by Mz. Toni
“You so fucking messy,” Shana said to Queesha.
“What I do?” she asked.
“You know if he would have looked at her ass you would have smacked the life out his ass!” Shana said laughing.
“Bye bish, I don't know about you, but I gotta keep Chris’ ass on his toes,” she shrugged.
“Y'all a mess, but yeah, the twins did a bitch body right,” I said through laughter. As we talked and laughed, we were having so much fun in the lobby, we decided to wait ten more minutes, before heading to the beach without them. When we got there, it was beautiful. From the sand, to the water and trees. As we played in the water, while the men sat on the beach smoking with some locals who worked there, I glanced over at Peter. He was sitting off to the side and the look on his face let me know that he didn't approve of what the other men were doing. I couldn't help but think of how much fun I would be having if Mega was here. Don't get me wrong, Peter was fun to be around and he always made sure I was taken care of, but the fact still remained that he didn't fit in with my friends.
“Girl, you see ya man!” Shante said laughing.
“Yeah girl, he looks like he’s having the worst time,” Queesha said laughing.
“I know. I guess he doesn't really want to be around them.”
“I can understand that. I mean he came for you, to spend time with you,” Shana said.
“Yeah, I know, but I just wanted him to get to know the men in my life.”
“Hey boo’s!” Camille said when she finally showed up.
“Don't hey boo us bitch. How you gonna set some shit up and don't show up!” I playfully snapped as she moved closer to us in the water.
“My bad, this island air got me feeling real horny,” she said seriously.
“Uh huh bitch, you nasty!” I said.
“Whatever bitch, if you were nasty with that boy, maybe he wouldn't be sitting over there angry right now.”
“We said the same thing. He looking like he don't wanna be here,” Shante said. Looking over at him, I felt bad, so I walked out of the water and went to check on him.
“You ok?” I whispered.
“No, this smell is getting on my nerves. I don't understand how people like them can put that nasty stuff in their systems.”
“People like them?” I asked, offended.
“Druggies.”
“Druggies?”
“Yes, that is drugs they’re doing, and it’s illegal.”
“Ok Peter, well I would have never invited you on this trip if I knew you would be a Debbie downer,” I said before walking away.
Chapter Twelve
Ashley
“Are you ok?”
“Shut the fuck up talking to me!” Jayda snapped at me.
“What did I do wrong?” I asked, while we sat in the hospital, waiting to be seen.
“It’s your fault he fucking hit me!”
“He wouldn't have hit you if you didn't hit me.”
“You shouldn't have had him in our crib, damn!”
“You shouldn't have been fucking with him and Cherish!” I snapped.
“Oh, so now you taking this bitch side?”
“I'm just saying Jayda. None of this would have happened if you didn't keep fucking with that man.”
“I loved him,” she said with teary eyes.
“You deserve to be with someone who loves you, just as much as you love them.”
“And let me guess, you’re that person, right?” she said with a smirk.
“No, I don't think I am,” I said honestly.
“Oh, so you don't love me anymore Ashley?”
“I love you Jayda, but not enough to continue to deal with this shit.”
“This nigga Jason got you singing a new tune,” she said laughing.
“You don't love me, you don't do women, remember? So why are you even acting like you care about whether or not I still want to be with you.”
“I don't… but I don't appreciate you jumping ship,” she said, jumping up right in the middle of the hospital.
“I ain't jumping ship because of Mega. Look at how you treat me Jayda. Here I am at the hospital for ya ass and you look like you about to hit me, I can't do this!” I snapped. Grabbing my purse, I got up and prepared to walk away. As soon as I turned to leave, I was yanked back by my hair. I couldn't catch my balance and hit the floor hard.
“Bitch, you think you can just leave me!” she screamed, while raining painful blows on my body as I screamed for her to stop. Before I knew what was happening, Jayda was being pulled off me and being dragged away in handcuffs.
“I’mma kill you bitch!” she screamed.
“Are you ok?” a police officer asked me.
“I'm fine, thank you,” I said, while rubbing my face.
“You don't look fine and I really think you should get checked out.”
“No, I just want to get out of here,” I said, turning to walk away. Before I could take a step, everything went black and I passed out. When I woke up, I was hooked up to an IV and on the side of me was the officer who had helped me out.
“How long was I out?” I asked.
“A few hours. The doctor gave you something for the pain, you have a concussion,” he said sympathetically.
“Thank you, can I leave now?”
“Listen, I don't know your situation and I won't pretend that I do, but it isn't healthy for you to allow that woman to abuse you the way she just did.”
“I know, and I'm done with her. I'm so tired of giving everything I have to someone who doesn't deserve it.”
