Thicker Than Water

by Takerra, Allen

  Tatum had asked Ree to come with her but he had to fly out for business.

  “What you got on? It’s gonna be niggas there?” Ree asked jokingly.

  “Please, ain’t no dudes gonna be there, except for Sasha’s boyfriend, Chauncey, and my brother, Chris. I wish some dudes was gonna be there.”

  Tatum waited for him to laugh at that but he remained quiet. He had almost forgotten that Chauncey and that nigga Chris was in such a close circle with Tatum. He didn’t like it.

  “Hello, you were supposed to laugh at that,” Tatum reminded him after a period of silence.

  “My bad, Ms. Lady, I’m just actually about to meet with this guy, and um, I think I see him coming. I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Tatum felt that something should come next but she was skeptical about saying it.

  “Hey, Ree.”

  “What’s up, baby?” he said, waiting for what she had to say. He paid attention to every word that came out of her mouth.

  “You know, I kinda miss you,” she admitted, smiling hard.

  He chuckled and smiled to himself.

  “I miss you too, beautiful. Kinda.”

  They laughed and then they hung up, both feeling a little soft on the inside and both feeling like they wanted to say something else, but it was too soon, and they were too scared.

  Once everybody started arriving at the barbecue it was on. Black folks everywhere; drinking, laughing, storytelling, card playing, and tearing up some food. And if you know a black barbecue, you know that the majority of the food is not cooked on the grill. It was fried chicken, barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, ziti, potato salad, tuna salad, all kinds of rices, and somebody even had the nerve to bring a pot of collard greens. It was like a summer Thanksgiving.

  Neli sat next to Tatum eyeing Chauncey and Sasha and their very public display of affection. She watched as Sasha made his plate, she watched as he kissed her on her forehead, she watched as she sat on his lap and fed him her “infamous macaroni and cheese” and everyone looked on like they were the perfect couple. Neli just sat there and watched, until . . .

  “Sasha, you looking a little thick there, girl! What’s going on there?” one of her cousins proclaimed as Sasha rolled her eyes. Tatum jumped right in.

  “Yeah, Sash, you been eating everything that comes ya way.”

  “Shut up,Tatum!” Sasha laughed.

  Neli could not even take the thought of the insinuations of Sasha being pregnant. She would have just died, so Neli said the first thing that came to her mind, and the craziest.

  “Well, if you are pregnant, then I guess we’ll be pregnant together!” Silence. Tatum’s eyes bulged out of her head. Sasha put her hand over her mouth. But nothing could match the look that Chauncey had. If looks could kill, Neli would have died a thousand deaths. Chauncey felt the adrenaline going through his body as he began gnawing on the inside of his cheek. He totally forgot about his food and let his plate fall to the ground.

  “Baby, ya food, what’s wrong with you?” Sasha asked, completely unaware of what had just happened.

  Neli regretted the words the minute they came out of her mouth. Not only had she just told a huge lie to her friends, she also knew this would be impossible to play off. She would have to pile lies on top of lies. Would she say she had an abortion? Miscarriage? What kind of lie would she tell? Then on top of that, the look that Chauncey was giving her right now told her that she had started something that she didn’t want to finish. You just didn’t want to be in that position with Chaunc, and she especially didn’t. She loved him.

  Oh well, Neli thought to herself, it’s just something I’ll have to wiggle my way out of, and as she looked around at the faces, she caught a glare from Kim that led her to assume she had been found out.

  However, on Kim’s side of the fence, it’s not that she knew what was going on. But Kim did know that something was not right, and all that she could think of was why. She thought of the rumor that her brother had come to her about, and she thought about how Neli had been acting hella funny since they got here. Kim knew Neli was lying, and bigger than that, Kim knew that Neli was on her period.

  Chris was laid up with a young chick from around the way, when he got a phone call from Neli. She sounded a little out of it, and Chris was worried about her. He couldn’t lie to himself; he was really starting to feel her.

