by Lucinda John
“How may I help you ladies?” the receptionist asked.
“We have appointments with Tati,” I replied.
“Tati is finishing up with a client. Once she’s done, I’ll let her know you’re here. Meanwhile, would you ladies care for any refreshments?”
“I’ll take a bottle of water, thank you.”
“Make that two,” Lisa chimed in.
“Two bottles of water coming up,” she said with a smile before walking away.
“I should get a pedicure while we wait.”
“Yes, please do; them toes is looking a little rough, I just ain’t want to say nothing.”
“Fuck you,” I said flagging down the receptionist.
I got me a well-needed pedicure followed by a foot rub. Tati started on Lisa’s hair first, giving me room to get a manicure and a facial. After Tati was done wand curling Lisa’s hair, she cut my hair into a bob and colored it just the way I wanted it done. Satisfied, I gave her a nice tip and made promises to come back for a touch up in two weeks.
When we finally made it back to my house, it was time for us to get dressed. After soaking my body in my new Bath and Body Works “Mad About You” bubble bath, I rinsed off and went to get ready. Adding oil to the “Mad About You” body cream, I rubbed it on my smooth legs, making them glow. Spraying body mist on my naked body, I proceeded to get dressed.
My baby bump looked cute in the all-white, sexy, backless, round-collar long sleeve fishtail maxi dress I wore. I wasn’t going to chance it with heels, so I paired my dress with some silver Jessica Simpson sandals. I accessorized with a silver choker, silver chandelier earrings, and my white diamond dial Michael Kors watch.
Lisa came in the room dressed in a sexy red mini dress with a deep drop in the front. Her breasts held the dress up perfectly, so there wasn’t any need for a bra. The dress showed off her gold belly ring which matched her gold earrings, and pumps. Her long curls flowed and danced with every step she took.
“Yasssss bitch, snatched!” I said snapping my fingers.
“I’m about to show out and teach Ralph’s ass I ain’t the one,” she smiled, touching up my face.
Once we were ready to go, we got in the Lexus Coupe and made our way to downtown Miami. Before we could turn into the strip where all the clubs were located, we were blocked off by cops. The streets were flooded with party goers, trying to turn up. Making a detour, we were able to finally pull up in front of Boss Lounge.
The valet, jogged over to the car, opened the doors for us and went to go park it. The line for the grand opening was bananas. In all my days of clubbing, I had never seen a line so long. A bitch hears free drinks all night and they drop everything to come party. Skipping the line, I walked the red carpet right through the door and was escorted to the VIP section.
The section we were in was in the cut and secluded. We had a view of the whole club, but no one could really see us. Lying back on the couch, I propped my feet up and watched Lisa in envy as she enjoyed her drinks.
“There go your baby daddy,” Lisa said taking a shot of tequila.
“Ahhh fuck, what does he want?” I groaned not really wanting to deal with him.
I knew coming to his club would put me in the position of being close to him. I was trying to remove Stacks from my system and having him all in my face wasn’t going to help me. Stacks walked in our VIP section dressed in an all-black Emporio suit. He was looking like he had just stepped off the cover of a GQ magazine.
“I’m glad you could make it,” he said lifting my legs, and sitting down with them in his lap.
The scent of weed mixed with the Winterfresh gum he was chewing was intoxicating. I was tempted to lift my dress and straddle his lap. Picking up one of my feet, he began to massage it causing a slight moan to slip out of my mouth. I was so spoiled when I was pregnant with the twins that I was missing all the attention I got while I was pregnant.
“I’m about to go dance. This is my shit,” Lisa said, bouncing her ass to Rich Homie Quan’s hit single “Flex”.
Stacks and I sat in silence as he brought his hand to my belly and started to rub it. This is why I didn’t want to come. It was the little things that he did that made me yearn to be with him. I felt myself beginning to crack as I started to get weak for this man.
