by Nique Luarks
“True, I’ll apologize on behalf of my brothers.” I said fidgeting with the bottom of my night shirt. “Before I left I told my mom she can’t watch Carlee there anymore.”
He stared at me. “You know you the only reason they still breathing, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Yo, Jelly. My shorty ain’t allowed around them niggas.”
I sighed.
“I don’t give a fuck about them being yo peoples.” He leaned back against the counter, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
“Okay, True.” I wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. “Are you hungry?”
He shrugged, reaching into his sweats for his ringing phone.
I chuckled grabbing a plate. “Why are you so bullheaded?”
“I’m not.”
Yeah, okay...
“I’ve been looking at houses near my shop in Lee’s Summit.” I began filling his plate. “There was this really nice townhouse maybe like twenty minutes away from the shop.”
“What’s wrong wit’ staying here?”
My head swayed as I sighed. “This was only supposed to be temporary. I’ve already been here too long.”
In all honesty I’d gotten comfortable with this arrangement. I loved having True around to help with Carlee, especially when it was his turn to get up and feed her in the middle of the night. I appreciated the little things he did like keeping my gas tank full or getting Carlee ready while I was rushing to make it to work on time. I cherished the random conversations we had while we’d eat dinner. It was nice having someone to vent to after a long day.
“Shit, I like having y’all here.” True took a seat at the table as I sat his plate in front of him. “I know y’all safe when y’all with me.”
“True...”
“Jelly...” he mocked me, making me smile. “Y’all good here.”
Setting a bottle of water on the table for him, I crossed my arms. “I want to be gone before Christmas.”
True ignored me digging into his food.
Shaking my head at him I grabbed a plate for Chasity. “Before you get too comfortable can you please go wake Chassy up?”
He nodded before pushing away from the table and trekking out of the room.
True
After we ate dinner we all wound up in Chance’s room while she watched “The Women of Brewster Place”. It was some sappy ass chick flick, but she was hella consumed in it; working on her second glass of wine. I sat on the floor holding Carlee while I watched Chasity scribble in her coloring book. Once the movie finished I planned on hopping in the shower to bend a few corners. Just because I wasn’t going to kill Tyriq didn’t mean he was getting away with pulling a piece out on me.
“Daddy...”
“Yeah, Wookie.” I held Carlee over my head. I was a fuck up, but all my babies were perfect.
Chasity clicked her tongue. “You got a lot of baby mamas?”
I chuckled. “What? What kind of question is that?”
She sat up on her elbows and rested her chin in her small hands. “That’s what my mama said.”
Shaking my head, I placed Carlee in her baby bouncer. “Ya mama got issues.”
A pillow smacked me in the back of my head. “Really, True? Don’t tell her that.” Chance scolded, making Chasity titter at my expense.
I shrugged.
“I’ma put this one on the ‘frigerator.” Chasity said sitting up straight. “And I’ma put this one in Chase room.” Chasity terrorized him all the time, but she adored her big brother.
When my phone started ringing showing a little chick I’d been fucking with was calling, I pressed ignore.
“Let me see my baby.” Chance crawled to the front of the bed where we were.
“She don’t wanna see you.” I picked my jellybean up. She stuffed a tiny fist into her mouth, drooling. Kissing that fist, I bit down gently on it. “You wanna stay down here with daddy?”
Chance laid her head next to mine. “Say no.”
My phone sounded off again, and Chasity picked it. “Daddy who is “Thottie”.”
Chance rose up.
“Nobody.”
“You want me to answer it?” Chasity’s little shit starting ass stood up. “I’ma tell them not to call this number.”
Chance snickered.
“Man put my phone down.” I pecked Carlee’s cheek.
Chasity rolled her eyes but dropped my phone on the floor. “They better not call again. We busy.” She looked up at the bed. “Ain’t we Channy?”
Chance laughed. “True give me my baby.”
I held Carlee over my head. “Here. And this is my baby.”
“Nun uhn.” Wookie just had to add her two cents. “That’s my baby.”
