I Choose You: Hood Love at Its Finest

by Diamond Johnson

  I arrived at the gym ten minutes later. Whenever I come to the gym, I mainly focus on my legs, keeping my stomach tight, and squats for my butt. Nothing too bizarre. After one hour of my workout I was in the parking lot heading to my car when I got a call from my girl Tisha. I started laughing because I knew she was about to lay my ass out real good.

  “Yes sister?” I asked when I answered the phone.

  “Don’t sister me Lani! You gave that nigga my number?” she said, sounding mad as hell.

  “Yes I gave it to him. Tisha what’s the problem? That nigga is sprung over your ass. He really likes you. I mean girl, come on, that nigga is fine as hell. What’s wrong with you?” I said, starting my car up.

  “The nigga been tryna get at me but I never gave him a chance because his ass is a ho. He be having all them li’l hos all over him and I’ll be damned if I have to play second place to another bitch,” she let me know as she continued complaining.

  “Tisha just give that man a chance. He really likes you plus I could hear it all in his voice when I talked to him earlier,” I said, now driving my car. “Look I’m leaving the gym now. I’ll be at your front door in like ten minutes. Love you,” I said hanging up, not even giving her a chance to respond.

  Ten minutes later I was pulling up to my girl’s condo out in Miramar. Tisha stayed in a nice 3-bedroom, 2-bath by herself. I dug into my Louis Vuitton handbag so I could get my spare key to open the door. I went up the stairs to see Tisha laying in the bed watching an old episode of Marrying the Game. I came in the room laughing at her mean ass.

  “That shit ain’t funny Lani, with your goofy ass,” she said, throwing a pillow at me. I picked the pillow up off the floor and sat at the foot of the bed.

  “Tisha come on girl, admit it, that nigga is fine as hell. Just say it,” I taunted as I stared at her.

  “Yes Lani the nigga is fine but it’s more than just looks. I need love, comfort, faithfulness, and I want to make sure that I can trust him with my heart,” she said, sounding dead serious.

  “It’s only way to find out girl. You gotta give that man a chance,” I said, this time serious as hell too.

  She looked as if she were in deep thought about what I just told her. I really wish that Tisha would give this man a chance. I feel like O could handle her slick ass mouth and most importantly protect her heart. My girl gotta learn to let people in and stop thinking all men ain’t shit. Her ex Mike really fucked her head up in the long run, I thought as I looked at how scared my girl was to give this nigga a chance.

  Chapter 9: Tisha

  I can’t lie, I was a little happy that Ka’lani gave Otis’ sexy ass my number even though I tried to act like I was mad. Otis has been trying me to get with me now for the past year or so but I never gave his ass the time of day. Not because I didn’t find him attractive or anything; it’s just I don’t think I will be able to trust his ass. Whenever me and Lani go to his and Tyrone’s club Luxury he always has a flock of bitches around him. I’m the jealous type so it wouldn’t sit to kindly with me having us being together and thirty bitches always surrounding him.

  A year ago I ended a three-year relationship with a guy name Mike. When Mike and I first got together he was a small time drug dealer. He had money but he wasn’t swimming in it. I loved that man with everything that beats in me, up until he started making a lot more money and treating me like shit. He started coming home all times of the night, different bitches were calling his phone, and he even started putting his hands on me.

  The day I threw the towel in was when I got a phone call from a girl named Stephanie asking for my man’s whereabouts. The bitch went on to tell me that she was pregnant and that I should start getting ready to be a step mommy. That night Mike came home I asked him if he knew a girl name Stephanie and he looked me right in my eyes and lied to me. I packed my shit and left. He never reached out to me or anything. So since that day, it’s been fuck niggas. A couple weeks ago, I was in Sawgrass Mall leaving out of Neiman Marcus when I spotted Mike with a pretty red girl holding a baby who looked to be a year old. The baby had Mike’s almond eyes and that one deep dimple in his left cheek as well. There was no denying that that baby was indeed his.

