You Ain't My Type

by Nicole Jackson

  “Hey, I hear you. I just find it hard to believe that you haven’t found that in anybody worthy. Everybody’s superficial?”

  He cracked a smile. “Well, I think the factor is my taste in women.”

  She turned to face him. “What about your taste?”

  “I’ma put it like my cousin Keyasia says it. I got a real thing for hood rats.”

  “Wait, what?” she tittered.

  “I’m saying,” he licked his lips. “I like my chicks with a little kick to ‘em, but they’re usually not the type that you really wanna bring home to mama. So, I have fun with ‘em, until I can find a girl with enough of it all.”

  “Wow, so, is that how you see me? You think that I’m a hood rat?”

  “Hell, nah,” he immediately denied. “I feel like you’re in between. At least from what I’ve seen. Like you have your life in the burbs somewhere, but there’s another side to you. Like you could come to the hood with me and be comfortable and not have your nose turned up.”

  She grinned. “I like your assessment.”

  Before he could reply someone rang the doorbell.

  “Damn, I guess I gotta get that since everybody else done disappeared,” Jaylen mumbled, as he headed to the door.

  Rye busied herself with tending to the food, while guests began to steadily show up. Within thirty minutes the condo was packed, as several of Jeremy’s teammates came through. Even with that the male to female ratio was pretty even with the women having a slight edge. Eventually, Jhyrah and Josairah rejoined her in the kitchen to finish preparing the food. By the time they were done with the food a few bottles of premium liquor were floating around the condo, as everyone became boisterous.

  Neatly, they laid the food out on the island, and people immediately dug in. With so many guests, Jhyrah had to play hostess, while Rye and Josairah found themselves sitting side by side on the sectional. Like Rye, Josairah didn’t really have a relationship with any of the chicks there, so they felt more comfortable chatting with each other. The guys were mostly crowded in the dining area where there was a nice pool table. They were shooting pool, and talking shit, while throwing back drink after drink.

  Since everyone had come in, Jaylen never did reconvene his chat with Rye. He’d been preoccupied with shooting pool, and turning up a cup. Rye was chilling herself, but couldn’t help noticing all the attractive chicks in attendance. Some of the girls were associates of Jhyrah’s, while others had simply come in with a friend of a friend. Therefore, there were girls there that not even Jhyrah was familiar with. A couple of chicks had decided to hang near the pool table, seemingly looking to catch something or someone.

  While Jaylen held a pool stick in one hand and a cup to his lips with the other, some random girl was smiling in his face.

  Josairah crinkled her nose. “Who is that thirsty chick talking to Jaylen?”

  Rye shrugged. “I don’t know.” Really, there was nothing more she could say on the matter. Jaylen wasn’t her man.

  “She looks like she’s tryna suck some dick tonight. Ole slut bucket ass.”

  Rye tittered. “Why the hell you sound like my mama, right now?”

  Josairah smirked. “I got that from my mama. She stays talking about somebody. Her and her friends. You ought to see them when they all get together.”

  “Oh, I can just about imagine.”

  Josairah’s cell rang, and she immediately picked up. “Yeah, bitch, what’s up? You miss me?”

  Rye sat quietly noticing the switch up in Josairah’s vernacular. Clearly, one of her close friends had called, because the tone and vibe was completely different.

  “Nah, we won’t be home for another four days. Why? What’s up?” Josairah spoke into her cell. “I’ma bad mama? Key, stop playing with me, and get off Jhyshun’s dick. You know the only reason we didn’t bring him is because I would’ve had to fight Raven first. She was on one, for real. Talking about her baby don’t need to come with us because all we’re gonna do is sit around and smoke. Like her and Big Jah don’t be over there blowing big dope. They keep one in the air. She was going on and on about Jeremy and Jared partying too much to have a baby around. Basically, every excuse to kidnap my child. Hell, now, that I think about it, I gotta go get my baby. She keeps talking about him living with them, and him just coming to see me and Jah on the weekends…bitch, that aint funny.”

  Rye was giggling her head off, as she listened to Josairah. However, her entire mood shifted when she glanced over at the pool table again. Jaylen was now sitting on a stool, while the thirsty chick was bending over directly in front on him. She was putting on like she was playing pool, but nobody had to have their ass completely in the air to make a shot.

  “Nu-uh, Key, let me call you back. I spy some thirst-trap hoes in my man’s face. I gotta check this shit.” Josairah ended her call, before focusing on Jahrein.

  He was standing near the pool table, and two chicks were skinning and grinning in his face.

  “Oh, they got me fucked up,” Josairah mumbled, as she grabbed her cup off the ottoman and took a sip.

  “Something, something as simple as me hearing your name. Puts me, puts me in a place that I can't even explain. I really didn't know back then but right now I'm totally sure. Baby, I know I'm your friend but I wanna be much more…” floated from the surround sound system.

  “Oh, that’s my song!” Josairah shouted, before springing off the couch. “How can someone make me so sad but still I only want them to stay? I wanna say I love you so bad, but I don't wanna scare you away. Please I wish that you'll understand. That I wanna be more than just your friend,” she sang. “Remember, Jahrein. That’s how I used to be when I wanted all those bitches to go away,” she blurted.

