In Love with My Enemy

by A'zayler

  “Nigga, shut up. Danna is grown. That girl can do whatever she wants to do. You ought to be glad she ain’t taking none of these little boys serious. She fucks around and fall in love, get pregnant, and start tripping on our ass, it’ll be a real problem then. You and Echo get on my nerves with that shit. Let her live her young adult life.”

  Danna couldn’t even hold her laughter in after that. Her mother was savage as hell. She might have loved Echo’s workers, but she would cuss them out at the drop of a dime. Especially about her kids.

  “Y’all showing out up in here. Let me go.” Danna looked from her mother to Don as she headed for the back of the house. Don looked pissed.

  Danna giggled to herself but kept her pace. He would soon learn that she wasn’t the one to play with. She may have been young, but a nigga was a nigga was a nigga. She didn’t give a damn how old he was. Vonetta hadn’t raised no pussy, so she wasn’t about to act like one. He’d think twice the next time he allowed his baby mama to make him check her. If anything, he should have been checking that hoe since he was in a relationship with Danna.

  Danna felt her phone vibrate. She looked at the new message.

  >4SionbcheC!g[‘o]echanis9

  Don’s text message brought about more laughs from Danna as she tossed herself down onto her bed. She was kicking her sandals off when the door to her bedroom opened. Ezra’s head peeped in.

  “Aye, what you doing later on?”

  Danna shrugged. “I don’t know. Why?”

  “Nothing, I’m going to one of my li’l shawty’s house but I wanted to make sure Don’s old hating ass don’t be getting in my way. You know Mama don’t care but he always has something to say.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. You already know I’ll cuss his ass out about you.”

  Ezra’s face lit up. “Bet. That’s why you my nigga.” He told her.

  “Your young ass needs to stop fucking off so much. Too young to be hoeing around the way you do.”

  Ezra’s chocolate face lit up from laughter as he shot her a bird and left. Danna couldn’t do nothing but laugh at her brother. He was such a cutie and the ladies loved him. She did her best not to be one of those overprotective big sisters, but she didn’t stand off as much as she could either. The last thing she wanted was for him to turn out like their big brother Nuke. Baby mamas and babies every damn where. Nuke and their older sister Vonnie, were the total opposites of her and Ezra.

  Danna and Ezra did their things, but they were both respectful and living lives according to their ages. Vonnie and Nuke both had a slew of children and way too much going on. Nuke spent his time dealing drugs and making babies, while Vonnie had moved up north with her dad’s family and worked three jobs trying to make ends meet because she’d let her heart make too many foolish decisions for her.

  Occasionally, Danna blamed Echo for their lives because he was a horrible stepfather, but hell, he was a horrible biological father, so his lack of interest in them didn’t surprise her very much.

  “You must think I’m something to play with?” Don’s voice startled Danna.

  She looked up and he was standing at her door with a frown on his face.

  “I’m about to dip, you need to come on.”

  Danna looked at him like the fool he was. “What makes you think I’m finna’ do that?” she whispered.

  Don cleared his throat trying to calm himself down. “You heard what I said. Go to my house.” He glared at her before leaving the room.

  Danna released an irritated breath before sliding her feet back into her shoes and grabbing her purse and keys. As bad as she didn’t want to go with him, she knew she’d might as well get it over with. The longer she ignored him, the madder he would get and that would only lead to him getting on her nerves.

  Quickly, Danna walked back through her house and out the front door. “I’ll be right back y’all.”

  “Be careful, Danna.” Vonetta yelled behind her.

  “Yes ma’am.” Danna told her before shooting Don a knowing look.

  She was certain he’d be right behind her soon enough. In a huff, Danna got into her car and drove the couple of blocks down the road to where Don lived. She pulled her car into his garage and walked into the house.

  She hadn’t even sat down good before loud knocking was coming from the front door. Danna looked toward it, but didn’t bother going to it because it wasn’t for her, and she wasn’t about to answer it for him.

  “Don’t stay in there scared now, bitch. Open this door.”

