Chapter 3 #2
I watched him leave, and as soon as the door slammed, I turned to Reena because I knew for a fact it was about to be some stupid shit.
“So, that’s what we doing?” Reena asked.
“What does that even mean, Reena?”
“Wasn’t Arris just over here putting a bed up or some shit and now I come home tonight from work and y’all having a whole family moment.”
“Were you going to put the bed up?” I asked but didn’t wait for a response.
“No. And honestly, neither was I; so I don’t know what you expected there.
Then, tonight, we didn’t have any sort of family plans.
Arris had Blake for the day. Blake picked out a gift and card for me.
Arris bought it for him and brought it to me. ”
“Blake picked out the flowers and cake too?”
“It’s my generic favorite cake, and no, the flowers and earrings were from Arris.”
“Earrings?” she asked.
“Yeah. He got me a new pair since I lost the old ones.”
“Of course he did.” Reena scoffed.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing, Jayme.”
“Alright.”
I walked over to Blake and plopped down beside him.
Reena scoffed and left the room. Blake and I finished our cake. Then I helped him get ready for bed and tucked him in for the night. He was doing well adapting to sleeping alone in his new bed.
Once I got him settled in though, I kissed all along his face and made sure his night light was plugged in.
“I can’t wait to sleep with my new birthday gift.” I gave him a little smile and he grinned in return while he snuggled with one of the three stuffed animals in his bed. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Blake repeated.
I slipped out of his room, closed the door, and checked my phone outside of it to make sure I could see the nanny cam.
Then I went through my nighttime routine. Afterwards, I checked on Reena who was laid on the couch, remote in hand.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“What’s up?” I walked over and perched on the opposite side of the couch.
“You tell me.”
“Are you ready to talk now?”
“About?”
“This attitude you’re having about Arris.”
“I don’t have an attitude about Arris.” She dropped the remote on the couch and turned toward me. “Y’all have to coparent, and that’s cool and whatever, but I can admit I don’t like the way he shows up unannounced or the fact that the shit is more frequent now than before.”
“I can respect you feeling that way.” I thought carefully before choosing my next words.
“However, we both knew Arris was coming to set the bed up and we knew he was going to be dropping Blake off tonight. So what’s up for real?
Tell me why you really don’t fuck with him because you never really cared before. ”
“Well, I care now and I’d appreciate it if you told me when he was going to be here.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “That’s fine.”
“Alright.” Reena nodded and gave me a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled back and scooted closer to her.
She leaned in and we kissed each other before I hopped up and stretched.
“How long are you going to be?”
“I won’t be long. I’m just going to finish this movie.”
“Alright.”
I leaned down to kiss her again, then headed to the bedroom and hopped in bed.
I was snuggled beneath the blankets and on the brink of sleep when I got a text message.
Babydaddy: Everything good over there?
Me: Yep.
Arris liked the message immediately. I locked my phone, tossed it on the bedside table, and slid beneath my blankets.
It wasn’t long before I was fast asleep but I woke up to the sound of my phone beeping. I jumped up and reached for it while half asleep. I’d accidentally set my alarm for one in the morning instead of one in the afternoon. I corrected it. A yawn forced itself out of me. I stretched.
I looked over and saw Reena still hadn’t been in bed.
I pushed the covers off, climbed up, and started the trek to the living room.
I found her laid on the couch, one leg stretched out across it and the other hanging off.
Her head was resting against the side of the couch and the television was still on, playing a random movie.
She had one hand behind her head and the other holding her phone damn near to her ear.
I walked over, turned the television off, and paused. A soft noise came from somewhere in the room. I looked around and walked slowly trying to follow it as well as I could. It took me a few moments to realize the noise was coming from Reena’s phone.
I didn’t hesitate. I walked over and lightly pulled it out of her hand. She was on a call that was quickly nearing the two hour mark. The contact name said Z. I didn’t know a single Z in her life, but I didn’t ask a single question. I hung the call up and headed straight to my bedroom.
I closed the door, locked it, and grabbed my own phone to call Arris. He answered on the first ring.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as soon as the call connected.
“I think Reena is cheating on me,” I blurted.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why do you think that shit?”
“Because I do.” I didn’t feel like giving him a rundown. “When can you be over here?”
“When do you need me?” he countered.
“Now,” I admitted.
Arris sighed. “Give me ten minutes.”
“Alright. Don’t knock. Just text me when you’re downstairs and come on in when you get to the door.”
“Yeah, alright.” He cleared his throat and I heard him rustling around before addressing his coworkers. “I’ve got to make a quick run. If someone comes in for me, take a message or drop them on my schedule. I’ll be right back.” He yawned. “I’m on the way, Jay. You want me to stay on the phone?”