  “I see, I see you talking to them girls on the phone. I wish that I can tell them all to leave you alone. Really didn't know back then but right now I'm totally sure. That I wanna be much more…”

  “You heard that?” she closed her eyes, while waving her head around, listening to the music. Jahrein stood staring at her. “That was when we was kids, and those bitches would be in your face and I felt like I couldn’t say nothing. That was back then, though. Now, I aint shy to say that I’ll cut a hoe. So, tell them bitches what it is.”

  Jhyrah caught that, and knelt over with laughter, because she’d peeped that her school buddies were competing for her brother’s attention, while Josairah sat a few feet away.

  Jahrein shook his head, knowing that Josairah had to be tipsy. This was usually the only time she’d cut up like this. Stepping away from the girls, he walked over to her. “Chill out, man.” He grabbed her hand, and removed the cup.

  “No, you chill out, and keep them hoes out of your face. You don’t want me to cut up in here, do you?”

  He shook his head. “Not at all.”

  “Okay, then. Tell them bitches what it is, then.” She lifted his shirt, revealing her name etched across his chest.

  He was smiling, trying not to blush. Her bouts of jealousy always turned him on. “Stop, girl.” he pulled his shirt back down.

  “I’m just letting it be known. This is me,” she declared with a slight slur.

  Jah grinned from ear to ear, as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Josairah was so beautiful and had the most alluring eyes. She was a dream turned reality real, and he often had to pinch himself, asking how he ended up with her. Yet, she’d act like he was the best thing since sliced bread, getting possessive no matter who the chick was. So, he reveled in the fact that his lil’ mama was bad, and would lose her mind over him, despite the fact that she was the girl he’d already chosen.

  Rye sat back admiring their little scene. It was telling. Jahrein was equally crazy over Josairah, as they were all over each other in the middle of the living room. Unconsciously, she glanced over at Jaylen and realized that he was shooting pool again, with his admirer right at his side. She rolled her eyes, trying to tell herself that what he did didn’t matter.

  Breaking her
thoughts, her cell went off. Glancing down at the screen, she realized that it was her mama calling. Answering the call, she eased off the couch, and headed to the balcony, which was closed off from the music.

  Stepping outside, she finally spoke. “Hey, ma. What’s up?”

  “What’s up? Where the hell are you, Rye?”

  “I’m hanging with a few friends.”

  “Friends? The last time I checked, you didn’t have any friends in California, so help me understand this.”

  Rye’s jaw tightened. “I met them here, ma.”

  “How?” Konya pressed.

  “Through Tori’s client,” Rye spoke through clenched teeth.

  “Through Tori’s client. It pained you to even say that, because you know damn well that you’ve crossed the line. You’re out there playing with that man’s livelihood, Rye. How could you go out there and lose your mind like that?”

  “Ma, I definitely didn’t lose my mind. I did what I wanted within my relationship for once, which should be none of your business,” she snapped, before catching herself. “Look, I’m not trying to disrespect you, ma. Honestly. You don’t know about everything that’s happening between me Tori, and I’ll fill you whenever I see you. But I have to go.”

  “No, don’t rush me off the phone,” Konya fumed. “What happened to you catching an earlier flight back home?”

  Rye rolled her eyes. “I don’t have money to pay the difference in flight changes,” she lied. “You didn’t want to pay for it, remember?”

  “Well, how much is it? Maybe I can come up with the money.”

  Pulling her head back, Rye stared at the phone for a second. It was funny how her mama couldn’t help with anything when she was stuck with Tori, but now she was trying to make something happen. Placing the phone back to her ear, she took a deep breath. “I don’t know, ma. Let me look over it and I’ll get back to you.”

  “You can do it now, while I’m on the phone. I’ll wait.”

  Sucking her teeth, Rye shook her head as she did something she’d never done before. She hung up the phone in her mother’s face. Then after, she grew heated from the mere notion that her parents were ready to chastise her purely based off her behavior within her own relationship. No, she didn’t currently work, but staying in a relationship when you clearly weren’t happy felt like a job within itself. She was tired.

  “Hey, cutie, what are you doing out here all by yourself?”

  Rye slowly twirled around to see one of Jeremy’s teammates. She knew this because Jeremy had done introductions earlier. The dude was only a few inches taller than her, but was rather handsome. He was light skinned with curly hair, and had nice dimples.

  She smiled. “I’m just chilling.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking…” he got out, before he was rudely interrupted.

  “Ay, my man, I think Jeremy is calling you in there,” Jaylen offered, as he tapped on his shoulder.

  “Alright, can you tell him…”

  “Nah, I can’t tell him nothing. Go holler at him yourself, while I holler at my friend here,” Jaylen crudely spat.

  “Oh, she’s with you?” the guy questioned.

  Jaylen stood without responding, tucking his lips into his mouth, as he towered over the cat. Feeling the tension, the dude bowed out gracefully, because he simply wasn’t pressed for female attention, and wasn’t about to battle for it.

  “Alright, cuz. You got it,” he mumbled, before moseying back into the condo.