  Danna’s head snapped back as she heard the slurs. “Now, I know this bitch ain’t over here.” Danna mumbled to herself before going to Don’s room and peeping out the window.

  There was a small blue Honda with a red dragon painted on the hood, diagonally parked in the driveway. She couldn’t really see who was at the door because of the angle she was looking from, but she was sure it was Don’s baby mama. Let Don tell it, she was the only other woman that knew where he stayed, but what Danna couldn’t understand was how in the world had she known she was there.

  In that moment, Danna wished like hell she knew the girl personally, and whether or not her secret relationship with Don would still be safe after she beat her ass. Probably not, so she chilled, but the moment she figured out who Don’s baby mama from hell was, it was over.

  Don had spoken about her randomly whenever his kids became a topic, but he never expounded too much, so Danna didn’t know her personally, but she knew enough. What she did know was that raggedy ass voice. The bitch did so much hollering and fussing on Don’s phone, Danna would recognize her squawking anywhere.

  More knocking and yelling came, but Danna ignored it all. She didn’t have time for that mess. That was Don’s shit. Versus getting comfortable, she held all her stuff in her lap and scrolled on her phone. She’d thought about texting Quay, but she didn’t need Don coming in trying to go through her phone or any of that other crazy mess he did when he was mad.

  Nearly twenty minutes passed with the yelling and knocking before it stopped. Danna heard voices outside, so she checked to see who it was. Don and a li’l light-skinned thot named Totiana she knew from around the way was in the middle of the yard fussing. Danna rolled her eyes in disgust.

  “You running hoes where my fucking son lays his head, Don? Really?”

  The chick’s loud mouth could be heard through the window.

  “Now, I know this freak ain’t that nigga’s baby mama?” Danna questioned herself shocked.

  She knew Don’s baby mama very well just off some street cred shit. Never would she have ever put them two together. She’d known Don had a son, just like she’d known that girl had one too, she just didn’t know he was theirs, together.

  “Ain’t this some mess.” Danna watched them in disbelief for a little longer, before taking her seat back on the bed and bouncing her leg agitatedly.

  Her inner beast was dying to come out, but she wouldn’t let it. She’d let Don and his cuckoo bird have it for now, but only because she’d rather keep her identity hidden. A mad baby mama would spread more lies than Danna cared to deal with. Especially Thotiana’s pillow talking ass. That bitch was known for running her mouth to any nigga that was coming off some cash. A few more minutes passed before she heard Don coming up the stairs. As soon as he rounded the corner, he was fussing.

  “Why the fuck you been dodging me all day?”

  “The same reason it just took you ten minutes to get in your own house.” Danna stood up and got into his face. “That foolish ass baby mama you have.”

  “Fuck her.”

  “Nah don’t be hollin’ fuck her, now. You weren’t on that when you were in Walmart cashing out on the hoe.”

  “Wasn’t nobody cashing out on shit. I was just making sure my son was good.”

  Danna sucked her teeth. “Nigga, please. That little boy ain’t washing dishes or fucking, so why would he need a pregnancy test or dish detergent?”

  Don’s body langua
ge displayed his heated temper, but Danna didn’t care. She was just as mad as he was.

  “That’s child shit you’re on. Stop it. You’re better than this shit.”

  “You stop it! You’re the one doing dumb stuff.” Danna screamed back. “I’m not about to compete with your baby mama. I shouldn’t have to, since you ain’t with her.” Danna looked him up and down. “Unless you are.”

  Don walked away from her and began undressing. “You know damn well I ain’t with that fucking girl. You’re my girl and my world. Believe that. Nothing comes before you.”

  Danna didn’t believe him at all. If he wasn’t with her, then there would be no reason for him to be buying her stuff, or for her to be outside of his house with nonsense. Niggas, lies, and flies, they all went together, and Danna knew that. Which was why she wasn’t even about to trip. She’d just chill with him, but do her own thing as well.

  “Next time I call your ass you better answer your phone.”

