“YEAH,” Morgan yells, slamming her shot glass on the table. Her boyfriend Kay looks at her like she just lost her mind.
“So, what’s the move tonight? Aneesah’s in town so we gotta go out and party,” Mook states.
“I’m in.”
“Me too,” all the adults agree simultaneously.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind getting out for a while,” Melissa chimes in, in her southern bell accent. “I think all of the kids are going to Miss Annette’s anyway.”
“My mama is taking all y’all bad ass kids?” Nyce laughs.
“That’s what she said,” Knuck chuckles.
“Aunt Neesah,” Destiny greets me with a hug as I eye Kyle, noting that they arrived together.
“Oh, she’s all you see?” Nyce asks, standing up to greet his niece.
“I just saw you this morning. Cut it out,” she giggles, giving him a hug. “Where are all the kids?”
“Between the pool and the moon bounce,” Gia responds.
“This is my song,” Destiny says doing a little dance, grabbing Kyle’s hand as Nyce, Knuck, Black, and Mookie rise, forming a circle around Kyle.
“We’re just friends. Kyle, these are my crazy uncles,” Destiny nervously smiles.
“You tryin’ to die little niggah?” Mook asks sizing him up. Kyle looks like he is about to shit a brick.
“Stop y’all. He’s a good kid,” I laugh, intervening trying to save poor Kyle’s life. “He’s my camera guy.”
“And we are just friends,” Destiny repeats.
“Y’all leave that boy alone,” Miss Annette laughs. The men slowly take their seats while giving Kyle death stares.
“Come on, Kyle. Let me introduce you to all my little cousins,” Destiny says grabbing his hand. I shake my head when Nyce bounces out of his chair to go follow them. Gia and Sabrina laugh.
I watch some tall, blonde haired woman wearing a red sun dress slowly approach.
“Fuck. Brienne of Tarth is here to whoop my ass,” I whisper to the girls, referencing the character out of Game of Thrones. We all burst out laughing as Tori’s sister approaches.
“Kat, about time you made it,” Tori stands, hugging her.
“Hey sis. Can you believe they took my phone?” She huffs. “Hello everybody,” she greets us in her British accent as I give off a half-ass hello.
“Where’s Lizzy?” Tori asks.
“At the gate finishing up her conversation. I don’t understand why we had to turn in our phones.”
“Because I don’t know you and this is my family. I don’t need an outsider taking photos and selling them to the tabloids,” Pree speaks up.
“The bitch wife?” Kat asks Tori in German. I slyly shake my head at Pree as she shuts her mouth and takes a seat.
“Um, I’m going to go find Nyce. Excuse me ladies,” Knuck states, trying to stand clear while eyeing Black and Mookie. Does Knuck really think that I would pop off in front of all these kids? Part of being a celebrity is having self-control no matter how stressful the situation is.
“Yup, that’s the bitch wife,” Tori answers.
“And that’s Anì or Aneesah or whatever she’s calling herself.”
“Yes?” I ask staring at Kat.
“I’m sorry?” She questions now speaking in English.
“You just said my name so I’m assuming you’re talking about me.”
“I’m just excited to be in your presence,” she smiles.
“Oh, likewise,” I smile back.
“Anyway, we can’t leave until James leaves. It’s like she has this whole family wrapped around her finger. Even his mother and father come to her defense, and those hoodlum friends of his? I tell him all the time he needs new friends,” Tori continues, shaking her head. The other adults are having conversations amongst each other as Pree and I tune in to Kat and Tori’s.
“Forget her. Are you still having problems in the bedroom? Has he gone to the doctor about his erectile dysfunction?”
I burst out laughing followed by Pree.
“You are so stupid,” I laugh at her. “Why are you making those faces at the kids?”
Pree, being my girl catches on quickly since I don’t want these two dummies to know that we understand everything they are saying to each other.
“You are right. She is much prettier on television. Make-up does wonders,” Kat says as they share a laugh.
