Even When It's Wrong

by Nicole Jackson

  Her jaw twitched. “That’s how it’s gonna be, huh? After you laid your head here, when you aint had shit, eating my food, and sleeping in my bed? This is the thanks I get?”

  “Aww, come on, Meeka. We both got something out of that shit. Clearly, you wanted somebody to give you a few nuts, and I needed somewhere to be, while I get on my feet. Don’t act like you was dedicated to me, or some shit. Hell, we never even discussed being committed. You seemed to be satisfied with me just being here.”

  “But where in any of that did you think that I wanted you to stick your dick in my daughter?” she threw her hands on her hips.

  “And that’s what I apologized for, but fuck all that.” I waved off. “That aint the reason I stopped by, anyway. I want to know why you said that she had AIDS on Facebook.”

  She blinked her eyes. “I said that it was HIV.”

  “It don’t fucking matter!” I exploded. “Why the fuck would you slander your own child’s name like that?”

  “The same reason she fucked you in my house. Because I felt like it!”

  I shook my head. “You’s a dirty bitch.” I pushed her temple with my index. “And I aint the type to really put my hands on bitches, but when you cross over a certain line, you fair game. Then I aint too much into fighting. I’ll let my bitch Nina sort shit out.”

  “You got me fucked up!” she shouted, clapping her hands loudly.

  “What’s going on?” somebody snatched her door back.

  I narrowed my eyes, realizing that Meeka’s lil’ company was Quinten’s bitch ass. “I’m talking to her, nigga,” I gritted. “Take your bitch ass back in the house.”

  Pushing Meeka out the way, he stepped to me. “Naw, homeboy. If anything, you need to move around, before I drop your friendly looking ass.”

  Wasting no time, I reached behind me, gripping the pistol that was tucked into the back of my jeans. Drawing back, I then forcefully slammed my gun into his head.

  “Aww, shit,” he groaned, staggering back a few feet.

  Before he could get a handle on things, I followed up with blow after blow, until he hit the hard concrete. He then curled into fetal position, while I viciously stomped him.

  “Stop!” Meeka belted, punching me in the back.

  I promptly spun around, aiming my gun at her temple. “Bitch, I’ll blow your fucking head off, cause Ion give a fuck about you. Try me.”

  She threw her hands up in surrender, before stepping over Quinten to get to her door.

  I glared down at his pathetic ass. “Bitch ass nigga,” I growled, delivering a final kick. I then snapped my head up, focusing on Meeka. “Look, keep me and Mya’s name out of your mouth, before I get some bitches to stomp a mud hole in your loser ass. And call them laws if you want to, hoe. I’ll bond out, and burn your trifling ass alive.”

  ******

  “Damn, she don’t get fucking tired,” I grumbled, while I held my cell in one hand, and gripped the steering wheel with the other. “I can’t do this shit with her. Not today.”

  Frustratingly, I sent Skyy’s call to voicemail. I really didn’t understand her. It had been months since I’d dealt with her, and she seemed no closer to letting go. She’d been trying everything within her power to reel me back in, and refused to accept that it was over. So, I’d gone out of my way to cut all ties, including paying my car off. Therefore, we had no paperwork tying us together, or fears of me ruining her credit looming over her head. Still, she called relentlessly, as if I owed her money, or some shit.

  A part of me felt bad, because I knew that I’d given her false hope for a short while. I could admit that I’d selfishly played with her feelings, and I didn’t know what was going to be the right thing to say for her to see that we didn’t have shit. And there was nothing she could do to change that. I’d tried futilely telling her this, but there simply was no perspicacity.

  Pulling up to the crib, I powered my phone off. The last thing I needed was for Mya to get bent out of shape over my phone constantly ringing. With Skyy, blocking her number didn’t even work, because she’d then simply call from different numbers, probably from a damn app or something.

  I was exhausted, and just wanted to lay down…while rubbing Mya’s belly. So, I was grateful that when I stepped through the door I smelled the aroma of fish, which told me that she’d cooked, and we wouldn’t have to eat out.

