The Best Part of Me

by A'zayler

  “They’re hardly babies, ma’am,” that was Eternity again.

  “Yummy.” Forever squinted at her.

  “No, no sweetie, she’s fine. I like her.” Sofia’s smile went between Forever and Eternity. “I wish I could get a feel for little Miss Girl right here.” Sofia patted Goody’s hand.

  She looked up and smiled at her. “I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry.”

  “You want to talk about it?” Jerrico whispered to her.

  Her head shook quickly. Jerrico frowned, seriously baffled by her attitude. He knew she’d been standoffish after he’d called Bailey sweetheart, but surely, she wasn’t still mad about that. If she was, she really needed to get some professional help.

  “Tell me about yourself, sweetie.” Sofia interrupted his time with Goody when she grabbed her hand.

  “I’m a rapper.” She beamed at her happily. “I graduated from college with a degree in Criminal Justice, but I love music. I’m a loner, and I love different colored hair and getting my nails done.”

  “Wow, a rapper? I like.”

  “Really?” Goody asked her with surprise.

  “Yes, Calvary likes to rap too. He used to write me songs all the time. He doesn’t do it much anymore.”

  Goody’s wide eyes went to him. He smiled and held his hands up. “Why didn’t you say anything when I told you I rapped?”

  He shrugged. “Because I don’t do it anymore.”

  “Rap something for me,” Eternity butted in their conversation.

  “Nah, I’m rusty.”

  She rolled her eyes and looked away with a smile on her face.

  “Y’all eat before the food gets cold.” Jerrico ushered his family to their meals.

  They all happily indulged. Conversation flowed casually. Jerrico even found himself talking to Mr. Clarence. He still wasn’t Jerrico’s favorite person, but he was alright to have dinner with.

  “Either of you ladies thinking about marriage?” Sofia’s question brought about three different groans. All from her children, while the girls only laughed.

  “Maybe later. I’m too young right now. I’m not ready to be anybody’s wife,” Eternity answered first.

  “Same, minus the young part. I have so much going on, I honestly don’t know where a husband would fit in my life,” Forever came second.

  “I don’t want to get married,” Goody told her with a polite smile. “Been there, done that, and I’ll never do it again.”

  Jerrico and his mother both gave her their undivided attention, as did the rest of the table. Why all her answers seemed to catch most of his mother’s attention was unknown, but this was one answer he wanted to hear.

  “Aww, dear, don’t feel that way. I was married once too, and it wasn’t the best, but I’m not closed to the idea.”

  “That’s sweet, but I am. I don’t want another husband. Marriage is overrated.”

  “Says who?” Sofia countered.

  Goody looked at her with a straight face. “Says me.”

  “Did your marriage end badly?”

  Goody snickered, but it wasn’t a good laugh. More of a premise to hurt feelings.

  “Yes ma’am, horribly. Which is why I’ll never do it again.”

  Sofia’s eyes went to Jerrico, and Goody’s followed. Her expression didn’t change, so he offered her a half smile.

  “Have you talked about this with Jerrico? He wants to be married one day.”

  “Ma,” Jerrico tried to stop her, but Goody had him covered.

  Another sarcastic laugh came. “I hope I don’t sound rude when I say this, Ms. Sofia, but I don’t have to talk to him about anything. We’re not even dating. Furthermore, I’ll never base my life decisions on another person’s thoughts and feelings again. Any man who dates me, which I’m also good on, needs to be okay with me not being the marrying type, or he should find somebody else.”

  A deep sigh sounded from the other end of the table. Jerrico didn’t need to turn around to know it was Forever. Goody assured him when she looked down at her. She raised her eyebrows, but nothing came from Forever.

  “So, you and Jerrico aren’t dating?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “No.” Jerrico’s voice a lot sterner than Goody’s.

  The table was radio silent for a minute before Calvary spoke. “Ma, you keep trying to marry us off, but when you and Mr. Clarence gon’ tie the knot? Y’all too old to be shacking up.”

