You're My Little Secret 3

by Chenell Parker

  “This is the second time that a bitch showed up to your house when I was here. There won’t be a third time because I’m staying at my own house from now on.”

  “Just like a nigga showed up to your house when I was there, but I didn’t trip. We both have a past, and we knew that before we decided to get into a relationship. I told her what was up just like I did with the one before her. Don’t even start with all that,” David said.

  “I’m not saying anything else. I’m about to get my shit and go home,” Candace said walking to the back of the house. David waved her off and resumed his position on the sofa.

  “Man you better go talk to your girl before she leaves your ass,” Dominic told his brother.

  “She ain’t going nowhere,” David said dismissively. “She just likes to play mad for the make-up sex. I keep telling her she doesn’t have to do all that to get me to beat it up. All she has to do is ask.”

  We all laughed, but I knew that he was serious. His relationship with Candace is like nothing that I’ve ever seen before. They both try to play hard to cover up how they really feel about each other. I got up and walked to the back of the house to make sure that my cousin was alright. I expected to see her packing her clothes, but she was stretched out on the bed watching TV instead.

  “I thought you were leaving,” I asked while stretching out right next to her.

  “Girl please, he knows I’m not going nowhere,” she said waving me off. “Trust me it’ll pay off tonight when everybody is gone.”

  David had her right. She did all of that just to get some make-up sex.

  “He said that’s what you were doing, but I didn’t believe him. Y’all are crazy,” I said laughing.

  “I don’t know why you’re laughing. You and Dominic are just as crazy. The only difference is that you really do leave his ass,” she laughed.

  I thought about our relationship and wondered if we looked as stupid to other people as David and Candace look to me right now.

  NADIA

  “Stop crying friend. You know he’s coming back,” I’ve been trying my best to comfort Shannon over the phone since she called me crying ten minutes ago. She’s upset because Kevin hasn’t been home for two days straight. I have her on speakerphone while I stood in the mirror flat ironing my hair.

  “That’s not the point Nadia. He’s stepping out and coming in all hours of the night like he’s single. I let that shit slide when he did it with Brooklyn, but I’m not doing it again. This time I’m showing my ass and whatever bitch he’s messing with,” she cried.

  “You think he’s messing with her again?”

  “No. Tiffany told me that Brooklyn lives with her baby daddy. She’s pregnant by him again and everything,” she answered.

  “And you believe that bitch?”

  “Yeah, I believe her. She doesn’t have a reason to lie to me about something so stupid. She said that he left her cousin to be with Brooklyn. I saw them on a bunch of pictures and stuff on Facebook. After seeing her man, I don’t blame her for not wanting Kevin. I don’t see how you let his fine ass get away,” she said referring to Dominic.

  “Girl please, he ain’t all that like you making it seem,” I said getting pissed off.

  “That’s a lie. That nigga looks good, and he’s paid. Brooklyn hit the jackpot,” she said rubbing it in.

  “Good for her,” I snapped.

  “You sound kind of salty. I know you’re not jealous,” she laughed.

  “Jealous? Girl if you only knew,” I said laughing right along with her.

  “What don’t I know? Tell me what’s up then.”

  “It’s nothing girl don’t worry about it. I’m about to get out of here. Call me if you want to talk later.”

  “Okay, I will,” she said sadly before hanging up.

  “So that’s what you have to put up with every day, huh?” I asked Kevin, who was stretched out in my king sized bed. He is so cute. If you ask me he’s way too cute to be with somebody like Shannon. We’ve been kicking it almost every day since I fought Kyle and Tiffany at their house. After I had given him oral sex that day, he ended up following me back to my apartment. That was the first, and I assumed the last time that we had sex. It must be something about me that Kevin likes because he came back the very next day. Unlike Kyle, Kevin even spends some nights here with me. I should feel bad for betraying Shannon, but I don’t. She seems to have formed a friendship with Tiffany, so she’s getting everything that she deserves.

