Chapter Nine #4
“No... Well, I mean it’s not that far off.” Tyler sighed, thinking about the twerkathon that was probably taking place in the living room.
“Straight up. Send me a video.”
“No, nigga.”
“Let me find out you be having industry sex parties.” Logic coughed.
“What?” Tyler snickered. “I’m not into that kinda stuff.”
“What are you into? Do you like to be tied up, bit, choked?” he quizzed, causing her pussy to thump.
“My sexual preferences aren’t your business,” Tyler said just above a whisper.
“Not yet.” He inhaled the smoke from his blunt. “You’ll wanna tell me what gets you off.”
“Now, why would I do something like that?”
“Because I’m a quick learner. The sooner you tell me what you like, the sooner I can have you singing about cumming back-to-back like my girl Jhene.”
“You listen to Jhene?” Tyler side-eyed the phone as if he could see her.
“Fuck yea, I love R&B. I high key fuck with it more than rap.”
“I would’ve never guessed.”
“Why?”
“Because you seem like you only listen to drill music. The tatts, scruffy hair, baggy clothing.... it’s giving I only listen to hood shit.”
“You funny,” Logic chortled. “If you trying to say I need a haircut, don’t beat around the bush.”
“You look in the mirror every day. You know what’s up there.”
“Shut up,” he snorted, running his hand through his unruly hair. “Let me ask you something.”
“Oh lord.”
“Nah, nothing like that,” he chuckled. “What do you do when you get writer's block?”
“You’re going to judge me.”
“I won’t.”
“I watch slapping competitions,” Tyler confessed.
“Man, what?”
“Power Slap…that’s my show.”
“Like the shit where they be slapping the fuck outta each other?”
“Yep, that and Criminal Minds.”
“So you mean to tell me your violent ass like to watch people slapping each other and serial killers?”
“I do. There’s something about people being knocked out after talking so much shit that excites me.”
“Why not watch boxing?”
“Slapping is more personal. I’ve seen people get their teeth knocked out by an open palm.”
“That’s some crazy shit.”
“It is, but that’s what I like to watch when I’m feeling blocked.” Tyler shrugged. “I’m going to send you some videos.”
“Oh shit,” Logic grinned. “Are we entering the part of our friendship where we send each other Reels all day?”
“We can’t be friends.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I’m trying to make shit official, but you wanna friend zone a nigga. We could be watching that slap box shit together while I rub on your booty.”
“You wish.” Tyler playfully rolled her eyes. “What was your favorite song of mine?” She changed the subject, pulling her lip into her mouth.
“I’ll know it when I see it, in my bones, I'm gonna feel it. Bruised and broken heart, the love of my life, he’s going to heal it,” Logic’s raspy voice hummed. “And I’m not looking for a savior, baby, I can save myself. Trusting the wrong people can be bad for your health.”
Tyler swallowed the lump in her throat as her insides melted. The man was singing. He was singing her song… an old song that few people remembered, and he sounded damn good.
“Ty, where you at girl?” Dexter hollered out, entering the bedroom.
“I gotta go,” Tyler abruptly ended the call.
Hopping off the counter, Tyler flushed the toilet before sticking the phone in the waistband of her shorts. As soon as she unlocked the door, Dexter yanked it open. His eyes roamed her body before landing on her face.
“What were you doing?”
“What’s the customary thing for people to do in the bathroom?” Tyler answered, brushing past him.
“Uh, did you pop that e-pill?”
A wave of a nausea washed over Tyler as Shane’s words rang in her ears. ‘He’s an enabler right along with your aunt. They both like to see you drunk and high because not only do you act up, but you’re also vulnerable.’
“No, I told you I’m trying to slow down. I don’t need to be high to have a good time, Dexter. I’m fine, let’s go back out there.”
“Since when don’t you wanna vibe with ya nigga? That’s what we do, get fucked up and make good music.”
“I can vibe without all the extra shit, plus my stomach been messed up. Drinking, smoking, and taking ecstasy is going to further irritate the problem.”
“You pregnant?”
“What? No.”
“Then I’m not trying to hear that shit. If my seeds aren’t growing inside of you, we about to get fucked up.”
“You can do whatever you like, but I'm good.”
Dexter scratched the back of his head and stared at Tyler. He wasn’t used to her declining his advances. Normally, she was down for whatever. At the moment, she was giving square vibes, and he didn’t like it.
“Aight, man,” he scoffed. “I’m about to go to the club with these niggas, I need a lil inspiration. Put some clothes on, I called downtown and got us a section.”
“No, you can go ahead, I'mma stay here and write. I told you I’ve been working on a project of my own.”
“Man, nah, you can work on that lil shit later. Get dressed, you coming out with me.”
“I’m good. I’m going to stick around here.”
“So you choosing working on some bullshit over me?” He pouted.
“Dex, you can’t be serious right now.” Tyler laughed in his face. “You’re high and you sound like a three-year-old. If I’m telling you I don’t wanna do something, then that’s what it is. You acting like you’re my daddy or something.”
