The Gangsta That Stole My Heart

by Nique Luarks

  “Shit.” I went to stand behind her. “What you doin’ out here? It’s chilly.” Grabbing the chains to the swing, I halted her. “What’s wrong?”

  “True, do you really have to ask me that?” She sat up straight. “Are we just going to act like this morning didn’t happen? Was sex with Nisha that good that you forgot all about me?”

  “The fuck are you talkin’ about? I ain’t fuck Nisha today.”

  She shrugged. “I know you True. It’s okay.”

  I licked my lips. Okay, I let Nisha suck me off, but I didn’t run up in shorty. Leaving Chance this morning was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do besides letting Chasity go to D.C. every summer for two weeks. Did I wanna leave her? Fuck no.

  But the realization of what the fuck we’d done had sobered me up quick. And to keep it all the way one hunnid, I wasn’t even that fucked up when I had showed up. Seeing Chance smile in that nigga, Rel’s, face and then leave with him when I had asked her to stay, made a nigga feel some type of way. I’m sure I acted off selfish impulse, but I didn’t regret it. What was done was done, but I wasn’t finished with Chance.

  “What you want me to say?” I swung her gently. “I’m sorry?”

  She stayed quiet.

  “I apologize for leaving you like that. And for bringing Nisha here. I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings.” The minute Chance left earlier, the sad look in her eyes tugged at my heart. That’s why I wanted to hurry up, drop Nisha off, and get to her. “You forgive me?” I stepped back to push her a little higher.

  “You mean it?”

  I chuckled. “Yeah, I mean it.”

  “Then of course.”

  We stayed quiet as I pushed her back and forth gently. Shit between me and my best friend was going to be different from now on. I just didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. I loved the fuck out of Chance, but I wasn’t tryna settle down right now either. I still had demons I was fighting as a single man. Having a woman wasn’t a priority right now.

  “I still love you,” she said softly. “I don’t want us to drift apart.”

  “We won’t,” I assured her. I wouldn’t let us.

  “Promise?”

  “Promise to God.”

  7

  I got you

  Chance

  “Suck is dick through his shorts

  Then I ride him like whore

  I mean horse

  I’ma boss”

  I sat in the passenger’s seat of Morgan’s Camaro, bobbing my head to the beat. Over-sized Chanel sunglasses sat on my face to hide the fact that Morgan had peer pressured me into smoking not one, but two blunts back to back with her. The sun was out and even though it was the end of , the weather was nice with the exception of a little wind. After a long, harsh, snow-filled winter, spring was finally rolling in. Leaves were growing back on the trees, and the city was bustling again.

  “I promise we won’t stay long.” Morgan turned the music down as she parked her car.

  Whenever the weather got nice, the guys would meet up to play ball. On this particularly day, they were at Eli’s spot. His girlfriend, Sasha, didn’t really like me even though she would try to play nice. I wasn’t sure what I had done to make her turn her nose up at me whenever we were in each other’s presence, and honestly, I didn’t care enough to find out. If she stayed out of my way, then I’d stay out of hers.

  Morgan climbed out of the car and headed for her trunk. Pushing my door open, I got out too. Fixing the high waist band of the tight, hip-hugging, army fatigue jeans I had on, I glanced at all the parked cars. Immediately, I noticed True’s truck. The shiny red and chrome exterior stood out among the rest of the cars because of how big it was.

  After closing the door, I looked down at my white Air Max 97’s. “Did you already call?” I approached Morgan as she dropped a U-Haul box onto the ground. It was accompanied by two others and a trash bag.

  She shook her head. “I’m calling now.”

  A chilly wind blew across my face, reminding me to put my jacket on. The black Chanel logo half shirt I had on technically wasn’t weather appropriate. I was slipping my arms into my dark denim jacket when Morgan slammed the trunk shut.

  “He’s not answering.”

  Here we go...

  I followed her up the walkway dreadfully. The outside of Eli and Sasha’s home was dope. Since Eli owned a landscaping business, the front and back yards were almost perfectly manicured. A pretty fountain set off to the side, and greenery and flowers were planted tastefully along the front. The light fixtures along the walkway weren’t on, but they still added to the overall look.

