Chapter 15 #4
“He spoiled me. So I wouldn’t necessarily say he used me, but I liked him more than he liked me.
He had so many opportunities to tell me that it was just fun for him.
Just sex. But he didn’t. He made me believe that he loved me.
He made me believe I was the only one. I think Emperor liked living the double life.
His college girl put away on campus, spreading her legs for him on demand, while the women he really liked were out in the streets.
I was just something to do. Something to scratch off the list. Niggas love what they think other niggas haven’t had.
Once he got his fill, I was disposable. I just beat him to the punch by cutting him off before he was ready to dispose of me. ”
I could feel my skin heat. My mind raced, and I guess it was evident on my face because Blayke was now standing in front of me.
“You and Leader are different, Calista. Don’t be in that pretty head of yours thinking Leader did you like how Emperor did me.
Although Leader is on my ‘fuck you’ list strictly because he is related to Emp, Leader loves you, friend.
I saw that shit with my own eyes. He probably loved you the first night when he walked in with all that damn seafood.
” She chuckled as I fought the smile trying to creep onto my face.
“He’s not good for me, Blayke. We’re so different. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love him too. I have to find a way to unlove him, though, friend. What will loving him do for me? For us?” My eyes flashed to my baby girl.
Blayke took a seat on the arm of the La-Z-Boy. Her familiar fragrance mixed with Baby Leader’s newborn smell stirred a hum in my chest.
“You can love him, friend. Look what y’all’s love created.
This baby is the most beautiful little girl I’ve ever seen.
I know how you are, friend. Everything has to make sense in your world.
Everything has to align. Everything has to be done the right way.
But sometimes, that’s not how life works.
You’re perfect, Glee. You made a perfect daughter from an imperfect love.
Love on that black man. It's probably the only thing that’s keeping him going. ”
“I just… I don’t know. I have to tell him about her, and I really don’t want to. I have to tell his family too.”
“You don’t have to tell his family shit. He can tell them. But…”
“But what?”
“He didn’t figure it out when you went to visit him? He didn’t notice that you looked different?”
“I—Wait! How do you know I went to visit him?”
“Girl! Because I know you!” Blayke rolled her eyes as if I’d asked a silly question.
“When I did finally escape my parents, I called Mama Cathy, and she gave me the whole rundown, including the location they found your car. I know where that man is locked up from Facebook. Plus, I know you, Glee. There is no way you would have left the baby to go to some financial aid office! You can do that shit over the phone. You went to see that nigga.”
“I can’t stand you.”
“You love me.”
“I do.”
She smirked. “You love him too.”
“I do…”
“As you should, bestie. Leader a real nigga, unlike his bitch-ass brother.”
We locked eyes before bursting out in laughter. Baby Leader began to stir before a soft whine could be heard.
“Shhhh. Okay, okay. TeeTee sorry. Come on.” She kissed the baby’s head and rubbed her back. “But for real, everything is going to work out. I don’t know how, but I know it will.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so! Now, let me enjoy my baby, and then I’ma help you get cute so we can meet these hoes you tried to replace me with.”
“Oh, God. Blayke, please.”
“This baby is so, so, so, so pretty!” Mahzeyah grinned in Baby Leader’s face.
“Yeap. That’s how our baby gonna look. Hold her head.” Italian instructed as he stood over Mahzeyah.
She leaned away from him. “Eww, never. Get out our face.”
“Y’all gonna fight over the baby all day?” Bella asked while she typed on her phone.
“I’m not fighting. He just all in our mix.
We chilling… Ain’t that right, pretty babyyy?
”I giggled at Mahzeyah and Italian’s tense relationship.
We’d been next door for a few hours, and they’d gone at it almost the entire time.
I was nervous about coming over, but I was glad that I did.
Blayke had styled my hair in a high ponytail and helped me get dressed.
There wasn’t much I could wear with a broken leg besides shorts and an oversized shirt to avoid aggravating my ribs, and luckily, my sister had bought just that among my gifts.
I was dressed in blue Alo shorts and a matching sweatshirt.
The makeup on my face hid my bruises and made me feel more normal, especially among people who were essentially strangers.
Although this was my first time meeting Italian and the other girls in person, it felt like I’d known them forever.
“Pearla, tell yo’ friend our baby gonna be pretty too.” Italian smirked as he leaned over Mahzeyah’s shoulder and tickled Baby Leader’s foot.
