The nigga seated next to Five-Star lowered the music, as everyone stayed quiet, watching closely.
“This nigga.” Five-Star sucked his teeth.
“I’ve already knocked you on yo’ ass once, and you didn’t respond too well. So I’m gon’ give you a chance to take that disrespectful ass record down, and from every platform within twenty-four hours.” I was cool for right now, because I saw his homies were on go, ready to hold me back if I charged him. I had to be smart, play chill.
“What record?”
“Oh, we playing dumb nigga now?” I laughed, nodding. “Look, I know yo’ weak ass is upset that you lost ya baby mama and will never have her back again, but you gotta grow the fuck up, bruh. You looking real stupid, weak, and soft out here dropping diss tracks on females ’cause you can’t hit no more.”
“Fuck out of here. I could have Blaise if I wanted her.”
“Nah, you can’t. That’s mine. Island, Blaise, and I are a family. They’re perfect, hard not to love.” I smirked. “I get it, though; Blaise is the shit, so it’s hard for you to move on, but I’m warning you right now, muthafucka. Start that process ASAP, or I’m splitting yo’ shit open.”
“Blaise is just with yo’ ass for right now.” He stood up, making me happy as fuck on the inside. I needed him to jump first so I could lay his ass out without being intercepted by his crew.
“Damn, all that fucking denial.” I cackled. “I feel for you though, Blood. Just the thought of losing Blaise and that fire she got, makes my stomach turn. But don’t trip; she’s good now. I take great care of my girl. Oh, and I already know how I’m gon’ raise Island, so you can continue being a deadbeat ass nigga.”
“Fuck you, nigga!”
WHAM!
Like clockwork, he stepped to me, ramming his face right into my fist. He swung back but was too dazed to have any coordination, so he collapsed to the floor.
“Look at you, acting all hard, knowing you ain’t ready for a fade. Embarrassing as fuck.” I squatted down and slapped his face a few times, seeing he was dipping in and out of consciousness. When we made eye contact, I said, “I know you’re used to pulling this bullshit with the niggas before me, but Blaise is my girl now, and you about to cut all that bratty bitch boy shit out. You gon’ show her some fucking respect as not only the mother of ya fucking child, but as my woman.
Now you don’ made me waste valuable time coming up here, so at this point, you got less than twenty-four hours to scrub that fucking record from the Internet. To give you some motivation, just remember either that song better disappear, or yo’ ass is gon’ disappear; your choice.” I patted Five-Star’s chest, rising up. As I walked out, I said to his homies, who were staring down at him lying on the floor, “Y’all may want to put a pillow under the nigga’s head while he sleeps.”
The rest of my day was perfect, especially having dinner with Blaise and Island to celebrate my new deal. And by morning, I saw you couldn’t find that fucking song anywhere. I guess I knocked some sense into that nigga, literally.
Alivia
I’d been staying in a hotel since I moved out of Manny’s place. It was kind of nice having someone come in and clean up after me, especially making up my bed, something I hated doing. However, I couldn’t live here forever, despite how enjoyable it’d been, so I’d finally put in an offer on a condo.
I was excited to have my first place, but I’d be lying if I said being on the outs with my parents didn’t bother me. Yes, they were ridiculously overbearing, but they loved me and vice versa. The thought of not having them in my life nagged at me. I just wished they could still be close, but at the same time allow me to be free. And with the way my personal life had been going, I wasn’t sure if all I’d done was even worth the strenuous relationship with them. Only real upside was that I had solid friends and could stay out later.
Today, I’d planned to go meet up with Blaise and Priscilla for lunch, but I’d suddenly changed my mind. I didn’t want to go out anymore after seeing some interview Yono had done with this Chicago radio station. In the interview, they asked him about me, and he basically told them I was just his friend with benefits. When they inquired on why we no longer associated with one another, he claimed it was because I got too attached and couldn’t accept that he didn’t want a girlfriend. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but just like with everything else in life, people would always believe a man over a woman no matter how dumb it sounded or how much proof was presented, especially if he was successful and talented.
