12
“I’m on my way, cousin. Cash already called and told me what was up. These hoes really got me fucked up!”
Clover planned to enjoy her day off until Cash called her with some bullshit.
Apparently, some silly bitch showed up to fight Kim over Tez’s brother that she had been hanging out with.
Kim wasn’t scary, but she had her cousin’s back no matter what.
Monty was there too, so she was confident that Kim was okay.
Clover was exceeding the speeding limit but she didn’t care.
She pulled up at the same time as two police cars and looked for Kimber in the crowd.
“Clo!” Clover turned around and saw Cash waving her over to where she was standing.
Monty and Kimber were standing right next to her while Tez and one of his twin brothers talked to the two officers who were already there. She saw a younger and older woman, who resembled each other, going off but she didn’t know why.
“What the hell happened?” Clover asked as soon as she got close enough to whisper.
“That crazy bitch came here to fight me. I was coming out here to square up, but Rondell wouldn’t let me. She left and came back with her mama like that was scaring somebody.”
Kim was aggravated but she wasn’t scared of nobody.
She wasn’t much of a fighter because she never had to be.
Where she came from, they argued a lot but they rarely fought.
Still, she wasn’t about to let nobody punk her either.
Rondell was cool and all but she didn’t fight over men, especially one who wasn’t hers.
She really liked him, but they weren’t official.
“Her mama can get it too. These hands don’t have no age limit,” Tru said while cracking her knuckles.
She hadn’t known Kim very long, but that was her girl.
She was quickly becoming her very best friend.
Kimber was genuine and that was hard to find.
She’d been hurt before by people who called themselves her friend so that was a breath of fresh air.
“I know that’s right.” Clover nodded in agreement. She loved the way Tru loved her cousin in such a short time. That alone made Clover like her from the first time they met.
“She better become a vegetarian cause she don’t want this beef,” Kim fussed, making everybody laugh.
“Calm down, killa. Don’t hurt nobody. What’s up sis?” Monty spoke up after a while.
“Which one of us,” Irie joked with a smirk.
“Shit, both of y’all.” Monty was smiling hard.
“Nigga, is you blushing?” Clover gave him the side eye.
“Come on nah, sis. You know that’s been my baby.” He and Iva had been talking every day, but they hadn’t made anything official yet. They discussed it, but he had to close one door before trying to reopen another one.
“It’s about time you and Iva stop playing and get it right. My mama is gonna be so happy.” Irie knew how much their mother loved Monty. He made Iva happy and treated her right.
“Yeah, tell my girl that daddy’s back home.”
“Boy, bye. You gotta get rid of that hood giraffe first, and I’ll be happy when you do so I won’t feel bad if I have to beat her ass.” Clover frowned at just the thought of Caprice. It took a while but even Amina was over her messy ass.
“We might have to jump that big bitch,” Irie replied, making Clover laugh.
“Them big hoes be the scariest ones. I might have to beat her down first before I beat her up. That bitch is big.” Clover giggled, right as Tez and his brother walked over to where they were. He looked pissed, but Rondell seemed annoyed.
“You better get some paperwork on her dizzy ass.” Tez fussed while looking at his little brother.
“Man, ain’t nobody worried about Alva’s stupid ass.” Rondell waved him off.
“Keep underestimating her if you want to. You niggas don’t listen and that’s gon’ always be y’all problem,” Tez pointed to his twin brothers as he spoke.
“You better be worried about her stupid ass. That was her first and last time coming to my husband’s place of business with some bullshit. I don’t ever want her to get that comfortable,” Cash said.
“That ain’t even a real woman, sis. Trust me, I found out the hard way,” Montrell chimed in.
“Don’t piss me off, bruh. The bitch just said it ain’t over, no matter what Rondell say. And she was bold enough to say the shit in front of the police. She’s unstable and he better cover his ass.” Tez gave his final warning before he and Monty went back into the shop.
“That’s exactly why I’m good being single.” Kim folded her arms across her chest.
“Me too, friend,” Tru agreed as she and Kim walked away together.
“Wait, what?”
Rondell rushed behind them with Montrell hot on his heels.
He was really feeling Kim and he didn’t want what he had with Alva to get in the way of what he was trying to build with her.
They were slowly getting to know each other, and he enjoyed it when her and Tru came to chill at his apartment.
