Chapter 4
The Next Morning
I got into defense mode as Dame tried to drive hard to the basket. He went in for a layup, but I blocked it, grabbed the ball, and dunked it, earning me the win.
“I told you, you can’t fuck with me!” I chuckled, palming his head.
He knocked my hand away as I laughed. “Whatever, nigga. That was luck.”
We were currently in his backyard on the full-court basketball enclosure, playing a friendly game of twenty-one.
He was breathing like a wild bull, I’m sure, from not working out enough and smoking.
I made it my mission to work out every morning to stay in shape.
I was damn near forty years old, so I knew as I aged, so would my body.
During my exploration last night, I discovered the gym and court.
When I heard the music coming from the other end of the basement, I walked down the hall and noticed Jela inside the dance studio.
I wasn’t trying to be a creep, but her movements pinned me in place as I watched her body contort as if she had no bones.
I could tell she was in her element because she never noticed me standing there.
The way her ass bounced so effortlessly had me imagining her bouncing them on my face.
I knew what I was feeling for her was wrong on so many levels, but I couldn’t help but want to know her story and fuck the sadness out of her heart.
When she beefed on me last night for touching her, I knew I had to take my ass to bed.
I had a conference call this morning around seven about getting shit together at the company after the holidays, and I spotted Dame walking through the doors looking well-rested and changed. I wrapped up the call, then made his ass change and come shoot some ball with me before Jela could see him.
“I think I’m going to go ahead and find me an apartment,” I told him as we sat on the bench.
“Why? What happened?” he asked.
“Nothing, nigga. I just feel out of place here. Like I’m taking up space.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, but there was no way I could stay here with Jela. She was doing shit to me, and I didn’t even know her for real. I didn’t want to hurt my brother, so I needed space from her, or this shit was going to get messy.
“Bro, I’m sorry about what I did to you the last time you were here. I feel like you took that job in Detroit to get away from me for fucking Melody. I know you said you forgave me, but I don’t believe you. I wanted you to stay so we could hash shit out.”
Why the fuck did he have to bring that shit up?
Yeah, I was fucked up behind my brother fucking my girl, but the truth was, Melody just wasn’t the one for me. She had the potential to be more, but we weren’t together for that long for her to break my heart.
Hurt my feelings? Yes. Have me ready to go to war with my brother? Not at all.
I was more heartbroken over my brother’s disloyalty. I felt like if he wanted her, he should have told me. But how could someone ask their brother to fuck their girl?
Melody still called me regularly, trying to get back together, but I was cool on her. If she could fuck my brother, I knew she wasn’t exempt from other niggas smashing.
I wasn’t trying to be on no get back shit, but Jela was extremely attractive, and after seeing her dance last night, I wanted to fold her ass like a lawn chair and dig deep in her guts. Aside from that, I wanted to get to know her and make her smile.
“D, I don’t give a fuck about that no more.
That shit is old and is not the reason why I left.
You know me well enough to know I don’t hold grudges, especially not for someone who could claim to love me, then fuck my brother.
This ain’t that. I just feel like you should have your space for your family, man. ”
“You are my family… my blood. You can stay here until your house is ready, Tru. Jela won’t bother you. She knows to stay away from you unless you need her. Besides, you need to spend some time with your niece before you become unavailable.”
Something was off with their relationship. I wasn’t trying to pry, but my brother wasn’t giving “a nigga in love” vibes, and neither was she. It felt obligatory. I didn’t know what was going on between them, but I knew it wasn’t anything good.
I sighed and looked over at him. “Unless I need her, huh?” I smirked. He side-eyed me as I laughed. “I’m just fucking wit’ you, D.”
“Man, look… I’d let you hit one time as payback, but after that, that’s it.”
“Yo, what the fuck, Dame?” I couldn’t stop laughing because I just knew his ass was serious. “I’m not fucking your girl, dog.”
“You sure? I wouldn’t be mad if you did; only if you tried to take her from me. Then, we’ll have a problem.”
“I’m good, bro. I don’t want to be at odds with you, so I’d rather not take you up on that offer. And if you love her like you claim you do, you shouldn’t be offering her up to me anyway.”
Because I can guarantee you won’t get her back.
“Whatever, Tru. I ain’t stupid. My bitch is bad. That’s why I keep her ass in the house, so I don’t go on a killing spree if a nigga tries to step to her.”
