“She not at your crib?”
“No, I haven’t seen her. Did she tell you she was going to my house?”
“We got into a disagreement a couple days ago, and she left. I assumed she was at your house.”
“So you haven’t seen or talked to her in two days?”
“Nope.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I told you I thought she was with you. I tried calling her a few times, but she ignored my calls. I figured I would give her some space.”
“You still could have called to verify! What was the argument about?”
“Some petty shit. I don’t even wanna talk about it.”
For Kelsi to leave the house and stay gone, the argument was more than petty. I didn’t have time to argue with this nigga though. I had to go find my sister.
Me: I went to your house and your bitch ass nigga said you been gone for a couple days.
Kels: Residence Inn Room 407. Don’t tell him you know where I am.
Me: Fuck him! I’m on my way.
The hotel was about twenty minutes from Kelsi’s house, but with the way I drove, it took me about fifteen. It would have only taken ten if the police weren’t so bad on this side of town. Once I got to the hotel, I parked my car and damn near ran inside. I needed to know what the hell was going on.
I knocked twice, and Kelsi opened the door. Once I was inside, she fell in my arms, crying.
“Everything is so messed up, Nelli.”
“What the hell happened?”
Instead of answering me, she went in her purse, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to me. When I read it, I got angry.
“Oh hell no! When I asked this nigga what y’all argued about, he told it was some petty shit. Ain’t nothing petty about your cooch being infected!”
“I’m not surprised he said it was something petty, because that’s exactly how he acted when I told him about it. Told me there was no use in getting mad about it because we couldn’t change the situation.”
“That’s some bullshit and he knows it. Why are you here though? Why not come to my house?”
“I knew Santi would tell Trent I was there, and I don’t want to deal with him right now. I got the room for a week. I need time to clear my head and decide my next move. Wait… why were you at the house? Is something wrong?”
“No. I was coming to take you to lunch.”
“Oh, well let me get dressed and we can go. It will be good to get out this room. Where we going to eat?”
I told her to pick, and she chose Mugshots. It was a popular bar and grill here in Tuscaloosa. If Kelsi was asking for that, it meant she wanted to drink. When we got there, we ordered our drinks and talked. I could tell from the conversation that Kelsi wasn’t sure if she was going to leave Trent. Though I hated what he did to her, it wasn’t my place to tell her what to do. That was my sister, true enough, but I’d done some stupid shit for a nigga, so I had no business telling her to leave his ass.
“It’s your decision, Kels. If you think this was a one-time incident and you want to take him back, go for it. Don’t make it easy for him though. Make him earn you back. Not that it matters, but did he at least tell you how he got the shit?”
“He claims he passed out drunk at his cousin’s house and woke up to some hoe riding his dick.”
“He could have came up with something better than that. I believe he got drunk and all, but this nigga didn’t just wake up with a bitch on his dick. Who is this cousin? Is he related to Santi? ’Cause his ass ain’t ever going over there.”
“There is something I need to tell you, Nelli.”
I hoped like hell she wasn’t about to tell me she was pregnant. That would be too much.
“What is it?”
She pulled out her phone and showed me some Instagram messages from a chick. The girl was bragging about Trent spending the night with her.
“Bitches be brave as fuck these days! Don’t worry about that shit, Kels. She don’t mean shit. When you’re ready, go home and talk to Trent. Like I said, if you decide to stay with him, I support you.”
“Thanks, Nelli. I appreciate it.”
We decided not to talk about the situation anymore and enjoy our lunch date. We laughed and had good conversation. Even though we were having a good time, something didn’t feel right. I kept looking over at my sister. Something was telling me that trouble was ahead. I tried my best to shake it, but I couldn’t help but think something was going to happen to her.
Trent
Kelsi leaving threw me for a loop. I never thought she would leave. It shocked me more that she hadn’t been answering her phone. The first couple of days, I chilled around the house, hoping she would come back. By that third day, I was over it. Santi hit me up asking if I wanted to ride to Mississippi with him. It had been a minute since I went, so I decided to go.
When we got there, we went and hung out at our uncle’s house. A group of my cousins were there, and with them was this chick Nina I went to high school with. We used to crush on each other in school, but it never went anywhere. It seemed as if one of us was always in a relationship.
“Hey, Trent,” Nina greeted me.
“’Sup, Nina.”
“Surprised to see you. Last I heard, you moved to Bama.”
“I had to get out of Mississippi, man. It’s too hot out here.”
“I heard that. So how’s Bama? What part you stay in?”
“It’s good. I stay in Tuscaloosa.”
She continued to ask me questions about Tuscaloosa. Of course, she asked if I had a woman out there. As bad as I wanted to say no, I couldn’t. Kelsi and I might not have been getting along, but until one of us said it was over, we were still in a relationship.
Nina and I continued to talk to each other. At some point during the conversation, we ended up going inside so we could be alone.
“You so handsome. Your girl is lucky,” Nina flirted.
“Thank you. You’re still beautiful. Can’t believe you don’t have a man.”
“The one I want is taken.”
