Her Sweetest Revenge 3 Page 11

  Rich had been in and out of the room pretty much all night. Even though it was his birthday party, it was his club and he wanted to watch his money, so he kept getting up. Eventually, he saw C-Lo in Monica’s ear. He walked up to Monica and snatched her by the wrist. My eyes zoomed in on this just as I decided to sit down.

  I jumped out of my seat and got up in Rich’s face. “Yo, motherfucker, why you snatchin’ on her!”

  “I ain’t snatch her.” He tried to sound calm. But I knew he was pissed. It was written all over his face.

  “Nigga, I ain’t blind. I just saw you snatch her arm.” I turned to Monica. “You just gone let him snatch you like that? He don’t look shit like Lester to me,” I said, referring to our dad.

  Monica’s eyes pleaded with me because she knew it was about to go down. “Mya, it ain’t like that. Don’t trip.”

  I ignored her and turned my attention back to Rich. I grabbed a Patrón bottle that was close to me. I was ready to bust his head wide open. Trina grabbed me back.

  “You betta check yourself because shit just got real. Don’t you ever snatch on her!” I threw the bottle as I broke free of Trina. Lucky for Rich, he was quick on his feet. He ducked and I missed his head by about an inch.

  “Mya, calm down! It was not like that!” Monica pulled me away from Rich and wrapped her arms around me. “Mya, just chill.”

  I took a deep breath, my eyes still glued to Rich, who was still bent down in his duck stance. I looked at Monica. “You betta check that nigga, Monica, ’cause his future won’t look too bright if this shit happens again.”

  “I know, he just in his feelings right now about C-Lo tryin’ to push up on me. That’s all.” She continued to try to explain but that went over my head. I could care less about his reasons.

  “You know what, Monica? I don’t give a fuck, as long as you heard what I said! I’m out.” I snatched away from her and walked away.

  Just as I stepped out of VIP and started making my way down the steps, I noticed Quad watching me and we locked eyes. Quad and her goons stepped out of their VIP area followed by two females. We walked past each other and bumped shoulders. Already upset, I got offended.

  “You got a problem?” I sneered at Quad without warning.

  Quad started laughing like I was funny. “Bitch, do you know who I am?” she had the nerve to ask.

  “No, the question is, do you know me, bitch!” I spat.

  Quad just stared at me as if she wanted to figure me out, then she lifted the shot glass in her hand and polished off her drink. I knew then that the bitch was trying to annoy me and I did not have the time.

  “Just stay out of my way next time, bitch.” I was done with her so I threw my hand up to dismiss her. That must have struck a chord because her whole demeanor changed.

  “Bitch, that’s enough disrespect. My whole crew in this motherfucker—” She paused. “But I happen to know you Hood’s li’l wifey, so I’ma give you a pass. ’Cause normally, I dead disrespect.”

  Then her bodyguard stepped up. Now that I took as a threat. I went wild screaming as the bouncers tried to hold me back. “Is that a threat, bitch? Then let’s Glock! Right outside, hoe!” Before I knew it, I had been pulled outside the club.

  “Mya, calm down,” Trina and Leslie kept chanting repeatedly.

  “Fuck her anyway, she just talking shit,” Leslie yelled.

  “Fuck this, I’m out.” I popped the locks on my Range Rover and balled out. As soon as I opened the front door of my house, I yelled out for Hood.

  “Babe, I’m in the kitchen.”

  I threw my key down on the counter; I was heated. “What’s up with that bitch Quad?”

  Hood looked at me, confused. Before he could say a word, I went in. “That bitch tried it tonight. Are you fuckin’ her or something?”

  Hood’s eyes got big like circles.

  “Yo, what the fuck is going on?”

  “Nigga, you betta answer me!”

  “Hell, no! Now tell me what happened.”

  “I don’t know. I was leaving the club and I caught the bitch staring at me. The next thing I know, we bumped shoulders and one word led to another so we was going in. Then, the bitch gone threaten me. And you know I don’t take too kindly to that.”

  “Man, I don’t know what’s up with that shit. But I’ma check that bitch.”