“We talked about him going to the doctor, but he just shuts me up and doesn’t want to talk about it. I don’t know what else to do to make him happy,” Tori replies to her sister.
“Well keep trying. All marriages go through their rough patches.”
“Thanks,” she solemnly says. “I guess I have to be a bitch with a microphone for him to even see me,” Tori giggles slightly as her sister joins in.
“You don’t find that rather rude?” I ask.
“What?” Tori replies.
“Well, you know that we don’t speak the language and you are having a full conversation in a different language even though it is not your native tongue. That’s rude and I can only assume that you are talking about me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, dear,” Tori replies.
“Tori,” Nyce barks. “I need to talk to you.”
“Babe?” She says. “Oh my gosh, Lizzy,” she squeals stepping around Nyce to hug a young Cambodian woman.
“Sister,” Lizzy squeals embracing her sister.
“Pree, this is my sister Elizabeth, Lizzy for short,” Tori announces, introducing them.
“Hello,” Lizzy greets. “Thank you so much for allowing me into your lovely home. This is fantastic,” Lizzy exclaims excited.
“Elizabeth, they are not your friends,” Kat snaps in German.
“Sorry,” Lizzy apologizes.
“Oh my god…Oh my god…I am such a fan,” Lizzy squeals coming up to me and sticking out her hand. I grab her hand to shake it.
“Oh my god. Aneesah just shook my hand,” she smiles brightly. “I have all your music, been to all your shows…Oh my god,” she squeals in excitement.
“Thank you for your support,” I smile.
“Elizabeth,” both Kat and Tori snap.
“Oh shut-up. You don’t even know her to not like her,” Lizzy exclaims in German.
“She’s a celebrity, Lizzy. You don’t know her either,” Kat states.
“Whatever,” Lizzy huffs taking a seat. “And she is pretty. With or without makeup,” she adds, rolling her eyes at her sisters.
“She is not. She is hideous in person,” Tori chimes in.
“Yeah, but my ass is much fatter in person. You want to kiss it?” I speak in German, rising from my chair and shimming out of my shorts. I throw my shorts in their shocked faces as Lizzy and Pree burst out laughing.
“YEAH, and I’m not a bitch,” Pree says in English as Nyce and Knuck shake their heads.
“Really? That’s the best you can do? Having kids made you soft, B,” I laugh at Pree.
“Shut-up,” Pree responds.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tori snaps at Nyce.
“I tried to. You wouldn’t fuckin’ listen.”
“You big mad or little mad?” Pree taunts bubbling over in laughter as Knuck jumps up, standing in front of his wife.
“Yo, these bitches about to scrap. I got money on Aneesah’s ass. I don’t like that hoe over there anyway,” Mookie laughs, throwing a ten-dollar bill on the table.
“Mookie, shut-up,” Knuck and Nyce say together.
“Well, the hot dogs should be just about ready. I’ll go get the kids,” Melissa chimes in not wanting any parts. Tori glares at me.
“For you to be this big, bad confident woman, you sure have a lot to say on your album. I know I am the bitch you keep referring to and my husband, he don’t want you. He chose me,” she smiles holding up her hand and showing off her ring. The adults are quiet as they tune in to see what’s going on. Nyce pivots his body, wedging himself in between me and Tori.
“Silly rabbit,” I speak in German. “He’ll be back and though I don’t want him back, I’ll take him just to teach you a lesson. You don’t touch things that don’t belong to you. And oh,” I state, now speaking in English. “I’ve never had a problem with keeping your husband hard but if you are struggling, here’s a pointer. He likes hitin’ it from behind so try arching your back and twerk a little on his stick. It drives him crazy,” I smile wickedly while glossing my top lip with my tongue. Everyone around us either falls silent or bursts out laughing.
“Bitch,” she snaps trying to go around Nyce. I quickly snatch her by her hair as everyone around us goes into action. I feel Trey pulling me and lifting me off my feet, but I still have my fingers tangled in this bitch’s hair, refusing to let go.
“ANEESAH, CHILL,” half of them are yelling.
