Nobody Can Love You Like Them Roughnecks Do 4

by Shvonne Latrice

  “Oh, okay.”

  “So can you come see me tonight? Make up an emergency and leave.”

  Lord, what am I supposed to do now?

  The next afternoon…

  “Oh my gosh, finally!” I hopped up from the table I was seated at to greet Blaise.

  “Hi. Sorry. I had to drop Island off to her father’s mother.” She parked the stroller containing her son after we embraced. I looked down at his cute self before sitting back down.

  “It’s fine. I thought you stood me up.”

  “Of course not.”

  The waiter came to get Blaise’s drink order, and as soon as she left, I said, “I don’t know who to be with.”

  “Out of whom? I thought you liked Judd and was dating him? Is there someone new?”

  “No, but Herman is trying to get with me again.”

  “So what?” Blaise frowned. “He lied about having a child you said, right?”

  “Not necessarily. I never asked if he had kids.”

  “Izzy, you shouldn’t have to. It should come up in conversation. Did you have to ask about Judd’s daughter?”

  “No.” I sat back in my chair, folding my arms. “But he’s so mature. He scares me.”

  “Why do you keep saying that? You want an immature man? I hope not.”

  “No, of course not. I want maybe something in the middle.”

  We chuckled together as she shook her head.

  “I think you’re afraid maybe because you feel like he’s ahead of you in life. You don’t want him to start demanding that you catch up.”

  “Maybe that is it. I’m thinking maybe I should date them both and see.”

  “I’m thinking maybe you shouldn’t. We’re only a year a part, but I have more experience, and trust me when I say Herman is not the type of man you want. Realize that now before he gets you pregnant and you’re forced to deal with him forever.”

  I nodded, taking in what Blaise was saying, but I still wasn’t sure.

  6

  Priscilla

  “Will,” I moaned, feeling his mouth against my pussy. It was 10 a.m., and he was already going in.

  I knew I shouldn’t have brought my ass over here last night, but when he said it was just to talk, I came. I knew damn well this would happen, and not only did he fuck me, I spent the night.

  My body gyrated as I exploded for the second time, and finally, he unlatched his mouth from between my hips. I sat there panting heavily as he trailed kisses up my frame, moaning as if I was the best thing since sliced bread.

  “What you doing today?” He hovered over me, light skin beaming because of the sunlight coming through his blinds.

  “I have an audition for a show then rehearsal.” I smiled as he pressed his lips against mine. “So that means I have to go. But thank you for the wake up… head.”

  “Anytime.” He fell to the side of me, watching me get out of the bed.

  I cleaned myself in his bathroom, then looked in the burst mirror as I washed my hands.

  I had no idea what I was doing with my life, and it was a complete mess. I was dating Sly, fucking Will, and still somewhat living with Rafi. How did I go from being a damn homemaker to a hoe? Shaking my head, I rinsed the soap from my hands then dried them off on the nice blue towel behind me.

  Since I was in here, I hopped into the shower to wash off. Of course, Will heard the running water, so he joined me, and that turned into sex session number three, since we got it in twice last night. After experiencing the best orgasm ever, we washed off for real.

  He had a drawer full of packaged toothbrushes, so I opened one and cleaned my mouth with it. He did the same as I swashed around some mouthwash, and then we went back to his bedroom together.

  “I wanna talk to you about something serious.” Will slipped on some boxers.

  “About?” I pulled my dress over my head.

  “Us. I mean, I know you got your boyfriend, but it doesn’t seem like you enjoy him too much.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Because I’ve been fucking you, Priscilla.” He chuckled, but in a way to show that he was confused by my question. “If he was all that and more, you wouldn’t be waking up in my bed naked, right?”

  “You can’t just say that I’m not interested in him because you and I are having sex. I do like him, a lot. I just like you too.”

  “Okay, but it ain’t possible that you like this muthafucka as much as you like me. Shit, we shouldn’t even be at the like stage still. I told you I love you.”