  “Um huh,” Danna dismissed him.

  Don was on her in no time, grabbing on to her waist trying to settle the mood. “Don’t be acting all nonchalant with me.”

  Danna said nothing. She stood still allowing him to hold her. He kissed all over her neck while unfastening her shorts.

  “You mad at me?”

  Again, Danna said nothing.

  “It’s cool, I got something for you.”

  “No, you don’t. Not as long as you’re still messing around with your baby mama.”

  Don spun her around and began kissing all over her neck and face. “Fuck her, I love you.”

  Danna’s defenses were weakening as he touched and kissed all over her.

  “I swear it ain’t nothing between us. I only love you.”

  “Whatever you say.” Danna responded weakly.

  She lay there rolling her eyes at her own self. She hated the way she allowed him to manipulate her emotions. The way she loved him could be so annoying at times. The current time, being one. With doubts and regrets running through her mind, Danna remained in his arms allowing him to have his way with her. Had she known that would be the last time she’d see Don outside of the walls of the city’s local prison, she would have given him more of herself. Unfortunately for her and him, for a man with a past, freedom was hard to maintain and even easier to lose.

  6

  I want to talk to you

  “Nigga, it took you forever in there. What were you doing?” Ezra asked his teammate Jazz as he got settled in the passenger seat of Ezra’s pickup truck. “I should make you give me some gas money for taking all day.”

  “Talking to women.” Jazz smiled as Ezra cranked up and backed out of the Publix parking spot. “You should have been in there with me instead of sitting out here whining.”

  Ezra cut his eyes at his brother. “Nigga, I ain’t whining. I’ve just got better stuff to be doing.”

  Jazz shrugged nonchalantly. “If you say so, but ain’t nothing better than talking to women except fucking ’em.”

  They shared a laugh as Ezra focused on what was in front of him. The parking lot was filled with people, but for some reason, his eyes were able to find her. He turned his head and slowed the truck some to be sure he was seeing who he thought he was. When he was positive that the thick thighs and pretty caramel-colored face belonged to Cannon, he pulled up beside her and rolled his window down.

  “Aye, New Girl.”

  Her head turned, and her eyes squinted. She smiled when noticing it was him. “Ezra? You following me?”

  Ezra’s smile slid across his face as he reveled in the sound of his name on her lips. “Nah, not yet.”

  The pretty smile she was trying to suppress was just as cute as the little shorts she was wearing. With one ankle crossed over the other, she stood leaning on the handle of the stroller, making him want to feel on her. Her legs were so thick and juicy, all he could think about was how soft they had to feel.

  “What you doing out here walking? You want me to take you home?”

  “No thanks. I want to walk. I like the fresh air.”

  Ezra’s face frowned. “Fresh air? Girl it’s hot as the devil’s front porch out here. Ain’t nothing fresh about this air.”

  Soft giggles that made him feel some type of way flowed from her to the window of the truck. “I’m good, Ezra, thank you.”

  “Cool. Well, what you about to do? I found out one of them names for you.”

  Cannon’s head tilted to the side some as she looked at him through her gold rimmed glasses. “I’m just going home to do my homework, that’s it.” She answered totally ignoring the part about the name.

  “You don’t want to know who the person is?”

  Her shoulders shrugged as she smiled again. “Yeah, come tell me.”

  Ezra was grinning extra hard as he put his truck in park and got ready to hop out.

  “Boy, what you doing? That girl is pushing a baby stroller.” Jazz said to Ezra’s back as he hopped out of his truck and walked toward Cannon. “Probably still with her baby daddy or some shit.”

  He’d heard Jazz, but he’d see what that was about in a minute. As far as he knew, Cannon didn’t even have a baby. But then again, it wasn’t like he knew very much about her.

  “What you cheesing so hard for, Ezra?” Cannon asked him as soon as he stopped in front of her.

  With the bashful smile of a middle schooler in the presence of his crush, Ezra rubbed his hand over his face trying to wipe away the smirk that came naturally whenever he looked at her.

