Thanks to everyone who has welcomed me into this fandom. Y’all support has been everything <3.
Y’all can call me Trips. I’ve been writing for a long time. Deciding to make my jump over here. I’ve been a wrestling fan for a very long time. I consider myself a late attitudes era baby.
My page is strictly 18+. NO MINORS ALLOWED
Rules
| positive vibes only
| RESPECT one another in the comments.
| If you don’t like what I write that is fine. Let’s try not to be negative. There are other amazing writers on this app and I will gladly recommend ANY of them.
| Currently my muse is of course the OG Bloodline. But if you would like to request anything, I’ll gladly do it :). That info is below.
If you want to request a story (doesn’t matter what wrestler) I’ll be happy to do it! Just send me a message through the Confessionals on my page.
I missed y'all real bad. I hope everyone has been taking care of themselves.
Quick update, I know I said I was going to rewrite "Dear You," I fell into the deepest writers block ever 😩 I need yall help. What is something y'all want to see in the story? I already have a few changes and twists I want to add but I want to make it worth it.
Drop in the comments below what you want to see more of and what you want me to add. LOVE YALLLLL
Bronco👀. Finding out we're pregnant while we're in the bathroom together nervous and all its all cute😌.. Like how do we not want a baby with him i mean have you seen his fine ass😝
Author's note: This is another request, I got a few more to go. But, I would like to let yall know for future reference, to make yall request(s) a little more detailed please.
I know I'll make them detailed regardless, but I just want to make sure I stay on topic when writing cause... whew.. but help a sister out LMAO!
Anyhow!, here's a little fluff for yall.
Enjoy babies!
Forever My Lady
READER|
For the third time this week, I was sitting on the kitchen counter with my legs swinging, drizzling one of his favorite sauces over a bowl of peach cobbler. It didn't even make sense.
The spice of the chili and the tang of the apricot pulp hitting the sweet, buttery crust should have made me gag, especially with the wave of nausea that had been riding shotgun in my throat since Monday. But right then, it was the ONLY thing that sounded remotely edible.
I was so exhausted my eyelids felt like lead weights a deep bone-weary exhaustion that had me napping at two in the afternoon and still sleeping ten hours a night.
"Reina, you're out here eating like a pregnant lady. What kinda concoction is that?"
I jumped, nearly dropping the Chamoy bottle. Ed was leaning against the kitchen doorframe. His entire six-foot-six body nearly feeling the space. He was wearing his gray Nike sweats, and a black t-shirt. His brown eyes were fixed on my bowl, a crease formed between his thick brows.
"I-uh– I was craving this..." I mumbled, licking a drop of red sauce off my thumb. "And it's good. Don't knock it 'til you try it."
"Naaah, baby. I been peepin' how you been movin' for the past week and a half. You been sleepin' deep as hell." he stated while making his was over, "And you threw up yesterday mornin' cause the smell of your coffee, which you NEVER haver issues with– smelled weird."
By a few more steps he was stood in between my knees, his hands coming to rest gently on my hips. The warmth of his skin always made my chest tighten in the best way. "Plus, you put Tajin on your eggs yesterday, too. Tajin, Mami. On eggs. Who does that?"
I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him he was trippin', but the words died in my throat. The moment I thought back...
My cycle was late. Not just a couple a days late. I mean Late Late. Like 2 weeks late.
Ed saw it on my face. The exact second the math started math-ing in my head. His eyes softened, a slow, gorgeous smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Those beautiful dimples deepening.
"Mhmm, thats what I thought. Let's slide, Princesa."
I swallowed and raised an eyebrow, "Where we going?"
"Where you think, crazy girl?" He chuckled, his hands sliding from my hips to cup the back of my thighs as he easily lifted me down from the counter. My feet hit the floor, but he didn't let me go, keeping me caged against his chest. "We slidin' to Walgreens. Gotta get you some of them sticks so we can see what's really good with you."
"Edwin, stop playin'," I said, my voice barely a whisper as my heart started doing double-time. "What if it's just... a fluke? Maybe just stress. You know I been working a lot." I tried to reassure him, and myself that it was just that.
He leaned down, pressing a warm, lingering kiss right on the temple of my silk-wrapped edges. "Ain't no stress makin' you eat Chamoy on cobbler, mi amor. Come on. Go grab your slides."
Ten minutes later, we were in his car. My stomach was in knots as we drove down Orlando Ave. My knees were shaking so bad I had to press my palms flat against them. Ed noticed immediately. He shifted his right hand from the steering wheel to me left knee, over my hand. Rubbing gently circles with his thumb on the back of it.
"Breathe, mami.," He murmured, "I got you. Whatever the results are. We good. I got you, I got us."
I looked over at him. The evening sun was hitting the side of his face, highlighting his sharp jawline. His braids were pulled back. He looked calm. Like nothing in this world could shake him.
I took a deep breath, letting his warmth seep into my bones, and nodded, "I hear you."
When we pulled up to Walgreens and walked in, he didn't even let me look. He walked straight to the family planning isle, immediately grabbing two of the most expensive, fool proof tests on the shelf.
"We ain't squinting at no lines," he declared, tossing them into the little hand basket. "Gotta get the ones that spell it out for us."
I looked down at the two boxes sitting lonely at the bottom of the plastic basket. The bold print of the word DIGITAL stared back at me, and a sudden wave of self-consciousness hit me. The thought of walking up to the cash register with nothing but pregnancy tests made my face hot.
"Babe, wait," I whispered, grabbing his forearm. His biceps flexed under my touch, solid as marble. "We can't just buy only this. It's... I don't know, it feels awkward. Like we're putting our whole business on display."
Ed looked down at me, a lazy, amused grin tugging at the corner of his lips. His deep dimples popped, making him look more like a lovesick teenager. "For real, baby? Ain't nobody checking for us like that. People buy these every day."
"I don't care," I muttered, tugging on his arm to pull him out of the aisle. "We're not going up there with just this. Besides, we actually need some stuff around the house anyway. Let's make it look like a regular run."
He let out a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated right against my side, but he didn't protest. He just let me lead him down the next aisle, his arm dropping to rest comfortably around my waist, his fingers digging into my hip.
"Alright, alright, whatever makes you feel better, princesa," he teased, his dark eyes sparkling. "What we getting then?"
"We need lotion," I said, steering him toward the skincare aisle. I grabbed a pump bottle of Palmer's Cocoa Butter, inhaling the sweet, rich chocolate scent before dropping it into the basket directly over the test boxes. "And body wash. You're almost out of yours."
"Good looking out," he said, reaching up to the top shelf to grab a bottle of his favorite Native body wash. He dropped it in, the heavy bottle successfully burying the pregnancy tests completely.
But I wasn't done. The nervous energy inside me was making me restless, and my stomach chose that exact moment to let out a loud, demanding growl. His eyebrows shot up, a knowing smirk spreading across his face.
"You hungry again? You was just eating Chamoy covered cobbler."
"Hush," I laughed, swatting at him. "My stomach feels empty as hell. I need something sweet. Or salty. Or both."
We wandered out of the aisle, my heart still doing cartwheels, but the task of shopping helped ground me. I pointed toward the snack aisle first. If I was going to be dealing with weird cravings, I might as well lean into it.
"Get those," I said, pointing to a bag of hot Cheetos.
"Mhmm, the extra spicy ones? See, you already proving my point," Ed teased, his dimples cutting deep into his cheeks as he reached up to the top shelf with ease, tossing two bags into the basket. "What else? You need some of that ginger ale for your stomach? I seen you rubbing your chest earlier."
"Yeah, actually. Grab a six-pack."
We made our way to the drink cooler. He was completely dialed into me. He grabbed the ginger ale, then paused, his eyes scanning the candy section right by the register. He reached down and grabbed a king-size bag of Reeses peanut butter cups, my absolute favorite— and tossed them in on top of the pile, completely burying the boxes.
"There," he whispered, leaning down so his lips brushed my ear, his deep voice sending a warm shiver down my spine. "Secret agent style. Nobody knows nothing but us."
The distraction worked, but only until the cashier scanned the last item. As Ed slid his card to pay, bagging the stuff himself because he was too impatient to wait, the reality of what was in that plastic bag rushed right back over me.
As we walked back to the car, the sky had turned a deep, dusty purple, the streetlights along Orlando Ave just starting to flicker to life. Ed unlocked the doors, but before he let me climb in, he caught my hand, pulling me back into his space. He pressed his back against the passenger side door, pulling me flush against his chest.
"You good?" he murmured, his hands coming up to cradle my face, his warm thumbs stroking my cheeks. His brown eyes were incredibly soft, holding mine in the dimming light. "No more shaking?"
"I'm okay," I whispered, leaning my face into his hand. "A little less scared now."
"That's my girl," he smiled, kissing the tip of my nose. "Let's go home and see what's good, yeah?"
The moment we walked through the front door, the unmistakable scent of Axe body spray and sweaty socks hit me first.
The TV in the living room was glowing brightly, illuminating the dark space with flashing colors of Fortnite. Sprawled out across the sectional was JJ. His long, lanky legs, which seemed to grow a inch every week, were dangling off he edge of the cushions. Completely locked in.
His backpack was dumped by the front of the console table, his slides next to it.
He looked over for a brief second and pushed one side of his gaming head set off his ear. Looked right at me, clutching the plastic Walgreens bag to my chest like it had confidential information. Ed, who was hovering behind me with a hand resting on the small of my back.
JJ squinted, his dark eyes– so similar to his brothers, bouncing between us. We were stiff. I was practically vibrating with nervous energy.
"Yall good?" JJ asked, his voice cracking slightly on the last syllable. "Yall look like yall just caught a body or something. Moving hella weird."
Before I could muster up the strength to TRY to answer him, Ed was already on it. He didn't miss a beat. He stepped around me, smoothly taking a bag of hot Cheetos from the bag in my arms and tossed it at his brother's chest. "We good, lil bro. Mind ya business. How was practice?"
JJ caught the bag effortlessly, glancing at the chips and then back at us. He shrugged, clearly deciding whatever adult crisis we were having wasn't worth pausing his game for. "It was straight. Coach had us running the field for an hour cause Toni didn't get there on time. After this match, I'm gonna go shower and chill." He slipped his headset back on, dismissing us completely.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Ed's hand slid from my back to my hip, gently gripping and steering me down the hallway towards our bedroom. Once the door clicked shut behind us, the ambient noise of the video game was muffled, leaving only the sound of my own erratic heartbeat.
"I need a minute," I blurted out, dropping the bag onto our duvet. "I'm gonna take a quick shower first. Just to... just to wash the day off. Then we'll do it. Is that okay with you?"
"Take all the time you need, bonita," Ed said softly, already moving to turn on the bathroom light for me. He pressed a warm, lingering kiss to my forehead. "I'll be right out here."
The shower was a blur of scalding hot water and rising steam. I stood under the spray untl the bathroom mirror completely fogged over, letting the heat seep into my tense muscles. The familiar, scent of my Cashmere Body Wash mixed with his body wash take over, grounding me slightly.
But as I stepped out, wrapping myself in my plush robe and slathering the rich cocoa butter over my damp skin, the reality of what was about to happen next slammed into me all over again. After I put on my yellow striped muumuu, I did what needed to be done.
Walking out of the bathroom, the cool air of the bedroom hit my bare arms.
Ed was sitting on the edge of our king-sized bed, his elbows resting on his knees as his large hands clasped together. He'd been staring at the floor, but the second the bathroom door clicked, his head snapped up.
Eyes locked on me, tracking every step I took. He looked at me like I was the only thing in the room, his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm.
I walked over to the bed, where I left the Walgreens bag. My fingers were trembling si bad the plastic crinkled loudly as I pulled out the two digital test boxes.
"I'm gonna go back in and... take these," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I squeezed the boxes against my chest, "But don't come in yet, okay?" Let me just.. do that part alone. Then we wait together."
"I got you baby. Take your time," He said, his voice low and raspy. He didn't move from the bed, but his eyes never left mine.
I retreated back into the bathroom, shutting the door just enough to give myself some privacy. The process was a blur of nervous, clumsy movements. The snap of the plastic caps, the agonizingly long seconds of hold the tips in place, and finally, laying both of them side-by-side on a clean, folded paper towel on the marble counter. The little digital hourglasses were already blinking, slowly ticking away the three minutes of our lives.
My chest felt so tight I could barely draw in a full breath. I turned the handle and stepped back into the bedroom.
He was already standing. He moved slow, like he was trying not to spook a deer. When he reached me, he didn't say a word at first. He just wrapped his massive, heavy arms around my waist and pulled me flush against him, burying his face into the side of my neck where the warm scent of the Cashmere body wash and sweet cocoa butter was strongest.
I wrapped my arms around him, letting the seconds tick by. But then, a could, suffocating numbness started creeping into my chest. It was like I was slowly detaching from my own body, my mind spinning out into a hundred different terrifying directions.
What if it's negative and I'm just sick?
What if it's positive and I can't do this?
What if I'm not meant to be a mom?
What if he's not ready?
Ed felt the exact second I went stiff.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his thick brows drawing together when he saw my empty, wide-eyed stare.
"Hey," he murmured, his voice dropping low, into a grounding rumble. "Look at me, mi cielo. Come back to me."
He slid his hands up from my waist to cradle my face, his warm calloused palms cupping my cheeks. The heat of his skin was a shock to my nervous system, forcing my eyes to focus on his. His own eyes were swimming with emotion that he hadn;t even said.
"You drifting, baby. Don't do that," he pleaded gently, his thumbs sweeping soft, reassuring circles across my cheekbones. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
"I'm scared, Eddie," I whispered, the words finally breaking through the lump in my throat. "I feel like... I'm already failing. What if I mess this up? What if I'm not ready? What if we not ready?"
"Listen to me," Ed said, his voice ringing with absolute, unshakable certainty. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine, his braids spilling over my shoulders. "We in this together. 50/50. If them tests come back negative, we good. I’m gonna hold you, we’re gonna order whatever food you want, and we keep it pushing. But if they’ are positive? If there’s a little us in there?"
He let out a soft, chuckle, his dimples cutting deep into his cheeks as he kissed the tip of my nose.
"We locked in regardless, Mami. Fo'real. I’m in your corner no matter what. You won't have to lift a single finger. You want Chamoy on peach cobbler at two in the morning? I’m sliding to the store to get it. Your back hurts? I’m rubbing it until you fall asleep. I’m gonna be right here, holding your hand through every single doctor's visit, every contraction, all of it. You are going to be the most amazing, beautiful mama. I know it. So stop worrying, mi amor. I got you. I got us."
He pressed his lips to mine, lingering just enough to help me calm my nerves a bit. He breathed his own calm straight into me. Always knowing how to pour into me , shattering the cold numbness that had taken over my chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding onto him like he was my anchor in the middle of a storm.
We stayed like that, wrapped in each other's warmth, until the sharp, high-pitched ringtone of my phone timer echoed from the bathroom.
My heart did a violent flip against my ribs. Ed didn't let go of my face. He just squeezed it, his grip firm but soft and steady.
"Ready?" he whispered.
I took a deep breath, looking up into his warm, brown eyes. "Siempre."
Always.
Our fingers tangled together, his massive hand swallowing mine as we took those few slow steps back into the humid bathroom. The mirror was still partially fogged, but the digital screens on the vanity were clear as day under the bright vanity lights.
My chest felt tight, a physical pressure building behind my ribs. I couldn't even bring myself to look down yet. I kept my eyes locked on the collar of Ed’s black t-shirt, counting the steady, rhythmic beat of his heart against my temple as he wrapped his other arm securely around my waist, pulling me flush against his side. He felt like an anchor holding me to the earth.
"I got you, baby," he whispered against my hair, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "On three. One... two... three."
I forced my gaze down to the marble counter.
On both of the little digital screens, the blinking hourglasses were gone. In their place, in bold, unmistakable black letters, were the words:
PREGNANT
The air left my lungs in a sharp, quiet gasp. My hand flew to my mouth, my knees going so weak that if Ed didn't have his arm locked around my waist, I would have slipped straight to the floor. The tears I’d been fighting back all evening finally broke, hot and fast, blurring the clean white plastic of the tests into a watery haze.
Beside me, Ed went completely still.
For a second, the only sound in the bathroom was my own shallow breathing. Then, I heard him let out a long, trembling breath, a sound so thick with emotion it made my heart ache. He slowly dropped his chin to my shoulder, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
His broad shoulders shook. I felt the warm, damp press of his tears against my collarbone before I even heard him make a sound.
"Ay dios," he breathed, his voice cracking, completely stripped of its usual deep, cadeance It was just raw, pure awe. "Look at that, Reina. Look at what we did."
He turned me in his arms, his massive hands coming down to rest flat against my stomach, his long fingers spreading wide across the yellow stripes of my muumuu. The heat radiating from his palms felt like it was soaking straight through to my skin, warming me from the inside out.
"My baby having my baby," he whispered, the words sounding heavy, sweet and completely reverent against my skin.
sHe slid his hands slowly up my waist, pulling me so close there wasn’t a single inch of space left between us. I could feel the rapid, hard thud of his heart knocking against my own chest, matching the frantic beat of mine.
"We having a baby," he laughed, a wet, breathless sound that vibrated straight through his chest. He pulled his head back just enough to look at me, his brown eyes completely bloodshot and swimming with tears, his deep dimples carving so hard into his cheeks they looked like brackets around his smile. "We really got a little one on the way, princesa. Fo'real."
"We really do," I sobbed, a fresh wave of tears spilling over my lashes as a laugh finally bubbled up past my lips. I reached up, my hands burying into the thick, neat braids at the back of his neck to pull him down to me. "You're gonna be a dad, Eddie. A real-life papi."
"And you're gonna be the most beautiful mami in this whole world," he murmured, his face glowing with a pride so fierce and absolute it made my chest ache in the best way possible.
Before I could even reply, he bent his knees and scooped me up, lifting me effortlessly. My feet dangled completely off the cold bathroom tile as he held me tight against his broad, solid frame, rocking us slowly side to side in the middle of the steam-filled room. He was kissing my forehead, my temple, the bridge of my nose, and finally my lips—tasting like the salty warmth of our tears and the sweetest, deepest relief I’d ever known.
"I love you so much," he breathed against my mouth, his warm hands spreading wide over my muumuu, cradling my stomach like he was already protecting the tiny life growing inside. "Both of you. I got us forever, mi vida. I promise."
Leaning my head back against his shoulder, listening to the quiet, steady hum of his breathing, the last lingering trace of my anxiety finally drifted away.
We were locked in. And with him in my corner, there wasn't a single thing we couldn't handle.
S U M M A R Y: For almost three years, best friends Josh and Alina have been inseparable. In those three years, feelings have strengthened, forcing the pair to accept that their friendship is no longer platonic.
*DISCLAIMER: This is a multi-part series. I do not own any of the characters in the writing except for the OC. The book uses actual names of wrestlers. Josh is Jey, Jon is Jimmy, Trinity is Naomi, and Alina is Alina. The book is not realistic and does not take place during real events, but some actual events (matches, storylines) could pop up in the story eventually. I DO NOT GIVE ANYONE PERMISSION TO TRANSLATE OR REPOST MY WRITINGS ANYWHERE. THAAAAAANKS. *
TROPE: Friends to Lovers
PAIRING: Jey Uso x Black OC (Alina McLemore)
WARNINGS: Language/Fluff
WORD COUNT: 3.2K
NINETEEN
PART TWENTY
Soft music played throughout the dimly lit restaurant that Josh had brought Alina to. They sat next to each other in a horseshoe booth tucked away in a back corner. Empty plates and half-empty wine glasses sat on the table in front of them, waiting for their waiter to come by to remove them. The couple sat closely to each other, Josh’s arm was draped over Alina’s shoulders, her hand on his thigh. “How’d I do?” He whispers in her ear, his cool breath tickling her ear and sending shivers down her spine.
She straightens up in his arms, a tiny hum leaving her lips at his question. A smile spread across Alina’s dark lips as she turned slightly to face the man at her side. Her nose grazes his, her eyes locked on his. “How many times are you going to ask me?” She asks, her hand moving up his thigh an inch. He tucks his bottom lip between his teeth, revealing a golden grill. His hand, that hung at the right breast, lifts, pulling back her hair like a curtain—Josh’s other hand cups her cheek, pulling her in for a kiss. Their lips move slowly against each other, fully igniting a heat in their cores that was hard to ignore.
“Alright—oh.” A voice cuts through their kiss, forcing them to pull apart. Alina glances up at the waiter who stands in front of their table, embarrassment apparent on her face. Josh remained unfazed, watching the woman next to him as if he were under a trance. Perhaps he is. They had been handsy with each other all day, and it only got worse when they got to this restaurant. She’d been teasing him, wearing his patience down pretty thin. He was ready to go now. The waiter’s gaze was fixated upon a wall across the restaurant.
“Sorry,” Alina says, wiping her mouth with her thumb. She tries to scoot out of Josh’s grasp, but ends up pulling her back in. She peers over at him only briefly, seeing his eyes still fixated on her. Alina huffs, looking up at the waiter once more. “Do you want our dishes?” She asks, gathering the plates into a stack. Josh’s arm slips off her shoulder, his hand traveling alongside her back.
“Yes, ma’am.” He says, reaching down for the stacked plates. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” She says, flashing him a smile.
“Let us get the bill, too.” Josh chimes in, his voice heavy.
“Yes, sir.” The waiter replies, rushing off from the table. Alina watches the waiter as he disappears into the busyness of the restaurant. Josh, on the other hand, was back on the prowl for his lady. His lingering hand had wedged between the seat and her back, grabbing at her ass roughly. She gasps sharply, turning to pull his hand from her body.
“Act right.” She scolds him, pointing her finger at him.
“You strict as hell.” He says, smiling to himself. He shakes his head softly, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. “Can’t nobody even see us back here.” He argues.
“We damn near scared the waiter.”
“He was looking too hard.” Josh tosses his card on the table before turning his attention towards his girlfriend. He props his arm on the table, leaning his head onto his hand as he watches her, his tongue lightly dragging along his bottom lip.
“I can say the same about you,” Alina says, leaning on the table in the same manner. “Watching me all night like I’m going to disappear if you look away.” She notes.
“Shit, to be real,” He starts, his eyes venturing off only briefly. “Part of me thinks I’ma wake-up, and find out this was all a dream.” He confesses with a slight smile. That smile fades away at his next words, his eyes softer than ever. “I don’t wanna go back to the way things were.” He confesses in a soft voice.
When it came to Alina, Josh only had one fear: losing her. He didn’t want to wake up back in Florida in a house he barely lived in, or spend all his time at his loved ones’ houses because his was too quiet. He didn’t want to have to go back to sleeping downstairs in the guest room when he stayed with her, or longing for her to see him as someone she could potentially settle down with.
“If you woke up, and everything was back to the way it was before, would you let it be?”
“Hell no,” He interjects, shaking his head.
“No?”
“No.” He repeats, still shaking his head. “If I woke up and everything was back to the way it was before, I’m coming to tell you all about the dream.”
“What if I thought you were crazy?”
“That ain’t nothing new.” He waves off, earning a burst of laughter out of the woman before him. “I’ma get my woman back in every lifetime. Trust.”
The waiter would reappear at the table, putting their conversation on a brief hold. He reaches down for the card at the end of the table, snatching the little black piece of plastic off the cloth it lay upon. Without a word or glance in their direction, he vanishes once more to process their payment. “In every lifetime?” She whispers to Josh, smiling softly at him.
“Every lifetime,” He repeats proudly. The waiter reappears, handing Josh his card and receipt. Josh quickly tucks it into his wallet. “Let’s get out of here.” He breathes as he scoots out of the booth. “The night’s still young, girl.” He says, holding his hand out for Alina. Without hesitation, she takes his hand, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet.
“You’re not trying to go home?” She asks in a soft voice. Her fingernails would skim the sleeve of his blazer.
“Not right now.” He shouts over his shoulder as he pulls her out of the restaurant towards their next destination of the night.
————————————————————————————————
Alina was expecting to wind up at a lounge after dinner, but after thirty minutes of driving, the city lights began to thin out, the road ahead of them illuminated only by headlights. She couldn’t tell where she was, and that was a problem, considering she’s lived in this city her entire life. “Joshua?” She calls, glancing over at him. “Where are we going?”
Josh’s ears perk at the sound of his name rolling off her tongue. His eyes flicker in her direction only briefly, settling on the road once more. “Uh,” He starts, his tongue gliding across his bottom lip. “The long way home,” He lies. “I just figured we’d go for a drive, listen to some music before we make it back that way.” He explains further. Alina nods slowly, her eyes still on the man at her side.
“Okay,” She says, her tone prompting him to glance over at her again.
“What?” He asks.
“Nothing,” She replies.
“Nothing,” He repeats in a low voice. “Okay.”
“I just figured we’d go dancing or something.” She confesses. “We’re not even in the city anymore.” She says, glancing out the window again. “I don’t know where we are, actually.” Josh’s thumb glides over the top of her hand to soothe her nerves.
“Just trust me, honey.”
Alina looks to Josh once more. “I do.”
“Then sit your fine ass back and look pretty before you get us pulled over. You know GSP be looking for a reason to get someone.” Slowly, Alina sits back in her seat, pulling Josh’s hand into her lap. She places her other hand over top of his, encircling his with her own. She peers out at the dark, hoping to catch a glimpse of something that could tell her where they were.
Fifteen minutes later, they were in front of the gate for The Madison. Josh hangs out the driver’s window, typing in a keycode to open the large gate. Slowly, the gate opens, prompting Josh to sit correctly in his seat once more. He lets out a soft sigh, driving the car forward through the gate. “What are we doing out here?” She asks, her brows lifted.
“I wanted to drive through there to see what it’s like at night. You know, to see if it’s quiet or if any weird shit be happening.” He explains. “I wanna make a decision this week.”
“Alright…” Alina drifts off. “Do they know we’re coming? The realtor, the HOA, we don’t need anyone calling the police on us for being out there.”
“Mhm, yeah,” He answers quickly, leaving it at that. Alina stares at him for a moment longer, waiting for more than just a dismissive yeah but it never comes. Josh could feel Alina’s eyes on him, watching him for any small glance or movement that would give him away. She was suspicious. “You worried about the wrong thing.” He says suddenly.
“Our safety?” She asks.
“Girl, ain’t nobody about to bother us out there.” He says, tilting his head up slightly. “They know we’re coming out there. The hell I look like putting you in a situation where you’d get hurt, Lina? Come on now. We’re just going to drive through here and out. That’s it.” He assures her. The car was silent for a few moments; the music softly playing on the radio was the only sound heard.
“Okay.” She replies hesitantly. Alina wasn’t trying to sound like she didn’t trust Josh; she trusted him with her life, she was just concerned. Driving by houses at night wasn’t an unfamiliar concept when trying to rent or buy a house. Plenty of people do it. They were a couple who enjoyed the quiet. If Josh is to buy a house, he wants to make sure he gets his money’s worth and that he made the right choice. “I’ll drive through the others tomorrow night.” He says, suddenly. “I wanna buy before we head back out on the road.” Josh turns onto the street the house they toured over a month ago sits, the car slowing down as they draw closer. His eyes skimmed the road, his head turning to look at the houses they passed every few moments.
“Looks quiet,” Alina says, watching as houses pass them by.
“Yeah,” Josh replies, seemingly distracted by trying to locate the house. “There it is.” He says to himself as they approach the empty house. Alina’s eyes light up at the sight of it as they turn into the driveway. The car suddenly shifts into park, and Josh quickly undoes his seatbelt. Out of the car he goes, slowly walking around the car to stand in the front yard.
Alina watches him for a moment before climbing out of the car herself. “I thought you said we were just passing through.” She says.
“We are.” He replies, his voice distant almost. He moved through the yard, but not before looking at the other houses surrounding it.
“In the yard and not the car, yes,” Alina says quickly. With no response to her, Josh marches to the side of the house, vanishing into the darkness. “Josh!” Alina quietly yells, briefly glancing around at the other houses in the area. No response came from the man who wandered off towards the back of the house. She peered back at the open wooden fence door he walked through, hoping he would come back for her and they’d leave, but two minutes had passed, and he was nowhere to be seen. The longer she stood waiting for a response, the more uneasy she became. The last thing she wanted was to have the police called on them for trespassing. “Joshua,” She calls louder than before, quickly stomping towards the back of the house.
Her eyes darted from left to right as she walked along the dark path to the backyard, hoping to God he wasn’t hidden in the shadows or a dark corner waiting to jumpscare her. She turned the corner, her eyes scanning the open before landing on the open door. “Lord, this boy done broke in these folks’ house.” She says to herself as she walks up the concrete steps into the large screened patio. “Josh, I want to go.” She says, stepping into the large kitchen.
The light in the living room was on, and his heavy footsteps were heard as he shuffled through the room. “Baby, come on–.” She starts, coming to a stop when she turns the corner. Josh stood in the center of the large living room, the ‘for sale’ sign in hand. Printed along the top of the sign in bright, bold red letters was the word ‘SOLD’. “What’s this?” She asks, glancing up at him.