  “You don’t love me.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to have this conversation right now, so him throwing that out there again was bothersome.

  “How you gon’ tell me? You think I just say that shit because it sounds nice? It’s true.”

  “No, no, because if you did, you wouldn’t be doing the stuff that you do.” I folded my arms, standing.

  “I went to therapy for you. Yes, it was good for me, but initially, I went because I wanted you back. I would’ve never done no shit like that for Dionne. I haven’t taken Dionne out in over a year, but I’ve taken you out, brought you flowers, spent money on shit that cost a grip—”

  “Okay! Damn.” I plopped back down onto the bed. “Will, I do like Sly, and I don’t know if I’m ready to be with you or if I want to see where things go with him. And hell, maybe I want to play the field for a while. I’ve been in a relationship since before I was even old enough to drink.”

  “Here we fucking go. Last time it was Rafi, and now I’m competing with this nigga.”

  “Well if you had have been right from day one, then none of this would be happening. It would be just you and I.” I cocked my head.

  Sitting next to me, he sighed and said, “Shit like this makes me wonder if I made the right decision.”

  “About what?” I stared at the side of his face since he was looking straight ahead.

  “Leaving Dionne to be all in this shit with you.” He still wasn’t looking at me. “You constantly talk about the shit that’s wrong, and she wasn’t like that. She wanted to stick by me and see me through this shit.” Laughing angrily, he continued, “And you, I can’t even get you to be with me after all the shit I’ve done to keep you. Every time I look up, I’m competing with a new nigga, who I know don’t care about you or love you more than I do.” Finally his eyes were on mine.

  “Then go be with Dionne since that’s clearly the better choice!” I shouted, pissed off at him for comparing me.

  “I would, but she deserves better than a nigga who’s in love with someone else. I guess I do too, huh?” He got up.

  “What do you mean? I’m not in love with anybody—”

  “Right, you just like somebody. I’m trying to get my shit together, and yeah, I love you, Priscilla, but I can’t do this shit with you no more. I feel like I’m chasing yo’ ass for no reason. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

  “Will, you can’t—”

  “Just leave once you get all your shit. We don’t even need to do the back and forth no more. I’m not mad with you. I’m just over the bullshit, honestly.”

  I watched him leave the bedroom as I sat there speechless. I was supposed to be the upset one, but he had me feeling bad as hell. I just wasn’t ready to give up Sly, and I guess it was because I didn’t trust Will to be the man he claimed he was. What if I dropped Sly and Will reverted to his old ways? I’d be stuck with him, and Sly would want nothing to do with me.

  On the flip side, my stomach felt queasy at the thought of never talking to Will again. I just wished I could easily leave toxic niggas behind. Why was it so hard for me? Took me forever to drop Rafi, and once I finally did, I was now in a web with Will.

  Gathering my things, I left the bedroom, enjoying the scent coming from the kitchen.

  “Do you mind if I have some food.” I stood under the archway of his kitchen.

  “Nah. It’s just frozen waffles, eggs, and chicken sausage.”

  “That
’s fine.” I sat down at the table.

  It was dead silent as far as conversation while he fixed our plates. I tried making small talk as we ate, but it was so awkward that I just gave up.

  “You done?” He got up to collect our plates as I finished off my juice.

  “Yes.” I watched as he took them to the sink. “Will, I—”

  “I’m over it, Priscilla. You can go.”

  He began cleaning the dishes without skipping a beat, so after sitting at the table for a little while longer, I did as he’d directed me to.

  On the way home, I felt a little drowsy, so I decided to stop by this cafe I was passing. I’d never seen it before, but it was cute, and I needed caffeine if I was going to make it to my audition and rehearsal.

  I found parking along the curb, and got out, enjoying the beaming sun on my skin. Entering, there was no line, so I quickly surveyed the menu before settling on a vanilla iced coffee with coconut milk.

