Nobody Can Love You Like Them Roughnecks Do 4

by Shvonne Latrice

  “Thank you, Ian.”

  The days when a pretty diamond necklace would be enough were long gone. A year ago, I would have been all smiles, bragging about it on Instagram, but now I was underwhelmed. It was beautiful, I loved it, but it didn’t help alleviate the fact that Ian had missed our daughter’s birth and ignored my calls and texts. Our baby could’ve been in danger, but he didn’t care enough to answer the phone. His excuse had so many lies that it was too exhausting to even start countering.

  “You’re welcome. And listen, I meant what I said. As soon as you’re out of here and feeling up to it, I want you to plan our wedding. I wanna get married ASAP.”

  I didn’t know if I wanted to marry Ian anymore, but at this point, I felt like I didn’t have a choice. I loved him and already had his baby.

  Blaise

  “You look so bomb, Blaise. Take a picture.” Priscilla stopped as we walked down the street.

  “No. I’m not ready.”

  “Girl, you look good. Pose.” She took her iPhone out.

  “With or without the stroller?”

  “With it since it’s fancy as fuck.” She laughed, and I joined her.

  “Pretty, Mommy.” Island stared, standing next to Priscilla and making me smile. Hearing her say that as I posed made me feel more confident because kids were honest.

  “Thank you, princess.” I took a few more photos. “Come take a picture with mommy, Island.”

  She rushed her little self over to hug my leg. I wanted to be sure she didn’t feel left out because I loved her just as much as my son.

  When Priscilla was done, she airdropped me the photos so I could see which one I wanted to post. I chose one with my baby girl in it, then posted it to my Instagram.

  “Did you really put Cortez Khalil’s as the caption?” Priscilla laughed, covering her mouth as we walked into the florist’s building.

  “Yep. Tired of these hoes playing with me.” I smirked, pushing the stroller, and keeping an eye on Island and her doll.

  “I’m so dead. This nigga liked and commented too. Them hoes are gonna run you out of town with pitchforks.” Priscilla cracked up. It was nice to see her smile and laugh.

  “They can try.”

  “Blaise, welcome!” My wedding planner, Daniela, greeted me with a hug. “Daniela.” She stuck her hand out to Priscilla.

  “Priscilla. Wow, this place is nice.” Priscilla tilted her head back to admire the humongous floral shop as she shook hands with Daniela.

  “Yes, it is. I talked with the owner for about an hour before you came, Blaise, and we got some ideas. Let’s sit down.”

  We followed Daniela to a table and sat across from her. She opened a large book just before the florist Ava joined us.

  “Hello, Blaise. I’m Ava.”

  “Yes, I know. That’s my mother’s name, so it’s easy to remember.” I smiled, shaking her hand.

  “Well perfect then.”

  Ava and Daniela began showing us different arrangements as well as the prices. Ava made us some tea after a while, giving Daniela and I some time to discuss it all.

  “So how much would the white and red roses for the wedding, and then the anemones for my bouquet be? In total?” I quizzed. I hoped it wasn’t too much, because that was what I really wanted. Ava was a well-known florist, so I knew it would be pricey, just not over the top hopefully.

  “It would run about fifteen thousand dollars.” Ava returned with the teacups, placing one in front of me then Priscilla.

  “Damn, why so much?” Priscilla asked.

  “The venue is large, and if we want to cover the space, we need a lot of arrangements,” Daniela explained.

  “Oh, well, that’s okay. We can do something cheaper.” I nodded.

  “Hi, Ava!” A girl that looked familiar waved her down.

  “Hey, honey. One moment, okay?” Ava smiled.

  “Sure thing!” the girl responded, then darted her eyes to me as she sat down in the waiting area. I simply looked back to Daniela. It was possible she’d seen me on TV. I wasn’t exactly a normal person anymore.

  “Why don’t you ask him and see if the price is okay?” Daniela urged me.

  “No. The venue is already a lot, then my dress is so much, the caterer, it’s just too much money.”

  “Call, Blaise. You never know.” Priscilla nudged me, and Daniela nodded.

