Chapter 7
Nessa
“Wait, wait,” Yas stressed as she rubbed her temples.
“Break this shit down for me again. Because this shit givin’ book vibes like the ones I be readin’ at work.
You tellin’ me yo’ ex, who is yo’ baby daddy but didn’t know he was yo’ baby daddy, gets out of prison and pops up at yo’ house.
He blows yo’ back out on sight, meets his daughter for the first time, and then he gifts you a big ass house.
That’s really what you tellin’ me happenin’ right now? ”
“Yas, if I’m lyin’ then I’m flyin’,” I rhymed. “That’s literally what’s goin’ on.”
“So, that’s why we at the furniture store?”
“Yep.”
“So, you actually accepted the house?”
“I mean technically he owes it to me.”
“Even with his stipulation ‘bout it being just you and Nyla?”
“Uh huh.”
“Well, what the hell gonna happen with Desmond?”
“I haven’t even talked to him. I’m so fuckin’ pissed that he stood me up last night. He been callin’ me all mornin’, but I’m too pissed to talk to him.”
“I mean it ain’t gonna be a conversation he gonna wanna hear. He finna be a hobo or back at his mama house. On top of finding out that his girl baby daddy bossed her up. Shit, I need to be around when you have that conversation.”
“You so damn messy. Yo’ ass will not be around. Plus, I ain’t tellin’ him ‘bout the house yet. I have a few days before everything is finalized for me and Nyla to move in. I was gonna use those days and peep his behavior because his ass ain’t got no fuckin’ job so why he missed my damn dinner?”
“That’s true. Get to the bottom of that first before you drop that bomb on him. Hell, give him some pussy before you hit him with it.”
“Ehh…”
“What?”
“I don’t even be in the mood to hunch on him.”
“Now, did this so happen to start after Nas blew yo’ back out?”
“Maybe.”
“It did. He just losin’ everything at this point. Hell, do like they did in Old Yeller and put him out of his damn misery, best friend.”
“He hasn’t lost me, Yas. We’re still together.”
“Oh, hoe, please. You are hangin’ on by a thread. At any moment you could be gone with the wind.”
“See, I ain’t bring you with me to be tryin’ to meddle in my relationship.”
“If that’s what you even want to call it, but I’ll keep my mouth shut ‘bout it. Let’s go furniture shoppin’! Did he give you a limit?”
“Nawl. Just said get me and Nyla stuff for our bedroom.”
“Ooh, bitch you put that muthafuckin’ WAP on him! No spendin’ limit? Yeah, Desmond’s ass good and gone.”
“Hush yo’ mouth and come on.”
We went to three stores before we purchased everything.
My room was so big I got a small living room set to put inside.
Each time I had to give the address for delivery, I would have to call Nas.
I felt like he purposely didn’t text me the address, so he would know that I really took off to do as he instructed.
At first, I wasn’t going to do it, but Nas was on my ass soon as I dropped Nyla off about getting her stuff.
When he texted me to go to the store, I had looked around for his charger but didn’t see it.
Before I dropped Yas off home, we planned for her to come over with me, Nyla and Chanel this weekend.
As I made my way home, I thought back on everything that had transpired over the past week.
My life did a complete three sixty the moment Nas got out of prison.
I don’t think I could handle any more surprises because it felt more and more like a dream.
When I parked in front of my house, I was hit with another surprise that I really wasn’t trying to deal with right now.
“Oh, so now you remember where I live?” I sassed.
“Nessa, I been tryin’ to apologize all morning,” Desmond reasoned. “You haven’t picked up any of my calls, and I go to your job, and they say you called out sick. So, I rush over only to find you gone and still not answering my calls. Where you been?”
“You got a lot of fuckin’ nerve to be all up in my business but still ain’t told me why you ain’t make it last night. Miss me with that bullshit.”
“I didn’t come because I was sleep. I’d stayed up the night before playin’ my game, and when I laid down to take a nap I slept the night away.”
