Chapter 18
(We can’t be Friends/Deborah Cox hands down.
I’d let my hair grow a little pass the middle of my back.
I’d picked up a few pounds and it was all in the right places.
I was a thick size ten. My false lashes were on point as always and my outfit was cute.
I was wearing some shorts and a white halter by Baby Phat.
I was stumping in my Air Force Ones. I had to be comfortable for my daughter’s birthday.
I was nothing but a big kid that came to have a good time.
“Mommy, come see!” Jahrein Junior yelled.
I strutted over to my son with my slightly bowlegged ass, which people often teased me about comparing me to a black stallion. Before I could make it to Junior he spotted his daddy.
“Daddy!” he said excitedly before running over to him.
“What’s up, lil’ man?” Jahrein asked as he ruffled up Junior’s head with one hand and held a huge pink gift bag in the other. His little girlfriend just stood there with a smile plastered on her face.
I knew that she had to be uncomfortable in those five inch Prada heels. Who the hell goes to Chuck E. Cheese in heels? I guess she was trying to upstage me. I wasn’t in any competition with the next broad. They had to catch up first.
“Look, mommy! Daddy came.” Junior laughed.
“I see.” I nodded. “Hello.” I spoke to Jahrein’s new woman friend. She hadn’t done a damn thing to me so I figured why not be cordial?
“Hello.” she smiled. It seemed genuine.
Jahrein was giving me a once over and then a frown covered his face.
“I’m glad to see that you got respect for the kids. Walking around half naked and all.” he seethed.
“Anyways.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m Raven. What’s your name?” I asked his woman as I extended my hand for her to shake it.
She gave me a strong shake. “I’m Amber.” she laughed.
“Okay, Amber. There’s plenty of pizza if you’d like any.” I offered. “Jahrein, I think the birthday girl wants to see you.” I said as I headed back to my table. I could feel his eyes burning a hole through the back of my head.
“Bitch, what was your friendly ass over there saying?” Michelle asked me as I took a seat at the table.
“I was just speaking to his new friend.”
“Baby, I bet that I can whip your ass in every one of these games.” Khalil came over and whispered in my ear.
For some reason I looked around to see if Jahrein was watching us.
As soon as I spotted him our eyes met. A chill ran down my spine.
Then Jah turned his attention to Khalil as Amber spoke to him.
I don’t think he heard a word that the girl was saying.
He bit his bottom lip and I was enjoying every minute.
“Nigga, please. We’ll just see about that.” I finally said to Khalil as we headed towards the game area.
It wasn’t long before I was kicking Khalil’s ass all over the place.
“Get him, mommy!” Jahrae cheered me on as I shot the basketball in the hoop.
I glanced over my shoulder to find that I had quite a few male admirers posted watching me.
“Come here.” Khalil cooed as he pulled me into his embrace. He planted a soft kiss on my neck.
“Break that shit up.” Jalero spat as he played a virtual game.
I looked over at him and he wore a serious expression. He was actually mean mugging Khalil. The glare he gave me kind of fucked with me. I removed Khalil’s hands from around me.
“What’s up, Lero?” I asked him.
“Shit, I don’t know. We still trying to figure it out.” he mumbled as he walked off.
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Khalil frowned.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. Deep down, I could see the disappointment in Jalero’s eyes. He always said that me and his brother had the kind of love that he wanted with his woman one day.
“These niggas better fall the fuck back.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Jah and his people.”
“Khalil, please don’t start. This is his daughter’s party and those are her people too.
If you knew you couldn’t control yourself you should have stayed at home.
This is Jhyrah’s day and you know she wants her daddy here.
” I walked away. I wasn’t digging his attitude.
He should’ve been on the offense instead of trying to play defense.
He was at the next man’s daughter’s birthday party.
I didn’t give a damn about him paying for it because I could’ve done that myself.
I went and found Jahlero and we took a seat at a table. Jhyrah came and sat next to me to play with her baby brother. She was always asking to hold him and trying to feed him. I think her little ass thought that she was his mama.
“Yah-Yah, why you not over there playing?” Jahrein walked over and asked her.