No Matter What

by Nicole Jackson

  Releasing her, he did a smooth spin, before singing. “I don’t wanna play no games, play no games. Fuck around, give you my last name. Oh. Know you tired of the same damn thing. That’s okay ‘cause, baby, you. You got it, girl, you got it. You got it, girl, you got it.”

  Nunnie was grinning from ear to ear, as her gangsta ass nigga sang to her in the middle of the section. You couldn’t tell her anything. It was just her and Maizun, as far as she was concerned, and that’s how it was going to be until the end of time.

  “You the only one I’m tryna make love to, pickin’ and choosin’. They ain’t really love you, runnin’ games, usin’. All your stupid exes, they gon’ call again. Tell ‘em that a real nigga steppin’ in. Don’t let them niggas try you, test your patience. Tell ‘em that it’s over, ain’t no debatin’. All you need is me playin’ on your playlist. You ain’t gotta be frustrated…”

  Chapter 23

  Holding her ankles, Nunnie rode Mix relentlessly backwards, while he lied in the middle of their bed. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, as they had been at it for hours. Like a crazed maniac she bounced hard, causing her ass cheeks to wobble. Soon, she was rotating her hips in a circle, dancing on the dick.

  Mix watched in astonishment as she spread her legs, until she was doing a full split on him. Leaning back on his elbows, he was convinced that Nunnie was performing some type of voodoo on him.

  “Uh-uh, hell nah.” He lifted her off his dick. “Bring that ass here.” he guided her to sit on his face.

  “Umm,” she moaned, while humping his face.

  After blowing in her asshole, he proceeded to suck on her clit. At the same time, she lowered her head, and took his dick into her mouth. When she tried to swallow him whole, Mix knew that she was refusing to let him out do her. So, they were going to go round after round, and he was fully up for the challenge.

  ***

  “So, then we went up to Austin and hit them up something lovely. I made about a good ten thousand that weekend,” Dreka rambled, as she sat behind the wheel of her car.

  Lickz nodded, while he gazed outside. “Aye, we done fucked around and let the sun come up.”

  Dreka glanced around the parking lot, as if she was just realizing it herself. “I know.”

  “But yeah,” Lickz licked his lips. “Let me ask you this.”

  “What’s that?” she arched a brow.

  “Why all you talk about is getting money? I mean, is that your only source of joy? You don’t do nothing else?”

  She crinkled her nose. “What else should I be focused on?”

  “I’m saying, in all this talking we been doing, I haven’t heard you mention nothing about a trip that wasn’t about money. Then when you mention your boyfriend, all you do is complain about him. I don’t know. It just don’t sound like there’s too much happiness in that.”

  She pursed her lips. “Nigga, I could say the same about you.”

  He nodded. “And you’d be right. But that’s why I’m sitting here with you. I’m willing to try new things. Meet new people.”

  She tilted her head sideways. “That’s the thing, though. I’m not new people. We been seeing each other around for years, and you never had much of anything to say to me. I’d see you come through with a few hoes on your arm, and act like I was invisible. So, I’m trying to see what changed.”

  Lickz swallowed hard. “Shit, keeping it real…it was life. It humbled me like a muthafucka. I used to say that I would only fuck with this caliber of chick, until I realized that none of that shit mattered. A supposed good girl with all her shit together can bring a nigga to his knees all the same. Shit, probably even quicker than somebody you’d expect the bullshit to come from. These days I’m realizing that any broad can be on the bullshit. So, I been looking past girls I grew up around, thinking that I was choosing up by going out and picking up these hoes that appear to have it all. But it’s all for appearances. So, I was telling myself that I needed to readjust. Then my lil’ nigga Mix said something that stuck out to me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do think that you sexy as fuck, but that aint what it is. It was the shit he said.”

  She squinted. “Well, what did he say?”

  “He said that it was your sister’s smile that got him caught up. He said it jokingly, but I could detect the underlying truth. And then when I was in their townhouse you looked at me. I mean, you didn’t smile or nothing with ya mean ass. But it was in your eyes. I aint gon lie. They kinda resembled mine when I look in the mirror. They got some pain behind them. It’s a little spooky, but it made me curious. For the first time, I wanted to know more about you.”

