Chapter 14
Pernelle
When Crew came through the bedroom door, his face lit up seeing the baby.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t back in exactly an hour. Traffic in the city today is a bitch.”
“That’s okay, at least you are back.”
I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
“Are you two good? Do you need anything?” He asked, sitting down in the rocking chair.
“Umm, to be honest, I could use a few things from the store, but I know you just got back, and you said traffic is a nightmare.”
“That doesn’t matter if you need something. If you want to go out, we can.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to take her out, though.”
“Well, ask Ciara to watch her. I’m sure her or Hov will be at this door to get her soon anyway.”
I thought for a moment, and I could use a little time outside of the house. Just a little though. I would miss my baby.
“Let me go see if she’s busy.”
I hopped up and went to knock on Ciara’s door.
“Come in,” Ciara yelled from what sounded like the restroom. When I walked inside, Hov was coming out of the restroom, and she was still standing in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around her head and her body.
“I’m sorry if I interrupted y’all doing the nasty.”
She started laughing.
“No, you didn’t interrupt. We did that earlier, which is why we just showered. What’s up, though, girl?”
“Nothing never mind, you two probably want to cuddle or other in love shit. It’s okay.”
I turned to walk away.
“Girl, no, tell me what you need. I’m listening.”
“Well, I wanted to run to Target, but I didn’t want to take her.”
“Ouu, we get to keep her?” Ciara started jumping for joy before she ran to stick her head out of the bathroom door.
“Baby, we get to keep the baby while they run to the store.”
“Aww shit, I thought you were going to say overnight.”
Hov smacked his lips.
“You are not ready for that, I’m sure.” I joked with him, and he laughed it off.
“Just let me put on my clothes, and then you can bring her in here to us. We will be glad to watch her.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“No thank you and take your time at the store.”
Ciara made me smile from her own excitement.
I went into the room and grabbed a bottle from the warmer I had on the counter, a few diapers, and some wipes to take to Ciara.
After that, Crew and I took the baby into their bedroom and left everything she needed on the nightstand, and I could already tell they wouldn’t be putting her down the entire time we were gone.
When we got in the car, Crew backed out of the driveway before turning down his system.
“Where do you want to go?”
“We can go to Target.”
“Alright. Say no more.” Crew took off from the house.
When we made it to the Brooklyn Target, Crew found parking and killed the engine. I thought he would be staying in the car, so when he got out with me, it definitely surprised me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He noticed my confusion.
“Because you don’t give me, you’re a person who likes to shop.”
“I’m really not. More of a delivery order type of nigga, but you can’t think I’m letting you come in here by yourself.
” Crew looked over his shoulder as we rode up the escalators.
I shrugged my shoulder and when we made it to the top, I grabbed a shopping cart and headed towards the personal hygiene section.
“Yo, you know which aisle the slippers will be on? I don’t have any at Hov and Ci’s place.”
“I don’t know, check the signs overhead, or ask someone.”
“You're right. I’ll be back over here asap. Don’t wander off from here.” He gave me directions like I was a child.
I agreed and then walked up and down the aisle, getting everything I needed from shampoo, to conditioner, to a blow dryer.
I’m sure Ciara had all of this stuff, but I didn’t want to bother her too much since we were already living in her house.
Ciara was so damn sweet she would never say we were getting on her nerves, but I’m a woman, and I want to be independent in some parts of my life.
I hit the corner to go to the soap aisle when my cart hit a man’s cart who was standing in front of the Method men’s body wash section.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit your cart.”
“Oh, that’s no problem. Let me move out of your way.” He moved his cart to the side, and I strolled past him. I saw him double-take over his shoulder twice, and once my back was turned to him completely, he called out for my attention.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” I turned around to face him. He was a decent looking guy. Much shorter than Crew, with dark brown skin. He was in workout clothing, and he gave me trainer vibes from his build.
“I’m Dennis. I thought I would introduce myself to you because you are such a beautiful lady.”
“Nice to meet you, Dennis. I’m Pernelle.”
“Pernelle, that’s a pretty name.”
He almost got a smile out of me.
“I see you out in this cold like me, but I refuse to give DoorDash anymore of my money.”
“I get that. I was just thinking the same when I came out.”
I replied, reaching for the sugar-cookie-scented Dove soap nearby on the shelf next to me.
“I don’t want to waste your time or interrupt your shopping, but do you mind if I ask if you have a boyfriend or a husband?”
“Um, neither actually,” I answered the question quickly with the truth.
Crew and I hadn’t made anything official, and from what he is saying, we are coparenting. Plus, I know he’s out fuckin around, so I’m not going to stop my groove for him.