Once Jelly had her, I pushed off the floor. “I’m bouta to head out anyway.”
“Where you goin’?” Chasity jumped on the bed.
“Out.” I glanced at Chance just as she rolled her eyes.
Let me find out.
10
We could be so in love
Chance
I couldn’t stop taking pictures of Carlee in her cute little distressed jeans, and red Tommy onesie. The tiny white Air Force Ones on her feet matched the white frilly socks on her feet and bows in her hair. The small diamond studs in her ears and the gold bracelet on her wrist were a gift from her daddy. Deciding to go ahead and put her red and white Fendi print bib on, I then put her jumper on and sat her in her car seat. I was buckling her up when True came and stood in the door.
“Y’all ready?”
I looked back at him and bit the inside of my jaw. His red Versace polo meshed well with his distressed jeans and the red and gold Jordan 12’s on his feet. Several chains and pendants hung loosely from his neck, and the Patek on his wrist shined brightly. He’d decided to rock his bottom grill which only enhanced his hard exterior that much more. My baby daddy was ridiculously fine.
“Yeah.” I nodded quickly shaking away any nasty thoughts I was having. And boy were there a lot. “You can take her while I slip on my shoes.”
He nodded before entering. “Put on them red and gold Giuseppe heels I got you.”
I frowned. “Why?” Those were probably the most uncomfortable pair of shoes I owned.
“Cause...” he picked up Carlee’s seat. “You went and got your feet done a couple days ago with E, right?”
I nodded.
He swiped his tongue quickly across his bottom lip, eyeing me in a way that had me looking down bashfully. “Yeah, rock them.”
Avoiding eye contact I waited for him to leave. When he did I ambled to my walk-in closet. After slipping the highly uncomfortable sandal stilettos on, I switched to my dresser for my jewelry. Since my hair was in a messy bun, I opted on bamboo earrings. As I clipped by gold tennis bracelet, I noticed a new jewelry box.
Grabbing it, I opened the black suede box. When my eyes landed on a gold chain with an iced out “Jelly” pendant, I smiled. Removing it from the box, I put it around my neck and snapped it on. My fingers traced the letters slowly as I grinned. I loved it; it wasn’t too big or too small. It was just right.
Checking my reflection in the tall mirror, I fixed the collar on my jean shirt button up. After making sure my booty looked okay in the white distressed skinny jeans I was wearing, I smiled in satisfaction. Grabbing my purse and Carlee’s diaper bag, I made my way downstairs. True stood by the open door talking on the phone holding Carlee’s seat. He looked to me and smirked.
“I’m ready.”
True nodded. “Ro, I’ma hit you later.” That’s when I noticed my furry Fendi print sandals in his hand. I usually kept them at the bottom of the stairs since they were my favorite slides.
Only True. Only he’d think to make sure I was comfortable when it was all said and done. It was little things like that, that made me love being around him.
Thirty minutes later...
“Bout time...” Quindelle sucked her teeth.
&nb
sp; Chasity ran towards me and I cheesed. She looked super cute in her jean button up, matching jeans, and the same Jordan’s True had on. Her hair was pulled up into two Minnie Mouse buns with gold ribbons wrapped around them. Her jewelry was brand new and I only knew that because I helped True pick her earrings and her gold herringbone. The red round Nike glasses on her face set her look off.
“Hi, Channy.” She wrapped her arms around me. Chassy hugged me like I hadn’t just seen her a few days ago when we got matching red nails.
“Hey, baby. You look so pretty.”
She grinned. “Thank you.” Finally unwrapping her arms, she rushed to her daddy. “Let me see my baby.”
“Why is she matching y’all? She’s taking pictures too?” Jaliyah said with an attitude. “That’s fucked up.”
“Right.” Quindelle co-signed.
When True told me he wanted all of his kids in one picture I thought it was a great idea. When he said he wanted one with me, him, and Carlee, I knew I’d get a bunch of attitude. Too bad I didn’t care enough to entertain them. I refused to continue this ongoing battle with them. I’d done everything in my power to keep the peace. They were True’s headaches, not mine.