“Ours.” He answers, briefly glancing down at the sign. He moves over to the wall, propping the sign against it. “Signed the papers and got the keys this morning.” He tells her.
“I thought you didn’t like any of the houses.” She points, recalling an early conversation they had a few weeks back about the houses.
“I didn’t say that. You asked me if I could see myself in any of them without you.”
“You said no.”
“I did.” He confirms with a nod. “That didn’t mean I didn’t like them.”
“So…” She drifts off, a small scoff leaving her lips. “I’m confused.”
“What’s there to be confused about?” He asked, looking around the living room they stood in. “I bought us a house, and you’re going to make it a home.” He tells her. Alina grows quiet at his words, wrapping her arms around her body. Her lips trembled slightly as she fought back words threatening to escape her. “Lina, I don’t want this without you. Like, the shit won’t make sense if you’re not here with me.” He explains, glancing around the room again.
“I see us here.” He says, waving his hand over the opening. “I see us laid up on the couch,” He briefly pauses. “watching a movie that we’ll never finish because we always fall asleep.” Alina softly snorts at his words, her eyes following the swing of his arm as he paints a picture of life together in this house. He points at the kitchen. “I see us in the kitchen, cooking and sitting down to dinner together. We might dance a little in there, you feel me? A little two-step, depending on the song. I bet the music sounds better in there, too.”
“Josh,”
“Let me finish.” He pleads, holding his hand up at her. “I can see us in the backyard, our families together for a cookout. My pops and yours might butt heads a little, but our Mamas would love each other.” A small smile spreads to Alina’s face at the idea of their parents all in the same room together. Their dads would probably argue over something silly like football; their moms, attached at the hip.
Josh’s gaze remained fixated upon the woman before him as he slowly began to rock from left to right. His heart had picked up the pace, pounding violently against its cage like it wanted to break free. Anxiety was rearing its ugly head at him, pleading with him not to do what he’s practiced in the mirror all week. The voice in his head would tell him she’d say no; that she’ll run the moment he kneels before her. Though the idea of her doing that terrified him, he wouldn’t dare listen to it. His tongue grazes his drying lips, prepping them for the next set of words that would leave them. “I–I see myself making you my wife here.”
And there it was: the catch to his grand sales pitch, but she couldn’t allow herself to read into it just yet. Alina’s brows furrow slightly, her brown lips parting ever so slightly to let even the smallest of breaths through. It wasn’t really a question, but a declaration–at least that’s what she’s telling herself. She had a question of her own, a curiosity for clarity. “Are you–.” Her words catch in her rapidly drying throat, preventing her from finishing her question. She quietly clears her throat to force those words out, but they refuse to come.
Josh glances down at the floor as he fishes a velvet black box from his coat pocket. “Figured you needed a ring to go along with the house.” He confesses. Thick fingers pop open the felt lid, revealing a hard-to-miss diamond fixed upon a thin gold band. He was proposing.
Alina’s eyes would go to the box in his hand, a shaky gasp escaping her.
“No, you’re not.” She says, turning away from him. Tears immediately began to spill over once she was out of his view, her hand clasped tight over her mouth to stop the impending sobs.
“Yes, I am.” He argues, reaching out to grab her hand. “Come here so I can ask you something.” He requests, slowly pulling her back to him and the center of the living room. “Alina Christine McLemore,” He breathes, kneeling in front of her. The hand that held the box lifts slightly. “I knew from the very first day I saw you that you were going to be someone important to me, and I’m so grateful you let me be your friend…’cause now I want to be your husband.”
“Yes.” She blurts, no hesitation. Josh’s brows furrow at her abruptness, but that confusion didn’t reach his mouth. There was a smile twitching at his lips at her answer. Yes, Alina was saying yes to marrying him. She wanted to marry him.
“Y-You ain’t even let me finish,” Josh says softly.
“I’m sorry—.” She says, inhaling sharply as she fights back tears. “Ask me, ask me.” She demands frantically. Alina fans her free hand across her face, trying to dry her tears without messing up her makeup. “Go on.” Josh laughs at the theatrics, briefly glancing down at the floor. He briefly lifts off his aching knee to give it some relief.
“Marry me, Lina.” He asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes!” She exclaims, doing a mini happy stomp.
Josh shoots up from the floor, arms wrapping around the woman before him. Alina staggers backwards into the wall because of the man in her arms, hitting it with a thud.
“Sorry, baby—I’m sorry.” He profusely apologizes. Josh steps back only an inch from the woman, his fingers wrapping around the gold ring in the box he holds. Alina watches him shakily remove the ring from its box, her hand up and fingers outstretched as she waits. Once the ring was between the pads of his middle finger and thumb, he put the box away in his back pocket. Carefully, he slides the ring onto her finger, the cool metal sending chills through her body like a tiny shockwave. “Come here,” He says, pulling her in for a bruising kiss.
And there it was, for the second time in Alina’s life, she was a fiancée.
Back in ’98, Nyeya Noir Green learned that her Prada priced dreams came at a huge cost. At a cost so high she couldn’t take the risk of staying in the city any longer. In the middle of the night, she fled and found a safe place to get her life back on track.
Things were good. Nyeya was even able to afford her own Prada by way of dancing. Like Cher said, she was the rich man.
But home still had her heart. And when her mother marries her long-time boyfriend, it provides the opportunity to come home… for good.
However, her quiet homecoming isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for. The streets still aren’t safe. The people she knew had changed. And the wounds she thought healed, bust wide open.
Now 21, Nyeya feels grown and in control. She returns thinking she can keep her distance, but she quickly realizes it’s impossible to outrun the past especially when it still holds a piece of her heart.
Pairing: Jey Uso x Nyeya Noir Green (OC)
Author's Note: This story is happening in alternative universe. It features the former members of the Bloodline and the new members of MFT. The characters are themselves but some things are switched around for the story's sake. If you haven't read Prada You, click here to read.
Warnings: May contain strong/harsh language. TW: Scenes focused on abortion. Drunk diving. Some mild violence.
Disclaimer: This work of art is fictional in nature including the original characters created by me. I do not own any of the existing characters or lyrics from songs referenced in this story (if any). All rights belong to their respective owners with the exception of my original characters. This work is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to cause harm.
FYI: Yes, I'm aware of the drama going on IRL involving this man. However, I plan on finishing this story 'cause way too much of my time has been invested and I'm leaving here with something. I do understand if y'all no longer what to finish this with me ♡
Chapter 8: Some Unholy War
...back at Jey & Tutor's house
The low hum of the vacuum cleaner dragged across the floor in steady lines, mixing with Tutor’s soft humming as she moved from one corner of the living room to the next. It was a sound Jey had grown used to, something that once brought a strange sense of order to his life, but today it grated against him in a way he couldn’t explain.
His leg bounced up and down where he sat on the couch, jaw tight as he tried to keep whatever was building in his chest from spilling out.
Tutor was doing what she always did. Sundays were for deep cleaning. She moved through the house like it was second nature, making sure everything was in its place, everything spotless.
At one point, he had loved that about her. She handled his home the way he thought a woman should which was quietly, consistently, and without complaint.
But somewhere along the way, something had shifted. Now every little thing she did rubbed him the wrong way.
She cooked his favorite meals, but they didn’t hit the same anymore. She ironed his clothes, but he found himself thinking the cleaners could’ve done it better. Even the way she kissed him had changed in his mind, like the feeling behind it just wasn’t enough.
Nights were the worst. Lying next to her felt like an obligation instead of comfort.
The truth was out in the open if Tutor knew it or not. She was competing with something she couldn’t see just yet, a ghost from his past that refused to stay buried. And she was losing.
“Aye!”
His voice cut through the room sharper than he intended.
Tutor turned quickly, startled, the vacuum still humming in her hand before she switched it off.
Jey shook his head almost immediately, running a hand over his face.
“Yes, babe?” she asked, cautious but gentle.
His eyes moved around the room like he was looking for something to ground him before finally settling on her small frame.
“I ain’t mean to shout at you, mamas,” he said. “I just need to holla at you for a minute about something.”
Tutor nodded and walked over, setting the vacuum aside before sitting next to him on the couch. She turned her body toward him, giving him her full attention, waiting.
Something in his chest tightened when he looked at her. For a split second, he almost reconsidered. But the words had already been sitting on his tongue too long.
He cleared his throat. “Shit in the streets getting worse. I ain’t really sure how it’s gon’ play out, so I need something from you.”
Tutor didn’t interrupt. She just listened, her hand resting lightly against his leg.
“I’ma go stay at the spot in the South for a while till things cool off,” he continued. “I need you to hold down the house while I’m gone. I’ll still slide through; check on you like I always do. I just can’t lay my head here for a minute.”
The explanation came out smooth, but he couldn’t bring himself to hold her gaze while he said it. It wasn’t a complete lie. Things in the streets had been tense. But that wasn’t the real reason he needed distance.
Tutor’s hand moved gently over his leg, slow and reassuring. “It’s really gotten that bad, huh?” she asked quietly.
Then she nodded to herself. “Okay. I trust you know what you know best. Just remember to check in on me when you get some time.”
Jey’s chest ached.
Tutor was being understanding, steady, giving him no pushback. And there he was, feeding her half-truths because he couldn’t be honest about where his mind really was. About whom it kept going back to.
“I appreciate you, baby,” he said, voice lower now. “You the best. Drive the Lexus. Use the money in the safe when you need it. And be careful when you out.”
He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her temple before standing up to pack a bag. But before he could take more than a step, Tutor was already moving.
“I got it,” she said softly.
She moved toward the bedroom without hesitation, already thinking ahead, already taking care of him the way she always did. Jey stood there for a second, watching her go, something heavy settling deeper in his chest.
What was he doing?
He dropped back onto the couch, rubbing at his temples as he listened to her moving around in the bedroom, gathering his things. The house was quiet now, the vacuum gone, replaced with the soft rustle of clothes being folded and drawers opening and closing.
In the middle of everything going wrong in his world, he knew one thing for sure; he had it good here. Everything a man like him who did what he did needed when he took a break from the streets.
But none of that mattered. Because his heart kept pulling him in the same direction it always had.
Back to her. Back to Nyeya.
And the more he tried to ignore it, the clearer it became that wanting her wasn’t something he was willing to let go of.
Not this time.
Not at all.
06|11|2002
Tuesday started off like any other day for me. I woke up late after a night at the club, my body still sore in that way it always was after hours of dancing. It had been a little over a week since I moved into my place, and I had finally settled into a routine. I’d come home, shower, eat, and lay down. After a nap, I’d get up, count my money, and stash it away. And that was how my days went until it was time to go to work again.
I sat on the living room floor with my duffle bag open beside me, pulling out stacks of bills and straightening them one by one before stacking them neat. All My Children played low on the TV, the voices rising and falling in the background, catching my attention here and there but not enough to pull me in. I was halfway through a stack when my phone rang.
I reached over, picking it up when I saw Natasha’s name. “Hey, boo.”
“Hey,” she answered.
Something in her voice made me pause. It wasn’t her usual tone. It was off like something was weighing on her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, sitting up a little straighter.
Natasha sighed before speaking again. “It’s Taya. She really don’t want me to say it over the phone, but she need you to meet us somewhere later. She got an appointment. An important one. And she want us all there.”
I nodded slowly even though she couldn’t see me, not fully understanding what she was trying to say but already knowing it wasn’t small. My mind tried to piece it together anyway. Maybe a doctor’s appointment. Maybe something with the baby. That made the most sense.
“Aight,” I said. “Just tell me the address and the time. I’ll be there.”
She gave me both before we hung up.
I sat there for a second after the call ended, staring down at the money in my hands before I went back to counting like nothing had shifted. When I finished, I slid some into my purse like I always did and stashed the rest away.
The appointment wasn’t until two, so I had time. I spent it moving between the couch and the laundry, trying not to think too hard about the what was to come.
By the time I left the house, it was around 1:30. The drive over to the west side was an uneventful one. Until I pulled into the lot.
The building itself didn’t look like much, tucked between a couple smaller nondescript medical buildings. But the sign over the building I was supposed to meet everybody at was clear as day.
Planned Parenthood.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
That conversation from one our their nights out came rushing back from when Tasha reminded Taya of she could do since she wasn't ready for motherhood. My chest tightened as everything started falling in place.
“Nah,” I muttered to myself, gripping the steering wheel. “That ain’t it. They do other stuff too.”
I sat there for a moment, trying to steady my breathing, trying to convince myself I was jumping to something that wasn’t there. But the longer I stared at that sign, the harder it was to ignore.
Kiyah’s car pulled up beside mine, snapping me out of it.
I got out, meeting her as she leaned against her car, confusion written all over her face.
“Girl, why are we here?” she asked. “Taya got money for a real doctor.”
I looked at her for a second before answering, my voice quieter than I expected. “Why else do people come here?”
Kiyah took a pull from her blunt, blowing the smoke out slowly as she looked at me. It took a second, but I saw it click.
Her eyes widened. “You really think she about to go through with it?”
I didn’t answer. Not because I didn’t know but because saying it out loud made it real. So, I just looked off toward the building, my chest feeling tighter the longer we stood there.
It wasn’t long before Tasha’s Benz pulled into the lot, Taya sitting in the passenger seat. And just like that whatever the reason was, it was about to happen.
The look on Taya’s face said everything before a word could be spoken. And when she all but collapsed into my arms, I knew. I didn’t ask no questions.
I just held her, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head while the other rubbed slow circles along her back, trying to steady something that wasn’t steady at all.
Inside, the building felt like any other doctor’s office. The staff were polite, welcoming even, but none of that settled what sat heavy on my shoulders. Taya’s soft sniffles filled the space between us while I kept my arms wrapped around her. Tasha took over without being told, stepping up to the front desk and handling the paperwork for her sister like any sibling would do in a situation like this.
We weren’t the only ones there. Another couple sat off to the side, speaking in low voices, and a girl who looked about our age sat by herself, staring straight ahead like she was trying to focus on anything, but where she was. It made everything feel real in a way I wasn’t ready for.
After Tasha turned the papers in, it wasn’t long before a nurse called Taya back. Just for vitals and routine stuff, she said. I watched Taya walk off, her shoulders small, like she was trying to take up less space than she already did.
Time dragged after that.
When she came back, her eyes were red, cheeks damp. I stood up without thinking and pulled her right back into me, holding her just as tight as before. Nobody said much. There wasn’t much to say. We just sat there waiting again, the clock on the wall ticking louder than it should’ve been.
Then her name got called again.
This time was for the actual procedure. We all stood. Kiyah, Tasha, and me. We wrapped Taya up in a group hug, and I leaned down just enough to whisper a small prayer against her temple, my words quiet but my hope was that they brought her peace.
When the nurse guided her back, something in my heart broke for her.
Kiyah and Tasha stepped outside not long after, saying they needed some air. I stayed. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. I just sat there in that waiting room, hands folded tight in my lap, staring at nothing while my mind tried not to wander too far into what was happening behind those doors.
I didn’t know exactly what was going on back there.
But I knew enough.
Kiyah and Tasha came back a few minutes later, both of them sitting close on each side of me. The silence didn’t last long.
“This for the best,” Tasha said, her voice low but firm. “Jimmy trapped Taya into having another baby before she was ready. This her chance to do what’s best for her since he ain’t care.”
It sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
Kiyah shook her head slightly. “When y’all gon’ tell Jimmy? That fool still gon’ think she pregnant, especially since she ain’t staying with him right now.”
I glanced between them, wondering the same thing.
Tasha looked at us both. “For now, she not telling him. I told her to wait until she ready. It ain’t like she going home anytime soon.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek, my jaw tightening. All I could think about was Jimmy finding out. The way he’d react. Just the thought alone had my stomach doing flips.
“Well, whenever he do find out,” Kiyah muttered. “We gon’ be there. ‘Cause you already know he gon’ act an ass.”
She wasn’t wrong. And as much as I didn’t want to think about it, I knew that day was coming. And when it did we’d have to deal with the fallout.
A nurse finally came out, calling our attention. She told us Taya was in recovery and that only one person could come back to sit with her while they monitored her. Tasha didn’t even hesitate. She stood up and followed the nurse, leaving me and Kiyah behind.
Kiyah reached over and grabbed my hand, and I squeezed hers back. We sat there like that in silence.
We were grown. But this type of thing felt too grown. Like something we shouldn’t have had to deal with yet or at all.
Time ticked away slowly. It was another thirty minutes before Tasha came back out with Taya. Both me and Kiyah stood up at the same time. Taya looked fragile. Like if you touched her she might fall apart completely. Tasha handled the rest of the details at the front desk while Taya just stood there, looking off in the distant, like she wasn’t fully present anymore.
Once everything was done, we walked out together. It was already understood we were going back to Tasha’s place.
My ride over there was quiet. I hadn’t even turned on the radio. My mind heavy with thoughts I couldn’t quite sort through. I didn’t even know how to feel. However, I knew whatever I thought I should be feeling didn’t even scratch the surface of what Taya was going through.
At the apartment, we all moved like we were on autopilot. Tasha went straight to the room to fix up the bed Taya had been sleeping in. Kiyah moved into the kitchen, pulling out pots and pans to cook so Tasha didn’t have to. And I was the one who stayed with Taya.
We sat on the couch, and I kept her tucked into my side, my arm wrapped around her like if I let go she might slip through the cracks. Everything felt delicate. Like one wrong word could break what little was holding her together.
She didn’t touch the food Kiyah made.
Her tears came quiet, uninterrupted. The kind that didn’t need sound to let you know how deep the pain ran. And I knew food wasn’t fixing that. Nothing we had in that moment could.
“Come on,” I whispered softly, helping her up. “Let’s lay down for a minute.”
I was guiding her to the bedroom to the bed when her eyes flicked to a picture of her and Jimmy which sat on the nightstand.
And that’s when she broke.
“I— I killed my baby,” she cried out, her voice cracking open the room. “I killed my baby. Our baby. God I'm sorry!”
She dropped to the floor like her body couldn’t hold her up anymore.
I was right there, dropping down with her, pulling her into me before she could fold in on herself completely. I didn’t know that kind of pain. I couldn’t pretend to. But I felt it in the way she shook against me, in the way her hands clutched at my shirt like she was trying to hold onto something.
Kiyah and Tasha rushed in instantly, both of them dropping down beside us without hesitation. Nobody really knew what to say to ease her pain. There weren’t any right words for something like that.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, rocking her gently. “It’s alright. God forgives, Taya.”
I didn’t know if that was enough. But it was all I could count on to be true because God did understand even if we didn’t.
We stayed there on the floor, the four of us wrapped up together, holding onto Taya while she grieved. Time passed without any of us noticing, the room filled with nothing but quiet voices, soft reassurances, and the sound of a heart trying to piece itself back together.
…hours later
I sat at the vanity in the locker room surrounded by the chatter of women getting ready for the night shift at Sugah’s, and all I could think was that I should’ve stayed home after I left Tasha’s. But being alone wasn’t something I wanted to do. Not after everything that had transpired earlier.
Living by myself at a time like such made me miss being at home with my family in a way I hadn’t let myself sit with until then.
So, there I was, four shots of Hennessy in, doing everything I could not to look too hard at myself in the mirror while I got ready to go out there and dance. By then I had gotten used to numbing instead of confronting. Tonight wasn’t no different. All those feelings inside my head could stay tangled up a little longer because I wasn’t ready to unravel none of it yet.
The pain I felt for Taya gnawed at me. It sat low in my stomach and twisted every time I thought too hard about the decision she had to make on her own. She’d have to live with that guilt alone as well.
I couldn’t sit with that, so I decided I was going to work. Dance till my feet hurt if I had to. Let the music do what it always did for me. Let the attention and praise from whoever I came across that night lift my spirits, even if I knew that kind of high never lasted long.
As I rubbed scented body oil down my thighs, a tear slipped out before I could stop it. I wiped it away quickly, almost irritated with myself, and picked up my pace. The sooner I got out there, the sooner I could leave my emotions behind.
So that’s what I did. I walked through the locker room with my head low but my stride steady, like I wasn’t holding anything at all.
“Hot Boyz” by Missy started catching my hips before I even made it all the way up the stage steps. The lights shifted into dark purple and pink, flashing over my skin and making everything look softer than it really was.
Once I was on that stage, my body took over. I dropped, rolled, bent, and worked that pole like I had been born for it. Money started fluttering down around me while I slid across the stage, making eye contact with the people crowded around it, all of them locked into what I was giving them.
And when the DJ spun Missy into some funky remix of Janet Jackson’s “I Get Lonely,” I really put on a show. My hands ran slowly over my own skin. My eyes teased. My hips moved to that beat in a way that had people reaching deeper into their pockets.
I was gone by then. Not physically, but mentally. Completely checked out while my body kept doing exactly what it knew how to do.
When my set ended, Sugah was there clapping for me with that pleased look he got whenever one of his girls did what needed to be done.
“Girl, I ain’t seen nobody who could sell a dream so good in a minute. You keep that up and Sugah Bear gon’ make sure you reap all the sweets.”
That made me smile for real, especially with that black trash bag of money in my hand proving he wasn’t just hyping me up. The things he was promising were coming to fruition right before my eyes.
Back in the locker room, the girls hyped me up the second I came through the door, and I let myself enjoy it for what it was.
After I stashed my money away in my duffle, I freshened up and changed clothes. It didn’t take long for Sugah to pop his head back in and let me know I had somebody waiting for me in VIP. I nodded, rubbing on more body oil before slipping my heels back on. One more look in the mirror to make sure everything was in place and I was out the door.
When I saw Andrzej, I smiled without even trying. He was always a good distraction. He sat there dressed down in Ralph Lauren from the shirt to the duck boots on his feet, Cartier glasses catching the light every time he moved.
I took my time walking over because I could feel his eyes on me, roaming all over my body, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like being the center of his attention. Soon as I got close enough, he pulled me into his lap. I didn’t mind that at all.
For a while, we sat there drinking the bottle of Courvoisier he already had waiting, not saying much, just being in each other’s space. By then my head was already in the clouds. The liquor had softened everything, knocked the sharpest edges off the night.
One of Andrzej’s fingers grazed my thigh while he looked me dead in my eyes.
“You one of the most beautiful things I done laid my eyes on in a while.”
I giggled, feeling shy all of a sudden. “There’s a lot of beautiful women walking around. I’m sure I’m not the only one.”
He licked his lips before saying something I wasn’t ready for. “Maybe so, but none of them make scars look so good. You carry your pain well.”
I stiffened the second his hand moved over the healed wound on my side. I knew my scars were there. Knew people saw them. But nobody had ever said nothing about them out loud, not like that. I ain’t even know what to say, but he must’ve felt me tense because he spoke again.
“Relax, baby. I got a few scars of my own. We here though. And that’s all that matters, right?”
I sat with that for a second before nodding. Because I had made it. Even though I probably shouldn’t have, I did. We didn’t get to stay in that moment long though because his phone rang. He sighed without even looking at it, like he already knew who it was.
Then he gave me this pensive look that made me pout a little.
“You gotta leave me. I understand, boo”
He smiled at that. I slid off his lap so he could reach beside him and grab the stacks of money he always kept for me. I hadn’t even dance for him and he was still just as generous.
Andrzej didn’t say nothing else. He just pulled me into a hug and placed a kiss on my temple before leaving. That was new, but I couldn’t even lie, I ain’t feel no way about it like I probably would have if it was anybody else.
Once he was gone, I plopped back onto the little couch, my head swimming from the alcohol. For a second I thought about going home. But home meant being alone, and being alone still wasn’t something I was looking forward to.
So, I told myself one more stage set and then I’d call it a night. I gathered my cash from Andrzej into my arms and headed back to the locker room for one more outfit change.
It seemed like all that alcohol I had been drinking hit me the second I sat down at the vanity back in the locker room. I dropped my head into my hands and just sat there feeling the weight of it. It was hard to even open my eyes.
“Here, boo. Take this to feel better.”
I lifted my head a little and saw Mocha standing there holding out a BC powder and a bottle of water. I smiled and thanked her before tearing the packet open. That nasty stuff hit my tongue and had me making a face before I chased it quickly with the water.
Relief would come soon. That little combination always did what it needed to do when I got myself in a state like such.
I turned my attention to Mocha once I got myself together enough to sit up straight. She had taken the seat next to me and was counting out a thick stack of cash sitting in front of her.
“You did good tonight, huh? Money must still be out there,” I said.
Mocha grinned and waved me off. “Girl, that money left the building. My best customer dropped in and blessed my game though. I wouldn’t have made nothing serious if it wasn’t for him.”
I nodded because I knew exactly what that meant. I knew she had a trick, even though I had never seen him. She talked about him often enough though to know he was basically what Andrzej was to me.
The kind of man that spent on you in the club and outside of it too if that was your thing. Every dancer needed one of those, especially on a slow night. Back at my old club, I had a few as well.
Mocha and I kept talking until I decided I felt good enough to go back out on the floor and see if there was still something to be made.
Mocha stayed behind with some wings Ms. Tina had made. Ms. Tina was the other house mom at Sugah’s besides Mrs. Deb, and between the two of them, somebody was always around to make sure we had something to eat.
When I stepped back into the main part of the club, my eyes moved over the room automatically, taking in who was left. It had to be almost one in the morning. A few dancers, a few customers, not much else. The crowd had mostly died down.
So, I headed to the bar.
Malik was bartending that night since Tommie only worked weekends. I sat there talking with him for a while, throwing back a couple more shots even though I knew better. I really did. But knowing better and doing better wasn’t always the same thing with me.
I knew I had messed up the second I tried to stand and the whole world shifted sideways.
“Damn,” I muttered.
“You gon’ be good to drive?”
That voice made my heart drop straight into my stomach.
I turned quick and there was Solo, smirking at me like he had been standing there the whole time. My mind started running immediately.
Where had he come from? How long had he been there?
And there I was barely covered in that mesh dress with that little bikini underneath doing more showing than covering. I tried to pull at it without making it obvious.
“What business do the Prada Bois have in a booty club?” I asked, already annoyed.
Questions started piling up in my head right behind that one. Had Jey told them I worked there? Had he sent Solo? I slid back into my seat, suddenly overwhelmed by his presence in a way that irritated me more because I couldn’t hide it.
Solo leaned against the bar, one hand around a glass with something brown in it. “I mean, there’s a few reasons we’d be up in here. But if it make anything better, I ain’t know you’d be up in here.”
I cut my eyes at him.
He wasn’t even looking at me like that. His eyes kept shifting away like he was trying to be respectful, which somehow made me feel even more flustered.
“So, Jey didn’t send you here?”
That made his face twist up like he ain’t even like the question. “Nah. Why would he?”
I shrugged. It was clear then that Jey hadn’t told them. I didn’t know exactly how I felt about that, so I just sighed and propped my head up on my arm, looking at Solo openly. After a second, he looked back at me.
I wasn’t ashamed of dancing. Not really. But something about him seeing me in there felt strange.
“How long you been here?” I asked.
He looked away, but I caught the smirk he tried to hide. Then he cleared his throat. “Long enough to know you know what you doing.”
My mouth fell open.
Had he really seen that much?
I covered my face with my hands because suddenly I felt hot all over, shy in a way I really ain’t like feeling. Then I heard him laugh. Not a little chuckle either. He was really laughing.
So, I reached over and swatted at him. “That shit ain’t funny.”
But once I said it, I realized how silly it was to even be mad. The city wasn’t as big as it felt when I was younger. People were bound to find out sooner or later, especially if Sugah had plans on making me one of the main attractions.
Solo’s voice softened after that. “Look, your secret safe with me. You ain’t gotta worry.”
I looked him over then.
Solo was grown now. He was only a few years older than me and my friends, but sitting there looking at him, I could see his brothers in him and still know he was different. He had always been the quiet one. But since being back, I was learning there was more to him than just being Jey and Jimmy’s little brother.
I held my pinky out toward him. “Promise?”
He looked down at it, then back at me, and smiled. He had a pretty smile. It made me smile too.
He hooked his pinky with mine.
“On Prada.”
After me and Solo made that promise, we ain’t really say much else to each other. I mostly talked to Malik instead. But when I tried to stand up again, my balance still wasn’t right, and Solo’s hands came to my waist like they belonged there.
“Just making sure you good,” he said.
I looked away instead of at him, not trying to make this moment anything other than what it was. I mumbled a thanks, then stepped away from the bar and headed back to the locker room.
By the time I got back there, the room was starting to empty out since it was close to closing. Girls were changing, packing up, counting money, getting ready to go. I changed clothes too, sliding into a mini dress and some sandals. I had just pulled my hoodie on when Mocha pinched my side.
“Did he give you some money?” she asked, smiling.
I gave her a look as I tugged my hoodie down. “Who?”
“Solo, girl. I saw you at the bar with him. Y’know his pockets deep.”