“How long have you guys been together?” he asked.
“We have never been together, she’s just my friend.”
“Hmmp ok. Well do you have somewhere to go?”
“I might, do you have my purse?” I asked. When he handed it to me, I pulled out my phone and called Mega, but he didn't answer. Hanging up, I couldn't help the tears that left my eyes. Since I could remember, everything in my life had been so hard. Now here I was, an ex-drug addict, a hoe and a stripper, with an abusive girlfriend that used to be a man and a daughter who barely knows me anymore.
“Hey, hey, please don't cry. If your friend didn't answer that’s fine, you can stay with me,” he said. Looking up, I noticed that he wasn't the most handsome man. Standing at 5’6, he was a little on the heavy side and looked to be about forty years old, black as tar, with the brightest teeth I’d ever seen. But to be honest, he was the nicest man I’d met since Jason and for that, he was the sexiest man on earth right now.
“I don't want to impose, I have enough money for a motel.”
“You're not imposing. I didn't handle your case because I was off duty, so it isn't even a conflict of interest. I think you're beautiful and in need of a friend and I want to help,” he said sweetly and sincerely.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. On the drive to his house, I told him all about Jayda and when I was finished, he drove with his mouth hung open. I mean shit, from the outside looking in, Jayda was a beautiful woman, so I knew he would be surprised to find out that she was once a man.
“Honestly, I didn't know. I mean in my line of work I deal with all types of domestic disputes, so I just assumed she was a crazy girlfriend.”
“Yeah, well I'm done with her and I just want to focus on becoming a better mom and woman,” I said honestly.
“As long as you mean it, I have no problem helping you achieve it,” he said with a smile.
“I'm sorry I was so worried about myself, I didn't even ask you about you.”
“Well my name is Tyler and I'm forty-two. I don't have any children and my wife recently passed tonight from AIDS”
“Wow, I'm sorry for your loss,” I said sincerely. I couldn't help but wonder if he was sick also. He didn't look like he was, but you never know.
“I know what you're thinking and no I don't have the virus. My wife had been battling with a drug addiction for some time and we were separated for years. I trie
d to help her as much as I could, but it wasn't enough. A few months ago, she had finally decided to get clean, but by then, it was too late, she already had full blown AIDS.”
“That's so sad. I battled and still continue to battle with drug addiction, so I know how hard it is.”
“Yeah, she’s battled with the disease for years, but she got clean and we were happy for a while. She got pregnant and our daughter died from SIDS. That was too much for her to bare and she just went over the edge,” he said as he pulled up to a beautiful house. When he parked, I followed behind him into his home and was taken aback by how beautiful and homey the inside was.
“Do you have anything I can wear, I really want to shower,” I said. Walking into his bedroom, he opened a drawer and handed me an oversized t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts.
“I have to go to work, I won't be back until 5am, so you can have the bed. I usually take the couch anyways.”
“Thank you so much for everything, you don't even know me.”
“I know enough, and I like what I know,” he said, before walking back out the door. Sitting on the edge of the tub and turning on the water, I couldn't help but think that maybe this was my happy ending.
Chapter Thirteen
Mega
Waking up from the longest nap I’d ever taken, I popped up and looked at my clock. I couldn't believe that a whole day had gone by without as much as a text message. Grabbing my phone, as soon as I unlocked it, I noticed that I had over fifty text messages and a hundred missed calls. I also realized that my phone was set to silent.
“Kaliah!” I screamed. When she walked into the room, she had the biggest smile on her face that I wanted to slap off.
“How did you sleep?” she asked.
“Did you turn my fucking ringer off!”
“Why are you cursing at me nigga? Yeah, I turned it off, you were tired and it was ringing like a fucking party line!” she snapped.
“I'm a fucking father, what if something was wrong with the kids? I'm a businessman, so what if it was about one of my artist!”
“I didn't think about that. I just knew how peaceful you looked sleeping.”
“Don't touch my phone man, damn!”
“Alright!”
“I'm serious, Kaliah. Don't touch my fucking phone again, that shit wasn't cool!”
“I heard you the first time, Jason!” she said, before storming away. Looking through my phone, I saw that it was a lot of calls and text messages from Ashley, and because of the shit that went down, I decided to call her first. After dialing her number, I waited for her to answer and when she didn't, I just hung up. Listening to my voice messages, one said that she was at the hospital with a concussion, and she was leaving Jayda and needed somewhere to stay. The next said that she was ok and would be staying with a friend for a while. After checking my voicemail, I called the kids and checked on them. Once I was sure that they were fine, I got dressed and headed to check on Mama Betty. Kasan had given me her spare key before he left and I swore to that nigga that I would check on her. Plus, I needed to get out of this house, I couldn't believe that she had touched my phone. Usually when I needed to get away, I went to see Mark and them. Shit was weird as hell not having my crew around. They were in the Bahamas, while I was in the states, wishing a nigga was on vacation.