  “Medium vanilla iced coffee with coconut milk!” the barista hollered out, which I found odd because I’d just ordered it.

  Prancing to the counter, I reached for it the same time as another woman did. Looking over, I sized her up, wondering what the hell was wrong with her.

  “This is for Swan.” The barista read the cup, then darted her eyes between us to see which one of us was her.

  Swan. Swan. Where had I heard that name before?

  “Sorry, I got the exact same thing.” I stepped back, watching Swan as she slid the drink toward herself. She was a very pretty, light-skinned girl, but looked as if she’d just reached the age to where she could vote.

  “It’s okay!” She beamed. Turning to some tall, husky man, she asked, “Baby, what did you get? It’s taking a while.”

  “Blended coffee,” he replied.

  I’d only looked him over briefly, because I was staring her down, trying to recall where her name had been mentioned. Unfortunately, she caught me gaping at her.

  “I’m sorry, you just look familiar,” I lied. “Do you dance?”

  “No, I don’t.” She shook her head for emphasis.

  I gave up, figuring it wasn’t important and continued to wait for my drink. My thoughts drifted to my horrible morning with Will and—

  “So is that your boyfriend?” I pointed to the handsome man Swan had just spoken to.

  I now remembered where I’d heard her name. She was one of Will’s little whores, specifically one he felt comfortable enough with to kiss in the mouth.

  “He is.” She gave me a strange look, which was warranted since I’d asked such a personal question.

  Glancing his way to make sure he wasn’t paying attention, since he was a little ways away sitting at a table, I whispered, “Do you work a regular job now?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Are you still selling your body, or do you work a normal job now? Do you speak English, or should I ask you in French?” I spat.

  “I speak English very well, but I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

  “Medium vanilla iced coffee with coconut milk!” the barista shouted, so I grabbed my drink.

  “What I’m getting at is you better not still be sleeping with Will, or you and I are going to have a problem. You understand me?”

  “No one is sleeping with that weirdo, okay? And what, are you stalking me?”

  “Girl, please!”

  “Mocha blended coffee!” the barista called out Swan’s man’s order.

  “You’re upset with the wrong person…” she looked at my drink cup, “Priscilla. Will was a customer, and nothing else, despite what you or he thinks.” She whispered the last part since her boyfriend had walked up for his coffee. “Have a good day.” She left the shop with him as I stood there sipping for a moment.

  See, now I was feeling good about the decision I’d made earlier; well, the decision Will made, I guess.

  Leaving the coffee shop, I went straight to my car so I could get home and change clothes. I’d asked my aunt to spend the night since I knew I’d be out all day doing my audition and then rehearsal. It just so happened that I ended up going to see Will last night too.

  Pulling into the driveway, I climbed out, smiling down at my phone since I’d received a text from Sly.

  Sly: I’ll send a car tomorrow morning for you to go shopping for a dress.

  Me: Baby you don’t have to do that.

  Sly: I want to. Bring your friends if you want.

  I was grinning hard as hell as I entered my house, and headed up the stairs to my bedroom to change.

  As soon as I set my phone down onto the bed, I heard the bedroom door open. Seeing Rafi, I rolled my eyes and went into my closet to pick out a purse, some tights, my thigh high boots, and a t-shirt.

  “You always come home…” Rafi checked his Richard Mille watch, “at 11:45 a.m.?” He crossed his hands below his waist.

  “Maybe you should mind your business.” I brought what I’d picked out into the bedroom.

  “I’m just saying, you got my damn kids here, but you’re out all night, doing God knows what.”

  “Yeah, and where were you? How many times a week do you sleep here with them? Maybe once every two weeks? And you stay held up in that damn studio room when you do, so don’t try to check me about my kids.”

  “Your kids? You ain’t make them alone. You didn’t pay for all the shit they needed alone either.”

  “Those are the only things I didn’t do alone when it came to them. I’ve been equivalent to a single mother almost since they got here.”