  “Hey Tisha, how you been?” this nigga had the nerve to ask me as he stood holding hands with his bitch.

  I gave him a dry hi as I stood there looking at him and his new family. I just so happened to glance down at this broad’s neck when I saw her nameplate necklace saying Stephanie. Right there at that moment I came to the conclusion that I hated his ass and I wouldn’t care if his ass was to die today. I prepared to leave but before I left I wanted to be petty.

  “Take care Mike and it was nice seeing you Stephanie,” I said, leaving their asses there looking stupid.

  Now here it was a year after my breakup with this fool and I haven’t even been on a date yet. After Lani finally left, I stayed in the bed until 4:30 p.m. watching old re-runs on BET. Finally, I got up to go downstairs to fix my Sunday dinner. As I was taking the pots out of the cabinet, my phone began to buzz. I looked down at the number and it was unfamiliar.

  “Hello,” I answered, already having a feel as to who it was.

  “What’s good?” I heard in that deep Southern accent.

  “Who is this?” I asked, trying to play it cool, knowing damn well I knew who that was on the phone.

  “Tisha stop playing with me. You know damn well who this is! What you doing? And what’s all that banging and shit in the background?” Otis asked me.

  I started smiling and said, “I’m getting ready to prepare my Sunday dinner. What’s up?”

  “Nah go ahead and put that shit up. I’m going to take you out to dinner tonight. Be ready by 7,” he said like he already knew my answer was going to be yes.

  “How do you know I want to go out with you? How do you know if my man would approve of this?” I asked, challenging him.

  “Baby girl just be ready by 7 and to answer your second question, I’m your man so I approve of it! By the way, text me your address so I can come get you later,” he said then hung up without waiting for my response.

  Who does this nigga think he is? I thought as I put the pots and pans away since I wouldn’t be using them anymore. When I got back upstairs I sent Otis a text message with my address. When I finished I called Lani to let her know what happened.

  “Hey sister,” she answered, sounding happy as hell.

  “What’s up Lani? Guess what?” I asked, unable to control the excitement in my voice.

  “What happened?” she squealed.

  “I just got off the phone with Otis not too long ago. He’s coming to get me tonight so we can go out to dinner,” I said blushing.

  “Yesss bitch, so what are you gonna wear? You want me to come over and help you pick out something?” she asked, sounding more excited than I was.

  “Yes come because I want you to flat iron my hair too,” I said.

  “Alright girl, I’m on my way.”

  Around fifteen minutes later, Ka’lani was pulling up in my driveway. I ran downstairs to open the door for her even though she had her own spare key. She came back over looking really pretty in her red strapless sundress with cheetah sandals to match.

  “So do you have an idea of what you want to wear Tisha?” she asked as soon as we got inside of my room.

  “Yes I think I want to wear that all white maxi dress with my cheetah red bottoms and my red clutch,” I said, walking over to the closet to get my clothes out.

  “Okay that’s cute and you gonna just wear a part down the middle, right?” Lani asked, making herself comfortable on top of my bed.

  “Yes let me just take a quick shower then you can start my hair afterwards.”

  I took a nice hot bubble bath as I sat there thinking of tonight’s events. I don’t know why but I was kind of nervous. Whenever I get around Otis I always talk so much shit to him and it’s going to be different now since we’re going on a date. Twenty minutes later I
came back in my bedroom in my short satin robe to find Lani caked up on the phone with Ty.

  “Alright ho tell Ty you’ll call his ass back now,” I said, letting my presence become known in the room.

  Lani started laughing then said, “Ty said shut yo hating ass up.”

  I waved both of their asses off as I went to my top drawer to pick out my bra and panties for tonight. After Lani finally got her ass off the phone, she plugged the flat iron up in my room so that she could start my hair.

  “So you excited about tonight?” Lani asked as she began to part my hair.

  “Honestly sis I’m excited and nervous, I haven’t been with no one else after Mike and I’m just scared of getting hurt again. You know what I mean?”