  Morgan’s heels clicked loudly along the flagstone. “I know that bitch is here too.” She held her phone to her ear. “Sasha? Hey girl, you home?”

  “Morgan, maybe you should wait until he gets home.” I tried to defuse the situation before it got out of control. Morgan was high, drunk, and hurt. Silas had been all she’d known for so long.

  She smacked her lips and when she spun around to face me, her long, silky, lace front swung. “Chance, he don’t have a home with me. I told his stupid ass to have his shit gone by the time I got back. Didn’t I?”

  I sighed. When Morgan called me three and a half hours ago and asked me to help her pack Silas’ things, I must admit, I was surprised. But she kept true to her word about not being able to continue a relationship with him.

  “I just want him out of my life.” She fixed the half sleeves on her Burberry button down. “I look okay?”

  I chuckled. Only Morgan would care about how cute she looked before she acted a fool at someone else’s house. “You look fine, Morg.” I shook my head.

  Her tight button down was tucked into white, ripped skinny jeans. Morgan had gone to Dr. Miami last year and got her butt done, so her bubble butt, as always, was on full display. The studded, metallic, leather Louboutin’s on her feet looked hard to walk in, but Morgan had a runway walk. Her jewelry sparkled as usual and her makeup was beat …as always.

  The front door opened, and Sasha stood there holding one of her twin boys. “Hey, Morgan.” She smiled, and they shared an air kiss.

  So fake…

  I stepped in behind Morgan and shut the door. “Hey, Sasha.” Offering a wave, I crossed my arms.

  “Chance...” Her eyes roamed me and then shot back to Morgan. “Silas and them are in the back on the court.” Sasha led the way down a long hallway. “Is everything okay?” Her heels clicked just as loud as Morgan’s along the marble floors.

  “Girl, hell no. His shit is outside, and he needs to come put it in his car. I don’t wanna just leave them in your yard.”

  Sasha laughed. “You serious?”

  “As a heart attack.”

  We made it to the back of their home, and to wide balcony doors.

  “Go ahead and do what you gotta do.” Sasha bounced her son. “I just put Emory down. Ean is fighting his sleep.”

  I smiled at how cute Ean was. He and his brother were identical. Jet black curly hair adorned his little head, and his soft peanut butter complexion looked so smooth. Sasha walked away, and Morgan pushed the door open.

  “Morg, can you at least try to be cordial first?” I followed.

  “No,” she stated flatly. “Chance I already told you it don’t pay to be nice.”

  “And only a fool trips on what is behind them.”

  “Whatever.” She continued storming down the stairs. “Take that reverse psychology shit somewhere else.”

  I snickered, and she smacked her lips.

  “Damn!”

  “Who that?”

  “Baby thick. Her friend is too.”

  I sighed as we passed a few men who were just hanging around.

  “Silas!” Morgan called out and he spun around. “Come get your shit so I can go!”

  True

  I heard Morgan’s ghetto ass and turned around. She twisted in Silas’ direction, mean mugging. Chance was trailing her and my eyes immediately shot do
wn to her ass. Her army fatigue pants looked painted on. My gaze then wandered up her body. The half shirt she had on made me frown. When the wind blew, her curly hair swayed.

  “Silas, your shit is in the front.” Morgan stopped directly in front of him. “I told you to be out of my house before I got back.”

  Silas waved her off. “Take yo ass home, Morgan. You killin’ a nigga’s vibe.”

  “Fuck you!” she shot back, punching him hard in the chest.

  “Morg...” Chance grabbed her arm and pulled her back gently. She then stood between Morgan and Silas to keep them apart. “Let’s go. You did what you came here to do. Don’t give him this much con—"

  “Mind yo business, Chance,” Silas flexed, knocking her hand roughly away from him.

  It seemed like the entire court went still. The ball stopped bouncing and everybody stopped talking. All eyes landed on me, and my eyes stayed on Silas. Frowning, I hung up the phone. As I headed in Silas’ direction, Eli interfered.