“Wassup, Channy.” Chase’s little mannish self, swaggered towards me. He was dressed exactly like True, except he had a red Versace dad hat on that was turned backwards. The small rope chain around his neck, and the earrings in his ears were gifts from me since he’d been putting forth the extra effort in school.
I hugged him. “What’s up, Champ?”
“So, Chance is taking pictures with y’all?” Nisha’s loud mouth made me sigh.
“Give me my shorty.” True ignored her holding his arm out for Carter. His little distressed overalls were way too cute. His shirt was similar to Carlee’s except his had a collar. And he had the same coke white forces on. True unhooked one of the straps and I shook my head.
“Oh, wow.” A woman holding a camera neared us. “What a beautiful family.”
True nodded. “‘Preciate it.”
I watched proudly from the side as True and his little entourage took pictures. It was crazy seeing True with kids. And if you would’ve told twelve-year-old me we’d share one, one day, I would’ve laughed in your face. I loved how he adored them, but I respected even more how True took the time to build personal relationships with each one. You could bad mouth True all day, but you couldn’t fix your mouth to say my best friend wasn’t a devoted daddy.
“Okay. You want a couple more?” The photographer asked True.
He motioned me over. “Yeah.”
“Can I take a picture with Channy too?” Chasity pouted.
Chase crossed his arms. “Me too.”
Quindelle sucked her teeth.
“Yeah. Let me get one wit’ your sister and her first.” He stood up to hand Carter to Nisha. Carlee stayed comfortably in his free arm.
Once we were positioned by the photographer, we took a few frames. I ignored the bitter baby mama club as I smiled for the camera. If they had a problem they’d better take it up with True. I didn’t ask him to make me a part of the photo shoot. But I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel superior.
“A’ight.” True passed Carlee to me. “Come on. After we get one with them, I want them to take one all together. Then the boys by their self and then the girls by their self.” He reached for Carter.
“So basically y’all took family photos while they watched from the sideline.” Ava cracked up. She was dropping Rajon off since Chase talked True into spending half of Christmas break with us.
I bounced Carlee in my lap. “Basically.”
She scoffed. “You think them hoes hated you then...”
Rolling my eyes, I hopped off the stool. “Who has time for all that?”
“Miserable bitches.” Ava shrugged nonchalantly. “Only desperate bitches stress over niggas who clearly ain’t fuckin’ wit’ ‘em, yo.”
On God...
I chuckled to myself at how True was rubbing off on me.
“Fuck y’all in here gossiping about.” Drake entered the kitchen puffing from a blunt with a Styrofoam cup in hand.
Ava waved him off. “You still on my shit list.”
He laughed. “So.”
I shook my head as True sauntered in with Tone, Roman, Que, and Royal following. Not surprised, I continued getting Carlee a bottle together. Since the weather had changed and it was colder outside, this was what they did. Two or three days out of the week, they hung out in True’s basement. It was equipped with a massive television in the sitting area, a pool table, and fully loaded bar. They’d be up until five in the morning sometimes; shooting dice, playing the game and laughing loud.
I didn’t mind, though. Once you were upstairs you couldn’t even hear them. And I preferred them to be here than at a club or in a crowded bar. At least here if Erin was concerned about Tone’s whereabouts, I could assure his safety. And since Roman came frequently, so did Ava.
They all filed down the basement stairs as True neared me. His eyes were low and red per usual, but he smelled good, though. When he hovered me my body tensed momentarily.
“What she still doin’ up?” He took Carlee from me. “Jellybean what you on?” He walked off with her making it easier for me to prepare her bottle.
I sighed. “She’ll be sleep after this bottle.”
True leaned against the island. “Where Chase and RJ?”
“In Chase’s room playing 2k, eating all the snacks in the house.” I chuckled removing Carlee’s favorite nipple from the water I’d boiled.