That’s when it clicked. Solo was Mocha’s trick. Something about that made me feel a way for a second, but I pushed it down quickly. It wasn’t my business.
“Un uh, girl. That’s all you. I know him from back in the day though. Nothing more.”
That was the easiest way to put it. It was a little more complicated than that, but there wasn’t any reason to get into all that with her.
Mocha bounced on her heels. “Girl, you so real for that because these other heifa’s would’ve tried to pull him up from under me. I knew that’s why I liked you.”
I laughed because she wasn’t lying. I had seen girls fall out over that very reason a time too many. Luckily for her, she didn’t have to worry about that with me. Solo was off limits for a few reasons.
We hugged, and I finished getting my things together. I tipped out, said my goodbyes, and headed toward the exit. Gee was there like always, making sure me and the other girls got out to our cars safely. He leaned in low and told me somebody looked like they were waiting on me, then asked if I needed him to walk me over to my car. I already had a feeling I knew who it was, so I told him it wasn’t necessary.
And I was right. Solo was lingering by his car which wasn’t parked far from mine. When he saw me coming, he pushed off of it and started walking over. I took my time putting my duffle in my car, giving him enough time to reach me before I turned around.
“Yes?” I asked.
He rubbed his hands together and looked around before answering. “I think you need some food on ya stomach before you drive home. Don’t you?”
I gave him a look. Was he asking me out for food? Like a date?
I had every intention of stopping somewhere to eat, but I hadn’t planned on having company.
“I mean you ain’t gotta accept,” he added. “I just wanna make sure you good.”
He sounded sincere. And again, it was just food with somebody I knew.
“Okay. Waffle House sound good to you?”
He nodded, and the two of us left Sugah’s in our own cars. Waffle House was about three miles down the highway. I was still intoxicated, so I drove slower than usual, and Solo stayed right behind me, keeping the same speed the whole way. I didn’t let that go unnoticed.
We parked right next to each other. The Waffle House was mostly empty, just one waitress moving between the few people in there. We got seated quickly at one of them booths that looked clean but still felt sticky.
I ordered the All-Star Special, and Solo got steak and eggs. When the food came, we ate mostly in silence. It wasn’t awkward, just what it was.
His phone rang. He ignored it. Then it rang again.
“It might be important,” I said with a little smirk.
Solo chuckled. “I don’t think nothing more important than this.”
That sat with me a second longer than it should have. He finally put the phone on silent when it kept going off, and after that the conversation picked up when he asked how long I had been dancing, which led into him asking about school.
“College was cool for what it was. I had one goal, which was to pass so I could graduate. And I did despite everything.”
My voice cracked a little at the end, and I hated that it did. Still, it was true. Graduating without getting caught up the way I’d seen so many other girls do was something I was grateful for.
“Shit, I’m proud of you,” Solo said. “You got goals outside of the fast life when many don’t. I respect it.”
That made me smile. More than that, it made me feel good, and after the kind of day I had just had, I needed that. My mind flicked to Taya for a second, but I shook it off. I just hoped she could find something to feel good about soon.
“So, this why you ain’t answering the damn phone? What kind of shit you on, uce?”
Jey’s voice cut through that quiet restaurant so loud it made me flinch. I hadn’t even noticed him come in. When I looked up, his face was tight with anger. Tama stood beside him with one eyebrow raised, and behind Tama was Tonga looking curious like he was trying to piece together what he had just walked into.
Solo glanced at Jey for a second before looking back at me.
“You good?”
I ain’t even know what to do. Four sets of eyes were on me now, and Jey’s felt like they were burning a hole in the side of my face.
“I-I’m good. Yeah, I’m straight.”
Jey pushed his way into the booth on my side, basically shoving me over till I was pinned against the wall. Just like that, I was stuck, and that alone had me irritated. Then his cologne hit me. He always smelled good. Too bad his attitude never matched.
“You gon’ answer me or not, uce?” Jey snapped, staring straight at Solo. “How the fuck this shit happen?”
Solo stayed cool, calm, and collected. He even rolled his eyes. Jey’s intimidation wasn’t doing nothing to him, and that only made Jey madder. When Jey slammed his hand down on the table, I jumped and looked at him like he had lost his mind.
“Aye, y’all gotta take that shit outside before we have to call the laws,” the cook yelled from the grill.
Jey sucked his teeth, then turned to me.
“Bring yo’ ass, girl.”
That’s when I looked at him crazy for real. Who did he think he was?
I shoved him. “Stop talking to me like I’m your fucking kid.”
Everything shifted after that. Solo stood up quick. Tama raised his arm to hold him back like he knew what was about to come next. Jey got up too, standing face to face with his little brother, and Tonga put his arm out in front of Jey.
It was a standoff built off male ego, and I wanted no parts of it. I took the chance to grab my purse and scoot out the booth, but as I tried to leave, Jey grabbed my hoodie and pulled me back.
“Don’t go too far!”
I yanked away from him and headed straight for the register. The few people in the restaurant were watching now, waiting to see what would happen. I pulled money out to pay for the food, but Solo was right there beside me.
“Don’t worry about it. I got it,” he said, sliding a hundred toward the woman at the register.
I mumbled a thank you and turned to walk out. I couldn’t even make it to my car good enough before Jey was right there in my face again.
“First Damian, now my brother. You like pissing me off, little girl.”
Jey really knew how to get under my skin. That little girl comment did it. I started to swing on him, but Solo beat me to it.
He punched Jey, and Jey stumbled back looking shocked. After that, it all went left. Tama and Tonga tried to get between them, but it was too late. Nothing was stopping them from putting hands on each other at that point. Punches flew, and before I knew it, the two of them were fighting like strangers instead of brothers.
I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.
Tama and Tonga were struggling to contain them, so I jumped in too, grabbing at Solo, trying to get him to at least let Jey’s shirt go.
“Solo, stop! It’s not worth it!” I screamed.
I don’t know if it was what I said or how I said it, but he hesitated. Then he shoved Jey away from him and stood up, fixing his clothes. A bruise was already coming up under Solo’s eye. Jey’s nose and lip were bleeding. Jey was still cussing Solo out, but Tama had him then.
“I’ma see you, uce. This shit ain’t over,” Jey threatened.
I ignored him and bent down to pick up Solo’s things that had fallen out of his pockets, his phone and his keys. Solo couldn’t even thank me because Jey was already shouting again.
“And I’m definitely gon’ see yo’ little ass. Just wait on it.”
Jey and I locked eyes. I just looked at him for a second, then turned away. He was always hot and cold, always too much, and I had grown to hate that about him. Yeah, we’d probably see each other again. But as far as I was concerned, Jey was dead to me.
AN: It's been a minute but I'm here. I showed up at strange time but I won't let that stop me. I hope ya'll enjoy this chapter. And I appreciate your support ❤︎
I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS
Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated ❤
All OC Characters belong to me
Monday Morning
Dejah was surprised when she stepped out of her house and saw Josh standing at the bottom of her driveway, a backpack slung over one shoulder and a coffee cup in hand.
His grin widened when he saw her. He waited until she reached the bottom of the driveway and gently took her book bag from her and handed her the coffee cup.
“Good morning,” he said. He hesitated before leaning in and placing a quick kiss on her cheek.
Dejah’s stomach did a slow flip, and for a second, she forgot how to breathe.
Josh's eyes widened. “Shit, I’m sorry. That was -“
Dejah shook her head, snapping out of her stupor. “You’re fine,” she said softly, clutching the coffee cup tighter.
Josh rubbed the back of his neck, a small, nervous smile tugging at his lips. “It’s hot chocolate.”
“Huh?” She replied, her mind still stuck on the kiss.
“The cup.” He laughed. “I remember you sayin’ you don’t like coffee,” She smiled at him, and in that moment, Josh felt like the luckiest 17-year-old in the entire world.
They stood there for a moment, staring at each other with goofy smiles on their faces.
Both teenagers jumped as a car horn blared, breaking them out of their staring contest.
“Y’all just gon’ stand there or get y’all asses in the car?!”
Josh groaned and flipped his brother off. “We coming! Chill out.”
Dejah giggled at the scowl on Josh’s face and took his outstretched hand. She had a smile on her face as Josh led her to the car. She thanked him as he opened the door for her. Josh closed the door gently behind her before jogging around the front of the car. Dejah watched him through the windshield, her fingers wrapped around the warm cup as she tried and failed to calm her heartbeat.
“You two lovebirds ready?” Jon asked as Josh got settled into the front seat. Dejah laughed softly and shook her head as Josh punched his twin in the shoulder and ordered him to drive.
Dejah tried to ignore the stares all morning. She was used to the stares, but something was different today. People were looking at her like they knew one of her deepest secrets. She jumped when Myra slammed her lunch tray down on the table.
“I swear I’m about to beg my mom to homeschool me.” She said with a scowl as she stabbed her mashed potatoes. When Dejah didn’t reply, Myra turned to look at her and noticed how her eyes kept shifting over the cafeteria. “Don’t worry,” Myra smirked and nugged her best friend. “Lover Boy will be here soon.”
That finally got a reaction out of Dejah. She rolled her eyes. “Shut up.” She muttered, reaching for her juice. “I’m not looking for him.”
“Ohhh! So you finally admit he’s lover boy!”
Dejah choked on her juice. “Myra!” She said as she coughed and reached for a napkin. “That’s not what I said,” she shot back, her voice low as she wiped her mouth.
Myra rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay. You got that boy wrapped around your finger.”
“I do not!” Dejah scoffed.
Just as she said that, a group of girls in their grade walked past their table. One of the girls, Keisha — someone Dejah never had a problem with— leaned closer to her, leaned in close to another girl, and whispered something behind her hand. The other girl glanced over at Dejah. Then both of them started laughing.
Dejah immediately felt a chill run over her. She knew she wasn’t crazy. People were talking about her. Her fingers tightened around her juice cup as the laughter echoed in her ears, and she felt the weight of every pair of eyes in the cafeteria on her back.
“Ignore them,” Myra said as she placed a hand on her friend’s back, rubbing softly. “Don’t let them get into your head.”
“I’m trying,” Dejah muttered under her breath, her stomach twisting. “ Why is this happening now?!”
“'Cause these high school bitches love drama. Don’t give them a lick of satisfaction."
Dejah was trying. She had spent the last year and a half trying to put sophomore year behind her. She went from the bubbly, bright cheerleader to the girl who sat in the back of the class, the girl who tried to keep her head down, to keep quiet, to not be noticed.
Dejah barely had time to calm her rapid beating heart before she spotted Josh. He was weaving through the tables, backpack slung casually over one shoulder, scanning the cafeteria until his eyes landed on her. Her heart jumped, a mix of relief and nerves twisting in her chest.
Josh’s smile was wide as he neared the table. “Hey,” He said to her as he shot Myra a quick smile before turning his attention back to Dejah. The two teenagers locked eyes for a second, and everything else seemed to fade into the background.
“Hey,” Dejah replied softly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as she tried to ignore the nervous flutter in her chest.
Myra snorted and rolled her eyes. “Just kiss already.”
“Myra!” Dejah hissed and kicked her under the table again.
Josh let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he dropped into the seat across from Dejah. “Damn,” he muttered, glancing at Myra, “You don’t waste no time, huh?”
“Somebody's gotta move this along,” Myra shrugged, completely unbothered as she took a bite of her food.
Dejah groaned softly, dragging a hand down her face. “Please ignore her,” she said, peeking back up at Josh.
“I dunno,” Josh said, his eyes still on Dejah, a small grin tugging at his lips. “She might be onto something.”
“Oh, my god.” Dejah groaned again. “So annoying.” She muttered, but the slight smile on her lips let Josh know she was just joking.
“I’m not gon’ bother you for too long,” Josh said after a moment of silence. “I was just wondering if you were busy on Friday.”
Dejah blinked, a little caught off guard. “Friday?” she repeated, her brows pulling together slightly.
Josh nodded, trying to play it cool, but there was a hint of nerves in the way he scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah… Friday.”
“I uh- we - “ She said, motioning between herself and Myra. “Normally do movie night on Fridays-”
“Girl!” Myra cut her off. “It’s okay to skip a movie!” She rolled her eyes. “Whatever it is, she’s in.”
Josh let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “No pressure or anything.” He said jokingly. “Football team is throwing a party.” “Nothing crazy.” He added in after seeing Dejah’s eyes widen. “Just to celebrate us making it to the state finals.”
“Oh…” Dejah trailed off. She wasn’t a party virgin persaym it’s just that the last party she had been to involving someone from this school had ended in her —
“Yeah, I was just wondering if you wanted to go with me,” Josh spoke up again, breaking Dejah out of her thoughts and giving her a hopeful smile. “Myra can come too, oh, and your cousin from the mall. You can bring anybody you want, I just… want you there.” He trailed off, and Dejah felt those butterflies kickstart back up.
She glanced over at Myra, who gave her a slight nod of encouragement. She swallowed, took a deep breath, and finally met Josh’s hopeful gaze again. “Okay,” She breathed. “We’ll be there.”
Josh’s grin widened, and a spark of relief flashed across his face. “Really?”
“Really,” she confirmed, biting her bottom lip.
“I’ll text you the deets.” He said just as the bell rang, signaling lunch was over. “Make sure you have minutes on your phone.”
Dejah rolled her eyes as she stood from the table and grabbed her barely eaten lunch tray. “Shut it. It was one time.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t talk to you,” Josh whined, dramatically.
Dejah smirked despite herself, shaking her head as she walked toward the trash. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And that’s what you like about me, right?” He said, just as his brother called his name from the front of the cafeteria. Josh flagged him off.
“You can flirt another time. Coach said we can’t be late!” Jon yelled again, drawing the attention of some straggling students.
“Shit.. I’ll catch you later?”
Dejah nodded, and Josh hesitated, his shoulders tensing as if he wanted to go in for a hug but wasn’t sure if he should. Finally, he settled on a shy, awkward smile and waved before jogging to catch up with his twin, who was already out the door.
“Yeah, girl… y’all got it bad.” Myra laughed, looping her arm with Dejah’s as they walked out of the cafeteria.
Friday Evening
Friday came too quickly for Dejah. She had spent the whole day with her stomach in knots, unable to give her full 100 in her classes. Every time the clock ticked, her mind wandered to Josh and the party. What it would be like, what she would say, and if she’d be able to act normally around him.
By the time she got home, the nerves hadn’t settled. If anything, they had gotten worse.
“Girl! Come on! We gonna be late!” Myra called out.
Dejah ignored her as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared right back. Hair done, outfit picked out, lip gloss shining just enough. She looked… good. She knew she did. So why didn’t it feel like enough?
Her fingers lightly tugged at the hem of her top before smoothing it down again. Then her hands moved to her hair, adjusting a piece that didn’t need fixing.
“You’re doing too much,” Myra said, appearing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
Dejah didn’t look at her. “I look okay?”
Myra let out a small laugh. “Girl, if you ask me that one more time—” She pushed off the door and walked in, stopping behind Dejah. “You don’t look okay. You look good. If he don’t like it, that’s his problem, not yours.”
Dejah’s lips twitched just a little, but her eyes stayed fixed on her reflection.
Myra tilted her head, watching her through the mirror. “Matter fact… if he don’t like what he sees, I know for a fact Trin got some new and better nigga on speedial for you.”
That earned a real reaction. Dejah turned her head, giving Myra a look. “You so stupid.”
Myra grinned, unbothered. “I’m serious. Don’t be actin’ like you gotta impress him. He the one who asked you.”
Dejah’s expression softened slightly at that, her gaze drifting back to the mirror. She gave herself one more once-over before nodding her head. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Myra’s grin widened. “Finally.” She pushed off the dresser and grabbed her bag. “’Bout time.”
Dejah rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto her face. She reached for her purse and took one last glance at herself in the mirror before turning away.
“Let’s go before you start overthinking again,” Myra added, already heading for the door.
They made their way downstairs, the house quiet except for the faint sound of the TV in the background. “You girls be safe,” Dejah’s mom called from the living room.
“We will!” Dejah and Myra answered almost in sync.
When they stepped outside, Trinity was already leaning against the hood of the car, arms crossed and looking them over like she’d been waiting forever.
“Took y’all long enough,” she said, pushing herself up. Her eyes landed on Dejah, and a slow smile spread across her face. “Okay… I see you. I knew that top would look good on you.”
“Yeah, Yeah…” Dejah trailed off, still smiling as she got into the passenger seat.
Myra slid into the back, shutting the door behind her. “She been stressin’ for the past hour,” she added, buckling her seatbelt.
“I have not,” Dejah shot back, glancing over her shoulder.
Trinity smirked as she got in the driver’s seat. “Mmhm.” She started the car, the engine humming to life. “You look good though, Josh ain’t gon know what hit him.”
Dejah rolled her eyes, but those butterflies started up again. What if all this was really a trap? What if Josh was like —. Dejah closed her eyes and shook her head. The rest of the car ride, she stared out the window, watching the streetlights blur past as Trinity and Myra chattered behind her. Every laugh and word from them barely registered; her mind kept circling back to Josh, to the party, to the way her stomach flipped at the thought of seeing him. She wanted to focus, to participate, to joke along like she always did, but instead, her fingers tapped nervously against her thigh, her heart ticking in sync with every passing streetlamp. Just breathe, she told herself. Just… breathe.
Dejah’s heart dropped into her stomach as they pulled up to the house. Teens were scattered across the lawn, some leaning against the porch railing, others milling around in small groups.
“You ready?” Trinity asked, her full attention on her cousin, who looked like she was about to vomit all over her new car.
Dejah nodded. She opened the passenger door and exited the vehicle. She waited until Myra and Trinity were next to her before the trio started to walk into the house. She walked into the house and immediately made eye contact with Josh. That familiar spark hit her chest like a jolt of electricity.
He was leaning casually against the wall, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding a red cup, his grin effortless but teasing. Dejah’s stomach did that slow, twisting flip she’d felt every time she saw him. Myra and Trinity were still flanking her sides as she neared Josh, but she felt a strange sense of isolation, like it was just her and Josh in the crowded room. The chatter and laughter of the party faded into background noise as she focused on him, measuring her words, her movements.
Josh’s eyes lit up when he noticed her. He quickly set his cup down on the counter and walked towards her.
Damn. He wanted to say as his eyes swept over her outfit. Instead, he went with “There you are, thought you flaked on me.”
Dejah bit her lip as she tried to keep the smile off her face. “Wasn’t gonna flake.” She muttered and playfully rolled her eyes.
Josh grinned. “You uh? Want a drink or something?” He asked. Dejah glanced at her cousin and best friend, who were already walking away to give the two some privacy.
Dejah nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sure… whatever you’re having,” she said, trying to sound casual while her stomach did little flips.
Josh hesitated, then shrugged and smiled. Without thinking, he reached out and laced his fingers through hers. Dejah’s eyes widened for a second, heat creeping up her neck, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she squeezed back, her heart hammering.
“You good?” he asked softly, still holding her hand.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m good.” Josh nodded and led her toward the makeshift snack table, unaware of the eyes that were following the couple.
Kayla’s eyes zeroed in on Dejah’s and Josh’s clasped hands. Her jaw tightened slightly, tongue pressing against the inside of her cheek as she watched them move through the crowd as if they belonged to each other.
“Girl… you see this?” one of her friends muttered beside her, leaning in.
Kayla let out a short, humorless laugh. “I see it.”
“He still tryna make you jealous?”
Kayla sucked her teeth softly, shifting her weight onto one hip. “Please,” she said, smoothing a hand over her hair. “Jealous of that?” Her lip curled just slightly as her eyes dragged over Dejah again, slow and deliberate. “She’s not even his type.”
“ I don’t know…” Her friend trailed off. “He looks kinda into her.”
Kayla’s gaze snapped back to Josh just in time to catch him leaning down, saying something low that made Dejah smile.
Kayla’s expression hardened for half a second. Then she huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as if she’d just heard something funny. “Like you said, tryna make me jealous.” But she didn’t look away, didn’t blink. Her eyes stayed locked on them, on the way he stood too close, on the way Dejah leaned in like she was starting to get comfortable at his side.
She watched as Josh pointed Dejah in a direction that was off to the side of the house, most likely the bathroom. And that's when Kayla decided to strike. She watched as Dejah nodded at something Josh had said and slipped through the crowd. Kayla’s gaze followed her until she was no longer visible. Then her eyes flickered to Josh, who was now alone. Her tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek again, a slow smirk pulling at her lips as she straightened up.
“Be right back.” She said to her friend, who just gave her a smirk in return.
Kayla weaved through the crowd with a purpose, her eyes locked on Josh. She reached him just as he turned to grab another cup from the table.
“Hey,” she said softly, stepping close enough that he had to tilt his head to meet her gaze.
Josh sucked his teeth, shifting backward slightly. “Kayla, whatchu’ want man?” His tone was firm, but his body language screamed uneasy.
“Hi,” Josh rushed out, his eyes darting over to where Dejah had disappeared.
Kayla’s smirk only deepened, almost triumphant. “Come on, Josh… don’t act like we didn’t have something good.” Her fingers brushed against his arm lightly, deliberately.
Josh flinched but kept his composure. “Kayla… we done. You know that.” He said.
“Mmhm,” She said. “We’ll see.”
Dejah emerged from the bathroom, smoothing the front of her top, her mind still replaying every detail of Josh’s smile earlier. The laughter and chatter of the party hit her again, and she squinted, trying to find him in the crowd.
Then she froze.
She didn’t even know Kayla would be at the party, even though she should have expected it. But what she didn’t expect was what happened next.
Dejah’s feet were rooted to the floor as she watched Kayla lean into Josh. Her heels gave her the perfect height to meet him halfway, tilting up slightly as her lips pressed against his. Josh froze for a split second, caught off guard, but didn’t pull away immediately. Dejah’s stomach lurched, every nerve in her body on fire as she watched. Kayla’s hand rested lightly on Josh’s shoulder, pressing just enough to hold his attention.
The kiss lingered longer than Dejah thought possible, Kayla’s lips moving with a familiarity that made her chest tighten painfully. Josh’s hand twitched at his side, then awkwardly moved to her arm, trying to gently push her away, but Kayla leaned closer, undeterred.
Dejah’s heart pounded so loud it felt like it could crack her ribs. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms, as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing.
Josh was finally able to get Kayla off of him. He pushed her away and took a step back. Josh looked like he was about to yell at her, maybe, but then his eyes met Dejah’s from across the room, and his whole world tilted.
Author's Note: Well, hello there!! I missed you guys. I hope you liked this chapter; it's kind of a long one to make up for how long it's been since I uploaded. ENJOY!! ☺️
Back in ’98, Nyeya Noir Green learned that her Prada priced dreams came at a huge cost. At a cost so high she couldn’t take the risk of staying in the city any longer. In the middle of the night, she fled and found a safe place to get her life back on track.
Things were good. Nyeya was even able to afford her own Prada by way of dancing. Like Cher said, she was the rich man.
But home still had her heart. And when her mother marries her long-time boyfriend, it provides the opportunity to come home… for good.
However, her quiet homecoming isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for. The streets still aren’t safe. The people she knew had changed. And the wounds she thought healed, bust wide open.
Now 21, Nyeya feels grown and in control. She returns thinking she can keep her distance, but she quickly realizes it’s impossible to outrun the past especially when it still holds a piece of her heart.
Pairing: Jey Uso x Nyeya Noir Green (OC)
Author's Note: This story is happening in alternative universe. It features the former members of the Bloodline and the new members of MFT. The characters are themselves but some things are switched around for the story's sake. If you haven't read Prada You, click here to read.
Warnings: May contain strong/harsh language.
Disclaimer: This work of art is fictional in nature including the original characters created by me. I do not own any of the existing characters or lyrics from songs referenced in this story (if any). All rights belong to their respective owners with the exception of my original characters. This work is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to cause harm.
Chapter 7: Open Wounds
05/30/2002
My days and nights started blurring together after Saturday night. One day slid into the next without much difference between them. I found myself drinking more and sleeping less, letting the club swallow up most of my time.
Something about that encounter with Jey had knocked something loose inside me. I wouldn’t call it spiraling because I refused to label it that, but I couldn’t deny the way everything shifted. Sugah’s became the easiest place to hide.
Between the glitter, the music, and the attention, it was easy to pretend nothing had gotten under my skin.
It wasn’t until the Thursday before my scheduled moving day that the haze finally started to lift. I laid there for a few minutes after waking up, staring at the ceiling while the quiet of the room settled around me. That night would be my last shift before I took time off to settle into my new apartment.
The thought alone forced me back into reality. I couldn’t keep drifting the way I had been.
I rolled out of bed just around ten and stretched, my body protesting the movement. Night after night in the club was never good on the body. My hips ached, my calves tight, and my shoulders felt like they had been carrying something heavy for days.
But it was the only way I knew how to cope. Staying distracted enough that my thoughts couldn’t drift to things I didn’t want them to.
But the agenda for the day was simple, I needed furniture. I had put it off long enough.
After a hot shower, I sat down on the edge of my bed with my diary in my hands. It had been neglected since I came back home. The cover felt unfamiliar in a way that made me pause for a second before opening it.
I flipped to a blank page and stared at it quietly, gathering my thoughts before finally putting pen to paper.
I been spending more time at the club ‘cause it’s the only way to distract myself from the situation. Finding peace amongst the glitter, alcohol, and surface level adoration because in all honesty that’s patching up the wounds that refuse to heal.
I’m questioning why I’m still stuck on him after all this time. Why one touch from him has me reconsidering? That man tried to break me. He wanted me to be someone I’m not. I won’t hold my tongue. I won’t agree blindly. I ain’t standing in the shadows when I know I’m worthy of being front and center.
I refuse to give up my freedom. So, I gotta figure this shit out, gotta get my mind right. I deserve the very best even when my heart longs for things I’ve outgrown.
I sat there for a moment after writing, reading over my own words like they belonged to somebody else. The truth of it sat heavy in my chest.
Eventually, I closed the diary and packed it away with the rest of my things. My room was already filled with boxes stacked along the walls, everything ready to be loaded into the U-Haul that would take me to my new place.
I was in the middle of packing up another pile of clothes when my phone rang.
Damian.
He had called a few times over the past couple days, but I hadn’t answered. I’d been too deep in running away from my own problems to talk to anybody who might ask real questions.
Still, this time I answered.
“Hi.”
He greeted me warmly, and I could hear the smile in his voice immediately. Damian didn’t ask where I’d been or why I hadn’t answered his calls. He didn’t push. That was one thing about him, he never came at me like he was owed an explanation.
“When can I see you, mami? It’s been a while.”
I paused for a second, thinking about it. The idea of seeing him didn’t feel heavy the way everything else had been feeling lately. A small smile tugged at my lips before I even realized it.
“I’m about to go to the furniture store to look for stuff for my apartment,” I told him. “You wanna come along?”
He didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah. I know a place actually,” he said quickly. “They got good furniture and I know the owner. I can get you a good price.”
That made me smile a little more. I liked to spend money that much was true, but I liked saving it just as much.
We agreed to meet at a store downtown called Krazy Bob’s.
After we hung up, I got dressed, pulling on a Tommy Hilfiger tank dress and my white Keds. Nothing fancy, but it still looked put together. I grabbed my purse and headed out; the drive downtown came without the usual stop and go traffic.
Krazy Bob’s sat tucked between a row of storefronts along a busy one-way street. Parking was across the street in a garage, so I pulled in there and made my way down to the sidewalk. I scanned the area for Damian but didn’t see him anywhere. I’d probably beat him there.
So, I stepped inside the store to look around while I waited.
Krazy Bob’s was an experience all by itself. Furniture filled nearly every inch of the place. Sofas stacked beside recliners, dining tables lined up in rows, big screen TVs mounted along the walls. Even washers and dryers sat toward the back. Everything one could need to furnish a house was crammed into every nook and cranny.
I wandered slowly through the aisles, touching fabrics, sitting briefly on a couch, opening a cabinet door here and there.
I was in the middle of examining a sectional when arms suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a warm chest. I didn’t jump this time. I actually leaned into him. His scent hit me before anything else.
Damian pressed a kiss against the side of my head, holding me there a moment longer than usual.
“Te extraño, nena,” he whispered.
I smiled softly and turned around to face him.
The first thing I noticed was the bruise under his eye. It had already started fading, the color shifting into that yellow-purple stage of healing. My hand moved before I could stop it, my thumb brushing lightly against the edge of it.
“What happened?”
The question slipped out before I decided if I really wanted to know the answer.
“It’s nothing, bonita,” he said gently. “I’m fine.”
I held his gaze for a second longer, knowing there was more behind it. There was always more behind things like that. But I let it go. Damian seemed grateful for that because he quickly asked if I’d seen anything I liked yet.
And I had.
I pointed out a sofa set first, then a bedroom set not too far from it. There was also a dining room set I’d noticed earlier that would look perfect in my new place. Damian nodded along as I showed him, listening while I explained why I liked each one.
That’s when the owner walked over. He introduced himself as Bob.
