by Tysha
Prince looked around the house, trying to take it all in. He never realized how good freedom would taste. Prince went to get settled in while Shy finished preparing dinner. He enjoyed a long, hot shower and felt like a new man by the time the family of four sat down to eat. Shy had outdone herself with the menu. Prince savored every bite.
“Hey, cuz!” Quincy greeted with enthusiasm.
“What’s up, bro?” Prince returned his cousin’s energy.
Prince rose from his chair and hugged Quincy. The two were genuinely happy to see one another.
“Look at you. I see you’ve finally cut those braids and shaved. You’re all groomed, man. You almost looking as good as me,” Quincy teased.
“I couldn’t get my stuff twisted in there. It was either get a cut or look like a motherless child, as my mom would say.”
“I feel you, man. You and Jay are hard to identify to the average person,” Quincy replied.
“Well hi to you too, favorite nephew,” Shy said with a sarcastic laugh.
Shy knew Quincy was happy to see Prince so she let his rudeness slide. Any other time, she would have gone upside his head.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Shy. How are you doing?” Quincy gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m glad to have Prince home too. Are you hungry? I can fix you a plate,” Shy offered.
“Yes, ma’am. Give me some of everything.”
Prince, Jayden, and Quincy sat at the table eating, joking, and reminiscing. It touched Shy’s heart to see them all together. Shy decided to start cleaning the kitchen to give the boys some privacy. She had Princess give her a hand.
“Mommy, who’s that plate for?” Princess inquired.
“My friend Mr. Dwayne is coming by,” Shy answered.
“Oh.” Princess sounded disappointed.
“What’s wrong, baby girl? I thought you liked Mommy’s friend.”
“No, ma’am, not really. He acts funny when you leave the room or not looking,” Princess confessed.
“Funny how?” Shy stopped loading the dishwasher and gave Princess all of her attention.
“Mean,” Princess replied simply.
Shy was very in tune with her kid’s personalities and reactions to different things. She knew Princess was not telling a lie or exaggerating her words. Shy knew the judgment of babies and puppies was to always be trusted. Shy and Dwayne had been getting to know each other and she was starting to feel him, though not so much that she wouldn’t heed her daughter’s misgivings.
“He’s not my friend, Mommy,” Princess said in a sour voice.
“Baby, why didn’t you tell Mommy that Mr. Dwayne was being mean to you? Don’t you know it’s my job to protect you?”
“’Cause he really don’t be here to bother me, and Jay-Jay said you seem a little happier since you got a boyfriend. Maybe your heart was ready to like somebody other than Daddy.” Princess explained her reasoning.
“Lilac Princess, if you’re not happy, Mommy’s not happy. Now go get ready for your shower. I’ll be up to check on you soon.”
Shy could hear the twins and Quincy laughing in the dining room. The sound was music to her ears. She had missed Prince and Jayden laughing and talking with each other. Talking to Jayden about her earlier conversation with Princess could wait. There was no way she would interrupt Prince’s celebration. Shy knew Monica, Brianna, and Quincy’s girlfriend, Caron, were coming to join the small gathering.
“I got it, Ma. It’s probably the girls,” Prince yelled out. He was eager to see Monica.
“No, Prince, it’s most likely for me. You go on and relax.” Shy smiled at Prince.
Shy reached the front door just steps ahead of Prince. He stood behind her as she opened the door. Shy found Dwayne standing under the porch light with a bottle of wine in hand. Her face was void of any expression. Shy felt nothing but indifference.
“Hi, Miss Lady, how are you?” Dwayne stepped inside the house.
Prince’s blood pressure skyrocketed. He could not believe the gall of the man standing in his house and kissing on his mother’s cheek.
“What the fuck is this nigga doing here?” Prince yelled.
Jayden and Quincy rushed from the dining room. Shy jumped at the vibration and hatred in her child’s voice.
“Prince, what the hell is wrong?” Shy demanded.
“You don’t recognize this nigga?”
