Chapter 6 #2
“True,” Yanna remarked, satisfied smile plastered on her face.
Kalil tried his best to hold his laugh in but failed miserably.
“That shit funny now, Kalil, but when I snatch her by that lil’ bit of hair she got, it ain’t gone be.”
“Yea, you ”
Yanna’s words halted, and they all grew quiet when they heard footsteps descending the stairs. The hardness of the steps let them know it was Onyx. Such was confirmed when he appeared at the bottom of the stairs with Kian perched in his arms.
“Why the fuck are y’all in my house making all this fucking noise?”
“I told Yanna not to come over here, but she hardheaded.”
“Oh, shut the hell up. You basically fucking kidnapped me, I wasn’t stuntin’ your cheating ass.”
“How I’m a cheater if I don’t have a girl? That’s what you be saying, right, Yanna? You ain’t my girl?”
“Fuck you, Kasra.”
“Come to the bathroom real quick, I got you.”
“Man, hell nah, why the fuck y’all in my shit? Matter fact, that don’t even matter, get the fuck out.”
“Onyx, be nice.” Troi demanded softly as she descended the stairs.
“Mumma!” Kian whined, holding his hands out for his mother, who pulled him from his father’s arms. “Kas, I see you found Yanna.”
“Yea, I found her hoe ass out doing shit.”
“I’m the hoe, but he got caught on camera doing God knows what with that waterhead ass girl. Be the fuck for real, Kasra.”
“Yea, be the fuck for real,” Quan cosigned. “Um, Baby, you planning on making some lunch or something?”
“Quan, make me punch you in yo shit, her name is Troi.”
“Nyx an ole hating ass nigga… Troian, are you going to fix lunch for your family?”
“Fuck nah, she ain’t because y’all getting the fuck out. Done interrupted our nap coming in here with all that damn noise. I’mma change the damn code on my door, I damn sure shouldn’t have given Yanna my shit.”
“Um, excuse you.”
“Shit.” Kian exclaimed!
“Kian! That’s a bad word, baby, don’t say that.” Troi reprimanded.
“Yea, don’t say things daddy says, Ki, he always saying bad words,” Yanna added, earning her a playful shove from Onyx. “Anyway, cousin, what’s for lunch?”
“What y’all want?”
“Baby!” Onyx exclaimed because he knew he’d just told Quan they were getting out of his house. Deep down he knew they didn’t take his threats seriously, and Troi wasn’t about to just put them out.
“What, Nyx? I was about to fix something anyway. They’re here now.”
“Yea, we here now, Nyx.” Kas chastised, reaching his hand out to Yanna, who pulled away from his grasp.
She gave him the cold shoulder the entire time Troi prepared lunch, and the entire time they sat and ate the smashed burgers and fries.
By the time they were finished, the quietness between the two had seemingly rubbed off on everyone else.
Quan and Kalil headed outside to chill by the pool while Onyx and Troi headed upstairs to bathe and clothe Kian.
That left Yanna and Kas on dish duty. Although Troi and Onyx’s kitchen was equipped with a state-of-the-art dishwasher, Layla always had the boys wash dishes by hand after sharing a meal as a family.
Troi and Yanna quickly adapted to their way of doing things.
The silence between Kas and Yanna was colossal, words going unspoken as Kas washed and she dried.
Yanna was the first to break the silence, snatching a plate from Kas’ hand and vigorously wiping it with a towel.
“Explain.”
That one word caused Kas’ heart to skip a beat.
He knew the inquisition would be coming at some point.
The jokes and seemingly unbothered demeanor was all a ruse on Yanna’s behalf.
She may have had everyone else in their lives fooled, but Kas knew the parts of her she dared not show anyone else.
The despondency in her voice as she asked him to explain his slip-up let him know he’d hurt her.
“I—”
“Like, you really get a kick out of making me feel like an idiot, don’t you?”
“Nah, you know I don’t.”
“So then explain yourself because I’m really trying to understand.”
“Okay, I’ll explain.”
“Fuck your explanations. I don’t want to hear that bullshit.”
“But you literally just told me to do it.”
“That was before I realized you weren’t going to spew nothing but lies like the lying ass nigga you are.
You’re so fucking embarrassing. And tell that lazy eye having bitch Yasmine, I’ll drag her, and every last one of her petty ass friends she had tag me in that video.
