Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
ASHANNI
“How are things going, Maui? I miss you, girl.”
“Things are good, Shani. I miss you too. You probably really miss me at work. You been answering the phones?”
I chuckled. “We’ve been dividing those duties.
Malia has been learning the ropes, and she answers the phones when she gets here in the afternoon.
Me and Mama been answering them, unless Aunt Tiff comes in to help.
Jakari is interviewing a lady as we speak.
We ran out of family members old enough to work in the office. ”
“What about Chenetra? She said she wanted to come back.”
“She came back, and Uncle WJ happy as shit to have his baby back out here, but you know they were talking about having to hire someone else while you were here. Karima and Milana are rodeoing, the twins got their shit, Nesha runs the village and land development, and Jess is still modeling. Shakayla wants no parts of it right now. Nesha and Aunt Tiff help out when they can, but it’s not enough. ”
“Shani, don’t try to guilt trip me into coming back.”
“I’m not. I’m just telling you what’s going on, but if you think I’m guilt tripping you, it must be working.”
She chuckled. Something sounded off. She didn’t sound as happy as I expected her to.
This was a decision she made. Obviously that nigga was more important than everybody else.
Maui wasn’t a dummy. She saw all the bullshit we saw, but she was choosing to ignore it for whatever reason.
Dick was plentiful around these parts. Shaydon, Mister Shylou’s son, had been crushing on her for years.
He was younger than us, but those two or three years didn’t deter him.
He was such a cutie too. When he hit that catwalk, looking like a younger version of Mr. Shylou, I nearly drooled one time.
He was chocolate perfection, and he wanted her.
But she wanted a thug ass, ex-con ass nigga like Mythic.
It just didn’t make sense to me. There had to be something she wasn’t saying.
I wished I knew what that shit was, because I would expose it quick as hell.
I needed my girl back. The twins weren’t fun to be around anymore.
They weren’t always fun to be around before this, but now, they were serious all the damn time.
Milana and I called them to hang out last night, and they got on our last fucking nerve.
We ended up cutting the night short, because they were criticizing every fucking thing we did.
I started dancing and bouncing my ass to “Back That Azz Up”, and they started talking shit about my body count.
I cussed them the fuck out, and Milana and I walked out on their asses.
Who the fuck didn’t throw their ass in a circle when that song came on?
Not having Maui was fucking up everyone’s mood, and I knew it was because her dynamic was missing.
She was our ‘peace in the midst of a storm.’ We didn’t have peace.
“Shani, I can’t come back, boo.”
“I know. I just wish you would. Can I go out there to see you?”
“Of course. Mythic won’t mind. Honestly, he doesn’t mind any of you coming.”
“Okay. I may have to get Ali to go with me, though, because that stupid bitch tryna get at me. Liberty isn’t the safest place for me right now. Shit, Nome barely safe. Ali said she wanna take me out.”
“What? Mila?”
“Yeah. She ain’t who we thought she was. She got serious mental issues,” I said, stopping myself from saying more.
I wasn’t supposed to even tell Maui that much. I supposed since the warrant had been issued, it was probably okay, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
“Mental issues like what?”
“Why you really out there, Maui? You tell me that, and I’ll tell you what’s up with her,” I said, knowing I was being pushy.
Maui usually shut down when I was pushy. If she couldn’t talk to me, who was she talking to?
“Shani, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“I’m sorry, Maui. Okay.”
I ended the call and stood from my desk to go to the bathroom.
Maui had been gone for nearly a week, and I hated that shit.
I couldn’t even get out my frustrations sexually.
I had never had sex in my parents’ home and didn’t plan to.
I respected the hell out of the two of them.
But Jesus! I was on the verge of taking Asad outside, while Jayceon was asleep, to fuck him in his truck.
That man was walking around the house in a wifebeater and basketball shorts or sweats.
One time, while my parents were occupied with Jayceon, he’d adjusted his dick right in front of me.
I nearly attacked his ass. I pulled my phone from my pocket and took a picture of myself and sent it to him with the caption, I can’t wait to see you and my son.
When Jayceon called me his new mommy, I nearly swallowed my tongue.
That little boy loved me already, and I surely loved him.
He was so sweet. I knew he missed his mom though.
I heard him crying while talking to Asad one night.