Dwayne was stuck. He stood in fear of the ambush he felt coming but also held hate in his heart for the McGee family.
“This is my friend, Dwayne. Do you know him?” Shy asked.
“His brother was that punk-ass nigga Silk. The snitch that was working with Det. Roberts when he killed dad.” Prince was in a rage. “Oh, nigga, you think you gon’ play with my momma?” Prince had sought out, studied, and lived the entire situation surrounding his father’s death. When he was old enough, Shy allowed him to read the transcripts of all of the witness interviews and Roberts’s report. She had no idea Prince was also finding any information he could about every name mentioned. That traumatic event had never left Prince’s mind or heart. His family only assumed it had because he never discussed that day with anyone, including Jayden.
Those were the last words Dwayne heard before his head was being beat in by the three athletically built teenage boys. They beat Dwayne for the sins he committed against their mother. Dwayne was stomped for disrespecting their father’s memory. He was thrown out on the curb because he gambled and lost. The McGee family wasn’t sure what Dwayne had planned out but after the hospital released him, they were positive he’d never step foot on their doorstep again.
Roberts was mad as hell. He was grabbing a nap to sleep off the alcohol he’d consumed. His shift started in less than three hours and he’d gulped the last of the Crown Royal Black twenty minutes before the disruption.
“Yeah,” Roberts barked into the phone.
“Man, I fucked it up.” Dwayne sounded wounded.
“What the fuck you mean?” Roberts demanded.
“Ya boy is home and he recognized me right off the bat. Man, those young thugs put me in the hospital. You’re going to have to come up with another plan,” Dwayne informed him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have fucked with your stupid ass. You’re just as weak as your soft-ass brother was.”
Click!
“Look at this nigga. Bitch ass let some young boys lay him out. My bad for sending a boy to do a man’s job,” Roberts said aloud before passing out again.
Chapter 21
I Gotta Get Mine, You Gotta Get Out of My Way!
Prince and Monica found it impossible to keep their hands off one another. Monica had missed her boyfriend so much that at times, her body ached. She closed her eyes and devoured his tongue, afraid to open her eyes and discover it was all a dream. The reality of it was Prince was back in her arms. His touch alone made her feel protected and loved. Prince had a way of making Monica feel beautiful, sexy, and happy to be alive. He was the only person able to love her the way she needed. Whether he was taking care of it or breaking it in half, her heart belonged to Prince.
The hotel room was much nicer than Monica expected. She could tell Prince had put a lot of thought into making their first night together special. When Monica saw Prince she raced to him and jumped into his arms. The fact that his mother was witnessing their reunion didn’t matter. They were each other’s first loves and Shy understood how they felt.
Prince was in love with Monica. Her letters, cards, pictures, and voice over the phone helped him hold his head up while he served out his time. Their time apart gave Prince a lot of time to think about how much he truly loved Monica. He’d cheated on Monica multiple times and been busted a handful of times but she was always there for him. Prince regretted the disrespectful way he’d treated Monica. She held him down while he was locked up and for that, Prince owed her better. Prince promised to make Monica feel the love he held in his heart for her.
“This is so sweet. You really
do love me, don’t you?” Monica spoke with tears in her eyes.
“You know I love you, girl,” Prince replied, followed by another wet kiss. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her small waist. The smell of her hair always excited him.
“When did you get the room and how?”
“I ain’t gon’ lie, Unc helped me out. You know I’m not with this romance bull but I wanted to make you happy. You deserve it after holding me down,” Prince admitted.
“Boy, don’t you know I’d do anything for you? We ride or die, always.”
“Go check out the bathroom,” Prince ordered.
Monica was breathless. The tub was filled with floating candles, and a tray of white chocolate-covered strawberries was strategically placed beside it. Two white terrycloth bathrobes were laid out with slippers to match. A mix of slow tunes played through speakers in the wall. It was like something out of a movie.
“What do you want to do first?” Monica asked, already knowing the answer.