After brushing my teeth and having my shower, I spread lotion on my body, then slipped back into my pajamas before grabbing my phone.
“Hello?” Blaise answered happily.
“Hi. I lost track of time. I hope you and Priscilla aren’t already on your way. I can’t meet you guys today.”
“We’re in the lobby of your hotel. Why can’t you come?”
“I just… I’m not in the mood. But hey, maybe we can reschedule or something. I’m free in a few days.”
“No, I don’t think so. We’re almost to your door, so open up.” Blaise hung up the phone, making me grunt angrily before throwing my phone down onto the bed.
Standing up, I tread to the door, pulling it open right when she and Priscilla arrived. They looked nice and smelled good too, as they switched into my room, hugging me on the way.
“Okay, so why can’t you come?” Priscilla asked, sitting at the desk. Blaise took a seat on the recliner, kicking her feet up which were in a pair of YSL stilettos.
“Because I’m just not in the mood after seeing that interview.”
“Girl, you can’t let that bother you.” Blaise drank some of the water she had in her purse.
“That’s easy for you to say. You have a man that can get music taken completely off the Internet like it never happened.” I chuckled along with them.
“That’s a rumor.” Blaise grinned.
“Yeah right. You know Belly was behind that song being gone. Five-Star takes any chance he can to embarrass you, so no way he’d remove it on his own. New baby daddy got in that ass,” Priscilla replied, making us all laugh heartily.
“Just imagine how Five-Star will react when you start showing and he finds out you’re pregnant.” I widened my eyes with a smile, and Priscilla did the same.
“He might slit his own throat after slipping into a deep depression.” Priscilla shook her head, making Blaise roll her eyes. I nodded subtly. I didn’t know what he’d do, but he’d surely lose his mind.
“Anyway, give me your phone.” Blaise put her hand out. “Unlock it first.”
Hesitantly, I picked my iPhone up, typed in the code, then passed it over. Blaise started moving around, typing something with just one hand, then passed it back to me. I looked to see that she’d commented three laughing emojis on the gossip blog post of Yono’s interview.
“How does that help?” I frowned, showing Priscilla who’d asked to see by putting her hand out.
“Shows that you don’t give a fuck, but also that his comments are pure comedy. Now if he says anything else, I’ll comment as you and drag his ass.” Blaise took her own phone out as Priscilla giggled.
Still laughing, Priscilla added, “Okay, now get dressed. I’m hungry, and I know she’s hungry.”
“Fine.”
I put on some clothes along with light makeup and some jewelry. To be honest, Blaise had made me feel much better. Her and Priscilla’s company had lightened my mood, which I didn’t expect. I’d never had real friends before, at least not ones that I chose to hang out with out of my own free will, so I guess that was why this feeling was surprising to me.
The three of us went to have lunch, then we picked up Island, Penni, and Baby Rafi before going to see a movie. All three of the kids were surprisingly well behaved. I actually had a good time and was happy the girls had come to convince me to go out. I hadn’t thought about Yono’s interview once, and had I stayed in my hotel room, it would have plagued my
mind.
“Bye, ladies. And bye cuties.” I waved to their children before entering my hotel.
“Alivia!” I heard a man call my name, and when I turned around, I spotted Manny rushing up to me with flowers in his hand.
“Oh, please.” I waved him off and kept walking, but he caught up to me, grabbing my arm to spin me around.
“Let me talk to you for a second.”
“No, Manny.”
“Please, let me just talk to you, and if after I talk, you don’t wanna fuck with me, then I’ll leave you be.” I still hadn’t said anything, so he continued. “Just at the bar right over here. It’s still open.”
I wasn’t tired, and I didn’t have any work to do, so I saw no harm in getting a free drink. I followed Manny to the bar inside of the hotel lobby, where we took a seat next to one another. We ordered from the bartender, and as he whipped them up, we sat in silence. Manny handed me the flowers again, so with a half-smile, I took them and placed them next to me.
