By the time they reached the townhouse, Dreka couldn’t help herself. She had to ask, while they were sitting on her floor. “Nunnie, did you clip Levi before you left his house?”
Nunnie shrugged. “You told me to always think on my feet.”
Dreka poked out her bottom lip. “That I did.”
Before they could say another word, the furniture delivery guys were ringing the doorbell. Nunnie ordered everyone around, as they set the furniture up in every room. Mix stood back, scratching his head, as Nunnie ran the show. The charcoal couches and glass tables were contemporary, along with the long glass rectangle dinning room table and charcoal couch chairs. They now had a nice king-sized diamond studded upholstered bed and matching dressers, as well.
Roughly, an hour later, the delivery men were gone, and Dreka and Tink were heading home. With everybody gone, Nunnie crashed on the couch. After rocking Maizie to sleep, Mix placed him in his swing, before flopping down on the couch across from her.
Lifting her head, she locked eyes with him. “Why are you way over there?” she asked weakly. “Come’ere,” she whined.
He shook his head.
“No?” she questioned.
“Yeah, nah,” he sighed.
“And why not?”
“I got a lot on my mind.”
She sat up, before easing off the couch. She then ambled over to him and situated herself in his lap. “Then talk to me.”
He sighed heavily. “Lickz was telling me about a lawyer. Supposedly, he’s been beating everybody’s cases, so I’ma stop by and give him something to get started on my cases.”
She frowned. “What chu mean by something?”
“He’ll take two thousand to get started.”
“But how much is he charging in total?”
“Twenty racks.”
She fluttered her lashes. “Okay, so, why we aint going to pay the whole ticket?”
“Cause…”
“Cause what?”
“Nunu, that’s your money, for one, and I don’t make plans with other people’s money.”
“Nope,” she popped her lips. “That’s where you’re wrong at. That’s our money.”
He cut his eyes at her.
“What?” she arched a brow.
“You say that shit, but then turn around and make every decision by yourself. Come on now. You didn’t even mention that you was going to get this furniture.”
She shook her head. “Nu-uh, don’t do me like that. I didn’t mention it, because I thought that it was a given. If I got the money in my pocket, why wouldn’t I get some furniture for us? Come on, Maizun? I mean, if you wanted to be there to help pick it out, then that’s my bad. I honestly thought that you didn’t care.”
“I don’t.” he shrugged. “I care about us communicating. Not with your sister or Tink. I should know what’s up first. That shit don’t feel right when it’s done any other way.”
She gulped. “I get what you’re saying.”
“And even though you hit that nigga up real proper like you gotta know that the money won’t last forever. So, you gotta be careful with your spending. That’s why I think it’s time for me to go back into the field.”
“Ooh, no. Hell, no. It won’t be none of that.” She vehemently shook her head. “See, that’s where you got me fucked up at. We just jumped through a bunch of hoops and hurdles and we not finna go through anymore.”
“So, them bands you snatched makes us rich now?” he posed the question.
“No, what it makes us is a little secure. Your bond is completely paid, and tomorrow you gone pay that lawyer in full. We have a place to lay our heads and a bed to lay in. Then the rent is paid up for the duration of the lease agreement. So no, we aint balling. Hell, I don’t care if we get down to our last rack. Your freedom won’t be in jeopardy and we’ll have a guaranteed place to live. The baby got enough diapers to last a year. Nigga, I got food stamps to fill the fridge. That’s more than I can say for most people I know. So, you going out into the field would be only for you. Not because that’s what’s necessary. If anything, we have enough space and opportunity to think of a master plan. One that don’t involve you having to put your freedom on the line.”
Squeezing her ass, Mix licked his lips. “You know, sitting here listening to you talk, I’m asking myself what I ever did to deserve you.”
“Boy, stop,” she blushed.
“No, this real g-shit, Nunu. It aint too many people who stand in the paint for a nigga like you do. Not even my own mama. Everybody always eventually fold. And I’m just sitting here, fucking blown away, man. Like I know you got your reasons to give a nigga a hard time. I wasn’t there while you was carrying my son. And regardless of how the shit unfolded…I knew in my heart what it was. That’s why I couldn’t sleep right at night. I knew you was fucking pregnant, even when you couldn’t bring yourself to tell me. But I went against what I was feeling and left you out here by yourself, and what you do the minute you see me? You put it all on the line, when you could’ve shitted on me, and stayed where it was comfortable at.”
