

A Rumble in VA

Rayven Skyy

Published by BR Publications @ Smashwords

2012©Rayven Skyy

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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I dedicate my first novel A Rumble in VA, to my brother Ronald Wood Jr. May you continue to rest in peace. I love you!

Money and Dope!

I looked through the window from outside and I could see the two niggas Lisha said would be in the house sitting down. The window was slightly cracked and I could hear them talking to each other. I nodded my head to Gremlin signaling for him to knock on the door. I then pulled my ski-mask all the way down to my neck and then stooped down low to the ground as I crawled over to the other side of the door, so I wouldn't be noticed right away.

"Dune, get the door that's the food, man," I heard one of the dudes say.

"Hell, nawl! Fat Boy, you get yo' lazy ass up. I'm playing the game."

"Man, fuck this," Gremlin grumbled, kicking the door in before Fat Boy had a chance to open it. "You know what it is mothafucka, get yo' fat ass down on the ground," he said, pointing his gun at Fat Boy's face.

Fat Boy did what he was told and got down on the floor. I ran up to the house and stepped over the top of him. I didn't say shit to the other nigga; I just hit him in his head with the butt of my gun and made him join Fat Boy down on the floor.

"Money and dope," Gremlin announced, pushing his gun further into Fat Boy's face. "Give it up mothafucka!"

"Man, do you know who the fuck it is you are trying to rob, nigga?" Fat Boy asked, looking up at Gremlin from his view on the floor. "Y'all niggas might want to rethink this shit if you knew-"

Before Fat Boy could finish his unwanted statement, Gremlin thrashed him in the face with his fist and then cocked his gun. "Let's try this again, you talking ass mothafucka. Where the fuck is the dope at, nigga?" Gremlin probed.

"Man, fuck you, nigga!" Fat Boy grunted, spitting blood on the floor next to Gremlin's feet. "Go find it," he shouted heatedly. "I ain't telling you bitch ass niggas shit!"

Gremlin never had a chance to respond to Fat Boy, because without warning I shot him in the back of his head twice, and then I turned my gun back to his partner, Dune. "How 'bout you I need to kill you, too?" I punched him in the face with my free hand.

"It's the downstairs man, damn," he said, rubbing his jaw and shaking his head left to right.

"Downstairs, huh?" I kicked him in his stomach. "Get the fuck up, nigga."

Dune took his time getting up on his feet and it was starting to piss me off, so I started smacking him in the back of his head. I couldn't shoot him, too, because I knew he was about to give up the stash. I followed him downstairs to the lower part of the house with my gun aimed at the back of his head. He removed the panel off the back of an old floor-model TV and there it was. At a glance I counted at least a 100k in cash and five bricks of dope. Lisha was dead on with her estimation.

"Jackpot," Gremlin cheered as he made his way downstairs smiling as if he had won the lotto.

"You check out the rest of the house, man?" I asked Gremlin, never taking my eyes of Dune.

"Ain't shit upstairs, man," he answered as he unzipped the duffle bag he had in his hands. Gremlin removed the contents out of the bag, and then tossed it down on the floor at Dune's feet.

"Put all that shit in that bag, nigga," I told him. Once the money and the dope was inside the bag, Gremlin taped Dune's hands and feet together and made him lay face down on the floor. "Don't worry nigga I ain't gon' kill you," I informed Dune after seeing piss running from underneath him. I sat down in one of the folding chairs leaning up against the wall.

"What the fuck then? I gave you the shit, man," he bawled.

"And that was the smart thing for you to do, too, youngster. Be a man and stop all that whining and shit. If you gon' be in this game you have to know how to handle shit," I told him. "Where Milk at?" I asked and pointed my gun in his face again.

"I don't know no Milk, man," he replied, still using that whiny voice. I knew he had just been put on to watching this house. Lisha spared no details about this trap house or Milk.

"You don't know no, Milk, huh?" I repeated with a smile on my face. "Ain't this his shit I'm taking?" I pointed to the duffle bag Gremlin was now holding with my gun. "You gave up the shit so you might as well give it all up."

"I told you I don't know no nigga name Milk, man," he repeated stubbornly.

"Okay, then. Enough said." I stood up. "You doing the right thing. I can't even be mad at you. You're never supposed to bite the hand you eat from. It was a pleasure to meet you, man."

I'm a man of my word; I meant what I said when I told him I wasn't going to kill him. I needed him to live to tell this story. I nodded my head to Gremlin and he shot Dune in both of his legs. Now, instead of whining he was crying.

Now or Never!

I will be glad when we're on that damn plane tomorrow, because Sabrina is about to worry the shit out of me. She makes me want to say fuck it and not go to Costa Rica altogether. Do this, do that! I already ain't looking forward to the fifteen-hour flight as it is. Shit, how hard is it to put some fucking clothes in a suitcase anyway?

I clicked back over to the other line. "I'm back, Lisha. Sorry 'bout that." She didn't respond. "Baby, come on now. We already talked about this. I told you I got you when I get back, ma."

"What the fuck ever, Milk," she snapped back. "I hope the plane falls out of the sky and kills you and that bitch. Bye!" She hung up the phone. Women, man—can't please their ass for shit. I got Sabrina in one ear and Lisha in the other. I should be the one walking around with a fucking attitude as much as I come out of my pockets with for the both of them.

I've been dealing with Lisha for a minute now, and I'll admit that I do have feelings for her, but I would never leave Sabrina for her or any other broad. Lisha was a bad bitch, trust me when I tell you, but being with her sometimes was like hanging with one of my niggas. I've never seen a broad throw them dice the way Lisha can. There had been times Lisha and I was at dice games together and couldn't leave because Lisha was the bank. Lisha wasn't into all that girly shit either, but she still turned me on. A woman doesn't have to be half-naked all the time to attract a man. It was her gangster that made my dick hard. Give her the latest pair of Jordan's and some True Religion jeans, with a top to match, and Lisha was good. Honestly, she would rather I buy her a gun, with a year supply of bullets, over clothes and jewelry any day.

My girlfriend, Sabrina, on the other hand was the complete opposite. All she wanted to do was spend money. I told her that she should move into MacArthur Mall and save me money on gas, because her ass was in that mothafucka damn near every day. Sabrina had somebody from Macys, Nordstrom, and some other stores calling her before they even put new shit out on the sales floor so she can go pick out what she wants before anybody else buys it. But, if it makes her happy, and keeps her from nagging the fuck out of me, I let her shop until she drops; and she ain't dead yet.

I stayed out all night two weeks ago and I lied to Sabrina and told her I had lost track of time because I was gambling, but the truth is I was fucking a girl I had met earlier that day. Danielle was gracious enough to bless me with a sneak preview of her head game in the back room of the barber shop, so it was only right for me to go back to her house later that night to see if her pussy was just as good, and baby girl did not disappoint. Sabrina didn't speak to me for a week after that night up until I threw those plane tickets to Costa Rica in her face.

I turned into the parking lot and parked my truck on the side of the barber shop facing Feather's Chicken. Out of my six of barber shops, I spent most of my time at this one. I came here to meet up with my nigga, Kirk, and to get an edge up. That was the last thing on my list of shit to do before me and Sabrina left for Costa Rica in the morning.

I got out my truck and went inside of the barber shop through the back door. "Kirk, what it do, nigga?" We slapped hands as I sat down at the card table we kept in the back room. There was a magazine on the table with Kim Kardashian on the cover, so I picked it up and started thumbing through it. I sure would love to fuck her. I haven't had me no Middle East pussy yet.

"Shit straight for tonight?" Kirk asked me.

"Yes, sir," I answered as I flipped through the pages of the magazine trying to find the feature on Kim.

"I still say put OG on that mothafucka, man. We can't afford no fuck ups, Milk."

"I feel what you saying, but I'm looking at this shit two different ways, man. If Gee murk this nigga then our problem is solved." I gestured with my hands up in the air. "But, if that nigga Byrd get a chance to squeeze a shot off and Gee catch it, then at least we not burying ours next week, you feel me?" I put my hand on my chest. "Shit, it's now or never and if it don't do shit but run this mothafucka back down south then so be it. Then he can forewarn the rest of the natives in his town to stay the fuck out of VA! I refuse to sit back and just let this nigga continue to steal my shit, man. Any nigga on the come up gon' try me if that shit gets out."

"I feel you, man." Kirk reached out his hand to me and we bumped fists.

"Aye, I need you to do something for me while I'm gone, too."

"What's up, man?" He sat down across from me at the table.

"Keep eyes on Lisha for me," I told him.

"Why, what's going on? Talk to me, man."

"I can't really say yet 'cause I ain't for sure, but get Maine to eyeball her ass around and see who she spends her time with while I'm gone."

"A'ight," Kirk agreed.

