I went back to my car and drove straight home. Fuck both their asses.
Alivia
I was about to head over to Manny’s place in a little because we were going to chill together, watch some movies, and eat. I knew it was pretty early in the day, 2 p.m., to start a binge movie or TV show date, but we enjoyed each other’s company enough to do that.
The past few weeks, being in a relationship with Manny had been better than I’d expected. In fact, it was so good that I was pissed at myself for not giving him a chance sooner. Even the annoying things he did like stare me down lustfully or lick his lips a thousand times a day no longer bothered me. I found his stares comical and his lip licks sexy now.
Speaking of sexy, Manny had always been, with his deep caramel skin, bald head, and long facial hair. He was well over six feet, with a lean body. To complement his looks, he had a dick game that was off the charts. Yeah, I wasn’t as experienced as most women my age, but I definitely enjoyed sex more with Manny than Yono. Maybe because Manny and I had more of a connection, and I was way more comfortable with him.
Deciding to stop at Starbucks, I texted Manny to see if he wanted something as I got out of my car. I preferred drive-thrus, but the best Starbucks were the ones without. You could watch them closely while making your order, and they just seemed to take more pride in their work.
I ordered a drink for Manny and myself then went to wait. As I did, I saw my cousin Sherri walk up to the counter with her husband. I stared for a moment, and then once we made eye contact, I smiled.
“Sherri, hey.”
“Hey, Alivia!” She hugged me, then so did her husband. He excused himself, heading to the bathroom.
“So how have you been? I haven’t seen you in a few months.” I touched her shoulder.
Sherri was my first cousin, so her dad was my mother’s brother. We were pretty close growing up, especially our first two years of high school. We drifted during junior and senior year, simply because we wanted to hang with different types of people. Sherri was a big prude, and it only worsened as we got older. So after high school, we only hung out or talked at our many family events.
“I’ve been great. I have a surprise on the way.” She rubbed her flat stomach, making my jaw drop in excitement.
“Oh my gosh! Congratulations!” I hugged her. “I’m sure Uncle Ray is happy he’s about to become a grandfather.”
“He is.” She nodded, watching me put Manny’s and my drink in the cardboard cupholder. “So are you dating? Engaged?” Her brows raised as she flashed me an insincere, closed mouth smile. She already knew the answer and was judging me per usual. Sherri reminded me a lot of Hilary Banks from the Fresh Prince show, only smarter.
“No, not engaged. I have a boyfriend though.”
“A boyfriend,” she repeated, looking into my eyes. “Oh, give him a month or two and you should have a ring.” She laughed.
“No, maybe some years.” I joined her in laughter as hers started to cease.
“Well,” she grabbed her drink just as her husband returned from the bathroom, “I have to get to the Chanel store on Rodeo before they close. You know the best stores always shut down early, and I need the perfect purse for my outfit for Grandpa’s 104th.”
“Wait.” I grabbed her arm, remembering my grandfather’s birthday was Saturday. “He’s having a party?”
“Yes, he always does.”
“Right, but I usually know about them. Why didn’t anyone tell me? I mean—”
Sherri looked at me sympathetically and replied, “Your parents thought it’d be best you don’t show up, considering the lifestyle you’ve chosen to live. Grandpa Jack is up there in age, so we don’t want to upset him by having you there with your boyfriend and unconventional ways, Alivia.”
“It’s not unconventional. It’s normal!”
“Sleeping with a man who is not your husband is very much so unconventional.”
“Who said I was sleeping with him?”
“Please. The late nights, rebellious acts, and the courting of rappers, you are definitely spreading eagle, Alivia. And the whole family knows; therefore, you are not invited.”
I couldn’t believe my parents had told the whole family my business.
“Yono is a singer, not a rapper. And that’s not even who I’m with.”
“I’m gonna pray for you, cousin.”
“We all are,” her husband interjected. They gave me another look of sympathy and then pranced out, conversing amongst themselves.
