“Calm down Rylee. Amber know I was just fucking with her,” Leslie replied.
“That’s all you and your daughter seem to do,” Rylee acknowledged referring to Nicole.
Rylee would get heated when Amber would tell her about some of the remarks that Nicole made when she wasn’t around. It pissed her off even more because Amber would always tell her days after it happened. Rylee didn’t want to build bridges with her cousins, but she wasn’t about to let Nicole mess over Amber. Especially if she didn’t do anything to deserve it.
“I apologize if I offended you, Amber,” Leslie said unapologetically.
“What’s up Leslie? Why did you want to see me so bad?” Rylee asked. She was ready to go, and she was ready for her aunt to get to the point.
“You’re my sister’s baby. I always want to see you. You’re the only niece that I have,” Leslie replied laying it on thick.
“Ok, well maybe I can come over Sunday and spend some time with you and my cousins,” Rylee offered.
“That sounds good. I’ll make sure I have something cooked,” Leslie smiled.
“Cool, but I gotta bounce. I’m riding with Amber, and she’s ready to joy ride,” Rylee replied.
“Have a good night Leslie,” Amber said as she and Rylee started walking away.
“You too baby. Niece let me talk to you for a minute,” Leslie yelled after Rylee.
“What’s up?” Rylee asked even though she already knew.
There was no way in hell that Leslie was letting her leave without asking for some money first. She left her purse in Amber’s car, but she’d already taken out what she planned to give to her auntie.
“You think you can loan me a few dollars until I get my check next month?” Leslie asked in a voice slightly above a whisper.
Rylee reached into the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out the five twenties that she put in there right before they came over.
“I told you before that it’s not a loan. If I give you something I don’t expect you to pay me back,” Rylee said while handing her the money. Leslie’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree just like always.
“Thank you, baby. You know auntie loves you right?”
“Yes and I love you too. Tell Nakia and Nicole that I’ll see them Sunday,” Rylee said right she jumped into Amber’s car.
“Zyra’s house right?” Amber had asked before she pulled off. Rylee nodded her head, and they were off to their next destination.
***
Brandy scrunched her face up in disgust when Rylee and Amber walked into Zyra’s house. For once she was enjoying having her friend all to herself, but Rylee just had to come and mess things up. Thankfully China was there so she wouldn’t feel too alone.
“Yes Amber bitch, I love that color,” Zyra yelled when they walked back inside.
They had just gone outside to see Amber’s new car, and Zyra was all smiles. Zyra had taken a liking to Amber and Brandy didn’t know why. Amber was a corny looking white girl who hung under Rylee like she was her puppy. She had a cute face with light brown eyes and dark brown and blonde hair, but she wasn’t much to look at in Brandy’s opinion.
“That’s what’s up Amber. So I have somebody else to call when I need a ride now,” Zyrian joked.
“Nigga you just got a car and a bike. You ain’t about to use my cousin,” Rylee butted in.
“Shut up and mind your business lil girl. I might be drunk and need a ride or something. Amber is my girl, so I know she got me,” Zyrian said while giving Amber a fist pound.
“I sure do,” Amber smiled making Brandy’s blood boil.
“And make sure he gives you some gas money or make his ass call Uber,” Rylee laughed causing everybody else to laugh with her.
Zyra’s house was full of people just like it always was on the weekends. Buck, Grim, Snake and their sister China were there along with a few more of their cousins. Zyra’s father was one of twelve, and her mother was one of ten, making their family huge on both sides. Rylee would have loved to be in such a large family, but that wasn’t the way her cards were dealt. Her family was small, which was why she cherished each and every one of them. She never knew when it would be the last time.
“It’s too many damn people in here,” Brandy mumbled to herself in an aggravated tone.
