The Best Part of Me

by A'zayler

  “Don’t feel bad, Kayson, everybody goes through hard times.” Goody sat next to her husband on the bed and leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “Not this bad. I’m trying to take care of us and can’t even do that right.”

  Goody looked away and sighed while rubbing his back. It was the middle of the month, and Kayson had been stressing to her how low on funds they were. Something that was starting to become a habit, but she was sure he didn’t need or want to hear that, so she kept it to herself.

  “Yes, you can. You’re doing a good job. I’m so proud of you, Kayson. Look at how you got us living. What man your age is doing the stuff you’re doing?”

  Kayson’s head dropped.

  “We’ll be straight, don’t stress it. We’ll get out of this hole soon enough.”

  “What about now, though?”

  Goody stood from the bed and walked to her purse. The white envelope that held her earnings from the rap battle she’d done the other night was still there untouched. With one swipe, she held all the crisp bills in her hand.

  “Here, take this.”

  Kayson frowned. “Nah, I can’t take your money, Goody. Keep it.”

  Goody kneeled in front of him and grabbed both of his hands. “We’re a team. Just take it.”

  The silence in the room stretched for a while until Goody pushed the money into his hand and closed his fingers around it. Stubbornly, Kayson took it and grabbed her in a tight hug. Goody smiled to herself, happy that she’d been able to help him out. Her rapping might not have been where she wanted it to be, but any way she could help Kayson, that’s what she was going to do.

  “You’re the best part of me, Goody, for real. I need you. I swear on my life, when I make it, we gon’ ball.”

  They hugged for a while until Kayson went outside to wash their cars. Goody stayed inside writing lyrics and trying to figure out what she was going to do about the beats she needed to purchase. She’d entered the battle to win the money just for that. Now, she’d given it to Kayson, and she had to go without.

  Her eyes watered as she thought about having to sacrifice another month of putting in work on her music, but for Kayson, she’d do it. For what they’d built together, she’d give her last. Tears dropped on her paper as she watched him while writing in her notepad.

  “Heads up, Goody, you got this.” She nodded, trying to reassure herself.

  For the rest of that night and month, she had to reassure herself that she’d done the right thing and that Kayson all of a sudden not being able to afford their bills wasn’t suspicious. He was her best friend, her lover, and protector since high school. If nobody else had his back, she had to have it.

  “I know you ain’t sleep.” Yummy’s voice shook her from her thoughts.

  Goody opened her eyes, and the majority of the people who had been standing there were gone. After a few blinks, she ran her hand through her hair and wiped her wet eyes.

  “Nah, I was just resting my eyes.”

  Yummy looked at her for a long time before nodding. “Um huh. Go home, Goody.”

  “I’m about to help y’all clean up first.”

  “No, you’re not. My mama hired a cleaning service. Everybody is about to go, so you need to do the same with your fake sleep ass.”

  Goody smiled and pushed Yummy’s forehead before walking away. Forever was across the way in a conversation with Marcellus. That was new to Goody. Neither of them liked anyone of the opposite sex. They were both always so guarded and quiet, but whatever they were talking about right then clearly had both of their attention.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Goody stopped next to Forever.

  She looked at Goody with a meek smile and shook her head. “Of course not. I was just asking Marcellus about his plans for you.”

  Goody wasn’t the least bit surprised. Forever was about her paper and had taught Goody and Yummy to be the same way. Business always came first. Goody smiled before looking over at Marcellus, who was always extremely quiet and only spoke when necessary.

  “Don’t mind her, she’s a shark.”

  Forever shrugged as if she didn’t care. Marcellus’ eyes went from Goody back to her and lingered a little too long for Goody’s suspicions not to rise. Forever, being her normally blind self wasn’t paying Marcellus enough attention to notice his obvious attraction to her. Goody, on the other hand, didn’t miss anything when it came to a nigga. She’d hush for now, but she’d definitely noted it.

  “She’s no problem. You heading out?” Cool, calm, and always collected, Marcellus changed the conversation.