“Nigga, what?” I couldn’t believe what just came out of his mouth. Now I knew why she seemed so sad. This nigga was holding her hostage in this damn house just like his daddy used to do to our mother.
“Yeah, that’s why I don’t usually date bad bitches. The moment she gets some freedom… her ass gon’ cheat on me. I just know it.”
I palmed the ball in my hands and pressed the sides hard as I looked him in the eyes. “Dame, I swear on my dead father’s grave… if you’re doing anything to hurt that girl, I’m going to hurt you. Mark my words.”
“Why the fuck you care what I do with my bitch?”
“Nigga, you know why!” I yelled.
Rarely did I ever come out of my body, but my brother, of all people, knew that shit triggered me.
Nights when I could do nothing but listen to our mother scream or watch her try to cover up bruises made me angry.
A man who had to use force and manipulate his woman to control her was no man at all.
He was a fucking coward. A certified bitch-ass nigga.
“You back talking to your daddy, ain’t you?”
“No!”
Lying ass.
“Yeah, you are. I told you to stop talking to his ass, D! That motherfucka don’t do shit but give you bad advice. Hence, why you locking Jela the fuck up in this house. He used to do our moms the same way, and you keep listening to that nigga and holding on to his every word like it’s Bible!”
He stood and stepped closer to me. “Look. I know what the nigga did. You ain’t gotta keep reminding me—”
“Apparently, I do!”
“You don’t! I was there, too, nigga. I saw the same shit you saw… He just trying to find his way after what happened—”
“Fuck him, D!” I yelled.
My voice echoed off the walls; that’s how angry I was. Damien Senior was a coward-ass bitch that didn’t deserve to be in our space. For my brother to show his ass grace was fucking with me. I didn’t like that shit at all.
“Damien?” Jela’s timid voice came over the intercom and broke our heated gazes.
He walked over to the wall to answer her. “What?”
“Breakfast is ready.”
“Yeah, a’ight.” He turned and looked at me.
“Bro, I don’t want to argue with you. You’re my big brother, and I love you, but don’t tell me how to run my relationship.
We have an understanding, and I take good care of her and my daughter.
She don’t want for shit. So, are we good? ” he asked, holding his hand out to me.
I shook my head and pulled him into my arms. “We good, man.”
“Good. Let’s go eat. I’m still kind of fucked up from last night and need to put something on my stomach.”
I didn’t warrant his comment with a reply. I simply nodded and followed him out of the enclosure gates.
We walked into the kitchen to a spread of good-looking food.
Jela was at the table feeding Scottlyn when we walked in.
The sight of her with rollers in her hair, fresh face, with a robe on was fucking tantalizing—more tantalizing than the beautiful breakfast she made.
Although I was still a little heated about the exchange with Dame, I smiled as I approached my niece.
“Good morning, Miss Jela,” I greeted.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Chunks,” I said, tickling her belly, making her giggle in her cute voice. I took a seat across from her and looked at Jela. “Everything looks good. I missed having a home-cooked meal.”
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome. So, where you from, sis-in-law?” I asked her.
She chewed her food before she responded, “Detroit, well, Rochester Hills.”
“Nice. Our cousin Dominic used to live out that way, and I did a few homes out there, so I know a lil’ something about it.”
She nodded her head and continued to eat. I was trying to get her to open up because she didn’t talk much. I wanted to get to know the real Jela, not the timid one before me.
Pushing for more, I asked, “Your people from there too?”
Another awkward beat of silence. “Uh, y-yes. My mom and my sister.”
“Oh, yeah? How old is your sister?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Are you the baby?”
“No… I’m the eldest. I’m thirty-six.”
My eyes ballooned. “Get out of here! You don't look no older than twenty-eight.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
“You should because it definitely was. Anyway, since you’re marrying my brother, you think I can get sis' phone number?” I chuckled lightly, scooping some grits into my mouth.
Damn, this shit’s good.
“Excuse me.” She stood from the table and went to grab Scottlyn, but Dame halted her.
“Sit down, J.”
“I need to get ready to meet the planner—”
“What did I say?” She sighed and sat down. “Jela hasn't spoken to her people in almost a year. They disowned her for being with me,” Dame explained.
“Damn, my bad, shorty.” Now I understood why she was crying last night. She missed them. “I mean, this nigga can be a handful, but I know he knows how to show respect. But it’s their loss, you feel me?”
She nodded solemnly.