“Not what you think.” Prince smirked. “I’m hungry as hell. Let’s order room service and chill out.” Prince kicked off his shoes and picked up the menu. After a quick glance, his decision was made.
“Whatever you say, boo. Can I order a steak?”
“Order what you want, it’s cool.”
After dinner, the young couple settled into their relaxing tub. Prince took his time with Monica. They had sex together before but that night would be different. He was going to take Monica places her mind and body would dream about.
“Lie back, just relax,” Prince directed.
Monica did as she was told. She let her body go and Prince quickly took it over. He gently and slowly washed her from head to toe. Her body was flawless, perfect in every place. Prince felt good to call her his own. Monica’s head was spinning. Prince was making her feel like a woman. His touch sent tingles up her spine. After Prince finished taking care of her, Monica returned the favor. As their kisses intensified it was time to take it to the next level. Prince helped Monica out of the Jacuzzi by lifting her up and carrying her into the bedroom.
“I wanna do some freaky shit to you, girl,” Prince whispered.
“I want you to do some freaky shit to me,” Monica replied.
“Like what?”
“Make me feel good, the way a man is supposed to make a woman feel.” Monica smiled and looked directly into Prince’s eyes. “Then make me feel like a slutty bitch.”
Prince didn’t know where that request came from but he was going to make it happen. After years of sleeping with older women, Prince knew how to handle a woman’s body. He was much more skilled than Monica could have imagined. She was about to become proficient in making love. Prince was intent on putting in work.
LOCAL ATHLETE STAR ON ALL-STATE H.S. BASKETBALL TEAM headlined the Vindicator newspaper.
The city of Youngstown is all abuzz about seventeen-year-old senior Jayden Prince McGee being named one of the starting five for this year’s all-state basketball team . . . .
“This is huge, man,” Quincy said, ecstatic.
“I almost fell out when Coach called me into his office to tell me. There were reporters everywhere. It was crazy. I barely had a chance to tell my mom before it ran on the news last night.” Jayden was overwhelmed.
“I’m proud of my little bro. We gotta celebrate and I’m taking you shopping. My brother’s gonna be styling during his news interviews. Jayden!” Prince shouted for his brother in excitement. “I just realized that you’re going to be on Sports Center. Bro, I swear you’re headed for the NBA.”
“I don’t know about all of that. I’m just trying to get a free ride to college. Be it by basketball or not, my future is not written here. One of us is going to give Ma a better life.” Jayden smiled at the thought.
“Right, right,” Prince agreed as the brothers bumped fists.
“I’m hyped for you, Jay. Everybody is talking about this accomplishment. Prince is right, we have to head over to PA and grab you some gear,” Quincy stated.
“That’s cool, let’s head out now,” Prince suggested, still hyped.
“What about Princess? Ma won’t be home for a minute,” Jayden informed.
“Bring her with us. I’ll buy her a doll, or outfit or something. Or see if Monica or Brianna can keep an eye on her ’til Mommy gets here,” Prince replied.
“Not to change the subject but are we the only seventeen-year-olds still referring to their mothers as Mommy?” Quincy laughed.
“Not in private,” the twins answered in unison and joined Quincy in laughing.
“Let me go grab something and I’ll be ready,” Prince said.
Prince turned and headed toward the basement door. Jayden had completely forgotten about finding his brother’s stash of drugs and money. He hadn’t told Prince about their uncle getting it out of the house.
“Yo, bro, hold up,” Jayden called after Prince.
“Wat up?”
“While you were gone, me and Q had to move Princess’s old furniture in the basement. We found your stuff and called Unc. He’s holding that for you.”
“What?”
“I didn’t know where you kept that stuff. We stumbled up on it and didn’t know another safe place to put it. I didn’t want Mommy to find it and couldn’t chance Princess uncovering it,” Jayden explained.
“Yeah, we called Unc and ask him what we should do with it,” Quincy added.