  “Yeah, I think so. I’m tired.” Goody yawned.

  When she closed her mouth and opened her eyes, Forever was staring at her.

  “What?”

  “Have you done what I told you to do yet?”

  “What you told me to do?” Goody asked, genuinely confused.

  Forever wasted no time reminding her. After the stunt she pulled, Goody wished she would have just remembered on her own. The moment Forever’s hand touched Marcellus’ arm, Goody’s heart began to plummet.

  “Marcellus.”

  Marcellus removed his cup from his mouth and leaned down so that he could hear whatever Forever was about to say. The way his demeanor grew a bit more attentive alerted Goody because she knew like hell he didn’t call himself liking Forever. That was a no in her book.

  Marcellus was too mysterious. As long as he’d been Goody’s manager, she’d never seen him with any women nor talking about them. Not that he said much anyway, but still. Then, he was extremely quiet at all times. Her mother had always told her and Forever that it was the quiet ones you had to watch.

  “Jerrico, he’s your brother?”

  Marcellus nodded calmly.

  “Do you think you could call him up for me real quick, please?”

  Marcellus pulled his phone from his pocket without any questions. Not worried in the least that Forever might have been asking for herself. See, that was that stuff Goody didn’t know about. He was way too relaxed to be trusted. Either he and his brother were that tight, or all the attention she’d thought he’d been paying Forever wasn’t that serious.

  “Marcellus, you don’t have to do that.” Goody tried to stop him.

  “Yes, you do. Continue please, thank you.”

  Marcellus looked between Goody and Forever with a half-serious half-smiling face. Goody looked at Forever and frowned a tad while mouthing the word stop. When Marcellus extended his phone toward Forever, and she took it, Goody knew she was doomed.

  “Jerrico? Hey, it’s Forever, Goody’s sister. Did I wake you?”

  Goody stood there with her arms folded and rolling her eyes. Forever could call whoever she wanted, but that didn’t mean she had to talk to them.

  “I was wondering, did you mind having a visitor? Goody wanted to come over and apologize for her actions earlier.”

  “No, the fuck I didn’t. Don’t tell that man that.”

  Marcellus’ low laughter simmered her mood down some.

  Goody smirked at him while shaking her head. “I know that’s your brother and all, but he keeps rubbing me the wrong way.”

  “It’s cool.”

  “How you gon’ let me talk about your brother like that and say it’s cool? If you said something about Forever getting on your nerves, I’d smack you.”

  Marcellus laughed again. “My brother can handle himself, and I’d never say anything like that about your sister.”

  Forever’s eyes went to Marcellus as she listened to whatever Jerrico was saying to her on the phone. She gave him the once over before looking back at Goody.

  “She can’t help it. She’s had a rough past.”

  “Rabbit, come on now, don’t be telling that man all my business. I’m good on niggas. Tell him that shit.”

  Forever cut her eyes at Goody. “What I tell you about calling me that?”

  “Rabbit?” Marcellus’ deep voice interrupted their banter.r />
  Forever covered Goody’s mouth. “Don’t you dare.”

  Goody pulled away, smiling because she finally had some leverage. “Hang up with Jerrico, or I’m going to tell him.”

  “Goody,” Forever whined.

  “I’m not playing, Rabbit.”

  The cocky smirk on Goody’s face widened when Forever palmed her forehead. “Jerrico, my sister is being unreasonable. I have to go.”

  Goody smiled fully as she watched Forever wrap up her call. Apparently, Goody’s reaction sparked some fire in Forever because she turned to Marcellus and covered the bottom of the phone with the palm of her hand.

  “It’s because I have big teeth and a country family that loves to remind me.”

  Marcellus paused before smiling. The quick pat to the small of her back caught Goody off guard, but it obviously made Forever feel good because she blushed before looking at Goody with a satisfied smirk.

  “Never mind, Jerrico. Like I was saying, my sister can be unreasonable. Give her a minute to apologize.”