I couldn’t wait until all this foolishness was over so we could go have fun as a family.
Before I left the bathroom, he sent a message back. Damn, baby. Don’t have me all emotional over here. I showed him your picture, and he yelled, “Mommy!”
Now I was truly crying, and I couldn’t stop.
These were tears of happiness and sadness.
I was happy that all was right in my love life, but sad that my girl wasn’t here to see it.
Before I could respond to him, he sent another text.
Don’t cry, baby. I love you and see you when you get off.
Be ready to sneak off tonight for something quick. I need your sexy ass.
I swore he thought he knew me. I chuckled and still let out a small cry as I heard the door open. “Shani, you okay?”
“Yeah, Mama. Just the same ol’ same ol’.”
“I’m sorry, baby. We just have to pray for her. At this point that’s all we can do, since she won’t listen to anybody.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders as I stood in front of the mirror. “Tiff said she wouldn’t tell her why she had to be with that nigga so bad.”
I patted my face dry, and asked, “Do you know what a diamond-chip dick is?”
Her eyes widened, then a grin formed on her lips. “Yeah. Why? How you know?”
“I should’ve known your nasty ass knew, Chas.”
She shoved my head with her fingertips, causing me to laugh. “Don’t tell me. That nigga got that shit in prison, didn’t he? I didn’t know they still did that shit.”
I nodded. “I feel like it’s more than that though. He better not have my girl on drugs, or I’m gon’ flip the fuck out.”
“Shit. I hope not. I want to say Maui would never, but I just don’t know anymore.
I never would have thought that she would go against her dad this way.
Storm has been so depressed. I’ve never seen him this bad, not even when he thought Aspen was leaving him.
Aspen said he hasn’t left the house in days, and he barely eats.
It’s breaking my heart,” she said as her voice trembled.
I hugged her tightly, and we cried together. This shit hurt. “We are going to have to go over there and try to cheer them up. I don’t know how we gon’ do that shit when we’re a massive trainwreck ourselves,” I said.
“Right,” she said, pulling away. “I suppose these two Henderson women are about to be barefaced beauties for the second half of our shift.”
“Yep. You got makeup wipes?”
“I grabbed some when I saw how long you’d been in here.”
I gave her a soft smile and said, “Thanks. I’m gon’ have to hit the blunt and spend some time with my man when I get home.”
“Well, I don’t mind watching my grandbaby. Y’all get out. Just make sure you let Ali know.”
“Thanks, Mama. Now that I no longer have Maui, be prepared to be overwhelmed with my bullshit.”
“Hell naw. Yo’ ass better utilize Milana and Jessica. Jessica don’t mind fooling around with bullshit. Now that you have Asad, though, that should be at a minimum anyway.”
“Absolutely. Mama, I love him so much. I don’t even know how I let that girl come between us.”
“That don’t matter. Y’all are together now.”
“That we are,” I said as I heard the bell ring.
We’d been keeping the door locked since they found out about Mila’s threat. We made our way back to our desks to see who was here, and I saw a beautiful bouquet of lilies on my desk. My mama smiled at me as I admired them.
“Yep. I’ll watch my grandson. You gotta thank that man properly.”
I slightly rolled my eyes and giggled. She was right as hell though. He would get thanked like my life depended on it, with our security guy watching.
“Oooh fuuuck, baby!”
Asad’s dick was taking me to places unheard of as I rolled my hips against him.
We’d resorted to utilizing the back seat of his truck.
We barely made it. We were kissing heavily, and he’d pinned me against the truck before we even got in.
Hopefully, that was enough of a warning for whoever was watching out for us.
I could only hope my daddy didn’t see us.
I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes for months.
I didn’t care about that shit right now though. Asad had a grip on my ass that was sure to leave bruises. He was sucking my nipple like it was providing him nutrients, and I was about to cum all over him. “Asaaaad! I’m about to cuuuumm!”
“Ahhh . . . fuck me up with that shit then. I love the fuck out of you, girl. Shit!”
I started rolling my hips faster as my head dropped back against the back of the driver’s seat. Asad didn’t have the slightest problem keeping up with me. “Ahhhh shiiiiit!” I yelled as my pussy unleashed its magic all over the damn place.
“Hell yeah. I love this wet shit. You ain’t done though. Give me some more, Shani.”