  Rye narrowed her eyes. “Okay. What was that about?”

  Jaylen shrugged. “I figured I’d get him to move around. Didn’t want him hassling you.”

  “Hassling me?” she placed a dainty hand on her chest. “Well, who said anything about that?”

  He folded his arms across his chest. “I did.”

  She squinted her eyes. “Then I guess I should be singing this same song to the chick who was just hassling you.”

  He smirked, while scratching his head. “Ole Liz is alright.”

  Rye poked out her bottom lip. “Liz? Sounds like you got quite acquainted with her.”

  He slowly nodded. “She’s been around. I visit here and there. So, we’ve kicked it a couple of times.”

  “Oh, okay. I get it now. She came over to get a piece of that sausage.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Well, shit, don’t let me stand in your way. Go ahead and get back to it.”

  He gazed down at her. “You jealous?”

  She scowled. “Of what?”

  He chuckled. “Chill out. Why you getting so defensive?”

  She folded her arms across her breasts. “Fuck you.” She attempted to head back into the condo, but he grabbed her shoulder.

  “Where you going?”

  She turned around with an attitude.

  “Why are you moved to anger so easily?”

  She gritted. “I’m not angry.”

  He furrowed his brows. “You’re not?”

  She paused, catching herself, before sighing heavily. “Huuuuh. Look, I have a lot on my mind, and it don’t have shit to do with you. So, excuse me. I’m tripping. If anything, I need to take my ass home.”

  “Rushing back to the drama aint gone help nothing. Trust me.”

  “I don’t know,” she breathed. “Maybe you’re right. I just need to clear my head. My mama just called with some bullshit, and I actually had to hang up on her. And it’s fucking me up, because that’s not how we operate,” she vented.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, and hope that you’re able to rectify the situation. But in the meantime, have a drink, chill, and relax. Deal with the world tomorrow.”

  “I hear you, but honestly, I’m not trying to be around all those people, right now. So, I’ll be out here. But you go mingle. We can catch up later.”

  Jaylen stepped back, and Rye assumed that he was about to head back inside, until she realized that he was dragging a patio chair over. “Okay, so, we chilling out here. That’s fine by me.”

  Rye attempted to conceal her blushing. “But what am I supposed to do? You have the only chair out here.”

  “Sit right here.” he patted his leg.

  “Boy,” she giggled. “Come on, now.”

  “No, you come on.” He grabbed her hand, guiding her onto his lap. “Now, see, this is the best seat in the building.”

  She smiled warmly. “It is.”

  For hours they sat outside, only stepping into the condo for more drinks and bathroom breaks. With so many people hanging, no one even realized that they they’d gone missing. Sitting there with Jaylen was cooler than Rye would ever admit. He was a mixture of everything she’d usually like in a guy, but she secretly detested the way that they’d linked up. It somehow felt tainted, because she’d been introduced to him via Tori. That sticky situation and the pace of her and Jaylen’s sexual interactions made her feel like they’d reach a glass ceiling. Not to mention that she’d unintentionally revealed more of herself in those few days than she’d done with Tori in a matter of years. Usually, you’d ease into a relationship before the veil would fall, but right then she felt fully exposed, which she knew made her vulnerable.

  Still, staring at the moonlight, and getting lifted all while Jaylen intently listened to her problems felt good. Even if he was just blowing smoke up her ass.

  Chapter 7

  Jaylen sat on the couch watching his uncle Jalero. It was three in the morning and his overgrown ass was caking with his baby mama over the phone like it was the middle of the day.

  “Tammy ought to be tired of hearing that nigga’s voice. Always calling her ass to talk about nothing. He need to carry his ‘what chu doin’ looking ass to sleep,” he grumbled, while glaring at his uncle.

  Rye sleepily tittered, as she rested her head on his shoulder. It was super late, and Jalero was exhibiting no signs of being ready to head to sleep. All the guests were gone, and everyone else had commandeered a room, so it was just the three of them hanging in the living r
oom.

  “I don’t know why you just don’t go to sleep. Let that man talk to his gal in peace.”

  Jaylen lazily gazed down at her. “Who said that I was trying to go to sleep?”

  “Then what’s the problem?” her eyes wandered around the room.

  He grabbed her hand and discreetly placed it on his hard-on. “You tell me.”

  She sucked her teeth, as she pulled her hand back. “Boy, please. Aint nobody trying to let you rearrange their insides this morning.”

  “Well, come ride the tip,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Well, that can’t happen. I just saw Jahrein and Josairah slip into the bathroom together.”

  Jaylen yawned, before scooting off the couch. Now on his feet, he grabbed her hand. “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” He pulled her up. “Come on, let me show you.” He guided her out onto the balcony.

  “Uh-uh. Hell, nah. I’m not fucking you out here. Nigga, we aint white.”

  Her words were going in one ear and out the other, as he drove her against the brick wall. “Just give me what I want, and I’ll let you get some sleep.”

  Her heart raced. “Give you what you want? How is that possible, when I just said that I aint fu—"

  With ease, he’d lifted her sports bra, before drawing a taut nipple into his mouth. Flicking his tongue over her areola made her knees weak.