  Laughter lightened the heaviness, and conversation resumed. Jerrico could barely eat, so he drank water instead. Jerrico wasn’t anywhere near getting on one knee and proposing, but hearing Goody’s feelings regarding it and a relationship, in general, was a bit unnerving.

  He wasn’t necessarily dating to marry, but it was something he wanted one day. But, with the way she felt, that didn’t matter anyway since she had no interest in dating. He was up for the hunt, but only with a woman who wanted to be hunted. Goody clearly wasn’t that woman.

  Jerrico looked around the table. “Any of you want anything? I’m about to head to the kitchen for a minute.”

  Everybody said no except Goody. She wanted more fish. Fish that he’d gone out of his way to get and make for her, and she had the nerve to embarrass him like that in front of his mother. He took her plate and moved along. He had Heather fill it with more food while he took a breather. He was annoyed with Goody and the entire dinner. Jerrico would be glad when it was over.

  When he re-joined them, Jerrico could feel her eyes on him, but he pretended not to. Instead of allowing her to ruin the rest of his dinner, he talked and interacted with the people who wanted to act accordingly. Somewhere during the conversation about kids, Goody excused herself from the table and left the building. Jerrico’s eyes followed her before stopping on Forever.

  She gave him a sympathetic look before excusing herself as well. Eternity followed suit. Clearly, they knew Goody had no intention of coming back, so he didn’t look for her. Not initially. He was only able to hold out for a good two minutes before he was out of his chair and following them from the restaurant.

  When he got outside, they were standing there waiting for valet. He didn’t bother with pleasantries; he got straight in Goody’s face. She frowned nastily.

  “Why you all up on me like that?”

  “What’s your problem? You’ve had an attitude since we sat down.”

  Goody held her hand up in his face. “First of all, you can get out of my face. Secondly, I didn’t have an attitude.”

  “Really? That’s the best you can come up with?”

  “I’m not coming up with anything. That’s what it was. I said I was good. I didn’t ask to have dinner with your mama anyway. Why would you do that?”

  Jerrico’s anger began to boil. “I didn’t do anything but go out of my way to accommodate you and your family, while also making sure mine wasn’t left out to dry.” Jerrico looked her up and down with a scowl on his face. “You’re so fucked up that you can’t even be in a good situation without making it bad. Word of advice, mama, let go of this bitter shit. It’s played out.”

  “Nigga, fuck you.” Goody walked away and went to her car.

  It had just pulled up to the curb, and she wasted no time getting into it. Eternity waved at him before following. Forever stopped and gave him an empathetic smile.

  “I’m sorry, Jerrico.”

  “You’re good, love. Your sister is a grown woman. You don’t have to keep apologizing for her.”

  Forever nodded but still looked torn as she walked to the car and got in. Goody pulled off as soon as the door closed. Jerrico watched them leave and took a few deep breaths before going back inside. He had a lot going on already, and he wouldn’t let Goody and her broken heart complicate it.

  Chapter Eight

  Baby, It’s Yours… All Yours

  “What do you mean you’re not happy? We’re doing good. Where is this even coming from?” Goody rolled over in bed and looked at Kayson.

&n
bsp; He was lying on his back with his hands tucked behind his head. They’d literally just woken up from a long night of lovemaking, and the first thing out of his mouth was that he wasn’t happy? That made no sense at all.

  “I’ve been feeling like this for a while now, and I just can’t shake it.”

  Breathless, Goody lay back on the bed. “Why are you just now telling me this?”

  “I don’t know. I just feel like it’s time. It’s getting harder to ignore.”

  Goody sat up again so she could see his face. “You’re serious? How can you not be happy? We do everything together. You don’t look unhappy.”

  “Listen, Goody. I love you, baby, I really do, but you just don’t make me happy anymore.” Kayson sat up and scratched his head while looking away.

  Goody should have known then that he was a coward. He couldn’t even look her in her face and tell that lie.

  “After all the time we’ve been together, this is what you want to say to me?”

  “That’s the problem. We’ve been together since we were kids. How do we know there’s not somebody out there who can make us happier?”

  Goody’s throat got tight as water rose in her eyes.