She was ready for everybody to go home so that she could have some alone time with Zyrian. She’d been trying to get with him ever since his party at MJ’s. She almost had him where she wanted him, but it must not have been meant to be. They got a room the night of his party, but Zyrian was too drunk to do anything. After puking for half the night, he passed out in the bed and stayed there until the next evening. Once he woke up, he took a shower and went home. He kept telling her that they would hook up another time, but that time never came. He had Brandy starting to question herself and if she really looked as good as she thought she did. She made heads turn everywhere she went, so that wasn’t the problem. It also didn’t help matters much when Zyrian came around with other women. He’d been home for a little over three months, and she’d seen him with at least five women since then. Then there was Rylee. Brandy saw the way that they played with each other, and it made her sick. She knew that it was innocent, but she still didn’t like it. Rylee already had a fine ass husband who was crazy in love with her, and she should have been satisfied.
“I’ll have your lil ass coming to pick me up if I need a ride,” Zyrian said making Brandy snap out of her thoughts and look at him. She had tuned out their childish banter until it sounded like Zyrian had started flirting.
“The lies you tell,” Rylee replied.
“Girl don’t even try to front. I’ll have your ass getting out of the bed with your nigga to come to wherever I am,” Zyrian said confidently.
Buck just shook his head at his cousin’s boldness. Zyrian had already expressed his attraction to Rylee, but he was doing too much. Mekhi was his boy, and he didn’t want any bad blood between him and his cousin. Although Rylee wasn’t the cheating type, shit like that happened all the time.
“And on that note, I’m out of here,” Rylee said as she got up walked down the long hall to the bathroom.
She shook her head and laughed at her and Zyrian’s back and forth wisecracks. At first, Rylee thought he was mean, but he turned out to be just as goofy as she was. He was outspoken, and sometimes he came off as arrogant, but once you get to know him, he was a lot of fun to be around. Since getting out of prison he was trying to get back into the swing of things, but he was doing a great job so far. He still hadn’t moved back into his house yet, but he said that he was working on it. He was slowly getting around to running his own body shop again, so he really didn’t have much time. He did manage to get himself another car and bike, but that was about it.
After doing her business in the bathroom, Rylee washed her hands and played with her hair in the mirror. She sent Mekhi a quick text letting him know where she was before leaving to rejoin everyone in the front of the house.
“So you wouldn’t come get me if I needed a ride, Rylee?” Zyrian said scaring her half to death.
“Boy!” Rylee gasped while holding her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart. “You almost scared me half to death. I’m glad I just peed, or Zyra’s floor would be nice and pissy.”
“So answer my question. I thought we were cool, but you wouldn’t even look out for your boy if he needed help. That’s cold. My feelings are kind of hurt,” Zyrian pouted.
“Stop being so overdramatic. I’m a married woman. What the hell I look like leaving my husband at home to come to another man’s rescue.”
“Not even the man that you’re feeling,” Zyrian said getting all into Rylee’s personal space.
“Feeling? I’m married so how can I be feeling you?”
“You keep using that married line like that’s supposed to mean something to me. Honestly, I don’t even do married women, but I’d make an exception for you.”
“I don’t want you
to make an exception because nothing is going to happen between us. My marriage might not mean anything to you, but it means a lot to me. What if you were my husband? Would you want me to cheat on you?”
Zyrain leaned in closer to her and whispered in her ear. “No, and I would do everything in my power to make sure that you didn’t. That nigga ain’t hitting that pussy right, and you know it. You’re curious, I can see it in your eyes.”
Rylee jumped when he nipped at her ear with his teeth. His cologne was intoxicating, and she was mesmerized by just the smell of him.
“Don’t be scared lil girl. I’ll only bite if you ask me to. Let me know whenever you’re ready, though,” Zyrian said as he winked at her and walked away.
Instead of going back to the front of the house with everyone else, Rylee raced up the stairs while dialing her grandmother’s number.
“Hey baby,” Sara said when she answered her phone.
“Grandma, I need a prayer,” Rylee said in a hurry.
“What’s wrong Rylee?” Sara asked in a voice laced with concern.