"A'ight, fam'." I stood up. "I'll see you when I get back, man." I flung the magazine back down on the table and walked toward the front of the barber shop where Rick Ross was playing in the background of the normal shop chatter. I looked round to find out if there were any unfamiliar female faces in the shop, but I didn't catch anyone I hadn't already fucked or let suck my dick. Neither seeing, nor hearing any fresh meat I sat down in a chair adjacent to my barber Blac's station.

"I got you in five minutes, man," Blac told me.

"Take your time, man. I ain't in no hurry," I let him know.

"Milk, just the nigga I want to see!" I turned around to see One Man rubbing his hands together laughing.

"Nigga, fuck you!" I chuckled, as I got up from the chair and walked over to him to shake his hand.

"I told you Dallas was gon' be sorry as a mothafucka this season. I take debit cards." He gloated.

One Man had the whole shop laughing with us immediately, because they all know that I am a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. I purposely didn't come up to the shop for a few days after Dallas lost six games in a row; I didn't want to have to shoot anybody. I can laugh about it now, but I was hot about that shit!

"Here, man." I reached inside of my pocket, pulled out my money clip, and peeled off three hundred dollar bills. "I tell you one thing that ain't gon' happen for damn sure," I said, dispensing One Man his money, "them fucking Deadskins ain't gon' make it to the Super Bowl either. You can hurry up and believe that shit."

"Put some money up then," One Man heckled, still joking.

"I ain't fucking with you, One Man, carry yo' ass over to yo' station and cut some damn hair." I laughed at him. "Blac, you ready for me, man?" I put the rest of my money back in my pocket and sat back down.

"A'ight, you finished, Bre," Blac told the little boy sitting in his chair. "Where your momma go?" Blac asked him, as he removed the cape from around his neck. Bre then jumped down and turned around to face him.

"Her wen-," the little boy commenced to say before Blac interrupted him.

"She went, to the store, Bre," he corrected him.

"She went, to the. . . um . . . um . . . next door to the . . . um . . . hair store," he disclosed as he looked up at Blac.

"Here, man." Blac passed him some money. "Go get you some chips and a soda out of the machine, then go sit down and wait for your momma to come back."

"Okay," Bre exclaimed with excitement, snatching the two dollars out of Blac's hand

"Hold up, hold up. Whatchu' supposed to say, man?" Blac seized the money back.

"Thank you," Bre smiled and said. Blac gave him back the money and he took off running toward the vending machines.

"A'ight, then. Come on, Milk." He gestured to me. I hopped in the chair and Blac placed the cape around my neck that he kept in his bottom drawer specifically for me.

"Yo' tight ass dishing out money and shit. Whatchu' trying to get at his momma, nigga?" I asked Blac.

"Yes, gawd!" He snickered. "I have been trying to get at Nicole, but she only comes up here to get her son's haircut when Dap is out of town. Plus, she gets her hair shit from the store next door. I only see her every now and then, but oh when I do, it's worth the wait." I could see Blac shaking his head through the mirror on the wall across from his station.

"Damn, she bad like that, man?"

"Yes, sir, I'mma tell you who she reminds me of, too . . . nawl." Blac shook his head again. "No, I ain't. You'll see what I mean if she comes back before you leave. Hold your head down, man."

I felt my phone vibrating against my waist and I already knew who it was, too, without looking at the caller ID. "Hold up a sec', Blac," I told him. "Yeah, bae?" I answered my phone.

"What's your progress?" Sabrina asked without greeting me with hello.

"Why, what's up?" I heard Sabrina talking, but I was no longer listening to her for real. My attention was now on the woman who had just walked into the barbershop causing me to do a double take. "Bae, I'mma call you right back."

"Did you even hear a word I said, Milk?" she yelled through the phone.

"Yeah," I lied. "Look, I'm in the chair getting my hair cut, Sabrina. I'mma call you back," I told her without waiting to hear her response. I hung my phone and turned around to Blac grinning at me. "That's her ain't it, man?" I tilted my head.

"That shit crazy ain't it? Her and Sabrina could be mothafucking twins, yo!" Blac said.

"Hell, yeah," I replied, nodding my head in agreement. Nicole is a dead ringer for my girlfriend. I turned back around in the chair so he could finish with my edge up as I watched Nicole from the corner of my eye as she approached Blac's station.

"What's up, Blac," Nicole spoke to him.

"How you doing, ma?" I asked her before Blac had a chance to speak.

"Fine," she replied without looking at me. "Here you go." She held out a twenty-dollar note.

"I told you 'bout that shit, Nicole. Yo' money ain't no good with me." Blac fanned his hand at Nicole to put her money away.

"Look, I'm self-employed, too, and I know how much booth rent is. You better take this money." Nicole held her hand out again.

"Go 'head with that, Nicole." Blac pushed her hand aside.

"You're just as bad as Dap, you know that? Come on, Bre," she called out to her son. I could feel my cell phone vibrating again, but I ignored it this time.

"I'll take it." I reached my hand out. "I don't turn down money from nobody." Nicole looked me up and down.

"You seem like you are getting along alright." She cut her eyes at me.

"But you could make me better. I can do a lot with twenty dollars. I'm really good with money." I winked at her. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Milk."

"What kind of name is Milk?" Nicole inquired. "I know your mother did not name you Milk."

"No, she didn't. My real name is Milton," I told her.

"I think I like Milton better," she said, returning my eye wink. "Blac, take this money. I have to go."

"The man said you good, ma," I reminded her.

"What do you have to do with this, Milton?" Nicole asked in a smart aleck tone. "Blac, take this money," she insisted.

"Give me your address," Blac said jokingly.

Now irritated, Nicole walked away. "I'll see you later, Blac. Come on, Bre." She took her son by his hand.

"Is Blac the only one you will see later?" I hollered out to her backside.

Nicole chucked two fingers up in the air. "Deuces," she announced without turning around.

As she walked away I took notice of the shoes she was wearing after staring at her ass. I know damn well she can't be doing that much hair to afford some Christian Louboutin shoes. I've bought Sabrina at least twenty pair myself, so I knew how much they cost. In addition, Nicole was lugging a Fendi Peek-a-Boo tote on her shoulders, too. Not only was there a strong resemblance between her and Sabrina, but they also seemed to have similar taste when it came to clothes and accessories. Sabrina asked for the exact purse for Valentine's Day and I paid eleven grand for that shit. I see that Nicole was use to money, but from whom?

"Hold your head down for me, Milk." I leaned my head forward.

"I haven't seen Nicole 'round here before. Where she from, man?" I asked Blac.

"Florida, I think," he answered.

"Damn. A whole lot a folks migrating up to Virginia from down south all of a sudden," I thought to myself thinking about Byrd.

What Looks Good to You!

I reached over and grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand never opening my eyes to see who was calling me. "Hello?"

"Bitch, wake up!" It was my cousin.

"Asia, it's three in the morning. What the-"

"Never mind what time it is," she said, cutting me off. "Do you know where your man is?"

I blinked until I was able to focus my eyes, but the glare from the TV blinded me. "No, but I take it you must know where he is since you're calling me," I stated, pulling the covers back as I sat up on the side of the bed.

My cousin went on to tell me that she was at the IHOP on Military Highway, and apparently Milk was there, too, with some girl. I told Asia to leave out before Milk saw her and to wait for me in the parking lot because I was on my way there. But, just as soon as I was about to get off on the Northampton Blvd exit my cell phone sounded again.

"Hello?" I'm sure Asia could hear the frustration in my voice.

"You might as well turn around because Milk just left," she reported. "He didn't leave with the bitch though."

"Did he see you, Asia?" I asked.

"I don't think so. I was sitting in Tasha's car waiting for you. Milk got in his truck and she got in her car, but they went in different directions," she clarified. "I should have confronted them when I first saw them and called you after I beat her ass. I snapped a picture of them together though that way his ass can't tell a lie. I don't understand why you let Milk do the fucked up shit he does to you Sabrina. I told you a long time ago you need to leave him alone."

I listened to Asia's sermon regarding all of the things I allowed Milk to do for as long as I could take it, but then I told her I would call her back because she was pissing me off even more. I love my cousin to death, and I know she is only trying to look out for me, but I wished she would stop calling me whenever she saw or heard about my boyfriend doing something he had no business doing. My family kills me with that shit. Everybody always had so much to say about him, but always had their hand out.

I'd been trying to quit smoking, but I was so mad and I needed a cigarette to calm my nerves. Every gas station on Virginia Beach Blvd was closed, so I made a right onto Newtown Road and drove to the Quikshop on the corner of Lake Edwards Drive. I thought the store was closed at first until I saw a man walking toward the register from the stockroom. I pulled into a parking space directly in front of the store and then got out. I noticed a black Hummer, without any lights on, slowly inching into the parking lot behind me. Something didn't feel right. I quickly opened my car door, and just as I was about to get back inside I heard gunshots. Instinctively, I hit the ground, closed my eyes tightly, and slithered my body to the front of my car to better shield myself.

