Chapter Twenty-Four #3
When it was Gene's turn to speak, he told the story of a troubled girl who got caught up with the wrong guy. Tyler wasn’t willing to air her dirty laundry, but Shane did.
If it were going to keep his best friend out of prison, he told Gene everything he needed to know so he could counteract Dexter’s lawyer's story. So, for every text Dexter’s lawyer showed, Gene combatted with a text, the same thing with pictures, videos, and he even had statements from witnesses.
Gene never denied Tyler’s ill-tempered behavior, but he did explain that Dexter was the source of the problem.
“On the night of the stabbing my client found out she was trending for a lie her former label told to the world, she was kicked out of a residence that she believed was hers, the car she drove for years was taken, she saw her boyfriend cheating on her with her cousin, and to top it off, she found out the cousin was pregnant by said boyfriend. My client snapped,” Gene explained.
“This situation is enough to drive anyone crazy, and my client blacked out.”
“Damn right her crazy ass did,” Dexter mocked, making Tilly laugh.
“Sir, you’ve been warned.” The judge stared at him, unimpressed.
“My fault, my fault.”
“As you can see, this man taunts my client at every turn, and even though she’s wearing an ankle monitor, he still pops up and harasses her. Where is her protection?”
“Harass her?” Dexter frowned. “How the fuck am I going to harass her and she the one who stabbed me?”
“Sir!” The judge banged her gavel.
“I apologize, Judge. I just can’t take these lies and shit. She crazy. She stabbed me, but I'm the problem,” Dexter explained. “And she just beat up my baby mama. Lock her unhinged ass under the jail.”
“You can express that through your lawyer. The next time you have an outburst, I’m going to have you arrested.”
“Aight, Aight,” he snorted.
“Young lady, could you please stand?” The judge addressed Tyler.
Doing as she was told, Tyler stood to her feet along with Gene.
“This case is very serious and it’s not as simple as one may think to just drop the charges,” she explained.
“Hm,” Dexter just couldn’t keep quiet.
“From what I can see, you have a pattern of poor behavior,” the judge continued, causing Tyler to shift on her feet.
“In our community we see too many stories of toxic love that ends badly. Young people are so caught up in drugs, alcohol, money, and the fast lane that they lose sight of the value of life.” She glanced down at the paperwork in front of her and then back up.
“Although I sympathize with your situation, the law is still the law, and I cannot drop the charges altogether. I do believe this was a crime of passion, but I’m not convinced you would’ve walked away under normal circumstances either.
The knife that penetrated the victim barely broke skin and that’s your only saving grace.
This charge has been downgraded to a misdemeanor. ”
“Downgraded?” Dexter shouted, jumping out of his seat. “The fuck she saying?”
“Dexter, please.” His lawyer tugged at his sleeve. “Have a seat.”
“Nigga do something! You telling me to have a seat and she about to walk.”
“Sir!” The judge banged her gavel. “Take your seat,” she demanded before turning back to Tyler.
“You will serve three hundred hours of community service that will be discussed with you and your lawyer in a different setting. You are responsible for enrolling in anger management and I also recommend that you find a therapist. Allowing someone to help you sort through your feelings can be beneficial. You are young and still have a lot of years ahead of you. How you spend those years is up to you. I am advising you to stay away from the defendant because the next time you will not be so lucky.”
“Hold the fuck up!” Dexter jumped up, this time knocking his chair over. “She stabbed me and you giving her community service?”
“Dex,” Marty tried to intervene, tapping his shoulder. “Calm down, bro.”
“Sir, you also need to sit on someone's couch because I don’t believe you are innocent. We’ve only been here for an hour, and I’ve watched you taunt this young lady even after you were advised not to.
If this is how you behave in front of people, I can only imagine what it’s like when you two are alone.
I am advising you to stay away from her, and if she requests a restraining order, I will grant it without hesitation. ”
“Man what?” Dexter snapped, glaring at Tyler, who peered right back at him with a grin on her face.
“Bitch, you think it’s funny?” He leaped, trying to hop over his lawyer.
The judge started banging her gavel, ordering the officer to take Dexter into custody.
“I got pictures and videos bitch! I could’ve had yo hoe ass all on the internet with my dick in your mouth. ”
“And you’d be in those same videos with my thumb up your ass,” Tyler shot back.
“Oop,” Shane gasped. “Not a lil booty play…Ok, Dex. I see you.”
“That’s enough!” The judge banged her gavel. “Young lady, I’d advise you to leave while you still can.”