“Man, I don’t ever want y’all caught up or connected to any of my shit. I’m sorry you had to do it but good looking out for me.”
Prince felt bad about Jayden and Quincy finding his inventory, but was happy his mother hadn’t stumbled upon it.
“It’s nothing. Just call Unc and hook up with him. You know he has your back. I just assumed you were working with him anyway,” Jayden stated.
“I can’t make a move until Unc gets with me so let’s go to PA tomorrow and hit the outlet malls. We can head out in the morning.”
“We can go after practice. Coach makes us practice early morning every Saturday,” Quincy told Prince.
“I thought the season was over,” Prince responded.
“It’s not practice, its conditioning. Coach wants all of his players to stay in shape year round. I don’t mind because we can use the school’s equipment. No monthly membership fees,” Quincy joked.
Prince sent C-Lok a text while he kept up simple chatter with Jayden and Quincy. The three picked up their joysticks and the twins began a game of 2K11 on Xbox. Quincy would play the winner. Two hours later, the tournament was rolling along and Princess had gotten restless. She was bored and demanding attention. The boys took turns playing with Princess until their turn on the game came back around. Prince and Jayden were heavy into their game when C-Lok returned his nephew’s text message. He replied simply: Main spot in 2. Prince was to meet C-Lok at his house in two hours.
Shy walked through the door tired and happy to be home. Prince had been home for a week but due to her work schedule, mother and son hadn’t spent much time together. Though Prince was home, Shy still worried about him. She knew it would only be a matter of time before he was back with his old friends and running the streets. Over the years, Shy spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out where she went wrong. She repeatedly asked herself what she could have done different, what it was she had done to push Prince to answer the call of the streets. Shy blamed herself for his unhappiness, poor decision making, and dangerous lifestyle.
Every time the phone rang Shy held her breath. She couldn’t sleep until both of her boys were home each night. Like most mothers, Shy worried about her teenagers even when she knew where they were. For some reason, Prince thought very little of himself. He failed to dream and set goals for the future. Prince and Jayden were equally intelligent. Jayden was focused on his future whereas Prince focused on the right now.
Shy joined the kids in the family room and plopped down on the couch between Princess and Quincy.
She was thanking God it was Friday because she had the weekend off. Shy was hoping to spend it with her kids. Some mommy love would do her a world of good.
“You looked great in that picture the newspaper printed, Jay. All of my coworkers were acting so excited and happy for you. Half of them have never said a word to me before. Now they fronting like we’re the best of friends,” Shy complained.
“Thanks, Ma. Did you have a long day?” Jayden responded to his mother’s words.
“Yes, working with the public is difficult. I had to draw blood from more than just a few today. I’m glad all of you are here because I need to talk about something,” Shy announced.
The twins, Quincy, and Princess all looked a little worried. It was rare for Shy to need to speak with them at the same time.
“What’s wrong, Aunt Shy?”
“Everything cool, Mommy?” Prince asked, concerned.
“Yes, everybody calm down. I’ve been thinking about going back to school. I found out today that I was accepted into the hospital’s nursing school,” Shy began.
“Go for it, Mommy, if that’s what you want to do,” Prince encouraged.
“There’s also another two-year program that interests me. It will allow me to become an X-ray and sonogram technician. So what do y’all think I should do?” Shy asked nervously. She’d been thinking about her career in the medical field and decided she could be doing much more than just drawing blood. It was hard deciding what field to go into so she decided to ask her family for their opinions.
“Aunt Shy, if you become a registered nurse, you can work in any state across the country. Plus, the pay is great.” Quincy offered his vote.
“I’m leaning toward you being a nurse too. They make good money and we wouldn’t have to worry about you and Princess so much,” Jayden voiced.
“I say do whatever makes you happy, Mommy. We want you to live the way Dad wanted,” Prince added.
Shy smiled at her boys. She loved the relationship they shared. They’d always been comfortable talking to her, no matter what. No subject matter was off-limits.