“FUCK HER UP,” the other half is shouting. Jada, Sabrina and Pree are blocking her sisters from interfering as Nyce, Knuck, and Trey are trying to pull me off her.
“ANEESAH, ACT LIKE YOU HAVE SOME FUCKIN’ CLASS,” I hear Diana shout. “YOU ARE DOING THIS IN FRONT OF THE KIDS,” she snaps and that’s when I come to the realization of what’s happening and make the conscience decision to let go but not before making sure to rip some of this bitch’s hair out.
I am enraged and storm inside the house, going up to Kenya’s room. I look inside her crib and she is lying quietly, sucking on her fingers.
“Hey little girl,” I smile picking her up. She coos before turning her head and opening her mouth up at my boob.
“Oh no. I’m serving powdered milk here,” I laugh and begin to change her diaper. Pree walks in with a bottle.
“You okay?” She asks.
“No,” I honestly answer. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You reacted like any woman would have.”
“Did the kids see?” I ask looking at her sorrowfully. I don’t want my nieces and nephew to see me acting like that.
“No. They were on the other side of the yard getting their hot dogs. You’re good.”
I let out a breath.
“They left?” I ask referring to Nyce and the Queens of England.
“Nyce is trying to get Tori to leave but she refuses. Him and Knuck have some business to take care of later. That’s the only reason why he’s staying,” she shrugs.
I place Kenya over my shoulder to burp her. My phone vibrates, and I look down at the screen at an unknown number calling from a Jersey area code. I ignore it, but the person calls right back. Thinking that it may be one of the students, I answer.
“Hello?”
“Why are you refusing to work with me?” The caller asks.
“Who is this?” I question.
“Tarron.”
“Who?”
“Wow, that hurt. Tarron…Tron.”
“How did you get my number?” I snap.
“I stole it from Chink. So, why don’t you want to work with me?”
“I’m busy.”
“Well make some time for me.”
“What do you want, boy?” I ask annoyed.
“I want you to sing the hook on my song.”
“Ask somebody else.”
“I’m asking you.”
“Goodbye, Tarron,” I tell him hanging up.
“Oh, y’all talking on the phone now?” Pree smirks.
“Shut up.”
“Miss Annette is taking Taj and all the older kids and my mom is taking the babies. You still want to go out tonight?”
“Yeah. I guess so,” I sigh.
“Cool. I’ll be right back. Let me go check on these kids,” Pree says looking out the window before walking out the room. I rock Kenya back to sleep, stroking her soft curls.
“I had a daughter. She would have been four now, the same age as your brother. Her name is Angel and I miss her every day. It’s funny, I only physically had her for five days, but I think about her all the time. So, when you see the tattoo on Sha-Sha’s or your mommy’s back, that’s who we got tattoo’s for,” I confess rocking her. I start to hum Anita Baker’s “Angel”.
If I could give you the world,
Wrap it all around you,
Won’t be satisfied with just a piece of this heart,
My angel,
Oh, angel,
You’re my angel,
Oh, angel,
“That’s how I came up with her name. I just started to sing this to her,” I say to Kenya as I watch her sleep, sucking on her pacifier as I think about my daughter.
“I guess the world wasn’t ready for another Aneesah but then again, I don’t think the world is ready for another Capree,” I giggle. “But I am glad you’re here. Between me and you, your mom is a handful and the biggest spoiled brat I know,” I laugh.
“I hear you, stupid. The baby monitor is on,” Pree’s voice echoes out the monitor.
“See what I mean, baby girl? I wasn’t even talking to your mom and she had something to say,” I giggle. I continue to rock and sing to Kenya as I watch her sleep. There is a light tap on the door.
“It’s open,” I whisper loudly enough not to wake the sleeping baby but Kenya’s eyes flash back open anyway. Nyce steps in and I give him an evil glare.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
I sing, rocking Kenya as she slowly closes her eyes. I get up and place her in her crib.
“You would have been a great mother,” Nyce volunteers.
“What do you want?” I snap.
“I came to check on you. What the fuck was that?”
