Chapter 7

“Who the hell is she anyway? That bitch must be crazy,” Brooklyn said as she sat on her sofa and fed her baby.

Brooklyn was Jaden’s only sister, and she and Kia were close. Jaylynn loved to be at her auntie’s house because she got to play with her little cousins, DJ and Dominique. Brooklyn and her husband, Dominic, had just welcomed their third child and second son into the world almost three weeks ago. Since she was still healing from childbirth, Kia made it her business to go over to her sister-in-law’s house in the afternoons when she got off from work.

“That hoe is very crazy. Her name is Tori, but I call her tore up,” Kia said, referring to the girl that Jaden use to deal with.

“And what does my brother have to say about her following you and shit?” Brooklyn asked.

“There’s nothing that he can say. He’s confronted her a million times, but she’s not right in the head. He swears that he’s not messing with her no more, but I don’t believe that. I can’t see her acting like that behind a nigga who don’t want her no more.”

“Girl, you’d be surprised. I’ve seen my fair share of crazy bitches to last me a lifetime. You need to report her ass to the police and get some paperwork on file. That way, you can blow her retarded ass away if she comes close to you again,” Brooklyn encouraged.

“I never even thought about that, but that’s a good idea,” Kia acknowledged.

“Either that or put Mo on her ass,” Brooklyn laughed.

“She’s crazy as fuck, but I wouldn’t even do her like that. Mo would probably kill her. But seriously, Brook, this is the final straw with me and Jaden. I’m tired of all this breaking up to make up every week. And I’m sick of fighting bitches behind a man that’s supposed to belong to me. This shit is getting old and I’m drained. My daughter is getting older and she’s seeing too much going on between us,” Kia said seriously.

“I understand Kia. I want you and my brother to be together, but you gotta do what’s best for you and Jaylynn. She’s at the age where she knows and understands what’s happening. She loves her daddy, but there’s no telling what kind of affect this is having on her.”

“The part that hurts me is that my baby thinks this shit is normal. She’ll ask me if her daddy still lives with us or did I put him out again. How am I supposed to explain our dysfunctional relationship to a ten-year-old?” Kia questioned, but her sister-in-law had no answers.

“I don’t even know Kia. Dominic and I didn’t have the best relationship in the beginning, but I’m happy that we’re all good now. You have to show Jaden that you’re not playing with his ass. Let him know that you can do the same thing that he does if you choose too.”

“Girl, your brother is crazy. He’s the only man that I’ve ever been with and he’s determined to keep it that way. Well, he’s the only man that I’ve ever had sex with, that is,” Kia corrected. It was no secret to Jaden and nobody else who knew her that she loved oral sex like a fat kid loved cake. She never had sex with anyone else, but she had no problem letting another man taste her cookies. Jaden got wind of it a few times and it never turned out good.

“But, how is that fair to you though, Kia? As soon as y’all break up, he go lay up in between another bitch’s legs, but he be trying to kill a nigga just for flirting with you. You and Keller are some bad bitches and him and Leo better recognize that shit,” Brooklyn replied.

Keller and Kia were often mistaken for twins with their almost identical features. Kia was a shade darker than her sister, but the similarities were much the same. Keller was a little thicker than Kia, but they both got their nice shape and petite frame right from Mo.

“It’s not fair. I could have been had me a doctor or something from my job. Lord knows they flirt with me all day. One of the surgical techs has been asking me to go out with him for months. I keep turning him down because I’m worried about Jaden’s crazy ass,” Kia said.

Kia was a medical records coding technician at University Hospital and she turned heads every time she walked through the doors. Because she was so in love with Jaden, Kia never even took any of their advances seriously. They had one surgical tech who she ate lunch with from time to time, but that wasn’t about nothing. A little harmless flirting back and forth was as far as it went. He knew about Jaden, but he wasn’t intimidated by him.

“Show his ass better than you can tell him. Jaden is in love with you, but he’s a typical nigga. They want you to be loyal while they fuck everything in sight,” Brooklyn said, bringing Kia back to their present conversation.

“I agree Brook, but you see how that turned out last time,” Kia said somberly.

She tried moving on from Jaden once before, but that ended in disaster. Kia started dating someone that she went to high school with when she and Jaden broke up once. Things were going good for about a month, until Jaden found out about it.

“Yeah, but you can’t let that stop you from doing you. Jaden is a selfish bastard, with his crazy ass,” Brooklyn fussed.