“Like you know what having a daddy looks like,” he shot, causing Tyler’s eyes to buck.
“Wow.” She shook her head. “See if I was high, I would hit you in the back of the head with this lamp and stab yo dumb ass with the glass, but I’mma let you slide because for once I see what it’s like on the other side.”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Dexter thumbed his nose, slowly approaching her. “You think you’re better than me? Now that your fluke ass is trying to be sober, you think you’re better.”
“I don’t think I’m better, Dex. I know I am.” Tyler smirked, infuriating him.
Before she could move around, Dexter grabbed Tyler by the throat and slammed her on the bed. He dug his knees into her thighs, making them part while pinning her arms above her head.
“Bitch, I made you!” he spewed in her face. “I fucking made you and what I say goes. Don’t ever forget that shit. You’re mine.” Dexter released her hands and started pulling at her shorts. “You need a lil dick to loosen up?”
“Dexter, you're high and trying it. Get the fuck off me,” Tyler gritted, tussling with his roaming hands.
“So I can’t get none of this damaged pussy either, huh? What kinda bitch can’t cum?”
“What kinda nigga can’t make me cum?”
Whap!
His large hand popped her in the mouth.
Whap!
He smacked her again.
“Watch who the fuck you talking to,” he growled in her face. “You ain’t shit without me, these niggas will never treat you like I do.”
“Good, because you treat me like shit!” Tyler screamed, trying to grab his face.
“Aye nigga, we-” Marty opened the bedroom door, pausing when he saw the couple tussling. Without hesitation, he ran over to them, pulling Dexter off Tyler. “Bro, the fuck is you doing? This ya girl.”
“Fuck this pill head ass bitch,” Dexter barked. “Tell him, Ty. This what you like, right? To get your ass beat, fuck, and take pills until you damn near overdose. Bitch so strung out she can’t think straight without popping a bean.”
“And what do you like?” Tyler chuckled. “You’re a fucking fraud.
” She wiped the blood from her lip. “These niggas wanna be you because they don’t know the real you.
You’re a lame ass, low self-esteem having ass, pitiful, crybaby ass nigga that can’t write a rap because your illiterate ass can barely fucking read. ”
Dexter broke loose from Marty and clotheslined Tyler back onto the bed. His hands went around her throat as she viciously clawed at his face. As if she was a nigga off the street, Dexter punched Tyler in the face before gripping her neck again.
“Bitch,” he barked, pressing his thumbs into her throat. “I’ll take your fucking voice.”
“Bro, chill,” Marty yelled, watching the color drain from Tyler’s face.
“Nigga, you gone kill this girl.” He jumped on Dexter’s back.
“Let her go,” Marty begged, as Tyler’s eyes rolled in the back of her head.
The combination of pills and alcohol in Dexter’s system had his head clouded.
Even if he wanted to stop, he couldn’t. Pent up anger and jealous thoughts had him shaking her neck like a rag doll.
“DEX!” Marty punched him in the back of the head.
The blow caused Dexter to loosen his grip on Tyler’s throat.
As if he was coming out of a blackout spell, Dexter peered at Marty and then down at Tyler.
Without an ounce of remorse, he watched her cough and struggle to catch her breath.
Dexter wiped the corners of his mouth and stepped back as Tyler sat up on the bed.
“What’s taking so long?” Bobbi questioned, barging into the room. “What the fuck?” she gasped, running to Tyler’s side as she coughed up blood. “What the fuck did you do?” she barked at Dexter.
With the door open, more partygoers found their way to the commotion, further embarrassing Tyler. Her mouth was bleeding, her shorts were hanging off her ass, and she was sure Dexter’s handprints were on her throat.
“She aight.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Let’s go.”
“I'm good.” Tyler stood up, adjusting her shorts. She tried to walk out of the room, but Dexter roughly pushed her back, refusing to let her cross the threshold.
“Where the fuck you about to go?” He frowned.
“I know you don’t think I’m about to stay here and you just tried to kill me.”
“Fuck outta here. If I wanted you dead, I would have been killed your dramatic ass. Go sit the fuck down.”
“Don’t talk to my cousin like that, nigga.” Bobbi pushed passed him, covering Tyler with one of the robes on the back of the closet door.
“Fuck that broken pussy bitch,” he spat. “I nut in this hoe every night and still don’t got a kid.”
“Bro, you high,” Marty sighed. His high was completely blown. “Let’s just go.”
“Nah, I’m not high enough.” Dexter stared down at Tyler.
“You don’t wanna go, cool. Write me some fucking songs since that’s all you’re good for, and you better not leave out the fucking house.
” Dexter mushed her before turning to leave.
The small crowd followed him, each person giving Tyler a sympathetic look as if they weren’t about to talk shit about her the second they stepped out the door.
“Cousin.” Bobbi tried to hug her once the room was clear.
“I’m good.” Tyler backed away from her. “Go finish shaking your ass, but this time tell them niggas to tip you.”