  “I’m not finna say sorry for nothing I didn’t do. If he’s that sensitive, then that’s his business.”

  Forever nodded before pushing the phone toward Goody. “He said tell him that to his face.”

  “Oh, he thinks I won’t?” Goody snatched the phone and put it to her ear. “What’s your address?”

  “You bringing that attitude over here with you?” The bedroom deepness of his tone made Goody want to apologize and ask for some dick, but she wouldn’t buckle that fast. “If so, stay where you’re at.”

  “How you gon’ ask me to say it to your face but think I’d leave my attitude?”

  “Because I feel like you know how to behave yourself, but you just don’t. If you come over here with an open mind, I might could help you with that, but if you think you’re about to disturb my sleep to argue, you can stay right where you’re at.”

  Why was that nigga turning her on? Goody huffed and remained silent while trying to get her mind together. Her comeback needed to be witty enough without involving something along the lines of taking her panties off and sitting on his face.

  “How about this? I’ll trade you a foot massage for a peaceful attitude. I know your feet have got to be hurting by now. Those heels were sexy as fuck, but I know they had to hurt.”

  Goody covered her face to hide her smile. Since when did the Leprechaun learn how to curse so sexy like that?

  “I thought you were a gentleman? Where’s all this cursing coming from?” Goody uncovered her face to find Forever and Marcellus looking at her.

  With her middle finger in the air, she walked away from them and leaned over the tall table a few feet away.

  “All in one, gorgeous.”

  “That’s what your mouth says, but if I come over there, it’ll be a different story.”

  A panty wetting laugh made her weak in the knees. “It may, or it may not. That depends on how you act when you get here. Now, are you coming or what?”

  “Well, damn. Get straight to the point then.”

  “I’m trying to. That’s you playing games. You must want me to chase you?”

  Goody tilted over the saltshaker in her hand, pouring salt onto the table as she contemplated actually pulling up on Jerrico.

  “I’ll chase you if that’s what you want, I’m good at it.”

  “You must chase a lot of women.”

  “No, baby girl, but I’m good at pleasing them. If that’s what pleases you, then I can make it happen.”

  “Whew, shit,” Goody mumbled while fanning herself.

  “You alright over there?”

  “Yeah, I’m straight.”

  They held the phone in silence for a few heavy minutes. Goody could tell it was some movement on his end, but she was so stuck in her own mind she hadn’t even thought to ask what he was doing.

  “Paradise?”

  “Hmm?” she answered absentmindedly. That man had called her name so sexy that she’d momentarily forgot it was hers.

  “I just got out of bed. I’m about to fix you something to eat really quick. Tell me what you like.”

  At the mention of food, Goody’s stomach growled. She’d indulged in the food they’d had earlier, but she needed something a little heavier to satisfy her.

  “Anything?”

  “Anything, beautiful.”

  Goody was smiling again. “What if you don’t have what I like?”

  Jerrico’s laugh was cute and light. Like it started rough in the beginning but died down in his throat somewhere. Goody liked it.

  “I’m sure I have it, but if not, I’ll go to Walmart and get it.”

  “You’ll go through all of that trouble for me?”

  “That and more, if you’re worth it, so tell me.”

  Goody looked to see if Forever and Marcellus were still watching her, and they weren’t. They were engrossed in their own conversation. Serious faces and a lot of hand gestures. Well, Forever anyway. She seemed to be doing the majority of the talking while Marcellus listened. It was really cute.

  “How about I just make you whatever I want, and you tell me whether you like it or not?”

  “Fish, do you have fish? It’s my favorite.”

  “Catfish, whiting, or flounder?”

  “Catfish! Definitely! Can you fry it?”

  “Can you come keep me company while I cook?”

  Goody didn’t miss the smile in his voice.

  “I’m about to call you from my phone, so you can save my number and text me your address.” Goody walked back toward Marcellus. “I’m about to give your brother his phone back, but I’m on my way.”

  “Call me on yours first. I need to keep you talking. I let you get away for five minutes, you might curve me again.”

