Once I was in my car, I called Ciara and asked if she was on her way to the location. Ciara was meeting me there because I wanted her to check out the building with me, and she had agreed last week. She advised that she was ten minutes away, and I told her that I would meet her there. The anticipation of seeing the place had me excited but nervous at the same time. I just hoped that everything was up to par. If things didn’t go as planned today, I would look for another location. I just wanted that one because it was directly beside my shop.
I parked right behind Ciara’s truck and exited my car at the same time as her. Today, I wore a white Jessica Simpson blazer with matching slacks. I paired it with some gold red bottoms and gold carrier framed glasses. Ciara looked just as good. She wore a hot pink blazer-style dress with clear heels and her briefcase in one hand. I didn’t want her in business mode, but clearly, she thought it would be helpful. Ciara was hood and street smart, but in real life, she was a paralegal. I think that was anotherreason she didn’t mind dancing with the devil and breaking laws from time to time—she knew she could get herself out of it.
“Okay, friend! You ain’t come to play today, I see. When it comes to your man, you gon’ step every time. Your belly is getting huge for real! You better slow down on them snacks, ’cause that baby is way too damn big,” Ciara joked as we hugged.
We walked into the building, and the realtor was already inside waiting for us. Everything from the fixtures down to the flooring was beautiful. It was nice and spacious, and I already knew where everything could be placed. Ciara nodded her head in approval. I didn’t notice anything that would cause me not to get the place. The realtor went over the square footage and price with us, then he gave us a tour. Ciara pulled him aside so that they could talk numbers, and she was able to talk him down a lot. After signing all the paperwork, I got the keys and was ready to start getting everything he needed. I was going to start looking for at least four of the best barbers in town, and I would leave the rest of the hiring to Rowdy. I wanted him to be in full control of his shop.
Ciara and I went to Home Goods, At Home, Target, and a few other stores looking for mirrors and other décor that Rowdy would need in his shop. She kept joking about how I had to be whipped because I had never done anything like this for a nigga before. I explained to her that when a man loves you properly, it’s nothing that you won’t do for him. I was trying to get my man out of these streets and make his dreams come true. As long as he treated me right, I would treat him even better.
After hours of shopping, we decided to go toXOXOfor lunch.XOXOwas an upscale restaurant that was all pink and beautifully decorated, located in Downtown Dallas. It was hard to get reservations, but we never had to. We both allowed the valet to park our cars, then we headed inside to check-in. While we waited for our name to be called, we sat down and caughtup a little. Once we were seated, I jumped right in on my interrogation.
“So, what’s going on with you and Trell? Do either of you muthafukas still work? Because every time I call you, y’all are laid up. What are y’all doing for real?” I asked as I ordered my drink.
“I’m just vibing with Trell right now. I think he still has people that he mess around with, and I still got my links on the side. It’s just something about a roughneck, good D having ass nigga! I really fuck with Trell. I can’t even begin to explain how that nigga makes me feel, but I know I ain’t coming up off him. You better believe any time that I’m laid up with him and missing work, he pays me very well for my day,” Ciara boasted.
“Ain’t nothing wrong with that! I’m just confused as to why y’all won’t make the shit official. You already spend every second with this nigga. I still think that y’all are too crazy to be messing around, but you gon’ do what you wanna do anyway,” I said.
“And is! Don’t worry ’bout what I be doing. I’m grown, and I got this. Trell knows not to play with me. Therefore, I won’t have to show my crazy side. What was going on when you called me yesterday? I could tell you wanted something, but you stopped talking once you heard that I was with Trell.”
“Biiiiitch! I had the fright of my life yesterday. I left the shop early and stopped by Kroger to grab some snacks. A nigga hit me with his buggy on accident. I looked up, and it was Jakari pushing a buggy with his son in it. He saw my stomach and instantly started questioning me about it being his. He said I was too big to be pregnant by my new nigga. I left them snacks and got the fuck out of there. I explained to him that my baby couldn’t possibly be his, but something about the way he was talking tells me that he is not going to stop until he knows for sure. I wanted to avoid this nigga forever. I didn’t tell youyesterday because I didn’t need Trell in my business. I’m not telling my nigga about this.”
“What are the odds of you bumping into him at the damn store? It’s a million stores in the DFW. That nigga has to be stalking you. Moni, fuck Jakari! Rowdy already knows everything, so it’s nothing that he can do or say to make your man feel any type of way. Just stick to your story, and hopefully, he’ll let it go. I don’t want that nigga to end up like his baby momma, but he really don’t know who he playing with. From being around Trell, I can tell you now that those niggas are not to be fucked with,” Ciara stated.
“I know, and that’s what I’m scared of. I don’t want my man getting in trouble or worse behind Jakari’s sorry ass. I’m done with him, and he still won’t let it go. I can’t believe he won’t just move on. It was so easy for him to cheat, but now he’s acting like he can’t find a new bitch to save his life,” I told Ciara.