  Rolling my eyes, I grabbed my purse to step outside and call Belly.

  “Okay, Zara. I have the arrangements for you,” Ava said to the girl who she’d told to wait earlier.

  “Thanks so much.” She stared me down as we passed one another. “Megyn rushed my ass over here to make sure I picked them up in time for the event,” she made sure to add before I stepped out, but I ignored her because I didn’t give a damn.

  I dialed up Belly and then paced back and forth, waiting for him to pick up. I knew he was training and probably wouldn’t answer.

  “What color panties you got on?” His voice came through, making me roll my eyes with a smile.

  “Pink, but they’re not that cute because I just had a baby and don’t want to wear pretty panties yet.”

  “I don’t give a fuck. Pull them grannies to the side and slide right in.”

  “Cortez, no, and they’re not granny panties; they’re just not my usual.” I chuckled, shaking my head. I appreciated that he still found me sexy. I thought he’d at least be on me less, but that hadn’t been the case at all. “Anyway, you know I was seeing the florist today, right?”

  “Yeah. That bitch come at you foul or some shit?”

  “No, baby, calm down. She told me the flowers that I want for the wedding would be fifteen grand. I know that’s too much money, but they kept telling me to ask. I’m sorry I called you for this.”

  “Get what you want, Blaise. I told you that.”

  I was surprised to hear him say that.

  “No, you don’t have to. I—”

  “I know I don’t have to do shit. I’m telling you it’s straight. If I ain’t have it, I would tell you; you know that shit. I always keep it real with you, right?”

  “Yes. I know you have it. I just didn’t want to take that much from you.” I stared down at my Balenciaga boots.

  “Aye, you and me, we only getting married once. We ain’t breaking up or divorcing at muthafuckin’ all, so do whatever the fuck you wanna do, aight?”

  “Okay.” I half smiled, staring out into the street.

  “I just need fifteen thousand dollars’ worth of head and pussy when you get back.”

  “What? That could take months!”

  “Nah, you got that million-dollar shit. Suck me up for ten seconds and it’s paid off.”

  I burst into laughter, shaking my head at him. He was silent per usual, so he was probably serious.

  “Okay. Well I love you, and thank you. I really appreciate it, honestly.”

  “I know. I love yo’ ass too.”

  We hung up, and right when I turned around, I saw Zara standing there. She was clearly listening in on the conversation the whole time.

  “Hi, Blaise.” She gave me a fake smile. “You know, I don’t want you to think I hate you due to my best friend, because I don’t.”

  “I couldn’t care less if you hated me. I don’t even know you, and I don’t know her.”

  “You do know Megyn.” She nodded, eyes closed for a second.

  “I’ve heard her name, and I’ve seen her in public, but I don’t know the bitch like I just said.”

  Chuckling as if she was calming herself down from doing something that would ultimately get her ass beat, she replied, “Well like I said, I have no issue with you. I only don’t like your man, or whoever’s man he is today.”

  “He’s mine, and I’m sure you know that.” I gave her a view of my rock. “I’m pretty sure you and your thirsty bestie were watching the match where he asked me to be his wife.”

  “Girl, so what? You’re actually proud to be getting married to a nigg
a like that? He’s still fucking Megyn.”

  “I highly doubt that, but if he is, she sure is a damn dummy to be fucking a man behind closed doors who disses her in public. Plus, she’s not getting a got damn thing.” I smiled. I knew Zara planned to get under my skin, but that shit wasn’t gon’ work. I trusted Belly, and I knew my man was no fool to cheat again. Therefore, nothing this hoe said was going to disturb my spirit.

  “She’s getting that dick, something you think is yours!”

  “It is mine, sweetheart. And on top of that dick, I’m getting a ring, papers, a house, cars, gifts, trips, oh, and we have a little baby now too. I’m reaping all the benefits, and soon, more as his wife, while your best friend is getting simply… dick.” I shrugged and shook my head as if I felt bad for her. “Megyn, and probably you too, have been around long enough to expect more than dick from a nigga. You can get dick from a homeless man. Look me up when Megyn is receiving more than a quickie in private. Okay? Good talk.”