  Ever since the night in the hotel, when he was supposed to be marrying his daughters’ mother, he couldn’t get out of his mind the way Neli had put it down on him. She was so freaky, and so beautiful, and he loved her good-girl attitude. He was really feeling her and he understood why Chauncey couldn’t leave her alone, even when she didn’t want him anymore. Or at least that was the story that Neli had fed him.

  “Who is that?” the young hood rat said, as Chris slapped her lightly and got up so Neli wouldn’t hear her.

  Neli heard her well and clear, but she didn’t care. She knew Chris was fucking that young-ass girl, but she was far from intimidated by a sixteen-year-old and even more far from actually caring about Chris.

  Even though he was Tatum’s brother, he was not attractive at all. It’s like he took all of the bad genes while Tatum took the good. Neli had done a couple of lines of coke and was feeling a little crazy. Her mind was racing and she was trying to balance out her high. She was taking coke to bring her up, and drinking heavy to bring her back down. She was destroying herself, destroying her beauty, destroying her mind, destroying her soul.

  “Neli, baby, what’s up?”

  “Nothing.” She was slurring her words. “Listen, Chris, I really need to talk to you. I don’t know what to do. Chauncey won’t leave me alone, man. He keeps calling, coming by, I’m getting scared, baby.”

  Chris’s blood was boiling. He hated the way Chauncey took advantage of Neli, after that night at the hotel, when Neli told Chris that she was really drunk and high, and that’s why she had sex with them. According to Neli, Chauncey kept calling her, telling her that he would tell everybody if she didn’t keep fucking him. Chris thought that was fucked up, but he didn’t say anything because that was his man, and before Neli told him her side of the story, Chauncey had been acting like Neli was the crazy one. Yeah, right! Chris knew that nigga was crazy anyway.

  “Neli, don’t worry about it. It’s good that you stopped fucking wit that nigga, and if he tries to tell Sash, then I got ya back. It’ll be you and me, ma.”

  “How? How, Chris! We don’t have anything. How do you expect me to just be with you? You can’t even get out of your sister’s house. The nigga I’m with now has a house! He has everything to take care of me, why would I leave him for you?” She insulted him continuously, and it made him want her more.

  “I got money, ma, how many times am I gonna tell you? The money me and Chaunc got—” Neli cut him off and used this opportunity to go for the kill.

  “What money? You and Chauncey don’t have any money. Chauncey told me he has money stashed, but he said that’s his money and you just work for him. Can’t you see, Chris, you just a pawn, nigga.”

  Neli smiled to herself knowing that she was lying through her teeth, and knowing that Chris was eating it all up. Chris thought about how Chauncey had been leaving him out of a lot of shit. Having meetings with Ree and E that he couldn’t attend and making a lot of moves with people he didn’t know. Maybe he was just a pawn, and he was the one who should be running everything! At least that’s what he felt.

  “Listen, ma, you don’t worry about any of that. I got money, I got you. You just stay away from that crazy muthafucka. I told you, ma, you should’ve never even got with that nigga, I’m the nigga you need to be seeing.”

  Chris thought a lot about what Neli was saying and at the same time he thought about Chauncey. That had been his right-hand man since childhood and he thought he knew him. He remembered the vow they took to always put money over bitches. But Chauncey did break that vow when he started catching feeli
ngs for Sasha. Chris knew Chaunc, and he knew Chaunc would put Sasha over him any day, at least that’s the way it appeared.

  He decided at that moment that he would start looking out for himself and keeping an eye on Chauncey. If that nigga thought he was a pawn, he was about to show him that the streets ain’t a chess game, ’cause in this game anybody could be the king.

  Neli realized that Chris was quiet and in thought, and she knew her manipulation was working. Once she could turn Chris against Chauncey, she could use him deeply in her revenge against her enemy—not Chauncey, but Sasha. Now all she needed was the perfect opportunity to pit her plot, and really get this shit jumping. He was about to be her pawn.

  Chapter 9

  Clarity

  Sasha was washing dishes in her apartment when she heard the keys jingling in the door. She knew that her baby was back. She kept her attention focused on her task, trying to hide the wide smile on her face. She was so happy to have him back in her life, although they were long overdue for a talk that needed to take place soon.