  “You got it smelling good in here,” I commented, rubbing my hands together.

  “Yeah?” she half smiled. I knew then that she was still feeling a way about what happened earlier. “Well, you came just in time. We eating shrimp and fish.”

  “That’s what’s up?” I nodded, before moving in on her, kissing her lips.

  “Where did you go?” she enquired, pulling back.

  “Ion wanna talk about it, right now.”

  “You know I know, right?” she arched her brows.

  “You know what?” I lifted my chin.

  “That you went over to Meeka’s, and now she’s claiming that you got mad that she had company. So, you jumped on her new boyfriend.”

  I shook my head. “Do you believe that?”

  “No,” she sighed. “I know that she was just trying to show out for Auntie Micko. You clearly went over there, because of what she said. But I don’t know what happened after that.”

  “Well, do you know who this supposed new boyfriend is?”

  “Nope.”

  “Quinten’s bitch ass.”

  Her eyes bucked. “You lying.”

  “No bullshit.”

  “That’s crazy, and now I see why you had to pistol whip him. I can only imagine what he was saying.”

  “Not much, before I knocked him off his feet. Shit, honestly, it wouldn’t have been so bad had it not been for Meeka. I really wanted to do that to her.”

  She shook her head. “It was that bad, huh?”

  “It just seemed like she don’t have no remorse. Like some tit for tat shit, like you aint her daughter. That shit is frustrating.”

  “Yeah, but now you can say that you tried, but I knew you wasn’t gonna get nowhere with her. I just gotta get tougher skin, because she aint about to let me forget what I did. And no amount of reasoning or cussing her out is gonna stop her from feeling how she feel. Even it comes down to her lying on me.”

  “Shit, I hear you, but I aint letting her make it. The next time she publicly speak bad on you…especially in that nature, I’ma get all the bitches from the hood I know to whup her ass. Simple as that.”

  She shrugged. “Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.”

  “Basically,” I began, before somebody knocked at the door.

  “That must be Daynah or Kells, because I’m not expecting nobody,” she guessed, since they lived in the same building.

  “Is Cavalli here or did she go back to her own house?” I questioned, knowing that I’d just talked to Kells and he’d told me that they were clear across town at Daynah’s parents house.

  “Yeah. She’s in the bathroom.”

  “Well, let me see who the fuck this is,” I grumbled, heading over to the door. Checking the peephole, my mouth dropped. “I know this bitch aint show up to the crib.”

  “Who’s at the door, Omari?” Mya questioned, approaching me.

  I peered down at her, thinking that this was the last thing we needed. “It’s Skyy, man.”

  “Skyy? The fuck is she doing here?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, open the fucking door, and find out,” she seethed.

  “Fuck,” I vented, before reluctantly opening the door. “What, man?” I snapped.

  Skyy stood plain faced with her hair pulled up into a ponytail. She was dressed down in jeans and a camisole, looking like she’d just lost her puppy. “I need to talk to you.”

  I frowned. “For what?”

  “For what? What you mean, for what?”

  “Yeah, for what?” Mya added, pulling the door further back, making her presence known.
>
  “And how did you get in the building?” I asked.

  “That’s irrelevant. I need to talk to you.” She gazed at Mya. “Can you give us that?”

  “Nah, I aint gonna be able to do it.” Mya folded her arms. “Now, you can talk to him all you want, but I aint going nowhere.”

  “Skyy, what are you doing here? Why would you just show up to my door?”

  She lowered her eyes into slits. “What else was I supposed to do? You don’t answer my calls. You made me do this.”

  “I made you? Man,” I drawled. “Say, you on that bullshit. For real, for real.”

  “No, you’re on the bullshit,” she snapped.

  “Can you lower your voice?” Mya gritted. “We do have neighbors.”

  “Whatever,” Skyy chided, waving her off. “I came here, because I wanted you to face me, and tell me why you played with my feelings.”

  “And then what?” Mya quizzed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m asking what’s the point of you asking him that? Is there anything he can tell you that will make you feel better, other than him still wanting you?”