  “You betta or I will ’cause she got me fucked up.”

  Hood’s eyes followed me as I reached for a peanut butter cookie on the table where he had been eating. I had to eat something sweet to help me calm down.

  “I can’t believe you thought I was smashing her. That bitch is a dyke.”

  “Hmmmph.” I almost choked on my cookie.

  “She like girls, babe.” Hood started laughing.

  “Well, somebody betta tell her, I ain’t her bitch. Always some bullshit.”

  I grabbed another cookie and stormed off toward the stairs. I was going to bed. Hood followed, taunting me.

  Chapter 27

  Things were cool over the next couple of weeks. There was no real face-to-face drama with anyone and I welcomed that with opened arms. I was beyond sick of the bullshit. Ma had still not gotten back with Dad. That kind of saddened me, but at the same time I respected her decision. So while I had her at home with me I made good use of it. We stayed up late nights, watching movies and talking about our past lives in the Brewster. While a lot of them were bad memories, there turned out to be a lot of good ones. So we laughed into late hours of the night.

  I was still hanging out in the cold on the Rochelle situation. She was still MIA. While my heart ached every day over it, I prayed and kept it moving. I had to believe that she would snap out of it. I just felt like if my mother could bounce back from a full crack addiction, then anyone had the ability to change. Because one thing I knew for sure, she loved Tiny and eventually she would turn her life around for her.

  “What are you doing here, Ma?” I sucked the bone of one of the hot wings that I had been gnawing on for lunch. I was sitting in my booth area taking a quick lunch when she strolled in.

  “I came by to meet up with your dad.”

  That was shocking: the last I knew they were not even talking. “Oh,” was my only reply. She knew that I was wondering what was going on.

  “Why you say it like that?”

  “Like what?” I smiled.

  “You know how you said it.”

  “No, for real, Ma. I was just saying oh. I mean it’s been a minute and you never even hinted that you even talked to him.”

  “Well, it’s not like that. He called and said he wanted to show me something and I figured, why not.” She shrugged it off like it was no big deal.

  “Hey, you don’t have to explain to me. That is your husband.” I continued to smile as I put a fry in my mouth. “But since we on the subject, how are things with you two?” I figured that I might as well ask. Now would be a better time than any.

  She looked at me and playfully rolled her eyes while she considered my question. She reached into my plate and grabbed a few fries. She chewed on them slowly, then sucked her teeth.

  “I guess you can say cool. We have talked a few times over the past couple of days. He has been trying to prove to me that he is a changed man.”

  “That is good, Ma.”

  I was happy to hear her say that. I wanted nothing more than for them to get back together. But I also wanted nothing than more for her than to be happy. And if that meant not being with Dad, then I would have to agree.

  “I told him that words are okay, but I need to see it first. I’m from the old school and I know all too well that action speaks louder than words ever can. So he just better be prepared to do that. ’Cause I ain’t puttin’ up with no mess.”

  “What mess you ain’t puttin’ up with?” Monica strolled in, all teeth and gums.

  Ma and I both looked at her and wondered why she was so happy. She was in the salon every two weeks to get her hair done. And she ha
rdly ever came in grinning, so something was up.

  “I was talkin’ about me and your dad. Why you grinning like a Cheshire cat?”

  “Who, me? Just smiling on this beautiful day. That’s all. So what about you and Dad? Are you two back together?”

  “No, but we have been communicating a little. That is why I’m here. He asked me to meet him.”

  “Now that’s what’s up.” Monica was not shy about showing her enthusiasm for them getting back together. But we knew that would be her response.

  “Calm down. Nothing is official yet,” Ma warned just as Dad walked in.

  “I know, I know. Anywho, look at what Rich got me.” She held out a key, one that I recognized as being a Mercedes key.

  “Hmmph, so is that his ‘I’m sorry’ gift?” I was not impressed. Hell, I could buy her a Mercedes. As far as I was concerned, she didn’t need anything from him.

  Ma just looked at the both of us. “Well, is it, Monica?” she asked when it took Monica too long to answer me.

