by Mz. Toni
“Ummmm, I’mma put the kids to bed, come on Jasmine,” Evelyn said before walking out of the room.
“I could have helped you,” he said, sounding left out.
“Mega, you are about to be married. I can't keep depending on you to do everything, not anymore.”
“Married or not, I got ya back no matter what, and you know that.”
“I know, but I wanted to do this on my own. I like this whole independent single thing,” I said laughing.
“Yeah, I see. What about you and white chocolate?” he said laughing.
“Hahaha, real funny nigga. But we’re just friends, like I told you before,” I said, not wanting to give him too much information about what happened.
“Yeah aight, but let me get out of here,” he said, before heading to the door. Walking behind him so I could lock it, he turned around abruptly and I bumped into him. For some reason when our bodies touched, I got nervous as hell. He was so close I could feel his breath on my forehead.
“I like this whole independence vibe you got going, it looks good on you,” he said sexily before walking out. Closing and locking the door, I leaned on the door when he left, so I could catch my breath. I wasn't sure if he was trying to turn me on or if it just came naturally for him, but he had a bitch dripping. I had to tell myself over and over that he was engaged to be married, and that was one line I would never cross.
Chapter Seventeen
Mega
After dropping the kids off, I headed home. It had been days since Kaliah stepped to Ashley and aside from sleeping there, I had been out all day every day, trying to avoid her ass. Me and the kids would either go to Mama Betty’s house, and I made sure I called before going, or I would just take them to the park and other places to tire them out. When I did come home at night, she would attempt to talk to me, but I wasn't tryna hear shit she had to say. She was completely out of pocket and that shit was unacceptable. Pulling up to my house, I was finally tired of being upset with her, so when I walked in, I planned to just tell her how I felt and she could take that shit how she wanted. When I walked into the house, Kaliah was sitting on the couch crying, which surprised me because she rarely cried.
“Why you sitting in the dark crying?” I asked.
“You’ve been treating me like shit for days, I said sorry.”
“What were you thinking asking her some shit like that!” I snapped.
“I don't know; I just know how happy Jasmine makes you.”
“Listen, I love you, but when it comes to my kids and their mothers, I need you to stay out of it.”
“But I will be their stepmother.”
“That doesn't give you permission to ask questions pertaining to our children. Anything I feel I want to ask, I can ask myself,” I said, shaking my head.
“I just want to be involved Jason,” she said.
“You are involved, but there needs to be boundaries.”
“I understand; please tell me you forgive me.”
“I forgave you as soon as I saw you in here crying, Kaliah. I don't want to see you cry, but I need you to respect me and the mother of my children,” I said sternly, before picking her up and carrying her upstairs to the bedroom. Laying her down, she grabbed my neck and kissed me hungrily. I watched as she closed her eyes and let a soft moan leave her lips. Breaking the kiss, I grabbed her left breast and licked her nipple lightly. Reaching her hand down my back, she grabbed my shirt and pulled it off. Getting up, I quickly took off my sneaker and pants, before climbing back on top of her and putting her nipple back into my mouth. Placing my fingers on top of her opening, I rubbed her clit until she begged me to fuck her. Sliding two fingers inside of her, I fingered her until she let out a scream and creamed all over my hand.
“Please fuck me!” she begged.
“You want me to fuck you?” I asked, while sucking her nipple.
“Sssssssss, yes please!” she screamed. Flipping her over, I rammed my dick into her center roughly. Grabbing her hair, I fed her all of my dick, while she screamed out in pain and pleasure. I could feel her trying to get away from me, so I gripped her hips tightly and pulled her back.
“Where you going, I thought you wanted this dick.”
“Slow down baby,” she said.
“Naw, you wanted me to fuck you, right?” I asked, while still banging her back out.
“I'm bout to cum!” she screamed. After a few more pumps, I felt her pussy clamp my dick, before she exploded all over me. As I continued to fuck her, she came a few more times before I felt my nut building up. When I reached my peak, I pulled my dick out of her and nutted on her ass.
“Why you always got to do that?” she asked with an attitude. Ignoring her, I got up to get her a warm rag. When I came back, she was still tooted up, waiting for me to clean her off. Taking the rag, I gently wiped her off, before climbing back into the bed. I could tell she still had an attitude because I didn't nut in her.
“So you just gonna ignore me?” she asked.
“Don't fuck up a good night Kaliah, I'm tired,” I said, before turning over. I actually wanted to go a few more rounds, until she gave me attitude, now I was turned off and ready for bed. Ever since I proposed to her, for some reason she seemed pressed to have a child. Don't get me wrong I love kids and I wouldn't mind giving her a child, but not right now. That shit was out of the question, I still had toddlers in diapers.