  “I—” Dreka got out, before somebody tapped on her window.

  “Say, this nigga done violated,” Trigga ranted, as he stood outside of her car.

  Lickz narrowed his eyes, as he shook his head. Right then, he knew that sitting outside of Dreka’s spot was a bad idea. He knew that she had a boyfriend, but she’d also mentioned that he hadn’t been staying with her, since they’d been on bad terms. Still, to respect the next man’s space Lickz opted not to go inside, especially since Dreka was truthful about Trigga still having a key.

  Knowing that Trigga couldn’t see through her illegal tint, Dreka cracked her window. “What’s going on?”

  “The neighbor said that he saw Levi kick the door in. Him and some other nigga. When they described him, it sounded like that nigga Steve he be with sometimes.”

  Dreka gasped. “What?! Did they take anything? Where’s Tink?”

  “I don’t know where she at. Sass haven’t heard from her scandalous ass, neither. You know how you hoes is,” he chided.

  Usually, Dreka would’ve cuss him out, but she didn’t want to rock the boat, while he was standing next to her car. “Look, whatever. Did they fuck with anything in my house?”

  “Shit, what they didn’t touch is the question…but what the fuck you talking through a cracked window for? And why is you dry sitting outside at seven in the fucking morning?”

  “I’m minding my business, Trigga. Why don’t you go fuck with one of your hoes?”

  “One of my hoes?” Trigga repeated. “That’s all I hear you say, lately. You weak, man. Say what the fuck you feel. Be a woman about it. If you aint fucking with a—”

  Frustrated, Dreka sucked her teeth. “Are you really standing here trying to talk about a dead ass relationship, when a nigga just broke into my house? For real?”

  “Are you really fucking gonna address me through a cracked window?” he gritted, placing his hand on the glass. “Open this muthafucka, before I break this bitch.” Lowering his head, he peeped into the car. “Oh, bitch, you got a nigga in here?! Oh, that’s how you playing it?”

  Lickz already had his pistol in his lap. “Yeah, and this nigga will pop you, home boy. On my mama.”

  Dreka held her forehead, as she started her car. “Trigga, can you please move?”

  “Move? Bitch, you want me to move?! Hell, nah! Get the fuck out of this fucking car!” he roared, as he attempted to fold her window.

  Knowing that Trigga wouldn’t let go, Dreka was forced to throw her car into reverse. She then proceeded to back up, while he was still gripping her window. When he felt the car moving, he applied pressure, breaking the glass. Putting the petal to the metal, Dreka skirted out of the lot, leaving Trigga in her rearview, knowing that this was far from over.

  ***

  Mix sat at the edge of the bed, wearing merely boxers, reading over texts. Cat had been reaching out for the past few days, swearing that she was about to lose her mind without him. According to her, she thought that she’d be able to handle him leaving, but then his absence hit her like a ton of bricks.

  He sat there not knowing how to respond. Although Cat had been a true rider, Nunnie had his heart in a choke hold. It had been that way, and nothing Cat had going was able to penetrate that. So, he’d never been confused on what they were. Yeah, he’d been fair with Cat. Even treated her decently. But he’d never ma
de her any promises. Never saw beyond the right then and there with her.

  Shaking his head, he dropped his phone in his lap. “I wish her the best.”

  Seconds later, his phone was vibrating. Picking it up, Mix saw that Lickz was hitting him up. “Yeah, what’s popping?” he answered the call.

  “Aye, what you know about that nigga Trigga?” Lickz immediately questioned, wasting no time.

  “Trigga? You talking about Dreka’s nigga?”

  “Yeah, that nigga.”

  “I mean, they say he’s a shooter. I heard him and his boy are some jack boys. And that’s about it.”

  “So, what you saying is that the nigga gon be a problem?”

  “Nigga, I don’t know. What the fuck is up? Did something go down?” Mix wanted to know.

  “Yeah. This bitch ass nigga broke Dreka’s window, after he rolled up on us sitting outside of her spot in the parking lot.”

  “Yall was sitting outside? When?”

  “This morning.”

  “I’m saying, you was outside with that man’s gal in the morning. Nigga, was you looking for problems?”

  “Hell, nah. She told me that they aint really been fucking around like that. Shit, keeping it real, I could’ve been in the apartment, but I chose to stay outside.”

