by Lucinda John
“Girl please, Smoke isn’t kin to Stacks and I doubt he’ll go after anyone who kills him. A nigga like Stacks will just replace his ass.”
“Whatever you say,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. “Now, what’s wrong with you?” she asked, seeing right through me.
“There’s nothing wrong with me girl,” I said, waving her off.
“Draya, I know you like the back of my hand and I see the way your left leg keeps tapping against the tile. So what’s the tea fish?”
“Geek is still fucking with that young ass girl,” I said.
“How do you know?”
“These fucking pictures appeared in my mailbox. Both of them were in the airport, hugged up and kissing, I have a feeling he took her somewhere, while me and the kids went to Disney.”
“Damn, he’s doing it like that now?”
“Yes bitch, that nigga sat in my face and lied to me,” I spat.
I was pissed that Geek would try and play me like that. I was even more pissed that she was fucking my nigga after finding out he was a married man. Bitches like her made me sick, but I had something for that ass.
“Do you think it’s worth it?” Tangi asked.
“Is what worth it?” I said, hoping she wasn’t insinuating that I leave Geek.
“Being married to Geek. I mean I know y’all got a family and all, but the disrespect is real. He carried on a relationship with that girl, had her living in your house, playing mommy to your kids, while rocking a fat ass rock on her finger. I mean, he ain’t the type of nigga that deserves a second chance,” she lectured.
“Tangi, baby, I have invested too much in my husband for me to walk away and let some bitch that’s still pissing in the bed have him,” I said.
“Do you really love him or do you love his status?”
“Both. Yes, I have my real estate company to fall back on, but I enjoyed not having to step foot in that bitch. The only thing I do is sign off on paychecks and chill at home with my family, while getting paid. I don’t even need the job, but I have it under my belt as my back up. I absolutely love the perks of being married to Geek. With him next in line to take over, I’m not trying to lie down and let the next bitch come up.”
“Damn, what happened to fuck love and get money?”
“Everybody can’t be cold-hearted like you Tangi,” I rolled my eyes.
“I bet my cold-hearted ass won’t ever get played. I only need a nigga for two things, dick and money. That’s why I love the profession I’m in. I get to fuck with ballers, have them spend racks on me, get fucked good, kill, and get paid for doing it. Life for me is sweet, no nigga equals no problems,” she smirked.
“Yeah, but when you ass grow old and alone in a house filled with cats, I bet you’re gonna wish that you settled down.”
“Yeah. Okay. Whenever I want kids, I’ll come pick up Tamia and Tamya,” she waved me off.
“Back to business, I need you to move in on Smoke, ASAP.”
“Damn girl, you giving me a target with no visual. Is the brother fine?” She asked.
“Here,” I said, showing her a picture that Geek gave me.
“Damn, this nigga look like the African prince from Zamunda or some shit,” she said, lusting over the picture.
I wasn’t going to lie, I used that picture to stroke my clit a few nights, when Geek wasn’t acting right. Smoke was a blessed motherfucker in the looks department; however, my husband held all my devotion.
After we wrapped up our meeting, I called Geek to let him know that everything with Tangi was handled. When he didn’t answer my phone call and started forwarding them to voicemail, I got furious. It clicked in my head when I realized that I had the “find me” location setting on both of our phones.
When I looked up his location, I saw that he was on the other side of town in a housing development. He was probably somewhere handling business, but to be sure, I clicked on the arrow so that I could get the directions to his location. Thank goodness for Steve Jobs and his invention of the iPhone, I thought as I located my husband’s car. I didn’t want to alarm anyone, so I decided to park across the street behind a dumpster. Pulling off my heels, I popped my trunk and slipped on my gym shoes with a pair of shorts. If my husband was in here with that bitch, she was getting fucked up.
I stood next to his car for a good hour before I saw headlights approaching me. I hurriedly ran behind Geek’s car and ducked low so they wouldn’t spot me. The car parked next to Geek’s car, then came to a stop. The driver, killed the ignition, then I heard the doors of the car open and close.
