When a Hood Legend Claims It All 4 Read online

  Amena

  “Hey beautiful ladies!” I sung walking up to the reserved table where CoCo and Sharita were seated waiting for me to arrive. I gave them both a kiss on their cheek and took my seat at the table.

  We all have things going on in our own lives where our schedules would hold us back from actually having girl time, so we dedicated once a month to get together. I went to CoCo’s shop every two weeks to go over her finances which have been better now that her scheming ex friend was completely out of the picture.

  Sharita spontaneously got a new family and CoCo was damn near a wife, soon to be a mother and a business woman with a growing business and I was finally able to enjoy myself loving every part of me. Through stages of being alone, I realized I enjoyed writing which have become an outlet for me to pen my thoughts in the form of poetry. It was very therapeutic.

  “How’s my niece doing?” I asked CoCo who side eyed me.

  “What’s with you and your brother calling my baby a girl?”

  “I’ve grown up with Mar and his stanky friends. I always wanted a little sister, so a niece will make me happy. I mean… I will be happy with a nephew too, but they just grow up to be stanky boys.”

  Sharita laughed. “You sure enough was with one of his stanky friends.”

  “Been there and done that,” I replied waving my hand dismissively. “I’m onto bigger and better things.”

  “Bigger and better things you can sit on and ride all night?” Sharita’s freaky ass asked with her mouth twisted in a grin. It had me cracking the fuck up.

  “Sharita!” Corryn sassed her and she held up her hands.

  “What? We’re all grown and know we love some good pipe. You should know… that’s why you’re engaged and knocked up.”

  “Yeah… yeah… yeah,” CoCo said back to her. “You would know because you’re playing house after saying you never wanted to settle.”

  “Yes, and proud of it,” Rita beamed.

  Her and Kenton been going pretty steady. She literally was only in Philly only to work. I was happy for Rita though getting to know her I know she deserved to finally have someone that truly cared for her.

  Between her and Corryn they both had me rolling always bickering over relationship shit when they both clearly was in love. My girls were happy, and I was here for it.

  “Not at all,” I finally answered her question. “I just had to go get batteries for my bullet. Them days of giving my body away to fulfill my need of wanting to feel wanted is long behind me.”

  “Wait, so you’re completely done with Wes?” CoCo asked with a raised eyebrow. I swore I said this already, but I’m sure it was hard to believe from all the back and forth we did. I was done one minute and kissing all over him the next.

  “For now. I’m enjoying me right now. He has been hitting me up, but this ain’t nothing new and I’m over it.” I went into my phone and placed it down once I got to my block list that had Wesley’s number. “I managed to answer for him today and he was on the same type of time talking about coming over. Anyone want my time it will have to be over steak and Champagne. I gave too much of me to receive so little of him. It’s time for a change. People are only going to treat me as good as I love myself.”

  “Touché!” Sharita said holding up the drink she order before I arrive and turned it up.

  CoCo smiled at me. “I’m so proud of the woman you’re becoming. It takes some of us longer to reach that breaking point and demand more.”

  “Yes. Don’t give me too much credit. It literally almost cost me my life to see things clearer.” I blew out a deep breath and shook my head as if it was going to rid myself of the dangerous predicament I put myself in with a complete stranger.

  The waitress came over and asked if we were ready to place our order. I was so busy running my mouth I didn’t realize I had yet to pick up my menu. I lifted it and scanned it while Rita and CoCo ordered. I caught the tail end of CoCo’s order and eyed her smirking.

  “That baby got you hungry now. Not too long ago you barely ate anything.”

  “I’ve been constantly reminding myself I’m eating for two,” she smiled, and I rolled my eyes at her.

  “As long as you’re feeding my niece of nephew I have no complaints.”

  “Well… congratulations. Amare not only knocked you up, but from the looks of your finger I see he’s making an honest woman out of you.”