“I don't wanna argue with you so I’mma just leave it alone,” she said. The next morning, I woke up to a text message from Camille, asking me if I could call her.
“What’s up Cam?”
“Hey, my bad for calling you so early.”
“You good, everything ok?”
“Yeah, do you think we can meet up?”
“When, right now?” I asked.
“Yeah, if you can,” she said, not sounding like herself. After hanging up with her, I hopped in the shower, got dressed and headed over to her house. When I pulled up, the kids were outside playing and she was sitting on the step.
“So what’s up?” I asked.
“Well, I need advice from a man,” she said.
“Aight,” I said, hoping she didn't ask me no bullshit.
“I'm pregnant,” she blurted out.
“Ok, congratulations?” I asked, confused.
“I don't know.”
“This is Mark’s baby, right?” I asked.
“Oh you tried it nigga, yeah this his baby!” she snapped.
“Ok, so what’s the problem?”
“I found out before the trip to the Bahamas, but I don't think he wants any more kids.”
“Yeah he does, he talks about it all the time,” I said.
“Alright damn, I don't want any more kids right now.”
“Wow, I don't know what to say.”
“How do you think he would feel if I told him?” she asked.
“I think he would be pissed. I mean you're not thinking about aborting it, are you?”
“Of course not. I mean I love children, but he doesn't really help me. I have to do everything myself when it comes to them, I just want some help.”
“So tell him that. I think if he knew how you felt, he would make some changes.”
“I don't know. I just don't want him to think that I don't want the baby, when the truth is I just don't wanna do it all by myself.”
“I understand. How about you talk to him and if he doesn't understand what you're tryna say, then I’ll holla at him.”
“Thank you!” she said.
“You straight, but now I need a favor from you.”
“Oh lawd,” she said, sounding stressed already.
“I just want you to hang with Kaliah, even if it’s once. I mean she’s feeling real left out of the crew.”
“Nigga that’s cuz she ain't in this crew!”
“I just need that one favor.”
“Man, I would have to talk to Cherish, and even then, you know I don't do fake.”
“I know,
but do something that doesn't involve much talking, like go shopping or something.”
“Aight Mega, damn!” she said, before calling the kids in and slamming the door in my face. When I was almost home, Camille called me and let me know that Cherish said it was cool and that I could tell Kaliah for her. When I got home, I rushed inside to find Kaliah in the living room, doing yoga. I swear this girl was the healthiest person I knew.
“Hey babe!” she said happily.
“What you doing tomorrow?” I asked.
“Nothing, I'm off,” she said.
“Aight, well Camille wanted you to go shopping with her tomorrow.”
“Seriously, I didn't think she liked me!” she said excited.
“I told you they didn't have a problem with you.”
“Ok well tell her I would love to go,” she said smiling.
Chapter Eighteen
Cherish
Pulling up to my building, I was nervous and excited as I walked in with Marcus. I had seen a lot of their work on Facebook, so I knew it would be beautiful, I just hoped they understood what I wanted.
“Hey Marcus,” I said, shaking his hand.
“How are you Cherish?”
“I'm great, excited,” I said with a smile.
“Well I won't keep you in suspense any longer,” he said, before unlocking and opening the door. When I walked in, I was in complete shock, it was beautiful. Empty of course, but beautiful. Everything was perfect. As I walked through the building, I couldn't find anything that I didn't love about what they had been able to do in such a short period of time. After seeing the entire building, I handed him the check and gave him a hug. I couldn't thank him enough for the work he did. A lot of times when you're a woman coming to a man for work, they try and give you some bullshit job, but he did what I wanted. After he was gone, I pulled out my phone to call Camille, but before I could dial her number, she was calling me.
“Guess what!” I said when I answered.
“What?”
“The building is complete, so I need you to furnish it!” I said excitedly. I always told her that she should do interior design because of all the compliments she got on her house.
“Oh my God, congrats!”
“My bad, I forgot that you called me first, so what’s up?”
“Girl Mega’s ass asked me if I could hang out with Kaliah,” she said, surprising me.
“Why would he ask you of all people to do that?”
“He kinda gave me advice on this situation, so I owed him a favor.”
“Oh well if you asking me how I feel about you hanging with her, then the answer is I could give zero fucks, as long as when I call you answer,” I said laughing.