“Let me hit it one more time and put you to sleep like I did in Jamaica,” I heard my husband say.
“You ain’t hitting shit,” the bitch laughed. “You better go home to your wife, the one who has been blowing you up all day,” she said.
“Man, here you go with that bullshit,” Geek sucked his teeth.
“I’m serious, I’m not fucking with you until you make good on your promise,” she said.
“And what promise was that?” I asked, jumping from behind the car, making my presence known.
Geek was looking like a deer stuck in headlights. He didn’t see me when I maced Karrueche and jumped on her ass. I was punching her only in the face, making sure to leave marks and bruises. Karrueche was on the floor, crying out for help, when Geek finally snapped out of his trance and pulled me off of her.
Geek tossed me to the side and rushed to her, checking her face for the damages I made. My blood started boiling as I watched him tend to that bitch, instead of me, his wife. Pulling out the mace, I ran up on him and maced his ass until he fell down to his knees. I used that to my advantage and started kicking his ass. Some nosey neighbors must have called the cops because flashing blue and red lights filled the block soon after.
I felt the cops slap cuffs on my hands and drag me to the back of a squad car. I was fuming as I sat back and watched everyone tend to that yellow bitch. I couldn’t quite see what Geek saw in her, that wasn’t in me. The only difference between us was the fact that she was a pork fried rice, mixed bitch. When my husband’s vision became clear, he was standing next to Karrueche’s side, as if his wife wasn’t getting ready to go to jail. This bitch had another thing coming if she thought I was going to sit back and allow her to reap the benefits from what I’ve sown.
*****
“Where is Geek?” I asked, when Tommy bailed me out of jail, instead of my husband.
“He’s at mom’s house with the kids,” he replied.
“What! Bring me the fuck over there,” I snapped.
“You really want to go over there looking like that?” he asked, pointing at my ripped clothes.
“You’re right, swing me by the crib first,” I said.
“I heard you put your paws on that hoe,” Tommy joked.
“Shut the fuck up Tommy, I ain’t cool with you! You watched Geek carry on with this bitch, knowing he was married,” I rolled my eyes.
“Trust me Draya, mom and I tried to warn his ass, but you know how Geek hardheaded ass is.” He said.
“Yeah okay,” I sucked my teeth, focusing my attention out the window.
Without my permission, a few tears fell from my eyes, causing me to break down in sobs. I couldn’t understand why my husband would hurt me so bad. I did everything that a wife was supposed to do. I birthed his children, cooked his meal, ironed his clothes, kept the house cleaned, fucked him silly, and even sat in the lab with him for hours while he tested formula’s for new pills. I was the real definition of a ride or die, but I was losing the battle to a bitch that came straight out of the sandbox.
“Draya, it’s going to be okay. The only reason I’m telling you this is because you’re y my sister in law, the way to get him back is to make him miss you. For no reason at all, get dressed up all cute and shit, then leave the house for hours. Butt dial him on purpose and fake conversation with nigga’s. Start giving that nigga a dose of his own medicine and I swear to you, he’ll a
ct right. A nigga loves to play a female, but hate to get played,” he said.
“I hear you.” I sniffled. “Good looking out.”
“Anything for you sis. Go lie down and get yourself together; don’t go chasing after that man, that’ll only run him further into her arms,” he said, once he made it to the house.
“Good night,” I said getting out.
“Night sis,” Tommy replied.
The car stayed out front until I was safely in the house. I wanted so badly to go back to Karrueche’s house and fuck her up again, but I had enough of jail for one night. I ran a nice hot bath, rolled a blunt, and poured me a few shots of Brandy. Lighting my Japanese Cherry Blossom candle, I slid my body in the hot water and let out a deep breath. The feeling of the hot water beating against my exhausted body, had me relaxed.