I felt glass from the windows land all over me as I balled up into a fetal position and began to pray. I then heard my momma's voice in my head saying, "What looks good to you, Sabrina ain't always good for you," intermingled with, "I don't understand why you let Milk do the fucked up shit he does, Sabrina," in my cousin Asia's voice. My car was leaning to one side now that the tires on the driver's side had been shot out. I should've been home at this very moment, within the comforts of my bed, resting for our trip to Costa Rica, and I swear if I lived through this shit I'm leaving Milk's black ass!

Checkmate!

I was able to make it in the stock room without being licked. I got the gun I had stashed in the cooler, ran to the office and removed the disk out of the surveillance equipment, and then hurriedly ran out the back door. Afterward, I took off my Quikshop uniform and threw it in the trash dumpster behind the store. I was about to hop the fence and cut across Lake Edwards Drive, but I could already hear the police sirens approaching. I shattered the disk in half, threw it in the bushes, and then jogged to the front of the store in time to see a black Hummer pulling out of the parking lot headed for Virginia Beach Boulevard. I then straightened up my shirt to make sure my gun couldn't be seen. Once I was in front of Quikshop I realized there was a woman lying on the ground crying and screaming.

"Are you shot, shawty?" I asked her as I bent down to check her for injuries. The woman then reached up, put her arms around my neck, and held on to me for dear life. I didn't see any blood, but she did have a few minor cuts on her face. I couldn't help but stare at her, because she resembled someone I knew from Miami.

Once the ambulance finally arrived, they had to give her something to keep her from going into shock. After the ambulance left with her, the detective on the scene told me not to leave until he got a statement from me. But, as soon as I saw him go inside of Quikshop I staggered through the crowd of people that had come out of their homes to be nosey over to my car that was parked in Lake Edwards Apartments and got the fuck out of dodge.

I am for certain it was Milk who set up this failed attempt on my life. I love a good game of chess and now it was my turn to move. Checkmate mothafucka!

Never Underestimate Your Opponent!

I don't have too many memories of my daddy because he and my momma both died when I was eleven years old in a car accident. I used to play football when I was little and my daddy never missed any of my games, and one year my team had lost the championship game because I dropped the football showing off. I felt as if I had let my daddy down and I thought he was mad at me. He only came around on the weekends, unless I had a game during the week, so I thought if I made him proud of me he would move in with us so I would've been able to see him all the time.

After the game my daddy walked me through the field to our crib out Tidewater Park and just when I was about to go inside he told me that he wanted to talk to me. I closed the screen door and sat down next to him on the steps. I told my daddy I thought I was going to be able to make the touchdown, because the boy chasing after me was shorter than I was, and I thought I could out run him. My daddy looked at me and said, "Son, never underestimate your opponent," and that's exactly what I did with Byrd!

Gee, a nigga I was locked up with at Mecklenburg Prison, had beef with Byrd before he got locked up behind some money. He's the one who reached out and told me what Byrd and his cousin was up to. Gee said that Byrd's people picked him up from the bus station once he finally got out of prison, and Byrd had everything waiting for him with the exception of money. If you ask me the shit was petty, because once he got out of prison their beef should've been dead and stinking, but who am I?

This nigga had me thinking Byrd owed him some real money by the way he was acting. I had to hold the phone away from my mouth, because I didn't want him to hear me laughing after he told me how much money Byrd actually owed him. When I found out his corny ass was carrying on behind five hundred dollars, I was convinced then that either one of those niggas were on my level; or so I thought. Man, I tell you; bitches sure do know how to get back at you when their feelings are hurt. I've never once lied to Lisha about Sabrina, but I made sure she knew her ass wasn't to fuck with any other niggas either.

My house out in Deep Creek was the first crib I put Lisha in and for a long time we were the only ones who knew about the spot. I live in Virginia Beach, and that ride to Deep Creek took me forty-five minutes to an hour to get there, so I bought Lisha another house closer to mine for pussy convenience. Then I turned the house in Deep Creek into a shot house, but still only a handful of people knew about it. Three years that house has been going strong without so much as a fight and now all of a sudden I got niggas running up in my shit.

Kirk and I went by Lisha's house and all her shit was gone and her ass ain't anywhere to be found, but she did the right thing. Lisha knew me; she had better run. I already put the word out on the street that if anybody spotted her—to kill the bitch on sight! Now, I have to figure out how to sell the house without Sabrina finding out, because the house is in her name and she thinks Kirk lives there.

I'm Going to Always do Me!

My momma was the first one at the hospital with her hair standing up on top of her head as if she was the one involved in the shooting. After that night I never wanted to see another Newport as long as I lived. I blamed Milk for me being out there that time of night looking for him. My cousin Asia accidentally deleted the picture she had taken of him with the girl, but I didn't need to see it anyway; it was classic Milk.

I decided to go and stay with my momma because I needed time away from Milk, and within two days the guilt gifts, as I called them, were delivered to me. He even bought my momma a brand new washer and dryer and she didn't even ask for it. I kept everything of course—I ain't no fool—but that's not what made me go back home. Milk did something he had never done the entire time we have been together and wrote me a letter. I was so surprised when I got it out of the mailbox, too. I must've read it at least five times already, so I might as well make it six.

"Sabrina,

It's about one in the morning and believe it or not I was in the crib and on a Friday night at that. Bae I miss you so much. I don't know what to do with myself. I know I have done some fucked up shit in the past and I am deeply sorry. You are probably rolling your eyes right now at yet another one of my apologies, that's why I'm going to be as real as real can get with you Sabrina. Not that you don't already know, but I have been with other women over the years. Other than the cheating everything I do out here in these streets is on the strength of you and me. I love being able to give you any and everything you want. You my baby and I'm going to take care of you by any means necessary. I can continue to do that and be faithful. I know you don't believe me when I say that I can change, but give a nigga a chance to prove it to you.

You and Rell is all I got in this world. As much as I want you to come home, I'm going to give you all the time that you need to make your mind up about what you want to do. Tell Ms. Janis I'm going to leave her alone too. You've got your credit cards so if you need anything get it. While you are making your decision about us and our future together, I'll be here waiting for you. I Love you Sabrina. Always have, always will.

M."

My momma was crazy about Milk, too. He used to come to my house back in the day sometimes when I wasn't home just to see my momma. Milk didn't have the money he has now back then, but he made sure everybody in my momma's house was straight including my sister. My cousin, Asia, has a deadbeat for a baby daddy and Milk even looked out for her, too, when it came to her son getting his haircut and clothes. And with all of the women in my family, Deshawn needed to spend more time around men. Maybe not up at one of Milk's barbershop, but men nonetheless. I once asked Milk if he was going with me or with my family, but like he said in his letter he didn't have anybody as far as family was concerned. Milk's little brother has two kids and even though they lived in North Carolina, Milk still sent money to Rell's baby momma every month since he has been locked up.

I let my sister Stephanie read Milk's letter and she said it was just some more of his bullshit written down on paper. At one time Milk was her Ace Boone Coon when we were living out in the Diggs Park neighborhood, and they used to sit around and watch basketball games together. Stephanie had just had my niece Aleeaha, whom Milk affectionately nicknamed Lady Bug. Stephanie then had her second child when Lady Bug was two and Milk nicknamed her My-My, short for Mya. The girls' daddy didn't do shit for them either. Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, the first day of school, if Stephanie didn't have it Milk paid for it. But, once Stephanie met her husband, Kevin, her whole attitude toward Milk seemed to change.

I ended up cursing her out as I always do. Milk ain't shit at times, but he still belonged to me. It used to bother me to hear my sister talk about Milk, but I don't let it anymore. My family knew that when it came to him, regardless of what anyone has to say I'm always going to do me!

Get in Where I Fit in!

"Deshawn wants to know when you are going to come and see him, or have you forgotten you even had a son?"

"I ain't got time for this shit today, Asia. You know what the fuck is up," was his reply.

"And?" I yelled into the phone. "That don't mean you put your fucking child on the back burner. You kill me always putting everybody else before my got damn son."

"Look, I'll be 'round there sometime today man, damn. Bye!"

"Wait a minute before you hang up," I said, quickly changing my attitude toward him. "Can you bring me some money when you come?"

"Man, I just gave you some money. I know damn well you ain't blown through ten grand already. What the fuck you do with so much money, Asia? You don't pay for shit," he returned with an attitude.

"I had to buy Deshawn some new clothes," I lied. "I want to redecorate his room. That's what I need the money for this time."

"Who the fuck you think you talking to, Asia? I buy everything Deshawn needs and I take care of you, too! I ain't got to do all this extra shit."

"Nigga, you got it. If you would stop spending so much money on your got damn girlfriend. . ."