  “Tisha girl you gotta be strong and you don’t have to worry about Otis hurting you because I talked to him already and I know Ty talked to him too about making sure he treats you right. Just have a good time tonight,” Lani told me. I decided to calm my nerves a little bit. I was going to relax and enjoy myself tonight and try to think positive. Lord give me strength!

  Chapter 10: Otis

  I was coming from the barbershop when I decided to give Tisha a call. It was Sunday and I really didn’t have anything to do so I figured I’d take her fine ass out tonight. I remember the first time I saw Tisha about a year ago at Tyrone’s house for a cookout. She reminded me so much of the rapper Charlie Baltimore from back in the days. She’s so fine and classy but yet so hood. When I saw her, she had on a pretty ass white dress that hugged every curve of her body. To complement her outfit, she had on a pair of 4-inch Giuseppe Zanotti heels with gold spikes. Her hair was following loosely in spiral curls, with a part down the middle. She was absolutely beautiful. I played it cool and didn’t say anything to her because I was out with one of my birds at the time. The next time I saw her it was a Friday night at my club. She was with Lani and I swear she looked even more beautiful than she did the last time.

  I approached Tisha and boy did she dis my ass. She started calling me a ho and saying that I had too many females for her. I was trying to explain to her ass that I would leave all these chicken heads alone if she would at least give a nigga a chance. I’ve been tryna get with her ever since. I’m tired of playing games with Tisha ass though. As soon as she steps foot in my car, I’m letting her know what’s up. I’m going to tell her how I really feel about her and that I’m ready to settle down and make her my girl.

  Ten minutes later, I was pulling up to my condo out in in the Landings in Miami. I lived in a quiet neighborhood by myself. I had the house decked out just like any other bachelor would have. I had four bedrooms in total; the master bedroom, the guest room, my office, and my workout room. My house was perfect for a king. I really didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, so I was just gonna take a nap until it was time for me to start getting ready.

  I woke up around 4 p.m. and headed into the bathroom to take my shower. I decided to wear my black Polo shirt, True Religion jeans slightly hanging off my ass, and my Christian Louboutin sneakers. I threw on my all-black Michel Kors watch and sprayed on my Tom Ford cologne. At 6:15 exactly I was out the door to go pick up my girl. I decided to drive in my all-black 2014 Chevy Camaro.

  At exactly 6:45, I was pulling up to Tisha’s condo. I hoped she was ready because our reservations at the Prime 112 out on Miami Beach were for 7:30. I quickly jumped out the car and took the stairs to the second floor of the building. Once I got in front of her door, I knocked twice and a few seconds later, Lani came to the door. I wasn’t expecting to see her here.

  “What’s up O? Come on in. Tisha is in the room. She should be out shortly,” she said, opening the door wider so I could come in. When I stepped inside, she pointed me to the direction of the couch and I sat and admired Tisha’s house. From the looks of things, her favorite colors were red and gold. I had to admit, she had taste and she kept a clean house. A clean house means a clean pussy!

  “Where y’all going tonight O?” Lani asked when she came back out in the living room from checking on Tisha.

  “Damn you nosey girl,” I said, laughing at her funny ass.

  “Boy bye. I just wanted to see where you y’all were going. It don’t take all of that,” she said, grabbing her purse off the couch, getting ready to go. As she reached the door, she turned back and said, “Remember what we talked about earlier.”

  “Yes I remember. Now go,” I said, signaling her with my hands. She was referring to me treating her girl right. She told me if I wasn’t going to be faithful to Tisha, then I should just leave her the fuck alone.

  Five minutes later, Tisha came in the room where I was looking beautiful as ever. Point blank period, she was the shit and she knew it. I stood up and gave her a hug, grabbing her ass in the process.

  “Damn girl, you smell so good,” I said, sniffing her neck.

  “O, take your hands off my ass,” she said, smiling with her hands around my neck.