  We all looked up and met eyes with the woman who was clearly throwing shade. From the looks of CoCo’s face I assumed she didn’t know who she was, but I couldn’t forget whore ass Natalia even if I wanted to.

  She stood a few feet from our table giving CoCo the look of death. I wouldn’t dare have CoCo smack her knowing she was pregnant, but I was free game and ready to beat her the fuck down. Lord knows it was long overdue.

  “Cut the bullshit, Natalia. Why are you here?” I snapped. “You know you’re salty as shit, Amare moved on and stopped fucking you.”

  She smirked and folded her hands up under her breast and poked her hip out. “How are you so sure of that?”

  “Please,” I waved her off. “Even with how thirsty you are I’m sure he hasn't been anywhere near you. Now I’m giving you one more second to go about your business or I will mop the floor with your ass!”

  Natalia looked at me and then fixed her eyes on CoCo. “Like I said, congrats on your sloppy seconds.”

  I pushed my chair back so fast to drag her ass, but CoCo grabbed my wrist stopping me.

  “Let her go, she’s just hating.”

  “Wait… who the fuck was that?’ Rita asked.

  I watched Natalia leave and sat back down.

  “Some slut Amare was dicking down before him and CoCo got serious,” I responded, focusing on Corryn. “Are you ok?”

  She was sipping her lemon water completely unbothered from the situation. Natalia was a bitter bitch and needed to go find a new dick to worry about. “I’m great. She’s clearly in her feelings if she’s going out her way to do all that. Let’s just finish enjoying our brunch. I’m not allowing no hating broad to upset me and ruin my day.”

  Since CoCo put it that way, I left it alone. I knew Amare loved her, but niggas was dickheads. They would love one woman and fuck another with no care in the world. I hoped like hell he wasn’t on no shit Wesley was on because if so I would be extremely disappointed.

  Kenton

  “Why you staring at the piece of paper like you’re confused,” I chuckled taking a seat on the stool that was next to Mar. Business was straight, my kids were at camp, and my girl was out with her girlfriends probably talking a bunch of shit, so it made sense to come out and get a drink. I ain’t have shit else to do.

  Wesley ain’t respond, so Mar answered. “This nigga, just found out he’s officially a father.”

  “Officially a father?” I repeated with my face screwed. “When did shawty have the baby?”

  “Almost a week ago. Apparently she was trying to make sure her other dude wasn’t the father before she got back to Wes.”

  Mar took the paper from Wesley and passed it to me, and I read over the results saying a baby and its father was a 99.9% match.

  “Is this shit even real? There ain’t no names on it. If this had anything to do with Kesha you better go get the shit done ya self.”

  “I got it done. It was a test you can get done at home. Since it wasn't done in a facility identities aren’t confirmed, so they don’t put names on it. I got it done so I know for a fact that’s me and Juniors.”

  I glanced at the paper once more and set it down on the bar before waving the bartender over that looked too happy to come our way. She was eye fucking the shit out of me and I took the time to appreciate her curves and what little clothes she had on. In her mind she probably figured she had a chance but that was far from the truth.

  “Aye let me get a bottle of Henny. Three glasses, one with ice.”

  “A bottle?” she smirked. “You know how much that's gonna run you in her
e? You can just go to Wine and Spirits and come out cheaper.”

  “I know,” was all I said pulling out my money and holding out three hundreds. Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

  Shit like this never amused me and right now it was annoying as hell. I get that bartenders got paid little to nothing to make drinks, so they focused on earning tips by keeping conversation and flirting. I wasn’t interested in none of that, just kicking it with my boys and then taking my ass back home to my family. Had she caught me some months before I would have taken her happy go lucky ass in that bathroom to see what that mouth can do with all the smirking she was doing.

  “You must get money money,” she cheesed, sounding like a City Girl reject.

  “Just go get my shit,” I snapped snarling at her. Her eyes got wide before she rolled them and frowned.

  Mar and Wes were cracking he fuck up next to me. I was glad Wes finally perked the hell up.