  Before Zara could say anything else, I went back into the floral shop to finish up my appointment. I used the credit card that was attached to the account that Belly had added me on to pay, and then Priscilla, my babies, and I left.

  Priscilla went home, and my children and I drove to my manager’s office because my lawyer was gonna be there to discuss the plans for Helen and then Five-Star. Before getting out of the car to head up into the building Ivory’s office was in, I breastfed Cortez, while Island ate the small lunch I’d packed her. I didn’t want to fill her up because I wanted her to eat dinner with Belly and I later.

  Once my kids were finished eating, I went to the bathroom to put Cortez in a fresh diaper.

  “You are so adorable, Cortez.” I stared down into his chubby brown face before kissing his cheek and putting him back in the stroller. “I don’t know who is more adorable, you or Island.” I looked down at Island, who was brushing Cookie Belly’s hair.

  “Me,” she replied, making me laugh as I washed my hands.

  We headed out of the bathroom, to the elevator, then rode up to Ivory’s office. Once inside, I gave Island her Gizmo tablet and headphones to keep her occupied while I talked business. Cortez was already dozing off, so it was perfect.

  “Okay, Miss Cansino, Helen is suing for one and fifty thousand dollars, half of what she wants, she claims. She says that will cover her surgery, medications, and the wages she lost from not being able to work due to her nose,” my lawyer, Eileen, explained.

  “Work? What fucking work?” I spat. I was ready to punch this bitch in her face again.

  “It says here that she’s a model, an internet model.”

  “She posts photos on Instagram and hosts clubs for like fifteen hundred dollars! She is not a model! No one is checking for her to even do boutique photo shoots! She gets sent free clothes from them cheap ass places and takes pictures in them. That’s the most modeling she does.”

  “Well, Miss Cansino, that’s what she’s asking for.”

  “I’m not paying her.” I then turned to look at my manager. “Ivory, I am not paying that bitch one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

  “The best defense we can come up with is to say she provoked you. From what I understand, you said she was trying to flirt with or seduce your fiancé, Cortez Khalil.” Eileen stared at me.

  “Yes. I caught her, so I punched her. She knows very well that he and I are together—everyone does. She also knew I would be there, and I’ve heard that she’s been trying to get with him to upset me. She knew I was pregnant at the time and wanted to stress me out.” I added some lies to make it sound better.

  “Okay. We can maybe work with that.” Eileen wrote some stuff down. “Now the case with your child’s father, Jelani Davis, is gonna be pretty easy because he is not going to win custody. You could be doing cocaine every night and he still would not win. It is extremely hard to take custody from a mother; she has to be completely unfit in every way, which you are not. All this will be is a bunch of court fees and a waste of time, Miss Cansino.”

  “So what should she do? Blaise has a lot of work to focus on, and the last thing she needs to do is waste any of her time in court for nothing,” Ivory ran off. I appreciated her for keeping me booked, but mama was tired.

  Looking me in the eyes and lacing her fingers, Eileen replied, “I know you don’t want this, but I suggest you attempt to sit down and talk with him. In a nice way, convince him to drop this and work it out privately.”

  I looked down into my lap, rubbing my fingers over my fresh manicure, thinking. I didn’t want to talk with Five-Star at all, but Eileen had a point, so did Ivory. I had a movie to film, I was returning to Streets, and then the limited series I’d booked with Vanessa Mario, which I was overjoyed about. Additionally, I was a mother, soon to be wife, and planning a wedding. I really had no time to throw away.

  “Okay. I will talk to him.” I sighed.

  “I suggest doing it as soon as possible,” Eileen suggested, and I nodded.

  I left with my babies in tow soon after, and by the time I got home, it was a little past 6:30 p.m. I kept my kids in the kitchen with me while I made dinner, and once it was almost done, I heard Belly arrive. While he showered, I let Island eat and fed Cortez as well. Belly helped me put them both to sleep after their baths, then we went to the kitchen together.

  “We’re eating together?” I leaned against him, rubbing his back. He smelled so good and was so warm.

  “We are.” He nodded as he put the food onto the plate.

