When A Bad Boy Wants Your Heart

by Sephiri J

  My blood started to boil. “That’s never going to happen. They need to apologize to me for having their son waste my time,” I snapped at her.

  “Don’t talk to me with that tone of voice,” my mother said. “How do you even know that anything that girl said is true? She could be lying and claiming she was with Dontrell when she really wasn’t. He’s not the type to do something like that.”

  “Did you not hear the voicemail I played yesterday? That was his voice,” I said annoyed.

  Even when things were right in front of her face, my mother refused to see the truth for what it was. In her mind, Dontrell could do no wrong, so obviously, I was wrong.

  “Think about what I said, Bo. Dontrell is a good man. He is good for you and he loves you. He told me he called you yesterday, and you didn’t pick up. You need to call him. Marrying him will be good for you,” she said.

  I shook my head because it made no sense even arguing about this with her.

  “Mom, I have to go,” I said when I heard a knock on the front door. I hung up before she could say anything else.

  “I swear to God she’s aggravating as fuck,” I said aloud as I threw my phone down on the couch and walked toward the front door.

  Sade looked at me sadly, and I knew she felt bad for me. She knew the shit my parents were on ever since I was young. Everything was about appearances to my mother; it didn’t matter how I felt. What mattered was what people thought.

  I opened the door and saw the locksmith standing there in his uniform and with his bag.

  “Ms. Washington?” he asked when I came to the door.

  “Hey, yes. Thank you for coming on short notice,” I said and stepped to the side so he could come inside.

  I showed him the door, and he looked at it with his face scrunched up, but he said he could fix it. I breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled out his tools, and I walked back over to the couch Sade was sitting on and sank down beside her.

  “You okay, mama?” she asked while rubbing my knee.

  “I’m just aggravated,” I said and rubbed my temples.

  “I know. What was she saying?” Sade asked me concern on her face.

  I exhaled and shook my head. “She was saying that I shouldn’t have done what I did because everyone was embarrassed. And maybe the girl is lying, and I need to listen to Dontrell and work it out,” I said while rolling my eyes.

  “Oh my God,” Sade said. “Did she not hear the whole voice message? How is the girl lying when Dontrell was the one who admitted it?”

  “Girl, I don’t know. But you know my mother. She wants to believe what she wants to believe,” I said. “Saying how Dontrell wants me back because he called me once last night, and he’s mad I didn’t answer. Fuck him! I don’t want him. And even if I did, for him to think one phone call that I refused to pick up is doing enough to fix this shit? I swear I’m living in a twilight zone.”

  “Don’t stress about it,” she said to me. “You knew she would react like this. Try not to let it get to you.”

  I nodded, but that was easier said than done. “Can you believe she said I should go apologize to the Carters for yesterday? She must be smoking crack.”

  Sade laughed and put her head on my shoulder. I literally didn’t know what I would do without this girl.

  “Thanks for listening to me vent. I know you have your own shit dealing with…” I said, but she waved me off.

  “Girl, don’t even worry about it. You know I’m always here for you.”

  “I know. And I appreciate it,” I said. “Are things better with you and Greg?”

  Sade rolled her eyes and waved dismissively. She acted like she was tough when it came to her relationship with Greg, but deep inside, I knew she was hurting. She and Greg had been together for five years, and for the last year and a half, they’d been trying to have a baby. But for whatever reason, it wasn’t happening. Greg already had one kid who was seven years old with another woman. He and Sade were trying to start their own family, and it wasn’t happening. Every month that she ended up with a negative pregnancy test, I felt her sadness even more. I wasn’t Greg’s biggest fan because I thought he was an asshole and not right for my friend, but she loved him, so I just wanted her to be happy.

  “Things are about the same. My period is about two weeks late, though, and my nipples have been tender for the last few days, so… this might be it,” she said. She smiled a little, and I sat up in my chair with a huge grin on my face.

  “Bitch, for real?” I screamed and leaned forward to hug her.