  “You ain’t have to embarrass shawty like that,” Mar told me.

  “So it would’ve been best for me to shove my dick in her mouth since she wouldn’t shut the fuck up and do what she got paid to do.”

  They were still laughing. “I got you down for doing her the same way you did Trina,” Wes joked.

  They were annoying me, but I finally laughed thinking about Trina’s ass. The bitch really thought I was about to pay her for doing something she wanted to do. I never paid for sex and I wasn’t going to start off with her hoe ass.

  “Chill… don’t bring her name up. The woman is dead.”

  “Like you give a fuck,” Mar stated.

  “I don’t.”

  “But shit, let’s not let the fact that you done changed go unnoticed. She’s ya type. I’m shocked you ain’t giving her no play. Rita must got your ass shook.”

  I smirked and licked my lips thinking about her fine ass. I was far from shook. May have been a little sprung and horny but it definitely wasn’t shook. Aside from the fact she was bad as fuck, she had many good qualities about her that had me digging her. In my mind women weren't good for anything but some ass.

  It amazed me how she even considered wanting to take me serious. I wasn’t shit, and I could admit that wholeheartedly, but I was changing for her because I wanted to be everything she needed. It came naturally because she opened her world to me and loved everything I love which were my kids with no strings attached. She wasn’t looking for the money or to mooch off anything I had to offer. She was solid as fuck. Not boogie at all and knew how to chill. If I wanted a real one by my side it would definitely be her. Shit, it was going to be her.

  The bartender came right back moving quickly like she had an attitude. I ain’t give a fuck either. All I wanted her to do was bring me my bottle.

  I took the bottle, twisted the top off and poured a good amount into one glass for Wesley since he was the reason we were here, and he looked like he needed it bad. I slid the glass to him and poured mine over the ice.

  “Where’s mine?”

  “Nigga, ya hands ain’t broke. Wesley looked like he was about to cry which is why I ordered a bottle.”

  “Fuck you!” he spat even though he graciously gulped it down. I knew how it felt to have baby mama drama and I was sure liquor would be the only remedy for all the bullshit Kesha ass had in store for him.

  “You’re welcome,” I stated.

  Mar took the bottle and poured his drink after bitching like I was his maid.

  “This ain’t about me and Rita though,” I said finishing off the glass of Henny I had and placing the glass back down. I glanced around the bar checking my surroundings and locked eyes with the bartender that was staring me dead in my face looking like she was dying for my attention. It was sad as fuck. “The hell you gonna do now that you know for a fact the baby is yours? Y’all getting married now?” I asked for the hell of it which had Wesley eyeing me. He was irritated from my comment, but it was all love. There was no way I could forget shawty bought herself a ring.

  “I’m not marrying that girl. I’m taking care of my son and that’s it. She’s been in her feelings though trying to deal with the baby on top of her mom passing.”

  “Damn, that’s fucked up.”

  Wes nodded his head. “Yeah, same shit I said. She was crying at her crib about it and I’m not a complete asshole, so I tried to console her, and she wanted to kiss me. When I told her we weren't doing that shit, she flipped and kicked me out.”

  “See… I told you that baby mama shit ain’t no joke. These kids are just fucking pawns to them. I still haven’t heard from Tara and it’s best it stay that way.”

  “Tara had her kids for ya money. Kesha wants to be in a relationship with Wes.”

  “It still involves shit bitches want but can’t get,” I stated in a matter of fact tone.

  “I’ma figure the shit out, but I’m serious about not fucking back with her on any other level than being parents. I really want to see where things go with Amena. She’s been ducking me though and making everything difficult. I’m on the block list.”

  My eyes were bouncing back and forth between Mar and Wes now. I know that shit didn’t end well when Wes admitted he was checking for his sister. Even though they were both past it, I knew it still had Mar feeling weird just a little bit.