Ava laughed. “They’ll be up until the early hours wit’ y’all.”
I nodded in agreement. True and his boys unintentionally rubbed off on their kids. I was sure Chase and Rajon would eventually sneak their way into the basement. They loved being around their daddy’s. It didn’t matter how many times they got caught and sent back upstairs. They always ended up in the basement when they should’ve been in the bed sleep.
True took Carlee’s bottle from me and then walked off towards the family room to feed her.
“True’s kids are spoiled.” Ava opened her MacBook as I grabbed my Surface Pro, so I could get payroll together early for Christmas bonuses.
My head bobbed up in down in agreement. “You want a drink?” I asked already heading to the cabinet. This is what we did. Drank wine and got ahead in work while vibing to some neo-soul from my beats pill. Before the night was up we had Erin on speaker; laughing, choosing our next brunch destination.
“Now you know I want a drink.” Ava said focusing on her computer screen. “I’m bouta FaceTime Erin ass and see what she doin’.”
“She’s probably working on her book.” I smiled knowingly.
I loved my life.
True
Doe Boyz’s “Walk Down” blasted loudly as me and the homies stood in a circle shooting dice. Tone was up ten G’s talking shit. From my peripheral I could see Chase and RJ at the pool table rolling the balls around. I was tired of telling them little niggas to go upstairs so I let ‘em live. I was sure Chance would be yelling from the top of the steps for them to get ready for bed in a few anyway.
“I’m out.” Drake grabbed his cup from the floor.
Royal crapped out. “Me too.”
“Roman, I’m ready.” Ava waltzed towards us. “Rajon and Chase, Chance wants y’all upstairs.”
They stopped what they were doing and took off up the steps.
Roman draped his arm around Ava’s shoulder and then kissed her face. “A’ight, give me a second, love.”
Once Ava was gone, Tone grabbed all the money he’d won off the floor. “I’ma get wit’ you sorry ass niggas.”
I laughed. “This nigga take the pot one time and he talkin’ shit.”
Tone chuckled leading the way up the stairs with Drake, Royal, and Que following. Roman stayed behind as I straightened up.
“I know you been waiting to hear back about that nigga, Rel.”
&
nbsp; My ears perked.
“The other brother, Rodrick, is back in Atlanta.”
I faced him. “Ah, yeah?”
He nodded. “Got back this morning. Word is Rel might’ve touched down in Vegas. Ava should know by the morning.”
Crossing my arms, I smirked in satisfaction.
“We can head out there first thing in the AM.” Ro rubbed his palms together slyly. “Ava got a few addresses already.”
That’s why I fucked with Av. She was the truth. There was a method to her madness, but sis always got shit done. I’d been wanting that nigga’s head for too long. He’d traumatized my Jelly, and put my daughter’s life at risk.
“Fa’sho.” We locked B’s. “Just hit my line.”
“Yep.” He took off towards the stairs.
Knowing there was a great possibility that I’d be face to face with Rel, put a nigga in a good mood. I so was in my head about all the suffering he was going to do before he died, that I didn’t notice Chance had taken a seat at the bar. She busied herself making a drink, bobbing her head to the music. The grey sweats and white sports bra were a simple unit, but my Jelly made it look sexy than a muthafucka. I watched her intently as she prepared two drinks and then hopped down from her seat.
Turning the volume down on the stereo, I leaned against the pool table and waited for her to approach me.
“Chase and Rajon are laying down.” Chance handed me a glass.
“A’ight.” I sat my glass down, and she took a long prissy drink from hers. “What you still doin’ up? Where Jellybean?”
She pointed at the baby monitor at the bar. “Sleep.” My phone sounded off, and she rolled her eyes. Before I grabbed it, she picked it up. “Thottie’s calling again.”
I licked my lips. “Answer it.”
Chance looked up at me. “And say what?”
“That I’m busy.”
“Doing what?”
I took her glass from her. “Chillin’ wit’ my Jelly.” Setting the glass next to mine, I pushed off the table and stood over her short ass.