“Nah,” she denied. “I couldn’t have done that. Truth was…I was just there…waiting on the day that you finally decided to call. I knew that I was going to leave him, whenever you came back. I just decided to take some other shit with me too, but I still needed you with me in the meantime,” she giggled.
He cracked a smile. “You funny.”
She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed his lips. “I love you, I love you.”
He chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Nunnie unconsciously laughed with him.
“They said that when we get our own shit that we’d stop doing this kind of shit. You got all these seats to choose from, but you still ended up on my lap. How is that?”
“Oh. You want me to get up?” she attempted to stand, but he wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“Stop playing.”
“See,” she giggled, as he nuzzled his nose in the crook her neck. “That’s what happens when you play with me.” she lifted her knees to her chest. “But it’s really because…I got a thang for you, baby you know,” she sang an old Keyshia Cole bop. “Don’t wanna take it slow. I wanna get to know you. Don’t wanna play no games. Listen to what I’m saying. I got a thang for you.”
There within her man’s arms doing absolutely nothing was exactly where Nunnie wanted to be. She had her peace back, and nothing else mattered. Absolutely nothing.
Chapter 22
“My nigga, what’s popping?” Lickz questioned, as he hopped out of his Benz. “These some nice ass townhouses, boy. I see you.”
Mix coolly licked his lips. “Yeah, they cool. But yeah, I aint been up to nothing much, man. Just staying out the way. Anyway, what’s up with you? You was sounding a lil’ shaky on the phone earlier.”
Lickz stroked his goatee. “Nigga, I was tripping with myself. Ended up talking to somebody I told myself to stay away from…and the shit just triggered a bunch of bullshit. She a little cold piece of work, man, and I’m realizing that I just gotta cut all ties. For my sake. Fuck that friends shit.”
Mix narrowed his eyes. “Not ya BM, huh?”
“Nigga, hell nah. I wish I could’ve pumped a baby in her big fine ass. I’m talking about this chick named Kim.”
“Kim…Kim…Kim?” Mix pondered on it. “Nigga, I know you aint talking about ole girl that be on the scene. She be with Keyasia sometimes?”
Lickz stared at the ground, as he nodded. “Yeah, that’s her.”
Mix laughed. “Her nigga got more bodies under his belt than me and you put together. Yeah, you fucking nuts. They said that you wasn’t all there, but now I know for certain. Even I know better than that shit. That man will cut you down with no hesitation, my nig. So, yeah, you need to leave his bitch right where she at. I mean, I know she finer than a muthafucka, but come on, man. Use your head.”
Lickz stared at him unblinkingly. “Did you tell yourself that wh
en you went after Nunnie, even after you watched Save put in all that work?”
Mix stroked his waves. “That’s different, nigga.”
“How?” Lickz lifted his chin.
“I mean…you should’ve seen the way she was smiling at a nigga.”
Lickz howled with laughter. “It was the smile, lil’ bro? It had you ready to risk it all?”
“Hell, yeah.”
Lickz shook his head. “You a damn fool, nigga.”
“Yeah, a’ight. Let’s head inside, man,” Mix urged, as they traveled up the sidewalk.
Once they approached the front door, Lickz could clearly see inside of their two-car garage, and noticed that their Chrysler was parked next to an Audi.
“Aye, yall grabbed a new whip?”
“Nah, that’s Dreka’s car,” Mix revealed.
“Dreka? Dreka who? Lil’ skinny, gangsta Dreka from Brewster Park?”
Mix chuckled. “Dreka aint that skinny. Really aint been skinny in years. Where you been? Shit, on the cool, since I been back it looks like she done put on quite a bit of weight. She just a little smaller than Nunnie.”
“Hell, nah. The last time I seen her ass she was still wearing clothes out the lil’ girls’ section. I mean, her and Nunnie always have been some lookers, but she always needed to eat. And what she doing to be riding foreign?”
