My Brother's Wife

by Mona

  “So do you guys think he’s being over dramatic or does he have a reason to be upset?” Arianna asked.

  “Angeline looked at Arianna as she bit her lip. “Weeellll.” Angeline said in a singing tone.

  “Angie!” Arianna yelled.

  “Girl, what! You know how men are! And you know how Dre is. He’s very territorial and a little possessive. Now you find that shit sexy, but if he was my man I think I would have killed his ass by now. Plus, with the history between the three of you, I kind of understand why he’s upset. He’s jealous, Ari.” Angeline admitted.

  Ava laughed as she looked at Angeline. “Uuhmm and you think Des is any better? Matter of fact, Des might be worst that than Dre.”

  “Uhhh I don’t think about it at all. I don’t care how the hell he is. He is not my man.”

  “Not yet.” Ava grinned once again. Angeline rolled her eyes as she sipped her wine.

  “Yes and of course he will never admit it, he’s also feeling insecure. The history between the three of you is deep and Malachi seems to still have the love bug.” Ava said as she continued to grin. Angeline nodded her head in agreement.

  “There it is. Ava is right. That negro still has a thing for you Ri, with his sexy chocolate ass.”

  Arianna rubbed her temple and sighed. “You guys are right,” she admitted.

  Angeline and Ava looked surprised. “We are?” Angeline and Ava both said at the same time.

  “Yes. you are. He told me last week when we were in here and two weeks ago, at the help center, we kissed.” Arianna confessed.

  “Shut up! “ Ava yelled being as dramatic as usual.

  “Yes. It’s making me crazy that I lied to Dre. He asked me if we kissed or screwed. Good thing he had his back turned to me, because I don’t think I would have been able to look him in the face and say no.” Arianna confessed.

  “Okzy. Well, how about as long you make sure that never happens again between you and Malachi, that there is no need to tell him. Besides, it’s just a kiss. It’s not like you screwed.”

  Angeline eyed her. “ You didn’t screw did you?”

  “What! Of course not!” Arianna answered in shock.

  Angeline laughed. “Just making sure. So, what do you really want?” She asked Arianna.

  Arianna smiled as she looked at her massive wedding ring. “I want Dre. I want my husband. I’m in love with him. I mean, I won’t lie to you guys. Seeing Mal again brought back a lot of memories. I know we were young, but I really loved him, but that’s the past. Dre has my heart now.”

  Ava smiled. “That’s great, sis. But I have a question.

  Angeline looked at her. “Oh boy, here you go.”

  “What? Shit, I’m curious. I’m going to ask,” Ava said with a smirk on her face. “I love you and my brother together. I do. But you aren’t a bit curious about Malachi? You know like what he’s like in bed?” Ava asked.

  Angeline grinned. “Well? Do you?”

  “ I don’t believe you two.” Arianna laughed as she sipped her drink.

  “Well?” Ava asked.

  Arianna sighed as she played with her wedding ring. “No. Andre is everything in the bedroom and I’m completely satisfied.” Arianna admitted with a smile.

  Angeline and Ava looked at each other and laughed. “Okay. I don’t know if I fully believe you, but I will leave it alone. And Ilk. I do not need to know how good my brother is in the bedroom. Next you will be telling me how big his dick is.” Ava said with a scowl.

  “Weeelll” Arianna teased as Angeline laughed.

  Downstairs (Andre’s Party)

  “Dre, you need to back the fuck up!” Malachi yelled slurring his words. As he attempted to drink the rest of the Corona he was holding, it was suddenly snatched out of his hands.

  “Give me this shit, you had enough. Now the two of you need to calm the fuck down.” Desmond demanded. “Ed, where the fuck did you find these drunk ass motherfuckers?”

  “I met up with Dre earlier. He was telling me what happened with Ari and Mal upstairs last week. I took him to get a drink to calm him down and he ended up drinking a little too much. Right when we were about to leave, Mal comes out of the men’s room at the Blue Lagoon bar. His ass was already drunk as hell. Would you believe his ass was about to get in his car drunk like this? It’s a good thing I ran into him when I did.” Edward explained to Desmond as he shook his head.