Leaning me back on the couch, Stacks got on top of me and fed me his tongue. I opened my mouth to accept it, sucking the flavor of the gum he was chewing, off of it. His hands started to roam up my dress, so I spread my legs giving him easy access. He was about to slip two fingers in me until we were interrupted.
“Stack where is the…my bad bruh,” Ralph said causing Stacks to get up.
Saved by the bell, I thought as I used the opportunity to slip away from Stacks. There was no way that my pregnant ass was going to walk through that crowd of people, so I used the VIP bathroom. After using the bathroom, I stood in the mirror looking at myself. I had to remind myself of all the hurt Stacks put me through in order to help me fight off temptation.
When I came back to the VIP, Stacks was no longer there, thank God. I stood up and looked over the banister to get a better look at the club. I laughed as I spotted Lisa dancing with some has been. Ralph was on the other side of the room talking to Stacks with his eyes glued on her.
I watched as a curvaceous girl dressed in some black, high-waist spandex shorts and a purple and black crop top that read ‘Boss Longue’ walk up to Stacks. She said a few words to him, before reaching over and fixing his tie. The look that she had in her eyes was a look I knew all too well; she was feeling Stacks. I watched them smile in each other’s faces some more, until she walked off making her ass jiggle.
Once Ralph was done discussing business with Stacks, he walked over to where Lisa and dude were dancing and snatched him up. Dude tried to buck, but it was cut short when security came and tossed his FUBU wearing ass out. I was amused watching them argue back and forth. The way Lisa was rolling her neck I could tell she was going in on him.
“Stacks wanted me to come bring you this,” thickie that was all in Stacks’ face earlier said, placing a box of hot wings and two bottle of waters down on the table.
If he thought I was going to eat that shit, he had life like fucked up. I saw the way she was looking at Stacks and if she knew I was carrying his child, which I knew she did, I wasn’t going to eat shit from her. I wasn’t going to be dumb and let a bitch fuck with my life just to eliminate me out the game. As long as I was around, Stacks was always going to be team Lala, and a lot of females looked at me as a threat because of that.
“Thank you. Tell baby daddy his unborn and I are full,” I said smiling, rubbing my stomach.
The look on her face looked as if she had just bitten into a raw onion. Smirking, I matched her gaze as I continued to rub on my belly.
“Did you eat?” Stacks asked wrapping his arms around my waist.
Showing little mama who was the head bitch in charged, I turned around, wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the lips.
“Yes, I ate before I came.”
“You sure? You better be feeding my baby.”
“Yes daddy, we ate, we’re good.”
“Thank you Staci,” Stacks said, nodding his head towards her.
“Thank you Staci,” I turned around and smiled, taunting her.
As soon as she was out of sight, I removed Stacks’ hand from off of my ass and went to go sit down.
“You ain’t right,” he said taking a swig of his Corona.
“What did I do?” I asked playing dumb.
“You know what you did, player,” he said getting up and walking away.
For the remainder of the night, I sat back with my feet up and watched everything. I had to admit, Stacks did a really good job with this longue. Since we met, he’d always had plans on doing something like this, and to finally see it come alive made me very proud of him.
Bobbing my head to French Monta
na Ft. Nicki Minaj “Freaks”, I laid my head back on the plush pillow until I fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Lisa
My phone started to buzz back to back when I finally decided to power it back on after disappearing for a week. I went to visit my brother in Missouri to clear my head. I was really questioning if I was ready to deal with Ralph and his baby mama drama. If it wasn’t one, it was the other. The only one that never really gave me any problems was Riley’s mom.
I loved Ralph and I was aware of what I was getting myself into when I decided to be with him. However, I did not sign up for the three baby mamas’ package deal. I wasn’t ready to walk away from my relationship with Ralph, but I didn’t want to deal with his baby mama either.