“You leaving?” she asked.
“Yeah why, what’s up?”
“Nothing, just asking,” she said. Without another word, I walked out the door and into my car. When I pulled up to Mama Betty’s house, I noticed that all the lights were off. Using my key, I unlocked the door and walked in. Looking around the house, I couldn't see any signs that Mama Betty was there and I got worried, so I headed to her bedroom. Opening the door, I was hit with a sight that could have blinded me. Mama Betty was bent over the bed, getting her back blown out by some nigga I couldn't see.
“What the fuck Mama Betty!” I snapped. Jumping up, she quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her body.
“Boy, you ain't ever heard of knocking. I oughta beat ya ass, how did you get in here!”
“Beat my ass? You in here being nasty with some nigga!”
“This ain't just some nigga, this my boyfriend,” she said with a smile.
“How you doing son?” he said, reaching his hand out to shake mine.
“Nigga, put some clothes on and wash ya hands!” I snapped, as I stared at his hand as if it had the fucking package.
“Don't be talking to him like that. I'm grown and you ain't the man of this house. You betta take ya ass back to Cherish and be the man there!”
“You gotta go, so grab ya shit and start moving!” I snapped. I couldn't help but think about how Kasan would feel if he was here and saw his mama in this way.
“I'm so sorry, Leroy. Don't pay this boy no mind, he’s my son’s little friend. I’ll call you,” she said, before kissing him passionately. I didn't know whether to beat his fucking ass or go throw up. What sent me over the deep end was when he grabbed her ass.
“Fuck this shit!” I said, before yoking him up and tossing him out of her room. When he was gone, I went and sat at the kitchen table, while she went to go put some clothes on. When she came out, she slapped the shit out of me, but I already knew that was coming.
“Boy, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Mama Betty, you too old to be doing this shit!”
“Boy, what shit!”
“Being a damn thot!” I screamed. Once again, she slapped the taste out my mouth.
“Never have I ever been a damn thot. Me and Leroy been together for months and I like him.”
“Ain't no way Kasan gonna accept this!”
“Kasan ain't got no choice, he ain't going nowhere. What, you want me to be lonely?”
“You ain't lonely Mama Betty. You got Kasan, me and the kids.”
“I ain't talking bout that kinda lonely, Jason. I need companionship, the kind I can only get from a man, not my damn son. Besides that, how many times have you come to see me this month, aside from dropping my babies off to see me,” she said. When I thought about it, I realized that it had been weeks since I’d stopped by just to spend time with her.
“You're right and I'm sorry, I will do better.”
“I don't need you to do better, because unlike you and my hard headed son, I understand that y'all have to have a life outside of me. I love Kasan, but he’s grown. I did my job with him and now I need some love in my life. Shit, I ain't that old, I wanna get my groove on too,” she said laughing. I felt uncomfortable talking to my boy’s mama about her love life and shit. This was something she needed to talk to him about when he came home.
“Aight, that's enough. I understand and my bad for tripping.”
“Thank you baby, but you need to be apologizing to Leroy.”
“Aight,” I said.
“Well now that we got that worked out, I’mma need for you to get ghost. Leroy parked down the street, waiting for your crazy ass to leave,” she said laughing.
“Aight, I'm out,” I said, shaking my head.
“Oh, before you go, I’mma need that key,” she said. I thought she was playing until I realized that she didn't crack a smile.
“Seriously, Kasan told me I gotta make sure you good.”
“You damn straight. Next time, call before you come. I can take care of myself, tell him that,” she said, before kissing my cheek. I felt like Tyrese on Baby Boy, I guess mama need a life too. Walking to my car, I pulled off, scarred for life. As I drove home, I couldn't help but feel a little hurt. This was some shit that only Cherish would understand and laugh at, but I couldn't call her because we didn't have that relationship anymore. Finally saying fuck it, I dialed her number and she answered on the first ring.
“Are my babies ok?” she asked.
“Yeah, they straight. I had some funny shit to tell you,” I said, before telling her exactly what happened.
“Oh shit you lying, Kasan gonna fucking go off,�
�� she said laughing.
“Man, this nigga had her bent over like she was a youngin.”
“Shit, as we get older us women get riper, so I can believe it,” she said, cracking up.
“Are you getting riper?” I asked.
“Boy bye, ask ya fiancé that,” she said laughing.
“I'm just playing damn, but are you having fun?”