He was an older white man with gold teeth, which tickled me more than it probably should have. Damian greeted him like they’d known each other for years, the two of them slipping into easy conversation while I wandered toward the appliances like the washer and dryer combo that seemed to be on sale.
My eyes drifted toward a big screen TV mounted nearby, then to a stereo system sitting beneath it. I started crunching numbers in my head automatically, calculating how much everything would come out to if I bought it all at once.
Inside my purse, I had stacks of bills ready to spend. At that point, I just needed to see if Bob was about to give me the kind of deal Damian promised. Damian came back to my side a few minutes later, slipping through the maze of couches and dining tables like he belonged there.
The store buzzed with quiet activity around us; salesmen talking to couples, somebody testing a recliner that squeaked every time it leaned back, the faint hum of televisions mounted high along the wall.
“B said he can give you a good deal since you with me,” Damian said, leaning slightly closer so his voice didn’t get swallowed by the noise.
I liked the sound of that. My eyes drifted back over the pieces I’d already picked out. The gray sectional that looked soft enough to sink into after long nights at the club. The bedroom set that had the dark wood frame that made it look like it belonged in a hotel. The dining table big enough that if I ever had people over, nobody would be squeezed together.
“I want all of it,” I said finally, nodding toward the pieces one by one. “The sofa set, the bedroom set, and the dining table set. Plus, that tv along with the washer and dryer as well. Oh, those two rugs over there to.”
Damian followed my finger as I pointed things out, nodding like he was committing it all to memory.
“Aight,” he said. “Let me go grab B.”
I watched him disappear again down the aisle toward the front counter while I wandered back toward the appliances again. Rows of washers and dryers sat side by side like soldiers lined up for inspection, their white metal bodies gleaming under the fluorescent lights.
I ran my fingers across the lid of one of them, imagining what my new place would look like once everything was in it. The thought made something warm settle in my chest.
Behind me I heard footsteps approach.
I turned, expecting Damian.
Instead, Bob himself stood there, smiling wide enough that the row of gold teeth in his mouth flashed under the lights. It caught me off guard so much I almost laughed.
He stuck his hand out toward me.
“So, when you want everything delivered?” he asked cheerfully. “And where we taking it?”
I blinked at him.
For a moment my brain didn’t catch up to what he was saying. I’d expected him to start throwing numbers at me. Maybe slide some paperwork towards me or scribble something down on a piece of paper.
“Uh…” I started.
That’s when Damian slid up beside him, that quiet grin already sitting on his face like he’d been waiting for me to figure it out.
And just like that, it clicked.
“Damian, you didn’t!” I said, turning toward him once Bob stepped out of earshot. “I could have paid for my stuff.”
He looked completely unbothered by my protest. If anything, his smile deepened as he slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
“Consider this a housewarming gift,” he said.
I studied him carefully.
For the past three years I’d taken care of myself. Paid my own way. Handled my own problems. I hadn’t depended on nobody especially not a man to take care of anything for me. Standing there while someone casually bought thousands of dollars’ worth of furniture for me felt unfamiliar.
My silence must’ve said more than I realized because Damian lifted both hands and pressed his thumbs lightly against my forehead, rubbing the space between my creased brows like he was smoothing out the thoughts he could see forming there.
“Stop thinking so hard, mami,” he murmured. “Allow me to do this.”
His voice softened slightly.
“I owe you.”
That word hung in the air.
I looked up at him more closely now. “What you mean you owe me?”
Damian let out a slow breath and shook his head, his eyes drifting away for a moment before coming back to mine.
“I didn’t try hard enough to stop that party from happening,” he said quietly. “I should’ve done more to protect you. We failed. I failed. And because of that I lost you for three years.”
His words hit somewhere deep in my chest.
Before I could even think about what I was doing, my hand reached up and pulled his face toward mine. My lips met his in a soft kiss, quick but full of something I hadn’t allowed myself to acknowledge before. For a second he stayed completely still, like he needed a moment to process it.
My eyes opened before his did.
When his lashes finally lifted, the smile that spread across his face was slow and warm.
“Still as sweet as I remember,” he said with a quiet laugh.
I couldn’t help laughing with him. A line had been crossed between us. I knew it. But strangely enough, I didn’t feel guilty about it.
After that everything with Krazy Bob moved smoothly. Damian and I walked back over to him and went through the details like any other customers. I signed the paperwork and gave Bob my new address, watching him scribble everything down on a yellow delivery form.
“Most of your furniture we can bring Saturday,” Bob said. “Dining set and rugs might take a few extra days.”
“That’s fine,” I replied.
Honestly, as long as I had a couch and a bed, I’d be perfectly happy.
Damian walked me out to the parking garage when we finished. The sound of cars echoed through the concrete structure, the air cooler than it had been outside. We stopped beside my car and leaned against it, neither of us rushing to leave just yet.
“Can I help you move in?” he asked.
I tilted my head slightly, studying him. “You really want to help? Reggie, Michael, and probably Reggie’s brother Mark gon' be around helping me with everything.”
“That’s fine,” Damian said. “Extra hands never hurt nobody.”
I thought about it for a moment.
Damian was still a Prada Boi. I hadn’t really inquired about how my family felt about any of the others outside of Jey. Michael was the only one who made his opinion of them known.
I could already imagine the looks if he showed up to help move my things.
“I’ll have to think about it,” I said finally. “But if I need you, I’ll call you.”
Damian nodded, a small smirk tugging at his lips like he already knew how that would turn out.
We stood there a second longer before he pulled me into a hug. His arms wrapped around me warm and steady, and he pressed a soft kiss against my forehead before letting go. I’d come to enjoy those.
“Remember to call me if you need me, bonita,” he said as he walked toward his car.
“I will,” I shouted back.
Once I slid into my own car, I sat there for a moment and let out a breath before doing a little shimmy in my seat. Everything finally felt like it was lining up the way it was supposed to. My apartment was coming together. The furniture was handled.
And for that, I was grateful.
05/31/2002
By the time the sun started dropping lower in the sky, everything I planned to take with me was finally packed. Boxes sat taped shut all around my room, stacked against the walls and tucked into corners like little towers waiting to be moved.
I stretched out across the bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling while the quiet settled around me. My muscles ached in that dull way that only came after a long day of moving around too much.
Between packing all morning, dancing the night before, and running to different stores to make sure I had the essentials, my body was reminding me I wasn’t built to run nonstop.
I yawned wide and rubbed my eyes before rolling onto my side. For a second I considered closing them and taking a quick nap. That idea died the moment my stomach growled loud enough to echo in the empty room.
Immediately my mind went to those good ole burgers from the corner store. From the thick greasy patties, shredded lettuce spilling out the sides, and fries cooked in straight lard that soaked through the bottom of the paper bag before you even made it home.
I hadn’t had one in a minute and my stomach growling again settled it.
I pushed myself up and shuffled down the hallway, peeking my head into Michael’s room. The TV casted a bluish glow across the walls while he leaned back in his chair scrolling through channels. I paused a second, surprised he was actually home instead of somewhere outside doing whatever it was he did most nights.
“You wanna ride to the store for a burger basket?” I asked.
He didn’t even hesitate.
“Hell yeah.”
Before I could say anything else he sat up straighter and started rattling off his order like he’d been rehearsing it.
“I’ma need a double cheeseburger deluxe, large fry with extra seasonings, and a large Kool-Aid with light ice, bro.”
I sucked my teeth instantly.
“You got deluxe basket money?” I asked as we headed out the front door.
Michael climbed into the passenger seat like the question didn’t even apply to him.
“This not about me,” he said. “This about you. You invited me so you paying, girl.”
That kicked off an argument that lasted the entire ride to the store. Back and forth the whole way there, me telling him he needed to start spending that money I knew he had and him insisting it was my responsibility to pay since I invited him.
By the time we pulled into the small lot beside the corner store, I already knew how things were going to end.
Fifteen minutes later I walked back out carrying two greasy paper bags and two drinks.
Michael looked at me with a smug little grin.
“Exactly,” he said.
We didn’t bother going back home. Instead, we sat right there outside the store on one of the concrete barricades that separated the lot from the street.
The asphalt still held heat from the afternoon sun and the smell of grease drifted through the air every time someone opened the store door. A couple older men stood nearby talking loud over a game of dominoes while cars rolled slowly down the block.
For a while we just ate. No talking, just the sound of wrappers crinkling and the occasional comment when someone we knew walked past.
I wiped my hands with a napkin and glanced over at Michael while he demolished the last of his fries.
“You remember Damian, right?” I asked.
He nodded without looking up, still chewing. That was all the opening I needed to see something.
“How you feel about him?”
Michael swallowed his food and reached for his drink, taking a long pull before answering.
“He aight,” he said finally. “Solid dude despite how he get down.”
He wiped his fingers on a napkin and leaned back slightly.
“He came around after you left to check on us. Made sure we was good. Not too many people move like that these days.”
My mouth fell open before I could stop it.
Nobody had told me that. Our granny had mentioned Jey coming around once or twice after I left. But she told me he stopped once he realized nobody was going to tell him where I was or if I was coming back.
“Word?” I said, leaning forward. “I ain’t know that. How did Ma and Reggie feel about that?”
Michael shrugged.
“At first Ma wasn’t really feeling none of they asses,” he said. “Even though most of them showed up to see you at the hospital at least once before you came to.”
He took another sip of his drink.
“But Damian stayed consistent long after you were gone. Eventually Ma and him came to some sort of understanding. I feel like she could tell he was sincere, so I don’t think she got no problem with him.”
He looked over at me now.
“Damian always been like that though. That’s just him. But don’t get it twisted that don’t mean he ain’t just as bad as the rest of them niggas if not worse. Street angel who can turn into a demon real quick.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Why you asking though?”
I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.
“He said he wanted to help y’all move my stuff tomorrow,” I said. “I ain’t know how y’all felt about him so I wanted to check before I gave him an answer.”
Michael looked me up and down slowly before a smirk crept across his face.
“Man, I knew yo’ ass was cheating on Jey with his big ass back then.”
My hand flew straight to my chest.
“Boy!” I snapped. “Wasn’t nobody cheating. He was my friend before I even knew that dude. Don’t play with my name like that.”
Michael laughed.
“Whatever you say,” he said. “But if I’m being honest… you probably should’ve chosen him.”
My eyes widened slightly. That was the second time someone had said that to me. First Kiyah. Now Michael. The thought stuck in my head well after we got back home and slid into the bed.
06/01/2002
Saturday morning arrived loud and bright like it was owed some money. Sunlight beamed through my window way earlier than I wanted it to, and I tried pulling the covers over my head before the door suddenly swung open.
“Girl, get yo’ ass up!” Michael shouted. “This shit not gon’ move itself.”
I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath while dragging myself out of bed. It was only nine in the morning, but the heat had already settled into the house. By the time I finished getting dressed, Reggie was pulling up outside with the U-Haul.
And just like that, the work started.
Box by box my room emptied while the truck filled. Sweat gathered at the back of my neck while we carried things in and out of the house. I was ready to call it quits halfway through, but there was too much left to do.
Eventually I pulled my phone out and called Damian.
When he showed up, my mama greeted him like he was just another set of hands there to help. Reggie and Mark nodded at him while Michael dapped him up like they’d already expected him to come through.
I stood there watching it for a second, a little surprised by how normal it all looked. Yeah, he was a Prada Boi. But in that moment he was just Damian who was grabbing boxes, lifting furniture, moving through the house like everyone else.
He kept his distance from me while we worked, though I caught his eyes following me a few times.
Before long the truck was packed. My car was filled. Reggie’s truck had boxes stacked in the back and Damian’s truck had a few too. Turns out I had more stuff than I thought.
We all drove over to the complex where I’d be living next. My new place was a two-story duplex, which meant some boxes had to go upstairs and others downstairs. I stopped by the rent office to grab my key before unlocking the front door so everyone could start bringing things in.
The unloading moved faster than the loading. Everyone grabbed something every trip, moving through the doorway in a steady rhythm. By the time we were almost finished, the furniture truck pulled up outside.
The rest of the afternoon turned into a blur of boxes sliding across floors, furniture being carried through doorways, and people coming in and out of the house.
By three o’clock everything was finally done. The couch sat in the living room along with the tv, the bed sat in the bedroom awaiting sheets, and the washer and dryer sat in the laundry room.
I dropped onto the couch with a bottle of water in my hand, my entire body heavy with exhaustion. But my heart felt full. For the first time in a long time, I had something that belonged to me and only me.
By the time the last box was carried inside and the furniture people finished setting everything up, the house finally went quiet. Reggie, my mama, Michael, and Mark had taken off not too long after everything was in place, leaving the duplex wrapped in that tired silence that comes after a long day of moving.
The evening light stretched through the windows, painting the living room in warm gold. For the first time all day, I could actually hear myself think.
Damian lingered.
He leaned against the kitchen counter, one elbow resting on the surface while he slowly sipped from a bottle of water. The house still smelled like fresh furniture and cardboard, mixed with the faint scent of sweat from everybody carrying boxes all afternoon. I walked into the kitchen and slid up to the opposite side of the counter, resting my hands against the cool surface.
“Thank you again,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
Damian looked up at me and smiled before nodding his head slightly.
“Thank you for letting me help,” he replied. “This meant a lot to me, mami.”
Something about the sincerity in his voice made me bite down lightly on my lip. A rush of emotion hit me before I could brace for it.
Damian was… something. Something steady. Something genuine. And it was becoming more obvious to me with every moment we spent together that I wanted to see where this thing between us could go.
Before I could say anything else, his phone rang.
The sound cut sharply through the quiet house. Damian pulled the phone from his pocket and glanced down at the screen. A small sigh escaped him before he answered.
“Uce, where the fuck you been?” the voice barked through the phone loud enough for me to hear every word. “You ain’t been answering yo’ phone. What you on, uce?”
My stomach twisted immediately.
Damian didn’t have the phone on speaker, but Jey’s voice carried through it like he was standing in the room. I watched Damian’s demeanor change almost instantly. The relaxed look he’d had a moment earlier disappeared. His jaw tightened slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“I had shit to do,” he said calmly.
He didn’t explain anything else. Just stood there leaning against the counter while Jey kept talking on the other end. Every now and then his eyes flicked toward me, like he knew I could hear the conversation whether I wanted to or not. It didn’t last long though. Whatever Jey needed clearly wasn’t something Damian could ignore.
When he hung up, he looked back at me.
“I gotta go, princesa.”
I gave him a small smile, even though something in my chest tightened. The streets always came first. That was the reality of men like him. I would come second until he was out, and getting out usually only happened one way.
When he pulled me into a hug, I wrapped my arms around him tighter than I meant to. Reality settled over me in that moment. His chest was warm against mine and neither one of us moved right away. The hug lasted longer than usual, but in that moment it felt necessary.
“Be safe, Damian,” I told him quietly.
He kissed my temple before pulling away. After one last look at me, he slipped out the front door. I stood there for a moment after he left, my mind crowded with thoughts that all seemed to show up at once.
Eventually I shook it off and got the bed ready. Clean sheets stretched across the mattress along with the matching pillowcases and comforter. After a hot shower, I slid into the bed and sleep grabbed hold of me almost immediately.
The sound of my phone ringing dragged me out of that sleep.
I answered it with a groggy voice. “Hello?”
“I know you not sleep, heifa. It’s only seven!” Kiyah snapped.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and squinted at it before bringing it back. “Kiyah, I’m tired. We been moving stuff all day. I need rest.”
“I’m sure you is,” she replied quickly, “but get up. We going out tonight. Meet us at Southern.”
I stared at the ceiling. I wasn’t going anywhere but back to sleep.
“Kiyah, I ain’t coming nowhere. Did you not hear me? I’m tired, girl.”
She sighed loudly before jumping straight into peer pressure. She reminded me I’d been gone for three years and that we had a lot of catching up to do.
According to her logic, I owed them a night out so we could make up for lost time. The argument was annoyingly convincing, and before I realized it, I was crawling out of bed.
I pulled on a pair of low-rise denim shorts and a red shirt, sliding my red Converse onto my feet. My hair got curled and pinned into a messy updo before I finished the look with my gold jewelry and a layer of glitter-scented lotion.
Southern Skates was only about fifteen minutes from my new place. When I pulled into the parking lot, it was already packed. Saturdays were adults-only after nine, and clearly everybody in the city had the same idea.
Inside the rink the energy was alive. Strobe lights flashed across the floor while people crowded the skate line and the food court. The DJ was spinning the newest R&B and hip-hop records, and I had to admit it felt good being somewhere that wasn’t the club.
The energy felt lighter.
I bobbed my head to the beat while standing in line for skates. Once I got them, I moved deeper into the building looking for my girls. I spotted them sitting around a table laughing about something and made my way over.
“Hey y’all.”
They jumped up immediately, pulling me into hugs. Nataya looked happier than the last time I saw her, and I noticed the bracelet Jimmy gave her was still missing.
Natasha proudly showed off a new tattoo, a rose blooming along the inside of her wrist, while Kiyah was showing more skin than usual, which told me something was going on with Jacob.
We talked and caught up until the building cleared out and it was adults only. Nataya and I laced up our skates first. After tossing our things into lockers, the four of us rolled out onto the floor.
The DJ blended one record into another, and when “Gimme the Light” by Sean Paul dropped the lights pulsed harder and so did my hips. Singles and couples glided across the rink, everybody moving to the rhythm.
After the fifth song I needed a break. I skated back toward our table and leaned against it, my arms resting across the surface while I caught my breath.
“Girl, there his fine ass go,” a woman’s voice said from the table behind me. “I want him so bad. I just know that bitch he with can’t put it down like me.”
I glanced slightly in their direction, amused. Whoever they were talking about had them worked up. I wasn’t curious enough to turn around though.
Then one of them called out.
“Hey, Jey!”
My head almost snapped clean off my shoulders.
There he was. Standing in front of them in a black and red Miami Heat jersey and denim jeans, his tattooed arms on full display and those gold grills flashing when he smiled.
I turned right back around, trying to blend into the scenery.
But even with the music blasting through the speakers, I could still hear everything they were saying.
“So, when you throwing another party?” one of the women asked. “We tryna slide through.”
Jey chuckled. “Gimmie ya number and I’ll hit you up when I do.”
My eyes narrowed while I stared straight ahead. What was he on? It shouldn’t have mattered. But in that moment it did.
More voices joined the conversation; ones I recognized immediately. Tama. Tonga. The three of them stood there talking with the women practically melting over them. I rolled my eyes and stayed facing forward, waiting for them to move so I could quietly skate off.
But the conversation kept going.
“What the hell y’all doing here?”
Kiyah’s voice cut straight through the music, and I silently cussed under my breath. From where I was sitting only the back of my head was visible, and up until that moment it didn’t seem like they realized it was me.
But now that Kiyah had rolled up, that little bit of anonymity was about to disappear. I slid my hands along the edge of the table and started to stand, planning to skate off toward the bathroom before things got messy.
“Girl, mind yo’ damn business. We can go wherever,” Jey replied.
I was already halfway up when Kiyah made it worse.
“Nah,” she snapped. “I think you stalking Nye and that shit ain’t cool.”
Every pair of eyes swung toward me at once including the two women who had been flirting with them earlier. My stomach dropped straight through the floor. For a second I just stood there like somebody had pressed pause on the room, unsure what to do with all that attention suddenly on me.
Finally, I lifted my hand and waved it.
“Aye, this ain’t got nothing to do with me,” I said quickly. “Leave me outta this.”
Before anybody could say anything else I pushed off and skated toward the food court. The smell of greasy pizza and fountain drinks filled the air while people crowded around the counter.
I ordered a drink and two slices of pizza, figuring food might distract me from the tight knot twisting in my stomach. Nataya rolled up a minute later and slid into the booth across from me, giving me that soft sympathetic look that immediately annoyed me.
“I’m fine, Taya,” I told her.
She nodded slowly. When the pizza came, I passed one slice across the table and took the other for myself. Not long after that Kiyah and Natasha joined us, both of them still heated about the situation.
“I really think he stalking you ‘cause what the fuck is going on here,” Kiyah muttered as she dropped into the booth. “I planned a cute night out and here they asses come. We can’t have nothing without them niggas butting in.”
Natasha leaned forward immediately. “I don’t even think he came for Nye. That fool came here to find a easy hoe to cheat with along with them other two.”
That made me glance up from my plate. Jey, a cheater? I couldn’t picture it. For everything he was, that had never crossed my mind.
“I knew his ass was cheating,” Natasha continued like she was for sure now. “Most of them do. Especially Tama and Talla. Why you think they here instead of doing something useful?”
Taya shot her twin a look. “You really think that, Tasha? Jey don’t give cheater to me.”
Kiyah scoffed. “Taya, get serious. Them niggas be cheating. Not mines though ‘cause he know I’ll beat his ass.”
That broke the tension enough for all of us to laugh, and the conversation drifted away from Jey into gossip about people we knew around us. Still, something felt off. It was that uncomfortable feeling of being watched.
When we got back on the rink to skate, it didn’t take long to realize why. Jey stood leaning against the banister that overlooked the floor, arms resting along the rail. He hadn’t even bothered putting skates on.
People circled the rink while the lights flashed and the DJ kept the music rolling, but his eyes stayed on me. Tama and Tonga were busy entertaining the women hanging around them, laughing and flirting, but Jey wasn’t paying them any attention.
He was watching me.
Not casually either. It was like he was studying me.
The longer I skated, the heavier that gaze felt. Eventually it started crawling under my skin, stirring up that same restless pull in my chest I’d been trying to ignore all week. By the time the next song ended, I was over it.
I rolled off the rink and headed toward the lockers. It was time to go.
I sat down at the metal bench and started unlacing my skates. The laces were halfway undone when someone dropped into the seat across from me.
“You ready to talk now?”
I didn’t bother looking up.
“We ain’t got nothing to talk about,” I muttered while pulling the lace loose and sliding my foot free.
“We do,” Jey said evenly. “And we gon’ have this conversation whether you want to or not, Nyeya.”
That irritation flared up instantly. He had always been like that deciding what was going to happen whether anyone agreed with him or not.
Damian never did that.
I finally looked up at him.
“That’s your problem,” I said as I stood and slipped my Converse back on. “You think you run everything and everybody. But you don’t. Especially not me.”
Jey frowned, and I smirked a little because I knew he hated that feeling; the one that told him he wasn’t in control anymore. Experiencing it reminded me exactly why I had walked away in the first place.
He was still the same man which meant I had made the right decision in moving on.
I grabbed my purse and walked away without saying another word. I’d apologize to the girls later for leaving without saying anything again. Right now, I just needed to get out of there. I turned my skates in and headed toward the exit without looking back.
I should have.
Jey was already outside waiting.
I sucked my teeth and walked straight past him toward my car. He didn’t stop me right away, just followed behind like we had arrived together. I had just reached for my door handle when his hand caught my elbow and pulled me back.
“You owe me an explanation for leaving,” he said.
A bitter laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it. “I owe you? See that’s always been your problem. You think somebody owe you something. I owe you nothing, Jey. Nothing.”
My voice cracked slightly, and I hated that he heard it.
He stepped closer. “Baby, please—”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “Don’t!”
The tears came whether I wanted them to or not. “I’m nothing to you,” I said. “Like you nothing to me.”
My guard slipped just long enough for him to pull me into his arms. His embrace wrapped around me tightly, like he needed it more than I did.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered into my hair. “We can fix this shit. You just gotta talk to me.”
My knees weakened for a moment. His hold was unraveling years of tangled feelings all at once. But the truth sat right there waiting. He always did this. Always knew exactly how to pull me in just enough to tie me up again.
I pushed away from him, my face wet with tears.
“Go home to Tutor, Jey,” I said quietly. “She is everything I am not and everything I refuse to be.”
He looked at me for a long moment before answering.
“She ain’t you. Going home hard ‘cause I ain’t coming home to you.”
My breath caught in my chest. Every word he said sounded exactly like the things I used to wish he’d say.
But I knew better now.
So, I didn’t answer. I just got into my car and started the engine. Jey didn’t try to stop me this time. He stepped back and watched while I pulled out of the lot.
As I drove away, my chest ached with a truth I hated admitting. He was still the one person who could hurt me the deepest.
And somehow… still the one who knew exactly how to ease that pain too.
Damian is working hard to be Mr. Right. You think he got a true chance after everything so far?
Jey taking numbers at the skating rink. You think he cheating on Tutor 'cause she not Nyeya?
And that ending. Jey seems to be trying even if it comes off rough and aggressive at times. Would you fold? Should Nye fold this soon?
author’s note: so, this takes place after the 'nobody said it was easy' oneshot and another, 'runnin' in circles,' that i haven't posted yet. so if you're somewhat confused regarding some of what ally is referring to. that's expected.
pairing: roman reigns x black!oc
warnings: none, really.
word count: 2.7k
song inspo: ❝the scientist❞ by coldplay
credit: photos from pinterest. lace divider by @cursed-carmine and floral divider by @zclhs
masterlist + join my taglist
“This is a bad idea.”
Alamea has said as such throughout the whole process. From the moment she saw through a random perusing on her Instagram that Smackdown was just a city over to the way she ran it by the group chat with her mom and sisters, receiving mixed reviews. Her mother, however, being in total agreement.
Go figure.
Ally has known since that pivotal discussion in the kitchen where her mom stands on this whole coparenting thing. The same view then is the same view she has now, and Ally knows she won't be shifting from her stance anytime soon. Because while Alamea can flow and be moved easily sometimes, Taylor Dixon certainly cannot.
But, it’s the sweet sound of her baby boy cooing in his sleep in his carrier that reminds her why she’s doing this in the first place. That reminds her it’s not about her or her feelings. Not even about she and Roman.
It’s about their son.
What’s best for him, and regardless of how she feels about Roman some days—most days—it doesn’t change the fact that her baby boy smiles the brightest when he’s with his dad. And, if she’s being even more honest with herself, it’s one of the few times she sees Roman genuinely and truly happy.
Kinda like….like he was with her at one point.
Still is.
That is a far too confusing thing she refuses to tackle now.
Or…..ever, maybe.
She hasn’t really spoken to him much over the past two weeks. Since he popped up at her front door and especially after the events that followed. After she folded in a way, in the moment, never felt so right and afterwards, never felt so wrong.
He’s tried to speak with her about it. The morning after. As he was leaving. Even a text that she left on read, completely changing the subject a few hours later with a question regarding Gabriel.
That was the last time he’s attempted to bring it up, and she prays it stays that way.
She already told him how it would go.
“It’s just one night.” She lifts her hands to his face, his finally shifting to her waist, material of her shirt scrunched up and through his fingers. “And, it doesn’t mean anything.”
And, she meant it.
It can’t mean anything.
“Thank you.” Alamea offers a small smile to Thomas, the security officer with graying hair, deep bags around his eyes but the kindest spirit of anyone she’s ever come across. At 6’2, he’s a gentle giant whom she’s seen and had many conversations with during her time working with WWE. One of many she’s missed.
He offers her a mirroring grin, sharing, “it’s good to see you again, Ms. Dixon.”
“Still won’t call me Alamea, huh?” She chuckles, adjusting her backpack, careful not to rock too much, hoping and praying Gabriel will stay sleep a little longer. He’s always the grumpiest baby when his sleep is disturbed.
Gets it from his dad.
Thomas eyes gleam with something equally kind as him. “I think you know the answer to that.” His gaze then drops to the obvious elephant between them, a bit of floundering forming in her stomach.
Alamea has always been a private person, and the existence of her son, let alone who his father is, has been no exception. It’s been at the top of her priority list, but she also would guess that a man who probably has daughters her age would never lower himself or risk a decades long career to share such gossip.
It’s why she reaches and carefully pulls back the blanket covering Gabriel’s sleeping face, offering only, “it’s around his nap time.”
Thomas eyes grow with a warmth that’s equivalent to his smile. “He’s beautiful.” Her heart swells with something also warm at his next statement. “Looks like the both of you.”
If not for the fact that him knowing makes sense, she might have a different sort of reaction. But, it tracks. The time she spent with the Bloodline, with Roman to now being escorted outside his private locker room, baby in hand. If the facts didn’t paint the picture for the older man, experience certainly did.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, covering her baby boy, as Thomas offers a final, “let me know when you’re ready to leave. I’ll be sure to have a security detail for you two.”
“I appreciate that.” And, she does, though something tells her once Roman sees that they’re there…he’ll already be on it.
A final nod is all that’s offered when she lifts her hand to knock on the door but at the last minute decides against it.
Everyone else may knock, but not her.
It’s why she turns the knob and is hit with an almost instant blast from the past.
Like almost every city they visited, his locker room is decorated and designed almost the same as all the rest of them. Dark black leather seating. Low lighting. Table full of food and drinks. His favorites. His black leather bag he almost always travels with on the floor near the largest sofa.
“I asked not to be fucking bothered.”
Roman’s deep voice is heard before she lays eyes on him as he enters from the back. Naturally, his entire disposition changes the moment he sees who has “bothered” him.
