.
I made it to the apartment I shared with my boyfriend in Dorchester, and quickly climbed out of the car. I made it up to the door, and did my signature knock since I realized I’d forgotten my key. In no time, he was answering with a big ass smile on his face; a smile that I had seen over the years and still didn’t love. He was simply dick and nothing more, he always had been. The only difference now was that I gave his desperate ass a title.
“So how did it go?” he questioned, letting me by.
“It went well. I can tell she is warming up to me which is good.” I plopped down onto the couch.
“How long before you think she will start letting you come over to her crib and shit?”
“I’m not sure Ethan, and she doesn’t even live with Britain. The goal is to get to Britain’s money right?” I raised my brow and he nodded while sighing.
Ethan and I started fucking around years ago when he was still with Goldie. We were never anything, just simply fuck buddies. He would always beg me to be with him, and swore that he would leave Goldie if I just asked, but I wasn’t going down that road. Unlike Goldie, I could see that Ethan wasn’t shit from miles away. Dudes like Ethan were only good for one damn thing, some dick. I used to laugh at Goldie when I would see her crying over this trash ass nigga. I knew about every time he cheated on her ass, and I never told her. It made my pussy wet to see her in such despair.
Ethan just wasn’t my type, but for now I would be with him because I couldn’t be alone. I hated just being by myself with no boo at all. For as long as I could remember, I’ve always had some kind of homeboy that I could fuck on or something. I would only hit Ethan up if I felt bad for him, or if I only wanted my pussy ate and nothing more. The niggas I fucked with wouldn’t go for that, but he would. Right now though, I was out of options, so I agreed to be with Ethan. He was just some bridge dick until I got the man that I really wanted.
Now we were both conspiring to get Britain’s money from any safes he kept in his home. At l
east that’s what Ethan thought our plan was. My only goal was to get close to Goldie so she could get me back closer to Rhys. I missed him and I knew I could have him. I was so close to getting him to be with me, but his girlfriend, Summer, fucked that up by diverting his attention elsewhere. I just wanted Rhys so fucking bad man, and Goldie could get him for me. Is that so terrible? I mean Kimberlyn did it for her, and now Britain has her hoe ass at the top of the food chain.
“Why are you so far away?” Ethan smiled and pulled on my arm.
“Stop, Ethan.” I removed my arm from his grip.
“Fuck is wrong with you? I thought you said everything went well, Chenaye.”
“It did I just—”
“I swear you better not be trying to get close with old boy. If I find out that you’re out here trying to give the pussy to that nigga, it’s a wrap for you.”
“A wrap for me?”
“Yes, a wrap for you. I don’t play them games and you know it, ma. The plan is to get in good with your hoe ass sister and get that damn money. I know the nigga got a safe somewhere up in his crib, and that’s the only thing you need to be focused on getting.”
“I swear, sometimes I think you love Goldie.”
I think it was a simple case of ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone’. Ethan couldn’t have cared less when he had Goldie, but now that she was gone, I kind of felt like he was realizing he wanted her more than he knew. Niggas always love you more when you start to love them less.
“Well I don’t love her. You know I don’t. I’ve always only loved you, but you stayed on that bullshit. Now that Goldie is with that nigga, you and I can finally be. Did you tell her anything?”
“I just said I had a boyfriend.”
“So you didn’t mention the baby?” he quizzed, and I almost slipped up and said what baby.
I was pregnant by him, and I initially wasn’t gonna tell him, but he found the test. I went and got the abortion anyway because I knew I didn’t want this nigga’s baby. And to be honest, it may not have been his because I’d recently had a one-night stand with this guy from my church. Anyway, the only dude I was having a baby by was Rhys Quinton, and the closer I got to Goldie, the closer I would be to getting pregnant. I smiled as I thought about it. And whomever his new girlfriend was would either have to move over or get killed… her choice.
Summer Gillies
I was inside Trader Joes because I needed a few things from here. I was trying to slowly phase into a healthier lifestyle like Hakim, and this was somewhere that he frequently shopped. I wanted to go alone, but his ass just had to come with me. There weren’t many places that we didn’t go to together. The only time we were apart is if I had to drop Bryleigh off or pick her up from her father’s condo. I think a part of him was a bit afraid that he would get his ass whooped again. I didn’t care about his reasoning, I was just happy his ass didn’t want to come.
As I was looking at the jars of salsa, I spotted a familiar side profile pushing a basket. I waited a bit to see if she would look my way so I could see her face. She finally did when she looked to her right side. I was gonna keep it pushing, but I just couldn’t; I had to say something. I didn’t like her ass, and I wanted her to know. My dislike for her was because of jealousy, but I would never admit it. I would also never admit that it was my fault she had me envious.
“Shopping.” I cut her off when she was about to push her basket.
“Oh hi, Summer,” she smiled as if she was really happy to see me. I hated that she pretended to be some goodie two shoes.
“Don’t act happy to see me, Indiya.”
“I never said I was happy to see you, but I’m not mad about it either.”
I scowled at her for longer than intended, because I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to jump on her and choke her to the ground, but not only would that cause a scene, but Hakim would think I was crazy. He was already suspicious that I wanted to be with Rhys still, and that would only add fuel the fire. I was even risking it by talking to her right now. Due to my thoughts, I looked to see if he was still across the store, and thank God he was.
