“What?” He frowned.
“Nigga, you heard—” I caught myself, and decided to reel it back in. “Look, Harlem. Like you said, we used to be friends. And even now, you aint the enemy. So, I’m not trying to come at you sideways. I honestly wish you nothing but success and happiness. But I gotta keep it real. Whatever you thought I was on, I was on.”
“The fuck are you saying?” He questioned, as he sat up on the couch.
“What I just said, nigga,” I scoffed, as I stood up.
He shot to his feet. “No, fuck that. Spell it out for me, so there aint no confusion.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “You was right. I was crushing on Summer. Hard-body. Then I started fucking the shit out of her—”
I cut my words off, as that nigga swung on me. Unfortunately for him, I was quick on my feet, and dodged the blow, before countering with my own. Naturally, mine landed on his jaw, knocking him sideways.
“Say, I wasn’t trying to get physical, but we can take it there, nigga!” I snarled, while snatching off my shirt.
Harlem was now in a boxing stance, so I posted up too. Right after, I heard footsteps stamping upstairs.
“Ricky!” Summer immediately shouted, as she raced over and stood in front of me, while Ora stood back. “What, what are you doing?” She asked shakily, already crying.
I gazed down at her pretty face. “You know what the fuck this is. You knew the minute you brought this nigga to our people’s house that it was no turning back! I been too muthafuckin’ patient with you. Steady telling me that the nigga finna leave. You been telling him to move on. That was you with the silly shit, but I had already told you that the day me and that nigga was in the same space, then he was wasn’t leaving without knowing the real. You belong to me! And now he knows.”
“Wait, are you fucking serious?” Ora spoke up. “Do you not see me fucking standing here?”
I sighed, while shaking my head. “Look, Ora, aint nobody trying to do you dirty. I understand that you got feelings, but got damn, man. Ion know how many ways I can tell you the same shit. I can’t be with you. Then regardless of how many times Itell you that, you still make up your own version in your mind. I done been honest as humanly possible with you. And you still hear what you wanna hear.”
“Then why bring me here?” She questioned.
I gave her the side eye. “Come on, Ora. Don’t tell me that you didn’t know what this was. Ion even fuck with you no more. Haven’t in a minute. You was literally at the house, because you asked if you could come clean up for some extra bread. So, I know that you didn’t think that you being able to randomly meet the fam was about anything other than irritating Summer. You got a petty side, so I figured that’s why you went with it. But if your feelings are hurt, then I apologize.”
“Fuck you!” She lashed, as her face turned beet red. “And Harlem, if I was you, I’d just let these two selfish muthafuckas have each other. And just be grateful that you had the luxury of being lied to. Cause with the ways these two play it dirty, you’d probably crash out, if you knew everything. His nasty ass really had me cleaning his room, knowing that her fucking panties were still on his bed. Which means that he probably just fucked her yesterday.”
Harlem appeared speechless, as he dropped his set.
Summer was now crying profusely. “I’m sorry, Harlem. This was never supposed to go this far. I…I just can’t help it. I love him.”
Stoically, Harlem shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say. This shit just fucked my head up. Rinny was trying to tell me. And…if I had a gun, I’d shoot the both of y’all. But that would be throwing my life away, when this shit aint even worth it. So, y’all got it, man.”
Appearing defeated, Harlem snatched his keys off the ottoman, and stomped off.
I was following him, until Summer grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”
“To make sure that he’s really leaving and aint finna double back and air this muthafucka out.”
“Oh.” She released my arm, before following me.
By the time we reached the first floor, we saw Harlem stomping out of the door.
“Umm,” Ora spoke from behind us. “Can you drop me off?”
I turned to face her. “I can—”
“Girl, if you don’t order a damn Uber. Always acting ditzy,” Summer scoffed. “Had me feeling sorry for your delusional ass.” She hit my arm. “Don’t you do another damn thing for her ass. Do you know that this hoe was just downstairs, telling me that y’all go together, and was going to her mama’s in the morning?”
With all the bullshit going on, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Ora rolled her eyes. “I don’t see shit funny.”
Summer
