Tae spent four days trying to find Tasha. He stopped by her lace and by the hospital every day, but she was never at either spot. Finally, he said, “Fuck it.”
“She just shut me out completely,” Trae told Kay. “If she wasn’t pregnant, I’d be tempted to put my foot in her ass for pullin’ some shit like this. My patience has just about worn the fuck out.”
Kay allowed his boy to vent and just shook his head saying, “If she wasn’t pregnant she probably wouldn’t be doing this, man. Being pregnant, they go through changes. You’re gonna have to be a little more patient.”
“Patient? I’m locked the fuck outta the house that I pay the mortgage on. She changed the phone number and I pay the fuckin’ bill! She even refuses to answer her cell phone. Patience? And where the fuck is she at? I know Red knows where she is.”
“I know she do, too. When I ask her, she won’t say nothing. You know they stick together. She’ll turn up, you know she can’t hide forever.”
“Is Faheem there?” Roz asked Jaz. “No.”
“Good. I’m on my way over.”
“It’s about time. I don’t know if I ought to let you in. You haven’t been here in over a month.”
“Jaz, please. I got issues. You haven’t been by my house either and you got a key.”
“Roz, I’m almost nine months pregnant. I can’t even get in and out of a car, so how do you expect me to travel way across town? And plus you changed the freakin’ locks remember?”
“Okay, okay. I beg your forgiveness and I understand your situation. I need to talk to you. Don’t be mad at me, okay.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“I got you something.”
“What?” Jaz perked up.
“You’ll see when I get there.” Tasha hung up. She pulled up into Jaz’s driveway ten minutes later carrying two boxes. Jaz was standing in the doorway waiting for her.
“Let me see this big rock I’ve been hearing about before we go any further,” Jaz commented. She looked at it.
“Dayum! This is gorgeous.” She hugged Roz.
“Congratulations! Trae must be in love,” she said, rubbing the tip of the rock.
“This is beautiful.”
“Look at you! Look how big you’ve gotten! You sure you’re not carrying twins?” Roz wondered out loud.
“Hell, no, I ain’t carryin’ twins,” Jaz emphasized. Roz gave her an awkward hug, and they both laughed.
“Look at you. Can’t brag about that six-pack anymore. You’re only three and a half months. You’re not supposed to be showing yet. You sure you’re not carryin’ twins?” Jaz teased.
“I doubt it,” Roz said, touring the house. “It looks so nice in here. Did you redecorate everything?”
“Just about. I’ve been bored to death. I’m ready to have this baby,” Jaz said as they headed for the kitchen.
“Wait until you get my size.” Tasha sat both boxes on the kitchen table. Jaz opened them both. “You do love me!” she squealed.
“A strawberry cheese cake and a pineapple cherry cheesecake. I’m in heaven,” Jaz moaned. “Are they unthawed?”
“They should be,” Roz told her. “Let me wash my hands while you get the plates.”
When Roz came back from the bathroom, Jaz had fixed them both a plate with a slice of each. They sat down and dug in.
“Look at us ... pregnant at the same time. We didn’t plan this,” she laughed. “And you? I can’t believe you got pregnant on us,” Jaz squealed.
“Me neither.” Tears started rolling down Roz’s cheeks. “The birth control pills they prescribed apparently weren’t strong enough. You know this was not on my list of things to do and it’s making me so damn emotional.”
Roz told Jaz her entire sob story about Nikayah choking her at the party, the hospital stay, the bed rest, the message Nikayah’s mom left on her voice mail, and the fact that she’d been ducking Trae out.
“Damn, partna, that’s some fucked up drama. I couldn’t believe that punk-ass nigga choked you. You should have cut his fuckin’ throat with that bottle. But peep this. Word on the street is Nikayah was a snitch and was gonna smoke Trae. So, my sista, if and I say if Trae smoked him first, can you blame him? And being a snitch, anybody could have done Nikayah. I know Faheem had planned on paying him a visit after he heard about him strangling you.”
“Please, Jaz. That shit got Trae written all over it.”
“Well, who would you rather have in a body bag, your cheating-ass ex or your soon-to-be husband and baby’s daddy? What’s the matter with you? You need to pull yourself together.”
“Pull myself together? Jaz c’mon now. You know what’s going to happen next. Nikayah got people just like Trae got people.
“Someone is going to retaliate. I’m cutting him loose. He’s gonna get smoked or his ass is gonna end up in prison. I feel it. I am so mad at myself for even fucking with him. And now my dumb ass got the nerve to be carrying his baby,” she let out a disgusted laugh.
“What if nothing happens? How about if what you feel is wrong? Y’all obviously love each other. You can’t just run off. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Whose side are you on?” Roz asked her, wiping the tears off her face with the back of her hands.