  “I need to know something, because I know that everything that we shared wasn’t bullshit. Maybe he feels obligated, because you got pregnant. And if that’s it, I’d like to know.”

  Mya giggled. “Girl, age aint done shit for you, but make you older. I didn’t know that there were people out here that damn dumb. And then for you to even try and pull that baby card, you’re delusional. He aint know shit about a baby, when he left your ass at the Gucci concert. But that aint even something I gotta break down to you. It seems to me that you want him, and you going out of your way to convince him that he should want you too. But that aint how it should go. I mean, you’re a cute girl, and you wasted a lot of time, choosing a nigga. How about you let go of something that clearly aint meant for you, and then some man can find you?”

  “Exactly,” Cavalli marched over, and chimed in. “Before her cousin pop you, hoe!”

  Mya turned to her cousin with a smile. “Chill out, Valli. Ion even think she wanna go there. She just going through it.” She turned to face Skyy again. “And I get why you tripping. Omari got that dope dick.” She patted my shoulder possessively. “He’s also a good person, but there’s no way in hell that’d I want him if the love I give him wasn’t reciprocated. I know that it gotta be fucked up to watch him be with somebody else, probably doing all the stuff that you hoped to do with him. However, I happen to believe in soulmates, and he wouldn’t be this way with you, because he’s not for you. This me.” She pointed at me. “And you need to get you. Whoever that nigga is, won’t need to be convinced of shit. Because I didn’t beat you for the position. He gave it to me. He chose me, and I choose him. So, I hope that answers your question. We love each other, Skyy, and I hope you find love too. Just not with this nigga here, cause he’s mine.” She gripped my shirt.

  Skyy eyed me. “Does she speak for you?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  “Exactly, now take your ole raggedy ass on somewhere,” Cavalli interjected once again.

  “Cavalli,” Mya groaned.

  Skyy’s eyes watered. “Then I’ll accept that.”

  I sighed with relief, glad that she could finally move on.

  “And accept the fact that if you come here again that we aint doing no talking,” Cavalli continued.

  I glanced down at Mya, as Skyy walked off. “You hear your cousin talking all this shit?”

  Mya causally nodded. “And I co-sign that last statement. That goes for you too.”

  Chapter 27

  Mya

  “Ewe, that nigga’s car is here,” Keyasia groaned, as we pulled up to the studio.

  Taraj giggled. “I told you, bitch. Your ass didn’t wanna listen.”

  I smirked. “Girl, it’ll be alright.”

  At the last minute, Omari had called, telling me to come jump on a song with him. Since he’d left in the car, I bummed a ride with Keyasia, and in my haste to get up there, I’d neglected to ask who was producing the track. So, when Key spotted Amir’s BMW that pretty much answered our question.

  I figured that Key might have some objections to being around Amir, so I was hoping that he wouldn’t be there. Within the past few months, I’d grown close with several people I’d met through Daynah, especially Keyasia, Josairah, and recently Taraj. So, I now had the full story on Key and Amir, and knew that they didn’t end on the best of terms.

  From what I could tell, Keyasia was in a happy relationship with Wale, and they had a beautiful baby together. So, I knew that she wasn’t still feeling Amir, but since he’d realized that I’d been hanging with her, he’d always manage to ask about her. Personally, I didn’t see anything wrong with it, because Amir Junior was fine as fuck. He was a peanut butter complexion, had wavy hair, and some nice slightly light brown eyes. Then to top it off, he was talented, and could write and produce music in his sleep. So, if nothing else, I thought that Key would be flattered by the fact that her ex still seemed to have a thing for her.

  “Yeah, but will she live to tell about it,” Taraj offered, jokingly.

  I giggled a bit. It was crazy that I’d met her through Keyasia, but felt connected to her the most. I mean, not that I didn’t love me some Keyasia, because I did. Key was cool as fuck, and I always had a ball whenever we’d hang, but me and Taraj had a different connection. She’d had some fucked-up encounters with her own mama, and had basically been on her own since she was fourteen. Like me, she’d met a guy that made life easier to deal with, and they’d made a life together. She had one cute little boy, and was just a year older than me. So, we had plenty in common and had been stuck like glue since first being introduced to each other.