“We not going to worry about that. You know that if he doesn’t let it go, Rowdy will definitely handle his ass. He needs to focus on his son, being that his momma just died. He ain’t got time to be worried about nothing other than that.”
I definitely agreed with Ciara on that one. I should have been his last concern. I wasn’t going to dwell on the situation any longer; I would just handle the shit when it was time. I told Ciara what all had been going on in the shop and the gossip I’d heard. I also told her that Rowdy made Dimeo and I have a sit down to squash things. She laughed at how he had us both in check, but I understood him not wanting any friction between us. She was his favorite cousin and like a sister to him.
Once our food arrived, there were no more words spoken. I guess she was just as hungry as I was.
We both ordered lobster mac and cheese with a house salad and crescent rolls. The food was definitely a ten out of ten, and each time I came there, it was always better than the last time.As we wrapped dinner up, we promised to meet the next day to start getting more stuff for the barbershop. Ciara was just as excited as I was about decorating. She had a great eye for it and was mainly responsible for how beautiful my salon was. She and I did all the décor.
Rowdy was already home when I made it back, and we spent the night having quality time. I felt like a little kid who was hiding a big secret. It was so hard not to tell him what I was up to, but surprising him and seeing the look on his face would make it all worth it. Rowdy’s birthday was in two months, and I had to have everything together within that time frame. It was going to be tough, but I knew I would get it done.
A couple of weeks passed, and I had already ordered the majority of the big things needed for the shop. Every day, I went next door to look at it and unbox things. Today was a slow day for me. I had just finished my second client and didn’t have another one scheduled for another couple of hours. I decided that I would go next door and see what I could do around the shop. I grabbed my keys and told Carmen where I would be. Before I could make it to the door, Jakari walked inside. All talking had ceased when he came in, then my employees started whispering among themselves. I cursed under my breath because I didn’t have time for this today.
“I was just heading out, Jakari. What do you need?” I asked, getting straight to the point.
“That baby got you mean, huh? I just wanted to check on you and see if there was anything you needed me to do. You know, since you are carrying my child,” he loudly said.
“Gone the fuck on with that shit. Be for real! What do you really want, nigga? You are not welcome here at all!” I barked.
“Damn, it’s like that? Prove to me that’s not my baby. I need to see dates. Due date, conception date, or something. I remember the last time we fucked, down to the day Keith was shot and the last time before that. One thing I don’t play about is my kids, and you about to see that firsthand.”
Embarrassed was an understatement. I could not believe he was talking reckless like that. No matter how hard these hoes pretended to not be paying attention, they were all soaking this shit in. I felt so played. Now people would think I was some nasty bitch who didn’t know who her baby daddy was. No news traveled faster than mess that was gathered at a beauty salon.
“I can do that, then you can leave me the fuck alone. Leave your number with my receptionist, and I’ll call you when I can meet you with my paperwork. I don’t bring that stuff to work with me. I can promise you that I will be in touch. I want you out of my hair and out of my life for good. Yo’ ass is like herpes! You just won’t go the fuck away, and it’s starting to be creepy. You are worried about my baby that I’m carrying for MY MAN. You need to be worried about the son you already have, ’cause mine is not it!”
“You having a son? Yeah, I need proof ’cause it seems like all I make is boys. It’s clear that you think I’m crazy. You standing there looking six months pregnant, and we ain’t been broken up that damn long. I have my own shit going on, so I’m not trying to come between you and that nigga, but if you think I’m not about to make sure that baby isn’t mine, then you crazy as hell. I respect your situation, and you’ve said and proven that you are done with me. Now the situation is complicated, though, but if you can show me that the baby ain’t mine, I’ll be out the way.”
“And as I’ve said, I will be in touch. Leave your number with my receptionist,” I said and left him standing in the middle of my salon.
My plans to go to the shop were canceled, and I got into my car and drove home. I was so tired of having to deal with this nothing ass nigga. I called Ciara on my Bluetooth and told her that I needed her to find someone to make me some fake documents and realistic ultrasounds. She had a few scamming cousins, and I knew they would be down to make some extra bread.
Ihad just left the courthouse and was headed to Trell’s crib when Moni called me crying again about some shit Jakari’s dog face ass had done. I was so sick of that nigga that I had a good mind to put some money on his head. I never expressed it, but I really felt bad for Harmoni. As good of a girl as she was, her life wasn’t supposed to be going like this.
I had always admired her and Jakari’s relationship. From the outside looking in, I thought he was a good, faithful nigga. He spoiled her rotten. He went missing a lot, but I always excused it because we knew that he was a hustler. After having my best friend cry on my shoulder about Jakari having a baby on her, I now hated his guts. Niggas would kill to have a boss ass female like Harmoni, but this loser fumbled the bag big time.