“Nothing is wrong. I just need you to give me a prayer from your book.”
“Okay baby, give me a minute to go get it,” Sara said as put the phone down and shuffled away to her bedroom.
Rylee waited patiently until her grandma came back to the phone and started talking again.
“Alright, I’m back. So tell me what it is that you want to pray for Rylee. Is it your anger or that foul mouth of yours?” Her grandma asked.
“No, but does your book have a prayer for lust or adultery?” Rylee asked feeling slightly ashamed.
“Lord have mercy,” was all that Rylee heard before the other end of the phone got eerily quiet. She soon found out why when she looked at her phone. Her grandmother’s picture was no longer on her screen, letting Rylee know that she had hung up.
“No this old lady did not hang up on me,” Rylee mumbled as she dialed her grandmother’s number again.
“I don’t want to hear it, Rylee Ann,” Sara said when she answered the phone. “I don’t want to hear whatever sinful mess that’s about to come out of your mouth.”
“You didn’t even let me finish grandma,” Rylee whined.
“And I’m not letting you finish either. You will not sit on this phone and tell me about how you’re cheating on your husband. Your mama and daddy are probably rolling around in their graves right now,” Sara fussed.
Every time Rylee did something that Sara didn’t like she made it a point to let her know that her parents wouldn’t approve of it either. It was only to make Rylee feel guilty, even though it never really worked. Rylee was the kind of person that did what she wanted to do anyway, even when her parents were alive.
“I’m not cheating on Mekhi grandma.”
“Well, you must have been thinking about it. And what low down heathen got you thinking about sinning with him anyway?” Sara said making Rylee laughed.
“I feel so bad grandma. Mekhi is so good to me, and I shouldn’t even be thinking about another man. Honestly, until I met this one, I never did. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Rylee confessed.
“Girl you almost gave me a heart attack talking about adultery,” Sara admitted.
“I guess adultery wasn’t the right word since I really didn’t do anything,” Rylee replied.
She wanted to say yet, but she left that part out. She felt guilty for even thinking about entertaining another man while she was married, especially Zyrian. Mekhi would go crazy if he even thought that she was attracted to him. He’d already expressed his feelings towards the way Zyrian looked at her. There was no way in hell that she could let her husband find out that she looked at him the same way. It was hard not to. As good as Mekhi looked, Rylee hated to admit that Zyrian looked even better.
“And you won’t be doing anything either. Close your eyes and lift your hands. We’re about to pray and ask God to help deliver you from this evil that’s surrounding you,” Sara said.
Rylee did as she was told while listening to her grandmother recite one of the many prayers that were in her book. Sara was a firm believer in prayer and Rylee was hoping that it worked for her current situation.
Chapter 8
“Shit Zyrian, don’t stop!” Brandy screamed as sweat poured down her face, almost blinding her.
She was in heaven as Zyrain held her legs up in the crook of his arms and pounded into her sensitive flesh. It took a while, but she was finally able to get some alone time with him. Brandy had been at Zyra’s house almost every day trying to get at Zyrian. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t paying her any attention, but he had a different girl over there almost every night. Brandy hit the jackpot when she went over there earlier that evening and Zyrian answered the door. She was happy to see that he didn’t have any female company, but Buck and his brothers were over there playing cards. Brandy stayed over there all day and night until everybody went home. When she saw Zyrian grab some towels from the hall closet and head for the bathroom, she used that opportunity to make her move. As soon as the bathroom door opened Brandy slipped inside right with him. He was about to protest until she dropped to her knees and pulled his sweats and boxers down. Zyrian was working with way more than Brandy expected, but she took as much of him in her mouth as she could fit. He was emotionless the entire time that she sucked him off, but it must have been good. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have taken her to one of Zyra’s guest bedrooms to continue what she had started.
“Stop all that damn screaming before my sister hear you, girl,” Zyrian commanded.
