19. Givens
GIVENS
I watched Legacy stomp past me, headed to her car, and tried not to laugh. Lowkey, I felt terrible for pulling her into this shit with me and Mercy but I didn’t have any other choice. My calls were going straight to voicemail, and I wanted to talk.
When she left me on her porch, I was legit cool, yeah, she had a nigga’s mind racing, but I wasn’t on no crash-out shit.
My original plan was to go home, chill, eat, then crash, but my mind was running, and I needed to figure my shit out, so I went to Hood’s house.
To my surprise, he was there chilling, no company, and not on no bullshit.
We were chopping it up when my phone started going off because of an IG notification.
Mercy showing up at Flex wasn’t a big deal because the place was nice; the big deal was her flirting with the DJ.
Tone was cool and known around town but wasn’t big time yet, so seeing him smiling and having his arm thrown over Mercy’s shoulder had a nigga shaking his head.
Tone wasn’t going to get any play from Mercy anyway, so I set my shit down and went back to talking.
Only for my shit to go off again, and this time, it was because of a picture of Mercy and Tone on the dance floor looking cozy as shit, and that’s what got a nigga hot.
Instead of showing out like I wanted to, I got Legacy’s number from Hood and called her up.
At first, she wasn’t trying to hear shit I was saying, and again, I wasn’t mad at that because Mercy was her bestie; they were supposed to ride for each other, but I didn’t have time for all that.
But, I was a nigga that was used to getting my way, so I let her know that I was heading to Flex, and I’d shoot that bitch up without a second thought.
Legacy hung up, called Hood, and verified that I was a little off.
As soon as they hung up, I headed out. When I pulled up, Legacy was already there; I told her she had three minutes to get her friend outside, or it would be the fourth of July.
To prove my point, I showed her my gun, climbed onto the hood of my car, started a timer, and waited. Legacy moved like she was on the court.
“Night, Legacy,” I called out.
“Shut the fuck up, Givens,” she said as she opened her car door. “Your dumb ass got me out here stressing, and you standing there smiling like you won a damn prize.”
“I appreciate your help,” I said with a laugh. I knew Legacy wasn’t a hood chick and didn’t play about her safety or friends, so I had to get creative. I didn’t even feel bad about it, either.
“I hope she stresses you the fuck out for the rest of your life,” Legacy said, then got into her car and drove off.
“What did you say to her to get her to come out?” Mercy asked as she watched Legacy drive away.
“I told her I would shoot up the club if she didn’t get you out of there in three minutes.” I flashed my gun, and she rolled her eyes.
“You don’t even have bullets for that.”
“I’m a millionaire. I can buy more bullets,” I laughed, and she stared at me like she was bored with the conversation. “Now, get in the car.”
“I came with friends.”
“They’ll understand,” I countered, stepping to the side to let her get in.
She hesitated for a moment, and I let out a humorless laugh.
“I’m trying to be cool right now. I really am, but you’re making this difficult.
” I licked my lips and then wiped my hand over my mouth.
“So, I’m gonna keep it a buck with you, alright?
If you don’t get in the car, I’m going to go in there and drag that nigga you were dancing with out and kick his teeth into the back of his throat. ”
“You’ll go to jail.”
“I’ll bail out within a few hours, find the bitch ass DJ that was flirting with you, wrap chains around his feet, and drag his body up and down the highway.
You’ll be responsible for two deaths because you want to be stubborn.
Or, you can get in the car, we can go to my house, you can take a nice long bath, and then we can discuss our issues. ”
“That shit sounds real romantic,” Xoey said, coming out of nowhere to stand next to Mercy.
They were complete opposites in every way.
Xoey was short and curvy, with a golden skin tone with red undertones.
Her hair was cut into what I believe women called a pixie cut; her face was shaped like an oval with full lips, a small flared nose, and big expressive eyes.
She was fine, but I could tell from how her eyes took in everything around her that she was crazy as hell.
Whatever nigga she ended up with would have my respect for life.
“Like, for real. My heart beating fast and all from his words.”
“The bath and talking shit?” Mercy asked, slightly confused.
“Hell no, the killing two niggas for you! If that ain't poetry, I don’t know what is,” she said, shaking her head. “He damn near proposed, in my opinion.”
“Which one of the voices is trying to take over?” Mercy questioned. Why this woman thought a man confessing to premeditated murder was romantic was beyond me.
“The 9-1-1 operator,” she answered with a shrug. “She loves true crime documentaries, so this is right up her alley.”
“Did you skip your medication today?” Mercy asked, and Xoey nodded. She lifted her head to the sky and closed her eyes. “Lord, send her a man that can love them all and help ease the burden of this stress.”