  “Nigga, I ain’t in your face yet! “Andre yelled. “You know what your problem is Mal. You disrespectful as fuck! That’s number one. You always been disrespectful and you’re ungrateful; you selfish as hell too. You always had a problem accepting things for what it really is. You always think you can control everything around you. Everything has to be the exact way you want it be. When are you going to get it through your head, huh? Arianna is my motherfucking wife now. You not that nigga no more.” Andre said with a wicked smirk on his face. Slowly walking up to Malachi, they were now face to face.

  “Alright Dre, that’s enough. Let’s go upstairs to find Arianna. Plus you need to change your clothes for your party. Guests will be arriving soon.” Edward suggested as he tried to pull Andre away. Andre stared Malachi in the eyes. Despite the tension and anger between them, the love they had for each other was evident. Their emotions were just all over the place at the moment.

  “Nah, not yet. My brother here looks like he has something he needs to get off his chest. So, what’s up Nigga? Did you enjoy the view of my wife’s ass last week, huh? That shit looking type right, ain’t it?”

  “Andre! What the hell is going on here?” Andre turned to see Rolonda and Ian Waters standing behind him. Andre was unfazed as he turned his attention back to Malachi.

  “Nothing, Mama Ro… other than the fact your son here seems to still have that Slick Rick Teenage Love for my wife.”

  Rolonda looked at Desmond and Edward. “Are they drunk?”

  “Yeah, these two fools are drunk and fighting over Arianna,” Desmond informed her.

  “What? Oh my goodness. Can one of you boys go get Arianna? Where is she?” Rolonda asked.

  “She’s upstairs. I’ll go get her” Edward volunteered as he turned and headed upstairs.

  “You know what. I think I will go upstairs and get dressed for my party that my wife put together for me. But first, I think I’ll take a nice warm shower and have my sexy wife go in with me.” Andre said with a smirk and with that he turned to walk away.

  “Fuck you, Andre,” Malachi said with clenched teeth but a calm tone.

  That’s all it took for Andre to slowly make his way back to Malachi. They stared at each other with watery, drunken eyes.

  Andre laughed but it was a cold almost evil like laugh. “No, Malachi, fuck you. You know what… I’m the last mothafucker on earth that you should be saying fuck you to.” Andre shook his head. “Nah, nigga, not after all the things I’ve done for you. You don’t get to say fuck you to me. Because I could have said fuck you a long time ago. I could have said fuck you these last twenty years instead of holding you down like you was my bitch or some shit. Paying your lawyer fees, accepting your collect calls, visiting you, putting money on your commissary’s, shit and taking care of your moms. I could of said fuck you when you, your mom and sister were about to get evicted and I had my parents keep you from getting evicted, I could have said fuck you when ya didn’t have no food and I gave you money to get food, I could have said fuck you when Mama Ro’s bitch ass ex boyfriend was about to make you his bitch when you were eight years old and I capped his ass. Remember that?” Andre whispered to Malachi. Desmond, Mama Ro and Ian heard loud and clear and were in shock. “I did that shit smoothly, didn’t I? They never did find the body, did they?” Andre leaned in closer to Malachi’s face. “You want to know why they never found the body, because I’m that nigga. Even at eight years old.” Andre then pointed his index finger imitating a gun and mouth the word POW. “See, you’ve always been an emotional nigga. That’s why your ass got caught that da
y you killed that bitch ass nigga Frantz. Had it been me or Des, we wouldn’t of gotten caught. Deep down you know that shit. That’s why you mad. Oh, and the second reason you mad, is because I stayed with Arianna. You can’t be reneging nigga. You asked me to get close to her, make her my girl and make her fall in love with me so she won’t ever be with no other man. Isn’t that what the fuck the deal was? Huh? So that’s what the fuck I did. Oh, I think you also mad that I got a baby out the deal and decided to put a ring on it. Yeah, the pussy was too good. I had to.” Andre said rather smoothly and calm as he smirked at Malachi.

  “Eh, Dre, you need to shut the hell up man.” Andre turned to look at Desmond who was pointing in the other direction.

  At that point, Andre was afraid to turn around because he knew he messed up. Closing his eyes he slowly turned around to the ice stone stare of Arianna.