  “Pssh. Dreka tripping. That nigga still got a key. So, Ion know what would’ve happened had he caught you in there.”

  “Shit, we would’ve had to shoot it out. But yeah, man, now this nigga is calling Dreka’s phone making all kinds of threats. And he’s claiming that some nigga done broke into her apartment.”

  “Wait, calm down,” Nunnie urged, as she stepped into the room with her cell pressed to her ear with her shoulder, while she cradled Maizie in her arms, who was full on crying. “Trigga did what? And Levi did who?”

  “Bitch, I’m trying to tell you that Trigga busted my fucking window out, but I couldn’t even handle the nigga like I wanted to cause I had the nigga Lickz in the car,” Dreka blasted into the phone. “I’m so fucking mad, cause he knows not to try me like that. And then they say that Levi’s bitch ass broke into our apartment and trashed it. What’s sad is that I haven’t even been in there to see what’s what because of this situation with Trigga. So, Ion even know what kinda loss I just fucking took. I’m ‘bout to lose my fucking marbles, man. I swear. Then this nigga won’t quit calling my phone. Talking that crazy talk. Sounding like Save’s ass. Bitch, I’m finna get me a pistol. Fuck the dumb shit.”

  Feeling suddenly overwhelmed, Nunnie joined Mix, sitting at the edge of the bed. “This is crazy. I don’t even know what to say. All I can do is apologize for dragging you into my bullshit.”

  Mix glanced her way. “What bullshit? What their drama got to do with you?”

  Nunnie gulped. “They’re saying that Levi kicked her door in.”

  Shaking his head, Mix slid his tongue across his teeth. “So, that’s the nigga’s play, huh? I knew he’d pull something sooner or later. I gotta handle him. ASAP.”

  ***

  With a defeated expression on her face Dreka stomped into the townhouse. Carrying an overnight Victoria’s Secret tote bag, still wearing her club clothes from the night before, she appeared exhausted, as she collapsed on the couch.

  Examining her sister, Nunnie felt extreme guilt. “So, what happened?” she pried.

  Staring up at the ceiling, Dreka shook her head. “The whole apartment is fucked up. They didn’t take nothing, though. So, all our clothes and everything else is still there. But they made sure to tare some shit up. Smashed TVs and all—” she explained, before there was a knock at the door.

  Hopping up, Mix headed to answer it. Checking the peephole, he saw that it was Tink, so he opened the door.

  “Hey,” she spoke with obvious distress in her voice. She appeared to have just rolled out of bed, as she wore an oversized t-shirt, leggings, and a bonnet on her head. “Where Dreka at?” she rushed into the center of the living room.

  Dreka’s head snapped up. “What’s going on?”

  “Man, these niggas is talking crazy. I just got off the phone with my cousin to let him know that this nigga is threatening me, and Brent said that he’s coming as soon as I say the word. Cause this nigga really got me fucked up,” Tink vented.

  Dreka sat up. “Wait, what happened now?”

  Tink exhaled. “I tried to go back to the apartment to grab some stuff, after you told me that Trigga and Sass was nowhere to be found. Just so happened Sass was parked in the lot. This nigga jumps out of his car when he sees me and gets to talking about how you fucking around on Trigga and that I had to know about it. Then he got to questioning me about where I came from and why I wouldn’t answer my phone for him, earlier. Next thing I know, me and this nigga is tussling in the middle of the parking lot. He snatched my fucking lace front off!”

  Dreka shook her head. “Everybody kept telling us to leave them crazy ass niggas alone, but we thought the shit was cute. I’m buying me a pistol today. On everything I love.”

  Just then, someone rang the doorbell. Once again Mix sprang up to answer the door. Checking the peephole, he let Lickz in.

  “What’s good?” Lickz mumbled, as he clasped hands with Mix.

  Mix scratched his head. “Nigga, a whole bunch of fucking drama.”

  Lickz stepped fully into the living room. “Aye, what’s up, ladies?”

  “Hey,” Nunnie spoke, while both Dreka and Nunnie were too preoccupied with their bullshit to acknowledge him.

  “Dreka, I see you was able to grab your clothes,” Lickz pointed out. “Was you able to go back to your spot with no problems?”