  “Because you real fly, and I like looking at you.”

  Like he’d known it would, his response had Cannon blushing. It was real cute too, because it made her cheeks turn red just a little.

  “Your face makes me smile.”

  Cannon pushed his chest lightly while turning her head. “You swear you running game on somebody.”

  Ezra’s hand grabbed the one she was pulling from his chest and held it. “Not somebody, you.” A wink and a quick lick of his lips had Cannon blushing nonstop.

  This time a lot harder, because her whole face turned red. Ezra was a serious player and ran game on girls all the time, but spitting his lines to Cannon made him feel like a boss. Maybe it was the way she kept giggling and covering her face, or the fact that his words noticeably moved her. Whatever it was, he was loving it.

  “Get out of my face, Ezra. I ain’t got time to be playing with you.”

  Ezra let her hand go and looked around the parking lot dramatically. “Why you don’t? Where you got to go?”

  “Home.”

  “Who you stay with?”

  “My mama. Why?”

  Ezra nodded his head at the stroller. “Because I might have heard that you still with your baby daddy.”

  The frown on Cannon’s face responded before her mouth could. “My baby daddy? Say what now? Where in the world did you get that mess from?”

  “A source.”

  Cannon shook her head from side to side and waved him off. “Well somebody lied to you, because I don’t even have a baby daddy.” She was still frowning when she looked back at him. “And who running around here telling you my business like they know me? I don’t even talk to nobody in this li’l country town.”

  Ezra found her little rant amusing, so instead of saying anything about Jazz, he stood back, smiling at her. When she noticed he wasn’t saying anything, she stopped and turned toward the stroller like she was about to walk away, but he grabbed one of her wrists and stopped her.

  “Aye, where you think you’re going?”

  “Home.” She began pushing the stroller again.

  She was even able to get a few steps in, making Ezra have to jog to catch up to her. “Why you acting like that?”

  “I don’t know. Ask your source and see what they say.”

  “Man, you’re wilding out.” Ezra grabbed the same wrist he’d held before and stopped her stride. “My teammate told me that shit, but he was just joking. He doesn’t e
ven know you like that.”

  Cannon’s face relaxed a little before it slid into a small smile. “He doesn’t need to be worrying about me or my fictitious baby daddy. Tell him I said to mind his business.”

  Ezra watched her with his eyebrows raised until she made eye contact with him and bucked her eyes at him. They both laughed before getting back to their conversation.

  “Well, if you don’t have a baby daddy, let me come see you then.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight, when I get off work.”

  “Where you work?”

  “KFC.”

  Cannon snickered. “Only if you bring me some biscuits with you.”

  Ezra couldn’t hold back his laughter after that. He didn’t know if she was being serious or not, but it was funny either way since she was already a little chubby, but in a cute way.

  “You for real?”

  “Yes, I love bread.”

  His eyes flowed down her body stopping on her legs once again. He couldn’t get enough of those. “I see.”

  Cannon’s face frowned again, this time a punch to his arm came behind it. “Don’t try to make fat jokes.”

  “I’m not, but you are juicy as hell.”

  “Okay, see I’m finna’ go home. Bye.” Cannon walked away faster this time.

  Ezra wanted to stop her but he was enjoying the view. He allowed her to get halfway down the sidewalk before once again jogging to get to where she was. This time he wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled her to him.

  “Listen fast walking ass girl, our relationship ain’t finna’ be like this. I’m not about to keep chasing you. You gon’ either come willingly, or I ain’t never letting you go nowhere. I bet I won’t have to chase you then.”

  “I don’t deal with people that talks about my weight.”

  “You think I’m talking about you?” Ezra looked at her with a confused expression. “Man, listen, this the south. We love thick women. I only said something about your size because I can’t get enough of it. I like how big your legs are. I know you see me staring at them every five seconds.”

  Cannon did her best to maintain her little attitude, but failed miserably, and was smiling from ear to ear. Ezra pulled her to him tighter before releasing her.