With that I took his hand in marriage, and became Mrs. Braxton. We had a nice wedding at this reception hall, where we invited only our closest family and friends. I truly enjoyed myself, and at least he tried to make an honest woman out of me. But I hated when he made his appearance at my school. All of a sudden, I was known on the campus as Jah’s woman, as if I didn’t have an identity of my own. After that the only men that would even try to step to me were some lames that I wouldn’t fuck if they paid me to. The other guys whowere familiar with the street life wouldn’t look my way out of fear of Jahrein’s raft.
Jah was becoming larger than life and it was getting on my damn nerves. I had bitches wanting to fight me that I didn’t even know. Dry hating and shit. Then there were chicks trying to associate themselves with me just because of my man. I could do without all the street fame and drama.
Shit, I was a celebrity in my mind, so I didn’t need to ride my man’s coattail. My hair was still long and bouncy. The ass was still bodacious, the waist was still slender, and the breasts were still perky. I was often told that I could shop at the thrift stores and still look like I’d just stepped off the runway, so the fact that I could dress my ass off made me untouchable. I had graduated from the Hilfiger and Baby Phat to Gucci and Prada. I didn’t have to have a huge logo on my gear. My style spoke for itself.
Being that I was always fresh to death, I rushed to the nail shop one day after breaking a nail. After the Asian lady finished repairing my nail I wanted to hurry to the mall before I had to pick up the kids. But I still had to go get my hair touched up before I could even do that. I was talking on my cell phone and really wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings. That’s how I ran smack dead into his chest.
“Damn, sexy.”
I looked up to find Khalil staring at me. Just one look in his eyes had me wet. I hadn’t seen him in about two or three years, and he was still just as fine as the last time I‘d laid eyes on him.
“Hey.” I spoke and tried to keep it moving.
“No, you can’t get away that easy.” he insisted, as he grabbed my arm. He was checking me out. I knew that I was killing him in my pink alligator print Versace jeans, white halter top, and gold stilettos. He had me too. His cologne smelled sweet, and was rocking the hell out of a Gucci unit. I was so caught up that I tripped out for a second, completely forgetting that Jah was still sitting on the phone.
In fact, I could hear Jahrein screaming in the phone. “Raven! Raven! Who is that nigga? Who are you talking to?”
I placed the phone to my ear. “What are you talking about?” I tried to throw him off. I thought that Khalil would realize that I didn’t have time, and dismiss his self, but that didn’t happen.
“I heard a nigga’s voice!” Jahrein roared, sounding like he was about to blow a head gasket.
I smacked my lips. “Jah, you tripping. This phone is about to go dead. I’ll see you at home in a few.” I told him before my cell shut off. My cell phone was really dead and I was going to do a bunch of explaining when I made it home, trust.
“I see that nigga still got you on a short leash.”
I rolled my eyes. “What leash?”
“Come on, baby girl, let’s not play crazy. You and I both know your situation. Yo nigga smashing everything moving, and keeping your under lock and key.”
I rolled my eyes.
“And why you never called me? I thought that we had something good going.”
I waved him off. “Man, that was so long ago. Do you know how much shit has happened since I hung out with you?”
“Hung out? Don’t you meanfucked?”
“Whatever.” I sighed.
“But yeah, I always keep up with Baby Girl. You had Jhyrah and then Jahrae. You got your ass locked up once. You now go to TSU and you still the baddest broad that I ever seen.”
So, he was up on game. He even knew my damn kids’ names. Somebody had been giving him an ear full. “Okay, so somebody’s been talking my business. That’s cool, but I gotta go.” I attempted to walk away.
Once again he grabbed me. “Man, I wish I had that nigga’s hand cause I would cut mine off. You’s a loyal broad. I bet that I’m the only nigga to get you to step out on him, huh?” When I didn’t answer he continued. “I can see it in your eyes. You still feeling me, and we both know that your nigga is still doing his thing. We might as well have a little fun of our own. What he don’t know won’t hurt him.”
Yeah, that nigga thought that he was the shit. True, he was the only man that I had slept with other than Jah, but he didn’t know me. Besides, he was the last nigga to talk. It wasn't like he was an angel. Plenty of bitches had been in the hood fighting over him, but he wanted to put Jahrein on blast.
“Let me go.” I gritted.
Finally, he toned it down a bit. “Don’t do me like that, Pretty Girl. Just give me a shot. Make your next move your best move. I promise that if you ever give me a real chance that I will spoil your fine ass rotten.”
“I gotta go.”
“A’ight. Here.” he said as he handed me a card with two cell phone numbers on it. “You call me the next time he makes you cry.”
For some reason I took the card. Then I made my way to the beauty shop, right next door to the nail shop. I decided to skip the mall and just go get my hair done, before it was time to go get the kids.
I stepped into Shan’s beauty shop and all eyes were on me. I think that they had spotted me talking to Khalil just before I came inside. Those bitches didn’t like that. He was on the most wanted list and the last thing they wanted to see was him all up in my face. I saw a few hoes whispering at the corner of my eyes. I was used to that catty shit.