  “Fuck you looking at me for,” Mar spoke. “I’m not about to give you tips on how to get back in my sister’s good graces. You gotta figure that shit out on ya own. I’m glad she’s smartening up. Nothing worth having comes easy. If you want her you’re going to do whatever it takes to get to her. Unless she’s really done with you, but again, that shit doesn’t have shit to do with me.”

  “You’s a hating ass nigga,” Wesley said shaking his head and Mar pushed him.

  We continued to talk out shit and get fucked up off our bottle. Just as the bar began to get crowded we all decided it was time for us to role. It had me laughing inwardly because there was no way I would be walking out alone had this been a time in the past.

  ***

  Standing at my bedroom door, I admired Rita sitting in the middle of my bed with her eyes glued to a book. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. It reminded me of the tranquility she brought into my life.

  It wasn’t that late, but after checking in on the kids they were in bed prepared for their first day of school. She took on the role as their mother without any issues. I loved her more because I didn’t ask or expect her to. Like I said, whatever I lacked, she filled in and whatever I loved, she loved immensely.

  Making my way over to her, I leaned over on the bed and kissed her on her forehead finally getting her attention.

  “Whatever you’re reading, it must be good. I wish I had your attention like that.”

  Her lips turned up as she smiled at me and placed the book to the side.

  “It is really good. CoCo told me about it. It’s a book by Kayln Kiara, Taming A Hustlers Heart.”

  “Sounds familiar,” I stated with a smirk and she rolled her eyes.

  “Well… I just started and that hustler in there I’m not liking right now.”

  “How many parts?” Taking a seat on the bed, I carefully laid my head on her lap. Her hand went to my head where she began to stroke my waves

  “Three.”

  “Well you got some time to love him. The perfect love story doesn’t happen overnight. You of all people should know that.”

  She rolled them big ass eyes again which had me playfully mushing her in her chin with my balled up fist.

  “Do it again and watch what I do to you.”

  “It all depends on what the hell you gon do to me.”

  My dick reacted form the thought about climbing between her legs The bottle we downed at the bar had me ready for her to jump my bones, but now that I was in the comfort of my house and her rubbing my head had me wanting to wrap her up in my arms and go to sleep.

  This is what I meant when I kept saying she really got me acting different. I wasn’t the one to boo love and c
uddle.

  “Thanks for holding down the crib for me. Wesley wanted us to come chill with him at Fibbers. We ended up being there longer than expected.”

  “It’s cool. You know I ain’t have shit else to do. They were so excited about school I didn’t have to bribe them about going to bed. Did you enjoy ya time out with ya friends?”

  “It was cool. No bitches involved if that’s what you wanted to know.”

  “Oh trust me, I know it wasn’t any bitches. You don’t gotta tell me. Ya ass ain’t retarded.”

  I chuckled thinking about the bartender. It wasn’t nothing for me to mention because it was a waste. The bitch was a non-factor and ain’t get nothing but her feelings hurt.

  Rita leaned her upper body down and pressed her soft perfect lips onto mine.

  “I was thinking. Your apartment is basically storage for your shit. Won’t you bring it over here. That Ikea furniture can go in the basement.”

  She cut her eyes at me and I laughed again. “Seriously, yo. Bring your shit and stop wasting your gas going back and forth.”

  “Well thanks to you, I’m not wasting anything because you paid my rent for the rest of the year. I’m not even spending half my rent on gas.”

  “I didn’t ask you all that. Just bring your shit.”

  “Is that your way of asking me to move in?” she quizzed.

  “I’m not asking you shit. I’m telling you.”

  Rita peered down at me with an unreadable expression on her face. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t gotta say shit really. I’ve been thinking it makes more sense for you to be here. When the last time you remember being at ya place? I don’t give a fuck about the money being wasted. I have a lot more where that came from.”

  “What difference will that make though? It’s like I live here with you guys already.”

  Baring my teeth down, I lifted my body up off the bed and stood to my feet. Now it felt like I was begging her and even though I was feeling her. I wasn’t set up to plead for anyone to do something they ain’t want to do.