I was equally as irritated as I was relieved. The fact that he couldn’t even give me an end date didn’t sit well with me. “And when does this start?”
“Tomorrow. They’re having that concert at the Arena and the after party at Club Allure. Allure is going to be packed, and we’re going to walk up in there looking like the couple of the year. Hopefully, Drew’s ass is in there.”
I had never been one to care what anyone said or thought about me, but his plan didn’t sit well with me. Not only was I going to look disloyal, but if Wilde and Drew’s beef turned deadly, I’d be the one people blamed. He was playing a dangerous game. Drew had a bad temper and a big ego. Those two things didn’t mix. An argument between him and Wilde would more than likely lead to a fight, which might lead to gunplay. I didn’t want to be the cause of any of that. I didn’t respond, so Wilde pulled his cell phone from the pocket of his shorts and unlocked it.
“Call your phone.”
It took every ounce of restraint that I possessed not to snatch the phone out of Wilde’s hand. I wasn’t happy about the arrangement, but I knew he didn’t care. Maybe if I cooperated, he’d end the shit in a short amount of time. I blocked Drew’s number, and he didn’t know where I lived, so I didn’t have to worry about him harassing me. The situation still didn’t sit well with me, however. I punched my number into Wilde’s phone, and my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. He reached for his phone, and we maintained eye contact as I passed it to him.
“I’ll call you tomorrow evening to let you know what time I’m going to pick you up. Answer your phone.” The authority in Wilde’s tone didn’t sit well with me. Actually, my blood was boiling. This man had the nerve to be blackmailing me and making demands in the process. I didn’t respond and we just stood staring at one another until KoKo came in. It was going to be her first day answering the phone for me.
Wilde looked over his shoulder, and I glanced at KoKo. She was walking into the space slowly with her gaze trained on him.Wilde looked back at me and smirked. “Have a good day at work, baby.” He pointed at the BMW behind me and nodded his approval. “That shit is fye.”
KoKo and I both watched him as he trekked out of the shop. When we could no longer see him, she rushed over to me with wide eyes. “What did he want?”
“He wants us to go out in public together, so people can think we’re messing around.” I was still torn between being relieved and being irritated.
KoKo’s eyes narrowed as she tried to put two and two together. I needed to finish the car, so I didn’t hesitate to fill her in. “He wants to taunt Drew.”
“Ohhhhhhhh,” she drawled slowly. “Well, friend. At least it’s not something illegal or demeaning.”
“Depends on your definition of demeaning. I can’t stand Drew, but me walking around town with one of his enemies is nasty work. I wouldn’t even do that for real. I know some women wouldn’t care, but I don’t get down like that. There are other ways I could hurt him without tarnishing my character. As soon as they start beefing, people are going to swear it’s my fault.”
“And you’re old enough and wise enough to know it’s fuck the gossiping ass judgmental folks in this city. They only know what they see. Not what goes on behind closed doors. As far as Drew, he talked crazy to you, and I’m not saying he’s a punk, but I don’t see him messing with Wilde like that. He’ll ice grill you, talk shit about you to his people, and keep it moving. I’m not even mad at this for you. It could have been worse. And as far as looking disloyal,” she frowned. “Drew deserves way worse than thinking you’re boo’ed up with his enemy.”
“You’re right.” It absolutely could have been worse, so if all I had to do was go out in public a few times with Wilde to get him off my back, then so be it. I needed to be less concerned with what people thought about me and more concerned with gettingon Wilde’s good side, so I didn’t have to worry about him holding that gun over my head. I’d be damned if I went to prison for killing Mazi. That wasn’t even an option.
Lonna was glaring at me like I had sprouted another head, and it was starting to piss me off. My patience was wearing thin. “Aight, I’m ‘bout to be out. I just needed to tell you that.” Me telling her I was about to leave helped Lonna to find her voice.
“So, you really just came by here to tell me that you’re going to be out with another female tonight, and if I see you, I better not say anything?” she asked with a frown on her face and pain in her eyes.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying because it’s deeper than me just dealing with another broad. This is something like business, and I don’t need you messing it up with your childish antics. The fact that I even have to say this is irritating ‘cus we’re not in a relationship, and I can do what I want.”
Lonna erupted into tears, and I threw my hands up in exasperation. Women could be some annoying ass creatures for real.
“Misha is pregnant by you. I had you first, and I was never supposed to be sharing you with my friend. Now there’s anotherwoman in the mix?” she stared at me through her tears. “I’m just supposed to deal with this?”
“You don’t have to deal with shit,” I took a step toward her. “What is it in a female’s brain that automatically thinks because she’s giving up pussy that a nigga owes her some shit? I give you a nut just like you give me one. You knew I wasn’t looking for a relationship, so those tears? Shawty, those tears are a waste of your time. And what you mean, Misha is pregnant? She hasn’t said anything to me.”
“Because she’s scared,” Lonna sniffed.
“I don’t know why she’s scared. She needs to be coming to get this money, so she can get rid of it.”
“I think she wants to keep it,” Lonna sniffed again.
That comment was enough to make me turn and walk out the door. It wasn’t Lonna that I was mad at, but I was pissed. I didn’t want a child, and if Misha wanted one, she better know she was gon’ be raising that muhfucka by herself. I had too much going on to be worried about a dumb ass love triangle that had no love in it on my part. I knew that threesome shit would soon turn into a too good to be true situation. Going to Misha’s crib hadn’t been in my plans, but I wanted to know why she was walking around, supposedly pregnant by me, and told Lonna but not me. I always started off using condoms with both of them but there were a few nights when I took the condom off to bust in their mouths and we went immediately into a round two and I slid in one of them raw.
“Fuck,” I hissed as I drove.
Kids were cool, but they weren’t my favorite people in the world. I’d never be mean to a child, but I wasn’t going to be out here babysitting or running around making hella kids with different women. I had no desire to be tied down with crying babies and hormonal baby mamas. In the fifteen years that I’d been sexually active, I’d done a good job of not getting anybodypregnant. Guess my luck had run out. I wanted to say that the child probably wasn’t mine but as much as we had sex, I knew it was at least a possibility.
Misha lived with her sister and teenage niece. I didn’t even know if she was home, but I was about to find out. Pulling up in front of the house, I spotted her black Nissan, and I texted her and told her to come outside. Thirty seconds later, Misha opened the door with dipped brows. I had never popped up on her before, and I knew she was wondering why I was there. She walked out to the car and got in.
“Hey.” I could hear the skepticism in her voice.
“You pregnant?” There was no need to beat around the bush or play games.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Misha chuckled angrily. “Wow. That bitch just couldn’t keep it to herself, huh? I was going to tell you,” Misha stared straight ahead.