After a few moments, I gathered myself and remembered that I was on the way to see my man. I couldn’t let Sherri bother me, especially when I hadn’t been this happy with my personal life in a very long time.
I left with the drinks and made it to Manny’s house about ten minutes later, since this was the Starbucks near his home. Parking in his nice driveway, I climbed out, smiling when I witnessed him come outside.
“Look at you getting better with the chivalry.” I smirked, handing him the drinks after he opened my door.
“I’m trying.” He kissed me before taking my hand to lead me inside. I hit the alarm to my car on the way.
When I stepped into his house, I saw he had the TV up and ready, with plenty of snacks laid out across the coffee table. He dimmed the lights since it was kind of bright in here, due to it being daytime, and then we got comfortable on the couch. As I sat between his legs with my back to his chest, I watched him surf through Netflix for our first movie.
“I saw my bougie cousin today. She was at Starbucks, and she let me know that I wasn’t invited to my grandfather’s annual birthday party.”
“Doesn’t everyone have an annual birthday party?” Manny chuckled.
Turning my head some to look into his eyes, I said, “I’m serious, Manuel. My grandfather’s party is like the Met Gala of our family. It’s always thrown in a big ballroom, with lots of food, good drinks, family, and just… I look forward to it; everyone does.”
“I say you go anyway.”
“They don’t want me there because I’ve rebelled, as they say.”
“Well still go and show them that you’re the same Alivia, just more normal than before.”
We chuckled together as I began to deliberate in my head. Maybe I would still go. It’s not like they could make me leave.
“Ooh, let’s watch—”
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Someone beating hard on Manny’s door cut me off and jarred us both from our comfy position. I turned to look at him with my eyes bucked, just as he slipped from behind me to get off the couch.
“What the fuck?” he mumbled, baffled as he neared the door.
I waited with bated breath as he peered through his peephole. He stared for the longest, before finally pulling back with his head slightly dropped. He appeared to be contemplating, and we both jumped when the person beat on the door again.
“I know your ass is in there!” a woman hollered, shocking the fuck out of me. I was hoping like hell this nigga didn’t have a girlfriend this whole time. “Open the fucking door, Manuel!”
“Who the fuck is that?” I asked, finally getting off the couch.
Manny opened his mouth, looking me in the eyes, but no words came out.
“Just sit back down. I’m gon’ take care of it.” He gripped my shoulders, descending me back onto the couch. I still had a worried look on my face; I could feel the wrinkles in my forehead.
Manny went back to the door, unlocking it, as the woman kept hammering on it. She was kicking it or something, because her fist couldn’t have been that heavy. Manny finally got the door open and tried to slip outside, but the woman mowed him down, carrying a little boy appearing to be three or four years old.
“You were supposed to get him yesterday!” she barked, placing the little boy to his feet.
“Daddy!” he shouted, hugging Manny’s leg and making me whip my neck in his direction out of astonishment.
“Stop,” Manny told the little boy, peelin
g his hands from his leg. “Jasmine, get yo’ fucking son.”
“My son!” she hollered, pointing to her chest. Slowly, she turned her head to see me then smiled. “Hi, I’m Jasmine, Manuel’s baby mother. This is our—”
“Jasmine, shut yo’ ass up!” Manny roared, so angry that his face was reminiscent of a tomato.
“This is our son, Jasiel,” Jasmine continued anyway. I wanted to respond, but I couldn’t. This was too shocking. “I’m sure you knew nothing about him, and that’s normal. Manny likes to play dad through cash and gifts but is too embarrassed for the world to know he has a child.”
The entire time she talked, Manny was going off, telling her to be quiet as the little boy screamed and cried. I trusted this man so much that I almost didn’t want to believe her.
“I-I can’t.” I slipped my shoes on, standing up. Manny nor Jasmine heard me, because their loud ass bickering drowned out my mumbling.