I cut my eyes at him.
“Go away, Nyce.”
There is a long pause.
“I am sorry, okay? I really fucked up and I’m sorry. Can we talk? Please?”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Don’t act like that, Diamond.”
“That’s not my name.”
“You’ll always be my Diamond.”
“Oh my gosh. What do you want? Get away from me.”
He cocks his head and smiles.
“I see your little stuck up attitude hasn’t changed,” he laughs like this is a fuckin’ joke.
“It actually has, you just bring out the worst in me.”
“That hurt,” he smiles putting a hand over his heart.
“You know, Saheed said something to me once that resonates through my soul. He called me toxic. That’s what you are to me.”
“You don’t mean that,” he says actually looking offended.
“You have done more harm than good. Forget what Rita has done or even Pree and Vic, you are the only person who I allow to continuously hurt me,” I pause. “You know, I never cried until I fell in love with you.” I shake my head before pushing him out of my way and march out the room. I walk out back and watch the kids play around and dance to the music.
“ANEEEEESSSSAAAHHHH,” Destiny squeals, pulling my hand when “Team Lil Man Anthem” blasts out the speakers. I laugh and allow her to pull me over to the rest of the kids as we dance to the song. All the adults gather around, some joining in while others, who were allowed to keep their phones record. The little dance off doesn’t stop there. I am hilariously laughing and dancing with Taj when Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin’ Down” comes on and he’s doing all the moves; getting hype and doing back flips and shit.
“GO TAJ,” we yell, having fun. Nyce is laughing and recording but does not join in as he normally would. Tori and Kat are standing on the sidelines snickering but Lizzie? She’s out here getting down with us. I like her.
“Oh shit. What y’all know about this?” Mookie shouts over the music when Cool C’s “The Glamorous Life” comes on. The DJ spins some of the classic old skools and I bust out with the original Running Man when Mook decides to do the
Roger Rabbit.
“Y’all are so stoopid,” Sabrina yells laughing while filming on her camera phone.
“Come on, Nee. Let’s hit it,” Trey says to me when Kid N Play’s “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” comes on.
“Oh my god. Are y’all really?” Pree laughs as Trey and I hit them with the Kid N Play. The backyard is filled with laughter as they watch Trey and I make fools of ourselves, remembering how we used to imitate the whole House Party scene when we were kids.
Trey and I pause at the part in the dance routine where you are supposed to hop over one of your legs. We look at each other before erupting in laughter.
“My old ass ain’t got it like that no more,” he laughs.
“Yeah. I’m on tour. I can’t be getting hurt,” I giggle, grabbing a beer out of Pree’s hands as we walk over to sit down.
Night falls over the sky and the party winds down. It’s after 10 and most of the kids are worn out. We are still drinking when the caterers and party planners start breaking down the equipment and begin to clean.
“You good?” Diana asks, giving me a hug goodbye.
“I’m fine,” I reply.
“Good. You’re better than what I saw earlier.”
“I know. Sorry.”
“See you tomorrow then,” she kisses me before walking away.
“So, we still goin’ out or what?” Morgan asks, holding Kay’s hand.
“I’m in,” Black, Mookie, Gia, and Sabrina agree.
“Me too,” I chime in.
“Where to first?” Jada asks.
“STRIP CLUB,” Pree shouts, taking a shot.
“Hells yeah,” Black and Mookie high-five each other.
“I’m down,” Jada and Morgan agree.
“Okay, so get yo’ asses off my property and go home and get dressed,” Knuck chuckles.
“Count us out. We won’t be partaking in such misogynistic things,” Tori states. Ain’t nobody invite her ass anyway.
“Sis, lighten up,” Lizzy says.
“What? My husband and I don’t participate in those types of activities,” she smiles, wrapping an arm around Nyce. The rest of us burst out laughing. There have been plenty of nights that we all went out partying at the strip club and Nyce’s ass was right along with us.
“She ain’t no Aneesah,” Mookie whispers at Black as they burst out laughing.
Unveiled Page 14