My mommy had changed Leader into an outfit that matched mine, and the royal blue sleep set with the matching headband was adorable against her caramel skin.
Many of her clothes were still too big, so she was wearing newborn-sized clothing for now.
I was hoping, once I recovered fully, I would be able to try latching her again to increase my breast milk so she could gain weight faster.
“Boy, get on!” Mahzeyah said, and everyone, including Blayke and me, laughed.
The first two times Mahzeyah insulted Italian, I thought she was being mean, but once I realized he was doing small things to get a rise out of her, I understood this was their everyday relationship.
We all had been sitting around the living room, enjoying each other’s company.
I was in a wheelchair, but when it became uncomfortable, Italian picked me up and transported me to the couch.
Pearla and I were in the middle, with Blayke to my right, and Mahzeyah to Pearla’s left.
We sat comfortably, showing that the couch was nice in size and had been purchased for company.
The way the townhouse was decorated showed that Glow’s friends had long money.
I knew this already, though, from looking on their social media pages.
It was so nice and so pink inside the living room area, and I couldn’t believe she had left this to live with her husband.
I wouldn’t have ever left this masterpiece.
But according to Bella, her new home was pink too.
Blayke was in complete awe when we first came over because pink was her favorite color. She was ready to move in immediately.
Ding Dong
“You been saved by the bell.” Italian blew a kiss at Mahzeyah, pulled his shorts up to his waist, and went to the door.
Blayke leaned up and waved in Mahzeyah’s direction. “Girl, he fine as hell! Why you keep giving him the cold shoulder?”
She bit into a chicken wing, almost cleaning it bare in one bite. It was her second plate of the day, on top of her eating a full breakfast at Glow’s house. They must’ve been starving my girl, for real, when they were trying to keep her away from me.
Pearla had gone all out. There were white and blue balloons floating on the ceiling, and they had cooked wings, sliders, and Rotel dip for me.
Music was playing when we walked in, but as the hours passed, conversations took over, so Italian turned the music off.
Blunts were pre-rolled and sitting on the counter in the kitchen, but they left them there when they realized I had the baby.
Bella said it wasn’t a big deal because they had a bottle of wine in the freezer that she had found in the kitchen.
I was breastfeeding, so I wouldn’t indulge, but I knew Blayke would, and with the last few weeks my girl had been having, she deserved it.
“Who, Italian? Eww. Unh, unh. He alright, but I got a boo.” Mahzeyah grinned.
“Who?” Blayke scooped a Rotel-covered chip into her mouth.
“Flexer.”
“The rapper?” Blayke and I asked simultaneously.
“Yeap.”
“Oh shit! No wonder you over there dancing in diamonds.”
Mahzeyah’s jewelry reminded me of my sister’s friends Instagram feeds, except she wore delicate, dainty pieces. And while everyone else was dressed casually, she looked like she was about to step out in her denim two-piece skirt set and designer sneakers.
“Oh this?” She held her wrist out, her other arm holding my baby. “My daddy bought this when I was twelve.”
“Oh shit. Shut me right the fuck on up, boo.”
“With his fine ass. Whew!” Bella fanned.
“Bella!”
Bella sucked her teeth at Mahzeyah’s whining. “I’ma stop. Your mama said she’s gonna kick my ass if I keep playing with her husband, and I believe her.”
Pearla snickered. “Y’all crazy.”
I couldn’t help but notice that Pearla was the least talkative out of the bunch.
I didn’t know if she was naturally quiet or if Grind had been on her mind today.
Our heart-to-heart at the hospital really helped me gain some courage about my situation.
I was hoping she’d be comfortable enough to open up to me if she needed an ear so that I could be some encouragement for her too.
“Damn! Rappers and rich daddies. Yeah, we in the right clique, bestie. Flexer got some flunkies that like to trick or do Daddy Warbucks got some store runners that’s ’round my age?”
“Blayke!” I screeched while holding my side.
“What? I’m trying to get us some daycare money. Hush!”
“Aye.”
All of our heads shot to the door except for Pearla’s at Italian’s voice.
He had fully walked into the living room and was accompanied by two more guys.
Both were handsome, and I couldn’t help but realize everyone in this crew of people was very attractive.
The two guys, who were here when we arrived and had gone into the basement, were handsome too.
“This my nigga, Ro.” He gestured to the guy on his right.