  Sasha wanted to know why he left her in the first place. She decided to hold off on the convo as he wrapped his strong arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

  “Hey baby, did you get the bread?” she asked sweetly.

  “Mmm. Hmmm . . . ,” he answered, but he really wasn’t thinking about bread at all. He was just thinking about laying her down for the night. However, his mental fantasy was put on hold by Sasha’s next question.

  “I wonder who Neli’s pregnant by?”

  “Wha-what?” Chauncey stuttered, dumbfounded.

  “I wonder who she’s pregnant by . . . I haven’t heard her say anything about having sex with anyone.”

  Chauncey scratched his head and started toward the living room. He didn’t wanna hear that shit tonight.

  “I don’t know, baby, damn, probably by the nigga she live with.”

  Sasha thought for a minute but didn’t express her wonder. Last she knew Neli was not having sex with Ray, especially unprotected. She knew Neli fucked around with a lot of dudes from the hood, but she couldn’t imagine who the daddy could be. Maybe it is Ray.

  “Hm.” She let that sound out and continued her task, pissing Chauncey off because he had no idea what that sound meant. He sat on the couch, kicked off his Tims, and picked up the house cordless phone to dial E and check on some money. He had turned off his cell before entering the house due to Neli’s excessive calling and he didn’t want Sasha to see it. He had wanted to get into Sasha before he had to run back out, but she definitely changed his whole mood.

  “What up,” Chauncey addressed his man. As they got into the light conversation, careful not to say too much on the landline, the line beeped with another call.

  “Yo E, hold up a minute.”

  Chauncey clicked over and answered.

  “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise . . . So what’s up, Chauncey, a bitch can’t get a hello . . . I noticed you been dodging me. It’s all good, I’ll get that ass when child support time comes. When you gonna tell Sasha, huh?” Neli threatened.

  Chauncey remained silent but chewed on the inside of his cheek. He was furious.

  “See, Chaunc, it didn’t have to be like this. It still doesn’t. Just say the word, and we can be cool. All you gotta say is yes, and I’ll have everything ready for you. You can come over tonight and you can fuck me any way you want. Just say it, baby. Just say yes . . . I need you, just say yes and I’ll stop.”

  Chauncey’s jaw clenched in anger and he felt his blood boiling. Who the fuck does this bitch think she is, threatening me? I don’t take threats . . . nigga, bitch, period!

  “Ay yo, Sash! Phone!” he screamed, completely ignoring her desperate attempts. Sasha jogged into the living room and grabbed the cordless.

  “Hurry up, baby, I got E on the other line.”

  Sasha nodded and continued talking to Neli about nothing. Chauncey just sat on the couch and studied her facial expression. She seemed genuinely happy and she was so gorgeous. Chauncey just looked her up and down and thought of how he couldn’t let her go again. He knew some other nigga would be happy to wife that, and he couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to still have her heart even after he left.

  He came up behind her while she was laughing and began tonguing her neck and massaging her breasts through her shirt. She started giggling and lightly moaning at the same time.

  “Chauncey, stop . . . You see I’m on the phone,” she whined in a light sexy tone.

  It drove him crazy; it drove Neli crazy as well. He didn’t care, he continued to play with her in every way he could as she continued to push his hands away and giggle.

  “Girl, this boy won’t leave me alone. Can I call you back?” Sasha asked, while cheesing. Shit, she was hot now.

  Neli didn’t even answer, she just hung up the phone, fuming. That struck something in Sasha, but she figured she would address that later. It didn’t go unnoticed, however.

  “Baby, do you know she just hung up on me?” Sasha said, turning to Chauncey.

  “Fuck her,” Chauncey dismissed nonchalantly while unbuckling Sasha’s jeans. Sasha still was upset, however, but that anger slowly faded with every lick of Chauncey’s tongue taking her to ecstasy. She lay back on the dining room table and enjoyed every bit of pleasure that he gave her. Mmmmmm . . .

  “Oh hell yeah, we are in that bitch, Tatum! I need to get an outfit and we gonna shut that muthafucka down!” Kim was ecstatic, referring to the verbal invite Tatum had just received via voice mail from Ree for one of his huge parties.