  “I told you that she’s crazy. I need to take my ass home before she loses her damn mind,” Kevin replied.

  “I thought we were going out for a little while,” I said with an attitude.

  “We might have to do that another time,” he said making me mad.

  “You’ve been here getting sucked and fucked for two days straight. Don’t try to act like you have a conscious now. Staying out for a few more hours won’t hurt her,” I snapped.

  “You better watch who the fuck you’re talking to like that. I’m not even supposed to be around this way to begin with. The purpose of me staying inside is so I won’t be seen. Me and my brother have too many enemies for me to be running the streets with your ass,” he yelled.

  “We’re not running the streets. Nobody even goes to the bar that I want us to go to. It’s always empty. Let’s just have a few drinks and get something to eat. I’ll drive, and I’ll bring you back to your truck as soon as we’re done.” I would always let Kevin park his truck in my apartment complex’s enclosed garage while I parked in one of the guests’ spots. He’s always so paranoid when he comes to see me. I know it had something to do with all the dirt that he and Kyle did before they moved to Slidell.

  “I’m giving you two more hours of my time, and then I’m out,” he said agreeing to my demands. He had a frown on his face, but I didn’t care.

  “Stop looking so mean all the time. You know I’ll make it worth your while before you go home,” I promised.

  We rode the fifteen minutes to the bar in silence. Bottom’s Up Bar and Grill is a small establishment that’s located on a dead end street of a residential neighborhood. If a person doesn’t know exactly where it is, it’s almost impossible to find. Candace and I stumbled upon it one night when we got lost, and we started going there whenever we wanted to get away. Aside from a few older men in the back shooting pool, we would be the only patrons in the bar at times. I love them because they don’t water down their drinks, and the food is good.

  “You’re right about nobody being in here,” Kevin observed when we walked inside. Besides us, the bartender was the only other person here. She looked bored out of her mind sitting behind the bar. I heard the voices of a few people in the back shooting pool, but the lounge area was empty. Kevin and I placed our orders, sat down at one of the tables and waited.

  “Loosen up. Nobody that you know is coming here. This is not that kind of place,” I said to Kevin. He kept looking around nervously like he was expecting something to happen.

  “I see that. I never even heard of this place before. I might make this my new hang out spot,” he replied.

  “As long as you don’t bring your brother or your bitch here with you,” I hissed.

  A few minutes later, the bartender, who was also the waitress, sat our food and drinks in front of us. We sat there eating and talking like he didn’t have a girlfriend to get home to. He said that he was giving me two more hours, but he’s not in a hurry to leave. It doesn’t matter to me if he stays another night at my house. I’m really starting to feel him so Shannon might be getting a run for her money.

  BRYCE

  “I’m ready to go,” Dominic announced for the second time tonight. I swear I hate going places with him sometimes. He acts like he can’t stay away from Brooklyn too long. He’s called or texted her every five minutes since we’ve been here. We’re at a hole in the wall bar shooting pool and having drinks. Aside from us two, David and Jaden were here as well.

  “Man, Brookl
yn ain’t going anywhere,” I yelled at him. “You not gon’ get in trouble if you stay out late.”

  “I think Brooklyn be beating on my lil brother,” David said with a straight face. “I don’t want to get the police involved, but I will if I have to.”

  We all looked at Dominic and fell out laughing. As tall as he is, I couldn’t imagine Brooklyn trying to fight him. He has to damn near kneel down just to kiss her.

  “You niggas better stop playing with me. We don’t do violence in our household,” Dominic said.

  “Let’s go before his ass starts crying in here,” David said still messing with his brother.

  “I need to use the bathroom first. Y’all got me laughing so hard I’m about to pee on myself,” Jaden said as he walked toward the back.

  That’s always the case whenever David was around. He keeps everybody laughing no matter what mood you’re in. He’s the type that’s funny without even trying to be funny.

  “What’s going on with the house hunting?” I asked Dominic while we waited.