Lighting the tip of the blunt, I took in a long pull as my mind traveled back to some of the happier memories Geek and I shared, such as our wedding day, the birth of our twins, and the purchase of our first house. All of the things we accomplished together was the fuel that I needed to hold on to him. My husband wasn’t perfect, but I was willing to bet my last dollar that nobody’s husband was. Like my mother would say when she was still alive ‘all men are dogs, the difference between them is how they’re trained’. I had to get my dog back in check, and quick.
Once the water got cold, the shots were done, and my blunt was now a roach. I slid my intoxicated body out of the water and laid in the bed wet. I thought of the night Geek and I fucked all over the kitchen and my pussy started to get wet. Spreading my legs apart, I licked my fingers before bringing myself to a powerful orgasm off the visual of me and my husbands lovemaking.
Chapter Ten
Karrueche
“Geek, I need you to leave now,” I said, holding the door firmly so that he couldn’t push his way in.
“CheChe, baby, I am so sorry. I had no idea that she was going to bust in on us like that,” he pleaded.
“It’s my fault; I should have left you alone. Trust me, it won’t happen again. I’m done with you for good.”
“You don’t mean that,” Geek said.
“I do.” I pulled off the promise ring from my finger and tossed it at him.
“Come on, baby, don’t do this to me,” he said, on the verge of tears.
“Geek, I can’t allow you to string me along while you’re married. Look what your wife did to my face,” I said, pointing to the bruise on my cheek.
“I know, baby, and I am so sorry.”
“You are filled with ‘sorry’ and I’m tired, I just want to be in a normal relationship.”
“I swear, if you thinking about being with anyone else, I will kill that nigga!” He fumed.
“Geek, I don’t have time for this. Go home to your wife before she brings her crazy ass back over here!” I yelled, slamming the door in his face.
Geek started to beat on my door like he was a part of the SWAT team. Placing my back against the large wooden door, I slid down to the ground and cried. I couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to give Geek another chance, knowing he was married. A gut-wrenching scream escaped my mouth, as I began to cry out all my frustrations. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get Geek out of my system. He was bad for me, like land to a fish, and yet, I always fell into his deceitful arms.
Heavy knocks at the door, caused me to jump up from the floor. I was furious that Geek was still outside beating at my door like a maniac. Grabbing the metal baseball bat from the closet, I unchained the door. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the bat, but I clutched it tightly in my hand. I swung the door open, ready to clock Geek upside the head with my bat, until my eyes fell on a smiling Smoke.
“Damn, little mama slow down, don’t kill me,” he said, putting his hands in the air to surrender.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
“You mean that nigga that can’t see to keep his hands off you,” he said, touching the bruise that was on my cheek.
“He didn’t do this, his wife did,” I replied, with my head down.
“His wife?” Smoke asked, with his face scrunched up.
“It’s a long story.”
“I have a few hours to spare,” he said, looking down at the big face Rolex that took up half of his wrist.
“I don’t really want to burden you with my drama,” I said.
“Nonsense, I came by to bring your belated birthday gift since you were away, but I don’t mind staying,” he replied, handing me a gift bag.
I grabbed the bag from his hand and moved to the side so he could get inside. I locked and chained the door shut, then prayed Geek didn’t come back like some deranged maniac. I walked into my cream and teal living room, then took a sit on the sectional next to Smoke.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I smiled.
“I didn’t, but I wanted to,” he replied.
I opened the gift bag and pulled out a long red velvet box. Running my fingers across the velvet, I opened it and was at a loss for words at the diamonds shining at me. Lifting the necklace out of the box, I fingered the huge heart pendant that was covered in diamonds.
“Open the heart,” Smoke said.
“Oh my God!” I cried, once I opened the locket.
On one side of the heart was a picture of my father and on the other was one of Kareem. In the center it read Forever in my heart. I was so shocked as I stared at my birthday gift from him.