Montrell was desperately trying to get his girl back, so she looked forward to it too.
Kim was a good cook and she often whipped up a meal for everybody to enjoy.
They either played cards or watched movies, but it was always a good vibe.
“Girl, not people pulling over to see what’s going on,” Cash laughed as she looked around at the few people who had gathered to see the action that never happened.
Clover looked around the parking lot and did a double take when she saw Trent sitting in his car.
She tried to play it off and quickly turned her head, but it was too late.
He winked at her and smiled before he backed up and drove in the opposite direction.
Clover wasn’t scared but she had to let somebody know what was up.
Trent seemed to be on some stalking shit and she knew that seeing him everywhere she went wasn’t a coincidence.
Telling Dash would be a mistake, especially since Trent was somebody that she used to deal with.
Still, she had to be cautious, even if it meant getting the courts involved.
She would hate for Trent to be on the receiving end of her gun but she was gonna make it home to her family every night, even if he didn’t.
“Bitch, get a restraining order!” Iva yelled as she and Clover walked out of the beauty supply store.
Apparently, she had missed all the drama the weekend before when she was at work.
She was so happy that the salon was closed that weekend due to a water leak in the area.
Irie and her husband took the kids to a local fair and Kardi went with them.
Dash and his brothers had to work, so Clover was free for a while.
She filled Iva in as they walked around the store and she was livid.
She always did tell Clover that Trent was weird and it was proving to be true.
He and Clover didn’t even mess around long enough for him to be doing so much.
“With what evidence? You know how that shit go. A bitch gotta get killed before they do something. For all they know, we’re just at the same place at the same time. It’s not like he ever approached me or nothing.”
“That’s true but you know damn well that ain’t the case. That nigga is on some stalking shit. Aren’t you cool with his mama?”
“I wouldn’t say that we’re cool. She handled my divorce, and I went out to dinner with him and his family twice before. She’s nice but we ain’t friends or nothing.”
“I know you don’t want to but you might have to let Dash know what’s up. It ain’t like you were dealing with him while y’all were together.”
“Are you high? You know Dash just as well as I do. That shit will be disastrous.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But damn, something gotta be done. The nigga ain’t approach you yet but that could change at any time.”
“You know I stay ready, but I don’t even want it to come to that. Maybe I should try to reach out to his mama. I’m not saying that she can do anything but it’s worth a try.”
“The shit with y’all wasn’t even all that deep for him to be doing so much.”
“Not at all but enough about me. What’s been up with you and my brother?”
“Ain’t shit up with us until he figure out what he got going on at home. We talk on the phone a lot and we were finally able to express our feelings with each other.”
“That’s what’s up. But, girl, Amina is finally over Caprice messy ass too. She said she don’t want her at none of her and Fonzo’s celebrations.”
“Good cause I’m not trying to ruin nobody’s event by dragging that big back bitch. She came in Dot’s the other day with her bad built ass cousin.”
“Yeah, her cousin got a cute face but that shape should be studied. Where to now?” Clover barely drove her green Bentley but she decided to whip it out of the garage. Dash drove his more but they both had what he called “normal” cars for everyday use.
“I’m hungry but I need to get a new appointment book from somewhere. The ones in there were ugly as hell.”
She and Iva made a few more runs before they decided to go grab something to eat.
It was still early so they decided to go to Biscuits and Buns, one of their favorite brunch spots.
They were seated as soon as they walked in.
Once they placed their orders, they made small talk until their food arrived.
Iva paid the bill when they were done while Clover packed up their leftovers.
They walked out of the restaurant and paused when someone spoke up from behind them.
“Clover! My goodness, you look beautiful. How have you been?”
Clover turned around and locked eyes with Trudy Latimer. It must have been fate because she had just spoken her up. She was having doubts about even going at Trent’s mother about anything. They were both grown and it just seemed so childish to her.
“Thanks, Trudy. I’ve been fine. How about you?”
Clover was shocked when the older woman walked over and embraced her.
They weren’t even on it like that so it was unexpected.
When she pulled away, she realized that Trudy wasn’t alone.
She was with two younger women who favored her a lot.
Clover knew that she had two older daughters but she had never met them before.
“I’ve been great. These are my two oldest girls. I know you’ve never seen them before so now you can put a name with a face.”
Clover spoke politely before introducing Iva to everyone. She never knew Trent’s sisters’ names and she really didn’t care to know.