For reasons she will not disclose, she opts to not focus on how good he looks. Even in just wearing his usual merch shirt, black cargo pants, and expensive Nikes. A double take at the sneakers remind and make her feel even better about deciding to put a pair on baby boy. To ensure his entire outfit is courtesy of his father. One of the many outfits and more that Roman has had sent to the house for Gabriel or personally delivered during one of his visits.
If there’s one thing he’s done so far, it’s spoil the hell out of her son.
She’s just about on a first name basis with the UPS, USPS, and FedEx drivers at this point.
Roman’s scowl drops, replaced with something soft and surprised. “Ally…”
And, just like that, she has to catch herself. Some part of her is bothered by how he continues to call her by her nickname. Another part can’t bear the thought of asking him to call her anything else.
“You—you were so close, I—I don’t know. I just….” She lifts up the carrier slightly, not missing the way his expression softens even more focusing on what and who he knows lies underneath the blanket. “I figured I’d bring him to you…for once.”
There is no better or more accurate word than appreciation for what flashes in his brown eyes. The way he swallows and starts inching towards her, stopping and asking almost tentatively. “Can I…”
Nodding quietly, she lifts the carrier, no delay in which Roman closes the distance and carefully takes it from her. “He’s sleeping, but something tells me he won’t be cranky if you wake him up.”
She’d almost bet on it.
Alamea moves to sit on the sofa, placing her backpack down on the floor near Roman’s as he sits on the opposite side of said sofa, keeping the space between them respectable. He lowers the carrier onto the floor, hesitating once more, as if apprehensive, before lifting the blanket and revealing the little man of the hour.
She almost wishes she had grabbed her phone to capture the moment Roman not only lays eyes on Gabriel but the way his jaw shifts and a tiny gasp escapes his mouth seeing his son dressed in one of his merch shirts, the one with the infamous ‘Acknowledge Me’ written in red and black, matching pants and a pair of Nike sneakers, not that dissimilar from the ones his father is currently wearing.
“He had to dress the part,” she shares in quiet voice, unsurprised when Roman doesn’t look at her, just continues to stare in awe at his son.
Love.
Nothing but love.
And, as if picking up on the presence of his other favorite person, Gabriel begins to stir from his sleep, with that same pout as his daddy when his eyes gradually blink open to awareness.
Roman smiles, fingers moving to undo the buckles. “Hey, buddy….”
If Gabriel’s vision wasn’t clear enough to make out the man before him, his ears complete the job. Their son staring in confusion only to break into the biggest smile as Roman carefully lifts him up, Ally’s heart swelling for the 18th time today seeing Roman hold him up, Gabriel doing the infant scrunch.
“Told you,” she chuckles, Roman finally looking over at her as he cradles the baby in his strong arms. Shifting so her legs are under her, she leans over and circles her finger over his stomach. “Not cranky at all….”
Far from it. Baby boy can’t stop staring at his daddy, pouty lips pressing together as he reaches to fist Roman’s shirt. “I missed you, Gabe.”
All the while she’s never seen the man beside her filled with so much joy and gratitude.
And, he expresses as such.
“Thank you, Ally.”
Another layer of vulnerability is pulled back. Roman is a prideful man. His ego and hubris bigger than the entire stadium. And then some. But, there’s nothing arrogant or condescending about the way he’s looking at her or the tone of his voice. In the way he quickly refocuses his all back on the tiny baby in his arms, his son.
Their son.
She offers a quiet, “you’re welcome.” Ally runs her tongue over her bottom lip and bends over to grab her phone from her backpack.
“You know the twins are here.”
She stills, fingers gradually gripping around the phone in hand. Something in her stomach flips as she sits back up. “Oh?”
He doesn’t say anything at first, switching Gabriel so he’s sitting on his dad’s lap, continuing to pull at Roman’s shirt that he eventually gets near his mouth. “Yeah.”
She waits for him to ask, already knowing that it’s coming, but he doesn’t. Not right away.
“I know,” he starts, Ally watching the way he keeps his hand behind Gabe’s back. “I know how you feel about him meeting my fam—”
“Then why are you asking?”
The minute it leaves her mouth is the same minute that she instantly regrets it. “I’m—” She closes her eyes, hand to her temple. “I’m sorry. I just—” Alamea blows out a heavy breath, doing her best to regulate her emotions, unsure what exactly has her chest beating so fast all of a sudden. They’ve had this conversation before, and every time, it’s the same outcome.
No.
She’s made it clear from day one that when it comes to Gabriel and Roman’s family, she doesn’t want her son around them. Some days, she barely wants Roman around him, but it’s something she’s working on.
Trying to, at least.
Ally thought that bringing Gabriel to Roman could be a start of something, and that was hard enough, but now he’s pushing in a way that irritates her. Trying to dictate in the way he always has. Roman isn’t used to being told no. Isn’t used to not getting his way and calling the shots. The past year has helped to humble him in many ways, but it’s still there. The thing that made everything fall apart.
Including them.
But, the conversation she had with her mom comes back to mind, quelling Ally’s growing frustration and readiness to take Gabriel and leave. Helps her to recognize the irrationality in that plan. She’s never had any issues with Jimmy and Jey. They were like brothers to her, and when she walked away from Roman, from WWE, she’d ultimately decided to walk away from them as well. Thought that cutting ties altogether was the best route.
She still believes that.
However…she also can’t negate the fact that the twins never did anything to her. Not nearly as much as the man across from her. And, it’s not even about her or even Roman. It’s about Gabriel. This is a one time thing. She doesn’t plan to make it a habit to pack up her baby and carry him all across the country and world to follow his daddy like she used to when it was just the two of them.
Sometimes, she wonder if she made a mistake when she took him to Roman after Clash in Paris.
If….if it set a precedent.
Not anymore than you sleep—
“It’s fine,” she answers. Offering a response is far better than being confronted with ugly truths by her inner conscious. “They…they can meet him.”
Roman’s expression is every bit the surprise, Gabriel staring up, mouth full of his daddy’s shirt that he’s drooling over. But, Roman’s gaze remains on her. “Really?”
She nods, shifting on the sofa. “Yeah, it’s….it’s fine.”
It’s not, but it’s also not the end of the world, and there’s a difference between the twins meeting Gabriel backstage at a show vs her flying out to Florida so he can meet the rest of Roman’s big ass family.
Ally isn’t ready for that.
She’s not sure she ever will be.
“Thank you,” he offers, and once more, there’s sincerity that’s rare for the man who is an emotional enigma most of the time.
Except when it comes to you.
Gabriel coos loudly, as if voicing his excitement at his mother’s agreement. It briefly drags Roman’s gaze back downward. “Why you gotta mess up my shirt like that, huh?”
She smiles softly, pushing her braids behind her ear. “That’s his latest thing.” She shakes her head, reaching over and attempting to pry the shirt from him only to be met with Gabriel starting to whine. “I swear, if I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s starting to teethe.”
“Isn’t it still a little early for that?”
“Technically,” she answers, thinking back to a conversation with his pediatrician. “But, every baby is different, and some have teeth start to come in as early as three months.” For her sake and the sake of her titties, Ally prays that’s not the case, because the minute Gabe bites her, she’ll be sticking to pumping and pumping only.
“Can you—”
Phone in between her legs, Ally reaches to take Gabriel from Roman only for her baby boy to start whining the minute he’s removed from his daddy’s lap. She gasps with faux offense at the rejection as Roman chuckles and lifts Gabe up, easily evoking a set of infantile giggles.
“Traitor.” She playfully sticks her tongue out to her son who suddenly doesn’t seem to care about her existence whatsoever. “Mama will remember that when you’re ready to be nursed.” It’s watching the two interact, father and son wholly immersed in each other, that an offer comes to mind. Where, she hasn’t a clue. Just knows that she surprises even herself when it comes out. “I guess we should stay for the show.”
Alamea wishes she’d been recording because the way two sets of eyes land on her, as if the three month-old, once again, is fully aware of what’s being said. Or, rather, what’s been offered.
Initially, her plan was to stick around for a little bit but certainly not the entirety of the show. Except, sitting there, in the moment, she can’t seem to settle on a reason to not at least wait until the end. If Roman is opening, that gives them, gives him, the rest of the evening to spend with Gabriel. And, if he’s closing, it still gives them a bulk of time together.
It just….it makes sense.
And, it might just be the only thing that does make sense, because the way Roman’s gaze lingers on her, interrupted only by Gabriel wigging excitedly has her diverting her gaze to the wall across from them.
It’s why she has to shove away those confusing emotions and feelings that keep her up at night, that make her twist and turn in bed when she’s wrecked by so many conflicting, confusing sentiments.
Back in ’98, Nyeya Noir Green learned that her Prada priced dreams came at a huge cost. At a cost so high she couldn’t take the risk of staying in the city any longer. In the middle of the night, she fled and found a safe place to get her life back on track.
Things were good. Nyeya was even able to afford her own Prada by way of dancing. Like Cher said, she was the rich man.
But home still had her heart. And when her mother marries her long-time boyfriend, it provides the opportunity to come home… for good.
However, her quiet homecoming isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for. The streets still aren’t safe. The people she knew had changed. And the wounds she thought healed, bust wide open.
Now 21, Nyeya feels grown and in control. She returns thinking she can keep her distance, but she quickly realizes it’s impossible to outrun the past especially when it still holds a piece of her heart.
Pairing: Jey Uso x Nyeya Noir Green (OC)
Author's Note: This story is happening in alternative universe. It features the former members of the Bloodline and the new members of MFT. The characters are themselves but some things are switched around for the story's sake. If you haven't read Prada You, click here to read.
Warnings: May contain strong/harsh language.
Disclaimer: This work of art is fictional in nature including the original characters created by me. I do not own any of the existing characters or lyrics from songs referenced in this story (if any). All rights belong to their respective owners with the exception of my original characters. This work is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to cause harm.
Chapter 6: Stitch Me Up
05|24|2002
After that whole debacle at the club, I pulled back from my friends and zoned in on work. I don’t even think I meant to, but it just happened naturally. One missed call turned into two. Texts were seen but not replied to. It was like I unconsciously stopped putting myself in positions where I had to pretend everything was still normal when it wasn’t.
Sugah’s became my routine. Night after night, I showed up, did my hair and makeup in the mirror like muscle memory, and stepped out under them lights like nothing else existed outside them walls.
The music would hit your chest before it hit your ears, and once I was on stage, it was easy to forget everything else. Easy to let the night carry me wherever it wanted.
The money helped too. It always did.
Counting it at the end of the night gave me something real to focus on. Like the future I had imagined for myself when I no longer had to dance in order to maintain my independence.
I’d spent at least two nights in the VIP rooms with Andrzej. He’d ask for me by name soon as he walked in, like he wasn’t interested in nobody else. He was quiet for the most part. Didn’t ask too many questions. Didn’t try to act familiar like he knew me outside that room.
He’d just sit there, watching me like he had nowhere else to be, like whatever time he spent with me was already blocked out on his schedule just for me. And he always made it worth my time.
I couldn’t say I learned more about him, and I didn’t try to. Men like him didn’t come there to be known. They came there to escape whatever waited on them outside. But I did enjoy him becoming a regular of mine. It gave me something to look forward to.
It was Friday when Kiyah finally convinced me to come to Jacob’s son Maleak’s birthday party. She’d been on me about it for days, telling me I needed to get out of the house, do something other than just working.
I wasn’t feeling it at all, but Kiyah had a way of making things sound simple when they wasn’t.
“Everybody gon’ be on they best behavior, Nye. There won’t be no drama since it’s a kid party. Just stop by for a little bit before you go home to get ready for the club,” she told me.
And that was exactly what I planned on doing. I wasn’t trying to hang around long enough for old feelings to start resurfacing. I was just going to drop off Maleak’s gift, eat some cake, and bounce.
I had just got back home from buying his toy when Michael popped out of his room.
I saw him from the corner of my eye while I was sitting on my bed with the gift bag between my legs, folding the top of the wrapping paper down so it sat right.
I expected him to walk past my door like he usually did. But he stopped. Just stood there in the doorway, peeking in like he was debating if he should say something.
I looked up at him, giving him my full attention.
He didn’t say anything right away. But he cleared his throat first, eyes moving around my room before they finally landed on me.
“I forgot to thank you for them chips you got me last week,” he said.
I nodded, a small smile forming without me meaning for it to. “You ain’t got to thank me.”
He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, even though it clearly was. “You ain’t got to but I was wondering could you take me to the rec center in a little bit.”
“Yeah,” I said without hesitation. “Let me finish wrapping this and I’ll take you.”
He nodded once and walked off, disappearing back into his room like that was all he came for.
When I finished, I grabbed my keys and knocked on his door. He didn’t answer, but a second later, I heard movement on the other side.
By the time he came out, I was already in the car. He stepped onto the porch and slid into the passenger seat, pulling the seat belt across his chest. I backed out slowly, the radio playing low in the background.
Neither one of us said nothing at first. He just looked out the window while houses passed by, and I kept my hands steady on the wheel. I’d been thinking about what to say since he asked me for the ride. It sat in my chest the whole time.
“So, remember what you said to me that night,” I started, glancing at him.
He nodded, still looking ahead.
“You were right. My friends are still heavily involved in that life even if I didn’t or refused to see it at first. I love my friends, but I do realize I have to pull back on being around them like that in order to make sure I’m good.”
He didn’t respond right away. He just sat there, taking it in. The car filled with the sound of the tires on the road and whatever song was playing through the speakers.
“I ain’t mean to come at you like that,” he said after a second. “But all I was trying to say was that if something happen to you; your absence would be felt. I know them your friends but just be mindful of what’s going on around you. Second chances don’t come around too often, bro.”
I nodded. I understood exactly what he meant. I pulled into the rec center parking lot and put the car in park. Kids were outside near the entrance, running back and forth like they had nowhere else to be.
I looked over at him.
“Mike, I love you. And I’m sorry for the scare I gave you when all that went down. You were right back then, and you were right now.” I paused. “But the only promise I can make to you right now is that I promise to do better. I promise to stick around ‘cause who gon’ buy you hot Cheetos if I’m not here.”
He snorted, finally looking at me. He shoved my shoulder lightly before leaning over and placing a kiss on my forehead.
“I love you, too,” he said. “But if you really loved me, you’d go buy them J’s that just dropped for me.”
I laughed and pulled him into a headlock, squeezing just enough to annoy him. He tried to fight his way out, laughing too. And just like that, we were good.
He hopped out of the car and shut the door behind him. “I’ma get a ride home from one of my bros,” he said.
“Aight,” I replied.
I watched him walk toward the entrance, not turning away until he was inside. Then I pulled off with Maleak’s gift still sitting in the backseat, waiting for me to show up somewhere I wasn’t sure I really wanted to be.
I was halfway home when my cellphone rang. I glanced down at it while slowing at a stop sign, already having a feeling about who it was. I answered and tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder, keeping my hands on the wheel.
“Hello,” I said.
“Where you at, mami?” he asked, his voice smooth like he’d already been thinking about me.
“I’m on my way home,” I replied.
He paused for a second, then asked, “Stop by this mechanic shop I’m at.”
I looked ahead at the road. It was still early. The sun sat high in the sky, and I didn’t have to be at Sugah’s for hours.
“Where it’s at?” I asked.
He gave me the directions, and I told him I was on my way.
The mechanic shop wasn’t nothing special when I pulled up. Just a small building with faded paint and cars lined up everywhere. Some had their hoods popped open, others sat tilted on jacks, waiting their turn.
The air smelled like oil and hot metal, and I could hear tools clanking before I even cut my engine. I pulled into an empty spot and grabbed my purse.
By the time I stepped out of the car, Damian was already walking toward me.
He didn’t say nothing at first. He just wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into him like it was instinct. His hold was firm and familiar.
I let myself relax into it, breathing him in. He smelled clean, like soap and cologne layered together. It did something to me every time.
After a few seconds, he let me go.
“So, you getting your car worked on?” I asked, folding my arms loosely.
“Something like that,” he said. “One of my cars needed body work.”
I nodded, waiting.
“A few bullet holes needed to be covered up,” he added casually.
That pulled me out of whatever soft place I’d drifted into. Reality had a way of slipping back in when it came to him. I didn’t like thinking too hard about that part of his life. It made my chest feel tight.
So, I moved on.
“You needed me here for what exactly?” I asked.
He smiled and reached up, brushing a piece of hair out of my face that the wind had blown loose. The gesture was simple, but it made my heart skip anyway.
“You told me you wanted to meet somewhere new so here we are,” he said.
I giggled and punched his shoulder. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know,” he said, laughing softly. “I’m joking. I just wanted to see you. Lay my eyes on you.”
That made me feel good. I couldn’t lie about that. Things between us felt easy. Natural. Like we were building something without forcing it.
We stood there talking about nothing and everything. He told me about the Yankees game the night before, going on about a play like he’d been on the field himself. I listened, watching the way his face lit up when he talked.
Then he asked about my nails, taking my hand into his like it belonged there.
“I need them redone actually,” I admitted. “My toes too.”
He ran his thumb over my fingers, slow, thoughtful. Then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and pulled out a wad of bills thick enough to make me raise an eyebrow.
“Here,” he said, holding it out to me. “Go get your hands and toes done after you leave here.”
I blinked up at him, batting my lashes before taking the money and sliding it into my bra like it was second nature.
“Thank you,” I said, leaning up on my toes to kiss his cheek.
Before I could pull away, he caught my chin gently between his fingers. He looked down at me, really looked at me, like he was memorizing something. For a second, I thought he might kiss me. My stomach tightened, waiting.
But he didn’t.
He just held my face there a moment longer before letting me go. We’d get there one day. I wasn’t rushing it. I liked the way he moved with me.
In a slow, intentional way.
We stayed there together until one of the guys called out to say that his car was ready. Damian glanced over, then back at me.
“I’ma call you later,” he said.
“Fine with me,” I replied.
He pulled me into another hug before we separated. I got back in my car and sat there for a second, my fingers resting over the money tucked safely away, before finally pulling off.
I did exactly what he told me to do.
Pretty Nails was moderately crowded when I walked in. The familiar smell of acetone and nail polish hit me immediately. Women filled the chairs, talking and laughing while dryers hummed in the background. I spotted Xi across the room, working on somebody’s feet, her head bent low in concentration.
I signed in and sat down to wait. I didn’t let nobody else do my nails. Xi had been doing mine long enough to know exactly how I liked them.
I picked up a Vibe magazine off the table and flipped through it, not really reading nothing, just passing the time. Every now and then, I glanced up to see how much longer she’d be.
Finally, she looked up and smiled. “Nye,” she called.
I got up and moved over to the pedicure chair, sliding into it and letting her get started on my feet. The warm water helped loosen something in me I didn’t realize had been tight.
“Work been busy?” she asked in her thick accent.
“Always,” I replied, smiling faintly.
We talked here and there while she worked. Nothing serious. Just enough.
“Hey, girl, hey, Xi.”
The voice cut through the air, high and familiar.
I looked up. Tutor was being seated right next to me. My stomach dropped, but I forced myself to smile back at her.
“Thank you girl for the recommendation. Xi has been a life saver,” she said.
“You welcome,” I replied quietly.
I kept my eyes forward, hoping that’d be the end of it. But of course, it wasn’t. As soon as someone started working on her feet, she turned her body towards me.
“So, what’s your name?” she asked.
I bit the inside of my cheek. This was too much, too soon.
“I’m Nyeya,” I said, forcing a polite tone. “And you are?”
Of course, I played crazy like I didn’t know more than just her name.
“Oh, your name is cute. I’m Tutor,” she replied, holding her hand out.
I stared at it for a second before shaking it. Her grip was soft. But I didn’t let our hands stay entwined long, I pulled my hand back quicker than I should’ve.
It felt weird. Even though me and Jey were done, standing there talking to his girl like this didn’t sit right in my spirit. I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew where he’d been. If she knew how close he’d stood in front of me that night. If she knew anything at all.
Her phone rang before she could say anything else, and I silently thanked God for it.
Xi finished my feet, and I moved over to the nail station on the other side almost too fast.
I just needed space.
I sat there while Xi worked on my hands, watching the shape come back to life. My nerves slowly settled, but not all the way. Tutor had to wait until Xi finished with me before she could come over, which gave me enough distance to breathe.
An hour later, Xi was done. I paid her, tipped her, and grabbed my purse, ready to leave.
“Bye Nyeya. See you around girl,” Tutor called out.
I waved without turning fully around. “Bye.”
I pushed through the door and walked straight to my car. Once I got inside and shut the door behind me, I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
I sat there for a second, staring straight ahead.
I knew why that interaction bothered me. I just wasn’t ready to say it out loud. So, I didn’t. I started my car and drove off, leaving it buried exactly where it belonged.
05|25|2002
I rolled over in the bed at the Days Inn, my body heavy in that familiar way it always was after a long night at Sugah’s. My muscles ached, and my feet throbbed faintly every time I shifted under the covers.
I’d gone to work knowing it would help keep my mind off what happened at the nail salon.
I didn’t want to sit still long enough to think about Tutor or the way seeing her had made something twist inside my chest. Dancing gave me somewhere to put it. Somewhere to burn it off.
For a few hours, I didn’t have to be nobody but the girl on stage collecting her money.
When I finally reached for my phone on the nightstand, it was 10:30. Later than I thought. I let out a quiet breath and pushed myself up, sitting on the edge of the bed while the room slowly came back into focus.
My bag sat open on the chair where I’d left it, and I packed my things without rushing. Checkout was a breeze like it always was. The lady behind the counter didn’t look at me long enough to remember my face, and I liked it that way.
The ride home was quiet. The streets moved past me in a blur of sunlight and stop signs, and I drove with one hand on the wheel, already planning out the rest of my day.
Once I got home, I was going to eat, shower, and take another nap before Maleak’s party. That was the only way I was going to have the energy to deal with being around everybody.
And that was exactly what I did. Mama had left food on the stove, and I fixed a plate before heading to the bathroom. The hot shower loosened something in me, the water running down my back while the steam filled the room. By the time I laid down, sleep came easy.
I woke up to Johnnie Taylor crooning “Cheaper to Keep Her” through the house and loud laughter coming from the living room. His voice carried through the walls smooth and steady, mixing with the sound of Mama and them talking like they ain’t have a care in the world.
I laid there for a second, letting it pull me fully awake, before sitting up and getting ready. I moved around my room slowly, humming along to the music as it thumped through the house.
My outfit was simple. Denim shorts and a tank top. My white Forces were crisp and clean. They set everything off just right. It was too hot outside to be doing the most, so I left my hair up in the messy bun it’d been in since work. I didn’t feel like fighting with it.
Mark and his wife Diane were in the living room with Mama, drinks in their hands while they laughed and talked. Mark was Reggie’s younger brother, and he smiled when he saw me.
“Well, look at you,” he said.
I smiled and hugged him, then Diane, then Mama, letting myself exist in that moment for what it was. Reggie was outside on the grill. I stepped out to him, the smell of BBQ thick in the air, and wrapped my arms around him in a quick hug before telling him I was heading out.
“You be safe,” he said, focused on the grill.
I got in my car and made my way to the park.
The parking lot was already full by the time I got there. Cars lined every space, and I had to circle once before finding somewhere to park. When I stepped out, I could see Jacob had gone all out.
Bounce houses filled one side of the park, bright and loud with kids jumping and screaming inside them. There were farm animals fenced off nearby, and a line of kids waited patiently to get their faces painted.
The smell of BBQ floated through the air, mixing with music blasting from the DJ booth. Food sat on tables covered in foil trays, and I could already tell it was about to be good.
I grabbed Maleak’s gift and walked over to the gift table, setting it down carefully.
Kiyah spotted me immediately and hurried over, relief written all over her face.
“I’m so glad you came,” she said, pulling me into a quick hug. “I needed somebody to keep me calm. Walk with me as I smoke this.”
She lifted her blunt, and I snickered, falling into step beside her as we walked.
Music thumped around us, bass vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. One thing the Prada Bois knew how to do was throw a party.
Kiyah started telling me about Marcy and whatever drama she’d been stirring up, her voice tight with irritation.
“Today is about Maleak,” I said, cutting her off gently. “Y’all just need to focus on him and nothing else. Don’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she causing friction.”
Kiyah nodded, blowing smoke into the air as her phone rang. She answered it and told me Natasha and Sami had arrived, and we made our way back toward the main area.
That’s when I noticed Marcy standing off to the side. She was pretty, but there was something stiff about her. Watchful. Maleak ran past her laughing with his siblings and cousins, completely unaware of whatever tension existed behind him.
Natasha and Sami approached, and I hugged them both. Natasha held me tight, and Sami gave me that same mellow look he always did.
Nataya lingered behind them, quiet in a way that didn’t sit right with me.
I pulled her into my arms and held her longer than I normally would, and she leaned into it like she needed it.
People kept arriving. Tonga and Tama showed up with their younger brother Talla who from what I heard had just got out of prison. Bronson sat at a table with his wife and kids, smiling like he was exactly where he belonged. Solo lingered near the grill talking to some guy with long hair I couldn’t name.
I grabbed a plate and fixed me something to eat, settling down at one of the picnic tables. I wasn’t in a drinking mood, but I still poured me a cup of Jungle Juice. Chunks of fruit floated at the top, and it tasted sweet going down.
Kiyah ended up with Jacob, laughing with family. Natasha and Sami sat at their own table, wrapped up in each other like nobody else existed. Nataya eventually came and sat beside me with her own plate. We ate quietly for a while, and that’s when I noticed it.
Her bracelet was gone.
“You took it off?” I asked, nodding toward her wrist.
She gave me a small smile. “I did. I moved out the house and left it behind.”
I smiled back and leaned over, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “It’s going to be okay,” I told her softly. “Just take it one day at a time.”
I meant it. But I also knew better than anyone that leaving wasn’t the same as being free. It didn’t work like that with men like Jimmy. It didn’t work like that with men like Jey.
Still, leaving was the first step. And for now, that was enough.
Things at the party were going well. No drama popped off pulling attention away from the reason everybody was there.
Kiyah and Marcy kept their distance like they understood today wasn’t the day for whatever tension lived between them. I didn’t mind staying longer than I planned. I was actually having a good time.
I ended up at a picnic table with Tama and Bronson, playing Spades with Sami as my partner. The cards slapped against the table in quick rhythm, laughter and trash talk floating between us.
“Yea, take that,” I goaded, slapping my card down harder than necessary.
Sami leaned back in his chair with a grin, and we slapped fives, both of us knowing we were winning. Bronson shook his head, muttering under his breath while Tama just laughed like he’d already accepted defeat.
The game went on a few more hands, but eventually I pushed my chair back, needing to move around. Sitting still too long made me restless.
I found myself lingering near the cake table. Kiyah had said they’d be cutting it soon, and I already knew I wanted an end piece because something about the extra icing made it worth waiting for.
I was standing there, scanning the table, when someone cleared their throat behind me.
I turned around and found Jimmy standing there. He looked different than he normally did. His face serious in a way I wasn’t used to seeing.
“Aye, Nyeya,” he started. “Um… I just wanted to apologize for that night at the club. I ain’t mean no harm.”
I raised a brow, surprised. I hadn’t been expecting that. We’d all been drunk, emotions running high, and things got out of hand. That was just the truth of it.
But I could appreciate him saying something.
“You good with me,” I replied easily. “I apologize as well for popping you in your shit.”
A grin pulled at my mouth.
Jimmy chuckled and stepped forward, pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back without hesitation. There wasn’t any tension there. Not anymore. When he pulled away, everything between us felt settled.
Soon enough, people started gathering around the cake table. Jacob stood holding Maleak in his arms while everybody crowded in close. Kiyah stood on one side of him, Marcy on the other.
I watched as Kiyah reached down and held one of Jacob’s daughters’ hands while she smiled at Maleak, her whole face soft as he giggled at all the attention on him.
It made me proud of the woman she was becoming. Kiyah could be a lot of things, but when it came to Jacob and his kids, she showed up.
Everybody sang Happy Birthday, their voices uneven but loud. Maleak blew out his candles with Jacob’s help, and people clapped and cheered like it was the best thing they’d seen all day. The cake got cut, and I waited just long enough to get what I came for.
My end piece.
I took my plate and walked off, wanting to enjoy it without nobody hovering around me. The icing was thick, sweet the way I liked it. I was halfway through it when Solo slid up beside me like he’d been there the whole time.
“That cake must be good,” he said, a smirk pulling at his lips.
I nodded, already scooping up another bite.
“You want some?” I offered, holding the plate slightly toward him.
He paused like he was considering it, then shook his head. “I’m good.”
I shrugged and ate it myself.
We stood there in comfortable silence, leaning against the railing by the lake. The water moved slowly, reflecting the late afternoon sun. I could feel Solo glance at me every now and then, but he didn’t say nothing right away.
“You came over here for a reason,” I said finally. “What was it?”
