Chapter 10 #3
No one said anything but I could hear a baby’s loud cry in the background.
“Hello.” I repeated. Then the caller hung up. I scrolled through the phone to see if the last call was from a programmed number. The number was stored under the letter T. I found that strange because I knew that none of his friends would call and then hold the phone. This had to be a broad.
I decided to call back. The phone rang a few times then I heard a woman say, “Hello.” I didn’t say anything. “I told you that I was at the hospital and you could have at least called me back.”
“Who is this?” I snapped.
Once again the caller hung up. I was so pissed off.
I knew that our little peace was too good to be true.
I was trying to live by that Betty Wright mentality that having a piece of a man is better than having no man at all.
But I was finding that it was not enough for me.
I was tired of turning my head the other way.
Why was it okay for him to do whatever the fuck he felt?
I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wanted to slap the shit out of him while he was sleeping, but he wasn’t a wall and hit back.
So, I climbed out of bed and got some cover from the hall’s closet.
Then I made my couch nice and comfortable, before lying down.
I didn’t want to be anywhere near Jahrein’s dog ass. I fell asleep with a frown on my face.
That morning I woke up to get my kids ready for daycare. As I was headed to their bedrooms I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. So, I headed there and to my surprise Jah was already up with them. He was actually fixing them breakfast.
“Hey, sleepy head. You finally awake, huh.” he smiled on some friendly shit.
I didn’t even reply. I left out the kitchen and headed for the bathroom. Before I could even make it there he was following behind me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Yeah, that nigga was always playing crazy. I already knew the real deal. He woke up and saw his phone and the call history. It wasn’t hard to figure out that I called his bitch back.
“Look, I don’t want to talk.” I said putting my hand in his face. He pushed it away.
“Why are you tripping?” he tried to wrap his arms around my waist.
“Get off of me, Jahrein.” I pushed him.
“Raven, what’s the matter?” he asked like a sad puppy dog. I could tell by his tone that he was guilty.
I turned to face him. “Look, Jahrein I’m tired of you and this situation. Can we just take a break?”
“A break?” he repeated with a raised brow.
“Yes, a break. I don’t trust you. I need to find myself. I just need some space. Can you give me that?”
“Where is all this coming from?” he asked, sounding confused.
“I think that you already know and if you don’t, too bad.” I huffed.
“Girl, you tripping.”
“No, I’m not.” I shook my head. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m not happy. Every other day it’s some new bullshit going on. I’m tired. I’m drained. I don’t want to be with you. Now deal with that.” I told his ass as I went inside the restroom and locked the door.
I stood in the mirror looking at myself. My eyes were sad, because I knew the nigga was trying to play me. I couldn’t even be alone with my thoughts, because he was pounding on the damn door.
"Open the door, Raven!" he shouted.
I ignored him as he twisted the doorknob, and began loudly humming. I did this for three minutes, before he popped the lock.
He pushed the door open. “What the fuck is you tripping on?!” he shouted.
I stepped back. “No, don’t even try it!” I screamed as I placed my finger in his face. “Every time you fuck up all that can be heard is you yelling over me. I aint trying to hear it. You can’t force me to be with you. It’s over!”
The next thing I knew I was getting pushed into the shower. He slung my ass so hard that I knocked down the shower curtain, rod and all. All that shit came crashing down on me. I was so pissed that I jumped back on my feet and threw a mean slug.
As always I caught him in that sensitive ass nose. It worked every time. He held his bloody nose, as I beat him all across his head. I wouldn’t stop. Hell, I couldn’t stop. I was so tired of him fucking up, but then turning the tables around on me.
The kids were in the hall watching us go at it. Their little hearts had to be distraught.
“Raven, stop! You see my kids standing there.” Jahrein had the nerve to say. He wasn’t worried about them when he was slinging their mama across rooms and shit.
I pushed his ass out of my way and went for my kids. I ushered them into the living room, and then went to pack our clothes.
I probably got about three outfits before Jahrein came in, snatching everything away. “Where you think you going?” his voice boomed.
“We’re getting away from your ass!” I yelled.
“We’re? You aint taking my kids nowhere!” he shouted. That was the shit he did every time. He knew that I wouldn't leave without my babies.
“You can’t stop me!” I shouted as I yanked the clothes out of his hands.
