3. Reiana
Reiana
a few days later…
Iwas working from home today, so when I dropped Rhyse off at camp, I stopped by Cup & Crumb to get my usual iced brown sugar espresso with oat milk and an extra espresso shot and a strawberry cheese Danish.
Now I was home, going over a few new contracts and revising others to meet the needs of my current clients.
This was the perk of owning my business.
On days I didn’t feel like doing a damn thing…
I didn’t have to. Then, when I didn’t want to go into the office…
I didn’t have to. I’d do everything from the comfort of my home.
Like now, I was going over contracts and running my mouth with Mona.
“So, are you going to bring Dorian to the kickback?” Mona asked.
“I’on know. He’s been acting weird and I’on want that shit around me. I’m not about to let another nigga play in my face,” I spoke truthfully. I promised myself my last heartbreak would be my first and last. I wasn’t about to be playing with these niggas.
“He’s still walking around like he’s hiding a wife, three kids and a dog?” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at this damn fool.
“You’re an idiot, but yeah he is. I’on know what he’s on but I definitely don’t have time for the bullshit.”
“I get it, Ree, but everybody ain’t Lennox,” she stated.
My cousin knew all too well how I felt about Lennox Steele.
At one point, that man was my everything.
Even though I was only twenty-two at the time.
I knew what we had was real, or at least I thought it was.
Breaking up with him was the worst day of my life, but I still remembered it like the shit just happened yesterday.
I moved in with Mona when I graduated high school since I no longer had to be under my mama.
Reina (Ree-Nuh) Scott was a bitch, and I couldn’t wait to get from under her thumb.
She was the poorest excuse for a mother, leaving me to fend for myself most of the time, but I had Mona and her mama.
She was my cousin on my dad’s side, but we were still close.
My dad died when I was twelve in a car accident.
Me and my mama were with him, but she blamed me for distracting him, causing him to swerve into on-coming traffic.
He jerked the car to keep me and my mama from getting hit.
He died a few days later from his injuries, and my mama blamed me because he looked into the rearview mirror to answer the question I had just asked.
I never understood how she could blame her child for that, let alone hate her but the shit happened.
The day I graduated, I left and never looked back.
When I saw her out, I acted as if I didn’t know her, and she did the same.
The moment Lennox crossed my path, I knew right then he was my soulmate.
The man was fine. I mean, dick dizzy fine, but he also had this rugged appearance about him that would make you think he was mean, but he wasn’t…
at least not to me. He had an athlete’s build and covered in tattoos.
He was staring locs, but they still fit him, even their beginning stages.
We became inseparable until one day out the blue everything changed.
The night that shattered my world started off normal.
I went to class, then came home. Lennox and I had plans to go out when he came over.
The only thing is he never came, but I received a text saying he was done with my disloyal ass.
I was confused as to why he would say that to me, so I called and my calls were going straight to the voicemail.
I know I called him a hundred times and sent just as many texts.
I was devastated and miserable for weeks.
I couldn’t eat or sleep. At times I didn’t want to breathe.
When I told my best friend, Kree, she told me not to worry about it because it was his loss.
I agreed. Fuck Lennox. That was until I found out I was pregnant with his baby.
I was somewhat relieved because this baby was going to be our way to work things out.
I remember texting his phone that we needed to talk or could he come by, but my texts were still unanswered.
I called his mama, and all she could say was that she wasn’t getting in the middle of our business.
Lena asked me what was going on because she knew it had to be something, because I wasn’t coming around.
I told her to ask her brother but tell him we needed to talk.
I never heard from Lennox, so I broke down and texted him, telling him I was pregnant. The text I got back shattered my entire being.
Love Of My Life: Fuck you and that baby.
Those were the words the love of my life said after I told him I was pregnant with his child.
That night, I decided to leave Lennox and whatever I thought we were behind.
No one knew about the baby but Mona and Kree.
I told Kree I was getting rid of it and leaving.
Mona came with me, and the rest is history.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I finally responded to Mona.
“You’re right and I’ll never punish another man for the shit that Lennox did, but I know when a nigga is moving funny and Dorian’s ass is the nigga in question.” I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew his ass was doing something.
“I hear you… Taryn still coming right?”
“Yeah, she’ll definitely be there,” I confirmed.
“Okay, good. Let me get in here and see if these kids done tore up my house. I’ll call you later… love you.”
“Love you too,” I countered just as Taryn was walking in.
“Who you on the phone with?” Taryn asked as soon as she plopped down beside me.
“Damn, you nosy,” I laughed.
“We already know this… now answer the question.” She waved me off.
“It was Mona, nosy. She was calling to see if I was bringing Dorian to the kickback this weekend,” I revealed. Taryn already knew which kickback because her nosy ass was going too.
“I hope you told her fuck that nigga,” she spat.
“Don’t start, Tay,” I groaned, closing my laptop because I knew I was no longer getting any work done.
“Too late. That nigga still walking around here like he’s a member of a secret society.” She rolled her eyes.
Sighing dejectedly, I filled my best friend on the things that she didn’t already know, and by the time I was done, she was getting up off the sofa.
“What the hell are you jumping up so fast for?” I quizzed.
“You need to get your ass up too so we can go jump this nigga and beat a confession out his black ass. I’ll drive… come on.” She was grabbing her keys and purse and headed to the door so fast I almost tripped trying to stop her.