“He is selfish, but he better get his shit together and quick. I swear, I don’t get it Brook. Jaden claims that I’m what he wants, but he continually messes around with other females. If he’s not happy, then he needs to just let me go and be with somebody else.”

“That’ll never happen. Jaden loves you to death, so I don’t get it either. He’ll die if he’s not with you, but he keeps doing shit to push you away,” Brooklyn said as she put Dorian across her shoulder to burp him.

“I want something like what you and Dominic have. Just me and my man and our daughter. Is that too much to ask for?” Kia questioned aloud.

“Be careful what you ask for. This shit wasn’t no walk in the park in the beginning either. I had to show his ass that I could move on without him at one time too. Sometimes, you have to let them see what they’ll be missing,” Brooklyn replied.

“I guess,” Kia sighed. “Let me grab my baby and head on home.”

“Now, you do know that it’s about to be a fight, don’t you?” Brooklyn laughed.

“I already know,” Kia replied, as she yelled for Jaylynn to come inside.

She was out back with Dominic and his kids, playing on the swing set. It was always the same thing when she went to Brooklyn or Bryce and Taylor’s houses because her daughter never wanted to leave. That was exactly why they both let Jaylynn keep extra clothes and other personal items at their houses. Once she got there, it was like pulling teeth to get her to leave.

“You might as well go on home. You got my girl out there about to cry,” Dominic said as he walked into the house and took his son from Brooklyn.

“I’m not about to play with that lil girl today. Y’all can have her. Let me just go tell her that I’m leaving,” Kia said while making her way to the back yard.

Once she kissed her daughter, Brooklyn walked her out to her car. Kia had barely pulled out of the circular driveway before her phone rang, displaying her sister’s number.

“Hey girl,” Kia said, answering the phone on her car’s Bluetooth.

“Hey, my beautiful sister. What are you doing?” Keller asked her.

“Awe, shit. What do you want Keller?” Kia questioned.

“Why do you think I want something just because I called you beautiful? We look just alike, so you are beautiful,” Keller said, laying it on thick.

“Bitch, you don’t have to tell me what I already know. So, again, what is it that you want?” Kia repeated.

“Food,” Keller replied with one word.

“From where?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s homecoming at most of these schools and I’ve been packed all day,” Keller replied.

“Okay. Is Jaden still there? He might be hungry too,” Kia said.

“Yeah, he’s still here and I’m sure he is. He’s been just as busy,” Keller replied.

“Alright sis, I’ll be there in a few,” Kia promised before disconnecting the call.

Since both Jaden and her sister loved Popeye’s, she decided to stop there and grab them both something to eat. It was almost seven that evening, so she was happy that she wouldn’t have to cook. Jaden would be full when he got home and Jaylynn was staying the night out. Kia was ready to get into her Jacuzzi styled tub and relax with a cold glass of wine.                                                      

***

“I ain’t fucking with you no more Jaden,” Serena said, as she stood outside of the barber shop talking to one of her ex-flings.

“Why not?” Jaden questioned as he looked her body over lustfully.

Jaden stood at over six feet tall with a caramel complexion and sexy bedroom eyes. To Serena, he looked like an older, thugged out version of the rapper Bow Wow. His arms and chest were covered in tattoos and his ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude made her and many other women weak in the knees. The only problem with that was Jaden’s love for the mother of his child. He made it known that Kia came first and he didn’t care how anyone felt about it.

“What you mean why not? I lost count of how many times you showed up at my house when you and your girl got into it and I never once turned you around. Your ass was in my bed damn near more than I was, but you couldn’t even give me two hundred dollars to keep my lights on when I needed you,” Serena ranted.

“Man, I told you I didn’t have it,” Jaden said, making her look at him sideways.

Not only was Jaden a successful barber, but he supplied damn near the entire hood with weed and pills. Not many people knew that, but Serena was the one who made most of the deliveries for him. He paid her for doing it, but she had kids and bills; sometimes, she still fell short and needed help.

“That’s bullshit Jaden. You claimed to not have any money, but Kia drove up two days later in a brand-new Benz truck,” Serena replied.

“Competing against Kia is the quickest way for you to lose the game,” Jaden said as he puffed on the blunt that he walked outside to smoke.

Serena had just dropped off a package for him and came to collect her money. Of course, Jaden propositioned her for sex just like he always did, but she wasn’t trying to hear him.

“Nobody is trying to compete against her.” Serena frowned.

“Please don’t. I promise you that it’s a waste of your time,” Jaden said honestly.

“Whatever Jaden. I already know that Kia got you wrapped around her finger. That’s why I don’t understand why you still be trying to mess around,” Serena replied.