“You already know, but let me call you back so I can give this nigga the ok,” she said before hanging up. I honestly didn't feel upset that she was gonna chill with her because I knew how Camille was. She couldn't stand a shiesty bitch and that’s exactly what Kaliah was. After looking at my soon to be outreach program/group home. Now that I was one step closer to making my dream a reality, I headed to see Mark and Kasan. They told me that they would love to invest in my program a few months ago, I just hoped they still felt the same way. I mean I planned on getting grants for the program, but that could take months, so I would use whatever they gave me to hold me over until the government grants kicked in. Yeah, I had my own money, but that's what the government is for, so why not milk them for all I can, especially since it was for a good cause. Pulling up to Mark’s club, I parked and then called Shana.
“Hey boo, I need a favor,” I said when she answered.
“Damn, can I get a hi or something before you start begging,” she said laughing.
“My bad, hey boo. Now I need a favor.”
“What’s up?”
“You think you can print me out some colorful fliers to promote the outreach program?”
“Of course I can. Are you still calling it Camden’s Safe Haven?” she said. I couldn't believe that she remembered. Hell, even I forgot that I had come up with that name last year while we were having some girl time.
“Yeah, I will text you when I get a number for it. I'm supposed to call Comcast tomorrow.”
“Alright, just let me know and congrats boo.”
“Thank you,” I said, hanging up. When I got off the phone with her, I hopped out the car and walked straight into the club. Everyone knew who I was because of Mega, so I usually had no problems.
“Damn, who you?” some ugly ass nigga with funky breath asked all in my face.
“Not interested!” I said, walking past him. When I got upstairs, Mark and Kasan were laughing hard as hell.
“Why you play that man out like that?” Kasan asked.
“Please, he played my nose out, talking to me with his breath smelling like ass crack crunch. Ugh, niggas need to do better,” I said, sitting down.
“You so damn mean these days,” Mark said.
“I get it from y'all wives.”
“Probably. Shit, Camille been mean as hell lately, with her pregnant ass,” Mark said laughing.
“Wait, pregnant?” I asked, confused.
“I assumed you knew. Shit, she thinks she’s keeping that shit from me, like I don't clock her periods.”
“You clock her periods?” I asked.
“All niggas do,” he shrugged.
“I wonder why she didn't tell me?” I asked out loud to myself.
“I'm wondering the same thing, but if she don't tell me soon, I’mma beat her ass,” he said before getting up and handing me two checks for fifty thousand.
“Wow, I didn't expect you guys to give me this much.”
“We all for giving back to the community. Too many of these young kids are dying cuz they ain't got nowhere to turn but to the streets,” Kasan said.
“I really appreciate this,” I said, hugging them both. Instead of leaving when I got the check, I ended up staying longer than I’d planned. Right when I was about to say goodbye, in walked Mega’s ugly fine ass with his thot ass fiancé.
“Oh shit, am I interrupting something?” he asked.
“Nope, I was just leaving,” I said, before grabbing my purse and standing.
“Aight Cherish, hit us up if you need anything else.”
“I really appreciate it.”
“Damn, what they help you with, maybe I can help too.”
“They gave me a donation for the outreach program,” I said nonchalantly.
“What the fuck Cherish, damn. I said I would help you if you needed it.”
“Yes Cherish, whatever you need, we don't mind helping you,” Kaliah said.
“I don't need anything from Y'ALL,” I said, all while staring at Jason with hurt eyes. When did they become an us and a we? Last I checked they weren't married yet.
“Hello Cherish,” Kaliah said brightly. I don't know what’s wrong with this girl, but it had to be something if she was speaking to me as if we were besties. Since I’ve been trying to become a better me, I waved at her and kept it pushing. Fast walking to the car, I couldn't get there fast enough. Everything in my body wanted to be petty, but I refused to let her get to me. Pulling off, I headed to Camille’s house. As soon as I got there, I wasted no time parking and knocking on the door.
“Damn girl, banging on my door like you the police!” she snapped.
“Bitch, you pregnant!”
“What the fuck, Mega! Damn that nigga can't hold water.”
“Mega? You told that nigga, but didn't tell me!”
“Come inside and stop making a scene drama queen,” she said, causing me to laugh. I quickly stopped when I remembered that I was supposed to be mad at her.
“So does Shante know?”
“Nobody knows except Mega, I just needed advice.”
“From Mega?” I said, confused.
“Look, I’ve just been feeling real confused about this pregnancy. I don't wanna bring another child into this world, just to have to do shit alone again.�
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“What you mean alone, Mark is there.”
“Girl, he always on the run. I had dreams too and just when I start looking into the whole interior designer thing, I find out I'm pregnant again, which pushes me back another few years,” she said teary-eyed.
“Awwwww boo, regardless of whether he helps you or not, single working women make it work every day, so I know you can. Shit, get a nanny,” I said honestly.