  “I don’t know for sure, Bo,” she said and laughed, but I could tell she was excited about the thought.

  “We need to find out. ASAP!” I said and pushed her back by the shoulders, so I could look at her.

  “I’ll take the test when I’m ready. I just don’t want to get too excited,” Sade said.

  I saw her eyes flicker, and I knew not to push it. We had been down this road so many times before. I knew it was hard for her because she wanted a baby more than anything. And she would be such a good mom.

  “I know. Whenever you’re ready or if you need me, you know I got you,” I said.

  “I know, best friend,” she said. “Everything good with the photography thing? I know you had it on hold while you were planning the wedding.”

  “Yeah, I need to get back out there,” I said.

  I loved taking pictures. It was my passion. I had bought my first Nikon camera a few years back, and after taking a few courses online, I’d started out taking pictures at family and friends’ kids’ birthday parties and events. Then I did family photo sessions and graduations. Then I did a couple weddings. My pictures were beautiful. I guess I had an eye for it.

  When I was with Dontrell, he always treated it like it was a little hobby of mine. Like this couldn’t be an actual career that I took seriously. He always thought I would do this part time between running his house, popping out his kids, and planning events like his friends’ wives. Same went for my mother. She couldn’t imagine that this was a real thing I wanted to do with my life. They both had me all the way confused because photography was never something I intended to give up or stop doing.

  “You will. You know that you’re always happiest when you’re behind that lens, girl,” she said.

  I smiled because she was right. I loved everything about capturing people’s happiest moments. There was something about being in the background and snapping my camera to make a permanent memory of something people always wanted to remember.

  “I put in an application about a month ago to be one of the photographers to work at this huge tattoo convention downtown next week. I haven’t heard from them yet, though, so I probably won’t get it. But that would have been so good to add to my resume,” I said sadly.

  “There’s still time. Don’t stress it,” Sade said. “Speaking of tattoos…” she said and glanced down at my wrist.

  I followed her gaze and then exhaled slowly. The rose tattoo on my wrist looked back at me, a reminder of the time I was actually happy with Dontrell.

  “What are you gonna do about that?” Sade asked.

  “I need to cover this shit up,” I said, running my index finger over my wrist.

  I remembered the day we got the tattoo. We went to the Keys for my birthday and decided it would be the ultimate testament to show each other that we would be together forever if we both got a symbol of our love. Looking back on it, it seemed cheesy as fuck, but at the time, it felt right.

  “What you doing later?” I asked, looking back up at Sade.

  “I have to go by my dad’s house to bring him his medication then home to go to this thing with Greg later,” she said.

  “Oh.”

  I looked back down at the rose. It was a beautiful tattoo, and every time I had looked at it in the past, it made me smile. Now it was just a bad reminder of the lie I had unknowingly lived for so long.

  “I think I’m going to go see if I can get this covered up aft
er this guy is done with my door,” I said.

  “Okay, babe. I wish I could come with you, but you know how it is,” Sade said.

  “Girl, don’t even worry about it. You do so much for me already. How’s your dad anyway?” I asked.

  “Same, girl. He refuses to take his medicine every day, so his blood sugar was really high a week ago. They changed his pills up, though, and he’s been good. I just need to bring him a new bottle and make sure he took the ones from last week,” she explained.

  I nodded and squeezed her hand. My friend had a lot going on, so the fact that she was even riding through all my mess with me meant a lot. Just then, I heard the locksmith come up behind us. I turned to look at him.

  “We’re done. It wasn’t as bad as some others I’ve seen. But you should be fine now,” he explained.

  I breathed a sigh of relief and followed him back to the door to see what he did. Sure enough, everything looked brand new.

  “Thank you so much,” I said and reached into my purse to pay him.

  “I’m gonna head out,” Sade said to me as the guy was leaving.

  “Okay, girl. I’ll call you later though, okay?” I said and reached over to give her a hug.

  “Okay, luv. Send me a picture of the coverup. What do you think you’re going to get?” she asked.