  Andre studied her face and could tell she was hurt. The hurt was even more evident in her voice when she spoke.

  “Deal huh? So that’s what I’ve been? A deal you two made?” Arianna asked as the tears threatened to fall but she refused to let them.

  “No, baby. I love you. I fell in love with you. You made me a better man, Ri. I fell in love with you since prom night. I just didn’t know how to really love you back then. But baby I love you. We talked about this already. You know I love you. You my fucking heart. I swear on my son.” Andre desperately pleaded.

  “Swearing on your son, huh? Didn’t you just cockily say you got a baby out the deal and you put a ring on it because the pussy was too good?!” Arianna asked as her voice began to crack.

  “Baby, please. Hear me out.” Andre went after her as she made her way to the bar area. He was fast on her heals as she grabbed her purse and keys at the bar and made her way out of the house and to her car. He grabbed her by her arm turning her to face him, but quickly received a swift slap across his face. She was an emotional basket case right now. To say she’s hurt was an understatement.

  “Don’t fucking touch me! Don’t you fucking touch me! You put a ring on it because the pussy was good! Fuck you, Andre!” Arianna yelled before she jumped in her car, started the engine, and drove off.

  Andre put both of his hands over his face and screamed. “ Fuck! Mothafucker!”

  “Andre, let’s go somewhere and talk.” Ian Waters appeared in the doorway. He knew it wasn’t the best time to tell Andre he was his biological father, however he figured he would try to calm him down.

  “Not now, Ian. And what the hell are you doing here anyway? You know what, never mind. I have enough shit to deal with right now.” Andre admitted.

  The effect of the alcohol has officially worn off as he made his way back inside the house. As he entered the door way a black escalade pulled up in front of the house. Andre thought his eyes were deceiving him when the driver of the truck stepped out.

  “Jason, what the fuck are you doing here and how the hell did you know about this beach house”?

  “What’s up Dre, long time no see. Don’t worry I’m not staying for your big birthday party, I just wanted to drop this off to your sister.” Jason, who was Ava’s ex fiancé handed a yellow ennvelope to Andre. “Tell her she is not slick and I am coming full force for my son. Happy Birthday!” Jason yelled. Before Andre was able to respond, Jason jumped back in the truck and pulled off.

  Two Weeks Later

  Marlboro, N.J.

  Andre was in his home gym benching two hundred and sixty five pounds of pig iron. Lifting weights and playing sports were hobbies and stress relievers for him. As he benched he tried to clear his head, but honestly it hadn’t worked. He and Arianna hadn’t spoken since the night of his birthday party and it was stressing him out. She wouldn’t answer any of his calls and when she did answer his texts, it was only if they were in reference to Andre Junior. He couldn’t deny how much he missed her. He was fully aware that she had been staying at her mother’s house and while he decided to let her calm down and gave her a bit of space, it was coming to an end today. Andre was determined to have her hear him out and she was going to do so voluntarily or involuntarily, the choice was hers. As he placed the weights back in place and grabbed his towel, the door to the gym flew open.

  “Hey dad!” Andre Junior yelled as he ran to Andre and hugged him.

  “What’s up A.J.?” Andre greeted him as he hugged him in return. Andre smiled as he rubbed his head. Something he loved to do while Andre Junior hated it.

  “Come on Dad! Stop! I told you already about that. You messing up my waves.” He yelled as he pushed Andre’s hand away.

  “That boy is something else,” Ava laughed as she walked in. “Dre, you and Ari need to watch A.J’s sugar intake, he’s way too hyper. He can’t sit still not even to save his life. All he wanted to do was go on rides and visit every damn place in Florida. I am so exhausted. I swear, never again will I go anywhere with his behind by myself. I shouldn’t have to suffer on my own. I barely slept. He would go to bed late and wake up early. Uugh!”

  Andre laughed as he looked at A.J. “Boy, why did you stress your auntie like that?”

  “She lying, dad!” he laughed as he ran from Ava who began to chase after him.

  “Alright! Alright. That’s enough A.J,” Andre laughed. “A.J. go upstairs for a minute I need to talk to your aunt, and when I’m done we going to see mommy, okay?”

  “Okay. Is she coming home today or are we going to the penthouse?” Andre Junior asked.