“Amen!” Xoey excitedly said, then clapped. “Speak that nigga into existence, friend!” she glanced at me and twisted her lips to the side. “But he better not think he is getting a cut of my check, though. These voices earned that money.”
“I believe you, baby girl,” I laughed. “Now, tell your friend to get in the car before I show the fuck out and have to pay my lawyer a shit ton of money to clean it up.”
Xoey put her hands on her hips, and her face twisted into an unreadable expression before she smiled. “I like your style, Mr. NBA, or as Krude calls you, Light skin thug.” She wiggled her pointer finger at me. “But don’t threaten me with a good time. I like chaos.”
“I thought you were here to behave?” Mercy asked, and Xoey sighed. “Choas is not shooting up the club.”
“It can be,” she said, playfully wiggling her eyebrows. “Keep praying for that nigga that’s gonna knock my pussy off and wear it around his neck on a chain.”
“Bye Xoey!” Mercy said, shaking her head as she made her way to me. When she was close enough that I could smell her perfume, she mugged me. “I’m only going with you because I know she will drive me crazy on the way back to my house.”
I stepped to the side and then helped her into the car. “Plus, I would’ve just shown up at your house.” I closed her door before she could respond and rounded my car.
“Givens?” Xoey sweetly called my name right before I opened my door.
I looked up at her and threw her a nod. “If you hurt my friend, you won't have to worry about her family coming after you because I’ll do it, okay?” I watched Xoey, waiting for her to smile or show some sign of joking, but she never did.
“And just so you know, they’ll never find your body once I’m done with you, but don’t worry because Faylin will be taken care of for the rest of her life.
” She turned and walked away; all I could do was stand there.
Something told me her crazy ass was serious as fuck and would get away with killing me.
“Alright, I gotta apologize,” I said as I entered the bathroom.
During the ride to my house, Mercy never said a word.
Every time I would try and start a conversation, she would cut me off with a look or just flat-out tell me to shut the fuck up.
Low key, her bossing up on a nigga had my dick hard, and I prayed that she let my excuse of working and being tired be the reason I’d been MIA.
I didn’t want to lie to her, but at the same time, I couldn’t tell her the truth because I didn’t know what went down with me and Shai.
“For?” she asked as her hands skimmed the water.
When we walked in, she went to Faylin’s room to speak.
Baby girl was excited as hell to see Mercy, even though they’d spent all morning together working out.
I guess seeing her openly at the house was new and different.
After she spoke with Faylin for a little, she came into my room and waited for me to run her a bath.
She was making my ass live up to my word, and I was cool with that.
“Being MIA,” I answered from my spot on the counter. I wanted to strip down and join her, but I knew she’d shut that shit down.
“You ghosted me,” she said without looking up at me. “Just say what it was.” She looked up at me and gave me a small smile.
“I didn’t mean to,” I lied, wiping my hand over my hair. “I just had a lot going on and needed to work through it.”
“You could’ve said that,” she answered with a small laugh.
Mercy was cool as fuck about a lot of shit, she didn’t ask me for anything, but I knew she wasn’t one of those women that played games.
I didn’t know what the fuck happened with Shai, and to pull her into some shit with her was selfish as fuck.
But I couldn’t let her go, either. “Look, Givens, you are used to dealing with women who need something from you. I don’t.
” She shook her head. “Not in the way that you’re used to. ”
“True,” I agreed. “But that makes me want you more.” She gave me a small smile as if she didn’t believe what I was saying. “Legit.”
“Then you have a fucked up way of showing it,” she replied.
“If you want me, like really want me, then you have to prove it.” She stood, and my dick started jumping at the sight of her naked body.
I licked my lips and let my eyes slowly roam over her body.
She was a work of art. I got off the counter and made my way to her.
I had a million and one ideas on how I could prove to her that this shit between us was real.
I grabbed the towel off the hook on the wall and handed it to her.
Mercy wrapped herself up, stepped out of the tub, and pulled me to her by the front of my shirt.
She stared up at me, her eyes searching mine, for what I wasn’t sure, but I could tell from how she looked at me that she was trying to find something.
“I realized my mistake was coming to you first. If you want me, Givens, like really want me, you’re going to work for me.
” She pulled me into a kiss that I swear felt like she was promising me that I’d either be the luckiest man in the world or regret never living up to the expectation.
She pulled back, wiped my lips with her thumb, and smiled at me.
“Now, I’m going to take a quick shower, get dressed, and go home.
My cousins should be pulling up any minute. ”
“I wanted you to stay here,” I said, watching as she stepped back.
Mercy shook her head. “No, thank you.” She reached down to pull the plug to the tub, went to the shower, and started the water. “So that you know, we won't have this conversation again, Givens.” She dropped her towel and stepped into the water.
I nodded even though she wasn’t paying me any attention.