“Yours, of course. But”
“But what?” Roz asked, cutting Jaz off.
“He’s gonna kick your emotional ass when he catches you.” They both laughed. “How long do you plan on hiding? You know you miss him.”
“Oh God. Do I? He is so good to me.”
“Then you are losing your fucking mind just like Angel told me. At first I didn’t believe her.”
“Whatever, Jaz. Nobody’s listening to me or trying to understand how I feel or what I’m going through.”
“Nobody?”
“Nobody.”
“Then that should tell you something. Your ass is dead wrong. You knew what the brotha was into when you started fuckin’ him. You knew it could go one of three ways. He could get outta the game alright, end up in jail, or in a body bag. You need to put them emotions in check or go see your doctor and have him prescribe you something. And after you have this baby get your damn tubes tied because you are acting real dumb.”
“Were you this bad when you first got pregnant?”
“Yes and no. Plus I had all that court drama going on, remember? Faheem said I’m still driving him crazy. I was bad but not as bad as you are. The next time Trae calls here looking for you, I’m gonna tell him to go easy on you because you’re definitely not yourself. I don’t know this person sitting across from me.”
“Oh God! He called here?”
“What the fuck do you think Tasha? A couple of times.”
“I know he wants to kick my ass.” She sank back into the chair.
“I bet you nobody ever dogged his ass like this.” She smirked like she was enjoying being in control.
“You are a bitch,” Jaz said, shaking her head.
“Wouldn’t it seem like he would just say, ‘Fuck her, I’m moving on’?”
“If you were just a trick, yeah, but you’re carrying that nigga’s baby, and he wants to marry you. He cares about your crazy ass, you dummy.”
“Well, I’m moving on. He’ll eventually get the hint.”
“Suit yourself. I think it’s your loss. I’m tired of talkin’ to your hardheaded behind. How ’bout Angel?” she asked, changing the subject. “That bitch done got brand-new as well.”
“Besides being open like Seven-Eleven for Kay, stressing over whether or not she passed the bar exam. She’s just working. She said she would rather die than take that exam over again.” They both burst out laughing.
“That girl is stupid,” Jaz laughed. “Miss attorney-at-law, ‘I ain’t never fuckin’ a drug dealer,’ done got turned out by just that, a drug dealer. She swore up and down she was gonna marry a professional, Mr. lawyerman, Najee. What happened?”
“Najee ain’t have a chance. Kay is Mr. GQ smooth. He is fucking her silly, and she has practically moved in with him.”
“Get the fuck outta here? Dayum,” Jaz said. Jaz couldn’t believe it. “Shit must be all of that.”
“Apparently so. She seems very happy.”
Jaz had prepared fried chicken, glazed carrots, wild rice, and biscuits and was fixing Roz a plate.
“This is why my stomach is so big. I eat too much. I’ve gained twelve pounds in the past three months. But this chicken is so good,” Roz said.
Afterwards Roz helped Jaz straighten up the kitchen. When she got ready to leave, Faheem was coming in the door. Aw shit, she said to herself.
“What up, Faheem?” she asked, smiling and trying to ease past him and out the door.
“You,” he said, blocking the door and pulling out his cell phone. “There’s a reward out on your head, one hundred Gs to bring you in alive,” he joked.
“Move out my way, Faheem,” she said, trying to pull him away from the door. “That’s all I’m worth, a lousy hundred Gs?” she teased.
“I guess. Why you clowning my man like this? I told him y’all pregnant women can be treacherous. Y’all stress a nigga out quick.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Call your man, ma.” He handed her the phone.
“Not now Faheem.”
“Why not?”
“I got some issues I need to work out.”
“Bullshit. Call your man. Y’all are supposed to work issues out together.”
She could tell he was dead serious. She took his phone and dialed Trae’s number, praying that he wouldn’t answer. She let it ring eight times, then looked at Faheem and said, “No answer. Can I hang up now?”
Faheem moved from in front of the door. “You ain’t right, ma. I threatened that nigga telling him he better not fuck you over and I would have never known that it was you I should have been threatening about him.”
“Bye, Faheem.” She gave him his phone back, left out the house, and jumped in her ride.
Angel received her notification that she passed the bar. She was ecstatic. She was now Attorney Angel Denise Smith,
Esquire. Everyone else was thrilled for her. Kyra was throwing her a small party, but it was only for immediate family and friends.
Angel was sitting up in the bed going through the Wall Street Journal when the phone rang.
“What up?”
“Nothing, Trae. What’s up with you?”
“Checkin’ on your girl. Ain’t seen her in a few weeks. How is she?”
“I spoke to her last night. She’s okay.”
“Good. Congratulations on passing the bar.”
She smiled. “Thanks Trae.” She could hear voices in the background.
“Hold on,” he said, passing the phone to Kay.