He pushed me on the bed with little effort. Before I could get up he laid his body on top of mine. “Get off of me!” I screamed.
“Calm your ass down.” He said roughly in my ear. “Now, tell me what the problem is. Why are you tripping?”
“You know why, Jahrein.” I finally cried. I was so frustrated. I was tired of that same old two-step we did every time he’d mess up. Why couldn’t he just do right?
“No, I don’t know, baby. Tell me what’s wrong.” He said softening up his tone.
“You got some bitch calling your phone in the middle of the night. She said that she was in the hospital. Tell me what that’s all about, Jahrein.” I said in between sniffles.
“Some bitch in the hospital?” he asked playing crazy again. “Man, that’s probably some broad calling to piss you off.”
I sucked my teeth. “That’s just it. Why are there any girls with your number anyway?”
“Raven, you know that it’s not hard to get my number. I conduct my business in the streets, baby.”
“Yeah, but why would anybody want to piss me off, unless you’re fucking them?”
“They’re jealous of you, that’s all.”
“Whatever, Jahrein.” I sighed as the tears slid out the side of my eyes.
“Stop that.” He whispered as he wiped away my tears. “I love you and nobody else.” He promised, as he kissed my lips.
I was mad at myself as I found myself melting in his arms. It was like he could do all the wrong in the world and right everything with one single touch. He was my one bad habit. I was not going to give in that easily that time, though.
“Get off of me.” I growled as I pushed him off. I hopped out of the bed. “You’s a lying muthafucka and the truth aint in you.” I seethed before going to check on the kids.
That day we fought from wall to wall. No one left our home. Jahrein took all the keys and locked all the burglar bars around the house. No one could get in or out. I was starting to wonder if there was such thing as leaving him. It couldn’t be.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As the week crept by, I felt like a damn prisoner.
That nigga Jahrein was like a warden. He wasn’t letting the kids go to daycare.
He screened every call that came to my phone, and wouldn't leave to check on his money. I guess he thought that I’d leave one day and wouldn’t come back.
All he did was sit in my face and question me.
“Why are you letting people come between us? Why you acting like this?” He was acting as if his actions had nothing to do with my attitude.
After the begging came Song Cry. Ever since Jay-Z made that song Jahrein played it around the house whenever we were in turmoil. I can’t see it coming down my eyes so I gotta make this song cry. Good dude I know you love me like cooked food. Even though a nigga gotta move like a crook move.
Then he started with the gifts. First he bought me a new Prada bag, then it was a diamond tennis bracelet.
Then he started with the gifts. First: he bought me a new Prada bag, then it was a diamond tennis bracelet.
“Raven, come here.” he demanded one day, as he stepped into the living room. I continued sitting on the couch, ignoring him.
“So, you mad?” he swaggered over, and stood in front of me. He was shirtless, and I stared at his rock hard abs, refusing to give him eye contact.
“That's how you wanna play this? You gonna sit here in the same house, and refuse to talk to me?”
I shrugged, as I folded my arms. “I could just leave. Then you wouldn't have to deal with that.”
He sighed heavily. “And what would that solve?”
I waved my head, refusing to say another word.
He stroked his waves, as he gazed down at me.
I pretended to be engrossed into TV. Then a commercial advertising a tropical vacation came on, capturing my attention. The beautiful clear water, and palm trees had me yearning to get away. I definitely needed an escape, right then.
Jahrein turned, and noticed the commercial, and a smile crept onto his face.
“You see baby, all we need is a fresh start. Let’s go on a vacation.” he babbled, as he found a spot next to me on our couch. I was in the corner of the couch, so I couldn’t scoot away. Then he eased his arm around my neck. “We can go to Hawaii or the Bahamas. Anywhere you want.”
I was tired of letting his ass off the hook so easily. He needed to suffer. So, I decided that I would hit his ass in those pockets. “I wouldn’t mind the Bahamas, but I also wanted to go shopping in New York. It would be really nice if we could do both.” I said in a phony voice.
“That’s cool, we can do that.” he said with no hesitation, giving no regards to my sarcasm. Obviously, the streets had been good to him and money wasn’t an issue. So, by Saturday our little family was at Bush Intercontinental Airport headed to New York City.
I wasn’t under any false illusions. I knew exactly what the trip represented. He’d fucked up. Still, that wasn’t going to ruin my vacation. Lied to, used and abused, I did it all in first class.