“Desmond, I told you how important this was to me. I needed you there for me so we could show a fuckin’ united front.”
“It ain’t like I need that nigga permission to fuckin’ be with you so it wasn’t that big of a deal. You’ve seen me and Nyla around each other, so why he couldn’t just take yo’ word ‘bout it?”
“Because he wanted to see it for himself! Just like I would if he wanted to move some bitch into his house. It’s a respect thing and you not showin’ up because you were fuckin’ sleep is so embrassin’!
Then you tryna make it like it’s small but I’d already expressed how important it was to me!
Ya know what go back to wherever you were because you could’ve just texted me this damn excuse. ”
“Wait, wait,” he grabbed me as I tried to walk past him. “Look, I’m sorry, baby. I fucked up and I am so sorry for that. If you could set something else up, I’ll be there bright and early. We were takin’ a step in the righ…”
“Hold that thought,” I interrupted as my phone rung. “Hello? Are you sure? Ok, I’m on my way.”
“What’s goin’ on?”
“I gotta go pick Nyla up from school due to them not havin’ any air conditioning. Look, I’ll call you later and we can finish this conversation, ok?”
“Cool, again I’m sorry. Tell Nyla I said Hey.”
I didn’t even acknowledge what he’d said before I jumped in my car.
Summertime was hot but in Florida that heat wasn’t anything to play with.
The way I was driving like a bat out of hell you’d think I was running from the law.
I didn’t play when it came to my child at all, so I wasn’t even gonna pussyfoot to go get her out of a hot building.
When I pulled up to the daycare, I was surprised that I was the only one in the parent pickup area.
The moment I walked into the daycare, I became confused as the cold air conditioning slapped me in the face.
“Hello, I’m Nyla Wilson’s mom. I got a call that the A/C was out and I needed to pick up Nyla,” I explained to the first teacher I saw.
“That’s our protocol but our A/C is still working,” she clarified. “Did you still want to pick up Nyla?”
“Uh, no, I’ll be back to get her at regular time.”
“Ok, see you then.”
I pulled my phone out of my purse and verified that it was the same number of the daycare.
It matched the number on the door, but when I redialed it, the line just kept ringing.
While I was confused as hell about what was going on, I was happy that I didn’t have to deal with Desmond.
I didn’t want there to be any truth to what Yas was saying at the furniture store, but I wasn’t happy to see him like I used to be.
With me getting everything we’d need for the move, I would actually be able to just enjoy my day off.
“Mommy, when is Chanel gonna get here?” Nyla asked as I buttoned her pajama top.
“She’ll be here when she gets here sweetie,” I answered as I stood up. “Come on let’s finish helpin’ your Goddy setup.”
She grabbed ahold of my hand before leading us into the front room.
Yas was still blowing balloons up for the girls’sleepover.
We were all dressed in matching pajamas with Chanel’s waiting for her on the sofa.
While Yas did that task me and Nyla went into the kitchen to boil some water.
We had two pedicure stations set up, and the water would go inside the tubs.
When Nyla heard the sounds of The Princess and The Frog, she abandoned the task she was helping me with.
I was thankful that her favorite movie was on that way she would be distracted with Chanel not being here.
It was thirty minutes past the time I told Chance to bring her over.
He was never late but he didn’t cancel so I was going forward with everything.
As I checked on the meatballs I was cooking, Yas joined me in the kitchen.
Before she could finish asking me the same question Nyla did, my phone vibrated just as there was a knock on the door.
“Cousssiiinnnnnn,” Nyla and Chanel squealed in unison.
“Dadddy! I didn’t know you were comin’,” Nyla broadcasted Nas’ pop-up.
“Daddy?” I snapped my head towards Yas.
“Yep, y’all daddy here,” she smirked.
“See you finna go home,” I playfully threatened before stepping into the living room. “Hey, Nyla how about you take Chanel to go change into her PJs.”