“Nah. You’re good. I’ll be here when you get here.”
“Alright.”
I sat at the foot of my bed and went to Reena’s text messages. I saw she and Z didn’t have an existing text thread but I sent a text anyway.
Me: My bad. Jayme woke up.
Z: Oh. Okay. Call back tomorrow on ur break?
Me: Yeah. I miss you now though.
I waited patiently while the texting icon popped up and my nerves got worse by the moment.
Z: Damn. Already? She inserted a series of laughing faces. U just saw me but plz feel free to come over tomorrow after work. I’m not complaining.
Me: Damn. You don’t miss me back?
Z: U know I miss u baby.
I nodded at that, locked Reena’s phone, and hopped up. I took a few deep breaths to try to calm myself but it wasn’t really working.
I couldn’t believe how long I’d been with this woman. We’d lived together and planned out our entire lives. Shit. She’d become a constant in Blake’s life just for her to be playing stupid ass games.
I nodded to myself and made my way back to the living room.
As soon as I saw her cheating, lying ass face I tossed her phone on her chest and punched her right out of her sleep with a solid right hook with as much force as I could muster behind it.
She jerked up and I punched her ass again before she gained full consciousness and hopped up.
“Man! What the fuck is wrong with you, Jayme?” Reena screamed.
“Nothing. Get the fuck out.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” I pointed at her. “Get your shit and get the fuck out. Let Z take you in because this lease is in my name and I lived here before I met you.”
I watched her eyes widen slightly at the mention of Z but she schooled her face well.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Jayme?”
“I’m talking about your insecurity having nothing to do with Arris and everything to do with the fact that you were fucking around on me and feeling guilty.
” I scoffed. “You ain’t shit for real. Now, pack your shit and get the fuck out before I have to put my mothafuckin’ hands on you.
” I clasped my hands in front of my body.
She chuckled.
“We’re both women, Jayme. I’m not Arris. I’m not going to just let you put your fucking hands on me.” She took a step toward me and I squared up and popped her in her shit again.
If she knew I put hands and feet on my gang banging baby daddy, I didn’t know why she thought she was exempt.
This time, she hit me back.
The two of us immediately started fighting.
I felt my leg hit the coffee table and start burning instantly although I did my best to ignore the pain.
We tumbled to the ground. I hissed through my teeth when Reena grabbed me by my hair.
I did my best to elbow her in the throat and we slammed against the entertainment center while we fought and rolled around.
I heard the front door open but I couldn’t be bothered to even look up at Arris.
“Ay, ay, ay!” He closed in on us.
I calmed down immediately and he got Reena’s hand out of my hair.
I smiled automatically at the sight of her bloody nose.
Arris shoved her toward the couch and offered me both hands to help me to my feet. He grabbed my face in both hands and looked it over.
“You good?”
“I’m good. Reena was just leaving.”
“Word?” Arris looked back at her.
“You’re not—”
Arris cut her off. “Ay. I don’t know what y’all got going on for real, but I want you to know that it wasn’t a question.
It was a statement. Get the fuck out. You can get the rest of your shit tomorrow.
” Arris flashed the gun tucked beneath his shirt.
“Tonight ain’t the night to argue your case.
Let’s still make it a good one, alright?
” He nudged his head to the door. “Go ahead.”
Reena shot up and glared at me around Arris who now had one hand on his gun and his eyes fixated on Reena. She let her eyes go from me to Arris and she spit in his direction, the blood from her mouth landing square on the tan carpet.
“Fuck both of y’all and fuck whatever I had over here.” Reena sniffed. “I never fucking cheated on you, Jayme, and the fact you’d just believe some shit Arris probably told you over me says a lot about how you viewed our relationship.”
“Okay.” Arris walked to the door and jerked it open. “Talk that shit on your way out though.”
He gestured toward it and Reena scoffed and shook her head.
“Don’t call me when shit don’t work out with that nigga again.”
“I won’t,” I said with a smile on my face.
Arris freed his gun from his waistband. Reena snatched up her phone, slid her feet into her shoes, grabbed her keys, and damn near stormed out.
Arris slammed the door behind her and locked it in place.
He sighed and walked over to me. He sat on the couch and tapped the space beside him. I walked over and sat beside him. We existed in silence for a few long moments before I sniffed automatically, my anger morphing into sadness right before our very eyes.
He threw an arm over my shoulder and yanked me in.
“It’ll be alright, Jaybird.” He kissed the side of my head. “In the future though, don’t be doing none of this ghetto ass shit while my son in here.”
A laugh slipped out and Arris smiled. I elbowed him.
“Shut up, stupid.”