Paying the cab, I walked in the house and got settled in. I was happy that Ralph wasn’t here. The anger in his voice as I listened to the numerous voicemails he left, let me know that he was beyond pissed. Dressing down in a pair of Ralph’s boxers and wife beater, I decided to get some cleaning done. After doing the laundry, I went to the kitchen in search of something to cook.
“Dumb ass nigga,” I said to myself when I saw the way Ralph’s nasty ass left the kitchen.
Pulling out the items that I would need to make the stuffed shells, I placed them on the counter then cleaned up the kitchen. I was halfway through preparing the meal when my phone rang. Wiping my hand on the dish towel, I answered it.
“Yes my love,” I said, cradling the phone between my neck and shoulder.
“Ohhh bitch you in trouble,” Lala said laughing.
“He that mad?”
“Yes bitch, he been over here every day since you been gone, demanding I tell him where you at.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Now you know me better than that, but I called to warn your ass he on his way home.”
“Chy, ain’t nobody scared of his ass.”
“Mmm hmm, what you doing?”
“Cooking.”
“You better bribe that man with food so he won’t kick your ass,” she laughed.
“Girl, ain’t nobody thinking about that man. Just for that I’m not bringing you no food.”
“I don’t need your food, bitch.”
“Girl bye!”
“No for real, you gon’ bring me a plate.”
“Bye Lala!” I said hanging up the phone.
Putting the stuffed shells in the oven, I grabbed a wine glass from my collection and poured myself a nice glass of red wine. I was on my fifth glass and feeling a little buzzed when I heard the front door open. I stumbled a little bit as I tried to take the food out of the oven. Downing another glass of wine, I waited for Ralph to make his presence known.
“Where the fuck you been?” Ralph snapped.
“Well hello to you too,” I replied, getting two plates from the cupboard.
“Lisa, I’m not playing with you. Where the fuck were you?”
“I was with someone who appreciates me,” I giggled while putting the food on the plates.
“Lisa, don’t fuck with me.”
“I’m not fucking with you,” I replied, walking to the table with my plate of food.
Before I could put the forkful of the stuffed shells in my mouth, it was smacked out of my hand.
“I know you gon’ let me eat my food,” I said sizing Ralph up.
A pissed of Ralph turned into the incredible Hulk and flipped the table over. Getting in my face, he grabbed me by my throat and lifted me up, pushing me into the wall.
“You disappeared for a week to go fuck some nigga?” he asked, shaking me by the grip he had around my neck.
I had never seen Ralph so angry in my life. The look in his eyes read that he was pissed, but deep in them I could also see the hurt. The week I was gone, locked up in my brother’s guest bedroom gathering my thoughts, not once did I even think about another man.
Reaching for the candle holder decor that was mounted on the wall, I picked it up and whacked him across the head with it causing him to let me go. Catching my breath, I picked up the broom stick and started swinging at him like a wild animal. With every connection the broom stick made to his body, I could feel my anger start to boil. All of the built-up frustration that I was holding in was starting to spill out.
“I wasn’t with no nigga you stupid ass bitch,” I said hitting him a few more times. “I wish I was though!” I snapped.
After using his body as a human baseball, I dropped the broom on the floor, fixed me another plate of food and went in the family room to eat. I was midway through my meal when he took a seat next to me with a plate of food in his hand.
“Put your hands on me again and I’m to fuck you up. You get a pass this time,” he said in between bites.
Ignoring him, I finished eating then got up to place my plate in the sink. He got up and followed me into the kitchen.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, where were you?” he said placing both of his hands on the counter so that I was blocked between him and the kitchen sink.
“Why does it matter?”
“Because you my bitch!”
“Who the fuck you calling a bitch?” I asked turning around.
“You know what the fuck I mean!”
“Yeah okay, can you move so I can get ready to go.”
“Keep playing.”
“Who said I’m playing? One thing about me is I don’t play no games. I’ll leave that up to them preschool bitches you be fucking with.”
“Ahh shit,” I screamed out in agony as he bit down hard on my shoulder blade. “What the fuck man?”
