Chapter 5
Nyla was glad to be back in Chicago, though she enjoyed her time with Kyst, it was back to reality.
Back to being under Chello’s thumb, moving into her own place had been weighing heavy on her heart.
It was time. She had been with Chello all her life, and they were getting older, so it was time to separate.
“Good morning,” she said after seeing her brother for the first time since she got back the night before.
She could sense something was off, she knew her brother and her brother knew everything.
“How was Harlem?”
Chello always asked questions that he already knew the answer to; he just wanted to test the person he was talking to, but Nyla was two steps ahead. She knew the fight video had gone viral and made its way to Chicago.
“It was cool. I got into a little scuffle.”
“That’s what you call it?”
“You saw the video, huh?”
Chello nodded once, “Yeah, I saw it. What was that about?”
“It wasn’t nothing. Just a drunk bitch doing too much. She picked me out the crowd and came at me.”
That part wasn’t a lie, but what came next, she couldn’t bring herself to be truthful and she hoped her brother didn’t catch it.
“You know anybody in that video?”
She had watched the video a million times herself and knew that he was talking about Kyst and the way he grabbed her around the waist. She knew it because it was favorite part of the video.
Nyla blinked slow and shook her head, “No.”
Chello held her gaze as if he was looking for her to crack under his pressure. Something in his face softened because it was Nyla. She was the one person in the world he never had to second guess. The person who never lied to him and that he trusted completely.
He looked away for a brief second, “Stay away from Harlem and anyone associated with the city.”
Chello meant what he said, his voice was colder than a New York and Chicago winter put together.
Nyla nodded, but she didn’t verbally agree because that would be another lie coming out her mouth.
His order sat heavy in her chest like it was attached to her main arteries.
She knew she couldn’t stay away, not now, not after the time Kyst showed her in Harlem.
His charming ways, the way he handled her, and the way he laid dick on her like it was made specifically for her. She was on Kyst, bad.
Chello finally stepped closer to her and hugged her tightly as he always did - tight, protective, and real.
“You know I don’t play about you.”
“I know, Brother.”
And she did. That alone was a problem because not only was she lying to her brother, but she was gambling his trust and that was something she never wanted to lose.
She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Between what felt like a fantasy and her reality, she had no idea what she was going to do but cutting Kyst off wasn’t an option.
No sooner than he crossed her mind, he texted.
Kyst: Good morning, beautiful.
Nyla smiled as soon as Chello walked out the room.
Nyla: Morning, handsome. How did you sleep?
Kyst: Cool. When am I gon’ see you again?
Nyla: Idk. You miss me already?
Kyst: I missed you yesterday when you left.
Nyla: Know what’s crazy? I said the same thing when I boarded.
Kyst: We gotta figure this long distance shit out. Move to New York.
She was waiting on lol or a laughing emoji or something, but it never came. Was he serious?
Nyla: Lol, don’t temp me.
Kyst: Yeah ok. Don’t play with me, I’ll call your bluff.
Nyla sat the phone down, her body was there but her mind was gone, back to Harlem, back to him. Right then and there, she knew it was too late, she was in it now. And the deeper she went, the harder it was gonna be getting out, especially when the two worlds she was hiding eventually collided.
Her mind was all over the place and Jada was the only person who knew everything that was going on with her.
She hurried out the door and headed to the shop, she needed to talk bad.
As soon as she walked into the shop, she waited for Jada to get there, and as soon as Jada walked through the door, Nyla dumped.
“Bitch, I’m losing my mind!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The fight video went viral and Chello saw it. He asked me if I knew anyone in the video and I lied. I said I didn’t know Kyst.”
“Why? You’re twenty-eight, making your own money, and still lying to Chello.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I really don’t, so help me understand. Why did you lie about Kyst?”
“Because Chello knows him.”
Jada frowned, “How? Did Chello say he knew him?”
“No, but I know my brother and he basically told me to stay out of Harlem and away from anyone from Harlem. That was his way of letting me know.”
“You like Kyst?”
Nyla dropped her head, “I do. A lot.”
“You know you can only lie for so long.”
“I know. Let’s get a condo together.”
Nyla could’ve easily moved into one of Chello properties, but if that was the case, she could’ve stayed right there with him. She needed a fresh start without Chello providing for her, and she was ready to find her own way.
“We sure the fuck can because that $2,100 for a one bedroom is killing me!”
A smile spread across Nyla’s face, the thought of being out on her own made her feel good. She was a very late bloomer because Chello sheltered her all her life.
“Ok! We not using any of Chello’s connections, I want this to be my own experience.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that, BFF. I do suggest talking to him, Chello loves you and I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Yeah, you’re right, I’m about to call him. Thanks, Bestie.”
“Anytime, Boo.”
Jada walked out the office and closed the door behind her. Nyla’s nerves were on the edge as she picked up her phone. Before she could call Chello, Kyst called.
“Hello,” she answered dryly, not meaning to sound dry toward him, but she was in her feelings.
“What’s wrong?”
The fact that he didn’t even really know her but picked up on her energy made her smile.
“I’m ok, just some family issues. How are you?”
“Not good.”
“What’s wrong?” she sat up in her chair.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Kyst. A lot.”
“So, you coming to Harlem or am I coming to Chicago?”
Nyla sighed because she was damned either way. She would have to be in her own place to be with Kyst comfortably without looking over her shoulder.
“I think Harlem might be safer.”
“Safer? For who?”
“You. My brother saw the fight video and questioned me about you.”
“And?”
She hated having to explain at her big age that her brother controlled everything in her life.
“My brother is overly protective.”
“So we hiding?”
“Not necessarily, I just haven’t told him about you because we’re not in a relationship.”
“I feel you.”
She felt his words in her chest, and he didn’t even say much. She could tell that he didn’t like what she said. Nyla closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat, she didn’t even know what to say.