Jaden was about to reply until he spotted Kia getting out of her car that she parked right next to his. He saw the frown on her face as soon as he looked her way. He already knew that he was about to get cussed out and he was prepared for it. Kia was spoiled and she knew that she could get away with talking to him any way she wanted to. She was the only female, besides his mother and sister, who could. Kia was heated, so there was no telling what she was going to say. He made it clear that he didn’t want her talking to any other men, but he was caught in plain sight talking to another female.

“What’s up baby?” Jaden said as he tried to kiss Kia when she walked up to him.

“Put that shit out, it stinks,” Kia fussed while turning away from his lips.

“Oh, my bad,” Jaden said while smashing his blunt into the concrete wall behind him.

Serena stood there speechless, as she watched Jaden obey Kia’s commands like he wasn’t a grown ass man. Jaden had a slick ass mouth and crazy was a compliment compared to how he behaved most of the time. He had a Tasmanian devil tattooed on his arm and that was a very accurate description of him, if she had to say so herself.

“Why is she still standing here?” Kia said, pointing to Serena.

“Bye Serena,” Jaden said, never taking his eyes off Kia’s.

“Wow,” Serena said as she walked away and went back to her car. Jaden was just begging her for some ass, but it was a different story once Kia walked up. She knew better then to test Jaden, so she left without any problems.

“You go ballistic if you see me talking to one of my male co-workers, but you out here choppin’ it up with another bitch like it’s cool. Nigga, you can play with me if you want to. Your ass gon’ be right back by your mama and daddy,” Kia threatened as she mushed his head and tried to walk away.

She was the only female that had ever handled Jaden the way that she did. If it were anybody else, he wouldn’t have hesitated to knock them the fuck out with no remorse.

“Man, calm down. That girl made a drop off for me and that was it,” Jaden swore.

“Whatever, Jaden. I thought you were done with all of that shit, or was that another one of your lies?” Kia yelled.

“I told you that I’m trying to get us a house. That’s what you told me you wanted.”

“That was three years ago, Jaden. I’m sure you’ve saved up enough money to buy two or three houses by now. Being greedy is what’s gonna get you caught up.”

“I’m not trying to have this conversation with you right now, Kia. What are you doing here and where is my baby?” Jaden asked.

“Your daughter is at Brooklyn’s house for the night. And I came here to bring you and Keller something to eat,” Kia replied.

“That’s what’s up. A nigga is starving right now,” Jaden said, rubbing his toned stomach.

“Well, you should have thought about that before I walked up on you talking to another bitch,” Kia said as she opened the box of chicken that she’d purchased for him and dumped it all on the sidewalk.

“What the fuck Kia?” Jaden yelled as he watched his meal hit the concrete.

“Fuck you, nigga. Let that hoe feed your dog ass,” Kia replied as she stepped over her mess and walked into the shop.

Jaden only shook his head and watched her walk away. Kia was a piece of work, but Jaden had made her that way. He’d cheated on her so much that she was insecure about every little thing that he did. He loved Kia to death, but he had to do better. He didn’t want to push her away, but he knew that it would happen eventually. The problem with Kia was that she made threats, but she never followed through with any of them. She would put Jaden out for a month or two and, then, he would be right back like nothing ever happened. If he thought that Kia would really leave him alone for good, he would have calmed down a long time ago. The fact that he knew that she wasn’t going anywhere made him keep doing what he was doing. It got so bad that he started leaving half of his clothes at his parents’ house, just so he wouldn’t have to keep bringing them back and forth.

“Come here girl,” Jaden said, as he grabbed Kia when she walked back outside a few minutes later.

“Fuck you, nigga. Keep doing you. Just don’t get mad when I do me,” Kia said as she continued to walk off. She was dead ass serious and she was about to show him that two could play the same game. Too many men were trying to get at her, but she was too busy being faithful to his dog ass.

“You see how doing you turned out the last time, huh?” Jaden quizzed with a serious look on his face.

Once when he and Kia separated, she started dating a dude named Paul that she knew from high school. Jaden was furious when he found out and he ended up confronting the other man one night. Things quickly went left, after Paul told Jaden that he had no intentions of leaving Kia alone. They never even had sex and the nigga was acting like he was sprung. What started out as a normal confrontation ended up with Paul taking a trip to the city morgue. He and Jaden got into a fight, and Paul felt played that he didn’t win. He threatened Jaden’s life, but his life was the one that ended that very same night. Jaden got arrested but, thanks to Kia, the charges were dropped a few months later. She swore to the detectives that Jaden was with her the entire night, even though he wasn’t. She even produced tickets to an outdoors concert that she and Keller went to and said that she went with Jaden instead. Since they didn’t have any solid proof and he had a damn good lawyer and alibi, they had to let him walk. That was one of the reasons why he loved Kia so much. She had his back when nobody else did.