He gave me a crooked grin. “You right. I came to check on you. But judging by how you getting down on that cake, I see you good.”
I snickered, because he wasn’t wrong. That cake didn’t stand a chance once I got my hands on it.
I hadn’t really spent time with Solo when I was with Jey. He’d always been around, but not like this. Not one-on-one. Standing next to him now, I realized how easy he was to be around. Calm. Cool. Funny in a quiet way.
We talked a little longer before he told me he had to head out. I nodded and watched him walk off before finishing the last bite of my cake. I stayed there a moment longer, enjoying the quiet before heading back toward the area everyone was.
That’s when I saw them.
Jey and Tutor.
They stood off to the side near Jacob, laughing and smiling. Jey’s arm was wrapped around shoulders.
I froze.
For a second, I couldn’t even move. Couldn’t even process it fully. My chest tightened before I could stop it.
“You okay?” Kiyah’s voice came beside me.
I let out a breath and nodded, even though I wasn’t sure if I meant it. She studied my face like she didn’t believe me.
“Come on,” I said, forcing a smile. “I want some more cake and Jungle Juice.”
Kiyah laughed and looped her arm through mine, and we walked toward the tables. It didn’t take long before Jey looked up and our eyes met.
I sucked my teeth softly and looked away first. I needed his attention to stay on the woman beside him, not me.
With more Jungle Juice in my system, the night felt easier to sit with the circumstances I found myself in. The tightness that’d followed me around all day loosened enough for me to breathe without thinking about it.
I chose not to run off just because Jey was there. I’d done enough running. I was actually having a good time, and I wanted to let myself enjoy it.
So, when I saw the face painter sitting there without nobody in her chair, I walked over and sat down, letting her drape the cape around my shoulders.
Nataya came over while the painter worked, her presence quiet but welcome.
We talked while the brush moved across my skin, her voice low and steady beside me. I watched the painter’s hand in the mirror, the careful strokes turning into something delicate.
When she finished, I leaned forward slightly, studying the butterfly stretching along the left side of my face, flowers curling around its wings. It was cute.
I smiled faintly at myself, but my eyes shifted in the mirror when I noticed movement behind us.
Jimmy stood a few feet back, his arms relaxed at his sides, but his eyes locked on Nataya. He wasn’t smiling. Just watching her. She didn’t notice. She sat there talking to the painter like she wasn’t being watched.
From what I knew, they hadn’t really spoken since she left him. Not really. And seeing him there like that, silent and still, made something uneasy stir in my chest. It felt like standing too close to something fragile. Like if anybody breathed wrong, it would crack.
I looked away, hoping whatever lived between them stayed quiet for tonight.
The music picked up again soon after, louder now that the sun was slipping lower. The sky softened into gold and orange, and the party shifted with it. Natasha grabbed my hand and pulled me into the dance circle before I could think too hard about it.
We kept it light, laughing while kids ran around us, the adults careful not to let the music pull them too far.
And then Tweet came on. The first notes of “Oops (Oh My)” slid into the air, and my body reacted before I could stop it. That song lived somewhere in my muscles. Sugah’s had burned it into me.
I smiled, dropping into the rhythm without hesitation.
“Drop it, bring back it up,” Kiyah hyped behind me.
I giggled, doing exactly that, letting my hips roll slowly before bringing myself back up. For those few seconds, it wasn’t about nobody watching. It was just me and the music.
But when I straightened, my eyes lifted on instinct.
And there he was. Jey stood off to the side, his eyes fixed on me like he hadn’t looked away once.
Tutor stood beside him talking to Marcy, her hand resting lightly against his arm, completely unaware that his attention wasn’t on her. His face was neutral, but his eyes gave off something else, something heavier. Something unfinished.
I held his gaze for a second longer than I meant to, then smirked faintly to myself and looked away.
I stepped out of the circle after that, my chest rising while I caught my breath. I sat at an empty table, watching everybody else continue dancing.
Sami tried his best to keep up with Natasha, his movements stiff while she laughed and whined her hips to the beat. Kiyah and Bronson’s wife danced together nearby, their laughter loud and careless.
I let myself sit there and take it in. Let myself exist without thinking too far ahead. For once, nothing felt like it was about to fall apart.
But the Jungle Juice caught up with me. I had to pee bad enough that I couldn’t ignore it no more. I stood and made my way toward the bathroom inside the brick building, the sound of the party fading behind me as soon as I stepped inside.
The air was cooler in there. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead while I handled my business, the normalcy of it grounding me. When I finished, I stood at the sink and washed my hands slowly, watching the water run over my fingers.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The butterfly was still perfect against my skin. My eyes looked brighter than they had earlier. I could admit I had a buzz. Not enough to lose control. Just enough to soften everything.
That’s when I saw him.
He stood behind me in the mirror, leaning against one of the stall doors like he’d been there waiting. My stomach tightened before I could stop it.
“You in the wrong bathroom,” I said coldly, not turning around.
He said nothing, eyes appraising me.
I dried my hands carefully, refusing to give him the reaction my body wanted to give.
I turned and walked toward the door, ready to leave him standing there with whatever he thought he had to say.
But his hand closed around my arm, gentle but firm enough to stop me.
“Don’t touch me, dude,” I warned, my voice low and steady.
He smiled slightly, the bottom row of his gold grills catching the light.
“Let me talk to you real quick.”
I cut my eyes at him. “No.”
I tried to step around him, but he shifted, blocking my path with his body.
“Why you being weird with me, Nyeya?” he asked. “Like I did something to you.”
I rolled my eyes and folded my arms across my chest. He smirked like my silence proved his point.
“You came back like it was nothing,” he continued. “Coming back around my people like it’s good. It’s not. You ain’t for Prada so why you still coming around?”
My brows pulled together, anger rising fast and clean. How dare he question me. How dare he stand there like he had the right.
“I came to support my friend,” I shot back. “You can get out my face with that other shit. You might be the leader of the Prada Bois but you ain’t nothing to me. I can do as I please.”
His jaw tightened. And for a second, I thought he’d move.
He didn’t.
Instead, he pulled me closer.
Our faces were inches apart. Close enough that I could see the glassiness in his eyes. Close enough to smell the liquor on his breath.
His hand slid along my side, and his fingers found the dip in my skin where the muscle was never the same. The place where one bullet had taken something permanent.
I froze.
His expression changed the second he realized what he was touching. The arrogance fell off his face like it’d never been there. His thumb moved slowly over the scar, gentle. Careful.
Like he was trying to soothe something that couldn’t be undone.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Nye… shit, I’m so sorry.”
My throat tightened. His other hand found the other healed wound on my arm without him even looking. His fingers rested there like he remembered exactly where it lived. Like he’d never forgotten.
Tears burned behind my eyes. I blinked hard, refusing to let them fall.
“Let me go,” I whispered.
He shook his head, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to.”
Something in me fell apart.
The tears came before I could stop them, sliding down my face in quiet betrayal. His eyes filled too, his face crumbling in a way I’d never seen before.
He reached for me like he wanted to pull me into him, like he wanted to fix something that had already been destroyed.
My knees weakened.
For so many nights, I’d cried wishing I could be in his arms again. Wishing he’d choose me the way I chose him. But standing there now, I understood exactly how dangerous that place was.
“No,” I cried, my voice shaking. “No. Let me go. Let me go.”
I pushed against him harder that time, breaking free from his grip. I stumbled backward, my chest heaving, my vision blurred with tears.
I didn’t look at him again.
I couldn’t.
I turned and ran out of the bathroom, the cool air outside hitting my face but doing nothing to steady me.
I walked straight to my car without saying goodbye to nobody. Without looking back. My hands trembled as I unlocked the door, and the second I got inside, the tears came harder.
I drove home crying, the road blurring in front of me. Because when nothing should’ve mattered anymore… everything still did.
And the wall I’d spent years building had finally cracked.
Questions 4 Y'all
How y'all feel about Tutor? She seems nice.
Damian is something. If you were Nye, would you keep entertaining him knowing what you know?
Jey has his moments. How did the scene in the bathroom make you feel? (I lowkey cried writing that part LOL)
Author's note: Hey babies! Sorry I got this chapter out so late to yall.
This one is a HEAVY, and hope yall don't mind it.
Just know... we finally making some progress 😏
Our fave is SLOWLY letting her guard down.
And... There's a Extra Flame Attached🤭
Enjoy my babies. 😚
ED | The cookout
The yard smelled like barbecue smoke, sweet and sharp, with bursts of laughter and the kind of bass you only get from big speakers at a real summer function. Fourth of July in Florida felt like a fever—sticky, loud, full of too many people but somehow still good.
I kept my cup in hand, weaving through the crowd, checking the scene— kids running wild, Trick talking his shit by the spades table, Anriel and Lea fixing drinks.
But my eyes kept bouncing back to Aries. She looked so good, talking to her girls and Skhye, but her shoulders were tense— like she was waiting for something to pop off. Like she was ready.
Zion caught my eye, posted up with a plate in one hand, shades on. He nodded for me to slide over. I did.
Zion dropped his voice, eyes flicking past me to Aries. “You good, Ed? That whole scene with Destinee, man… I know my sister. She don’t let shit slide too many times. She was 'bout to snatch her ass up/”
I nodded, glancing at Aries again, her laugh was back, a little softer, but it wasn’t all the way real yet. “She straight, I think. She tough. But she shouldn’t have to keep being tough.”
Zion grinned, but there was weight in his voice. “That’s facts. Aries… she always had to hold it down. Don’t let the jokes fool you. You her friend, right?” He looked at me pointed.
“Yeah. That’s my dawg,” I answered, but there was more to it than that, and we both knew it.
Zion shook his head, smiling for real this time. “Aight then. As long as she got people around her that ain’t gonna let these weirdos stress her. I got eyes, bro. I see you.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of Zion’s words settle right behind my ribs. “I respect that, for real. I already told Destinee it wasn’t like that. Aries means too much for me to even play about her. I’m not tryna fumble this.”
Zion’s shades hid his eyes, but not the care in his voice.“Good. Because Aries… she might not say it, but she feel everything, Ed. That’s her curse. She’ll clown, brush shit off, but if she hurt or annoyed, you gon’ feel that cold shoulder. She cut folks off quiet.” He paused, glancing across the yard at his sister. She cackling with Tay and Jaz, but her body leaning away from Destinee’s side of the party, always clocking the exits.
He continued, voice lower, “Look, I’m gon’ say this as her brother but as your boy too. That ‘just friends’ shit? It’s see-through. You don’t gotta rush nothing, but don’t play with her either. Aries gon’ act like she don’t care, but her heart big as shit. You got her laughing again. She different around you. Everybody see it.”
I swallowed, looking at my J's, letting those words hit deep. I thought about all the little ways Aries had started trusting me— the late-night calls, how she opened up at the park, the little things she did just for me, even when she swore she wasn’t looking for anything.
I let that hang, feeling the seriousness. “I get it. My mama always said, you treat a woman with the same care you’d want for your sister, your daughter. I got her, bro. I promise.”
I glanced over at Aries, her eyes briefly falling on me then a small smile spread across her face. "I ain’t tryna play her. I’m just—” I searched for the words, shrugged, “It’s new for me, too. You feel me? With J, wrestling, the grind, I ain’t never let nobody get that close in a minute. But she different. She make shit feel light again, and I forgot I needed that.”
Zion nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes. “Then don’t run from it. Let her know you solid. Even if it’s just words or just being there. Don’t make her wonder. Aries don’t do well with maybes.”
I nodded, the weight of the advice settling into my chest like something sacred. “Bet. I got you. I got her.”
Zion cracked a grin, “Aight then. Just remember, I keep a close eye. You mess up, it’s up.” Then he clapped me on the shoulder, firm, brotherly. “And if you need backup? You know I’m here for both y’all. ‘Cause lord knows Skhye useless unless there’s girls and food involved.”
We both laughed, the edge gone, two friends sharing mutual respect. At that moment I felt something shift— responsibility, sure, but also a new sense of belonging, like I hsd just been trusted with something precious.
Zion elbowed me lightly, grin back in place. “Aight, Mr. Smellgood, go get ya girl. Let her know we ain’t scared of no hating ass broad, and we gon’ keep it real all summer.”
I laughed, feeling the tension in my chest ease. “Say less. 'Preciate you, bruh.”
I took a deep breath and made my way across the yard, weaving through cousins, friends, and plates stacked high. All the doubts, all the outside noise, faded with each step because I knew now, more than ever, that Aries was worth stepping up for, worth letting his own walls down.
And as I got closer, Aries turned, catching my eye, her face softening for just a moment. For the first time all night, I felt steady. Unbothered. Ready for whatever came next.
I slid up next to Aries, feeling the beat of the music in my chest, pretending like I wasn’t lowkey nervous about what was coming next. Tay and Jaz had been giving me that look all night— the one that said, Don’t get too comfortable, boy.
Tay was first. She posted up right in front of me, arms crossed, eyebrows arched, “Aight, Mr.Smellgood— lemme holla at you for a second.”
Jaz gave me a once-over, sipping her drink, eyes sharp but playful. “Don’t get nervous, Ed. You in good hands— for now.”
I smirked, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, what’s up?”
Jaz was right behind her, more chill but eyes sharp, watching everything. Aries, meanwhile, was next to me – distracted, lips wrapped around that hybrid pen, exhaling slow and looking up at the sky like she wasn’t locked in on every word. But I could feel her watching me, waiting to see how I’d move.
“You been keepin’ our girl all smiley and shit. What’s your story?” Tay asked, accent thick, eyes narrowed like she could see straight through me.
I glanced at Aries, caught the edge of her glare— she was warning them to chill, but Tay only grinned, unbothered.
Jaz was subtler, but her eyes didn’t miss a thing. “Yeah, you from Cali, right? But what’s your background? You know we gotta check folks out, especially for our Aries.”
I grinned, leaning on the rail. “I get it. Gotta make sure I’m not some weirdo. Born and raised Oakland, California. Salvi and Mexican from my parents. Moved a lot, but always stayed rooted. Used to play football— offensive line at Monterey Peninsula College then transfered to Idaho. Thought that was the dream, then got scouted by WWE in ‘22. Been wrestling ever since.”
Tay’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you played O-line? Which side, left or right?”
I chuckled, “Mostly right tackle, but they moved me all over. Had to be versatile. Loved the contact, the rush.”
She grinned, “Aight, I respect that. But this wrestling thing— you like it better?”
I paused, honest. “It’s different. Way more personal. Way more on me. Lost my mom a few years ago, so now it’s just me and my little brother, Jonathan. Wrestling kept me grounded, gave me something to pour into. Hard as hell, but I wouldn’t trade it.”
Jaz nodded, glancing at Aries, then back at me. “That’s real. Sorry about your mama. I know how it is, losing somebody close. So… you raising your brother solo?”
I nodded, my voice dipping low, “Yeah. It ain’t easy, but J my world. Keep me in check, honestly. Everything I do, I do for him. Aries knows that, she been real with him since they met too.”
Tay gave a soft smile, finally letting up a bit. “You a stand-up dude, Ed. That’s all we needed to know, at least for now.”
Aries finally cracked a wide grin, passing the pen back to Tay. “See? I told y’all he not crazy. Now can we chill?”
Jaz snickered, “Just know we still got our eyes on you. Mess up, and that's your knees.”
I laughed, “Duly noted. I respect it.”
Jaz turned to Tay and bumped her with her hip, "Let's go get some food before Skhye's fat ass eat all the sliders."
As soon as they were out of earshot, Aries turned to me, eyes a little brighter, that lazy smile finally settling in. She looked relaxed—mellowed all the way out, standing there with the fire pit flames light up herskin and her gold jewelry catching the light. For a minute, I just let myself look at her.
She nudged me, her accent thick with teasing, “So, you survived the bestie grilling'. You straight? You ain’t sweating too hard, is you?”
I grinned, “Morenita, please. I told you, I’m West Coast built. I can handle y’all. Your friends just making sure you good. I respect it.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes but the laughter was real. “Whatever. You did good. Tay liked you— that’s the real green flag. Jaz still watching, but she warming up.”
I shrugged, “That’s all I needed. I’m just glad you over here cheesin’ now. You was stressed when I got here.”
She looked away, a little bashful, then shrugged. “Couldn’t help it. You know how I get. But I’m good now. Might be the pen, might be the company. Maybe both.”
I laughed low, shaking my head. “Definitely both. And for the record, you look hella good today. I see you with the fit.”
She rolled her eyes again, but I caught her biting back a grin. Then she did something that caught me off guard— Aries got bold. She slipped her phone into my hand, the case warm from her pocket.
“Here,” she said, stepping back and tossing her hair, “Take some pictures for me. I need a good one for the ‘gram, and they be playing when it comes to my angles.”
I blinked, grinning, “Say less, Morenita. I got you.”
Ed, phone in hand, was the one behind the camera, and it was more than just snapping a few pics for Instagram. There was something about the way Aries moved, the way she shifted her weight or flicked her hair, that drew his focus tighter with every shot.
He barely had to direct her.
Aries was in her element; chin high, eyes locked, posture languid and confident, sometimes smirking, sometimes dead serious. The camera loved her, and he did too, more than he’d dare say out loud.
He took his time, framing each picture, letting her play—l egs curled up, hand tugging on the back of the chair, arching just so. With each click, his conscience was screaming,
Damn, how is she real?
He tried to stay cool, but every angle just did more damage. When Aries glanced at him between poses, eyebrow cocked like she could read his thoughts, he kept the camera up, hiding the flush creeping up his neck.
The longer he shot, the less it felt like just a favor. There was pride in the way he worked to get her light just right, to catch every curve, every bit of attitude.
Aries, for her part, pretended not to notice the way he was looking at her, but the heat in his gaze made her hold it just a beat longer, teasing at the edges of their friendship.
When she was finally satisfied, Aries sauntered over, grabbed her phone back with a sly, “You got skills, Mr. Smellgood,” and started scrolling through the pictures.
She was about to tease him, maybe ask if he always looked this invested when he was working, but before she could, J jogged over and pulled Ed aside to talk about his upcoming game.
Ed tried to focus on J’s questions, but his mind was still with Aries. Her smile, the way she glowed against the night.
Across the patio, Aries watched him right back, smirk playing on her lips, knowing damn well the effect she had.
The tension simmered, thick and electric, both of them dancing around something bigger than they’d admit.
All around them, the party rolled on, but for a moment, the rest of the world faded, leaving just the two of them and the knowledge that something between them was about to change.
Tay and Jaz barely made it back to the table before Aries had her phone out, grinning wide. She scrolled through the gallery, showing off the shots Ed took, all her angles popping, skin glowing, legs crossed just right, every picture holding a little extra heat because of who was behind the camera.
Tay took one look and nearly choked on her wing. “Bitch, I know damn well he on brick after taking these. Look at how you lookin’! You know you wrong as hell for that.” She cackled, elbowing Aries and zooming in on one of the pics like she was analyzing game tape.
“I woulda too. That man probably needed a minute to himself after this, I ain’t gon’ lie.”
Jaz just shook her head, but her smile was sly. “You know what you doing now, right? Don’t play. This ain’t even about the ‘fit or the pose. He gon’ remember these. You keep this up, he not gon’ stay quiet much longer. And neither will you.”
Aries just laughed, but the blush on her cheeks said it all. “Let him sweat a little. He know what’s up.”
Tay grinned, licking her fingers. “Girl, if the roles were reversed? You’d be fussin’ at his ass. So go 'head, drop the pics, watch him slide in your messages again. And you better not act clueless, pretty girl.”
So, Aries did... the caption? Subliminal as hell.
_AriesNicole: He said "one more"... So I gave him four.
Jaz cackled, wiping her fingers, giving Aries a knowing side-eye. “Oh, you definitely teasin' him now. Don’t act like you ain’t know what you was doing. That caption too? Yeah, you tryna start some shit.”
Aries just shrugged, barely hiding her grin. “I don't know what you talkin' about…”
Tay howled, shaking her head. “Girl, let me find out you about to have that man in a chokehold before the night over.”
The three of them huddled over the photos, picking favorites, hyping Aries up even more. Every comment, about her fit, her glow, the way Ed was looking at her, only amped her up further.
Jaz elbowed Aries, dropping her voice to a teasing whisper. “Go ‘head and drive him crazy. He already head over heels.”
From across the yard, Ed was still looking over, catching Aries’ eye, and for a split second the whole world felt like it narrowed to just them, caught up in a slow-burning mess, surrounded by noise, but locked on each other’s wavelength.
When the girls slipped back inside, the house was a whole mood—vibes thick with laughter, a table spread with food, and the faint hum of old-school R&B winding around the chatter.
Anriel was holding court on the couch, flanked by Lea and Faith, with Jamara perched at the edge. The moment Aries, Tay, and Jaz strolled in, plates and cups in hand, faces still glowing from outside, everybody looked up, eager for the latest tea.
Tay and Jaz didn’t waste a beat, settling in with the group and instantly vibing with Anriel and the crew.
The energy shifted into a fast-paced, cousin-style kiki that only Black girls who know the assignment can pull off.
No sooner had Aries set her plate down than Anriel turned, phone in hand, already scrolling. “So, Ms. Influencer. Let’s talk about this caption. ‘He told me one more… so I gave him four’— girl, we know who that was for.”
The room perked up, every set of eyes flicking to Aries. Tay grinned wide, nodding to the group. “She swears it ain’t a big deal, but she lying through her teeth. Aries got that look... like she trying her best to not give in to that man.”
Jaz, ever the calm instigator, sipped her drink and added, “She acting brand new since he took those pics. Sis posted the whole set y’all, and that’s rare for Aries.”
Aries tried to play it cool, stuffing a bite of wing in her mouth, eyebrows raised. “Y’all doing the most. I mean, it’s just a caption. Ed took ‘em, that’s it. I asked him to take a few pictures, and he went off. That’s all.”
Lea wasn’t letting up. “But who takes pics like that? I'm sure he was And you gonna act like you ain’t notice?”
Aries shrugged.
Faith chimed in, “Girl, please. I seen you blushing outside.”
Jamara leaned in, laughing. “She giving ‘I’m smitten and don’t wanna admit it’ energy.”
Anriel put her phone down, fixing Aries with that big sister look. “Don’t play with us. When I peeped out there, and seen that man was practically undressing you with the camera. You posted every damn angle, then put that spicy caption. That ain’t ‘just friends’ behavior.”
Tay, never subtle, chimed in, “Right! Sis, Ed had to be holding back. Was the camera shaking or nah? You know a man don’t focus like that unless he’s tryna focus on you. Period."
Aries just shook her head, laughing but fighting a blush. “Look. He’s a good photographer, I’ll give him that. And yeah,... but let’s not. Y’all know I’m still figuring it out. We just vibin'.”
Lea side-eyed her, sly but caring. "...And you been saying that, but the rest of us and the world already caught up. You like him. Just admit it, Aries. If not, just admit it to yourself at least."
Anriel propped her chin on her fist, eyes softening. “It’s okay to like somebody, girl. Especially when he got you feeling seen, and looking all happy and glowy. Just don’t run from it.”
Jaz grinned, pulling Aries into a quick side hug. “And if you don’t wanna say it, that’s cool. But you know we here when you finally do.”
Music thumped low in the background, laughter carrying over the grass and cracked pavement, plates balanced on knees and drinks clinking as people moved from yard to street and back again.
Inside, games started up. Spades, dominoes, the old heads at the folding table yelling about rules and reneging.
Aries, still surrounded by her girls, cracked jokes and snacked on the last of her wings, but she was distracted, gaze drifting out to the dark where kids darted with smoke bombs and fountains hissed at their feet.
As the clock crept toward Ten, the crowd funneled toward the fireworks outside. The guys hauled crates of pyrotechnics out to the center of the cul-de-sac, Trick and Skhye hyping each other up while Zion tried to keep them from setting the whole block on fire.
The night’s humidity felt almost electric, full of anticipation.
Aries slipped out to her Jeep, climbing up onto the open roof, a quiet escape above the chaos. The air was still warm, and she sat back, letting the dull rumble of bass and distant laughter roll through her.
She looked down at her phone, it was Jaz texting, plotting to take more pictures.
Ed spotted her almost immediately. He was chatting with G'Angelo, but the moment he caught Aries perched on her Jeep, he made his way toward her, weaving through the clusters of people.
But before he reached her, Destinee intercepted him, her whole vibe sharp and urgent. She leaned in too close, voice low but clipped, trying to get his attention for herself one last time.
Ed shook his head, stepping away, but Destinee didn’t let it go. “You really not gon’ give me no time, huh? You been all up under that bitch all night—”
That word made Ed stop cold. His patience instantly snapped. “Aye, chill out with that. Watch your mouth. I ain’t playin’ with you. You need to fall back. Ain’t nobody here for the drama. I already told you what was up." His words were calm, but his voice had that edge— hard, direct, a warning.
Destinee bristled, lips curling, but the message landed. She spun on her heel, grabbing Tiana, muttering under her breath as they headed out early, fake lashes fluttering in the streetlights. For her, the night was a loss, but in her head the game was far from over.
Ed shook it off, finally reaching Aries up on the Jeep. She smiled down at him, eyes glassy and calm, the high still mellowing her nerves. He climbed up beside her, settling close as the first fireworks whistled and cracked above.
From the sidelines, Tay and Jaz caught the whole thing, Jaz snapping a photo of the moment— Ed’s arm slung across the back of the Jeep, Aries’ head titled toward his shoulder, faces lit by bursts of color overhead. Jaz didn’t say a word, just sent the picture to the group chat, receipts for later.
As fireworks exploded above, Aries let herself lean in, head heavy on Ed’s shoulder. The noise and chaos faded for a second, just the two of them in their own little world. Ed tried to play it cool, but the sight of her up close, cheeks soft in the flickering lights, did things to him he didn’t dare admit.
Aries smacked her teeth at the sight of Skhye fucking up the set up of the fireworks.
He cleared his throat, trying to break the tension with a joke. “I know your little self ain’t complainin’ about this view. If I put a dent in your Jeep, that’s on you for making it look too good up here.”
Aries snorted, laughter spilling out, high and bright. “Boy, you too damn big for my roof. You break it, you fix it, fo'real.”
They cracked up together, the sound lost in the thunder of fireworks and the whoops from the street.
Nothing else mattered— not Destinee’s drama, not the rumors, not even the heavy stuff that always tried to creep in. Just them, pressed shoulder to shoulder, letting themselves enjoy the moment.
Nearby, Tay and Skhye fell into a playful spat, Surprisingly, Tay cussing him out for waving a roman candle a little too close to her new wig.
Faith, Jaz, Jamara, and Anriel shouted encouragements, drinks in hand, while Trick, and Nnamdi fired off more rockets down the block. While Christian and Lea stood nearby watching the sky.
Back on the Jeep, Aries finally relaxed, soaking in the heat and the smoke, Ed beside her. They watched the bursts fade to gold and silver, both secretly hoping this night would last.
Once the fireworks wound down and the smoke thinned over the cul-de-sac, the adults found new energy. Someone queued up more music, plates got refilled, and it wasn’t long before the real party picked up. Drinks pouring, laughter rising, and everyone letting loose now that the kids had scattered off with sparklers and leftover Roman candles.
Inside, Tay passed Aries back her hybrid pen with a mischievous smirk. “Go head, hit that again boo, you coming back down too soon.”
Jaz, never one to let a buzz slack, handed Aries a fresh cup. “We not pacing you tonight, sis. It’s summer.”
Skhye tried to step in, like a true big-brother, “Aye, don’t get her too lit! Somebody gotta get her home.”
Tay was quick with the clap-back, waving him off. “Skhye, hush. Mind yo damn business. Aries' grown, plus I'm the D.D.”
With the energy up, Anriel shouted, “Alright, line dance time!” She put on “Wobble” and then “Cupid Shuffle,” and soon enough, Tay yanked Aries from her chair and dragged her to the center of the yard.
Aries was loose now, feet gliding, hair swinging, all her shyness gone in the crowd. She tried to pull Ed into the line, but he hesitated, laughing, “Don’t embarrass me, Morenita. I’m a little rusty.”
Faith swapped the song to Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYol,” and Aries stepped up as Ed’s unofficial instructor. “Follow me, big body. Loosen up.”
She placed his hands where they needed to be, guiding him through the rhythm. He caught on— awkward at first, but then earnest, letting her laughter and teasing work out the nerves.
When Faith cut in, snatching Aries for a quick twirl, Ed was left laughing, arms wide. But as soon as the song faded, Faith handed Aries back to him with a wink, “She all yours again.”
Meanwhile, Zion couldn’t resist, grabbing Tay and Jaz to dance. The crew circled up, moves getting wilder, nostalgia thick as they recaptured old times. Anriel captured it all on her phone. The group dances, off-key singing, Aries in the thick of it, face beaming.
Eventually, the crowd began to scatter, some settling into quiet corners or porches.
Aries, riding the last edge of her high, snuck away to the back porch and claimed the same chair from earlier— the one she’d posed in for Ed’s pictures. The night air was cooler now, a little breeze cutting through the muggy heat, and the distant sound of the afterparty floated around her.