"Bitch, don't worry 'bout what the fuck I spend my money on. I told you I'll be through there sometime later, so don't call me no got damn more today Asia and I mean that shit!"

"Fuck you," I mumbled to myself and closed up my cell phone. All it would take is one phone call and his ass is done for. It's all good though. Sooner than later I will be able to get in where I fit in when the time is right. I see the relationship crumbling by the day; with my help of course.

Milk kills me acting as if Deshawn is the only reason he takes care of me. No, we don't have sex anymore, but I know he still loves me. I don't understand what the fuck he saw in my cousin Sabrina any damn way. Take away the expensive clothes and jewelry and there's nothing appealing about Sabrina if you ask me. The bitch has no personality and was dumb as a box of rocks. Yes, she's cute if you are into the whole Beyoncé thing, but she still ain't got shit on me. Constantly walking around this mothafucka like she's runway ready. Little did she know Milk loves dark chocolate—fuck a red bone—and I can't wait to wrap my legs around him like I used to.

I first started fucking with Milk when he came home from prison six years ago. The couple had just moved into their apartment out Park Place in Norfolk and Sabrina invited Calvin—my boyfriend at the time—and me over their house one night to play cards. I told her that Calvin had to work and we could get up another time, but she insisted that I come over anyway and that was her first mistake. Inviting pussy in her house around a man fresh out of the penitentiary was a no-no ladies!

We were taking tequila shots and smoking weed until we ran out of blunts, so Sabrina went to the store to get some more because Milk was too drunk to drive. That was her second mistake. No—let me back up a minute. The first mistake that stupid bitch made—and ladies pay very close attention—was telling me how good Milk's dick was. The fact that she is my cousin was the sole reason I hadn't fucked Milk before he got locked up. But when she left me alone with him—which was her third and final no-no—she was giving me the green light to fuck her man. I'm just saying.

I caught Milk staring at me and I wanted to make sure he got a good damn look, too. I got up and walked to the bathroom and when he got up from the table and followed me, I knew I was going to give him some. I turned around and asked Milk where he was going when he grabbed me by my neck and kissed me. I pushed him away knowing I wanted to fuck him, but I didn't want him to think he could get the pussy so easily. I knew Sabrina was not going to be gone long and if I was going to do it now was not the time to play cat and mouse.

Milk turned me around, lifted my skirt up, and the next thing I knew the wall was against my face. He ripped off my panties and unzipped his pants as if he were in a race. I arched my back in anticipation of what I was about to feel after I saw how big Milk's dick was, and it was no longer a mystery to me why Sabrina puts up with his shit; past and present. He didn't have paper at the time like he does now, but his big, black, curved dick was more than enough to make a bitch forget he had just come home from prison and was broke as a joke.

Milk rammed his dick up inside me so hard that night I screamed, and it was a good thing the music was on. After a while the pain of it all turned into pure pleasure and I was able to throw my pussy back at him with ease. Once the music faded to the back of my mind all I heard were clapping sounds of my ass hitting up against Milk's thighs. We both knew we didn't have a lot of time, so we really went at it hard. Milk reached around and began rubbing the tip of my clit with his index finger and I started to feel something in my pussy I had never felt before—a tingling sensation. The more he pumped his dick inside of me, the more the feeling intensified.

I thought for a minute that I was about to piss on myself, then my pussy went numb. Milk, then removed my hands off of the wall, bent me over, and told me to grab my ankles. With the grip he had on me, I wasn't worried about falling over; I was more concerned about my uterus. I didn't know what it was I was about to do, but I couldn't hold it in anymore. I gripped Milk's dick with my pussy muscles and we played tug-a-war with it until I felt something running down my legs. For the first time since I had been having sex; I came.

We both heard the hallway door slam shut and Sabrina coming up the stairs. Milk did a fifty-yard dash to the bathroom and I grabbed my panties off the floor, stuck them in my bra, and sat down in a chair on the other side of the room. I told Sabrina when she came in the door that Milk was in the bathroom throwing up. Thank God she never looked down at my legs.

Truth be told, I can't stand Sabrina. I only tolerate her so that I can monitor my man. The night I called her and told her I had seen Milk inside of IHOP with another woman—I was lying. She called me the next day and asked me to send her the picture I told her I had taken of them, which was a first, but I told her I deleted it out my phone and she believed me. Shit, she always believed everything I told her about Milk.

Ladies, if you have a friend, or somebody close to you that called you every day, all day, to tell you shit they supposedly heard about your man, there's a strong possibility that she wants to fuck him, too. Therefore, don't jump in your man's shit based on what a bitch told you. Take it from me; this is not the first nigga I have fucked with that had a woman. I'm just that bitch and I will fuck your man—well I guess I should say I used to be that bitch. Now my heart belonged to Milk and only Milk. On the other hand, ever since Sabrina got caught up in that shooting at Quickshop, Milk acts as if he no longer had time for me and mine and I can't have that!

There Goes My Baby!

Milk must've forgotten to turn the alarm on when he left the house earlier tonight. I was almost afraid to get out my car and walk up to the front door by myself it was so dark. I reached over and got the gun out of the glove compartment Milk had given to me after the shooting at Quikshop, and as I walked toward the front door I noticed it was halfway open. I pushed the door with the gun and peeped my head inside.

"Oh my God," I whispered aloud to myself.

There were candles and long-stemmed roses everywhere. I put the gun inside of my purse and closed the front door behind me grinning from ear-to-ear. Milk can be so sweet at times when he wanted to be. Usher's song, There Goes My Baby serenaded me as I walked into the living room. I picked up one of the many roses to smell it and noticed there was a card on the bottom step with my name on it.

"I thought we would play a little game of hide and seek. Follow the arrows to your next clue.

M."

I looked around to see what arrows he was referring to and saw that the arrows on the floor led to the kitchen so I followed them. In the kitchen on the island table was another large bouquet of roses, along with a powder-blue Tiffany box with a card attached.

"Open this box nice and slow, then back to the game you must go!

M."

It took me all of three seconds to tear the ribbon off the box. "Shut the fuck up!" I exclaimed with excitement. Inside the box was a yellow canary diamond Tiffany bracelet and I wasted no time slapping it on my wrist. I then inhaled a deep breath before continuing on with our game of hide-and-seek. Next, I followed the arrows to the family room and there was another card on the mantle positioned next to another Tiffany box.

"They say diamonds are a girl's best friend. Are they right?

M."

Once again, I wasted no time ripping the ribbon off of the box and tearing into the paper. It wasn't the diamond ring I was hoping for, but I'll take it. A pair of yellow canary diamond earrings that matched my bracelet. I immediately took off the platinum hoops I was wearing and quickly replaced them with my new earrings. I then looked around to see where the arrows would take me next.

For a second I allowed my mind to wonder what the hell Milk had done for him to do all of this for me. I am use to him buying expensive gifts, but for him to go all out like this required some time and thought. Even the cards were in his handwriting. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind and followed the arrows to the garage. After opening the door, I felt my way to the light switch on the wall and turned it on.

"Aaahhh. . .," I screamed to the top of my lungs. Inside the garage was a white brand new Mercedes Benz, with a big red bow on the hood of the car along with another card.

"I can hear you screaming all the way up here. Now you're on your own. Come find me!

M."

Once I reached the top of the stairs I could hear Uncle Charlie's version of There Goes My Baby playing and the music was coming from our bedroom. I quickly opened the door and received the shock of my life. Milk, down on one knee, holding an open Tiffany box that displayed the biggest diamond ring I'd ever seen in the palm of his hand and before I knew it I was crying.

"Sabrina, will you marry me?" All I could do was nod my head yes. I was truly at a loss for words. Milk slid the ring on my ring finger and stood up. "I love you, Sabrina. Always have and always will," he professed, and then he kissed me on my lips.

"I love you, too, baby. Milk, you did all of this by yourself?" I asked, as I wiped my face with my hand. There were candles and roses all over our bedroom, too.

"I can't take all the credit. I had a lil' bit of help." He grinned.

"Let me take a wild guess, Yvette?" I asked, referring to my best friend.

"Nope," he replied, shaking his head.

"Was it my momma?" I continued to question him.

"Nope," he answered now with a smirk on his face.

"Well, whoever it was tell them I said good looking out." Milk leaned down and kissed me on my neck and from there it was on. I couldn't get my clothes off fast enough. Once I was naked I laid across the bed. "What's the matter?" I asked Milk as he stood gazing down at me. "Why are you looking at me like that? You done started something now, take them clothes off." I sat up on my knees and raised Milk's shirt up over his head.

"What, I ain't moving fast enough for you?" He laughed. "Lay back down, Sabrina, tonight is all about you, bae. Ain't nothing wrong, I just want to look at you." I lay back down on the bed and spread my legs open to entice him even more.

"Bae, are you still taking yo' birth control pills?"

"Yeah," I answered. "Why?"

