"Yo, what you doing here?"
"Nika invited me and I brought someone you haven't seen in a while."
"Who?"
He stood up and followed her out to the crowded area of people to a bench where she sat. He gulped then turned back around feeling sick on the stomach at the sight of her. Neeq frowned grabbing his arm.
"Why you bring her here?"
"I thought you guys..."
"No, No!"
"I'm sorry."
"She nearly fucked up my life.."
"I'm sorry, I'll.."
"No.. Just.."
"There.. She go.. Auntie!!"
OJ shouted letting go of Nic's hand. Nicki walked over to her and hugged her. They stepped back a little looking the other over as Zuri stood texting on her phone. Nicki sighed then snatched her phone out of her hands and placed it in her purse.
"Don't be rude."
"Hi, TT Neeq."
"Hi Munchkin."
"Ready to eat?"
"Yup, starving just let me go get my friend."
"Alright."
She turned to look at Safaree, as he stood in a daze. He looked off once he felt her eyes looking him over. Everything he was feeling was showing on his eyes, so he placed his sun glasses on his face. Nicki side eyed him knowing him too well for him to go pull the mask my feelings behind the sunglasses trick. Hell is wrong with him? She watched as Neeq walked over with a fair skin woman with a short bob. She looked like someone that she had seen before, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She looked back over at him and sensed his mood change again.
"Um huh."
"Can we eat now?"
"Yeah, lets go to our seats."
Nicki gripped his hand and pulled him close to her back side as she guided OJ in front of her. He puffed and huffed at her holding hands with SB, but kept it calm. They all walked up to a large two sided booth and sat down waiting for the waitress.
"Mom, can we sit at the kids' area?"
"Yeah yeah! Chicken finger platter!"
"Keep OJ, out of other people's plates please."
"Will do."
Zuri grabbed his hand that he snatched away because he didn't like holding hands with anyone, but his parents. Nicki narrowed her eyes at him and he immediately grabbed her hand. Nicki put on a tight lip smile as she turned back to Safaree, who was looking over the menu. She leaned over towards him and puckered her lips. He smirked then lifted the menu up to cover their faces as he pecked her lips then deepened the kiss. She scooted closer as he put his hand on the small of her back and put more passion into the kiss. She cupped the sides of his face and reluctantly pulled away. She blushed as she looked back across the table at the looks on their company's face.
"Damn, get a room... Faree wipe ya lips."
"Naw, I look good in pink, don'tcha think sis?"
"Boy, you make me sick.. Anyways, I see you two have been good."
She called out as she dead faced them. Nicki simply smiled his way as he adjusted in the booth. He gazed over at the woman then back down at the menu thinking that Nicki hadn't seen him, but she had saw and this just further her curiousness. She ran her finger over the menu as she held it at an angle so that she could see the woman staring sadly over at Safaree. What the hell these two got going on? Lord, let me not have to beat ass today in this restaurant. She silently said to herself as she placed the menu down.
"Oh, Nicki this is Jass' and Jass' this is Nicki."
"Um huh."
"Hi, I've heard so many wonderful things about you and I've been to your boutique in Florida."
"Aw, thanks."
"No problem, you have wonderful taste."
She said looking back over to Safaree. He looked to be visibly drained of color at the moment.
"So Neeq, how'd yawl meet you've never been to Florida."
"Oh, she's a childhood friend from Jamaica. Surprise you didn't know..."
She mumbled off thinking she wasn't heard. Nicki then looked over at Safaree and placed her elbow on the table.
"Who is she to you Safaree?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
"No-one."
"So now I'm no-one?"
"Jass' please... I.."
"No, Neeq, let her continue since my husband won't tell me."
"Nic."
"Shut up."
"Can we talk about it later, we..."
"Continue Jass'."
"I'm Safaree's ex lover."
"Ha. Oh, really? Lover? Okay."
Nicki stood up and grabbed her purse heading towards the kids tables. She click and clacked harder as she stomped towards the kids.
"Nic."
"Fuck you, Safaree."
"Neeq man."
"I'm sorry."
"And you... Stupid bitch."
"You aren't going to play me."
"We had sex once. ONCE, yo."
He shook his head at her and followed after his angry wife and confused kids.
~~~~~~
Nicki stood in the kitchen stirring peas and dirty rice as she fixed the kids dinner. She was pissed off and upset that he wouldn't tell her about the bitch. He sat at the bar watching her as she tried ignoring his presence, but was failing miserably. He had loosened his tie up and placed his fitted on the counter top. They had both decided they wouldn't argue anymore in front of the kids, so they both waited until she was done cooking and plated the food for them.