“Why the smile?” he quizzed.
“You’re just so persistent. You never give up; well, at least when it comes to women.”
“No, not women in general, just you.” He sipped the dark drink, clearing his throat after it went down.
“Why me? I’m nothing special, Manny.”
“Yeah you are. And you’re nothing like the women I’m used to. I’ve never in my life pursued a woman like this, meaning popping up on her and begging her for dates damn near. But you,” he looked to me, “I know you’re the one for me.”
I couldn’t help the laughter that burst through my lips.
“Okay, sure.”
“I’m dead ass serious, Alivia. I think about you all damn day.” He downed what was left as I sipped my vodka martini. He nodded for the waiter to refill him. “And I apologize for how I came at you when you were at my house and shit. I was just frustrated. Between not getting the reaction I wanted from you, to seeing you with that nigga Yono, I just blew the fuck up.”
“Yeah, Yono was just something I did to explore my new freedom. I don’t even think I really liked him. I just wanted to be bad because I was tired of being good.”
“You can be bad with me.” He smirked, making me suck my teeth.
I turned my attention away from Manny, finishing off my drink as well. The bartender looked over at me from afar to ask if I wanted another, so I nodded.
“Well, I’m sorry too, Manny.” I ran my pointer finger around the rim of my empty glass as I stared at the lone olive in it. “I know I haven’t been responding well, but it’s not you. Well, most times, it’s not. You can be annoying, but it was mainly my home situation and my irritation with my parents. Most of the time, I did want to go out with you, but knowing I couldn’t, coupled with you hounding me, just made me angry at you.”
“No need to apologize. I understand. I can only imagine how it feels to be in that type of prison.” He turned his body on the stool. “But I was thinking maybe we can start over and have a real date.” He gave me that stupid look that he thought was enticing.
“Okay, but just stop making that face please. I don’t like it.”
He laughed.
“And I will do my best to act like I’m in the presence of a real woman. You’re a challenge, but I’d much rather have a challenging woman as my girl than something easy. I learned that from Belly.”
We both laughed together.
“Yes. I’m actually surprised he even got Blaise back.”
“Shit, me too. I was worried about my brother.”
For the next few hours, Manny and I drank and talked. We did order some appetizers to go with it. The time we spent in the bar was nice. Yes, he still did a few of those light-skinned nigga stares and lip licks, and yes, it was annoying, but I could look past it for now.
Two mornings later…
Tonight, Manny and I would be going on what he kept calling our first real date. And in a sense, I guess it was, since the only time we’d been out at night was when he took me to that twenty-four-hours burger joint.
Funny enough, I was nervous, and I didn’t know why since, despite me hating him, we’d spent plenty of time alone together. I don’t know. I guess because he kept saying it was a real date, it’d finally gotten to me.
“What do you think of these?” I turned to Blaise. We were inside of Saks Fifth, buying some shoes. She was just looking, but I needed a fresh pair of stilettos for my date tonight.
“Very sexy. With jeans, right?”
“Yes, and they’re really tight, so the shoe will stand out.” I looked in the mirror.
“Yep, they’re perfect.” She finished tying the laces of the shoe she was trying on. “I can’t believe you’re going on a real date with Manny.”
Chuckling, I replied, “Stop, he’s not that bad. Okay, he’s kind of corny and thirsty, but I like him for some reason. He hasn’t stopped trying, despite me being cold to him, which is a good sign. Most men in the past would have been gone by now.”
“True. I guess there is someone for everybody.”
“Yep. Plus, he makes great money, has his own place, no crazy exes, and is childless. I mean, I love kids, but it’s hard finding a man with a kid that doesn’t have a crazy obsessed baby mama.”