  “Yeah, if that’s what you want to call it. I got somebody to come in and fix the doorframe and put new locks on the door. But everything is fucked up for the most part.”

  “Damn, I’m sorry to hear that. What about ya nigga? He chilling?”

  Dreka solemnly shook her head. “Nah, he’s on full go mode, but it aint nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Nothing you can’t handle,” he regurgitated, as he slid on the couch next to her. “But dealing with a grown ass man on that level aint something you should have to do on your own.”

  She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Boy, bye. I been handling myself since I was a pup. Aint never needed no protection.”

  “Okay, Gangsta Dreka. I hear you. You’s a real tough girl.”

  Nunnie sighed loudly.

  Dreka snapped her neck around. “You got something to say?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Nunnie established. “When are you gonna stop acting like you can live in this world by yourself? Everybody needs somebody, Dreka.”

  “The lies you fucking tell,” Dreka spat. “Since I was 13 years old, I been looking out for myself. Aint nobody gave me shit. I had to get it myself. In and out of fucking juvie. Who came to get me? Shit, who came to see me? Nobody. Mama couldn’t be there because she was too busy living her own damn life. Running down niggas. So, it’s been me doing what I had to do for me. Just like it’s gon me to fix this shit you created. It’s gon be me out here hustling overtime to get back right, over some fucking money I never touched.”

  “Whoa, whoa, who said that I was leaving yall out to dry?” Nunnie enquired. “I take full responsibility for what happened, and if it takes every penny I got to make this right, then that’s what it will be.”

  Mix frowned. “Aye, Nunu, I hear you on taking accountability, but you didn’t run up in their crib. That was Levi, and that nigga aint untouchable. If anything, we need to be discussing how to get at him, and make his ass pay up. Shit, at this point, I’m down with a ski mask move. Really take it to him. Make him come up off everything he got in that house. And then I’ll pistol whip his bitch ass for even trying to buck.”

  Nunnie scowled. “Boy, did you forget that his scary ass still got charges pressed against you?”

  “Shit, that nigga kicking in doors too,” Lickz spoke up. “Sounds like he wanna pick and choose when he g
ot some bravery. So, I’d say go handle him with no ski mask. Make him feel you. And make sure that his hoe ass drop all charges or his mama and daddy will get touched too. That’s how you gotta come at a muthafucka like him.”

  Nunnie held her forehead. “And what if that don’t work, and he just calls the police again?”

  “Nah,” Lickz shook his head. “That won’t happen if his ass is handed to him properly.”

  Once again, there was a knock at the door.

  Nunnie frowned. “Damn, now, who the fuck is that?”

  “Man, I don’t fucking know,” Mix grumbled, as he stood up. Ambling over to the door, he checked the peephole. “And the shit just keeps going.”

  Nunnie turned around in the couch. “Who is that?”

  “Dreka’s nigga,” Mix announced, before cracking the door. “Yeah, what’s popping?” he greeted Trigga.

  “Aye, my nigga, can you tell Dreka to step outside?”

  Mix tapped the tip of his nose. “Dreka,” he called out to her.

  “Yeah?” she blandly responded.

  “You wanna come holler at ole boy?”

  “Nope.”

  Mix exhaled. “Say, she say she aint trying to socialize, main.”

  Trigga rubbed his hands together. “Look, I aint trying to disrespect your crib, dog. So, can you please get that broad to step outside? I aint leaving here, until she come outside.”

  “I’m saying, you can’t make her come out. So, what you finna do?” Mix spoke aggressively. With him there was never any middle ground. He was either on or off, and ole boy had just flipped on the green light.

  “Playa, this aint even got nothing to do with you. I came here to address my bitch,” Trigga tried to reason. “So, you really trying to get into some gangsta shit, when the shit is domestic? I mean, we can get it popping. Whenever. However. But the g-shit to do in this situation would be to mind your business.”

  Mix snarled. “Mind my business? Nigga, you standing here at my fucking door, demanding to see somebody. She said that she aint fucking with you. So, that’s that. She in my house, and you aint gon make her come out. That’s where we at with it. And if you talking about forcing her to come out, then hell yeah, you gotta see me. Aint no way around that.”