  Ree’s parties were exclusive, always packed with the biggest ballers and hustlers, and always carrying a hidden agenda. Ree just wanted to take a look at everybody who was doing it in the field; it was his way of listening to the streets.

  Plus he wanted to give his army a little break; they all had been in grind mode. And what good is making the money if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor?

  Tatum just looked at her friend and smiled. She knew she had a crazy-ass friend, and she adored her. She wondered for a minute if she even felt like attending. Up until this point she had spent time with Ree on the personal, and now to see him around his people would only verify the image she was trying to deny: Ree was a hustler. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he was a boss. How would he act? Would she see a side to him that she had never seen before? Would he have other females there who he fucked or worse, was currently fucking? Tatum felt dizzy with questions. There was no denying the fact that she was starting to catch some serious feelings for him. The man had her dazed and crazed. She listened to his message again to try to dissect it piece by piece.

  Hey Tatum. How you, Ms. Lady? I’m just calling ’cause I’m heading back into the States soon and I wanted to see you. I got a little thing coming up in the city, I want you and your girls to come through. I’d love to show you off. Well, get back at me, the party is Saturday, so clear ya day. And don’t pick out nothing to wear, ’cause I want you in something I never seen before. I’ll send someone to you. Respect, baby.

  Tatum creamed as she listened, smiling like it was her birthday.

  “Girl, stop listening to that damn message and help me decide where I’m gonna get my shit from. Is it like Cavalli dress party or like True Religion and stiletto party?” Kim asked, with her hands on her hips.

  Tatum ignored her. She had her own thoughts in her head. She was wondering what was up for the night. Ree had left her that message at like twelve in the afternoon but her phone was dead all day. So now here it was at like 10 P.M. and she wasn’t sure what time he would be in tonight. That’s when her doorbell rang.

  “Who is it?” she screamed. No answer.

  She peered through the peephole to see who it was and was shocked by the face that was there. It was her ex-boyfriend, Ty. She opened the door slightly but not all the way, with a look on her face that read, What?

  “W’sup, beautiful?” Ty asked, smiling and looking not as appe
aling as he used to. Perhaps it was in her mind, perhaps she had been spoiled by looking at perfection lately.

  “What’s up? What are you doing here?”

  “Damn, T, it’s like that? I can’t get a hug or nothing? I just wanted to see what you doing, how you doing, all that.”

  Tatum remained reserved and stayed with the door cracked.

  “I’m good, Ty, but listen, right now I’m chilling wit Kim, it’s not a good time.”

  “Oh, where Kim at? What up, Kim!” he screamed, trying to push past her into the house. He had obviously had a little to drink. Tatum began pushing him back out the door, letting him know that he was not invited in. He reeked of Hennessy, and she was not feeling him, but his dumb ass kept ignoring her gestures and pushing her hands away. He was getting on her nerves.

  “Look, Ty, just leave all right, damn.”

  “C’mon, Tay, you know a nigga miss you, I miss that banging-ass pussy too.”

  That was it! Tatum was done. And just as she was trying to slam the door while he was pushing against it, a black Benz pulled up and Ree stepped out nonchalantly. He walked up the stairs as if Ty wasn’t even there, and addressed Tatum.

  “W’sup baby, how you?”

  Ty looked at Ree for explanation and Ree looked at Ty with a look that was unrecognizable to him. It read something like, Yeah nigga, you don’t want that problem.

  Tatum hugged Ree and turned to Ty.

  “Ty, this is Ree, Ree, this is Ty. And Ty was just leaving.”

  Ree began walking in the house after giving Ty a nod, figuring that Tatum had that all under control. Just when Ree was inside and Tatum began closing the door, Ty had to fuck up and say it.

  “Oh this dread muhfucka can just walk in here like he live here? I know you giving him some pussy! Fuck you, bitch!”

  Tatum stood mouth open about to go off on his bum ass, but she didn’t have a chance to. Ree pushed past her and punched Ty in the face so hard that he fell down the stairs as blood shot from his nose, and then he ran down after him and took out his gun and pistol-whipped him until his eyes looked like they were rolling back in his head.