"I want you to stop taking them right now," he declared.

"Milk, do we have to talk about this right now?"

"What's wrong, you don't want to have a baby with me?" he asked with a puzzling look on his face.

"Of course I want to have a baby with you. Who else am I going to have a baby with but you?" I sat back up. "Okay, I won't take any more pills after we get married. I can't be walking down the aisle all knocked up. I don't want anybody to think we're having a shotgun wedding." I laughed.

"Let's get married tomorrow, then," he suggested.

"Are you serious, Milk?"

"Damn right I'm serious," he stated adamantly.

"Baby, I don't want to get married at no Justice of the Peace." I frowned at the thought of something so impersonal.

"A'ight, well then let's get married here at the house."

I sucked my teeth in annoyance. "Milk, I don't want to get married here either. I want my big day like any other bride to be."

"Come to think of it, I don't want a lot of mothafuckas in my house anyway. It's whatever you want to do, bae, just lay back down." Monica's song, Everything To Me was now playing and I couldn't think of a more fitting song right now. Milk was everything to me and then some. I have to give credit where credit is due, since I've been back home he has made an effort to spend more time with me. Maybe he is changing.

My thoughts were interrupted by Milk's cold tongue, and I realized he had an ice cube inside of his mouth. "Baby, that's cold and it tickles." I giggled as I sat up again.

"Girl, if you get up one more time," he threatened now laughing too. "Let, daddy taste his pussy."

"Mmmm . . ." I moaned, as I sucked in air.

"You like that, bae?" he asked in between licks.

"Love, not like," I replied, gripping the back of Milk's head pulling him closer to me.

"You know what I want, right?" he whispered.

"Yes, Daddy . . ."

"Damn, you taste so fucking good, Sabrina. Make that pussy cum for me, bae."

"It's coming baby, its coming," I hummed with delight. "Mmmm . . . it's coming."

When I said that, Milk went into an eating frenzy. I wrapped my legs around his neck and sat up so I could watch him. "Let it go, bae," he slurped. "I want to taste you."

"Ummm . . . don't stop . . . Milk . . . uhh . . ."

"That ain't my name." He rose from in between my legs.

I don't know when he had taken his pants off, but he was now naked, too. He then used his knees to crawl toward and now dick was positioned directly in front of my face and it made me think back to the night we met.

Shadow Nights—which was later dropped to just Shadows—was a club off of Newtown Road in Virginia Beach, that everybody in the Hampton Roads area frequented mostly on the weekends. Yvette knew the bouncer at the door and he got us in the club that night undetected, because we both were only nineteen. Carl Thomas's song, I Wish was playing and the dance floor was packed with mostly girls dancing by themselves. There was a huge mirror located on the back wall of the club and as I used it to check my make-up I saw Milk walk in the door with a guy I later came to know as Kirk.

"Damn, he fine," Yvette shouted over the music while nudging me on the arm.

"Fine ain't the word. Who is that, Yvette?" I asked, turning around to get a better glimpse of him.

"The dark-skinned, heavyset one I know is Milk, but I don't know the guy with him. Oh, shit . . . they're coming this way. Stop staring, Sabrina." She waved her hand in my face.

Milk had to stop at least three times before he and Kirk made their way over to where Yvette and I were standing. Women left and right were pulling on Milk trying to get his attention. I couldn't blame them though; Milk was very handsome. I always associate people with celebrities to describe them and he reminded me of a thicker version Morris Chestnut. His single gold tooth brought attention to his pearly white teeth and when he smiled it sent chills up my spine. True indeed, Milk had a little meat on his bones; but I liked it.

Milk bought me and Yvette some drinks and talked for most of the night as if we were alone and not inside a capacity filled room. I am 5'7 and Milk towered over top of me, so I figured he was around 6'2 or 6'3, but he still wasn't tall enough to block the drink somebody had thrown at him which landed on me. I didn't see the direction the drink had come from but Yvette did. That crazy ass girl then grabbed a Moet bottle from a nearby table, and hit the culprit upside her head with it. I quickly stepped out of my heels and Yvette and I rocked that bitch's ass in Shadows that night, but that wasn't the last time I had to fuck a bitch up in a club over Milk.

After, Yvette and I were put out the Shadows, Milk and Kirk left the club, too. We then followed them next door to the Holiday Inn and Milk paid for two rooms. Yvette had been having sex since she was sixteen, but I was still a virgin. I was listening when my momma told me not to give away my pudding to everybody. I was nervous about going into the room with Milk, but I went anyway. I didn't give him any head that night; shit I didn't know that nigga like that. But, when I finally did suck his dick a few months later, Milk told me that I wasn't doing it right and I've been self-conscious about doing it ever since.

Tonight was a special occasion, so I think he deserved some head.

Put You to Bed!

I threw the controller to my Xbox in the closet and turned off the TV when I heard Sabrina marching up the stairs.

"Milk!"

"I'm almost ready before you even start yelling," I told her even though I was nowhere near ready. "And take yo' hands off your hips, it takes away from the dress."

"How are you almost ready," she yelled anyway, "and you don't have on shit, but your damn boxer shorts?" She pointed at me.

"I'm getting ready to hop in the shower right now, bae. Calm down."

"You ain't even washed your ass yet, Milk? Fuck it, I'm leaving!"

"Damn, Sabrina, we ain't got to start the party. I'll be ready in a few minutes. Shit, you already got my clothes laid out for me like I'm two." I playfully tapped her ass.

"What's wrong with what I picked out for you?" She turned around and looked at the clothes she had laid out for me across our bed.

"Nothing." I walked up on her from behind and pulled her toward me.

"You need to put some grown man clothes on for a change."

"Girl, don't you know I put the swag in swagger?" I sucked my teeth. "I got plenty of grown man gear. I like the outfit though, but not for the Sons of Norfolk, bae. You got us dressed like we Will and Jada going to the Grammys." She couldn't help but laugh too.

"Just hurry up Milk so we can go." She attempted to pull away from me.

"I am, but what I really want to do is get you out of this dress real quick," I mumbled in her ear.

"Don't even start." She broke the grip I had on her. "I told my momma I would help her at the door tonight, so go get in the shower, Milk."

"Can I get a kiss first?"

"If I give you a kiss will you take your ass to the shower and get in it?" Sabrina pointed toward our adjourning bathroom.

"I will, I promise." I held up two fingers. "Boy Scouts Honor." I tried to look serious.

"When have you ever been a Boy Scout, Milk? You know what . . ." Sabrina walked to the other side of the bedroom and grabbed her purse off of the dresser. "I'm gone!"

"Okay . . . okay." I laughed. "Here I come."

The Sons of Norfolk was a local juke joint in the Park Place neighborhood located on 28th Street available to rent for parties or dances as Sabrina's momma called them. Ms. Janis, and her friend Ms. Neicy, are having a party there tonight and Sabrina asked me to go with her. Well, really she told me I was going. I started to say no at first, but things have been good between us lately, and I planned on keeping it that way. Plus, I've been to a couple of Ms. Janis' parties before and I actually had a good time. It's a mixed crowd but not too much different than your average club. Honestly, the only reason I thought about not going was because I knew Asia's funky ass was more than likely going to be there.

We finally arrived at the hall around eleven-thirty and just as Sabrina predicted there wasn't anywhere to park. We would have been here sooner, but I was determined to get some pussy before we left the crib. I paid a dude who had just gotten out of his car a hundred dollars to give up his parking space just to shut Sabrina up. Once inside, Sabrina stayed at the door with Ms. Janis and I made my way over to the table where all of Sabrina's people were sitting. The DJ had an old school mix of Dougie Fresh and Slick Rick's classic, The Show playing and the hall was packed.

"Hey, Milk," a voice greeted me as soon as I sat down at the table.

Here this bitch go already.

"What's up, Asia?" I said without looking at her.

"When you gon' come get my baby? He has been asking for you," Asia said, smiling deviously.

"How you doing, Stephanie?" I asked Sabrina's sister trying to ignore Asia.

"I'm alright," she answered dryly.

"How the girls doing? I haven't seen them in a while," I asked her. Stephanie had a look on her face like she smelled something bad.

"They're alright," she responded, but I could tell she really didn't want to.

"Mothafucka, no you didn't just walk pass me and not speak!" I didn't even have to turn around to see who it was cussing me out.

"You know I ain't see you, Ms. Neicy." I stood up to give her a hug. "How you doing, baby?"

"Don't baby me," she shouted as she hugged me back. "Why haven't you been to Diamond's Lounge lately?" Ms. Neicy added a room onto her house that she turned into somewhat of a shot house known to the patrons in her neighborhood as Diamonds Lounge. Half the people in here tonight will most likely end up at Diamonds Lounge for an after hour party.

"I'mma come thru there soon, I promise. I've just been kind of busy here lately," I told her.