"Come eat."
"You not gone fix me..."
"Ask Jass'."
"Baby, you don't..."
"Ask Jass' to listen to you."
"Alright man. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?"
"To ask Jass'."
He mocked her as he went up to his study. Nicki pulled the apron off as the kids sat watching her with curious eyes. She stepped on the second stair and took off her black heels. Then she did the other and walked up the stairs and went into his study and shut the door. He sat in his chair behind his desk looking over some papers as she walked up to him.
"When did you start sleeping with her?"
"Never did."
"Safaree, it's the wrong time for your damn lies."
"If you'd shut up and let me talk, I could tell you the truth."
"Get to talking!"
"Look, it was back when me and Karen were together. We had separated because she thought I didn't want kids with her, so I started seeing Jasslin in the year we were separated and we only had sex once. Promise on everything that's the truth."
"You're lying."
"What?"
"She ain't fucking calling you her lover for nothing!!"
"Get out Nic... Just get the fuck out."
"No!"
He stood up from behind his desk and stormed up to her and picked her up throwing her over his shoulder. He then opened the study door and placed her down outside of it and shut the door in her face. She pushed the door open and slammed it back shut before storming over to his desk and snatching the papers from his hand.
"Don't play with me, Safaree."
"Calm down, yo...."
"Call me "Yo" again and I'm seriously going to fuck you up, now... Tell me who she really is and what really went down!"
He sighed before placing his forehead against his fist in annoyance then looked her right in the eyes and answered her with all honesty.
"Jass' is Neeq's friend, that's who she is.. We slept together once and that was her decision. Later, on she wanted more and I denied her because I was trying to work things out with Karen. Happy man?"
He asked reaching over and snatching the papers out her hands. She sat down in the chair in front of his desk and stared at the side of his face, reading him. He stared back knowing what she was doing. She rolled her eyes and sat back watching him as he worked. He ignored her presence until she spoke again.
"You invited her?"
"What? Nic, you can't be serious?"
"As a heart attack."
"Could you get out my study?"
She got even more comfortable as she eyed him waiting for an answer.
"No I didn't invite her! You did when you invited Neeq. Now go ask her about the bitch, not me!"
He lashed out before counting to himself like he was taught in therapy. He grabbed his things seeing that she wasn't going to leave and put them in a briefcase then walked out the study and down the hall to their bedroom with her following a few steps behind. Her eyes bucked when he went into the closet and pulled out his overnight bag. She grabbed at the bag, but he yanked it back and glared at her.
"Don't be an ass, Faree."
"I'm just going over Rex's for a few hours. That alright mother?"
He huffed putting in a pair of socks, sweat pants, briefs and a tee shirt. She folded her arms across her chest and watched him grab the emergency/overnight necessities bag. He walked over to her and kissed her forehead then walked to the kids rooms.
~~~~~~
"He left after lunch."
"Has he called?"
"Nope, he text me when he got to Rex house."
"Nicki, you have to let go of the past and let him be your husband... Not your child."
"I'm trying to forget, but I can't stand that hoes just throw..."
"Nicki, are you listening to yourself?"
"What?"
"He's a good man and he told you the truth, I promise it wasn't my intention to start any mess. I never knew their relationship was that deep, but my brother would never jeopardize his family for any ho."
"Neeq, I'm trying to believe this, but I don't trust it."
"Who him or them?"
Nicki fell on deaf ear and pondered the question. She knew deep down that she had made a big deal out of something that didn't have anything to do with their relationship, but to think that he did that before.. What's stopping him from doing it to her? Then again he had never given her real reason to think he'd cheat or even that he thought about it. She rolled her eyes at her natural reflection then mustered up the courage to answer her sister in law.
"Them. Let me call you back."
"He's there."
"Neeq."
"Just like when we were younger, yawl don't change."
She shared a laugh with her in law then they said their goodbyes. She grabbed her other phone and placed it in her sweat suit jacket pocket then walked down the hall to Omaree's room. He was knocked out with one of his legs hanging off the side of the bed and the other awkwardly tucked under his thigh. Aww, he fell asleep sitting up again. She looked over at his TV being on and smiled realizing what video was playing and seeing Zuri balled up underneath the TV also sleeping. It was a home video of when LJ came home married to Iris. Everyone had on pink and blue for their wedding theme and flowers were everywhere. That's when they first found out OJ was allergic pollen. She walked over and cut it off right before her husband spoke. She tapped Zuri's leg and watched her big round eyes stare up at her like Safaree.
