Chapter 16 #3
Jayme met us at Dyani’s apartment with red beans with rice, sausage, and baked chicken she’d made and we all ate together.
Dyani took a shower then announced she had steps to finalize her sale.
Jayme and I sat on the couch and let her work.
I rubbed Jayme’s feet while she played a game on her phone.
I paused when I saw Darryl was calling me and cursed because I’d forgotten to call him back from earlier.
I picked up quickly.
“What’s up?”
“Nigga, you fucking on my sister?” He skipped straight to the point and I looked over at Dyani who looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“What?”
“Don’t what me, Arris. The guys saw you out in that lil Mexican spot near Rio’s holding her hand and whispering in her ear and shit. I asked around and it turns out her car has been all in and out of D-Ville recently too.”
“And?”
“And what, nigga? It’s a yes or no question?”
“Ay, calm yo’ lil ass down, Darryl,” I warned. “If you want to know who your sister is fucking, ask her. I don’t fucking answer to you.”
“Don’t worry! I’m about to ask her ass right now!” Darryl hung up the call and I looked back at Dyani.
“Yo’ brother about to be on some bullshit,” I warned, “And I’m gon’ knock his head off his shoulders if he calls himself pressing me.”
“Arris, we talked about this.” Dyani slammed her laptop shut and hopped up.
“And?”
“Two strikes,” she reminded me.
“Yeah, okay.”
I watched her scramble to her room to put on leggings then rush to the door. When she jerked it open, Darryl was already on the other side, his key to her spot in hand. He looked from her to where me and Jayme were then back at her and I could have sworn that nigga’s head was going to explode.
I knew it was going to be some bullshit the second he pushed past Dyani to come inside but I didn’t address him though. I promised Dyani I’d give her brother two strikes so I’d let him get his shit off for now.
“Are you out of yo’ fucking mind, Dyani?” Darryl snapped. “The fuck is wrong with you fucking on this nigga? Huh?”
“Well hello to you too,” Dyani scoffed. “Darryl—”
He cut her off. “You a hoe now, Dyani? You moved out here and let that nigga and his bitch turn you out?”
“Bitch?” Jayme repeated.
“Ain’t nobody talking to you, Jayme!”
“Ay.” I looked back at Darryl. “I don’t give a fuck that you’ve been my boy and I don’t give a fuck that Yani is yo’ sister, nigga. Adjust that mothafuckin’ tone when you address my woman, because if I got to stand up, you gon’ have to lay down.”
I reached over and set a hand on Jayme’s leg.
My baby mama fought bitches and niggas, me included. I loved Dyani for real, but if Jayme hopped in the field with Darryl, I was going to have to at least knee cap her brother for putting his hands on her.
“Darryl, you’re being fucking dramatic!” Dyani hissed. “Ain’t nobody turned me out! I’m a grown ass woman and I can date and fuck whoever I want.”
“You believe that shit, huh?” Darryl snickered. “Yeah. Alright.”
“I know you’re not going to stop me.” Dyani crossed her arms and rolled her neck.
“Oh word?”
“Word. Matter of fact, get the fuck out of my apartment if you think you’re going to talk to me crazy.” Dyani stood her ground.
“I paid for all this shit!” Darryl crossed the kitchen and invaded her space.
I dusted myself off and climbed to my feet. Jayme followed suit.
“Get the fuck out Dyani’s face before she be picking yours up off the ground, Darryl.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Darryl stalked toward me and I met him before he could even get to the living room. He glared at me and I held his gaze.
“You flaw as fuck for this shit, Arris.”
“Look, I care about Dyani and I’m not trying to go to war with you. She wanted to tell you in her own way and I was giving her the chance but it was never my intention to hide no shit.”
“Out of all the women out here, why my baby sister, Arris?”
“Because I wanted her,” I deadpanned. “Now what? You want to fight it out? Shoot it out? What’s up?”
“Oh,” he scoffed. “You want to fight me for her?”
“Not really but we can take it there. Nigga you know I’m undefeated with the hands so it’s whatever whenever.”
“Y’all, stop!” Dyani walked over and put a hand on each of our chests.
Darryl roughly pushed her hand off him.
“Do that shit again and I’m gon’ bless yo’ lil ass just on principle,” I warned.
“Ain’t nobody scared of you.”
“Prove that shit then, nigga. Call my bluff and play with her if you want to.”
“Man, fuck all that talking. What’s up, Arris?”
“What’s up?”
“What’s up?”
I watched Darryl do his stupid ass stance and I shifted on my feet.
I put my fists up and got ready to lay this nigga out to prove a point if nothing else.
He threw a hit in my direction that I dodged then two more, the second one hitting me square in the face before I adjusted and started swinging back.
It wasn’t long before we were in a full on fight—swinging, dodging, and bumping some of Dyani’s furniture in the process while she screamed, obviously upset.
Darryl busted my lip. I was sure I’d broken his nose. We threw hit after hit, both of us leaking blood on Dyani’s floor but neither ready to back down or give up.
I realized immediately that he was consistently leading with his left and corrected to pop him upside his head so hard it left him dazed. He stumbled on his feet slightly and I hit him again practically putting his ass to sleep. He collapsed on his back and fumbled around trying to get up.
“I’m serious!” Dyani screeched. “Stop it!” I felt her little hand grip me and my first instinct was to spin around and drag her with me, making sure she wasn’t anywhere near the middle of where our fists were flying.
I felt Darryl hit me while my back was turned and the next thing I knew we were both choking.
I pushed Dyani away from me and she tripped over and onto her couch while Darryl and I choked.
“What the fuck, man?” Darryl rushed to the kitchen sink, turned the water on, and stuck his head beneath the spray.
It took a few seconds for me to realize Jayme had pepper sprayed him and being as close as I was had my eyes watering.
I hurried to the front door and jerked it open to help air the place out so I could breathe properly.
“Man, what the fuck, Jayme?” I coughed into my hand.
Darryl and I both coughed and choked while Dyani got us milk to pour on our eyes.
By the time we’d both calmed enough to put together coherent sentences, I didn’t even want to fight that nigga anymore.
From the way his face was knotted up, I didn’t blame him for not wanting to run that shit back with me.
Dyani helped him wash his eyes out but he jerked away from her as he lifted his head. That shit was enough to make me want to go upside his head again but Jayme gripped my arm in both of her little hands and I let it ground me.
Darryl sniffed and wiped his face with his shirt.
“Are you okay?” Dyani asked quietly.
“Nah, but we’ll talk about this tomorrow as a family.” He stressed the word family and Jayme sucked her teeth. “I’ll be seeing you around though, Arris.” He blinked a few times and headed toward the door.
“I ain’t hard to find,” I said simply and watched him leave.
He slammed the door behind him and I sighed. Eyes burning and all, I meant that shit and I’d knock Darryl on his ass as many times as it took. I’d never ducked a fade and I wasn’t about to start now.