“We’re leaving.” Gene stood up, placing his hand on the lower part of Tyler’s back. “Let’s go.”
Tyler could have jumped for joy when the court deputy removed her ankle monitor.
Although the ankle monitor weighed less than a pound, she felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders.
No more sitting by the wall to charge, no more curfew, and no more Dexter.
Tyler was ready to hop on the first plane and get the hell out of dodge.
With her best friends by her side, Tyler strolled through the back exit feeling like a brand-new woman.
No longer did she feel sick to her stomach and the demons that once harassed her were quiet.
Aria couldn’t stop talking about how stupid Dexter looked jumping across his lawyer, and Shane was still pissed about his wig.
Gene told Tyler that although the case was over, she’d still need to keep a low profile because the next time they wouldn’t be so lucky. The sympathy card wouldn’t work again.
“Ok, see this is big dick energy and I’m here for it.” Shane unintentionally licked his lips when his eyes landed on the truck that was double-parked behind the courthouse.
“Aht aht,” Tyler hissed. “We don’t like him.” She rolled her eyes.
“Bitch, speak for yourself, I like what I see.” He adjusted his jacket. “I’m a fan. Heyyy Thugger.”
“What up doe?” Logic tossed him a head nod, pushing off the truck.
“Nothing, been battling legal shit all day,” Shane replied. “You know the vibes.”
“Type shit,” Logic retorted, glancing at Tyler and Aria. “Yall not speaking?”
“Go talk to chalk mouth.” Aria waved him off.
“Mannn.” He scratched the top of his head. “That girl was lying.”
“I believe you, Thugger. You don’t strike me as a liar.”
“All these niggas lie,” Tyler mumbled.
“Come here, baby girl.” Logic licked his lips. “Let me holler at you for a minute."
“Me or her?” Shane asked, mesmerized.
“Bitch stop!” Aria bumped his hip. “You know he not talking to your big foot ass.”
“Oh, my bad.” Shane tucked his lips and straightened his posture. “I can get a little carried away sometimes.”
Stubbornly, Tyler stood her ground, refusing to move.
It didn’t matter that he was standing there with a fresh cut, dressed in a black Nike jogging suit and a pair of newly purchased Jordans.
Tyler tried to ignore his sensual cologne, which embraced her even though she wanted to slap the cocky smirk off his fine ass face.
“Come here, baby girl,” his deep voice demanded, awakening the butterflies that seemed to only move at his command.
“No!” Tyler shook her head. “You think because you cut your nappy ass head and bought some new clothes, you’re all that?”
“Yes, the fuck,” Shane answered but clamped his mouth shut when Tyler shot him a look.
“I’ll let yall talk.” He slowly backed away from them.
“Thugger, it was nice seeing you, and if by chance she ends up with you tonight, can you make sure she hangs the hair up? Those are Malaysian bundles, and I need them for a photoshoot.”
“Shane!” Tyler barked.
“Fine, fine, we’re leaving.” He held his hands up. “Just take some pictures before you fuck it up.”
“Wait, don’t leave. I’m not going anywhere with him.”
“Bitch, please. You’re playing hard to get, but you’re about to fold for this nigga faster than an air mattress with a slow leak.”
“No, I'm not.” Tyler bumped Shane.
“Oh, so you not gone fold for me, Ty?” Logic gazed at her.
“No, and don’t start that smoldering shit either,” she snapped, trying to keep a straight face. Between his cologne, the deep waves flooding his perfectly sculpted head, and the stupid cocky grin etched across his handsome face, she was going to fold like origami.
“Harvard treating us to lunch. Go slide with your boo,” Shane stated, heading over to Gene’s car.
“Shouldn’t you be treating him to lunch since he took this case as a favor?” Aria wondered aloud, following him.
“Girl, hush and get in the back before I make you order off the kids' menu.”
Tyler giggled at her friends’ banter as she watched them load into Gene’s car.
She made a mental note to thank him again later.
As long as she didn’t have to do jail time, Tyler was cool as a fan.
She'd happily clean up trash on the side of the freeway if that’s what it took for her to keep her freedom.
“So what’s up? You gone let me explain what happened? If you not fucking with it then I’ll take you back home...cool?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
“I mean it ain’t like I have a choice since they keep leaving me in your care.” Tyler rolled her eyes.
“Come on now, big baby. I thought you liked being in my care.”
“Yea, well that was before you fucked ashy mouth.”
“Mannn,” Logic chuckled. “Why you keep talking about that girl?”
“Because I want to.” Tyler shrugged childishly.