"Uh-huh, I bet you have been." She cut her eyes at me. "Where is Sabrina?"

"She was at the door with her momma." I looked over at the door. "I see her, but I don't see Ms. Janis."

"I'm watching your ass Milk. I don't want no shit out of you in here tonight and I mean it. You know how you get when you and Sabrina go out together. A man can't even speak to her without your jealous ass going off."

"Go 'head on with that, Ms. Neicy." I laughed at her. "Whatchu' got in that cup?"

"Some corn liquor. You want a shot?" she offered.

"No, ma'am." I shook my head vigorously. "I told you I wasn't messing with that corn no more after the last time you got me tore up."

"Aw, nigga you can't hang with Ms. Thang." Ms. Neicy taunted me as she did her signature dance of getting low to the floor. I love to see her do that shit.

"Damn sure can't. Not no corn liquor." I looked around the hall. "Y'all, had a good turn out tonight, Ms. Neicy."

"Yeah, we did," she agreed looking around, too. "People know ain't no party like a Diamonds party."

"Is the dude still coming by yo' crib taking care of yo' yard?" I asked.

"Every Saturday morning like clockwork. I try to tip him but he won't ever take it.

"The mothafucka better not! I told you I got it." I put my arm around her shoulder.

"He won't even take a glass of water even when it's Africa hot outside. Whatchu' do to that boy, Milk?" She laughed.

"Told his ass I was going to fuck him up if I found out he took some money from you," I admitted. "But, don't worry 'bout him, Ms. Neicy, he straight. You want some of this Goose?" I reached for my bottle on the table.

"You know the only thing I turn down is my bed." Ms. Neicy swallowed the last of the corn liquor in her cup and held it out for me to pour her a drink. "Hit me one time."

"Whatchu' tell me when I first met you? You gots to pour yo' own troubles." I passed her the bottle.

"You ain't said a mothafucking word, nigga." Ms. Neicy took the bottle from me and poured herself a double shot. "A'ight, let me go 'fore your crazy ass mother-in-law start making announcements and shit looking for me. Good to see you, Milk Dud." She kissed me on the cheek and walked away. Ms. Neicy was the only person who could call me 'Milk Dud' and get away with it and I loved the shit out of her ass. She reminded me a lot of my momma.

I sat back down in my seat and caught Asia staring me dead in my face. I knew damn well if I saw her doing the shit, somebody else saw her, too. I was glad when Sabrina sat down beside me, because that bitch hurried up and turned her head in the other direction.

"I wonder where Yvette and Chauncey are at," Sabrina said while looking around the table.

"Who was that nigga all up in yo' face at the door, Sabrina? I saw him."

"Milk, please. You act like you're the only one who knows people." She pressed her lips together.

"A'ight, don't get nobody fucked up in here tonight," I told her sternly even though I wasn't serious. I trust my baby

"I wish you would act up in here tonight. My momma would kill you so please behave yourself."

"I'm just fucking with you, bae. Did I tell you how sexy you look in that dress tonight?" I whispered in Sabrina's ear.

"Thank you, boo." She leaned over and kissed me. "Where is my bottle, Milk?"

"What bottle, bae?"

"The one I asked you to get for me when you went to the liquor store today." She snapped.

"You damn sure did. My bad, bae, I forgot to get it. You want some of this Goose?" I passed the bottle to her.

"I guess it will do." She looked around the table again. "Damn, Milk, you ain't get no set up either? I at least need some ice."

"No, I ain't get no ice. You know I drink my shit straight, but I'll go and get some." I stood up.

"Milk, can you bring me back a Corona?" Asia asked me. I bit down on my bottom lip in aggravation, but immediately changed my facial expression when I saw Stephanie looking at me.

"Anybody else want anything from the bar? Kirk, man, y'all straight?" I asked, referring to him and his wife Trise.

"Yeah, man, we straight." He nodded at me with a grin on his face. Kirk knew what time it was between me and Asia and the fact that she was fucking with me on purpose. I'm going to cuss her ass out the first chance I get, too.

"We gon' slow it down for a minute for all the couples in the house tonight," the DJ announced.

J. Holiday's, Bed was now blasting through the speakers. Tamika, a broad I used to fuck with last summer, was walking toward me through the crowd coming from the bar when I spotted her. I made eye contact with her for two seconds before remembering where the fuck I was. If not Sabrina, I knew Asia was somewhere in this bitch watching me like a hawk, so I thought it best that I made a detour in the other direction. I made my way to the bar, got the ice and that bitch's Corona, and was now on my way back to the table when I bumped right into Tamika.

"What's wrong Milk, you can't speak?" she asked.

"Yo, what's up, 'Mika. I ain't see you standing there. How you doing, girl?" I tried to maneuver around her after speaking, but she two stepped her way back in front of me.

"I see you up in here with the wife tonight. That's a first."

I glanced over to where Sabrina was sitting, but I didn't see her. "A'ight, Tamika. It was good seeing you," I said, excusing myself once again.

"Good seeing me?" She placed both hands on her hips. "You joking right? Oh, I get it. Sabrina got you on lockdown tonight, huh?"

"Something like that." I knew my conversation with Tamika had lasted just a little too long.

"Remember when we used to fuck to this CD, Milk?" Tamika licked her lips at me after lowering her hands.

"Girl, you trying to get me and you fucked up in this mothafucka tonight," I told her still looking around for Sabrina. "Come on now, 'Mika, move out my way. You see I got my hands full.

"Call me later after you take the ball and chain home so you can come put me to bed like you use to do," she replied seductively.

"Read a fucking bedtime story tonight bitch if you need help falling asleep!"

Aw shit, here we go.

"Bitch?" Tamika turned around to face Asia. "Who the fuck are you calling a bitch? Bitch, you don't know me." Tamika pointed her index finger in my baby momma's face. I walked away at first, but I turned back around when I heard Asia still talking shit.

"I'm talking to you, bitch! What the fuck you all up in his face for? Show some respect," Asia told her.

I placed the ice bucket under my arm to free up one of my hands. "Yo, Asia, chill the fuck out. She was only speaking," I told her as I pulled on her arm.

"Speaking my ass! I heard what the bitch said." Asia pointed back in Tamika's face.

"Man, go sit yo' ass down somewhere." I released her arm with the hopes that she would listen to me before some shit really got started. There were too many of Sabrina's people in here tonight and I wasn't trying to deal with this shit when we got home later on if something capped off.

The lights were now on and the DJ had turned off the music. I looked around for Sabrina again, but I still didn't see her. Aw shit! Tamika just punched Asia in her face. I sat the ice bucket and beer down, and then I grabbed Asia from behind even though I really didn't want to.

"Let me go, Milk! This bitch hit me in my face, but you did not grab her ass," Asia shouted.

"Don't do it, Asia," I whispered in her ear without moving my lips.

"Nawl, she wants somebody to put her to bed. I'mma put her to bed alright. Let me go, Milk." She squirmed in my arms.

"Keep running yo' mothafucking mouth, hear? I'mma fu-"

"Asia stop," Sabrina said, appearing out of nowhere. "Let her go, Milk. What's wrong with you, Asia?"

I let go of Asia and she lunged at Tamika, but this time I didn't have to grab her, because a security guard had her by the arm and another one held on to Tamika. Yvette was now standing beside Sabrina and Asia really began to show out for them. She knew Sabrina, along with her sidekick Yvette, would fuck Tamika up had they seen her punch Asia in the face.

"Uh . . . uh . . . She didn't have to put her hands on me," Asia screamed as if she were being tortured. I saw Sabrina when she balled up her first and I could tell Yvette was ready to pounce on Tamika, too.

"Throw her ass out, Peanut," Ms. Neicy said to the security guard holding Tamika. Ms. Neicy then made her way up on the DJ stand, snatched the microphone out of his hand, and cleared her throat. "Excuse me. Look, we aren't having this shit up in here tonight. We came out to have a good time and a good time is what it's going to be. JT turn the music back on and somebody turn off these hot ass lights so we can party. If you can't abide by the rules of the hall, then get the fuck out!"

Ms. Neicy handed the DJ back his microphone and walked off the stand. The lights were turned off and JT did what Ms. Neicy said and cranked the music back up. Sabrina's momma was walking toward us through the crowd of people.

"What the hell is going on over here?" Ms. Janis asked, looking back and forth between Asia and Sabrina.

"She hit me first, Aunt J," Asia said before Sabrina had a chance to open her mouth. "All I said to her was to show my cousin some respect and leave Milk alone and then she punched me in my face for no reason."

No this bitch just didn't.

Now Sabrina and Ms. Janis both were looking at me suspect. "Bae, the girl know me from the barber shop. All she was doing was saying hello." I looked at Sabrina and then to Ms. Janis.

"Don't make me have to get Peanut to escort you out, too." Ms. Janis pointed at Asia. "I know you. Sabrina can handle her own man."