  “I don’t want anybody else. I want you.”

  “Come on, Goody, you’re not happy either, and you know it.”

  Goody slapped the bed with her open palm. “I don’t know nothing. Don’t put words into my mouth because you can’t find a valid reason for this foolishness. Speak for yourself.”

  Kayson finally looked at her. “So, you mean to tell me that you never wonder if there is another man who can make you happier than me?”

  “Nigga, no! I don’t care what another man can do for me because I love your stupid ass. I’d rather have all my bad days with you than good days with someone else.”

  Kayson shook his head and got out of bed. “This isn’t working for me anymore, Goody. I’m just not happy.”

  “So, what do you want to do?” she yelled.

  “I don’t know. I just need some time to think.” Kayson walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

  With tears streaming down her face, Goody sat there trying to figure out where all of that had come from. She’d been caught completely off guard by that admission and couldn’t wrap her mind around it for all the money in the world.

  Later, at their Super Bowl party, he’d ignored her frequent trips to the bathroom where she did her best to hide her tears. Only acknowledging the things he wanted to talk about. Completely tossing the fact that he’d broken her heart to pieces into the trash with leftover pizza and empty soda cans.

  Heartbreak was a muthafucka, and Goody would never shake that shit. She’d been trying, and every time she thought she’d made progress, something would surface and trigger harbored feelings from her betrayal.

  “Goody!” Yummy screamed.

  Goody shook her head and looked at the floor where Yummy was lying. They were all at Goody’s apartment relaxing, and Yummy nor Rabbit had stopped talking about the way she’d done Jerrico at his restaurant. She hadn’t really been trying to hear it and had been doing her best to ignore them, but the moment Forever said something about Jerrico not looking happy with her, Goody’s mind went to the painful start of her broken marriage.

  “What? Yummy, damn. I heard you.”

  Yummy sat up and slapped Goody’s butt way too hard to be considered okay. “Don’t get loud with me, hoe. You already on my bad side. I’ll fight your ass today.”

  “Fight me then, bitch.” Goody hopped from the sofa, and Yummy was right behind her, getting off the floor.

  “Y’all need to quit.” Forever jumped between the two of them.

  It was nothing for Yummy and Goody to fight. They’d been doing it since childhood, and it got real every time they both got mad. If only one of them was mad, it could be avoided, but if they were both angry, all hell would break loose.

  “Especially you, Goody. You can’t get mad at her for telling you the truth.”

  “It’s not the truth, it’s just how y’all feel. Y’all act like this is new because y’all like Jerrico. I been cutting these niggas off left and right since my divorce, and now all of a sudden y’all want to get mad.” Goody swung around Forever’s head and punched Yummy in the mouth.

  Forever got trampled at that point. Yummy bulldozed both of them, knocking them all to the floor. Yummy was far from little, solid, thick, and strong as an ox. She got two good punches in before Messiah came from the back and broke them up.

  “Y’all quit this shit! Y’all family! Stupid asses, always fucking fighting.”

  “Fuck that skinny hoe.”

  “Fat bitch,” Goody countered.

  Messiah looked between the two women. “I’ll knock both of y’all heads off if y’all don’t clear this shit up. Y’all know I hit women, so don’t try me.”

  Messiah paused briefly before going back to Goody’s spare room where he had some woman holed up. Goody flopped back on the sofa while Yummy walked out. Forever was looking at her with a blank expression, but Goody knew her sister. There was always more with her.

  “What, Rabbit?”

  “I’m not talking to you while you have this attitude. I’m not Yummy. I’m not about to fight you because you don’t want to hear what I have to say.”

  “Rabbit, don’t be scared of that dizzy bitch. She just mad. Say what you got to say, and I dare her ass to put her hands on you,” Yummy mouthed off while entering the living room.

  “Bitch, get out of my house.”

  “Make me, hoe.” Yummy stood in front of Goody with her arms crossed over her chest.

  Knowing she couldn’t really fight her cousin the way she would a woman in the streets, Goody decided not to say anything.

  “Like I thought.” Yummy sat down.