  The one thing that I loved about everyone I’d met through Daynah was that I never felt any shade. Everyone seemed to be straight shooters, and on their shit in a way that left little room for jealousy, or any other bullshit. Taraj was a gorgeous girl with super tight eyes, beautiful curly hair, dark caramel colored skin, and a nice thick curvaceous physique. Like Keyasia, she’d done videos, but had stopped after a lot of personal drama popped off. So, these girls were desirables, but had been politer than any broads I’d known from school or where ever else, who didn’t have half the beauty.

  “I aint gon lie,” Keyasia continued. “I would leave, but I wanna hear this song Omari is dying to have you sing.”

  “Okay, then. Let’s get to it,” I suggested, before pushing the backdoor open. Holding my back, I scooted out of her Benz. “Uh, shit,” I mumbled, after completely standing up. I was winded, although I hadn’t done much. I was now seven months along, and the pregnancy was beginning to really kick my ass.

  “Fuck it,” Key chortled, easing out of the car, and Taraj followed suit.

  “You out of breath, girl?” Taraj smiled, teasing me.

  “Hell, yeah,” I sighed heavily, as I called Omari, so that he could let us into the building.

  “You here?” he questioned, as soon as he picked up.

  “Yeah. Come open the door.”

  “Alright.” He hung up.

  “Yeah, those little boys usually don’t cause trouble until the end,” Taraj offered.

  I rolled eyes. “A little boy. Uh, don’t remind me.” Of course, we’d learned that we were having a boy, and Omari was elated. I, on the other hand, wanted a little girl, and knew that Omari and his son were bound to drive me crazy.

  “Man, whatever yall do, can yall please stop that little boy chatter whenever yall see Corinthian? Cause if homeboy talk about me giving him a boy one more time, I’ma lose it. Corian aint nowhere near one yet,” Keyasia lamented.

  “Come on, man,” Omari called out, as he pushed the glass door open.

  I wobbled over with Key and Taraj following closely behind.

  “What?” Omari stressed. “Key, you aint running scared, thinking Mir gon bite you?”

  Giving him the finger, she twisted
past him. After we all entered the building, he allowed the door to close.

  “What you doing, belly?” he questioned, wrapping his arms around me. “You missed me?” he kissed my neck.

  “You better stop,” I warned. “With the way I’m feeling, I’d have your ass in the restroom, going for what you know.”

  He chuckled. “You wild.”

  He laughed, but I was dead ass serious. With everything he had going, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day. The single with Melo had done well, and his popularity was quickly growing, which meant that he had to seize the moment, while he had the momentum. So, every opportunity he had, he did a show, making legit money. The goal was to eventually step completely away from hustling, which meant that he had to secure the bag now. That translated into him being gone more, even when he didn’t leave the city. It had all happened too quick to really think about, and I was now dealing with a well-known rapper who could be heard on the local radio stations at least three times an hour. Long story short, I was sharing my Omari with the world, which left me always yearning for more of him.

  “Bout time you got here,” Amir grinned the moment I stepped into the studio.

  “Hey, what’s up?” I replied, before Taraj and Key stepped into the room after me.

  Amir’s face instantly lit up. “So, there is a God. Hey, Keyasia.”

  Key offered a half smile. “Hey, Amir. How have you been?”

  “Good. Even better now that I’ve seen you.”

  “Damn, I guess you don’t even see me, huh?” Taraj jibbed.

  “Oh, my bad, Taraj,” he chuckled. “What’s up with it?”

  “Nothing, boy.” Taraj shook her head, as she and Key copped seats.

  Amir swaggered over to Keyasia, and hovered over her. I had to laugh, because as much shit she talked, I could tell that there was some form of love mutually between them. I could definitely see why. Amir was a cutie, who stayed fresh, and from previous conversations I knew that he was rather intelligent. Nevertheless, he and Key didn’t work out, which was his fault, and I could clearly see that he regretted that.

  “What you been doing, man?” he asked her. “How’s Corian?”