“Why you always gotta bring that up every time I talk about moving on?” Kia said with tears in her eyes.

“Why you always gotta try me?” Jaden countered. “Moving on is not an option for either one of us.”

“Miss me with the bullshit Jaden. You move on every time we break up and, sometimes, when we’re still together.”

“I think you’re happier when the crazy Jaden shows up. You act like you hate it when I’m calm. You must want a nigga to act a fool on you like I did back in the day. I’m getting too old for all that shit Kia.”

“You’re getting too old to be cheating too, but you don’t let that stop you,” Kia sassed.

“What the fuck am I doing? I’m home with you and my daughter at a decent hour every night. If I’m not with my brothers or cousin, I’m with Dominic and David. You and Jay get all of my time. I stopped clubbing every weekend like you wanted me to and you’re still not satisfied,” he replied.

“Your brothers, Dominic and David, are not the problem. It’s your dog ass cousin that I have a problem with. Shawn is a hoe and you become one when you hang with him.”

“So what, you want me to stop hanging with my cousin now? If it’ll keep down the confusion between us, then I’ll do it.”

“That’s not what I’m saying Jaden,” Kia started before he cut her off.

“Then, what the fuck do you want from me, Kia?” he yelled in frustration.

“Stop fucking screaming at me, Jaden. Your cousin is not the real issue here, you are. I know you and your ass is sneaky, just like I walked down on you talking to ole girl a minute ago. You can’t pay me to believe that it was all about business.”

“I keep telling you that I’m not on that shit no more man. We’ve been straight for almost six months now. Don’t start trippin’ on me for nothing,” he begged.

“We’ve been straight because you’re getting better at doing your dirt. But, you’re right. I won’t trip until you give me something to trip about,” Kia promised.

“Just give a nigga credit for trying. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Okay,” Kia agreed.

“I got three more heads to cut and I’m coming straight home. Give me a kiss,” Jaden demanded.

He didn’t wait for Kia to come to him before he pulled her into his embrace and tongued her down. Bryce pulled up and shook his head when he saw his little brother and his girlfriend outside kissing. He swore that Jaden and Kia had the most dysfunctional relationship that he’d ever seen before in his life. Jaden was head over heels in love, but he couldn’t stay faithful to save his life.

“What’s up Bonnie and Clyde?” Bryce joked when he walked up. “You done for the day Jaden?”

“Nah, I got like three niggas waiting for me right now,” he replied as his phone started ringing. 

Kia looked down at the screen at the same time as he did. Although Tori’s number wasn’t saved, she called so much that they both knew her number just by looking at it.

“But, I’m trippin’ though,” Kia snapped as she pulled away from him and stormed off to her car.

“Fuck!” Jaden yelled as he watched Kia speed away from the shop. He pulled his keys out of his monogrammed barber’s smock and prepared to go after her.

“The fuck you going, bruh? Didn’t you just say that you have three people waiting to get their hair cut?” Bryce said.

“Man, fuck them niggas. Tell Brian to handle it,” Jaden snapped angrily.

Bryce watched as Jaden hopped into his car and sped out of the parking lot right behind Kia. He swore that if Jaden wasn’t his little brother, he would have kicked him out of his shop a long time ago.

“What!” Jaden yelled into his phone when he finally answered for Tori. He was on his way home and she had called him over five times.

“Damn, what you doing all that for? I was just calling to put some money in your pockets,” Tori said like she was offended.

“Didn’t I tell your slow ass not to call my phone no more unless I called you first?” Jaden yelled.

“I’m sorry, but somebody was asking to buy some pills,” Tori replied.

“What the fuck you call me for? Call Serena to handle that.”

“I did, but she didn’t answer. I just didn’t want you to miss out on any money.”

“Man, fuck that sale! Kia was standing right there when you called. Now, I gotta go home and hear this bullshit all night.”

“Fuck Kia, with her ole insecure ass. She shouldn’t have a problem with what you’re doing, since she’s the one benefiting off of the money you’re making!” Tori yelled.

“You got a lot of mouth over the phone, huh? Be ready to pull my foot out of your ass when I see you. Stupid bitch,” Jaden fumed before hanging up in her face.