  “Nooo . . . he got me that so I can have more than one whip. That’s all. Rich likes his woman having the best.”

  “Well, I hope understands that you don’t need him to buy you anything. All you have to do is come to me.”

  “Mya, I know and so does Rich. But he is my man now and if he wants to blow money on me, then why not? Come on, he is a good guy. Just give him a chance, Mya,” she pleaded with a smile.

  “Whatever you say . . . and why have you not been coming around?”

  “I have been busy with school and getting Imani back and forth. By the time I get in at night, I’m bushed.”

  I wanted to believe her, but I was not sure if I should. She liked Rich and was willing to say anything to get us to like him too. So I decided not to soften so easy.

  “All right, that’s what you say, but that nigga betta not be tryin’ to control nothin’.”

  “I swear it is not like that.”

  “It betta not be, ’cause your dad will kill him,” Ma threatened as she stared a hole into Monica. “And that’s if I don’t get to him first.” That was a promise.

  Monica chuckled just as Dad entered. He spoke to us but made it clear that we were not his number one priority. He walked over to Ma, softly kissed her on the cheek, then asked her if she was ready.

  Ma did not smile but I could see her heart soften at the sight of him. In a soft tone she told him that she was ready. They both quickly told us good-bye and left.

  We smiled as we watched them leave. “Dang, I hope they get back together,” Monica said.

  “I know, right.”

  “So you got time to hook me up?” Monica rubbed her hand through her hair.

  “Uhhh, you do need an appointment, ma’am,” I said playfully.

  “Oh, so it’s like that now? All right.” Monica acted like she was about to leave.

  “Bring your spoiled butt and sit in this chair.” I closed the lid on my hot wings and stood up.

  Chapter 28

  “ Mya, I just don’t know. I might go, though I just keep second-guessing. Especially since that last date I tried. That shit was a mess, but I guess you can’t compare the two,” Trina vented.

  She had been conversing with this guy that she had been introduced to and they had been on a few dates, which all turned out good. Now he wanted to take her to Vegas for a weekend. Of course, she came to me hoping that I could give her advice on what to do. For some reason, people always thought I knew what to do. But I almost felt clueless about everything myself. Who was to say what was the right or the wrong decision. Normally, I would take my questions to Rochelle looking for advice.

  “Look, you have to make this decision on your own. Weigh all of your pros and cons. To be honest, since you have been dating him, everything has been going good. Dude seems like a really good guy. Plus he’s close to your family. That is why you agreed to go out on the first date with him. That has to count for something.”

  “Yeah, I guess you are right.” She seemed to be considering what I had said. But I could sense that something was still bugging her. She sighed, then looked away. “Something I hate to admit is that it has a lot to do with Teddy.”

  That was a name I had not heard her use in a long time. Hearing her bring up his name sort of upset me. That dude was a loser, always beating on Trina and making her feel low just because he was a creep, but in the end, he had gotten what he deserved. Trina didn’t need to waste one moment thinking about him. He was not worth the spit it would take to wet him.

  “Sometimes I think about him and I shake—remembering all the things he did to me. It just makes me afraid to date or get serious with someone. What if I meet another him?”

  “Fuck Teddy with his punk ass.”

  Trina looked at me with shock on her face. I don’t think she saw that coming. But I had to be real and that was exactly how I felt.

  “Trina, you cannot let him end your life. If you were going to do that, you may as well have stayed with him. You are not the scared woman that he was used to. You are strong and you have taken control of your life.”

  A tear slid down Trina’s left cheek. She wiped it away and shook her head in agreement with what I was saying.

  “You keep living, and whether or not you are ready to take that step and go to Vegas, let it be your choice, from your own heart.”

  More tears had fallen, but Trina had managed to dry them all. Her voice was still shaky when she said, “You are right, Mya. Thank you, girl.”

  “You know I got you.” I grinned.

  Out of nowhere, in strolled Leslie. Secretly, I laughed and wondered if I should offer her a job. After all, she spent all her spare time at the salon. At first she always told me when she was stopping by. But now she just popped up. I mean we were cool and all, but I was running a business, not a meeting place.