  “Something with a camera would be cute, I think,” I said with a smile.

  She nodded then smiled also. “Okay, hun. Later.”

  I walked to my car as she drove off. The closest tattoo shop I knew of was this shop called Legend, but I’d heard the guy who ran it wasn’t that good, and the last thing I needed was for anyone to fuck up a coverup. So, I drove toward City Ink. I’d never been there before, but I’d heard a lot about the place. I knew I probably wouldn’t be lucky enough to get a last minute appointment, but I might be able to set one for later this week. A lot of celebrities were known for stopping by this shop, and from what I’d seen online and, on the blogs,, every artist in the shop was talented as fuck. The owner was supposedly some guy named City, but he was real low key and didn’t pop up much. I think I’d seen his picture here and there before, but I didn’t remember too much of what he looked like.

  Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up to the shop. Stepping out my car, I straightened my yellow sundress and walked in. They had “Discussion” by Kevin Gates playing and a couple people were sitting in the waiting room. I loved the vibe inside the shop. They had art all over the walls, and the walls were painted a vibrant red. I walked up to the receptionist.

  “Hey,” I said and flashed a smile at her.

  “Hey, how can we help you?” she asked.

  “I wanted to see if I could possibly get in for a cover up?”

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  I shook my head slowly.

  “I don’t, but I was hoping maybe you could squeeze me in. It’s a small tattoo that I’m trying to cover,” I said and pointed to my wrist. “I don’t think it should take that long.”

  She glanced down at my wrist then forced a smile at me. “I’m real sorry, but we are all booked up.”

  “Oh,” I said as my stomach dipped. “When is your next opening?”

  “Any artist in particular?” she asked, looking at her computer.

  “No, not necessarily,” I said with a shrug.

  “Marcus is the first available, but that’s not until next month,” she said, looking at the screen.

  “Next month? Shit,” I said and raised an eyebrow. This was crazy.

  “Aye, Tati, what’s good?” someone said from behind me, and I turned to see whose voice it was.

  “Hey, Marcus.” The receptionist waved and gave him a cute smile. It looked like the two of them might have had a situation or something the way she was eye fucking him.

  “What’s good?” the Marcus guy asked as he came up to us.

  “I’m good. Trying to get in to get a cover up, but she just told me the first available isn’t for a month,” I said.

  He stared at me, taking me in, and for a second, I was annoyed. Then I figured if he was Marcus who I would be getting a tattoo with in a month, I might as well see if I could get in with him sooner.

  He whistled. “Shit, that long?” he asked looking at me then grinning. “What’s your name, though?”

  “Bo,” I said, extending my hand and giving him a flirty smile.

  “What’s up, Bo? I’m Marcus,” he said and licked his lips.

  “Nice to meet you. You can’t do me this big favor and squeeze me in to your schedule before next month? I just need this shit covered up,” I said, holding my wrist up so he could see. He took my hand and turned my wrist over as he studied the tattoo.

  “What you think you want over it?” he asked me with his eyes still focused on my wrist.

  “I’m a photographer, so I was thinking a camera or something like that,” I explained to him.

  He nodded slowly.

  “Aight, that’s not too difficult. I can do something up for you for sure,” he said, letting go of my arm and looking back at my face.

  “For real? That’s what’s up? When can I come by?” I asked, staring back at him.

  “Come with me now.” He glanced at his watch, and I raised my eyebrow.

  “Marcus you can’t do now. Slim is coming over in forty-five minutes to finish the sleeve you started last week,” the receptionist said.

  She had a whole attitude in her voice, and I turned to look at her. She looked pissed, and I didn’t think it was because of the appointment.

  Marcus waved her off. “This’ll be done before that nigga gets here. Come on, Bo,” he said to me as he walked away.

  I walked right behind him, trying not to smile too hard. We got back to his booth, and I sat on his chair then put my arm up.

  “So, what’s the story why you tryna get this covered up?” Marcus asked. He sat beside me with a marker and started free drawing over my tattoo.