  “We found a few that we like. Brooklyn fell in love with the one in English Turn. I really hope we get that one. The real estate agent put in the offer a few days ago. She said it could take up to four to six weeks before we hear something, but sometimes it may come sooner,” he answered.

  “English Turn? You’re trying to spend some real money, huh?” English Turn is a gated golf and country club community. It’s nothing for a house to run for three to four hundred thousand or more.

  “It’s a foreclosed property, so the price isn’t bad. It was only built like eight months ago. It’s like six bedrooms with a pool.”

  “Y’all don’t even need that much space. Baby is buggin’ for real,” I said.

  “That’s what she wants and that’s what she’s getting. I just hope they accept my offer. The agent is confident that they will,” Dominic replied.

  “Ain’t that the same place that Kennedi wanted to move to?” David asked.

  “Yep,” Dominic replied calmly.

  “You better not tell Baby that shit. She might change her mind if she finds that out,” I joked with him.

  “I hope y’all do get it. I’m posting that shit on a billboard just to make sure Kennedi’s ass see it,” David swore.

  “Let’s roll,” Jaden said coming from the bathroom.

  We all made our way out to the front of the almost empty bar. Candace showed us this place a few months ago, and we’ve been coming here ever since. There’s never a crowd, and the food and drinks are decent. Besides us, there was no one else in the bar except for a couple who was hugging and kissing at a table across the room. Dominic walked ahead of us as we talked and headed for the front door. He slowed his stride, but I didn’t pay attention as to why. All of sudden he broke out and started running to the other side of the room. When he got close to a table where the couple sat, he punched the man in his face, knocking him out of his chair. We rushed over to try and stop him until we realized who it was that he started beating.

  NADIA

  “Dominic stop!” I screamed to the top of my lungs. After eating and having a few drinks, Kevin and I were enjoying each other’s company. We were so busy hugging and kissing that we didn’t even see anyone coming towards us until it was too late. Dominic came out of nowhere and started throwing jabs at Kevin. David, Bryce, and Jaden were with him, but nobody tried to intervene.

  “Get up nigga! You like to fight women, fight me back,” Dominic yelled as he continued his attack.

  I’ve seen Kevin fight Shannon more times than I can count, but he was letting Dominic wipe the floor with him. He was swinging back, but his licks must have been too soft. Dominic was shaking them off like they came from his son. I don’t understand why he even had a problem with Kevin aside from the fact that he had a brief relationship with Brooklyn. They’re back together, so that shouldn’t matter anymore. He kept saying that Kevin likes to beat on women, but I’m wondering how he knows about that. More importantly why does he even care if Kevin beats on his girlfriend? Something isn’t adding up.

  “Somebody stop him,” I continued to yell. I tried pulling Bryce’s arm for him to do something, but he snatched away from me.

  “Don’t touch me. That nigga deserves that ass whooping for putting his hands on my sister,” he replied angrily.

  “He didn’t put his hands on your sister,” I yelled in Kevin’s defense.

  “Shut up Nadia. You a straight up hoe. You’re standing here defending this nigga when you were just fucking his brother a few weeks ago. You don’t know what he did so stop speaking on it,” Jaden barked.

  I looked up and saw the bartender standing by the bar looking petrified. She’s been glued to the same spot she’s been in since we got here earlier.

  “Don’t just stand there looking stupid, call the police,” I screamed at her. Her dumb ass just looked at me like I was crazy, but she still didn’t budge.

  “Damn Nadia, I use to consider you family at one time. I would have never thought you would turn out like this,” David said looking at me in disgust.

  “I’m not about to just stand around and let your brother kill him,” I replied in my own defense.

  “Come on lil brother, chill out. Let that nigga make it,” David said as he pulled Dominic off of Kevin.

  I rushed over to Kevin and helped him off of the floor. He was barely able to stand after the beat down that he just received. I had to practically stand him up and sit him back down in the chair. He had a huge knot on his forehead, and his right eye was almost swollen shut. I grabbed a hand full of napkins and tried to stop the blood that dripped from his lip, but he snatched them from me.