“Aye, baby, wait—”
“Get the fuck off me!” I screamed at Manny when he grabbed my arm as I approached the door.
“She’s lying, baby, come on.” He let out a nervous titter as if any of this was funny.
“He called you daddy, Manny.”
“He just… he don’t know…”
He couldn’t even pull a lie together, so I snatched my arm then left out. I couldn’t believe I’d actually let myself get into a relationship with him. How stupid was I? I was starting to think that maybe my parents’ way of thinking was right. Hell, what had I accomplished since being free?
Just as I started my car, my phone buzzed. I saw Manny rushing out, so I sped off, then when I got to a red light, I checked my messages.
Yono: I miss you. Let me know when he fuck up.
Blaise
“Where you going?” Belly leaned down to kiss me deeply, grabbing a handful of my ass. “And in this dress.” He looked behind me.
“Stop. I’m going to the nail shop. How long are you going to be at the gym?”
“Probably six hours. Be ready when I get back though.”
I felt a tingle down below.
I watched him give Island a kiss before handing her back to me. We talked for a few minutes more about our upcoming small trip to Santa Barbara, before both leaving.
After dropping Island off to my mom since she was keeping her this weekend, I ended up at the nail shop about forty-five minutes later because I wanted to go to the one near my house. I had a specific nail lady who always got me right.
“There’s my girl!” Leslie beamed, waving for me to sit in one of the spa chairs. I did so, and then relaxed, while they started on my feet and my left hand.
About twenty minutes later, someone entered the nail shop, and I saw it was Tahani. I’d been going to this nail shop for over a year and had never seen her ass, so this was no coincidence. I paid her no mind as I rested my head, closing my eyes.
“Blaise.” She called my name.
I sighed lowly before opening my eyes to see her sitting in the spa chair next to me. The look on her face was a melancholy one, not her usual Grinch expression. I don’t think I’d ever seen her sad, only upset in my presence, so this was new.
“Tahani, I’m trying to relax.”
“I know, and I’m just coming to you because I know you’ll be honest with me. I mean, I’m hoping you’ll be honest.”
“I thought I was such a big liar. Just a lying side chick of Five-Star’s, right?” I grinned, looking her way.
“Well, those are my beliefs, just like you have yours. Look, I’m not trying to debate on something I feel I know. I just came here to ask you if you’re back fucking with Jelani.”
I laughed unintentionally.
“You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m not joking. I hear that you and that boxer are still a thing, but then I hear different, so I’m not sure. But what I do know is Jelani is acting the same way he started acting when he began fucking Liza, and then again with you.”
“And what way is that?”
“Not answering my calls or texts, saying he’s going to see me then flakes, not talking to me for days at a time, not sending me gifts, and being in other states without me even knowing.”
“Oh, and you’ve put up with this, what, three times now? I’m counting the new girl because it’s not me.”
“Don’t worry about what I put up with. Jelani and I are soul mates, spiritually married and bounded, so I won’t leave him because he gets temporarily tempted by women who will never amount to me.”
“I’m not sure if I’m shocked by the spiritual marriage comment or the fact that you actually believe what you’re saying, Tahani. If you were so special, there would be no Liza, there would be no me, and you wouldn’t be hunting down other women to find out who the new one is. There will always be a new one with Jelani.” I laughed. “I mean, how many kids does he need to have while you sit and wait?”
Tahani had a reputation for DM’ing women that she felt had been or were currently messing with Five-Star. That had to be stressful, not to mention, embarrassing.
“No, you don’t know what you’re talking about. And I do not believe you when you say you’re not fucking with him. I’ve seen him call you multiple times. I’ve seen him text and call you. I’ve caught him looking at your pictures on Instagram.” Her eyes were glistening. I wanted to feel bad for her, but she was an idiot. She could see the truth, but like most women, she was acting blindly because she loved him. “When he dragged you on that song, I thought I was wrong, but he took it down, which told me what I needed to know.”