"I know that's right Ms. Janis. Tell that bitch again," is what I wanted to say.

"Put me out?" Asia sounded as if her feelings were hurt. "But, it wasn't my fault this time."

"Everything cool, Ma, go back to the door. People are starting to just walk in and you don't know if they have a ticket or not," Sabrina said to Ms. Janis. "Yvette, go to the bathroom with Asia and help her fix her strap." They all walked away at the same time.

Sabrina looked at me, rolled her eyes, and walked away next. I followed her back to the table and sat down beside her. "So, I guess it's my fault somebody spoke to me, huh?" Sabrina ignored me so I kept talking. "You actually think I would do some disrespectful shit like that knowing you in here, Sabrina? Come on, bae, give me more credit than that." I put my arms around her shoulders. "You know how yo' cousin is. Asia ain't have to do all that shit. We have been doing good, right? Bae, don't fall back now." I kissed Sabrina on her cheek.

For the rest of the night I stayed right up under Sabrina. When she moved, I moved. I even went out on the dance floor a couple times, slow songs, of course, and each time Sabrina and I got up to dance Asia pulled some random nigga out on the dance floor, too. I think she thought she was making me jealous, but little did she know I was praying her ass would make a mothafucking love connection with one of them niggas so she would leave me the fuck alone!

Something Old, Something New!

I was enrolled in Tidewater Community College when Milk and I first got together, but I missed too many days from school trying to keep up with him, so I ended up withdrawing. I decided after Milk and I returned from our honeymoon that I would go back and complete my Interior Design /Architectural Studies degree. Milk wasn't all that thrilled about me going back to school at first or so he led me to believe.

As a something old, something new wedding gift, Milk transformed his game room into an office for me and it was official. He bought me a new desktop computer, plus a laptop, a 62-inch flat screen TV which was now mounted on the wall with surround sound; bookshelves, pens, markers, a drafting board and some more shit. I wasn't too fond of the desk, but I kept that tidbit to myself. Milk has my cousin June Bug detailing our cars today, and since it was Yvette's day off I called her and asked her to give me a ride to TCC, so I could register for classes beginning in the fall.

I was almost out the front door when I heard the house phone ringing. I grabbed the cordless phone and opened the front door. "I'm coming," I yelled out the door to Yvette. "Hello?"

"What's up, bae?"

"Milk, I'm on my way out the door, call my cell," I quickly told him.

"Hold on, Sabrina, don't hang up. Where you going?"

"To register for school. I told you that before you left the house this morning. Yvette is outside waiting for me so call my cell," I repeated.

"June Bug ain't finished with yo' car yet?"

"Milk, call my cell phone!" I was starting to get impatient now.

"Look at you ain't even started school yet and already ain't got no time for yo' husband," he teased me. "Nawl, but for real I need you to do something for me before you leave."

"What is it, Milk?" I motioned to Yvette again that I was coming.

"Look on the kitchen table and sign those papers for me."

"And what exactly is it I am signing?" I questioned him.

"I'm selling the house I bought for Kirk and Trise when he first came home from prison," he replied.

"Why?" I walked into the kitchen in search of the papers.

"Kirk bought him and Trise a house out in Suffolk, so I might as well go 'head and sell it. You see the papers?"

"Yeah, I got them," I said, rushing to get Milk off the phone so I could leave.

"What time will you be back home?" he asked.

"I don't know. We're going to MacArthur Mall after I leave TCC. Why?"

"Whatchu' going to the mall for, Sabrina?" Milk asked as if he was my father.

"I need some school clothes honey," I replied while smiling.

"Sabrina, you got clothes in the closet with the fucking tags still on them. I had to move some of my shit to one of the guest bedrooms 'cause yo' ass done took over our closet. You don't need no new clothes for real." Yvette blew the horn again.

"Alright baby, I got to go."

"Don't forget to sign those papers, Sabrina. Do it right now."

"Alright, Milk, I will."

"A'ight, I'll see you later. Love you."

"Love you, too." I hung up the phone. I skimmed over the papers before signing my name on each line that was stickered with an arrow, and ran out the front door before I had to strangle Yvette.

"Bitch, what took you so long?" Yvette barked as soon as I opened the passenger side door. "You know I hate waiting on you, Sabrina," she reminded me as she backed out of the driveway.

"Milk called me on the house phone as I was about to walk out the door. I'm sorry," I said, as I stretched the seat belt across my lap.

"So, how is married life treating you?"

"Other than all the extra fucking we been doing, everything is pretty much the same."

"I am so proud of you," she beamed with enthusiasm. "I feel like a new mother sending her baby off to school for the first time. When you open your business maybe then I'll get to meet my future husband."

"What future husband, Yvette? Your ass is already married." I laughed.

"Girl, I'm talking about Carmelo. If I ever meet him again Chauncey can hang it up."

"You did get to meet Carmelo when we went to D.C. for All-Star weekend with Milk and Kirk and you didn't open your damn mouth when he spoke to you," I said to jog her memory.

"Shut up." She nudged me on the arm. "I couldn't holler at him like I wanted to with LaLa's ass all up in the way."

"You mean Kirk was in the way," I corrected her.

"Oh, that's right. I was messing with Kirk then wasn't I?" Yvette reminisced. "That nigga was crazy. I had to hurry up and leave his ass alone."

TCC was not too far from where I lived, so it only took ten minutes to get there. Yvette sat down in the waiting area and I headed for Student Registration.

"Let me get that for you." I turned around to see who was offering to open the door for me and saw that it was the guy from Quikshop.

"Oh my gosh, how are you doing?" I smiled at him.

"I'm doing a'ight, how about you?" He smiled back.

"With all the madness that went on that night I didn't even ask you what your name was."

"My name is, Rico," he said. I told Rico my name and reached my hand out to shake his. "Girl, you better come here and give me a hug." He laughed as he reached his arms out to me. I heard Yvette clear her throat as I let go of Rico and turned around to my best friend.

"Rico, this is my friend, Yvette. Yvette, this is Rico," I introduced them to one another.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Yvette," Rico said.

"Mrs.," Yvette quickly corrected him. I elbowed her in the arm. Sometimes she can be a little rough around the edges.

"So, are enrolling in school, Rico?" I asked him.

"No, I work here in the shipping department," was his reply.

"I will wait for you in the car, Sabrina." Yvette turned and walked away after she told Rico it was nice meeting him.

"You have to excuse her, she must've forgotten to take her bipolar medicine this morning. She doesn't mean anything by it."

"No, it's cool." Rico smiled. "And I see congratulations are in order."

"Why you say that?" He took my left hand and held it up.

"You just got married right? I would have noticed a rock like this even with all the commotion going on that night."

"Yes, I did just get married. I'm still getting use to it, I guess. I went back up to Quikshop looking for you because I wanted to thank you for helping me that night. Before the shooting started, I saw you in the store. You do work at Quikshop right?"

"Yeah, I used to work there part-time, but after that crazy shit happened, I had to let Quikshop go. But, you didn't have to make a special trip up there just to thank me." He grinned.

"What's wrong, why are you looking at me like that?" I asked him.

"Like what?" He bit down on his bottom lip.

"Like I am standing here naked, that's what."

"I could only hope," he stated while shaking his head.

Rico's flirtatious glances caused to me blush for some reason. I get attention from the fellas all the time until they realized who was my man, and I could tell from his accent that he wasn't from Virginia. With everything that happened that night I never paid any attention to how fine Rico is. He reminded me of Damon Dash, bald head and all. He appeared to be around 6'3, 220 pounds, and mostly muscle. I could see how cut up Rico was because of the t-shirt he had on, too. I don't know . . . he could be a nice hookup for my cousin Asia.

"Let me go," I said, breaking the awkward silence. "I'm surprised Yvette hasn't come back in here looking for me. It was really good seeing you again. Take care of yourself." I opened the door and was about to walk into the Student Registration office when I thought about Asia again. I turned around. "Hey, Rico?"

"Hey, Sabrina," he replied, still undressing me with his eyes.

"I have somebody I would like to introduce you to."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't do the matchmaking thing," he respectfully declined.

The more I thought about it Rico was not Asia's type, especially once I told her what he did for a living. He really wouldn't get anywhere with her then.

I could feel my cell phone vibrating in my purse, and I started to ignore it thinking it was Yvette calling me to see what was taking me so long, but when I looked and saw it was Milk I answered it.

"Hang on one second, Rico. Hello? No, I'm still at TCC. . . I don't know. I signed the papers, Milk. I told you I would. Okay . . . alright . . . Okay, bye." I put my phone back inside of my purse. "I'm sorry to be rude that was my husband," I told him.

"Is that right?" Rico's smile slowly turned into a frown.

"Now, what is that look for?" I asked him.

"I'm just disappointed that you are spoken for, that's all. What's your husband's name? I thought I heard you call him Milk or something like that."

