Page 20 of More to Love

“Ten thousand dollars? He wants you to come back for real I see.”

“I told you he was begging but it’s whatever. I’m going to have my little fun and then we’ll pick up where we left off when I get back.”

“Be careful friend. Getting pregnant again by him can’t happen. And there’s no telling who else he fucks with so wrap up because if Hendrix catch something, your ass is just as good as dead.”

She told no lies. Woods and I were careless with the way we behaved. He knew all about Hendrix and shut up when it came to him. He knew the kind of money Hendrix had and benefited from it as well. I would withdraw a few racks and hand them off. I guess I was trickin’ on him, but he was too fine not to.

“I know which is why we’ve been using condoms lately. He’s talking about marrying me within six months if Hendrix haven’t stepped up and I’m low key fucking with the idea. As long as I’ve been with Hendrix, he’s never mentioned marriage and that got me feeling some kind of way. How a nigga that’s only been fucking me for a year know what he wants with me, and I’ve been your bitch for damn near five years and you ain’t said shit about a ring?”

“Maybe he doesn’t think you’re wife material. Then again, have you even brought up marriage? He might not fuck with marriage. I know it’s a lot of men out here that doesn’t do shit like that.”

“Fuckin’ with me has no choice. I am not going to be nobody’s girlfriend for too much longer. That is what I can stand on.”

“I hear you. The food is here so let’s just eat and put these niggas to the back of our minds.”

“Get the food but we’re not done talking about niggas because you need to tell me how you and Rover doing.”

“Girl, it’s a mess. Hold up.”

She left the kitchen, and I grabbed my phone to check the message from Hendrix that I tried to ignore. I put on for JaJa as if I didn’t care about my man, but I loved that nigga down and didn’t want to see no other bitch with him. He didn’t have to marry me because I was reaping the benefits all because of my daughter. I wasn’t going to tell her goofy ass that though.

I was so secure in our relationship that even if my dirt was aired, I knew he wouldn’t leave. My daughter granted me access to him in a way no other chick could gain. He thought I didn’t want to spend time with Akeera when in reality, I made it to where they developed a bond that was irreplaceable.

My ticket to paradise was his world. The threat I received from him when I said he wasn’t her father let me know that he would die behind her. He was locked in because she was a part of me and losing her would tear him in two. I was good either way it went.

My Man, My Man: Call our daughter before you get some sleep. It’s the weekend so she’ll be up a little longer tonight. I love you.

Me: I will in a minute and act like it.

I laughed as I sent my reply. I was giving him hell just because I had the power to do so. He loved my dirty fuckin’ draws and I didn’t see that changing anytime soon. While I had my phone in my hand, I shot a text over to Woods to let him know I’ll be there within the next hour or so.

“It’s still hot too so you know I’m about to smash,” she said walking into the kitchen.

We decided on a hibachi restaurant nearby. I was starving and couldn’t wait to dig in. She removed the food from the bag and began to check to hand off the proper order. I grabbed the tequila that sat in the middle of the island and began to make some margaritas.

“Talk about Rover. I’m all ears,” I threw out as I gathered the ingredients.

“Nah. Kenny needs to be the topic. He wants me to move in, but I know how men operate and I need my own space. I am not ready for the overbearing shit men do when you’re under the same roof as them. I barely cook for myself so I’m not doing that shit and I hate cleaning which is why I have a maid come through once a week. I’m not in-house girlfriend material.”

“You can learn how to do all of that though. Throwing clothes in the washer ain’t shit friend and you know it. Hell, if I can do it, so can you.”

“Girl who you trying to fool? You hate doing anything around that house other than fuckin’ on Hendrix and sleeping. Didn’t you say you was going to get a nanny? What happened with that?”

“I plan on bringing that up when I go back. Trust me, I’m going back with demands. I hope he don’t think shit is going to be sweet.”

“I’m praying for you Avi.”

“Pray for that nigga because I’m about to drag his ass.”

“Oh, what do you plan on doing about the baby? Have you told Woods about it, yet?”

“Girl, I went and got an abortion like a week ago. He doesn’t need to know shit and neither does Hendrix. I’m not keeping either one of their kids. I barely want to deal with Akeera.”

Getting pregnant by Hendrix wasn’t an issue but I knew I wasn’t the kind of woman that wanted to be a mother. I only had Akeera because her father begged me to and then afterward, he left me hanging with her. I loved her dearly, but she deserved someone that wanted to put in genuine time with her.

“Yeah, I’m shutting up about that. Let’s just eat and drink a little,” she suggested.

We ended up cutting that conversation short right there and moved around to eating and bullshitting. The men in our life were hooked on our love and they had no choice but to get with the program. They promised us the world and we damn sure were going to make them eat their words.