She scrolled her phone, reposting stories, her and her girls singing and dancing, Ed stumbling through the dance, Tay cutting up with Skhye over who was the better cook. The notifications kept coming, each tagged story a snapshot of a night she’d remember.
Then, out of nowhere, Donell Jones’ “Natural Thang” slid into the speakers out back. The opening chords drifted into the air, a little oasis of ‘90s R&B under the stars. Aries leaned her head back, eyes closed, singing low along with the chorus
“It’s not a natural thang if we can’t do it
Come on and let’s get to it tonight
The feeling’s oh so right…”
She didn’t notice Ed at first, hovering in the doorway, watching her vibe. He took it in, her soft sway, lips mouthing every word, the way she seemed so at home in the moment. He always got butterflies around her, but this was something different, almost grounding.
He finally stepped out, catching her attention. Aries cracked an eye open, noticing his hesitation. “You got something to say, Mr. Smellgood, or you just here to stare?”
Ed chuckled, shaking his head, cheeks a little red. “Just tryna soak in the vibe. You look… high as hell, Morenita.”
She chuckled before getting up and shuffling over to the patio two seater.
She patted the seat beside her, and he took it, close but not too close. Aries was lit but euphoric, all her anxiety faded. He wanted to ask her something, but her eyes low, heavy, dark as velvet were making him nervous. He almost couldn’t meet her gaze.
He cleared his throat, voice dropping softer. “So, um… I know you probably got plans tomorrow with Tay and Jaz. But, if you ain’t busy, J’s got a game in the evening. Thought you might wanna slide. No pressure. Just, y’know, if you wanna see me yell at the top of my lungs.”
She grinned, teasing, “You sure you want me watching? I might roast your little league skills.”
He smirked, “I’m just tryna see you more, Morenita. But fo'real, no sweat. If you busy, we can catch up later.”
The lyrics drifted through the air, soft and warm;
“Every day, every night
I long to have you near me all the time
Give me a chance to give you my love
Everything will be alright…”
Aries leaned in, a little more honest, “I’ll see what the girls got planned for me. But, I’ll try to make it. For you.”
Then the subject changed to his failed dance steps, which they laughed about. Aries clowning him, "How you Salvi-Mexican and still got two left feet?”
He just shrugged, “That’s why I wrestle, not dance.”
Aries took Ed in, really saw him. His hands, his tattoos, the nervous tap of his foot, the way his smile kept widening when she said something funny. How sometimes his dimples got deeper than usual when he tucked his lips in. She felt herself get quiet, soft, letting her gaze linger.
Before the song got to the next verse, it changed to Dru Hill's Beauty.
Ed felt the shift and his stomach flipped, like he knew she was seeing him in a new way.
Before either could say more, Zion’s voice boomed from inside, “Aye, Aries, come on, we about to wrap it up!”
Tay appeared behind him, already gathering her purse and shoes, her laughter spilling into the night.
Aries stood, smoothing her shirt, but paused beside Ed. “You know how to find me,” she murmured, soft but sure.
He nodded, voice just above a whisper. “Yeah. And I’ll be lookin’.”
They parted with a smile, the promise of something more hanging in the summer air, fireworks still faintly echoing somewhere distant, and Dru Hill's voice crooning about yearning for a certain beauty.
The drive home felt like moving underwater– warm, slow, every moment coated in the golden haze of a night that almost felt like a dream. I melted into the backseat of my Jeep, legs tucked up, head resting on the window as Jaz drove, following close behind Zion’s car. The city lights blurred past, soft and distant.
My playlist cycled through every 90’s R&B gem I loved, but when SWV’s “Use Your Heart” started, the world shrank down to just the melody and the lyrics,
"Use your heart and not your eyes
Baby, just relax and ride
If you got time then I got time..."
It was like every line spilled what I wouldn’t say out loud. My heart was moving a little reckless, wanting more, wondering if it was finally okay to want something this good.
Tay, ever the observer, twisted around in the passenger seat, eyes glinting even in the dark. “Mmm. You real quiet back there, A. Must’ve been a night, huh?” She grinned, knowing exactly what she was doing.
I blinked slow, lips twisting into a little smirk. “I’m cool, that’s all. Y’all just had me out there line dancing and acting a damn fool.”
She snorted, “Please. That ain’t why you looking all love-struck. Girl, when me and Zion came out back to get you? You and Ed was locked in fo'real. Looked like y’all was in your own lil’ world. You ain’t slick. I seen you.”
It didn’t matter how hard I tried to play this cool, and he was still lingering at the edge of every thought, slipping in beneath the lyrics, the city lights, the laughter that echoed from up front.
Even now, I kept replaying how his eyes locked on mine, the way we’d sat on top of my Jeep, knees rubbing against one another, fireworks lighting up the sky and making the world stand still.
I tried to convince myself it was just the liquor, the high, the leftover adrenaline. But it wasn’t just that.
Three months. That’s it.
It's only three months since we met, since he became this mini gravitational pull in my world. Not even that long, really, if you count the days we actually spent together and talked, the slow, careful texts, the times he’d let me talk about anything and nothing, the way he’d facetime me out the blue just to see my face.
But the more I try to downplay this, the more my mind wandered back to his voice, those deep, thoughtful brown eyes, the subtle way his hand brushed mine when nobody was looking.
And yeah, I was celibate, by choice. Telling myself that, made me immune to this. That these feelings weren’t real, just something stirred up by proximity and hormones and the magic of a summer fun night.
But Ed… Lord.
Being around him made it hard not to want. He made it easy to imagine being wanted right back.
Don’t trust your feelings too much when you’re faded right now, bitch.
I sighed, finally letting my head fall back, watching the glow from the streetlights flash overhead as SWV crooned on.
What the fuck am I getting myself into?
The front door clicked behind us and, as soon as my feet hit the cool floors, I felt the night’s adrenaline melt away, replaced by this low, sweet ache in my chest.
Jaz and Tay headed straight for the guest bathroom to shower and change, their laughter trailing down the hall. I headed for my own room, peeled off my clothes, and let the hot water work its magic.
My braids were already wrapped in my bonnet by the time I padded back to my room, bare-faced, skin dewy. The air felt heavy, like secrets waiting.
I felt a different kind of vulnerable. Like I’d left pieces of myself out there on that back porch, on that dance floor, on top of that Jeep with him.
I climbed into bed, pulling my notebook from the drawer. I hadn’t touched it in months— hell, years. Not since everything with Quincy fell apart. Not since my marriage turned into ash.
But tonight, my heart ached to spill. And I had to get it out.
Before I could even get my pen to the paper, Tay and Jaz busted in, pajamas mismatched, silk bonnets on, faces dewy and bare and ready to be all in my business. They saw the notebook and instantly went quiet, giving me space but not leaving, just sitting at the end of my bed, scrolling through their phones, and showing each other videos of the night, as I started to write.
My words tumbled out awkward at first, but then found a rhythm,
First night , loud lounge lights,
you bought my drink, we talked, I hugged last
that’s when I named you.
Silence came like pride,
disturbance, distance, doubt
you let me be but,
still, you found me… park.
Now I stand half‑open,
scared to want you out loud, but
my heart leans anyway.
The room was silent, except for the scratch of my pen and Tay and Jaz's bickering about earlier tonight. It was pushing 3 AM when my phone lit up. It was Ed this time.
Bronco🐂: Had a good time tonight, Morenita. Needed that fr. Let me know if you and the girls coming to J’s game. Would love to see y’all there.🧡
I reread it twice, heart thumping a little too loud. Tay and Jaz peeped my reaction, and Tay couldn’t help herself.
“Girl, you really in it now. Might as well admit it. You gone be on a date before you know it. Let him love you, Aries.”
I tried to keep it cool, but the truth was leaking out of me. “I don't know yall. I’m scared. It’s been so long since I trusted anybody like that. Since I let myself… want or be wanted.”
Jaz shifted closer, her voice soft and warm. “Starting over is scary, Arie. But you ain’t gotta do it alone. Not with him, if you want it. So far, he seems legit.”
Tay grinned, squeezing my foot at the end of the bed. “Real talk, sis, ain’t nobody else like you. He lucky to have even a piece of your time.”
Tears prickled, but I blinked them away, laughing through the nerves. “Y’all just want me to fall so y’all can say I told you so, later on.”
They both nodded, not even pretending. “Absolutely,” Tay said, while Jaz just smiled, her faith in me radiating from her eyes.
I looked at my phone again, fingers hovering over the screen, thinking about all the ways I’d tried to keep myself safe. But maybe it was time to risk it—a little. Maybe it was time to let myself believe in something soft, slow, and new.
Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I wanted to say yes.
Next Morning, came on soft and quiet. Sulight slipped through my blinds.
My body heavy in the best way. No headache. No dizziness. Just... Calm.
Like I got a full nights rest instead of fighting myself.
Then my phone vibrated– like clock work.
Bronco🐂: Good morning, Morenita. Hope you slept good. Text me when you up.
My mouth tilted into a smile before I could stop it. I typed back quick, still half under my covers.
Me: Goodmorning, Mr. Smellgood. I slept good. Hope you did too.
I stared at it a second… then locked my phone and tossed it beside me like I wasn’t lowkey cheesing.
Alright. Get up, hoe.
Be normal.
Shower. Skincare.
Oil on my shoulders and collarbone.
Teeth brushed.
Edges laid.
Bonnet off , locs fluffed, loose ponytail.
Lip gloss. Always.
By the time I stepped into the hallway, the house already smelled like bacon and coffee. Not quick breakfast either, real breakfast.
The kind that makes you imagine it before you sit down.
Voices floated out the kitchen.
Tay laughing loud as hell.
Jaz moving around calm and precise.
Bacon popping.
Coffee brewing.
Zion talking low like he always do in the morning.
I leaned in the doorway for a second just watching them, letting it soak in.
Tay clocked me first.
“Look at her,” she said immediately, pointing her spatula at me. “Look at her face. Glowin’ and shit.”
I rolled my eyes, grabbing a mug.
“Girl, shut up.”
Jaz turned, eyes soft, scanning me top to bottom like she always do.
“You slept good,” she said simply.
I poured coffee, shrugging. “And did.”
Zion turned in his chair, mug in hand, smile slow and proud.
“Nah,” he said. “You look… rested. I ain’t seen you like that in a minute.”
That hit me in my chest, quiet but heavy.
I bumped his shoulder as I walked past.
“I’m good, Zi.”
Skhye walked in mid-conversation, grabbing bacon straight off the tray.
Tay smacked his arm.
“Boy get a plate!”
He ignored her, looking at me.
Then shrugged.
“I mean… you do look happy though. Like our old Aries. I’m glad you being you again.”
I blinked once, then nodded. “Thanks, Sky.”
We ate. Laughed.
Talked shit like normal.
Then I cleared my throat.
“So, ih… Ed invited us to J’s baseball game today.”
Forks paused. Just for a second.
Then Tay slowly set hers down, smirk already loaded. “Oh us?” she said. “Or you… and we just accessories?”
I kicked her foot under the table.
“Girl. All of us. He said if we free, to pull up.”
Jaz smiled into her coffee. “That was thoughtful.”
Zion nodded. “That’s solid.”
Then Skhye leaned back. “I’m going,” he said immediately. “I support children sports and free snacks.”
I laughed.“You just wanna be nosy and greedy.”
“Correct.”
Zion raised his hand.
“I’m sliding too.”
I grabbed my phone, already typing.
Me: Heads up. It’s not just me, Tay and Jaz. Zi and Skhye tryna come too 😂 That good?
Three dots popped up almost instantly
Bronco🐂: Yeah that’s coo. Slide through. J gonna be hype to see yall there.
My chest did that little flip thing again.
I ignored it.
Me: Bet. Then… I’m bringing food.
Pause.
Bronco🐂: I knew you was gonna say that 😂 What you making?
I grinned, typing back.
Me: Wings. Maybe sliders if I feel generous.
His reply came fast.
Bronco🐂: Yea… J definitely gonna love you forever.
I froze for half a second at that.
Then locked my phone like I wasn’t trying to hide my smile like an idiot. Tay clocked it immediately.
“Mmm,” she hummed. “What he say?”
I grabbed a strawberry off Jaz’s plate. “Mind ya business.”
She gasped dramatically. “Oh. You keepin' secrets now?”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
I ended up not doing the whole wings-and-sliders production like I originally planned.
Mostly because , if I was honest— I wanted today to feel light. Easy.
Not me stressing over a stove for four hours.
So instead? I made sandwiches.
Good ones though. Not no lazy, dry lunch meat mess.
Turkey. Honey ham.
Pepper jack and provolone.
Lettuce, tomato, thin sliced red onion.
Light mayo.
Toasted bread.
Then I cut up fruit — strawberries, pineapple, grapes… and yeah… mango.
And I set a small container to the side.
Just for J.
Because that boy loved them wings like they was life changing. So I made a tiny batch.
Just enough for him to feel special.
Not enough for Skhye to inhale them.
By the time I finished packing everything into containers, the kitchen looked like a meal prep on TikTok.
Tay walked in, hair wrapped, sipping mimosa number two.
“Girl… you cooking like you meeting his mama today.”
I pointed a knife at her. “Shut up.”
Jaz leaned on the counter, smiling. “You nervous?”
I shrugged, sliding fruit into containers.
“I’m not. I’m…just... being convenient.”
Tay snorted.
“Same difference.”
I ignored her and grabbed my phone, staring at Ed’s name for a second.
Then I typed.
Me: Random question… you stopping anywhere before the game?
Three dots. Immediately.
Bronco🐂: Maaaybe👀. What you need?
I bit my lip, smiling to myself.
God help me.
Me: You mind grabbing mangos and chamoy? 🙂
Bronco🐂: You addicted now huh 😂
I rolled my eyes, typing fast.
Me: Don’t start man. That park moment changed my life.
Bronco🐂: Say less. I got you. Fresh mango. Chamoy. Tajín too or nah?
My heart did that stupid flutter again.
Me: Yeah. Bring Tajín too. Please😊
Bronco🐂: Bet. Anything for you, Morenita.😚
froze.
Just for a second.
Then locked my phone and set it face down like it didn’t just do something to me.
Tay was already watching me.
“Mmhm,” she said. “What he say.”
“Nothing.”
Jaz laughed into her coffee. “Aries.”
I grabbed the fruit containers and started stacking them in the cooler.
“The game at 6,” I said, changing the subject. “So we got time. I just gotta shower and pick a fit.”
Zion walked in mid-convo. “What fit?” he asked. “This baseball or the Met Gala?”
“Boy, I gotta be comfortable,” I said automatically.
Skhye walked in behind him, sniffing the air. “You made wings?” he said, already reaching.
I slapped his hand. “Those are for J, only..”
He clutched his chest like I stabbed him. “That boy got me beat out for wings now? Wow.”
Tay laughed.“Cause you greedy as hell.”
By about 3:30, the house was in full “getting ready” mode.
Music playing. Showers running.
Outfits getting debated like this was a red carpet event.
And me?
I stood in the middle of my room for a second. Looking at my phone.
Looking at the time.
And realizing something quiet but heavy.
I wasn’t anxious.
I wasn’t overthinking.
I wasn’t trying to talk myself out of going.
I was just… excited to go out... to see him.
And that still scared me a little. But not enough to stop me.
I ended up sitting on the edge of my bed for a minute after getting dressed, letting my hair fall down my back while I checked myself in the mirror.
Simple and comfortable.
Nothing that screamed I tried too hard.
Just enough to make me feel like me.
I grabbed my phone and snapped a quick selfie— soft smile, gloss popping, sunlight hitting just right. Posted it to my story.
Then another with me, Tay, and Jaz squished together in the hallway mirror, Tay throwing up a middle finger, Jaz mid-laugh, me dead center, head tilted, lips ducked.
I tossed my phone on the bed and went to grab my bag , and it buzzed immediately.
I already knew who it was.
Bronco🐂: Random but… I started Kaiju No. 8
I gasped like he just told me he joined the military. Tay popped her head in. “What?”
“He finally watching Kaiju.”
She rolled her eyes. “Y’all anime flirting is weird.”
I ignored her and typed back fast.
Me: EXCUSE ME??? FINALLY???
Three dots immediately.
Bronco🐂: Relaaaax 😂 I told you I would watch it
I flopped on my bed, kicking my feet like I was 15.
Me: Yeah... I told you to do that weeks ago 😒 Where you at in it?
Bronco🐂: Episode 3.
Me: Okay so who's your favorite so far?
Bronco🐂: Kikoru funny as hell. She mean for no reason.
I laughed out loud.
Me: She not mean. She just rich and talented and knows it. But don't take shit from nobody
Bronco🐂: So...YOU? 🫵🏼
I gasped dramatically to myself.
Me: First of all.... RUDE. Second of all... I am NOT rich.
Bronco🐂: Third of all... You do be mean for no reason...😶
I squinted.
Oh. Mean huh? I got your mean...
Me: You sound hurt, sir. You need to talk about it?
Bronco🐂: You already talk enough for both of us.🤫🤗
No this –
I sat there blinking.
Because whaaat??
My jaw tightened.
But my chest felt warm.
Annoying.
Me: Boy. Bye.😒🫵🏽
Bronco🐂: Also dramatic.
Me: I AM NOT DRAMATIC.😑
Bronco🐂: You literally get "fake" mad when I tease you.
I narrowed my eyes at my phone like he could see me.
Me: I do not.
Bronco🐂: You do.
Me: You’re irritating.
Bronco🐂: You like me though.😏
I froze. Then instantly typed back because absolutely not.
Me: See. Get ya ass off my phone playing BRONCO. 😒
Bronco🐂: Yea...stay fake mad, pretty girl. It’s cute.😙
I'ma kick his tall ass.
Me: I am NOT fake mad.😤
Bronco🐂: Yeah aight. See you at the game, Aries.🙂
And that was it. He left me on read.
I stared at the screen .
Oh he think he funny.
Fine.
I locked my phone and tossed it into my bag.
“Why you look like you plotting murder?” Tay asked from the doorway.
“I’m not,” I said, grabbing my lip gloss.
Jaz peeked over her shoulder. “That man getting under your skin already?”
I scoffed. “He’s annoying.”
Tay smirked. “Mhm.”
I stayed “mad.” On purpose.
Didn’t text him again. Didn’t react to nothing else he posted.
Didn’t give him nothing.
But if I was honest? He was learning me.
Learning exactly how to toe that line — Push my buttons
But not push me away.
Because if anybody else said half the slick shit he said to me?
I would’ve snapped. Hard.
But him?
He just made me roll my eyes.
Made me want to prove him wrong.
Made me want to see him in person so I could give him that look that said you getting on my fuckin nerves — even if my mouth was trying not to form a smile.
And he liked it.
I could tell. Which made me want to stay “mad” a little longer.
At least until I saw him.
Because when I did? I already knew my attitude was gonna crack the second I seen his ass.
So I left it as that.
By the time we pulled up to the field, the sun was starting to dip, that golden hour glow hitting everything just right. The air smelled like cut grass, dirt, and concession stand nachos. Kids were running around in cleats, parents yelling from folding chairs and the bleachers, music playing low from somebody’s speaker.
I stepped out the car smoothing my shirt down like I wasn’t lowkey nervous for no reason.
Tay slammed her door.
Jaz grabbed the cooler.
Zi and Skhye were already arguing about parking like ordinary brothers.
And then I saw him.
Leaning against the fence near the entrance.
Black tee.
Athletic Nike shorts.
Chain catching light.
That stupid calm face like he ain’t got a care in the world.
When he saw us, a smile spreading across his face. Dimples deep as hell.
“Wassup, wassup,” he called, pushing off the fence. He greeted everybody first— dapped up Zion then Skhye, hugged Jaz, gave Tay one of them side hugs.
Then he looked at me. Paused.
Reached into the bag he was holding. Pulled out a container.
Mango slices.
Chamoy drizzled.
Tajín on top.
I narrowed my eyes immediately.
“… You bribin' me?”
He shrugged, accent thick. “Maybe. You still mad or you want the mangos, mami?”
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.But I stepped closer anyway.
I sucked my teeth— but he opened his arms.
And Yes.... I gave in. I hugged him.
And Jesus.
At five-four compares to his six-six, I was swallowed. Chest warm.
Arms solid around me. His chin resting on the top of my head like it fit there.
And he smelled so good I almost forgot my own name, like the first time.
“… You smell good,” slipped out before I could stop it.
He smirked like he clocked that immediately. “Yeah? I've been told,” he said low. “although you claim you mad anyway.”
I pulled back just enough to glare at him.
“… Shut up. I'm still mad”
“Yeah, aight,” he said, low, amused. “I knew you wasn’t gon’ stay mad at me,” he said, “You don’t got it in you, mami.”
I pulled back just enough to glare at him.
“I do too.”
He just smirked.
Then— “ARIES!”
I turned. J was half standing out the dugout, waving like he hadn’t seen me in years.
I waved back, smiling before I could stop myself.
Tay leaned toward Ed, loud whisper. “Oop. He trying to take your girl already.”
I laughed. “Stop.”
Ed didn’t even blink. Didn’t even look bothered.
Just glanced at me… then back toward the field… then back at me again, slow. Like he knew something nobody else did.
“Lil bro just excited,” he said casually.
Ed clapped his hands once.
“Aight, c’mon. Game bout to start. Let’s go sit.”
He guided us toward the bleachers, hand hovering near my back but not touching unless he needed to guide me around somebody.
We climbed up, and he sat next to me while Jaz and Tay sat on the opposite side.
Tay clocked it immediately and smirked. She leaned over, "Um.. I'm just sayin', but you might wanna stop playin' with this man. Lil' bro already rockin' with you heavy."
I rolled my eys, but didn't move away.
Ed leaned back, one arm stretched along the bleacher behind me, voice low and easy.
“Appreciate y’all pullin’ up. Means a lot to him. Shit, means a lot to me.”
My chest did something stupid again. I nodded, fingers curling around the mango container, heart doing that slow, flutter thing again.
The announcer crackled over the little speaker near the dugout, calling out lineups. Parents clapped. Somebody’s toddler started screaming about popcorn. The sky was that soft Florida blue fading into lavender, stadium lights flickering on one by one.
On the field, J took his position, glanced up at the stands— and smiled when he saw all of us here.
Ed leaned forward, locked in on the field. But I could feel him next to me. Feel his heat. Feel the way his arm stayed stretched behind me..
“Watch J at bat,” he said, voice low but proud. “He been workin’ on his swing. Lil’ dude been in the cage all week.”
I smiled. “You be in there with him?”
“Yeah,” he said simply. “Every chance I get.”
Something about that hit different.
He loved his brother so much, and it was a dose of dopamine that had me feeling… soft. Like the kind of soft I usuallu don’t let people see.
Not vulnerable.
Just… open.
I watched him more than I watched the field for a second. The way his jaw flexed when J stepped into the box. The way his shoulders squared like he was the one about to swing. The way he leaned forward instinctively, elbows on his knees, completely locked in.
That wasn’t performative.
That wasn’t for show. That was love.
And it did something to me.
On the field, J adjusted his helmet, tapping the plate twice before settling into his stance. He glanced up again, this time slower—eyes scanning until they landed on us.
His whole face lit up.
Ed noticed.
He didn’t say anything at first, just glanced sideways at me, then back to the field. That subtle, knowing look again.
“Lil bro just excited,” he said casually, but his mouth twitched like he was fighting a grin. “He been askin’ if you was comin’.”
I glanced over and raised an eyebrow, “He asked?” I tried to keep my voice neutral.
I looked down at the mango container in my lap like it held all the answers.
Why does that matter so much to me?
The bat cracked against the ball, and the whole crowd jumped. J took off down the line, fast and focused. Ed was on his feet immediately.
“Go! Go! Push it, J!” His voice shifted— loud, commanding, proud. “Leg it out!”
I stood too without even realizing, yelling like I’d known J since he was in tee-ball.
“Run, J! You got it!”
He made it to first safe.
Ed clapped hard, that big grin breaking across his face. He turned toward me instinctively, like he needed someone to share that moment with.
“You see that?” he said, eyes bright. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
“I saw,” I said, smiling wide. “He been listening to you.”
He exhaled slowly and sat back down. “I just try to show up for him. That’s it. That's all I can do.”
And I felt something inside me shift. “You do more than you think,” I said quietly.
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Nah. I just make sure he don’t feel alone.”
That hit harder than it should’ve. Because I knew what it felt like to be alone.
J jogged back to first, brushing dirt off his pants, and Ed leaned forward again, clapping once. “Stay sharp, mijo! Watch the pitcher.”
Mijo.
It rolled off his tongue easy. Natural. Soft. And I swear something in my spirit folded.
I tried to play it cool, peeling a piece of mango with the little fork, but my thoughts were loud.
He loves that boy out loud.
He don’t hide it.
He don’t half-step it.
And for somebody like me— somebody who’d been burned before, who’d learned to keep her heart in a fireproof safe— that kind of consistency felt dangerous.
The inning shifted, and J ended up scoring off a double. The whole team erupted. Parents cheered. Somebody blew an air horn way too close to my ear.
Ed stood up again, hands on his hips this time, shaking his head like he couldn’t help smiling.
“That’s my guy,” he muttered, pride leaking through every syllable.
He turned to me again, and for a split second, it wasn’t about baseball.
It was about me seeing him.
And him seeing that I saw him.
“You good?” he asked softly.
I huffed a little laugh. “Why you keep askin’ me that?”
He leaned back this time, stretching his arm along the back of the bleacher again— close enough for me to feel the warmth of him through my shirt.
“’Cause when you get quiet, you be thinkin’. And when you thinkin’, you either plottin' somethin’… or you feelin’ a type of way’.”
I looked at him then. Really looked.
“You swear you know me.”
He shrugged, dimples threatening. “I’m just learnin', Morenita.”
I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t move away.
On the field, J struck out on his next at bat and kicked the dirt in frustration. Ed didn’t hesitate.
“Shake it off!” he called out, voice firm but calm. “Next pitch. Stay locked in.”
Not angry. Not disappointed.
J nodded immediately, shoulders relaxing. As he walked back to the dug out.
He don’t embarrass him.
He don’t tear him down.
He builds him up.
The sky was turning that lavender-blue, lights glowing brighter now. The air was warm, buzzing with cicadas and distant laughter from another field. The stadium lights turned on.
I leaned back slightly, and this time his arm brushed my back. He didn’t pull it away. It was comfortable.
The last out came quick.
Pop fly to center. Glove snapped shut. Game over.
The boys groaned in unison. One run short.
J stood there for a second with his hands on his hips, jaw tight, staring out at the field like he could rewind the inning if he wanted to bad enough.
Ed was already moving before the team even lined up.
He didn’t rush him. Didn’t crowd him. Just met him halfway near the dugout, hand landing firm on J’s shoulder.
“You played solid,” Ed said, voice steady. “That first at bat? That was you trusting your work. One run don’t erase that.”
J exhaled, frustrated but listening.
“I should’ve tagged up in the fourth,” he muttered.
“Maybe,” Ed shrugged lightly. “Or maybe you learn from it and cook next game. Losses ain’t punishment. They lessons.”
J nodded slowly. You could see it settling in him— the disappointment easing, replaced with that quiet determination he clearly got from his brother.
That’s when I slid in.
“Excuse meeee,” I sang softly, pulling the small insulated container from my bag. “For the MVP who still scored.”
J’s whole face lit up. Like I was handing him the keys to a brand new Benz.
“You brought the wings?” he said like it was Christmas.
“Lemon pepper,” I grinned. “And they still warm. You know, I don’t play.”
Ed looked between me and his brother like he was watching two parts of his world collide perfectly.
J took the container like it was gold. “Thank you, Aries.” he said, already digging in before jogging back to his teammates.
Ed shook his head, smiling. “You just spoiled him for life.”
“Good,” I shot back. “He deserved it.”
J sat with his boys, wings in hand, and they immediately started hovering like vultures. He shot them a look and guarded the container like it was a championship trophy.
“Yooo, what’s that?”
“Bruh, you ain’t say you had wings!”
“Who made those?”
Ed laughed under his breath. “He ain't sharin' none of that.”
“He better not,” I said. “That batch was custom.”
On the bench, J turned his body sideways, one elbow guarding the goods while he took an exaggerated bite. “Y’all should’ve had somebody pull up for y'all,” he called out, mouth half full. “These exclusive.”
The boys booed him. One tried to sneak a grab and J swatted his hand without even looking. I laughed so hard I had to grab Ed’s forearm to steady myself.
“You see what you done started?” he said, glancing down at where my fingers rested on him. I didn’t move them right away.
“He need somethin’ to look forward to after a loss,” I said lightly. “Plus, I only made a small batch. Quality control.”
Ed huffed a soft laugh through his nose. “You real dangerous, you know that?”
“Why?” I tilted my head. “’Cause I season chicken properly?”