  “I guess that’s why you beat on women. You can’t fight for shit,” Jaden laughed and shook his head at Kevin.

  Dominic stared at Kevin with pure hate in his eyes. If David wasn’t holding him back, I’m sure he would have finished him off.

  “Let’s go,” Bryce suggested. He walked out first followed by Jaden, who wore a sneaky grin on his face. He’s crazy as hell, and I never did trust his ass.

  “You good man?” David had asked Dominic before they walked out. Dominic nodded his head, and they slowly made their way to the door.

  They were almost gone when Jaden stopped and walked back towards us. We didn’t even get a chance to react before he grabbed a bottle from the table and smashed it across Kevin’s head. Kevin fell back to the floor while I jumped up and screamed.

  “I never did like your pretty boy looking ass,” he spat with a frown on his face.

  “Let’s go Jaden!” Bryce yelled to his baby brother.

  “I got a bunch of pretty bitches ready to put in work for me whenever you ready for it Nadia,” he threatened before walking out with the rest of his crew.

  I knew that was a warning for me not to get the police involved. Jaden doesn’t make threats he makes promises and I knew not to take them lightly.

  “Are you okay?” I asked while trying to help Kevin up from the floor.

  “Get the fuck off of me!” He snarled angrily.

  “I’m only trying to help you. You look like you need to go to the hospital.”

  “I should have never let you talk me into coming here. All this shit is your fault. You probably set the shit up.”

  “How is any of this my fault? I didn’t know that they were going to be here. I wouldn’t have come here if I did.”

  “Just take me to my truck and stop talking to me,” he quipped.

  I watched as he pulled himself up from the floor and staggered to the exit, barely making it to the door. I couldn’t believe he would even think that I had something to do with Dominic beating him up. As much shit as he talks, I thought for sure he at least knew how to fight. He hit so soft I wonder how Shannon even got those black eyes that he gave her.

  “At least let me put something on your face before you leave,” I offered.

  “Whatever,” he replied brushing me off.

  We
traveled the rest of the way to my apartment in complete silence. I kept stealing peeks at Kevin, but he just stared straight ahead. Dominic had really done a number to his face. Thanks to Jaden, he had a nice size gash in the back of his head as well. I wanted to ask him when and why did he put his hands on Brooklyn, but this was not a good time. That was a huge mistake he’d made, and I’m sure he knows that now.

  “Are you coming in?” I asked Kevin once we pulled up to my apartment complex. “Please, just for a minute.”

  I didn’t have anything to do with what happened, but I do feel bad about it. I’m also concerned about him driving home in the condition that he’s in. He barely made it to the car, and he’s all banged up. After thinking about it for a while, he got out of the car and started towards my apartment. I hopped out, followed behind him and opened the front door. I rushed to the bathroom and got my first aid kit and some peroxide. After grabbing some cotton balls, I went back to the living room and sat next to him on the sofa. He played on his phone while I tried my best to bandage up his wounds.

  “Ouch,” he winced in pain when I got to the sore area at the back of his head.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. After working on him for about ten more minutes, I finally finished. After cleaning all the blood away, he looked just a little bit better, but not much. I’ve seen Dominic in action more times than I can count. He’s like a young Muhammad Ali when it comes to fighting. Even if Kevin could fight, he probably wouldn’t have won.

  “Get me a mirror,” Kevin requested.

  I put away my first aid kit and handed him the small mirror that I kept in my bathroom. I watched as he frowned at the damage that Dominic had done to his face. I would hate for this incident to be the thing to possibly tear us apart.

  “Kevin, I’m so sorry about what happened. I swear I didn’t know they were going to be in there. I’ve been there a million times, and I’ve never seen Dominic or any of Brooklyn’s family there,” I swore. Instead of answering me he kept his head down playing on his phone. I heard my own phone ringing, so I got up to answer it.