“Shit, she hustling. Any and everything to make a dollar. She don’t be playing. I can’t front. She be sticking and moving, going harder than most niggas I know. Her line never stops ringing. Ion even think her nigga can keep up, and it looks like it’s beginning to start problems, cause her ass be over here more and more. Done took over and shit.”
Lickz snickered. “Oh, yeah?”
“Hell, yeah,” Mix responded, as he opened his front door, and they stepped into the townhouse.
“Got damn, nigga,” Lickz chattered. “Yall got this bitch decked out,” he acknowledged, as he took in the décor. The furniture had been accentuated with white throw-pillows; furry white rugs were on the hardwood floors. There was a TV stand and ottoman made completely of mirror. A grand floor to ceiling artificial life-like tree sat in a mirror base. Everything was so elaborate. It was apparent that a lot of time and money had gone into the set-up of the townhouse.
Mix yawned and stretched. “Yeah, Nunnie went and grabbed the furniture, but then everything else is Dreka. You know how they do. They always got gift cards to this store and that store. So, she decorated the whole house as a housewarming gift. She brought the best of the best. You should see the baby’s room. She really got carried away in there.”
Lickz nodded, as he seen someone step out of the kitchen, carrying the baby. Judging by the thick frame he assumed that it was Nunnie, although she had her back facing him. “Hey, Ms. Nunnie, you can’t speak?”
She turned around. “What?”
Lickz chuckled. “Oh, my bad, baby gangsta, I thought you was your sister.”
Dreka rolled her eyes, before turning around. “Whatever.”
Lickz looked at Mix and grumbled. “Nigga, you wasn’t fucking lying. She done got stupid dumb thick. When the fuck did this happen?”
Mix laughed. “I told you.”
“Girl, get this baby so I can show you what to do,” Dreka bossily ordered Nunnie around, as she always did.
Mix and Lickz found different couches to flop down on.
“Dreka still try to run Nunnie, huh?” Lickz smirked, as he pulled out a blunt and fired up.
Mix shook his head. “It’s just how she is. Nunnie don’t listen to her ass. But Dreka supposed to be helping her set up her website.”
“Yeah? What she trying to do?” Lickz asked curiously, while puffing on the blunt.
“Nunu is microblading certified, and now she wanna start doing that. You know. Build up her clientele. She gon have to get back on social media and shit to promote. And it’s time, anyway. Fuck everybody. I told her that I’m ready for any nigga or bitch that might have something to say.”
“Aye, I feel that. Yall don’t owe nobody nothing. Even if it was wrong, it is what it is.”
Mix nodded. “Straight like that.”
“Anyway,” Lickz stroked his goatee. “What’s the plan? You good? You aint trying to eat?”
Mix hooded his eyes. “What you saying? You got some moves in mind?”
Lickz nodded. “I want you to come fuck with me. I could use some help.”
Mix glanced over at the dinning area to see if Nunnie was still preoccupied. “I gotta see, man. Nunnie be tripping…hard.”
“I’m saying, is she gonna trip when the lights are off in this bitch?”
Mix exhaled. “Nah…bills aint really a concern over here, my nigga.”
Lickz’s eyes wandered around the room. “I’m not surprised to hear that. Looks like you muthafuckas already hit a mean lick.”
Mix nodded. “But I aint completely closed off to the idea of getting out there. Just give me a minute. You feel me?”
Lickz nodded. “I got you. You aint been home but for a hot second. Yall probably got a lot of catching up to do, and if money aint the issue, then I can see why you aint in a hurry to hit the streets. Aint shit out there. But me…I aint got no reason to stay in the house, so I’m out here getting it.”
“And I told you that I’d get there whenever I get there!” Dreka shouted, as she shot to her feet, while speaking into her phone. “Nigga, you aint my fucking daddy! You don’t tell me how much time I can spend at my sister’s. Oh, well, if you don’t like it, then maybe I aint the bitch for you. I’m helping her set up a business. Some shit you wouldn’t know nothing about…and? I don’t give a fuck about what the next bitch would do. Go be with them hoes and get the fuck off my line. How ‘bout that!” she ended the call.
“Damn, Dreka, you cold on ‘em, huh?” Lickz teased.