“You mad at me?”
“Mad for what?”
“Because I didn’t tell him about you.”
“Nah, I’m fuckin’ with you, not your brother. You can hide me forever if you want to, baby.”
“You plan on sticking around forever?” she asked, trying to lighten the conversation before it got too heavy for her.
“I’m here until you don’t want me to be.”
“Well, forever it is.”
“Your Zelle is your number?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Sending you lunch and flight money. Let me know when you coming, I’ll pick you up from the airport.”
She smiled and shook her head, “Ok, let me check my schedule and I’ll let you know when I’m coming.”
Nyla saw her first client walking into the shop on the camera and wrapped up her call. She decided to talk to Chello face to face, she owed him that much.
Nyla dragged the entire day at the shop, the closer she got to the house, the more her nerves crept up on her.
Chello had always been understanding, she just didn’t want him to start questioning her decisions.
When she walked in and saw a pair of stilettos at the door that didn’t belong to her, she frowned.
In all of their years of living together, Chello had never brought a female to their house.
She made sure to watch tv in the living room so that she didn’t miss the bitch taking the walk of shame out the house. Nyla had to see who the special lady was and she better be a badd bitch or she was going to clown the fuck out Chello.
As soon as she tuned in to her show, voices came from the back, showtime. Nyla sat up and grabbed the remote to act like she was looking for something to watch.
“Damn, Ny, when you get home?” Chello asked when he noticed her on the couch.
“’Bout an hour ago,” she said, finally looking over, and when she did, she frowned unknowingly.
It was the same bitch from the shop whose hair she had done. She knew damn well that ghetto bitch wasn’t who he was getting serious with. Sure, she was pretty and had perfect paid body, but her attitude was ass.
“Hey, girl,” she spoke to Nyla.
“Hey,” Nyla shot back, she couldn’t wait to ask Chello why she was there.
Londa rubbed her the wrong way; she could spot a gold-digging bitch a mile away and that hoe had a strong smell.
“Can I get in your chair?”
Nyla didn’t give a fuck how much she didn’t like her, she wasn’t turning down no money; hell, it was probably her brother’s anyway.
“Yup, book on the site.”
Londa forced a fake ass smile that Nyla saw straight through. She kissed Chello and was out the door. He turned around and Nyla was staring dead at him.
“What?”
“What? Since when we started bringing people home?”
“We ain’t started doing shit. I brought Londa over because she had to pee and we was on the block.”
“She must got an enlarged bladder, it took her an hour to piss.”
Chello laughed and joined Nyla on the couch.
“Ain’t nobody gone take yo place in my life, punk,” he chuckled.
“Especially not a rat like that, I hope.”
“A rat?”
“She’s a gold-digger.”
Chello laughed, “That girl got her own money.”
Nyla shook her head, “Yeah, they always have their own in the beginning, and next thing you know, she’s knee deep in your pocket.”
“As long as I’m knee deep in her pussy, it’s cool with me. Anyway, what’s up with you?”
“Nothing much. I did wanna talk to you about something.”
“What?” he gave her his undivided attention.
“Jada and I want to move in together.”
Chello stared at her for a minute, “You ready to move?”
She knew that was going to weigh heavy on him because they had never been apart.
“I am. I’m twenty-eight now and I think it’s time.”
“I can’t argue with that. Y’all can take one of the houses.”
Nyla knew that was coming.
“Nah, we gone do a condo downtown or close to the shop area.”
He was really staring at her when she dropped that bomb on him.
“So you saying you don’t need me?”
Her face softened, “I’ll always need you, Brother, I just want to do this myself.”
“Ok.”
Nyla’s eyes lit up, she wasn’t expecting him to be that understanding, but she couldn’t wait to go house hunting with Jada.
“Thanks for understanding, Brother, and I promise we’ll still have dinner every Sunday.”
“We better.” He stood up and softly pushed her before disappearing to his room.
Nyla knew she had probably hurt his feelings with her news, but it had to be done, and she felt so damn good. Her summer was starting off perfectly!
It took every bit of two weeks for Nyla and Jada to find the perfect spot.
A three-bedroom condo right near the shop.
Open kitchen, fresh paint, picture windows in almost every room of the house, tall ceilings, and modern fixtures throughout.
Everything the best friends had talked about was finally about to be theirs.
“This is nice,” Chello said, nodding his head as they did a final walkthrough before signing the paperwork.
“Thanks,” both she and Jada said in unison.
“I’ll buy all y’all furniture. My housewarming gift to y’all.”
Jada’s mouth dropped, “Even the bedroom sets?” she asked.
“Even the bedroom sets,” he confirmed.
“You don’t have to do that, Brother.”
“I know,” he said as he walked toward the bedrooms to take a call.
That meant he was going to do it anyway; Nyla knew she had no win there.
Jada turned to Nyla, “I swear to God if that man ever give me a chance, I’m gon’ love him right.”
Nyla laughed like she always did when Jada lusted over Chello, there was no doubt in her mind that she was obsessed with Chello.
“Girl, I’m just about to gon’ and tell him that you been in love with him since we were kids.”
“Noooo! You know he don’t look at me like that.”
“How you know?”
“Because I’m your best friend. Nigga probably think I’m his lil sister, too.”
“That’s crazy because you’re the one person I wouldn’t mind sharing him with. I don’t like his bitch anyway. She lucky I like my money because she wouldn’t be nowhere near me,” Nyla whispered because Chello seemed to be defensive when it came to Londa.
She could tell that hoe had her brother by the balls and Nyla didn’t like it one bit, it was something about Londa that rubbed her the wrong way. She had been at the house almost every other day and Nyla couldn’t wait to move completely out and rid herself of the fake smiles and fuck sounds.