  “Oh, she’s coming home, please believe that.” Andre told him as he wiped his face.

  “ Okay. Later Ava!” He laughed as he ran out of the gym.

  “Hey, that’s auntie to you, boy!” Ava yelled after him. “I’m going to hurt him,” she laughed as she walked back and faced Andre.

  Shaking his head, he laughed as he reached over and hugged Ava. “Anyway. Thanks for taking him for me.”

  “No problem. I needed to get away my damn self.” Ava replied as she smiled. Ava studied his face as she reached over and touched his arm. “So, how are you holding up?”

  Andre sighed as he wrapped his towel around his neck. “I’m making it. Actually, I won’t lie. I’ve been stressing. Ri won’t talk to me. I went after her that night thinking she came back here or the penthouse, but I found out she ended up at her mom’s house. Seeing how hurt and upset she was I decided to give her some space. But I fucking miss her man. I need my wife back,’’ he explained with stressed fill eyes.

  “Aww.” Ava cooed. “You really in love with her huh?” She asked as she smiled.

  “Nah, I hate her. What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I love her and I’m going to mama Lorette’s house today because Ri is going to hear me out and she’s bringing that ass home.”

  “Well, I hope you don’t think you getting her home talking like that.” Ava said with a scowl.

  “Whatever; enough about me. What’s up with you keeping a secret like a two year old son? How the hell can you not tell me about that Ava?”

  Ava sighed as she ran her hand through her long jet black hair. “I’m sorry. Dre, like I told Ari and Angie, I was humiliated and didn’t think I would make a good mother. Plus, two years ago, I was more selfish and vain than ever. I was fucked up. I know. But now I realize everything happens for a reason. I’m glad I didn’t marry Jason’s ignorant and arrogant ass, but I’m happy he gave me a beautiful son. I’m ready to do right by my baby. I need to fight Jason on this with everything I have.”

  Andre smiled. “That’s what’s up, baby sis. I’m happy for you and I’m glad you finally growing up instead of acting like a spoil ass little princess,” he gave her a hug.

  “Whatever, Dre,” she replied as she laughed.

  “Oh, and don’t you worry about that punk ass Jason. I have Ed working on that situation as we speak. So everything is going to work out,” he assured her.

  “Alright, look, I’m about to get dressed so I can go talk to Ri and I’m sure she misses A.J. by now. I’ll check you later.�
�� Andre said as he made his way towards the gym door.

  “Oh, Dre, what about Mal? Have you spoken to him?” Ava asked.

  Andre’s jaw clenched. “No, but it’s coming. I have to get right with my wife first.” He replied to Ava as he left out the door.

  Lorette St. Jean’s House

  Scotch Plains, NJ

  “Hey grandma.” Andre Junior said as he hugged Lorette.

  “Hello, baby,” she replied in her thick, Haitian accent. Once A.J. went inside in the house, Lorette turned to Andre and smiled. “Hello handsome,” she said to him as they embraced. Lorette loved Andre. Although they have had their moments through the years, Andre has always been there for Arianna, loved her and taken care of her and for that she would always be grateful.

  “Come in, please,” she requested as she invited Andre inside of her home.

  Once inside, Andre wasted no time asking for Arianna. He was anxious and couldn’t help it. “Mom, I bought A.J. right over to see Ari since she hasn’t seen him in a week. Plus, I need to speak to her.” Andre confessed.

  “Well, you two definitely need to talk. I don’t know what’s wrong with you young kids these Days, you don’t know how to leave the past in the past and you don’t know how to control your emotions. Also, you and Malachi need to talk. You need to sit down and find out what’s really going on with him. I don’t know something in that boy’s eyes is just not right. I have to talk to Rolonda about that. Oh, and talk to your father. Give him a chance and listen to his side.” Lorette said with compassion.

  Andre sighed. Finding out Ian Waters was his biological father was truly mind boggling. He had a lot of questions but he just couldn’t deal with that right now. He had to make things right with Arianna before he dealt with anything else.

  “I will mom. I will sit down and address things with Malachi and with Ian, but right now I need to make things right with Arianna first. I need to explain that deal I made with Malachi. She needs to know how much I love her.”