After she said that, she leaned in and kissed me. It wasn’t just any kiss. It was a wet, sloppy, passionate kiss. She started reaching for my pants, and that’s when reality hit.
“We can’t do this,” I told her.
“It’s OK. It’s good that you are faithful to your woman.”
Damn, I had forgotten about Kelsi that fast. With me trying to work on our relationship, being in this position with Nina wasn’t a good thing. However, that wasn’t the reason I stopped her.
“It’s not that. I got a situation and can’t really have sex right now.”
“What? A situation?”
“Yeah. It’s kinda embarrassing, but I got drunk one night and cheated.”
I didn’t even have to finish what I was saying for Nina to get it.
“Oh! Your dick hot. Damn, nigga. You letting them Bama bitches burn you? Gotta be more careful, boo.”
“Man, I passed out and woke up wit’ a bitch on my dick.”
“These hoes brave these days. Gotta do better, boo. Next week the bitch will be saying she pregnant by you.”
“Don’t say that shit! I hadn’t even thought about that. I didn’t get her number or give her mine, so if she does, she on her own.”
“She might get somebody from the party to tell her.”
“Nah, it was at my cousin’s house. He ain’t gonna tell her ass shit. You remember KO, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
We talked until Santi told me he was ready to go. She asked would my girl be mad if she called me sometime. I lied and told her it wouldn’t be a problem. With everything that was going on, Kelsi would have a fit about another woman calling me. I didn’t care though. This was my phone that I paid the bill on. Besides, it wasn’t like Nina and I were fucking. She was just the homie.
Santi made a few more stops before we left and headed back to Tusc
aloosa. While we were on the way, he decided to ask me about my situation with Kelsi.
“So you gonna start looking for your own spot?”
“My own spot? Why would I need to do that?”
“I heard what happened with you and Kelsi. I’m not tryna judge you or no shit like that, but you can’t be that careless, cuz. You gotta keep a rubber on you.”
“My nigga, I had a rubber. KO gave me a couple before the party started. When I say I woke up and the bitch was on my dick, that’s what happened. Hell, by the time I realized what was going on, it was too late to turn back.”
“Bitches brave as hell these days. Back to what I asked though. If you need me to help you find something, let me know.”
His question made me wonder if he knew something I didn’t know. I thought Kelsi and I were going to work shit out. Now, I was wondering if she was done with me.
“Sound like you know something I don’t know.”
“I’m just assuming based off what I heard. She told Janell she wasn’t sure if she could be with you anymore. Between the street shit and the bitches, she’s fed up. Speaking of which, why did you go back to hustling full time?”
“With KO sending all that work my way, working was taking up too much time. He would be calling me at work telling me how much money I’m missing out on. I finally got tired of the shit and quit. Now, I’m making twice the money I was makin’.”
“I get that. I really do. However, more money ain’t always good money. Look at what more money has done for you. Your dick burning, and your woman is one foot out the door. Is it worth it? Oh, and I didn’t want to say anything ’cause KO your people, but you need to be careful.”
I took in everything he said, but the most important part I heard was to be careful around KO. Santi was the type that gave you the real no matter what. So for him to say that, he knew something.
“What you mean be careful?”
“You know that nigga Reed in jail?”
Reed was another one of our homies that we grew up with. I heard about him getting locked up but didn’t understand what that had to do with KO.
“Yeah, I heard. What about it?”
“According to his brother, that nigga KO set him up. KO came back to the Sip and put him on. When shit got hot, KO had the finger pointed to Reed. At first, I didn’t believe it, but with the shit going on with you, I do. It sounds just like Reed’s story. KO would have parties for him when he came to Bama, with a bunch of drugs and bitches. Just because he your family don’t mean he won’t fuck you over, cuz.”
Santi laid a lot of shit in my lap. A lot of shit I wasn’t ready for. I’d always heard KO could be a grimy nigga. However, with us being family, I didn’t think I had to worry about that shit. Now, I was starting to think differently.
“I see the wheels turning in your head. I’m not saying you gotta stop fucking with the nigga, but limit that shit. And get a job. Nothing wrong with hustling, but you need to have something to show for the money you spending. Having proof of income makes it harder for them boys to come at you. Oh, last but not least, fix this shit with Kelsi. That’s a good woman.”
I took in everything he said. Santi had always given me good advice. Even though I didn’t want to work, I decided to. Kelsi probably thought I was lying when I said I got my job back, but I wasn’t. At first, it was only to impress her. I was only going to work it about a month and then quit again. The conversation I just had with Santi changed that shit.
“I need you to do me a favor,” I told Santi.
“Already on it. She’s at the Residence Inn off Rice Mine, room 407.”
“Good looking, cuz.”
When we got back to Tuscaloosa, I had Santi drop me off at the hotel Kelsi was staying at. I was nervous as hell when I got to her room. I knocked and put my hand over the peephole.
“Who is it?” I heard her ask.
Instead of answering her, I knocked again. This time, she opened the door.
“Trent, what are you doing here? How did you find me? I know Janell didn’t tell you.”
“What you mean how did I find you? You were hiding from me? What kind of shit is that? You gonna let me in?”