“Aight, you got it, but baby girl, I haven’t touched shorty.”
“And I’m supposed to just take your word for it?”
“You are.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not one of them,” Logic firmly stated.
“One of whom?” Tyler asked, confused.
“One of them lame ass niggas that’s trying to play you.
I’m trying to build with you, baby girl.
I want to take care of you the way your soul craves.
I want you out here living your soft girl life, knowing your nigga is all about you and only you.
I want you to expose your fears so I can conquer them muthafuckas, and I’m not trying to mess up what we're starting for another bitch,” Logic explained, pushing her hair behind her ear.
“All I want is your problematic ass.” He kissed her lips.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Tyler whispered.
“Why not?”
“Because what if I fall for your slick talking ass?”
“Then I’mma catch you, baby girl.”
“With both hands?” Tyler grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Both hands,” Logic promised, cupping her round ass. “Are you ready to go?”
“This all you wanna do, huh? Layup and feel on my booty?”
“I’m not going to lie.” He licked his lips.
“I can’t stop thinking about the inside of your mouth.
The way your tongue massaged the tip of my dick needs to be studied and I want some more.
I want to watch you swallow my nut and then I want to fuck the shit outta you.
I’m going to wine and dine you, but I gotta get this shit off first.” He reached out, placing her hand on his hard dick.
“My dick so hard I can’t think straight. ”
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Tyler gasped, pulling the corner of her lip into her mouth.
“I can. I thought you missed my dick.” Logic grinned, cocking his head to the side.
Before Tyler could reply, she heard someone loudly calling her name.
Being that they were led out through the back, no one knew they were outside.
Praying that it was a court official of some sort, Tyler slowly turned around but frowned when she spotted Marty and Tilly jogging toward her.
Instinctively, Logic moved closer to Tyler, possessively positioning himself in front of her.
Tyler's body instantly relaxed, and she found herself leaning into him.
“Please do not put your hands on nobody,” Tyler whined.
“No promises, big baby.”
With anger carved across their faces, Marty and Tilly stopped in front of Tyler as if they were the ones fucking her. As if it was their hearts hurt by the sight of her standing next to another man.
“My mans, can you give us a minute?" Tilly glared, sizing Logic up.
“Nah.”
“Ty,” Marty sighed, tired of trying to be the peacemaker.
He, for one, was happy the judge told them to stay away from each other, but Tilly wouldn’t let it go.
As soon as they dragged Dexter out of the courtroom, he went on a rant about how Tyler was wrong and they needed to find her.
“Can we just talk to you for a quick second?”
“Nigga, why you asking? We been knowing her for years and ain’t nobody gone stop us from talking to her,” Tilly gawked. “Ty, what the fuck is this shit?” he questioned, loud and wrong.
“Excuse me?” Tyler frowned with wrinkled brows.
“I’m saying my mans locked up and you out here flaunting this nigga all in public?”
“Flaunting?” Logic chortled. “Nigga I haven’t begun to flaunt her.”
“Who talking to you?” Tilly mugged but never moved.
“Yo lame ass. How the fuck you checking a nigga behind pussy you ain’t getting?”
“I’m saying, Ty, this shit is disrespectful,” Marty spoke up. “At least come help me bail the nigga out. The years yall was together didn’t mean shit?”
“Are yall smoking dope?” Tyler bucked, stepping from behind Logic.
“The years we spent together was a fucking waste and I’m not helping with shit.
You better go get Bobbi, the new bitch he fucking, or start a GoFundMe for the nigga because I wouldn’t give him a penny if that’s what his bitch ass freedom cost. Both of you goofy niggas can kiss my ass and Dex can eat it. ”
“Nah, that honor is mine?” Logic cut her off.
“Disrespectful as fuck,” Tilly grunted.
“Nah, what’s disrespectful is what I’m about to do to her now that she’s off that bullshit ass ankle monitor.” Logic bumped Tyler’s side, shifting the butterflies, making her cheeks warm and her pussy thump. “Tell these niggas to kick rocks, big baby. We got shit to do.”
“Kick rocks,” Tyler spat. “And tell Dexter to choke on them.”
“And if Dexter the heckler got a problem, tell him to holla at me,” Logic stated, slipping his arm around Tyler. “You ready?” He guided her to his truck, leaving Tilly and Marty standing there looking like the fools they were.
“Yea, but I’m not fucking you, Lionel,” Tyler swore as he opened the car door for her.
“I know.” He smirked, popping her on the ass. “You doing the bending.”