“Well, I just wanted to talk to you and make sure that you’re not influencing my child. She’s a very impressionable little girl, and I don’t want you convincing her to be a hoe or something.”
“Is this about Bry, or is this about Rhys?” she grinned as if she was so sure that she was right.
“This is about Bryleigh, not Bry.”
“Why would, or better yet, how would I convince her to be a hoe, Summer? Look I understand that you still love Rhys, and you’re a little bothered by us being together, but over time you will get over it. And in case you need to update your database, I’m not an escort anymore.”
“I don’t give a fuck about you being with Rhys! I left him, did you forget?”
“You did, but I think deep down you’re realizing what a big mistake you’ve made. I’m here to let you know that you will never have him back. I want him just as much as you do, and I’m not going down without a fight.”
“I told you I don’t want him, I have a man.”
“A dumb man who can’t even tell that his woman is still lusting after her ex,” she chuckled. “Look, Summer I would love to sit here and go back and forth with you, but I need to finish shopping so I can go home and cook for my boyfriend.”
“Home? You live there?” I thought the skank was just sleeping over a lot, not fucking living there. Rhys and I took ages to start living together.
“Yes, I do. Rhys and I live together, and do everything together.”
“Well, I hope you know about his herpes,” I lied and turned around to power walk away. She was getting me angry, telling me all that shit. I was not in love with Rhys Quinton, and they could both go suck a fat one for all I cared. “I wanna leave.” I walked up to Hakim.
“Okay, let’s just checkout.”
“No, I want to leave right fucking now,” I gritted, making him look at me with a confused expression.
He placed the bag of chips back on the shelf, and then we left out. Once we got in the car, we sat there for a little bit. I wanted him to hurry up and turn the fucking car on, but he was just staring straight ahead like he didn’t know what to do next. Lately everything he did, including breathing, irritated my soul.
“Summer, why did we leave?” he quizzed, still looking straight ahead.
“Because I wanted to leave, I just told your ass that!”
“Did it have anything to do with what you and that girl were talking about? Who is she?”
“That’s Rhys’ girlfriend. I didn’t like what she was saying to me, and I didn’t want to be in the store with her any longer. It’s really no big deal.”
“Why did you approach her?”
“Who said I approached her huh? She could’ve come up to me!”
“Did she, Summer? Did she approach you? I find it hard to believe that she would come up to you when she’s the one that has Rhys.”
I folded my arms across my chest to lock in my hands so that I wouldn’t punch this nigga. His words made my skin hot, because he knew nothing of what he was talking about. At least I tried to tell myself that.
“Leave it alone, Hakim, damn!
“No! I’m not leaving shit alone! All you talk about is that nigga, and now his girlfriend has you up in arms? What did she say to piss you off, Summer? Because I’m starting to think that you wanna be back with that nigga!”
“Well I don’t.” Do I really only talk about Rhys?
“What did she say!” he barked.
“She was making up lies, telling me they live together and how I want her man. I didn’t like her attitude, and I’m gonna make sure I tell Rhys to get her ass in check.” I shook my head as he began laughing. “What?”
“Do you want to be with him?” He finally looked at me. His facial expression was no longer filled with anger, but with innocence. He really just wanted to know.
“No, Hakim, I
don’t want to be with him. If I wanted to be with him, trust me I could. He loves me, not her, so all I would have to do is snap my fingers and he would be back in my life like that.”
“And that was supposed to make me feel better?”
“What is wrong with you? Are you jealous of him?” I furrowed my brows. I’d already told this nigga I wasn’t interested in Rhys, yet he kept acting like I was. I was starting to think his ass wanted to be with Rhys.
“I mean I wasn’t at first, but now I am a little. Can you blame me though? My girlfriend sits up and talks about another man so damn much that it has me wondering if she really even wants to be with me. So yes, there is a little bit of jealousy there.”
“Hakim, I have love for Rhys, but I don’t want to be with him. I want to be with you, I promise. Rhys can’t do anything for me but cause me a headache, and I don’t want that. I want an adult relationship with someone who will love me, and I believe that’s you.” I caressed his face, and then pecked his lips.
I wasn’t sure if I even believed what I’d just said, but I would say anything to get him to shut up and drive me home.
Tarenz “TQ” Quinton
One week later…
For a while now, all day everyday I’d been trying to figure out how and when I’m gonna take my father out. I wasn’t scared at all, but unlike him I had a conscience. He deserved to die, but a little part of me wanted to let him live because he was my father. He may have been a bad one for eighty percent of my life, but he was my dad nonetheless. In addition to that, I would have to take out anyone who was loyal to him, which was a lot of muthafuckas. Outside of his children, my dad had a whole team that killed and did all kinds of shit for him if we couldn’t. Quinton crime family was full of muthafuckas, and we all answered to one nigga, Stony.
Pulling up to my condo, I quickly shut the engine off and got out. It was around 10pm, and hella cold outside. I brought my hoodie up over the back of my head, hit my alarm, and walked across the street after looking both ways. As soon as I stepped onto the curb, some nigga came up on the side of me. I reached for my gun, but was immediately stabbed in the back. I turned to see who it was, and once we made eye contact, he stabbed me again. Men started coming from everywhere, plunging knives into my mid section, arms, and anywhere else they could get to. I was trying to get my gun, but because I was losing so much blood, and constantly being struck, I couldn’t get to it.
You Needed Me III: A Love Story Page 3