“Would you sit your crazy ass down,” I laughed.
“I’m not doing all that. If he’s doing some shit, I’ll find out,” I jested.
I wasn’t about to be trailing that man like I was an undercover FBI agent.
If he was doing some shit, it’ll come to light, and when it does, me and my girls gone tag team his ass.
I might even let Rhyse get a few licks in.
“Whatever. I’m letting you know now, if that nigga up to something shady, I’m beating his ass on sight.” She smirked. I knew she wasn’t lying. Ever since we linked, she’s been a genuine friend and always ready to ride. Kree was iffy at times, but she was still my friend.
“You won’t hear shit from me. Now come on and let’s go get something to eat since you came in here like Yosemite Sam and ambushed my work. I’m hungry and got a taste for hibachi.”
Going into my bedroom, I put on a pair of sneakers since I was only in my house shoes before meeting Taryn back downstairs and headed out.
We drove separately because by the time we got done, it would be time to get Rhyse from camp.
Sizzle House was not far from the school, so it would work out perfectly.
A hot steak hibachi plate with extra vegetables and sauce would be heaven right about now, along with some plum wine.
***
After picking Rhyse up from camp, we made it back home to relax a little before we left for the kickback. It was kid-friendly since their children would be there, but they would be in the game room or wherever else they ventured to. They wouldn’t be outside with the adults.
I was in my room finishing up getting dressed when Rhyse knocked on my door.
“Come in,” I called out. When he walked in, he had that same damn frown on his face.
“Ma, do I have to go?” He groaned. “I’m big enough to stay home by myself,” he bargained.
“No sir, you sure can’t. You might be big enough but you’re nowhere near old enough so get your shoes so we can go,” I instructed while he stood there looking crazy as hell.
“Is your boyfriend going?” He asked.
“Yeah why?” I inquired.
“I’on like him. His cologne is stank. He can’t dress and he’s corny.” I wanted to laugh so bad, but I didn’t want to encourage him to go further.
“He’s not that bad, Boosie. I thought you liked Dorian?”
“I’on like him. He said that he was gone be my daddy and I told him no he wasn’t because I’ain got no daddy and I’on want one.” He frowned. Hearing my baby say he didn’t have a daddy had me wanting to go back to Cannon Hills and beat the black off of Lennox’s ass.
I walked over to my son and kneeled in front of him and took his hands into mine.
“Listen, Boosie. You have a father, but he wasn’t ready for the responsibility.
Maybe one day, he’ll be ready and you can meet him and express everything you feel to him.
Right now, I want you to go get your shoes on so we can go before Auntie Mona lets everybody eat the deviled eggs.
” I smirked. He loved deviled eggs just as much as I did, so I knew that would distract his little mind enough.
Once he left, I inhaled a sharp breath to get my feelings in check before I finished dressing.
By the time I was done, Dorian called to say he was pulling up.
After going over my appearance and making sure my curly hair was secure in the messy bun, I grabbed my things and left my room to let Rhyse know it was time to go.
He groaned and rolled his eyes, but he brought his little ass.
When we reached the door, Dorian was standing on the other side, looking good.
He had on a tan Amiri t-shirt with a pair of dark denim Amiri jeans and a pair of brown and tan Jordan 4s.
He mainly dressed casual because of his business dealings, but I loved the laid-back look more.
“Hey, baby. You look good,” he complimented as he pulled me into his embrace and kissed me.
“Wassup, Rhyse,” he spoke to my son.
“Hey,” he grumbled his response.
Once we got into his car, we left and headed to Mona’s.
“So, Rhyse. How’s camp?” Dorian asked, trying to make conversation.
Silence…
“Boosie,” I turned and called his name.
“Ma’am?”
“Did you not hear Dorian talking to you? Stop being rude.” I didn’t care how much he didn’t like him… he wasn’t about to be rude on my watch.
“It’s aight,” he responded.
“It’ll get better,” was all Dorian said.
The rest of the ride was filled with Dorian talking about work and ignoring his phone.
“You need to get that?” I asked because he and his phone was starting to piss me off.
“Nah… It’s just Mello. He’on want shit,” he countered.
“He clearly does, but whatever.” I didn’t continue the conversation because I was already over it. I spent the rest of the ride looking out the window.
When we pulled up to Mona’s, I got out without waiting for Dorian to open the door for me. I opened Rhyse’s door, and we headed up the walkway with Dorian trailing behind us while on his phone.
“About time y’all showed up,” Mona greeted once she opened the door.
“Where’s the liquor because I need it,” I responded.
“Damn, you okay?” She asked genuinely.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied. “Boosie go find your cousins,” I said and waited until he was gone before I spoke again.
“Girl, I’m about to be done with Dorian’s ass.
Now he’s ignoring phone calls and saying it’s Mello.
The fuck he gotta say to him that he can’t say in front of me?
” I was getting pissed just thinking about it.
“I’m not about to sit around and let another nigga play with me,” I voiced, just as Dorian walked in.
He looked like his ass was hiding something.
“We’ll be in the back,” Mona said before walking off. She tolerated Dorian, but she didn’t like that he could be playing me. She was more like my sister than my cousin and always had my back.
“You done?” I asked once she was gone.
“Yeah… I handled it. Let’s go enjoy the festivities,” he countered with a fake smile.
I don’t know what Dorian was hiding, but he better get that shit together soon, or this shit is a wrap.