Brandy looked up at him like he was crazy. Zyrian was walking around with a concealed weapon between his legs, and he wanted her to be quiet. She tried to control herself for a while, but she couldn’t help it.
“Shit,” Zyrian hissed before he released into the condom and stood to his feet.
“I can’t even feel my legs. Can you get me a towel, please?” Brandy asked as she panted breathlessly.
Zyrian didn’t say anything, but he walked out of the room a few seconds later. Brandy couldn’t stop smiling even if she wanted to. She had wanted a piece of Zyrian since before he went to jail. She pulled out all of her tricks and ended up spending over two hours with him. It was almost four in the morning, so she knew that she was staying until later. Brandy could just see herself helping Zyrian decorate his house before moving in with him. Zyra’s house was big, but Zyrian’s was even bigger. He must have gotten it with the idea of him and Dedy having a family to raise in it one day. Zyrian didn’t have any kids, but Dedy’s shady ass started her family without him.
“Here you go,” Zyrian said when he walked back into the room handing Brandy a warm towel.
She noticed that he’d changed into something else, but she didn’t speak on it. Brandy had been so busy daydreaming she didn’t realize that Zyrian had been gone for almost twenty minutes.
“What took you so long?” She questioned while cleaning herself up.
“I had to take a shower.”
“And you couldn’t tell me that? I need a shower too,” Brandy whined.
“Cool, let me walk you to your car so you can go home and take one.”
“Home?” She repeated.
“Yeah, home. I’m tired, and I’m ready to go to bed. I need to be at my shop in a few hours,” Zyrian lied.
He was going to his shop, but not until later on that day. His father loved running things, and Zyrian let him do his thing. His money was still flowing, and that was all that he really cared about. Most people didn’t even know that the shop belonged to him, and he was cool with that. He went to the shop a lot, but that was only to bullshit around with his cousin Buck, who worked there, and the other employees.
“I’m good, I don’t need you to walk me out,” Brandy snapped with an attitude.
“Cool, but I still need to lock the door, so come on,” Zyrian replied while walking away from her.
She had an attitude that couldn’t be mis
sed, but Zyrian didn’t give a damn. He wasn’t trying to be up under her ass a minute longer and she damn sure wasn’t staying until daylight. She got exactly what she’d been begging for, and that was a wrap. Brandy snatched up her purse from the floor and stomped towards the front door like a spoiled child.
“What do you have planned for later today?” Brandy asked Zyrian.
“Sleep and work,” he remarked dryly.
She nodded and walked out of the front door before it was abruptly slammed behind her. Although she’d told Zyrian that she didn’t want him to walk her out, her feelings were kind of hurt when he didn’t. He was a man, so he should have insisted. It was cool, though. Brandy got into her car and sped off towards her house.
“Out of all the bitches in New Orleans you just had to give her thirsty ass the dick,” Zyra fussed as she stood at the bottom of the stairs.
When she heard her front door sensor come on she ran downstairs to see who was coming in or out of her house that time of the morning. When she saw Zyrain letting Brandy out, she wanted to scream. Brandy was her girl, but she didn’t want her for a sister-in-law. Brandy was decent looking with a nice shape, but she was a hoe looking for a come up. She didn’t care if a man had a wife or a girlfriend she would bust it wide open with no questions asked. She’d been after Zyrian for years, but he never gave her the time of day until now.
“That bitch pounced on me when I was about to take my shower. But I hope she enjoyed herself because she’ll never get it again,” Zyrian promised.
“Why? What happened?” Zyra asked.
“She damn near took all the skin off my dick with them sharp ass teeth,” he complained.
“I know she didn’t. Not how she be bragging about how she got niggas hooked and shit,” Zyra said.
“Hooked with what? I know she ain’t out here bragging on that loose shit. I felt like I was fucking a bowl of jello. I’ve been home all these months and ain’t had nothing good yet. Shit, I did better pleasing myself in jail,” Zyrian complained.
COMPLICATED Page 8