“Keep getting out of pocket and I’mma fuck you up. Now where the fuck were you?”
“My brother’s house, damn! Now can you move?!”
“You ain’t going nowhere but up to that room and in that damn bed. Fuck with me if you want.”
“You ain’t runnin’ shit but your mouth,” I said turning around facing him.
“I dare you to walk out that door,” he said walking away.
After putting the food away, I cleaned up the kitchen and went to go take a shower. When I was done, Ralph was laid back on the bed smoking a joint and watching Shottas. He paid me no attention as I gather my things and got dress. Walking out the room, I walked into the guest bedroom and got in bed. I was almost in dreamland when I felt someone shaking me.
“Come get your ass in the bed,” Ralph said, standing in front of me in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts.
“I’m sleepy Ralph, get the fuck out of my face!” I yelled pulling the comforter over my head.
A blast of cool air hit my body as Ralph snatched the comforter off of me. He lifted me up and carried me to the room. Throwing me on the bed, he got in bed next to me and pulled my back into his chest.
“As long as we’re together living in the same house, you will not sleep in any other room besides our bedroom!”
“Ralph, you not finna…”
“Lisa, shut the fuck up and take your ass to sleep. I’m tired,” he said pulling me closer and wrapping his arms tight around my waist.
I was about to doze off, until I was interrupted yet again, this time by his ringing phone. The first three times he ignored the caller. The fourth time he answered the phone. After saying a few “Uh huh’s” and “Okays,” he got out of bed and got dressed.
“Bae you up?” he asked shaking me.
Ignoring him, I pretended as if I was sleep. His lips touched my forehead as he prepared to leave the house. Part of me wanted to follow him, but the other part didn’t give a fuck. Cuddling with his pillow, I inhaled his scent and attempted fall asleep for the third time.
Chapter 9
Ralph
Pulling up in front of Kandi’s house, I parked my car and got out. I swear I was going to fuck her up if this wasn’t a real emergency. Banging on the door, I waited for her to answer. When she didn’t answer, I reached in the flower pot fo
r the spare key and let myself in.
“Kandi, why the… OH SHIT.” I ran to her side when I spotted her lying on the ground.
I felt for a pulse and found a very faint one. Her body was on fire as I carried her to the car. Driving seventy miles per hour, I was able to get her to the hospital in less than ten minutes.
“How can I help you?” the nurse at the front desk of the emergency room asked.
“She’s pregnant and she’s burning up.”
The nurse came over and took Kandi’s temperature.
“How far along is she?”
“Thirty-two weeks.”
“Yeah, her fever is fatal,” she said picking up the phone. “Dr. Singer I need you in the ER, stat!”
I watched as they lifted her body, placed her on a gurney and quickly rolled her away. Taking a seat in one of those waiting room chairs, I sat with my head in my hand and waited for an update. My heart was feeling heavy not knowing if something was wrong with my seed.
It was almost 4am when Dr. Singer finally came out to speak with me.
“Kandi has low blood pressure, which caused the dizziness, fainting, and fever. I am going to keep her overnight for observation, but she really needs to be on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy. She is what we call high risk. She really needs to take precaution to ensure that she delivers a healthy baby. So dad, I need you to take a few days off of work and sit home with her.”
“Okay. Is the baby good?”
“Yes. He’s doing great; nice strong heartbeat.”
“He?” I asked.
“Yes, a little boy. Do you have any questions for me?”
“No. Not at the moment. Thanks doc.”
“Anytime. Next time she comes to the hospital it better be because she’s in labor. Take good care of her. Your child is depending on her to make it into this world safely,” Dr. Singer said before walking off.
I had no idea how I was going to manage two household. There was no way I could live with Kandi and Lisa at the same time. Knowing Lisa, she wouldn’t go for me spending the night at Kandi’s house at all. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I called the one person that could help me out in this situation.