“How did you do this?” I asked, on the verge of tears.
“With the help of Mrs. Michael. Now your father and son will always be a part of your heart,” he said, reaching for the necklace so he could put it around my neck.
I held my hair up so that it would be easier for him to put it on me. When his fingers brushed again the skin of my neck, I melted. I inhaled his cologne and once again I was intoxicated by his scent. Smoke was always well dressed and smelled so good. Today, he decided to lounge in men thot wear; gym shorts, t-shirt, and Nike slides. It looked like he got a fresh haircut prior to coming over because his waves were making me seasick. Instead of his pearly whites, he opted for wearing his grill, which gave him that thuggish look.
“Thank you,” I said, once he was done.
I picked up the heart pendent and twirled it around my fingers. This was by far the best gift I have gotten for my birthday, including my birthday trip to Jamaica. Thinking back to Jamaica had my mind falling on Geek and his hurtful ways. Unable to bear the pain anymore I burst into a fit of tears.
“What’s wrong?” Smoke asked.
“It just hurt so bad,” I cried, clutching my heart.
“Talk to me.”
“The guy I’ve been engaged to all this time is married. He hid a whole marriage from me all this time. I mean, he had me believing that I was the one who was going to carry his last name.”
“That nigga is a sucka. No real man will string a woman along, knowing he had a wife. Being somebody’s wife should seal all deals. When you decided to stand before God with a woman it means you promise to love, cherish, and be with her for the rest of your life. The end. No sidelines, girlfriends, or fiancés. To be honest, Karrueche, you are way better than that. You are beautiful, smart, and strong. You may not see it now, but you hold the strength of a million men,” he said.
“Before you can love anyone, you have to love yourself first. You have to fall in love with who you are, before you can offer yourself to another person. Focus on yourself and school, everything else will fall in place,” he continued.
“I love him so much though.”
“I know, and that’s why I admire women, because you ladies have the ability to love so hard, while men take that shit for granted.”
“What am I supposed to do now?” I asked, in a childlike voice.
“Throw all of this energy into school, focus on building your confidence up so solid that no man, with their bullshit, will be able to tear it down.”
Instead of
responding, I just sat there and cried. Smoke pulled me into his strong arms and rubbed my back as I allowed the tears to flow. I somewhat felt embarrassed that he was seeing me at my most vulnerable state, but he was the only one I had at the moment. I was so embarrassed when I had to explain to the Michael’s about what happened between Geek’s wife and I, that I’ve basically been staying in the house and to myself.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, but when I woke up, Smoke was gone and Shantika was sitting on the couch across from me, mugging me.
“When did you get here?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“Don’t try to change the damn subject,” she said, calling me out.
“Shantika, please not today,” I rolled my eyes.
“If I don’t tell your little ass about yourself then I wouldn’t be a good friend.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“I know I fucked up.”
“You lied to me! You told me you went to Jamaica with your cousin.”
“I know, I just didn’t want you to look at me, the way you’re looking at me now, so I lied.”
“Karrueche, you have to be smarter than this,” she said. “That man is married, and married men don’t usually leave their wife for their side chicks.”
“I’m not a side chick,” I snapped.
“Then what are you? What do you call a woman that sleeps with a married man?” She asked.
“Confused.”
“Confused about what? What is there to be confused about? Geek is married and a dirty dog that does not have the capability to change. Look at your face CheChe, for God sake!”
“I’m going to kill Mrs. Michael,” I whispered.
“No, you need to thank her for calling me. Now I see I have to definitely move back down here, and quick, because you are losing yourself for a no good ass nigga.”
“Shantika, not everyone can be strong like you,” I said.
“Just because I walk around with a smile on my face doesn’t mean I’m strong. You don’t know how many nights I cried for Tommy. I’m just smart enough to know my worth. I’m worth way more than being a main chick. If I can’t be your one and only, then there is no reason for me to be with you,” she said.