“I know this isn’t the best time but I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment. On a personal matter, nothing business related.”
“Sure. What’s up? We can step away if you need to.” Trudy was all smiles.
“If you’re okay with your daughters being here, it’s fine by me.”
“Okay. What’s this all about?”
“Trent,” Clover replied, wiping the smile off of the older woman’s face. Her daughters shifted uncomfortably while giving each other a knowing look.
“What about Trenton?” Trudy’s voice had changed and her tone was no longer pleasant.
“He’s been following me and I’m trying to handle the situation like an adult. It’s just mad weird and makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to get my husband involved if I don’t have to.”
“Meaning what? Is that a threat?” Trudy seemed to have taken offense to what she’d just said as if she cared.
“It means just what I said. Either that or I’m going get some paperwork on his ass.” Clover matched the attitude that she was being given.
“Under what grounds? Did he ever threaten you in any way? Do you have any police reports or evidence of harassment? You’re his ex-girlfriend. Maybe y’all just so happen to be in the same places at the same time. Sounds more like a coincidence than anything else.”
Trudy had unknowingly just proved the point that she was trying to make to Iva. She had no proof, only assumptions. Clover was kinda taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor though. Trudy was always sweet and professional. Her true colors really started to show when her son was involved.
“I was never your son’s girlfriend. Whatever we had wasn’t even that serious for him to be acting like he can’t walk away from it. And, yeah, I do have proof of his stalking ass showing up to my daycare at five in the morning to drop off flowers.
I also have text messages asking him not to show up to my place of business that he obviously ignored.”
She knew that wasn’t enough but it was better than nothing.
“Is that all?” Trudy laughed sarcastically. “No judge in his right mind would even entertain you in his courtroom.”
“Well, I guess we’ll see.”
“Yes, we will. Just know that I’m gonna protect my son at all cost.”
“And I’m gonna protect me.” Clover tapped on her Gucci hobo bag, letting her know that she was strapped.
“Maybe we need some protection from you with all these threats that you keep issuing.” Trudy walked up on her like she was about to swing.
“Mom, no, we’re out in public. This is ridiculous.” Trudy’s oldest daughter grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Your daughter is trying to get you to do something safe. You better listen.” Clover cracked her knuckles, issuing a silent warning.
“Come on, let’s go.” Trudy’s daughter pulled her away and her sister followed.
Usually, they would be the first ones to defend their mother but she needed a reality check.
Their little brother wasn’t normal, and she refused to see it for what it really was.
It was sad that their kids were afraid of their own uncle but they understood why.
Growing up in the house with Trent was pure hell and they were thankful for their father.
He kept Trent in line because their mother seemed just as scared of him as they were.
They couldn’t even have a family pet because of him.
“See, having Kardi got me outchea being soft and giving these hoes too many passes. They seem to want the old Clover back and she’s here. The gloves are off and it’s up with everybody. Old hoes can get it too.”
“Say less, bestie. It’s been a minute since I dragged a bitch but I’m ready to get dirty again,” Iva replied as they got into Clover’s truck and sped away.
Trudy sung and danced around her kitchen happily as she put the finishing touches on her food.
Sundays used to be family dinner day but that had changed a while ago.
Most times, they would go to one of their daughter’s houses for dinner and to spend time with their grandkids.
Both her daughters seemed to be in their feelings since her little run-in with Clover the week before.
They were pissed that she was once again blaming someone else and not seeing her son for what he really was.
They ended up arguing and didn’t even get a chance to eat.
Neither them invited her over for Sunday dinner, so she decided to make her own.
Her feelings were hurt but she had to respect their minds.
It wasn’t the first time and they would come around eventually.
“Hey, baby. You’re right on time. Wash your hands so I can fix you some of this lasagna and salad that I just made,” Trudy said when her husband walked into the kitchen.
She didn’t even hear when he came in since she had her music on.
She turned to look at her husband and instantly knew that something was wrong.
“That can wait, we need to talk.” Melvin took a seat on one of the bar stools at their kitchen island.
“Is everything ok?” Trudy washed her hands and gave him her undivided attention.
“No, it’s not ok. Melissa told me what happened last weekend.”
Trudy sighed dramatically but she wasn’t surprised. Their oldest daughter was very close with her father and they discussed just about everything.