“Ok, Mommy. Come on, Chanel. We gonna have so much fun,” Nyla informed aa they walked to back.
“Damn, Baby Mama you ain’t even gonna say hey?” Nas questioned once the girls were gone.
“Nas, why are you here? Where Chance?” I investigated.
“He in the car. Aye, Yas, will you go grab Chanel’s spendin’ money from him while I chop it up with ya girl?”
“Uh, I need y’all to remember that it’s kids in the other room, so no freaky shit,” Yas taunted before making her exit.
“Nas, why are you here?” I asked again.
“You really don’t fuck with a nigga?” he countered.
“This is not the time for this conversation.”
“Then when will be, Vanessa?”
“Not right now, Nas, please. Just give me some time, ok?”
“Fine. That wasn’t what I came inside. I need a favor from you.”
“A favor? Is everything ok?”
“Almost sound like you care, but everything is fine. I just need you to watch after Chanel for a few days. I need Chance to come with me to handle some business. Here go some money for you to call out for a few days and still be set.”
“Nas, I can’t take any illegal money from you.”
“Miss me with that shit. How you think I was gettin’ money while in prison? This bread has been cleaned, so ya good. Can you do this favor for me or not?”
“Even if you didn’t give me any money, I would do it. Chanel is always welcomed here and she’s no burden. I got her.”
“Thank you, Baby Mama. Now give me kiss it’s gonna be a few days ‘fore I see you again.”
“Now yo’ ass is really pushin’ it. Gone on, Nas. I gotta start my event since y’all were late.”
“Bet. If you need me don’t hesitate to call.”
“Aww, y’all actually listened,” Yas interrupted. “Nas gone head and get yo’ beggin’ ass cousin away from here. We got shit to do.”
Nas sized me up one last time before leaving out.
My heart rate began slowing down as it went back to normal speed.
No matter how hard I tried I could barely hold myself together when he was around.
If we were alone a little longer, I would’ve forgotten all about Yas’ demand.
Thoughts of us fucking flooded my mind as I nibbled softly on my bottom lip.
“Yep, you over there thinkin’ ‘bout fuckin’ that man,” Yas implied as she noticed my demeanor.
“Ain’t nobody thinkin’ ‘bout Nas ass,” I lied.
“I know that’s a lie. I see he gave you some money.”
“Yeah, he needs me to keep Chanel for a few days which isn’t the problem.”
“Wait, what else the problem?”
“He wants me to call out for the days that I do it but didn’t even tell me how many day it would be.”
“Oh, he’s real life tryin’ to boss yo’ life up. In so many ways that man is tellin’ you to quit ya job. Hell, I’d suggest doin’ that before they fire you.”
“Yas, I cannot quit my job because Nas got out. I never expected him to go in, so I can’t depend on that, especially if he is back in the streets again. I’ve actually got a lot of vacation time I could use, so I’ll be able to be off and still be paid.”
“I feel where you comin’ from, sis. You ain’t wrong for makin’ sure that you and Nyla good regardless.”
“Right! Now, you were out there with Chance for a lil’ minute. You finally givin’ him the time of day?”
“Girl, hell no!”
“Why you do him like that? He be showin’ interest in you, and you got a great relationship with Chanel.”
“And I be damned if I let Chance and his whore ass ways ruin my relationship with her. We both know that nigga ain’t done shit but fuck on bitches since the death of his baby mama. Why would I purposely subject myself to that, Nessa?”
“You got a point there.”
“So, instead of me allowing him to play with my emotions and ruin the beautiful relationship I have with that wonderful little girl, I rather just keep it platonic with him.”
“That way I don’t even try to play matchmaker with y’all because I refuse to be involved if the shit goes left.”
“And I respect you for that. But enough about them niggas. Let’s take a shot before gettin’ the night started.”
“We gonna need ‘bout three shots because you know Nyla and Chanel about to run through us.”
“You right. We gonna need three.”