  “My ass you mean,” I responded, letting go so we could head out. After she put the house alarm on and locked the door, we were on our way to have dinner. On the ride to the restaurant, I had Migos’ CD playing and was surprised that Tisha knew every damn song on the album.

  “What you know about Migos?” I asked her, laughing at her corny ass.

  “Child please, now put on ‘Birds,’” she said, getting comfortable in the car.

  Had this dream that I woke up in a 'Rari

  Can't fuck with you niggas, I'm sorry

  I'm too fly, I spread my wings and I'm soaring

  Used to trap them birds, now I'm fly like a bird

  She rapped along to every part of the song. I was cracking up because she was too funny with it. After riding around for another twenty minutes we were pulling up to the restaurant. During dinner, we got to know a little bit more about each other. She told me about her past relationship and how the nigga use to mistreat her. The whole time she was talking, all I could do was listen. Now I see why she would never gave my ass a chance before. That dude really fucked her head up.

  After dinner, we decided to walk the boardwalk out on the beach. While we were walking, I found a bench for us to sit down on.

  “Come sit on my lap,” I said, reaching out my hand.

  After Tisha got comfortable I began, “Tisha I wanted your ass since the first time I saw you a year ago at my boy Ty’s crib. You would never give me the time of day. What your ex nigga did to you back then wasn’t cool, but I’m not that nigga. I promise to respect you, hold you down, and most importantly love you. Just give a nigga a chance,” I said, squeezing her thigh. When I was finished, she started crying telling me she was scared to get her heart broken.

  “I promise I won’t break your heart. That’s my word li’l mama,” I told her, kissing her on the lips.

  After she finished crying, she said, “Okay Otis I’ma give your ass a chance but not yet though. Let’s just continue off as friends and then we can work our way into being in a relationship and if you fuck me over, I’m going to kill your ass and that bitch,” she told me.

  “Okay I can handle that,” I told her, meaning what I said too.

  “What else?” I asked, kissing her again.

  “I don’t want no shit Otis. I mean it,” she said.

  “Alright baby, I got a few rules for you myself,” I told her, dead ass serious.

  “Okay what?” she asked.

  “First off, any other nigga number you got stored in your phone, delete that shit. All that li’l shit you, Lani, Kyla, and Tamika be wearing, don’t let me see you in it unless I’m with you.

  “Okay playa, what else?” she asked, laughing.

  “I don’t want no shit Tisha. Don’t get fucked up messing with me. And I want a spare key to your house when I take you back home.”

  “Alright boss,” she said laughing.

  “Think I’m playing if you want too,” I said pinching her on the ass.

  After talking for a little while longer, we go
t up to head back to the car because Tisha had to be up early in the morning to go to the salon. We drove in silence on the way back to her crib. Thirty minutes later we both got out so I could walk her inside and get my spare set of keys.

  “Here you go,” she said, putting the keys in my hand.

  “Alright Tisha, I’ma come check on you tomorrow at work. Come give me a hug and a kiss so I can leave,” I said, standing up from the couch.

  “Friends don’t kiss Otis. Goodnight!” she said, walking me to the door but I stopped her.

  “Best believe if you give me two minutes right now with you, you won’t be calling me your friend. Most likely, it’ll be daddy,” I told her, dead ass serious.

  “What makes you so sure?” she smirked.

  I backed her up against the wall and I noticed that her breathing had begun to pick up. “I can tell just by the way you looking at me that I got that pussy dripping wet right now,” I said cockily.

  She didn’t even respond. She just bit her bottom lip and that was enough confirmation for me. I swear I just needed a minute with her ass and I would have her ass fuckin’ crying in this bitch. But, I wasn’t even gon’ torture her yet. I’d give her another month and I’d bet she’d be begging for a nigga to dick her down. All that friend shit gon’ be gone out the damn window.

  After she got herself together, she cleared her throat, “Goodnight Otis,” she said.

  I laughed and moved her out the way so that I could open the door, “Night Tisha. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, smirking.

  Chapter 11: Tisha