“What up, beautiful?”
“Hey baby, I miss you. You’ll be back Saturday for my little party, right?”
“’Fraid not. We won’t be back until Sunday night, early Monday morning.”
“Kaylin, you said you would be back,” she whined, tossing the newspaper aside and pouting. “I can’t believe you.”
“Red, me and you will celebrate as soon as I get back. I got something special planned. You know if I could, I would be there. What are you doing?”
“I was reading the paper. I miss you. This house is lonely without you.”
“Then come spend the day with me tomorrow.”
“I can’t,” she snapped, still mad that he wasn’t going to be at her party.
“Why not?”
“I got work piled up to the ceiling. I really can’t take off.” Kay was quiet. “Where are you?”
“In your bed.”
“What are you wearin’?”
“Pajamas, Kaylin. What do you think, I’m here butt naked?
Knowing that you are way across the planet somewhere?”
“Why don’t you pull the pajamas off and get naked for me?” She started laughing.
“Why, Kaylin? Why would I do that?
You’re just going to miraculously appear in front of me?”
“Because I want you to do somethin’ for me.”
“What?”
“Go get a towel and take off your pajamas.”
“Are you serious?”
“What do you think?”
She could hear his tone of voice changing. “Hold on, Kaylin.” She set the phone down, got a towel, and pulled off her pajamas.
“I’m back, Kay. Now what do you want?” she asked, pulling the sheet up over her.
“You know what I want. I want you to cum for me. I like the way you call my name when you cum. I want you to feel me there. Close your eyes and feel me bitin’ and suckin’ on your nipples. Go ahead and run your fingers over your clit for me.”
“You are such a freak,” she said, wetting two fingers and running them over her clit. His deep, sensual voice was making her even wetter. She closed her eyes and began imagining him biting and sucking on her nipples just the way she liked him to.
“I want you to feel me running my tongue down your stomach and then tickling your belly button.” He smiled as he heard her breathing getting heavier.
“I’m lickin’ and bitin’ on the inside of your thighs just the way you like me to. You feel me? Remember my birthday present?”
Now she was grinding real slow, whispering his name, and telling him, “I feel you baby and yes I remember.”
“I’m taking two fingers and sliding them inside you. Your juices are so hot and you feel so good as I’m movin’ them in and out. I’m using my other hand to spread those lips so that I can suck on that beautiful clit. You smell and taste so good.” From the way she was moaning he could tell that she was getting ready to cum.
“Slow down. Don’t cum yet. Tell me you love me.”
“I love you,” she moaned. “Too ... late. I’m ... I’m cummin’ Kaylin.” She was cumming, quivering, and calling his name.
“Damn Red, baby!” he said, squeezing his dick.
“That was the shit. You got my dick about to break. You there?”
“Mm hmm, I’m here. I wish you were here.”
“Me, too. Come see me tomorrow.”
She could feel the heat through the phone line.
“Kaylin,” she whined. “Don’t make me do this. You got me missing enough days as it is.”
“Then take a half-day. I need to see you.”
“Call me in the morning. I have to see what I can do.”
“What time?”
“Around nine.”
“Are all the doors locked and the alarm set?”
She smiled. “Yes, daddy. Love you.”
“Love you too. I’ll holla at you in the mornin’.” He planted a loud kiss in her ear then hung up.
“Now that’s what you call takin’ care of home,” Kay said, putting the cell phone in his back pocket. Kay, Trae, and Omar, and their peeps Pras and Rico from Miami were in the limo on their way to Club Amnesia.
“She sound like a freak, man. Let me get her number,” Rico said.
“Nigga, what you smokin’? You didn’t just hear me say home?” Ain’t nobody runnin’ up in that but me.”
Rico laughed, “It’s like that, my man? You bein’ selfish. But I’m not goin’ out like that. When we get up in here, I’ma hook you up, dawg. I ain’t selfish.”
“You ain’t gotta hook me up, nigga. I’ma take care of my business,” he said, making sure his gats were fully loaded.
“Then I’m goin’ to get some sleep. I’ve been up for the past fifty-plus hours.” He looked over at Trae, who was conked out.
“Yo, Trae!” he yelled.
“Trae!” He turned back to Rico.
“I gotta treat coming to see me. I gotta rest up. Trae!”
“Why the fuck you screamin’, dawg? I ain’t deaf.”
“Wake the fuck up, man! Be alert,” Kay joked.
“Fuck you, man. You the one need to be alert,” Trae said, sit-ting up and wiping his face with his hands. He pulled a blunt out his back pocket and looked around. Omar threw him a lighter.
Trae puffed and puffed. With blunt dangling out the side of his mouth, he checked his gats. “You ready man?” he asked, looking over at Omar.
“I stay ready.”
“A’ight, then. Let’s roll.”