“Yes, we’ve talked, but about Island. And you know like everyone else knows why he took it down. Leave me alone, Tahani. Jelani has been trying to fuck me since before I gave birth to Island and has never stopped. He’d post you on his Instagram, then text me five minutes later saying he loved and missed me. He tried to take me to Italy for this past birthday and sent me a bunch of nice expensive shit.
But the difference between me and then you and Liza, is that I don’t want his ass. I haven’t for a very long time and especially don’t right now. I’m very happy.”
I adjusted myself so that I could get back comfortable to enjoy my pampering. Tahani didn’t say anything else, and I heard her get off the chair and then leave the shop, which made me smile. I even let out a suppressed chuckle at her question again.
That bitch was crazy.
The next afternoon… Friday…
Belly and I arrived at the train station since we were taking it to Santa Barbara. We’d planned to drive initially, but I convinced him that the train would be more fun. Really, I just wanted all of his attention, and I couldn’t have it if he had to watch the road. Yes, I was that needy when it came to Belly. I’d never been like this with a man before, but I just loved him; plus, he was fine.
The train we were taking wasn’t some dirty ass one with a bunch of bums on it. It was a traveling train, with first class offerings and everything. And since we were riding in the evening, we’d get to enjoy the early dinner they offered to first class riders.
“Fuck kind of train is this?” Belly sat down after putting our luggage up.
“The nice one. I told you it wouldn’t be like the damn Green Line.”
“You right.” He looked around the area we were seated in and nodded.
Once everyone was on, including the people way in the back and down below our level, we took off. About twenty minutes into the ride, the train attendants began coming by to offer drinks and write down what we wanted out of the food choices.
“Some pineapple juice, please,” I told the man, and he began to prepare it from his cart.
“That’s why yo’ pussy tastes so good,” Belly spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, especially the attendant. What the fuck? “That’s why I be eating that shit so long,” he continued, embarrassing me further. He said it so nonchalantly that I knew he thought this was normal.
“And for you, sir?” The man handed
me my cup while looking at Belly.
“Y’all got Hennessy?”
“Of course.” The man pulled out one of those tiny bottles.
“Aye, I need a cup with some ice. I ain’t about to be sucking off that shit like a bitch. And give me four bottles; that’s too little.”
I stared down at my phone, smiling, but ashamed like hell.
“Here is the cup with ice, but I can’t give you four bottles, Mr. Khalil.”
“Ahh, so you heard of me? Nice. As much fucking money as this ticket costs, you need to give me whatever the fuck I want, bruh. Pass me four bottles, or I’m gon’ turn this train ride the fuck out and have muthafuckas not wanting to ride with y’all ever again.”
I gave Belly a look when he mentioned all the money he’d spent. This trip was only $60 each way, and $30 without first class.
The man seemed to contemplate his choices, as he and Belly had a staring contest, before he finally gave in like I was hoping he would.
When the man went on to help the people behind us, I hit Belly’s chest, chuckling lowly. Grabbing my phone from my purse, I opened the camera to take a selfie of us together. As usual, I was smiling, and Belly had a chill face, so I turned to kiss him on the lips before snapping it.
“I’m gonna post this,” I warned him.
“Oh, then let me do the shit over.” He grabbed my face, slipping his tongue into my mouth with his nasty ass. I laughed before shoving him away.
Taking a deep breath, I hit post on my Instagram. This would be the first time I posted Belly and I together, confirming our relationship, even though everyone pretty much knew. I simpered, seeing it was posted, because it was cute. It didn’t take long for my phone to begin blowing up with notifications, so I put it back up to enjoy the train ride with my love without distractions.
Dinner was really good, and by now, it was later. The ride was a little over two hours, slightly longer than if we drove, but it was fine. They’d lowered the lights some since people were taking a nap, and Belly and I were using the big blanket we brought to cuddle.
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