  Goody’s laughter was bashful but loud enough to catch Forever’s attention. One would have thought it was her that Jerrico was talking to. The smile on her face was that big. That ole preppy heffa even had the nerve to give Goody a thumbs up.

  “Bitchhh.” Goody laughed and pushed her thumb down. “Give me a second, Jerrico, I’m about to call you.”

  Goody’s hot pink phone case looked brighter beneath the light when she pulled it out. After quickly dialing Jerrico’s number, she put it to her ear and handed Marcellus his phone back.

  “Cool. You’re leaving now?” he picked their conversation back up on her phone.

  “Yeah.” Goody waved and mouthed to people that she was leaving as she passed them.

  “Is my brother walking you out?”

  Goody turned around and nearly bumped into Marcellus’ chest. “Uh, yeah.” She giggled. “I didn’t even see him following me.”

  “My mama would kill him if he didn’t.”

  Goody held her phone, not saying anything to Jerrico. They were both moving around and doing other things but hadn’t cut their conversation. By the time she was in the car with his address typed into her GPS, she could hear the grease sizzling through the phone.

  “Oh my gahhhhh, Jerricoooo.” She groaned. “I’m so hungry.”

  “I’ma feed you, sweetheart. Just hurry up and get here.”

  Goody didn’t want to like the way he talked to her, but she couldn’t help it. He was so nice and sweet, with just enough ruggedness in him to turn her on.

  “I’m driving as fast as I can.”

  “No!” He spoke quickly. “Well, I mean, nah, don’t speed. I don’t want you to get hurt before the world knows who you are.”

  That really made Goody smile. A man who cared about what she cared about, especially her music, was worth keeping around. She was so caught up that she didn’t even bother to say anything else. Too scared to sound like an ole in love ass bitch, Goody kept her mouth shut until she was pulling into his driveway.

  She glanced at the clock on her dashboard before snatching her mirror down and checking her face. After a fresh lining of lip gloss and some minor fluffing of her curls, she was ready to get out.

  “Je
rrico.”

  “What’s up?” he yelled, obviously on speakerphone.

  “I’m outside.”

  “Here I come. Don’t get out until you see me.”

  Goody hung up and grabbed her purse and keys before stepping out. She didn’t do what niggas told her to do. She was grown and purposely disobeyed him. However, since she didn’t know where she was going, she had no other choice but to wait until she saw him at the building door to move. Jerrico was shirtless and in a pair of black pajama pants. Goody had to ball her lips into her mouth to keep from biting them. He looked so comfortable and confident standing on the stairs waiting for her.

  “You’re going to be disobedient no matter what, huh?”

  Goody gave him a ‘nigga please’ look but kept her mouth shut. When he realized she wasn’t going to say anything, he took her hand and slowly pulled her through the lobby. He didn’t look at her or say anything else until they were on the elevator. With him directly across from her, Goody had to fight not to look at his sculpted body and like it. He did no such thing. His eyes hadn’t left her once.

  “I think I’m second guessing you taking them heels off.”

  Goody smirked and looked down at her long legs. They were crossed at the ankle and looking delectable if she had to say so herself. She could see his infatuation. When she raised her head to say thank you, he was in front of her. Both arms now pressed on either side of her head. Face to face, he looked into her eyes as deeply as he could before she turned her head and pushed him away.

  He caught her hand before turning around and pressing a button that stopped the elevator.

  “Boy, what you doing?” Alarm was evident in her voice.

  When Jerrico faced her, he was back in her space, bodies touching but faces only inches apart. He grabbed both of her hands and held them.

  “We need to get some stuff straight before we go inside.”

  “Do we?”

  He nodded. “We do.”

  “Like what?”

  Jerrico leaned forward and ran his nose along her shoulder. “You decided whether or not you’re leaving your attitude?”

  “What if I say no?” Goody challenged.

  Jerrico paused and gave her a serious look. “Come on now, don’t make me fuck you up. I’m trying to be nice.”