“Nah,” he said, eyes narrowing playfully. “’Cause, now he gon’ expect you at every game.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’ll be.”
There was something in the way I said it that made his expression shift— subtle but real. Not teasing. Not surface-level.
Parents started folding chairs. Cleats scraped against pavement. The sun had dipped fully now, stadium lights buzzing overhead as the boys packed up gear.
J jogged back over, fingers slick with lemon pepper residue, grin wide and mood completely reset.
“Aight, I’m good now,” he announced. “We running it back next week.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Ed said, bumping his fist lightly against J’s chest. “Short memory. Long grind.”
J nodded, then looked at me again. “You coming next week?”
Ed didn’t even pretend not to listen.
I smiled. “If I’m invited.”
“You invited,” J said immediately.
Ed smirked under his breath. “See? I ain’t even gotta recruit no more.”
J started walking off toward the parking lot with his teammates, wings still clutched like contraband. “Don’t tell nobody I lost,” he called back.
Ed laughed. “Mijo, everybody here saw the scoreboard!”
Once J was out of earshot, we stood near the dugout as the field emptied, the night wrapping around everything like a slow exhale.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Ed said, voice low.
“I wanted to,” I answered.
He studied me for a second, studying me again. Not just the outfit.
“You good with him,” he said. “You don’t treat him like a kid.”
“He not a kid,” I replied. “He just fifteen. A whole teenager”
“Sixteen next month,” Ed corrected automatically, pride laced through it.
I smiled. “See? You know the timeline down to the minute.”
He shrugged, but his jaw flexed a little. “That’s my dawg.”
I nodded. “I can tell.”
There was a beat of silence. The kind that wasn’t awkward.
Just full.
He looked back toward the parking lot where J was now joking with his teammates, wiping sauce off his fingers with a napkin.
Then he looked at me. “You fit,” he said quietly.
“With what?”
He didn’t answer right away. “With us.”
Fuuuuuck. Aries. Keep it the fuck together.
It wasn’t dramatic. He didn’t overdo it.
But the way he said it?
Like it slipped out before he could catch it. My chest tightened in the best and worst way at the same time.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I teased, trying to ease the weight of it. “I just brought chicken.”
He smirked, that grin creeping back in. “Yeah. And you did it without makin’ it weird. That’s rare.”
I glanced toward the parking lot where Tay and Jaz were pretending not to stare but absolutely staring.
“You always this observant?” I asked.
“Only when it's really important” he replied.
He stepped a little closer then— not touching, but near enough that I could feel the heat coming off him.
“You good though?” he asked softly. “Tonight. Game. All of this.”
“I’m good,” I said.
And I really was.
And it felt… right. Felt good.
From the distance, Tay nudged Jaz.
“Told you,” Tay muttered.
Jaz just hummed, already analyzing body language like she was building a case study.
Ed finally let up and smiled, “Aight, c’mon. Let’s roll. Before lil bro eat them bones too.”
As we walked toward the lot, he slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to his body, like it was the most natural thing. I swear my brain short-circuited for half a second, this was new.
And for once?
This Fire Girl would’ve flinched.
Would’ve made a joke. Would’ve slipped out from under it just to prove she could.
But I didn’t, I let him hold me there. I just walked beside him. Wrapping my arm around his waist.
And somewhere between the parking lot lights and his heartbeat steady against my temple, I realized I wasn’t fighting the feeling anymore.
Back in ’98, Nyeya Noir Green learned that her Prada priced dreams came at a huge cost. At a cost so high she couldn’t take the risk of staying in the city any longer. In the middle of the night, she fled and found a safe place to get her life back on track.
Things were good. Nyeya was even able to afford her own Prada by way of dancing. Like Cher said, she was the rich man.
But home still had her heart. And when her mother marries her long-time boyfriend, it provides the opportunity to come home… for good.
However, her quiet homecoming isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for. The streets still aren’t safe. The people she knew had changed. And the wounds she thought healed, bust wide open.
Now 21, Nyeya feels grown and in control. She returns thinking she can keep her distance, but she quickly realizes it’s impossible to outrun the past especially when it still holds a piece of her heart.
Pairing: Jey Uso x Nyeya Noir Green (OC)
Author's Note: This story is happening in alternative universe. It features the former members of the Bloodline and the new members of MFT. The characters are themselves but some things are switched around for the story's sake. If you haven't read Prada You, click here to read.
Warnings: May contain strong/harsh language. Mild violence.
Disclaimer: This work of art is fictional in nature including the original characters created by me. I do not own any of the existing characters or lyrics from songs referenced in this story (if any). All rights belong to their respective owners with the exception of my original characters. This work is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to cause harm.
Chapter 3: Truth Is
At the red brick house on Darby Ln...
“Baby… babe?”
Jey dragged his hands down his face, palms pressing into his eyes until colored sparks burst behind his lids. He heard Tutor’s voice drifting in from somewhere behind him, soft and familiar, but he didn’t have it in him to answer.
He sat sunk deep into the leather recliner inside his man cave, elbows resting on his knees, head bowed like the weight of his thoughts had finally caught up to him.
Nyeya.
She’d walked back into all their lives like she never left. Like three years hadn’t passed. Like she hadn’t cracked something in him that never quite settled back right.
He’d spent that entire time convincing himself he was good, that he’d moved on, that what they had was just something short and reckless. Then he saw her again. Saw her laughing. Saw her leaning into Damian like it was nothing.
His jaw tightened.
No. He couldn’t have that. Not from Damian. Not from anybody.
“Babe, you ain’t hear me?”
Tutor’s voice came closer this time, cutting through the hum of the television playing low in the background. Jey squeezed his eyes shut once more before finally turning his head toward the doorway.
Tutor stood there with one hand braced against the frame, lips glossed, hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves tipped with red that caught the overhead light. She looked patient. She always looked patient.
“Nah, baby, I didn’t,” he lied easily, voice smoothing over the tension he refused to show. “What you need?”
Tutor launched into conversation about needing to go to the grocery store, her words tumbling over each other as she listed ingredients for his favorite meal like she’d rehearsed it in her head before coming to him. Her voice was light, hopeful in a way that sat heavy in his chest.
That’s when it hit him.
Here he was, tangled up in ghosts, when the life he was supposed to be building sat right in front of him asking for permission to take the car.
Tutor was a good woman. She cooked without being asked. Kept his house together like it was her job to hold the seams tight. She never questioned the late nights or the men who came and went through his doors. She knew what kind of life he lived and stayed anyway. Tutor held him down without pushing for more than he offered.
Everything he said he wanted from Nyeya. Everything Nyeya refused to give him.
“Come here,” Jey called, patting his thigh.
Tutor didn’t hesitate. She crossed the room and settled into his lap like she belonged there, arms looping loosely around his shoulders. Up close, she was beautiful. Five-six, smooth tawny skin, hazel eyes dusted with freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her auburn hair, tipped red to match his, brushed his forearm as she adjusted herself comfortably against him.
A trophy, if he was being honest with himself. One he’d shown off proudly for a while.
And for a time, she really had been all he needed.
But something in the air had shifted. He felt it every time Nyeya’s name surfaced, every time he caught whispers of her being back home, every time his boys mentioned running into her like she was just another face in the city.
“Why you looking at me like that?” Tutor asked, brows knitting together as she studied him.
Jey shook his head slowly, pushing the thought back down where it belonged. The truth pressed hard behind his ribs, cold and unavoidable.
Tutor wasn’t her.
“Just admiring you, mamas,” he drawled, forcing a crooked smile. “Take the Benz and do what you need to do. Be careful though.”
Tutor’s face softened instantly. She leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before sliding off his lap and disappearing down the hallway, keys already jingling in her hand. A moment later, the distant rumble of the garage door echoed through the house before fading into silence.
Jey leaned back into the recliner, staring at nothing.
He scrubbed a hand over his face again, exhaling sharp through his nose like he could force the past out of his system if he tried hard enough.
His phone rang before he could sink back into his thoughts.
He grabbed it off the armrest without checking the screen.
“State yo’ business.”
Music blasted through the other end of the line, bass heavy and chaotic, voices overlapping in the background. The caller’s voice cut through it anyway, sharp and excited.
“You ain’t gon’ believe this shit, uce. Meet me at the sweet spot in the North.”
Jey’s eyes narrowed slightly, instinct settling in before curiosity could.
“On my way.”
He ended the call, already moving. He crossed the room, pulling on a shirt and grabbing his keys off the table by the door. The house felt too quiet as he stepped out, the echo of Tutor’s presence still lingering in the air behind him.
By the time he slid into his car and pulled out of the driveway, he didn’t know what waited for him up North.
And nothing in him was prepared for what he was about to see.
05|18|2002
Sugah’s was packed wall to wall by the time I pulled into the lot Saturday night. The neon sign buzzing above the entrance flickered pink against the dark sky and just seeing the line wrapped around the building had me smiling to myself. My first night had been good, really good.
Night two was already looking like it might top it, and I hadn’t even stepped inside yet.
The bass from inside the club pulsed through the pavement as I walked toward the back entrance, duffle bag hanging from my shoulder, nerves humming in that familiar way that let me know Noir was already waking up inside me.
“Hey sexy!”
Tommie’s voice rang out from behind the bar as soon as I stepped onto the floor. The club smelled like perfume, liquor, sweat, and money; a scent I was used to.
Tommie was the main weekend bartender at Sugah’s, and we’d clicked instantly the night before. She had sharp eyes, a sharper mouth, and she’d already put me up on game enough to let me know she was somebody to attach myself to.
I threw her a wink and a wave before heading toward the locker room.
The room buzzed with energy. Women of every shape, shade, and size moved around in different stages of getting ready. Glitter floated through the air like dust under the vanity lights.
One thing about Sugah is that he made sure every man who stepped through them doors had options. He didn’t believe in one type of woman, and judging by the crowd outside, that philosophy worked just fine.
I spoke to whoever spoke to me as I found a spot along the long vanity pressed against the wall.
“You good, baby?”
Miss Deb appeared beside me like she did the night before, her presence steady and calming. She stayed watching over everything from her corner setup that looked like a beauty supply, kitchen, and emergency station all rolled into one.
“I’m good,” I told her, smiling. “But I’m definitely gon’ need some of them wings later.”
She laughed, waving me off like she already planned on it.
I settled into my routine, letting muscle memory take over. Foundation, lashes, gloss. I rubbed some peach scented body butter into my skin until it shimmered under the light, the glitter catching every movement.
Inside one of the stalls, I slipped into my blue two-piece altered mesh top and matching shorts that hugged every curve like they were supposed to be there. Clear pleasers finished the look.
In the mirror, I tilted my head side to side, making sure every strand of hair laid exactly how I wanted before stepping out to work the floor.
The bar was my first stop. It always would be. A drink loosened nerves and gave me a chance to study the room. Tommie already had a shot of Hennessy waiting for me before I even made it halfway down the counter.
“Get your mind right,” she said, sliding it toward me.
I tipped it back slowly, letting the burn settle warm in my chest as my eyes moved across the club. Girls worked every corner, every stage, every pole. On the main stage, a dancer named Beauty commanded the room like she owned it.
She was thick in all the right places, slim waist, full thighs, slanted eyes that looked like they were permanently half-lidded in confidence. I found myself watching her like everybody else was, completely pulled into the way she moved like gravity worked differently for her.
By the time Beauty finished, applause and dollars followed her off stage. I was still watching when a voice pulled me back.
“Mind if I ask for some of your time?”
I turned to find a guy about my age, maybe a little older, already halfway into my space with a confident smile.
“Depends,” I said, arching a brow.
“Andrzej,” he introduced, holding out his hand.
He was fine and put together in a way that hinted at money. From his starched down Ralph Lauren fit, to the low-cut hair that showed off his waves. The Cartier glasses he wore just set everything off.
I let him lead me toward one of the secluded booths. At first, he just talked. I listened, nodding in the right places, waiting for the part where this turned into business. Right when I was about to steer the conversation there, he dropped a thick stack of bills onto the table like a punctuation.
My posture straightened instantly.
Easy money.
Some men came to Sugah’s for fantasy. Some came to feel wanted. Andrzej just needed somebody to listen. He told me he was twenty-two. Only said enough about his life for me to understand he moved in the streets without actually saying it. The more he talked; the more money hit the table like clockwork.
At that point, I was perfectly fine sitting there with him all night.
But Deb popped up beside the booth, tapping my shoulder.
“Sugah want you on stage, baby.”
I glanced at Andrzej, a small pout on my face as I told him I had to leave. He only smiled at me.
“I’ll still be here when you done.”
Luck was definitely on my side tonight. I just hoped none of them heifas in the back tried to poach him while I worked.
Backstage, I switched outfits, refreshed my perfume, and stepped toward the curtain as the DJ queued up my song.
Anywhere by 112 slid through the speakers. Noir came alive.
I stepped onto the stage slowly, hands gliding across my skin as I made my way toward the pole, hips rolling with every beat. The rhythm carried me through spins and dips, the crowd around the stage growing bigger with every move.
By the time I dropped low into my signature crawl toward the edge, the stage was already covered in singles.
Andrzej stood front and center, eyes locked on me like the rest of the room didn’t exist. When the track blended into 112’s Peaches & Cream, I moved closer, body brushing just enough to blur lines without crossing them. His breath caught when I leaned in, then pulled away, dropping onto my stomach and glancing back over my shoulder.
Bills fluttered down around me like confetti.
The smell of money. The sound of it hitting the stage. The feel of it sticking to my skin. That rush never got old.
When the set ended, I winked at the crowd and strutted backstage, pulse still racing.
Sugah waited off to the side of the stage, clapping slowly.
“That’s what I like to see,” he said, nodding with approval. “Keep doing that right there and Sugah gon’ make sure you a star.”
I laughed, soaking up the praise as sweepers handed me bags stuffed with my earnings. After tipping them out, I floated back into the locker room still riding the high.
Deb complimented me. A few other girls chimed in. Beauty walked over last, offering me a grin that felt genuine.
We talked while I wiped down and changed outfits. She’d been dancing at Sugah’s for two years, twenty-six, from a small town east of ours. We found common ground easy, the kind that made time pass quickly. By the time we stepped back onto the floor together, I realized I actually liked her. She seemed to feel the same.
Andrzej was exactly where I left him.
He smiled as I slid beside him, already flagging a waitress over so I could order more Hennessy shots for us. Once the drink landed in my hand, we fell back into conversation like there hadn’t been an interruption at all.
Up close, he was even cuter under the flashing lights, his watch catching reflections every time he moved. He didn’t come off dangerous, but I knew enough to understand what street life looked like when it dressed itself up nice.
The money kept stacking. He waved off other dancers who tried approaching, earning me annoyed looks from across the floor. I wasn’t complaining though. By the time the clock edged toward three in the morning, Andrzej finally stood to leave.
He left with my number and a promise to come back which was exactly what I wanted.
After he disappeared into the crowd, I stretched, exhaustion and adrenaline mixing in my chest. I did one more stage dance before I gathered my things, already planning how Sunday night would go for me.
If this weekend was any indication of how my time at Sugah’s would be I was down to do this every weekend and sometimes during the week.
---
It was pushing five in the morning when I finally stepped out of Sugah’s and headed toward my car. The cool air hit my damp skin and raised goosebumps across my arms and legs. I shifted my duffle bag higher on my shoulder, heels clicking against the pavement while the bass from inside the club faded behind me.
I had already tipped everybody I needed to — the house, Deb, the DJ, and the waitress who kept Andrzej’s drinks coming while he kept stacking money in front of me. I even slid Tommie her cut before leaving the bar. I hadn’t counted my money yet, but I already knew I cleared my goal for the night, even after tipping out.
“Aye, you need me to walk you to your car?”
Gee, one of the bouncers, called out as he held the back door open for another dancer leaving. I threw him a tired smile and adjusted my bag again.
“I’m good, Gee. I ain’t parked too far.”
He nodded, watching until I stepped off the curb before turning back toward the door. By the time I reached my car, my whole body was screaming. I slid into the leather seat and let out a slow breath, relief washing over me almost instantly.
My feet throbbed, my thighs burned from gripping the pole and moving under those hot stage lights, and glitter still dotted my brown skin, catching the faint glow from the parking lot lamps every time I shifted. I leaned my head back against the seat for a moment and just sat there, letting the quiet settle around me.
I wasn’t walking into my mama house at that time of morning, so I would check into a hotel to catch some sleep before heading home. So, I cranked the engine and pulled out of the lot with a different destination in mind.
Waffle House.
I needed an All-Star Special with an extra waffle and a side of crispy hashbrowns. It would hit the spot for me every time.
By the time I pulled into the Waffle House parking lot, the place was jumping. Clubs had just closed, which meant everybody who wasn’t ready to go home yet was crammed inside or hovering around waiting for food. People stood shoulder to shoulder near the counter.
Conversations overlapped. Silverware clanged against plates. Somebody laughed too loud in the corner like they forgot where they were.
I squeezed inside long enough to place my order to go. No way I was trying to sit down in that chaos. The smell of syrup, bacon grease, and coffee hung thick in the air, making my stomach growl louder than it already had.
It didn’t take long before they called my name. I slid through the crowd, grabbed my bag, and made my way back outside. The parking lot felt almost peaceful compared to inside. Just the hum of passing cars and voices muffled through the restaurant windows. I shuffled toward my car, food in hand, already thinking about how good that first bite was about to taste.
I climbed in, setting the bag carefully on the passenger seat, then started the engine and reached to throw the car in reverse. Headlights flashed across my rearview mirror. A black Nissan Altima rolled in behind me and stopped close enough to block me in.
I froze, staring through the mirror.
“Shit… I hope this ain’t nobody from the club,” I muttered to myself.
Usually, I was mindful of my surroundings. Making sure I paid attention to who was coming or going to make sure shit like this didn’t happen. Apparently tonight I got too comfortable.
I sat there for a moment, hoping whoever it was, would realize I was trying to back out and leave. Instead, the driver’s door swung open. I caught a glimpse through my side mirror and rolled my eyes.
Jey.
He had basketball shorts on with a white wife beater. The socks on his feet were adorned with Nike flip flops. And from the look on his face, he was pissed. He stalked toward my driver’s side door like he owned the pavement beneath his feet.
“Get the fuck out the car, Nyeya,” he barked.
I almost laughed. I stared straight ahead, pretending like I didn’t hear him. That lasted all of three seconds before he started beating on my window.
“Get out the car!”
His fist slammed against the glass hard enough to make me jump. He kept hitting it, over and over, like he was trying to shatter it. I quickly unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping out before he actually broke something.
“Nigga, stop beating on my shit like that! The hell is wrong with you?” I yelled.
He stood there breathing hard, chest rising and falling fast, eyes wild like he’d been running or fighting or both.
“Why the fuck you shaking ass at Sugah’s?” he snapped. “That’s what type of shit you on? So, you a hoe a now?”
The word hit me like a splash of cold water. So, I slapped him. My hand cracked across his face before I even thought about the repercussions.
“Don’t you ever in yo’ life call me no hoe again,” I shot back, my chest heaving. “I don’t know what you do with ole girl, but you must’ve forgot I’ve never been the one to play with like that.”
Jey held his cheek, staring at me like he couldn’t decide if he was shocked or hurt.
A few people scattered around the parking lot slowed down, watching like they just got front row seats to something they didn’t understand. I didn’t even care.
“Move that raggedy shit so I can leave,” I snapped, pointing toward his car. “We ain’t got shit else to say to each other unless you want my hands to do the talking.”
He reached for my arm, but I jerked back before he could touch me.
“Ba—”
He stopped himself, jaw tightening before he tried again.
“Nye… look, I ain’t mean to call you that. Aight. I’m just tryna understand why you out here like that. That ain’t meant for women like you.”
I held my hand up, cutting him off. “I’m grown. I can do what I want, when I want. That’s my business. So don’t worry about me, Jey.”
I pointed between us with narrowed eyes. “We… this is over. Stay where you been at for the last two years. Focus on what you got going instead of keeping up with me.”
I saw the hurt flash in his eyes, and it stirred something in my chest, but I shoved it down. Jey and I were over. And it was gonna to stay that way.
Jey rubbed his hands down his face before letting out a short, humorless laugh.
“Aight, Nyeya. You got it. And you right, I do need to stay where I’m at. At least with her, I ain’t gotta put up with bullshit like this. I ain’t gotta deal with the childish ass shit you be on.”
That hit exactly how he meant for it to.
Jey always knew where to aim when he wanted to hurt me, and the worst part was I knew how to do the same to him.
My throat tightened, tears burning behind my eyes, but I blinked them back fast. I refused to let them fall in front of him. He didn’t deserve the satisfaction of knowing he’d cut me deep.
I didn’t say another word. I just turned and walked back toward my car. My legs felt stiff, like they forgot how to move right, but I kept going.
Once I climbed inside, I gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead, breathing slow and steady like I was trying to hold myself together with it.
I didn’t know when Jey finally pulled off. I didn’t watch him leave. I just sat there until the sound of his engine disappeared and the space behind me felt empty again.
After that, everything moved like it was on autopilot. I backed out of the parking spot, pulled onto the road, and headed toward the Days Inn without really thinking about it. The bright yellow sign glowed against the early morning dark as I pulled into the lot and parked.
Inside, the lobby smelled like cheap air freshener and stale coffee. The clerk barely looked up as I paid, handed me a keycard, and pointed me toward the stairwell.
The room was quiet and clean. I dropped my bag by the bed and headed straight for the shower. The hot water hit my shoulders, washing glitter and sweat down the drain, but it didn’t wash away the mess in my head.
Thoughts of the past circled like they had nowhere else to go. Being home was harder than I thought it would be. Making peace with everything felt even harder especially when a part of me wasn’t ready to let go of what I was supposed to be making peace with.
When I finally stepped out, my skin warmed from the heat of the water, I wrapped myself in a towel, grabbed my food, and heated it in the microwave.
I ate sitting on the edge of the bed, the room silent except for the hum of the air conditioner and plastic fork scraping against the container.
I didn’t bother counting my money. The duffle bag stayed zipped and untouched on the floor. I was too tired to deal with numbers, thoughts, or anything that required more energy than chewing and swallowing.
By the time I crawled under the covers, sleep pulled me under quick, heavy and dreamless, even though it felt like there was still too much left unsaid sitting on my chest.
05|19|2002
It was sometime around ten when I finally woke up. Sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, hitting the wall across from the bed. Checkout was at eleven, so I rolled out of bed and started gathering my things. I was halfway through stuffing my shoes back into my duffle bag when my phone rang.
“Hello?” I answered, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder.
“Why was yo’ ass at the Waffle House fighting with Jey at six in the morning?” Kiyah asked without missing a beat.
I closed my eyes and sucked my teeth. Of course, them nosey ass people at the Waffle House had already spread that around town. I shoved another shoe into my bag, irritation creeping back up from where I buried it the night before.
“He pulled up on me on some bullshit,” I said finally. “You know I wasn’t letting him do me nothing without reacting.”
I didn’t explain how he knew where I was or why he showed up. I had my reasons for keeping that to myself. I wanted to tell my girls about me dancing on my own time, but it was starting to feel like that time might be coming sooner than I planned.
Who knew when or if Jey would run his mouth to Jimmy. And we all knew Jimmy couldn’t hold water.
“That’s wild considering that girl was probably at home thinking he out handling business when the business was him being in yours,” Kiyah said.
Kiyah wasn’t wrong. While Tutor was probably at home thinking Jey was out doing whatever he told her he was doing, he was pulling up on me in parking lots to call me out about how I’m living.
I didn’t know how I felt about that, and honestly, I didn’t have the energy to unpack it.
We kept talking while I grabbed the rest of my stuff and headed toward the front desk. The lobby looked exactly like how I left it; quiet, dim, and smelling like it needed fresh air.
“We need to go out for drinks this week,” Kiyah said. “I think we all can use some girl time.”
“I’m down,” I replied, sliding the keycard across the counter. “Just let me know when.”
“I’ma talk to the twins and call you back later,” she replied.
We said our goodbyes just as I walked out of the lobby and back into the late morning sun. I headed straight home. It was Sunday, so the house was empty like I expected. Mama and Reggie were at church, and it looked like Michael was gone too.
I didn’t mind the quiet. I made myself some breakfast, took another shower, and finally sat down on my bed to count the money from the night before.
Andrzej had been very generous. After tipping everybody out, I still counted nine hundred dollars. I smiled to myself, already thinking about the next time I’d see him. He was looking like a goldmine.
And I wasn’t about to let Jey knowing where I worked mess that up. I had an apartment to furnish, and my taste leaned toward the finer things. That kind of lifestyle cost money, and right then, money was exactly what I planned to focus on.
After sliding the cash into the shoebox I kept tucked in my closet, I stretched out across my bed and turned cartoons on low. The familiar noise filled the room while exhaustion crept back over me. I didn’t even realize when my eyes closed. Sleep just took me again like it was waiting for its turn.
Back at that brick house on Darby Ln...
Photos were scattered across the bed; memories Jey should have packed away years ago but never could bring himself to. One rested between his fingers, the glossy surface slightly bent from how tightly he held it.
It was a picture from Tama’s birthday party. Nyeya sat in his lap laughing while feeding him a piece of cake, frosting smudged at the corner of his mouth.
They both looked younger, lighter, happy in a way that felt almost unfamiliar now. He set that photo down and picked up another. In this one, his tattooed arms were wrapped tightly around her waist as they leaned against the hood of his black BMW.
The summer sun bounced off the paint and caught the gold bracelet around Nyeya’s wrist, making it shine almost as bright as her smile. That bracelet had meant something once. It was supposed to mean forever.
Jey didn’t realize he was crying until a tear slipped down his cheek and landed directly onto the photograph.
The drop blurred Nyeya’s face for a second before he cursed under his breath and wiped it away with the heel of his palm. He had promised himself he was done crying over her. Done crying over them.
But the promises to himself never held weight when the wound never fully closed.
When Nyeya disappeared in the middle of the night without so much as a goodbye, Jey cried like a man who had been stripped of something vital.
For a year he waited for her to come back through the door like nothing had happened. For a year he tried to become the man he swore he would be for her. He found a therapist and sat through sessions he barely spoke during. He went to church a few times, sitting in the back pew staring at stained glass windows while pastors preached about forgiveness and redemption.
He told himself he was doing it for her, doing it so when she came back he would be someone worthy of keeping her.
Time turned waiting into bitterness. Each month that passed without her chipped something away from him until grief hardened into anger and anger settled into something colder. She had left him, and that betrayal cut deeper than any street war ever could.
So, he buried himself in the only place that still made sense to him — the streets. He became everything he used to hold back from being when she was around. Ruthless. Reckless. Mercy became a foreign language to him. Bodies dropped for disrespect that once would have earned warnings. The monster he kept chained for Nyeya’s sake finally walked free, and he stopped pretending he cared.
Tutor came along during that darkness.
She didn’t challenge him or ask him to change. She offered quiet instead of chaos. She cooked, cleaned, and stayed loyal in ways that didn’t require effort from him. She became a soft place to land when the world outside demanded blood and steel.
For a while she was enough. More than enough, he convinced himself. But the life he built with Tutor started cracking the moment Nyeya stepped back into the picture like she never left.
And Nyeya didn’t just come back. She came back different. Rougher around the edges. Stronger in ways he wasn’t prepared for. Seeing her at Sugah’s, watching her command that stage, watching strangers throw money and admiration at her feet while she moved like she owned every pair of eyes in the room twisted something deep inside him.
It wasn’t just jealousy. It was disorientation. The version of Nyeya he kept frozen in memory didn’t match the woman standing under those lights, unapologetic and untouchable. The truth he kept trying to outrun stayed close enough to breathe down his neck.
She still had his heart, and he hated that fact almost as much as he needed it to be a lie.
The front door opened downstairs, the sound snapping him back to the present. Jey moved quickly, gathering the photographs into a stack with hands that weren’t quite steady before shoving them back into the shoebox he kept hidden under the bed, sliding it deep enough so it wouldn’t be seen without someone deliberately looking for it.
“Hey, baby,” Tutor called, stepping into the room moments later.
Just as Jey had kicked the box out of sight. Tutor’s eyes softened the moment they landed on his face. She stepped closer, reaching up to cup his cheek gently.
“What’s wrong? You been crying, baby?”
Jey leaned back slightly, easing her hands away with careful fingers. “I’m straight,” he said, voice rougher than he intended. “Just tired.”
Tutor accepted the answer without pushing, nodding as she smoothed her hands down the front of his shirt like she always did when she was checking on him.
She trusted him enough not to dig deeper, and that trust stabbed him with guilt sharper than any accusation could have.
He watched her move around the room, talking softly about her errands she had taken care of and dinner plans, about the small domestic things that should have grounded him in the life he built with her.
Instead, they made him feel guilty, because the truth he refused to say out loud sat heavy in his chest pressing against every breath he took.
He was tired.
Tired of pretending he didn’t want Nyeya back when wanting her was the only thing that was on his mind these days.