  “What’s up, chic?” I spoke and Trina did, too.

  “Girl, I had to stop by to let you know that I found out where your boy Kalil lives.”

  Now that was information I wanted to know, so I became all ears and Leslie was sure not to disappoint. She gave me the run-down all the way to Kalil’s front door with her directions. I was not going to get lost. I was also learning that Leslie was a little resourceful. I would miss her when she moved away. She was supposed to be gone by now, but some things had come up that she had to take care of. Although the crib had been picked and paid for, according to her, her move was put off a bit.

  “Thanks, Leslie. Good lookin’ out.”

  I was distressed but at least I knew how to find Rochelle now.

  “It was nothing,” she commented as Nora stepped into the room.

  “I will be making my way over there soon.”

  “Well, I wish you well. But listen, I got to go, trying to get this shit wrapped up so I can make this move.”

  “A’ight.”

  Pam walked in the room and told Trina that someone wanted to speak with her, so she left the room also. Nora was still standing in the room looking like she had something on her mind.

  “Mya, remember I told you I thought your girl Leslie looked familiar to me? Now I remember where I saw her. She was at one of my cousin’s parties. You know I told you about my cousin that was deep in the drug life, the one that just got out like a year ago.”

  “Yeah, I remember.”

  “Well, your homegirl Leslie dates one of his friends and I have seen her at one of those parties. Matter of fact, I think I’ve seen her at more than one. I can’t really remember dude’s name, though. He a cutie, too—” Nora paused. I could tell she was racking her brain to remember what the guy’s name is.

  As I turned off my equipment, I kinda of thought about what she was saying. It must have been an old guy Leslie had dated or something. Either way, my mind quickly reverted back to Rochelle. I had to go visit her at Kalil’s.

  “Alonzo,” Nora said, breaking into my thoughts. I look at her, clueless. “I think that is the dude’s name.” Nora
smiled, happy that she had remembered.

  “Okay,” I answered.

  I was eager to get back to what I was planning. I had to convince Rochelle to come home. But how would I? What could I say to convince her? She would probably tell me to get out. And hell, that is even if she allowed me to come in. But none of that mattered, I had to at least try. There was no way I could just give up on her. Not yet.

  Chapter 29

  I decided that I could not waste any time so instead of going home after leaving the salon, I headed straight to Kalil’s house. As I pulled into his driveway, I saw Rochelle’s Mercedes truck parked outside. That meant that she was there, unless she was gone somewhere with Kalil. I doubted that, because there was a newly revamped Chevy Caprice with the butterfly doors on it and an Audi sport parked outside. I figured one or both had to belong to him. He was so damned ghetto, I would bet money that the Chevy Caprice definitely belonged to him.

  Stepping out of my vehicle, I hit the lock before taking a look around the neighborhood. It was not too bad; not necessarily the ghetto, it was in a middle class section of Detroit. I had my Ruger tucked in my side just in case something popped off and I had to bust a cap in Kalil’s punk ass. All he had to do was give me a reason. But on the other hand, shooting him was the last thing I needed to do. Rochelle would cast me out as the devil. So I would try to chill.

  I knocked on the door and after three knocks, there was no answer. I sighed and turned to leave, because if I knocked one more time, I would use my gun and shoot the knob off, because I knew someone was inside. Before I could walk away, the door opened. I turned and came face to face with Kalil. The look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He was high.

  It was just too hard to try and hide my attitude, so I just went with it. “Where Rochelle at?”

  “Damn, no hi or nothin’.” He grinned. In the background I heard Rochelle yell, “What’s that?”

  “Nothin’,” he answered, still grinning.

  With a gesture of his hand, he invited me in, then slammed the door. I stood in the short hallway looking around. The house smelled like fried chicken and air freshener. The walls were painted pale beige with dark brown trim. Whoever painted had no imagination. Kalil stepped around me and started walking, so I followed. The first door we passed on the left was open. I glanced in and noticed that it was a bathroom. Then we approached the second doorway off the right and walked through it. I continued following him and we landed in the living room. Rochelle was there lying on a powder blue and white sofa watching The Facts of Life.