"Get up, I'm going to drop you off at Mel's house."
"No, I'm not going. Daddy's taking me to lunch tomorrow and shopping."
"When did he say that?"
"About an hour ago..."
"Okay, well I'm bout to head over to see him if you want to go?"
"I'm fine, we can stay here."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Bye, Mommy."
She said crawling in the bed with OJ after fixing his body. She laid down and closed her eyes as Nicki walked over and pecked their foreheads then made her way out of the bedroom and headed towards the garage.
~~~~~~
Safaree pulled a cigar with Rex as they laughed and joked about his baby mother wanting to get back with him, so they could be a "family". Safaree laughed, but he knew deep down that Rex wanted her and their daughter back. He sat back and put the cigar out in the ash tray then cleared his throat to signal he was about to speak.
"I saw Jass' today."
"What? She didn't you know..."
"She might as well, Neeq brought her out to eat with Nic and the kids there."
"Messy ass bitch."
"Rex, watch your shit before I kick it in."
"Man, yo sister know how that bitch was about you.."
"She didn't actually..."
His voice lowered as he put the bottle of water to his lips. Rex eyed him then sat up looking him dead in the eyes. Safaree's eyes trailed off then he spoke again.
"I fucked her behind her back."
"You fucked this broad? Nigga, how... I thought we was cool?"
"You know I was with Karen, I couldn't let that shit get out and she had a man."
"So that's why you over here, Nic kicked yo ass didn't she?"
"Not this time, had I stayed there.. I'd be a dead man."
"I can't believe you fucked that ho.. You dick whipped the bitch. You had to fuck her more than once."
"I didn't, I wish I hadn't that time. Wait, this was the time around... When?"
He nodded his head and swallowed down the water. He threw the empty bottle on the floor becoming frustrated and needing something stronger. He knew he was wrong for not telling her, but this was the wrong time. Even though it was after her, he had still done it. They both looked back up towards the den door after hearing the clicking of heels. When Nicki's head popped up in the door way he sank into his chair and stared into the fireplace.
"Can we talk?"
She asked looking him over. She stood against the side of the chair as he stood to his feet and checked her out. She took in his cologne and cigar scent as he walked back pass her. She followed behind him closely as they walked back up the stairs and out into the garage, turned guest room. She sat in the chair he instructed her to sit in then waited for him to say something, but he didn't.
"When do you plan on coming home?"
"Is this what..."
"Safaree, I want you..."
"Wait, let me talk first."
She nodded in agreement. He grabbed her hands and rubbed them. So soft and small. She watched him closely as he rubbed the palm of her hand over his lips and kissed them. She could tell he was nervous and the news wasn't something she wanted to hear, really.
"Safaree, tell me."
"Jass', was there around the time... We made love back 18 years ago."
"WHAT?"
He tightened his grip on her hands by intertwining their fingers. She stared at his face with her leg bouncing violently.
"Listen, I was seeing her then, but we hadn't had sex until the night after you and I.... I was trying to get you off my mind then and I forced her to have sex with me..."
"And?"
"She got pregnant and things got ugly and she aborted the baby."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think she'd show up in my life again."
She rolled her eyes trying to get out of his grip on her hands, but he wasn't budging. He pulled her over to him and stood up. She looked up at him, annoyed.
"Safaree, let me go."
"It's the past, Nicki."
"It happened, Safaree! You kept this secret.."
"I never even think about that night, so it slipped to even tell you, Nic. I'm sorry."
"Almost having a baby doesn't slip your mind, Safaree!!"
He sighed and let her go. He fell back into the chair and listened to her storm out the room. He decided against following after her. She looked over at Rex, who was standing in his kitchen watching her, and rolled her eyes. He rushed over to close the door.
"Yo, Nic, you can't leave like this, Ma. Go back in there and fix this shit. That shit was in the past. You can't punish him for something that had nothing to do with you."
"It had everything to do with me! Fucking a bitch to get rid of me?"
"He was a married man, Nic, in love with someone who knew since junior high and you just disappeared after that night. What you was expecting?"
She shifted her weight to her right leg and sighed heavily before stepping back into the house and going to the room where her husband laid across the bed. She dropped her purse on the chair and crawled into the bed next to him.
"You love her?"
"No, never did."
"Why didn't you come for me?"
"I did, they said you didn't live there anymore and your mom had moved."
"I'm sorry."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He pulled her onto his body and held her body close. She lifted her head and pecked his lips. They laid together for a thirty minutes then left together in her car.