“Fuck him,” Dreka spat. “I’m so fucking tired of niggas. A bitch can’t hang in peace. Can’t hustle in peace. Can’t do shit. I rather be by my damn self. Especially if you gotta deal with a bullshit muthafucka that can barely buy you a burger, after he spends all his money on the new fucking Jordans,” she vented.
Lickz and Mix both scratched their heads.
“Say, Ion know what type of niggas you been fucking with, but we aint all moving like that. I promise,” Lickz offered.
Dreka simply rolled her eyes.
“But say, I’m ‘bout to roll out.” Lickz stood to leave. “Anyway, if yall aint doing nothing tonight, yall should come out to the club tonight. I got a nice section, and you know we gon have that bitch rocking. And Dreka, you invited too. Come see that not all of us niggas are the same. I won’t even wear a pair of Jordans. I swear.”
Dreka gave him the stank face.
Mix chuckled. “Alright, nigga. We probably come through. What club you talking about?”
“Paris’ Jay Spot.”
“Okay, cool. We’ll fuck with ya on the rebound.”
***
“Brand new car is noisy, come through and it’s roarin’. Skrrt. You ain’t gotta worry, don’t care about your boyfriend. See me and get nervous, I damn near did it perfect. Work hard and determine, it’s safe to say I earned it, whoa. Yeah, none of you guys get fly as me, whoa…”
“Uh-oh, this the shit, right here,” Nunnie boasted, as she wagged her tongue, while dancing in front of Mix.
Just as promised, Lickz had a huge section in the uber popular club, and it was filled to capacity. Rocking white Versace, the couple stepped on the scene, turning heads. It had been a long while since they’d made a public appearance, so they had to do it right. All eyes were on them, as everyone from the hood wanted them to pose for the cameras.
Rolling her hips, Nunnie locked eyes with Mix, as they both smiled. Coolly, he leaned up against the railing, allowing her to do her thing. Just being there, seeing that smile on her face was enough for him. Especially, when there’d been days when he was on the run that he’d question if he’d ever get to see her f
ace again. He definitely didn’t know if they’d ever get back to some form of normalcy after everything with Save, but there they were. It was a testimony. Their testimony. After over a year, he could finally breathe again, and he was letting nothing stand in the way of that.
“Oh, shit, bae, this my song!” Nunnie announced. “Listen,” she insisted, before she began singing along with Teyana Taylor. “Sometimes we say things that we really don’t mean. We do things in between the lines. We should do more than stand out. I’m sorry if I made you feel less than who you are. A little insecure, oh, you’s a shining star. I wanna spend my nights with you. My life with you, oh baby, babe. Please wait up for me ‘til whenever I get home. I know that you’re all alone. Thinking ‘bout what you’re gon’ do. I hope that you see it through, ooh, ooh…”
He nodded. “That’s your shit, huh?”
“Yup—” she got out, before Dreka tugged at her arm.
“Bitch, why is this nigga pushing up on me?” Dreka spoke in Nunnie’s ear.
Nunnie shrugged. “Okay, what’s the problem?”
Dreka sucked her teeth. “It’s Lickz. That nigga been knowing me for years and aint never looked my way. Not once. Always acted like a bitch wasn’t on his level, but now he been making sure my cup stay filled all night, on some fake shit. Up here in that Louboutin and Marc Jacobs. It’s just too much.”
Nunnie scowled. “Girl, it sounds like you scared of the nigga. You tripping. Acting like you aint that bitch. It took him a second to wake up. That’s cool, but he’s up now. He see you. So, go handle that. I shouldn’t have to say that much, cause you usually handle these niggas. Let me find out that Trigga got you rusty.”
Dreka pursed her lips. “Bitch, please.”
“Okay, then, go see what that nigga talking about,” Nunnie encouraged.
Dreka nodded, before she switched back over to Lickz, where he’d been patiently waiting on her.
“Anyway,” Nunnie sighed, as she stepped up to Mix, and unconsciously wrapped her arms around him.
Mix was laid back, bobbing to the music, until the deejay spun his jam. Nunnie was literally laughing her head off at how he’d transform into Chris Brown every time he’d hear this song.
No Matter What Page 23