You would’ve thought she’d learn from her friend Brea, but I guess not.
” Yanna huffed. “I’ll make you charter me a jet just so I can fly to Cali and beat her ass. Keep playing with me.”
Kas’ visage remained stoic as he dipped a glass into the dishwater and began cleaning it.
He was aware he’d messed up, but Yanna wasn’t about to stand there and play victim when she was the one constantly pushing him away.
“You doing an awful lot for somebody who just yesterday was screaming ‘bout how I’m not yo man.”
“You know what? You are so right.” Yanna seized the glass from Kas’ hand, smirking while she dried it.
“You are not my man, so you’re free to do whatever you want…
and so am I. I wonder what Kalil doing when he leaves.
” She questioned for no other reason than to get a rise out of Kas before attempting to walk off.
She hadn’t even taken a few steps before she felt herself being captured in a bear hug.
“Why the fuck you gotta play?”
“Let me go, your hands are wet!”
“What I tell yo ass about making them lil’ comments about my cousin? You think that shit funny?”
“Why should it matter? Like I said, you do whatever the hell you want to do, so can I. If your cousin happens to be what I want to do… well.” Yanna’s response caused Kas to squeeze her tighter. “Stop squeezing me like that, I can’t breathe.”
“Good, maybe now you’ll shut the fuck up. Always talking shit. I told you to let me explain!”
“And I told you I don’t want to hear it! I know all I need to know, but I promise the bitch can have you.”
“You don’t know shit, you never know shit. All you do is react, so you can have an excuse to go out and be a hoe.”
“I’m not the one getting recorded coming out of bathrooms, with your trifling ass.”
“Shit, that don’t mean yo ass don’t be in them.”
“Fuck you, Kas, and let me go!”
“Hell nah, you ”
The lovers' quarrel was interrupted by the sound of Troi and Onyx coming down the stairs with Kian. Toxic behavior in front of Kian was something they never exhibited, and even though everyone knew Kas would never hit Yanna, he didn’t want his nephew getting the wrong image.
He let her go but leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Stop doing that shit, Jaiyanna.”
“Go to hell.”
“Awe, thanks for cleaning up y’all,” Troi crooned when she came back into the kitchen.
“That’s the least they can do. They woke us up, woke Kian up and then had you cook for them.”
“You getting to be like a grumpy ass old man. Troi baby must not be letting you smash like she used to.”
“Excuse you. My man gets plenty of p-u-s-s-y,” Troi spelled, not wanting to say such an explicit word in front of her son.
“Well, go give him some m-o-r-e because he’s not his usual easygoing self.”
“We just did it upstairs while y’all was down here washing dishes. Y’all muh’fuckas just irritating.”
“Upstairs while y’all was getting the baby dressed? How that work?” Yanna questioned with a raised brow.
“We’re very creative.” Troi winked. “Yanna, you want to come sit out by the pool with me before it gets too hot?”
“Sure.”
“Come out there and smoke with me real quick,” Onyx requested of Kas, who contentedly followed him onto the terrace located on the side of the house.
Once outside, they took seats on the patio furniture as Onyx produced a pre-rolled blunt from his pocket and lit it.
“She pissed, huh?” Onyx questioned, passing the blunt to Kas.
“You know she is. And I know her ass did something on some get back type shit, I just can’t tell what it is. She really gone make me fuck her up if I find out she was on some hoe shit.”
“How you figure you gone be mad at her when she caught you in the wrong?”
“Be fucking serious, Nyx. You hear how she always screaming how I ain’t her nigga, she don’t have no man, she not my girl. You don’t think I get tired of that shit? Like, damn, I got feelings too, and sometimes it feels good to have somebody want you and not deny the shit.”
Onyx had nothing to say in rebuttal. Kas was right, Yanna was always downplaying what she and Kas had.
Placing his hands behind his head, Kas laid back on the lounge chair, brown eyes lifted to the sky.
There wasn’t a cloud in sight and the blue sky was a perfect complement to the blazing August day.
Overhead, a plane with a banner advertising the upcoming opening of a skating rink flew about.
Kas’ eyes followed the aircraft as it traveled with the banner blowing in the breeze behind it.
He couldn’t help but think of him and Yanna.
Just like the plane, all they seemed to do was go in circles.
Around and around with no true terminus in sight.
Still, he knew there was a resolution somewhere beyond the mess they were.