  “True, stall him out. My girl and kids are in the house.”

  I didn’t give a fuck about none of that. Ignoring Eli, I stepped around him. Chance hurried in my direction with her arms out.

  “True...”

  “Move, Chance.”

  “True, dawg…” Silas drawled.

  Chance took her sunglasses off. “True.” She approached me and wrapped her arms around my torso. “Stop.”

  “Move,” I grumbled.

  Instead, she stood on her tippy toes and hugged my neck. “Give me a hug. I haven’t talked to you all day.”

  We stopped moving and her grip tightened. Sucking my teeth, I bent over slightly, wrapped my arms around her waist, and gave her soft squeeze. “Wassup, Jelly?”

  She squeezed me back. “He’s not worth it.” Chance looked up at me. “He barely touched me.”

  “But he touched you.”

  “Barely...”

  I glanced over at Silas who now had Morgan screaming and yelling in his face. She threw a punch, but he caught it and pushed her down on the ground. Chance let me go and rushed to help her up.

  “You bitch-ass nigga!” Morgan cried.

  “I told you about keeping your hands to yourself,” He grilled her. “Take yo ass home, Morgan.”

  Once she was up on her feet again, Morgan rushed him and started swinging ferociously. Silas struggled with her for a minute before he cocked his fist back and slugged the fuck out of her. Morgan’s head flew back, and she stumbled holding her face.

  “What the fuck, Silas!” Chance hollered. “Are you fuckin’ serious?!” She charged at him.

  Silas blocked her hits as I scooped her up into my arms.

  “Let me go!” she yelled louder, trying to pull out of my grasp.

  Eli grabbed a hold of Morgan. Shorty’s face and the entire front of her shirt were covered with blood. When Chance saw that, I struggled with her even more.

  I’d never seen my Jelly this upset. She was cussing and kicking, begging for me to let her go. Eli led the way away from the court and around the side of his house. Morgan cried lowly. Once we made it to the front of the house, she snatched away from Eli and stormed to her car.

  Still holding onto Chance, I helped her to the car. When I opened her door, she side stepped me and opened the back door. I moved back and watched as she dug in her Fendi purse. When she came back out with her gun, I smirked. She cocked her .45 and tried to storm around me.

  I blocked her. “Chance Breon...”

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she stared up at me defiantly.

  “What you doin’ wit’ that?”

  When the tears started trickling down her cheeks, she wiped her face quickly with her free hand. “Move, True.”

  “Nah.” My tone hardened. “Gimme that and get yo ass in the car.”

  Morgan was still sniffling and crying as she sat behind the steering wheel.

  “Did you see what he did to her?” Chance asked calmly. Tears of frustration continued dripping from her eyes.

  I nodded.

  Her body deflated and then she inhaled deeply. She exhaled slowly and then held her hand out for me to take her piece. I grabbed it and she crossed her arms.

  “Go check on ya home girl.” I fixed the collar on her jacket. “I’ma swing by later.”

  When I entered Chance’s crib, I heard talking in her downstairs sitting area. Since her loft was still being renovated, I’d moved her into a temporary townhome close to Granny Ann. I ventured through her crib and headed downstairs.

  “I never liked his ass anyway.”

  I hit the landing and my gaze swept the room. Chance sat cross-legged on the floor, Morgan was standing up with a fifth of Henn in her hand. Then my eyes landed on Drew, Morgan’s sister. When we locked eyes, she smiled.

  “Hey, True.” She waved.

  “Sup, Drew?” I tossed my chin up. “Chance, let me rap wit’ you.”

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, but didn’t move. “I’m kind of busy right now.” She frowned.

  Not one to repeat myself, I turned back around and headed back upstairs. After stopping in the kitchen to get a bottle of water, I made my way to Chance’s room. I was sitting on her bed deleting text messages when she entered and leaned against the doorjamb.

  “What’s wrong, True?” She sighed. “Morgan needs me right now.”