“So, can we exchange numbers? That way I can get to know you on better terms and not when we are both out shopping for hygiene products.”
“Sure.” I smiled, taking my phone out of my pocket.
“Go ahead.”
“My number is 718-555-3790.”
I dialed his number into my phone. Everything was all lighthearted until I looked up, my heart dropped because Crew was standing behind him like Michael fuckin Myers.
“P what the fuck do you have going on?”
“Crew just don’t okay. I’ll talk to you later, Dennis.” I pushed my cart around Dennis as quickly as I could to get away from Crewshon Myers.
“Don’t run off from me. I know you wasn’t back there giving that nigga your fuckin number.”
“I was not giving him my number, Crew.” I continued pushing the cart.
“Then what were you doing with your fuckin phone out in that nigga face? You trying to make me murder that pussy?”
“Murder him for what, Crew? I wasn’t giving him my number; I was just taking his for your information. I’m single, remember.”
The jaw muscles in Crew’s cheeks flexed, and the next thing I knew, he snatched my phone from my hand. This psychopath then threw it like a touchdown pass over the shelves, and I wasn’t sure if it had landed or not until I heard some woman scream, “Ouch! What the hell!” from a few aisles away.
“Crew, why the fuck did you just throw my phone, dumb ass?”
“Because you are playing with me, and I’m going to throw you next.”
Crew was so heated that I honestly got a little tickled by it. He was obviously Mr. Dish it but can’t take it.
“Hurry up and get your shit so we can leave out this bitch before you find two more niggas in here to hoe with.”
“What, you jealous?”
Crew looked at me with a hard-ass mug on his face.
“As fuck.” He replied, “Now come on.” He said, and I followed because I wasn’t trying to see how far he could actually throw me in this store, as he said.
I got a few more things with my bodyguard now right behind me and then we checked out at the register once I was done shopping and went to the car, where Crew aggressively chunked my stuff in his trunk before slamming it.
Maybe I was still a bit toxic because seeing him this mad was making me giggle on the inside.
“You need to go anywhere else? As a matter of fact, let me know what you need, and I’ll go into the store and get it. You not about to be parading that fat ass around anymore since you are losing your fuckin mind out here. You on drugs P?”
“No Crew, you seem to be the one losing your mind and on drugs. I mean, damn, we aren’t together.”
“Then what are we?” He looked over at me as he started the engine of his car.
“Coparenting, I guess. I mean, you do what you want to do. You leave the house when you want. I’m sure you were fuckin someone else when you left earlier.”
“I told you that I was seeing my son, and that’s the truth. I haven’t been fuckin no one because I was trying to build something with your ass.”
Crew zoomed off in the car so fast my head jerked back like we just took off on an airplane.
“Crew, slow your ass down. Are you forgetting we have a baby at home?”
He wiped his hand down his face and shook his head.
“My bad. I really did forget. I was ready to kill us both.”
I couldn’t help but bust out laughing.
“You can’t be serious right now.”
“What’s so funny about dying?” He lifted an eyebrow.
“You are funny because I never expected you to be so jealous and unhinged about me giving out my number. What would you do if I gave away this cat?”
“P don’t even talk like that because I don’t want to hear that shit. As soon as that pussy ready, I’m pounding you. Not no little ass nigga named Dennis in some too little ass biker shorts with leggings underneath looking like a fuck ass majorette.”
I laughed even harder at him until I started to actually feel bad for him.
“Aww.” I reached my hand to grab his chin.
“That baby is jealous over me.”
“Of course, I am. You mine.”
“Am I? I never remembered being asked to be your girl Crew.”
“Well, I’m telling you now, you're mine.”
“Aht aht aht. Crew, I said, ask. And before you do, know that I’m not putting up with cheating, baby scandals, or any of that. I’m not about to be official with you just so that you can keep other men out of my face, alright?”
“Alright. I hear you.”
I jerked his head towards me by the chin.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand. I get it. I’m all yours, and you and Tanya The Tiger are all mine.”
“Who the fuck is Tanya The Tiger?” Crew reached over and grabbed in between my legs.
“Crew stop! I’m still wearing a pad.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” He finally broke his scowl, flashing that pretty ass smile.
I guess now that Crew and I are official, I have to start working on building trust with his ass.
I am going to hold him to the same standard he’s holding me to, or we will not be together at all.
Who would’ve even thought that exchanging numbers in Target with some random man, would make him finally want to step up and make things official? Funny how that shit works.
Jealousy got us together, now let's see if this relationship will last.