“Girl, especially in LA, where every bitch thinks their nigga is the next biggest thing in entertainment, so they never wanna let go. And it’s like, bitch, he’s forty, sleeping on your couch, and still only gets three hundred plays on Soundcloud. He ain’t nobody’s Kendrick Lamar.” We started laughing loudly as I pulled the shoe off. “Well I have to go use the bathroom. If the sales guy comes back, tell him I want these.”
“Okay.” I nodded. A couple minutes later, I felt someone next to me. “That was… quick.” I thought Blaise had returned, but it was Yono.
“How you been, Alivia?” He smiled. He was still handsome, but I wasn’t into him at all anymore. He was way too immature and an all-around fuck boy.
“I’m perfect. Is there something I can help you with?” I placed the shoe back into the box.
“Let me get those for you.”
“I don’t need you to get them for me. I have my own money. Now would you please leave me alone?”
“I’m sorry for how I did you. I was bugging. But I’m hoping you can give me another chance, baby.”
“Umm, absolutely not. Excuse me, sir. We’ll take both of these.” I waved the salesman down, so he rushed over so he could package Blaise’s and my shoes up.
“Come on—”
“Just two days ago, you were in Chicago lying on me and portraying me to be some psycho bitch with attachment issues. Yet now you’re here and want me to take you back? You must be crazy.”
“I hear you.” He rose up. “Just know I’m not gon’ stop coming for you, Alivia. I was afraid because I liked you a lot, so I had to ruin shit.”
“Bye, negro.”
He reached down for my hand to kiss the back of it, so I yanked it from his lips, making him smile. By the time he was leaving out the door of the department store, Blaise was sitting back down, and the salesman had come to ask for our cards. Moments later, my phone buzzed, and I looked down to see Yono had tagged me in a post. Sliding the notification over, I waited for it to load.
He’d posted a picture of me with a long ass caption saying how sorry he was for lying in the interview, what the truth was, and that his fans should help him get me back.
After showing Blaise, I texted Manny right away.
Me: Pay no attention to his post when you see it, I do not want him. You’ll know what I’m talking about soon. See you later.
Why did men have to not want me then want me at the same time? This shit was stressful.
Blaise
Some time later…
After putting Island to bed, I took my own shower. We were both spending the night at Belly’s, and he’d surprised me by showing me the bedroom he’d set up for Island. It wasn’t too much since he had finally decided to
start looking for a new place and would really go in for her room there. It was crazy that I had to tell Five-Star to make a room suitable for Island, and he was her damn father, yet Belly did it own his own.
After I put on some lotion then slipped my short nightgown over my head, I headed to Belly’s living room where I heard him playing music. It was “To Be Loved” by Jackie Wilson, and when I entered the room, I saw him standing over the record player with the album cover. He was shirtless, in a pair of sweats with some socks on. His body was so ridiculous, and being pregnant, I was horny right away.
“What you doing?” I hugged his body from behind, so he turned to face me and gave me that cocky smile, prompting me to touch his handsome face.
“Fuck you doing creeping up on me?” He half smiled, leaning down into my face, making me grin widely.
“You’re so fine, baby. I’m obsessed with you,” I muttered against his lips before he kissed me.
“Good. So the feeling is mutual.”
“I didn’t know you liked this song.” I took the album cover from him once he let me out of our hug.
“Who doesn’t?”
“True.”
“My dad,” he took the cover from my hands and placed it on the couch, “used to always play this song.” He pulled me close. “He and my mom would dance and shit.”
I chuckled with a smile when he started to attempt to slow dance with me.
“You’re not used to this type of dance, huh?” I giggled, letting him spin me before bringing me back in.
“Nah, I’m a hood nigga. I’m used to letting big booty hoes grind on my dick while I hit the blunt.”
I rolled my eyes laughing as we continued, moving faster since the song’s pace had picked up temporarily. The living room was pretty dark, but I liked it; I liked this. I loved being alone with him.
“Your daddy was pretty romantic, huh?”
“Occasionally. It was usually when he did some bullshit, he’d come home the next evening and do this shit, convincing my mom to forgive him.”
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