  “The fuck you mad at me for?”

  Chance smacked her lips. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just mad.” She stepped further into the room and shut the door. “How could he do that to her? I’m not saying what Morgan did was right, but do you see her face?”

  I nodded. Morgan’s eyes were purple and puffy.

  “He could’ve broken her nose.”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t.”

  “True...” Chance’s left eyebrow rose.

  I shrugged. “Morgan got a bad attitude, shorty.” That was why we’d never gotten along. The bitch did too much.

  “True...” She blew a deep breath. “I’m going back downstairs. Morg and Drew are spending the night, so I’ll probably be with them all night.”

  “It’s like that.”

  “Yes, True. You have a key let yourself out.” She opened the door. “Be careful.” With that, she left the room.

  8

  Let downs and setbacks

  Chance

  “You know True is still here?” Morgan plopped down on the sofa. “He’s in the kitchen being rude as hell.” She rolled her eyes. “I swear he makes it easier to hate him every day.”

  Of course, I knew True hadn’t left. I just didn’t know why not. “He’ll leave soon. The streets will call, and he’ll go running,” I stated more curtly than intended.

  Morgan side eyed me, but she didn’t say anything.

  “What I miss?” Drew caught on. “What happened?”

  I relaxed in my chair and played dumb. “With what?” There was no way I was telling Drew I had slept with True. I hadn’t even told Erin and Ava yet.

  “You mad at True? Why? What happened?” She looked back and forth between me and Morgan.

  “I’m not mad at True.” I was, but I wasn’t if that made sense. “He’s just insensitive sometimes.” My text alert sounded off.

  Rel: Can I see you?

  I stared at the message.

  “What’s new?” Drew laughed. “He’s been that way since we’ve known him.” She shook her head. “I think he’s funny.”

  “I’m sure you do,” Morgan mumbled.

  My eyes shot up from my phone in curiosity. Morgan looked away quickly and tossed a throw pillow at Drew. “So, how long you here for?”

  I stared at her profile knowingly. Morgan was keeping something from me.

  “Yo, Chance!” True yelled from the top of the stairs.

  Rel: Let me make up it up to you for the other night

  Rel: Please?

  “Yes, True?” I pushed off the couch.

  “Where my system?”

  When I got to the
bottom of the steps, I looked up at him. Long gone was his hoodie and jeans. He looked really comfortable in a white tee, red Nike basketball shorts, black tube socks, and red Nike slides. Just like Chase and Chasity, True kept clothes at my house. He only usually dressed down like this when one of the kids was sick and he didn’t plan on going anywhere.

  “The cords were in my way, so I put it back in the box. It’s in the hall closet.” I began climbing the stairs. “I thought you were leaving.”

  He stepped back and let me pass. “I’m chillin’. I might have Love drop Chasity off since she’s at Granny’s.”

  I nodded as he followed me up the second set up stairs.

  “You still mad?” When we got to the top, I headed for the hall closet.

  “Nope.” I opened the door. “Just tired.” Reaching into the back of the closet, I grabbed the PS4 box. “Why can’t you hook it up in the first living room or in a guest room?”

  True took the box from me and headed toward my bedroom. “’Cause you be having muthafucka’s all through here and if somebody takes my shit, heads gon’ be rollin’.”

  “Nobody wants your system, True.” I followed him. “And even if that was the case, you have one in every room at your house,” I reminded him, which I thought was unnecessary. True never even had time to play.

  “Call Love.” He started hooking the system up. “Tell her to bring Chasity. I’ll drop her off wit’ her mama later.”

  My phone pinged.

  Rel: *sad emoji*

  Me: Can’t. Tomorrow maybe?

  “You cookin’?”

  I glanced at True. He was now switching the channel. “Drew was going to get tacos in a little bit.”

  He frowned. “When you start hangin’ wit’ her?”

  Shrugging, I took a seat on my bed. “She’s cool, True. And Morgan doesn’t get to see her often since she moved to Michigan.” Morgan and Drew weren’t the closest, but whenever they had free time, they tried to spend it with one another.