  “Whatever, Priscilla. You sure didn’t have this problem when we were together, so I don’t wanna hear the shit now. Since I ain’t fucking with you, I’m a deadbeat now. I get it.”

  “No, you’re not a deadbeat. I never said that. I said I’ve been the primary caretaker since birth, despite us being in a relationship and living together, which isn’t normal in a two-parent household. Secondly, not being with you is the least of my worries, Rafi.” I chuckled because he was insane, as I brushed my hair back into a ponytail.

  Coming behind me as I stood in the mirror above my dresser, he peered at me through it then asked, “Who was you with last night?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “I’m just asking because, according to Instagram, you got a whole new man.”

  “You don’t see shit on Instagram.”

  “Y’all not as secretive as y’all think y’all are, Priscilla, and I hear shit. Additionally, people tell me when they’ve seen you and who they’ve seen you with. I thought he was just a fling when I saw y’all at the lounge, but according to the streets, it’s serious.”

  “So. Yeah, Sly is still my man, despite you popping up on us at the lounge like a banshee.”

  He got closer behind me as I smoothed my edges with a toothbrush.

  “That’s funny that he’s your man, yet you were out all night with somebody else.”

  My stomach dropped because I didn’t know how he knew that. And if he knew, did anyone else? What the fuck? Did Will post something? How did people cheat constantly? This shit was way too nerve-racking.

  “Excuse me? No I was not!” I finally turned to look up into Rafi’s eyes.

  “You couldn’t have been with his ass because he’s in Texas right now, right? Won’t be back until tonight.”

  My breathing became labored as anger soared through me. I didn’t know what to say, mainly because Rafi had been coming at me with facts for the past two minutes. I wanted to gauge his eyes out.

  “I was with my friends, if you must know.”

  “Well Blaise was at home with her baby, according to her story on social media, and Alivia was at the movies, according to hers. So what friends were you with that got you out until almost noon, Prissy?” An evil smirk appeared on his face in slow motion seemingly.

  Inhaling his cologne, I had no idea how to respond.

  “I went out with some friends from my dance class!”

  “
Who, Dionne? Heard y’all wasn’t friends no more because you fucked her nigga.” He got even closer to me. “You know, it’s crazy that you left me because I cheated on you, and you were such a good woman to me, when yo’ ass was out here doing the same shit.”

  “No.” I put my finger up to correct his ass. “I have never cheated on you, Rafi, ever. The times I messed with Will, you and I were either broken up or on a break. And I left you because you gave me an STD then tried to get me to accept the fact that you may cheat again someday.”

  “Okay.” He shrugged with a smile. “We can say you’ve never cheated, and I believe you because you was on me.” He laughed. “But we can agree that you ain’t been extending that same courtesy to Sly. You was with another nigga last night, when you got a man.”

  “You shouldn’t even care.”

  “I do. I care because you belong with me.” He backed me into the dresser. “You’re cheating on this dude because you wanna be with a nigga you actually love… me.” He kissed my neck.

  “I do love someone, but it is not you anymore.” I nudged him away, wanting to laugh at his perplexed expression. “The man I love values me and would do anything to make me happy, even when he doesn’t want to.”

  As the words spilled from my lips, it made me miss Will more and more. I liked Sly, a lot, but how could I be sure that he would make sacrifices for me and put me on a pedestal like Will had?

  Not saying anything in response, Rafi left the bedroom, so I finished getting dressed before going to make some food for my children, and then leaving.

  Belly

  Stepping out of the bathroom with my towel around my waist, I heard my phone ringing, so I went to snatch that shit up quickly. Blaise was taking a nap in our bed with my son, and I did not want that little muthafucka waking up. He was chill usually, but when woken abruptly and before he was ready to, he became hard to calm down.

  Picking up my phone, I saw it was Henry, the owner of the boxing gym who allowed me to chill at his beach house often.