He just hoped they found it sooner than later because he truly did love Yanna.
Contemplating on their relationship gave him the urge to be near her.
Scooting his feet into his slides, he hopped up from the chair.
“Hell you going?” Onyx questioned.
“Around there where Yanna boo at.”
“Tender ass.” Onyx laughed but followed his brother to the other side of the pool.
When they arrived, Kian was jumping from Kalil to Quan then back. Troi was unbothered, sitting on the outdoor couch beside them, scrolling through her phone while Yanna stared into space with her arms crossed.
The legs of a pool chair scraped across the ground as Kas pulled it next to Yanna. Once he was seated, he leaned in close to her face.
“You still mad at me?”
“Please get out my face. You don’t even have to worry about me.”
“Because I fucked up one time?”
“Please don’t try to insult my intelligence. It’s because you continue to fuck up, and I’m over it.”
“That’s crazy though. You can do whatever you want to do, but when I give the same energy, I’m a dog ass nigga?”
“You been a dog ass nigga. Don’t try and use me to justify that shit.”
“Nah, yo’ ass always talking about how I’m not yo’ man, but when it’s time for you to stand on that shit, you all in yo’ fucking feelings.”
“Fuck you,” Yanna shot, using her middle finger to drive emphasis to her statement.
“You always saying fuck me then end up doing exactly that.”
Releasing a huff, Onyx removed Troi’s leg from his lap and stood, grabbing Kian from his uncle’s arms. He didn’t need his son picking up pieces of the crass conversation and repeating the expletives.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because it won’t be happening anymore.”
“Yea, you always say that too.”
“I promise I won’t this time, Kasra. That’s your problem, you don’t take me seriously.”
“How can I when you don’t even take yo self seriously?”
“Oop,” Troi instigated.
“Gotdamn, I fucked up, but what you want me to do? Kill the bitch?”
“Yep,” Yanna answered, crossing her arms, and laying back in the chair, offering Kas a salacious grin.
“Aye, Nyx, text Zae and tell him to charter me a flight to LA.”
“What the fuck is wrong with y’all? You gone kill the broad, Kas?” Quan questioned with a loud howl.
“No, he’s not,” Yanna answered.
“Shit, I’ll put a mil on her head before I let her fuck up what me and you have.”
“And what do we have, Kasra?”
“Everything,” Kas replied simply. He didn’t feel the need to elaborate on his statement, because regardless of how she acted, he knew Yanna felt the same. He was aware of the love she held for him, even if she wouldn’t admit it.
“Wrong, we don’t have shit. Nothing but a bunch of lies, insults and some okay sex.”
“Whoa, wait a fucking minute. Okay sex? I know you mad and all, but don’t sit out here wailing. You know ain’t shit okay about my dick.”
“What gives you that idea?”
“The way you be screaming for the Lord every time I’m bending yo back in gives me that idea.”
“Lies you tell.” Yanna waved Kas off with a scoff.
“If I may cut in here,” Troi started, leaning over Onyx to insert herself into the conversation. “Cousin, you don’t have to lie to kick it. I walked in on y’all, remember? Kas had your ass speechless, mouth wide open like you was at the dentist.”
“Yea, if don’t nobody else have my back, my sister will.”
“Yo sister need to lean back and mind her business.”
“I was just saying.”
“Shut up, Troi. That was then, and this is now. Like I said, the shit is just okay.”
“Really, Yanna? Just okay? That’s yo final answer?”
“Yes it is, Regis.”
“Aight, bet, fuck you too then.” Kas used his foot to push Yanna’s chair away from him, catching her off guard and causing her to stumble a bit.
“Can’t stand your dumb ass, I swear,” Yanna proclaimed as she stood from the chair and stomped her way into the house.
“How she gone be mean as hell and sensitive at the same time?”
“She’s a female,” Onyx answered with a shrug.
“Excuse you?” Troi turned to Onyx with his eyebrow raised.
“Not you though, Baby.”
“Mhmm.”
“Fuck,” Kas cursed, standing from the chair and stretching before ambling his way toward the house.
Troi scrunched her brows together, not believing her eyes. “I know your ass not following her into the house.”
“Hell yea, I am, sis. Not a fan of letting my Yanna boo be mad at me. I kiss ass!” Kas called over his shoulder.
“Take that shit to yo own house!” Onyx demanded just before Kas disappeared.