  Goody took that opportunity to kick Yummy in the back of the head. She snatched her off the sofa immediately, and the fighting resumed. Forever screamed for Messiah as the two beat on each other with no remorse. The whole ordeal was ridiculous and stemmed from Goody’s misplaced anger. Messiah being there was a divine act of God because had he not, Goody’s living room would have been torn to shreds.

  “Goody, if you’re going to keep acting like this then we’re leaving. I’m not doing this with you.” Forever stood from the sofa and started grabbing her stuff.

  Breathing hard with disheveled hair, Yummy walked back and forth, picking up the things that belonged to her. She wasn’t saying anything, which was a sure sign that she was still angry. Yummy was a big jokester and always had something funny to say. When she was quiet, there was a problem, and anyone who knew her knew that.

  “Yummy, I’m sorry,” Goody mumbled as she stood from the sofa and wrapped her long arms around Yummy’s shoulders.

  Without taking even a minute to think about it, Yummy wrapped her arms back around her, hugging her tightly. They stood together for a minute until Goody began to sniffle. Forever found her way over to them after that.

  The group hug lasted a lot longer than Goody had wanted, and it was all her fault because she’d started crying. When they all finally sat down, they sat together. Goody in the middle, and Forever and Yummy on either side of her. With their backs to the sofa and their legs stretched out, they sat quietly.

  “What’s really wrong, Goody? I know you’re all mad and stuff, but what’s the real problem? I know it’s not because Jerrico called that girl sweetheart. You got unmad after that.” Yummy leaned her head over so that she could see Goody’s face.

  “She’s still not over the stuff Kayson did,” Forever answered. “She’s bitter, angry, and hurt. She has to let it go in order to move on.”

  “I’m not bitter. I’m just hurt and mad as hell!” Goody gritted. “It’s like no matter what I do, I can’t forget the stuff that I know. There are a million triggers to that bullshit, and the smallest thing will set me off to the point of no return.” Her head shook when she sniffed again. “I be tryi
ng to ease up, but the minute I have a flashback, which seems like every five minutes, I get mad all over again.”

  Forever grabbed her hand. “You can’t take that out on Jerrico, Goody.”

  “Him or nobody else, bitch,” Yummy said, making them all laugh. “I let you have it today because I was mad too, but you can’t be doing this.”

  Goody leaned her head on top of Yummy’s. “I know. It’s just easier to keep them niggas away from me. Every time I look at one, I get irritated. Lying bastards.”

  “That’ll never change. Why do you think I stay single?” Forever exhaled. “Kayson did you bad, sis, but every man won’t be the same. I personally prefer to stay single because men make you lose focus, but not because I think they’re all the same. I don’t know Jerrico, Marcellus, or Calvary from a can of paint, but their mother did good with them. They’re all so respectful.”

  “And fine! Good Lord, them some fine niggas,” Yummy said in disbelief. “I mean, fine as fuck. Not no average fine. Calvary almost made me want to leave my man for his fine ass.”

  “Girl, Javion is not no man.”

  Forever high fived Goody. “Facts.”

  Yummy rolled her eyes and caught a semi attitude like she always did when they mentioned her so called man. Javion was a dope dealer who she’d been on and off again with for years and a pain in Goody and Forever’s ass. They hated his sorry ass. All he did was have babies on Yummy and have her fighting all the dumb bitches who had kids for him.

  Goody couldn’t understand why she even entertained the nigga. She’d tell anybody that they weren’t in a relationship, and even acted single the majority of the time, but whenever that fool came around, all that hard talk went out the window.

  “Now that I think about it, I might need to tell Jerrico to put you on Calvary for real. Maybe you’ll leave that hoe nigga Javion alone.”

  Yummy shrugged. “I may, it depends on how big Calvary’s dick is. I got a lot of ass, so he has to have enough inches to hang with ya girl.” She leaned over on all fours and started grinding on the floor.

  “Eww.” Forever covered her mouth as if she was going to throw up. “Your butt is too big. Move!” She playfully pushed Yummy away from her.