  I grabbed some napkins and made us a glass of juice, before we went to the den to watch some TV. Like he’d been doing since he got home from jail, he fed me. We shared the plate until it was gone and did the same with the juice.

  Looking up at his handsome face as he finished the juice off, I asked, “Is this annoying?”

  “What?” He turned from the TV to look down into my eyes.

  “Sharing food with me.”

  I didn’t know how or why it made a difference, but it was the only way I could eat now. Belly made sure to have breakfast with me, a big one since we most likely wouldn’t be able to do that for lunch. Then when he got home, we had dinner together like just now.

  “Nah.” He kissed me with his cold wet lips.

  “Okay, good.” I cuddled up to him more. “I go back to the doctor in a couple weeks, so I will see if she can do something so we won’t have to go through these changes anymore.”

  “Aye, listen.” He brought me even closer to him, pressing his forehead against mine. “I love you, Blaise, and I’ll do any fucking thing for you. If I have to feed you for the rest of the time we’re together, I ain’t tripping.”

  “Yeah, but in public, isn’t it gonna be embarrassing?”

  “Hell fucking nah it’s not. And I wish a muthafucka would say some shit to me.”

  Chuckling, I shook my head. “They won’t.”

  “Exactly. They gon’ keep it fucking pushing and not say a muthafuckin’ thing.”

  Smirking, I pressed my face into his neck, which smelled so good and was so warm.

  “Thank you.” I spoke softly as he cut the lamp in the den off.

  I’d dated men who liked me, bought me things, told me I was pretty, showed me off, but I’d never had one that really cared about me the way Belly did. He’d come face to face with the Blaise beneath the pretty face, the sexy Instagram pictures, the good mom, and the actress, yet he still loved me. I was at my weakest point, health wise, and he was here for me, loving me the same or maybe even a little more.

  My thoughts prompted me to hold his hand tightly as we watched TV. A few moments went by before he craned his neck a little to peck me slowly. For a while, we just sat there in the dark, kissing.

  Two days later…

  “Ready to go, baby.” I reached my hand down to Island.

  We’d all eaten breakfast together, and today would be the first time I left Belly alone with our son. I was worried, but I knew he wouldn’t harm hi
m. I think it was because he was so small, new, and fragile, so I didn’t want anything happening to him.

  “Yeeaahh.” Island nodded, taking my hand.

  We walked to the den where Belly and Cortez were, and I smiled, seeing my baby curled up against Belly.

  “His bottles are already made, and I showed you how to change his diaper the way he likes, so—”

  “The way he likes? Nah, I gotta rough his little ass up some.” Belly turned away from the TV to look at me before a grin burst through his face. “I’m fucking with you. I got him. Leave us alone.”

  He had me worried for a second, so I was happy he was joking.

  Island and I left out to the car, and since her car seat was in my new Range Rover, we drove that.

  On the way there, I looked through the rearview at Island before saying, “We’re going to see daddy. Are you excited?”

  “Daddy home.” She drank from her sippy cup.

  “Yes, at his home. Not at home with us, right?”

  She said nothing as she continued to stare out the window, so I gave up, turning on the radio.

  “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande came on, a song both Island and I loved, so we sang along together. Island could only say some things, but she had the melody down, so I recorded us for my story because it was so cute.

  We got to her father’s place in just fifteen minutes, and I parked in the big ass driveway, closer to the door. Five-Star’s mansion was ridiculous. It was larger than his mother’s, which was already like a damn castle.

  I rang the doorbell, and a few moments later, Five-Star answered. His hair was freshly cut, and he was wearing a lot of ice and jewelry per usual. His cologne was strong but nice, smelling as if he’d drenched his sweater and jeans in it. On his feet were socks only, I guess since he was in the house. His green eyes sparkled as he gazed at me, waiting for us to come inside.

  Five-Star had always been fine, but his personality made him ugly to me… now.

  “Hey, baby girl.” He cheesed down at Island.

  “Hi,” she responded, admiring his home.

  “’Sup.” He nodded his head to me, and I just put my hand up to give a lazy wave. “We can go in the playroom.”