  “I got this with my ex, and I found out he was cheating on me and had a baby on the way right before we were supposed to get married. So, I broke it off with him, and now I want to get rid of every reminder I have of him,” I said as I watched him closely.

  Just thinking about Dontrell had me mad all over again.

  “Oh shit,” Marcus said, and he chuckled. “When this all go down?”

  “Yesterday,” I said, and he laughed out loud.

  Hearing him laugh about it made me smile a little. If I took myself and my emotions out of it and looked it at as an outsider, it was kinda funny.

  “Yeah, I made a whole scene at the wedding,” I said, shaking my head.

  “No shit,” he said, looking up at me and stopping what he was doing.

  “Yeah. It was kinda crazy.”

  Marcus stared at me like he was real interested in what I had to say. He wasn’t really my type, though. He had light caramel skin and a low fade. He wasn’t a bad looking nigga, but I liked my men more chocolate, plus I could tell he was trying to imagine me naked, and that turned me off from jump.

  “Sounds like a crazy fucking story. Sorry you went through that shit,” he said while looking back down to finish his outline. “What you think about this?”

  I looked down at what he had drawn on my arm, and my mouth fell open in amazement. He had drawn the picture of a camera over the rose with the word “Smile” underneath.

  “Oh my god, this is beautiful. I love this,” I said truthfully. It was better than I expected.

  “Aight, cool. Let’s knock this out,” he said.

  For the next twenty minutes, he worked the wrist tattoo. It was painful, but I knew it was going to look so good, so I was just excited to see the finished product. I glanced down and saw he was just about one third of the way through.

  “Aye, Marcus. What’s good, nigga?” I heard a voice say from the doorway.

  “City, what’s up, bruh?” Marcus said, but my mouth dropped open when I saw that the person who was standing by the doorway wa
s the same man who jumped in my bed and had a gun in my side last night.

  “Oh shit,” City said when he saw me looking at him.

  He grinned, exposing that pretty set of white teeth. “What’s good, Bo?”

  9

  Sade

  I was a wreck as I sat on the toilet at my dad’s house. The inside of the toilet was red, and I realized that my period had started while I was peeing, which right now was devastating to me. I had been having slight cramps as I drove over to my dad’s from Bo’s house, but I figured maybe it was because I was hungry and hadn’t eaten all day. But when I ran to his bathroom to pee, I noticed the spotting on my underwear and now the light red water in the toilet bowl.

  I was extremely frustrated. This wasn’t fair. No one wanted a baby more than I did, and I knew I was going to be the best mother. I worked part time in a home day care while I did online classes for Special Education. Being around the kids made it so much harder for me because I just wanted a little girl or boy of my own. Being with Greg didn’t make it any easier. I knew he loved me, but he said things sometimes that were hurtful even though I didn’t think he even realized the effect his words had on me.

  I exhaled and wiped my eyes before I put on a pad. After flushing the toilet, I went to wash my hands and splash some water on my face. My eyes looked red because I couldn’t help the fact that I’d cried when I saw the blood. But there was nothing I could do about that now. I needed to just go out and check on my dad then go home.

  Walking out to the living room, I sat down on the couch beside my dad, who had his eyes glued to Steve Harvey’s Family Feud.

  “Name something you might eat with a burger?” Steve Harvey asked on the television as I sat down on the couch beside my father.

  “French fries,” my father quickly said before the contestants answered. He looked over at me and smiled when I sat down. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey, Daddy, you been watching this show all afternoon haven’t you,” I said and gave him a weak smile.

  My father chuckled. “Just about an hour.”

  I smiled at him and shook my head. My father was one of the best men I knew. I was born in Atlanta, but when I was a few months old, my mother decided that having a baby and a family wasn’t in the cards for her. My father said he came home from work one night, and she wasn’t there. She’d left me in my crib with a full diaper and a note saying she couldn’t deal with the responsibility and she was sorry. I hadn’t seen or heard from her again since that day.