“I don’t know. Why should I?”
“Because I’m your man, that’s why.”
“My man wouldn’t be out here fucking dirty bitches.”
“Man, we not ’bout to discuss this shit in the hallway. Let me in.”
After hesitating, she finally let me in. That action let me know getting her back wasn’t gonna be easy.
Kelsi
When I heard a knock on my door, I just knew it was somebody with the wrong room. Seeing Trent there threw me for a loop. After I let him in, he started begging and pleading for me to take him back. While I was listening to his lies, I texted Janell to find out how he knew where I was.
Me: Nelli! How the hell did Trent find me?
Nelli: I was just about to text you. Santi saw the text in my phone.
Me: I thought you deleted the message! Come on Nelli.
Nelli: My bad sis.
Me: Ugh! It’s straight. Let me finish listening to his lies.
“Kelsi! Are you listening to me?”
“Not really.”
“And why not?”
“Because it’s a bunch of bullshit.”
“How you figure it’s bullshit? You not even giving me a chance.”
“I gave you a chance after that shit with the Drea bitch.”
“That shit with the dirty hoe wasn’t my fault!”
“So you really expect me to believe the story about you waking up to somebody on your dick?”
“It’s the truth! I know the story sounds crazy, but I’m not making it up.”
I didn’t even bother responding. Instead, I got up and started packing my stuff. Now that Trent knew where I was, I had to go to another hotel.
“Kelsi, just come home, please! You don’t have to decide about us right now. Just come home. The apartment don’t feel right without you. I know you miss laying in our bed.”
He was right about that. This hotel was nice and all, but I missed being home. I told him I would come home but made it clear that we weren’t in a good place as far as our relationship. He told me he was fine with that and helped me get my stuff together so we could leave.
When I got home, the first thing I did was take a bath. I missed my tub. While I was in the tub, I heard Trent in the kitchen. I knew he was going to cook. In his mind, no matter what he did, his food would make up for it. I couldn’t lie; his food touched my soul. It was nothing he made that I didn’t like. However, it was going to take a lot more than food to fix this situation.
I got out the tub and got dressed. When I went in the kitchen, I saw him at the stove with his shirt off, frying fish.
“I know you haven’t ate good since you been gone. Go sit down. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
I pulled up a chair so I could watch him cook. He was sexy as hell moving around the kitchen. For a moment, I thought about telling him we could fix this shit, but something told me not to. Taking him back now would show him that he could do whatever to me and everything would be OK. In order for him to take me serious, I had to make him work to get me back.
One week later
Things between me and Trent had been slowly going back to normal. Even though I finished my meds and the STD was gone, I had yet to have sex with him. I didn’t trust it. We did kiss and say I love you. He asked several times if I forgave him, but I couldn’t answer that. True enough, he started back working and spent less time in the streets, but there was still the issue of women. He claimed he was done messing around. I wasn’t buying it though. In my mind, he just hid it better.
He came in from work today, asking if we could watch a movie. Since I had gotten all my work done, I agreed. While he was in the shower, his phone kept going off. Thinking it was an emergency. I looked at the screen and noticed he had several text messages from somebody named
Nina.
I didn’t even bother reading the messages. My mom always told me when you go looking for something, you’d find it. I left his phone where it was. A few minutes later, my phone went off. It was an Instagram message from that bitch Drea. Is it Sideline Hoe day? I asked myself.
XoXo_Drea: You must have finally learned how to suck dick or something? Trent hasn’t hit me up.
Me: Bitch, I’m bout to block your desperate ass. All these niggas in the city and you checking for mine. Find you something to do.
XoXo_Drea: I’ll have something to do once Trent comes back over. You might have him now, but you won’t for long.
Me: Girl bye! That’s my nigga. I got him forever. He might come through and shove his dick down your throat for a couple hours, but that’s all you get. He will never buy you anything, pay a bill for you, nor take you on a date. You ain’t nothing but a sideline hoe. The sooner you realize that the better. You no better than these other bitches he fucking.
XoXo_Drea: Whatever!
Me: Oh!! You thought you were the only one? Nah boo. You one of many. Now I’m gonna say this one time. Leave me the fuck alone! Next time, it won’t be no talking.
I blocked her before she could respond back. This shit was pissing me off more and more. Trent was begging for me to give him another chance, but he couldn’t keep his bitches in check.
“Trent!” I yelled.
“What’s up, baby?”
“You better get your bitch. The next time she comes at me sideways, I’m gonna let Nelli beat her ass.”
“What you are talking about?”
I showed him the messages from Drea. He immediately got mad.
“I knew that hoe was crazy when I met her ass. I’ll take care of it, baby.”
“Yeah, whatever. And who the hell is Nina? She must be one of your new bitches.”
“Nina is my homegirl. We grew up together. How did you know about her anyway?”
“She was blowing your phone up while you were in the shower.”
“So you went through my phone?”
“No. I glanced at the screen. I already know you on some fuck shit, so there was no need.”
While He Was Sleeping: Kelsi's Story Page 5