"You heard right." I laughed. "Milk is his nickname. His real name is Milton."

"Might as well add Lucky to his list of names then," he stated with a trace of sarcasm.

"Why do you say that? You don't even know my husband, so what makes you think he's so lucky?"

"Any man who has the pleasure of waking up next you every morning is lucky and if he isn't careful, his luck just might run out."

Right Place at the Right Time!

As soon as I left the TCC building, I called Gremlin so he could meet me at our spot. I was just pulling up and parked on the other side of Mt. Trashmore Park. I walked over the hill to the shelter where Gremlin was already waiting for me. When we did meet up it was never for more than five or ten minutes, because I was still keeping a low profile. Talk about the right place at the right time.

"What's up, man?" I slapped hands with Gremlin. "What you find out?"

"From what Lisha told me they been together for 'bout ten years or so. They just got married a few months ago, but no kids though. Lisha said she spends most of her time shopping and bullshit like that. This nigga got cribs all over, but don't too many people know where he lays his head at, but I'm on it."

"A'ight, as soon as you find out, let me know." I slapped hands with him again.

"You trying to take the whole family out, ain't you man?" Gremlin asked.

"Why you say that?"

"His bitch, we gon' hit her too, right?" He looked at me with his head tilted to the side.

"Nawl, man," I said, shaking my head. "I just want that nigga."

"What, you forgot what this mothafucka did to your cousin, man? We should have been handled this nigga. I'm ready to get back to Miami."

I looked around the park to make sure there wasn't anyone within earshot. "Look, Gremlin, you can head home anytime you want to man. I can handle Milk by myself," I told him.

"Byrd, you know you my man fifty grand and I ain't gon' leave you hanging like that." He calmed down some. "Breon was like a brother to me, man."

"In due time," I said, taking another look around the park.

"Fuck that 'in due time' shit. I say when Lisha turns me on to his spot we hit that shit and kill any and everybody in that mothafucka!"

"If you find out where the nigga live at hit me." I moved closer to Gremlin. "This mothafucka got muscle, too!"

"So, what the fuck that mean?" Gremlin took a step forward as if he were challenging me. "We supposed to tip toe 'round this nigga 'cause we in his backyard? Fuck all these VA niggas!"

Take That!

I called Sabrina this morning and asked her if she would help me plan Deshawn's birthday party and of course she said she would. One of the reasons I asked Sabrina to help me plan his party was because I knew she would insist on having the party at their house. When I pulled up at their house this morning, Milk had just walked out the front door. I rolled down the window to speak to him and the fucker had the audacity to put his middle finger up at. I saw him laughing, too, when he got into his truck, and I started to tell him that I was the one who was going to have the last laugh today but I didn't. Instead, I just blew him a kiss.

When the FedEx truck pulled up in the driveway I felt like a kid at Christmas waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. I made it my business to answer the door and sign for the envelope, too. I played the concerned cousin role, as I always did, when I saw the distraught look on her face. I asked Sabrina if everything was alright, but she quickly put the pictures back in the envelope when I tried to look at them over her shoulder. She said everything was okay, but I knew I had just rocked her world. I would love to be a fly on the wall when that nigga gets home later on tonight. Let's see how he lies his way out of this one. One thing for certain, the mothafucking honeymoon will be over. As Diddy says; take that—take that!

Tell the Truth!

I was behind the front door with the bat raised in the air waiting for Milk to come inside of the house, and once he closed the front door, I hit him on his back as hard as I could with it.

"Owww . . . shit! Sabrina, what the fuck is wrong with you?" He snatched the bat away from me and flung it to the other side of the living room.

"What is this shit?" I screamed and threw the pictures at him. He attempted to grab one the pictures before they all fell on the floor, and when he leaned over to pick them up again I slapped him across his face.

"Aye yo, Sabrina, you hit me like that again and I'm gon-"

"You gon' do what?" I asked out of breath.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, bae, what I do?" he screamed at me.

"So, you back to your same old shit, huh?" I pointed in his face.

"Old shit? What the fuck is you talking 'bout, Sabrina? I ain't did shit. Tell me whatchu' talking 'bout!" Milk looked down at the pictures on the floor and picked one up. "Bae, look . . . I know what this shit looks like but it ain't what you think." He picked up a few more pictures.

"So explain these then," I shouted, knocking the pictures out of his hand.

"I can and I will, but Sabrina you have to promise to hear me out," he pleaded, lowering his voice.

"I'm not promising you a got damn thing, but go ahead. I'm listening." I folded my arms across my chest. I could feel the tears starting to form in the corners of my eyes. I guess he could see them, too, because he reached for my hand. I took a step back away from him. "Don't fucking touch me, Milk!"

"Sabrina, don't get upset over this bullshit, bae," he said in a soothing tone. "Somebody did this shit just to fuck with you."

"Milk, just tell me the truth." I uncrossed my arms and wiped the tear before it fell. "For once in your life be a man and tell me the truth!"

"A'ight," he said and then paused. Milk looked around the room and then back at me. "I used to fuck with her a long time ago, but that shit been over, Sabrina. I swear to you. I ain't fucking with her or nobody else. Look at how short my hair is. That tells you right there these shits ain't recent."

"Who is she, Milk?" I demanded to know.

"Bae, she ain't nobody," he uttered, and balled up the one picture remaining in his hand. "You the one I married."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better because you married me and not her?" I walked up the stairs. I was through talking.

"Sabrina, come back down here and let's squash this shit." Milk waited to see if I would come back downstairs before following me.

"I don't want to hear shit else you have to say." I tried to close the bedroom door in his face, but he pushed it open and followed me into the room.

"See, I tell you the truth and look how you acting."

"You had no choice but to tell the truth. Pictures don't lie my friend." I got sassy with him. "You must have really pissed the bitch off for her to send those pictures to me."

"This some bullshit!" Milk threw the picture he had balled up into the trash can.

"No, this relationship is bullshit! I don't even know why I married your ass in the first place. You ain't never going to be nothing but what the fuck you are, a lying ass cheater." I walked away from him into our adjourning bathroom.

"Don't say that, Sabrina." Milk walked up behind me as I was bent over washing my face.

"Move," I yelled, pushing him away from me. I walked out of the bathroom and grabbed my purse off of the dresser.

"Where the fuck is you going, Sabrina?" He snatched my purse off my shoulder.

"Leave me alone, Milk," I said, as I reached for my purse.

"Nawl ain't no fucking 'leave you alone', I asked you a mothafucking question!" He grabbed me by my arm.

"Let go of my arm," I raised my voice.

"Look, Sabrina, we married now. Ain't no more going to stay at yo' momma house every time we start beefing. I'm telling you I ain't fucking with her no more. That shit happened two years ago."

"You know what, Milk, it doesn't even matter," I stated calmly. "You're right, I shouldn't have even let the shit upset me. You go right ahead and do you."

"What's that supposed to mean? You said you forgave me for the shit in the past before we got married, so focus on what we got going on now, bae."

"That's easy for you to say you're not the one being made a fool of. Me and my sister don't get along now because of you."

"I don't give a fuck 'bout none of them. I'm married to you. Fuck everybody else." I left out of the bedroom and headed back downstairs with Milk right behind me. I opened the front door and Milk slammed it shut. "I told you, you won't going nowhere." He stood in front of the door. I turned around and walked through the kitchen to the garage, but as soon as I cracked the door open Milk slammed that one shut, too.

"Oh, so now I can't leave the house?" I laughed.

"Look, bae-"

"Stop fucking calling me that," I screamed, "and give me my fucking purse so I can get the fuck out of here!"

Milk arrogantly sucked his teeth and the pitiful look he had on his face less than a minute ago was gone. Now he was mad. "I ain't giving you a mothafucking thing," he calmly expressed. "You want to leave . . . a'ight, leave. But you won't leave me in my shit."

This Bitch!

"Hello, you have reached Asia. Leave a message. I'll call you back."

"I know you are sitting there looking at the damn phone. I got a message for yo' ass when I see you, too, bitch!" I hung up my cell phone.

This bitch sent those pictures to Sabrina, I know she did! I'll be damned if she was going to keep fucking up my happy home, especially with all of the shit I do for her. Instead of trying to keep shit cool between us she insists on fucking with me. Asia wasn't like this when I first started fucking with her, or we would've never gotten as far as we did. Granted, I was using her to mule work back-and-forth to North Carolina back in the day, but I actually enjoyed spending time with her. There weren't any limits on her pussy as far as I was concerned, and I used to fuck every hole on her body. Pussy; mouth, ass, ear, nose, didn't matter—Asia aimed to please.

I know I should've hit it and quit it, but Asia made creeping with her fun. Sneaking looks and kisses whenever Sabrina would leave the room. Fucking in our bed when I didn't even know where Sabrina was or what time she was coming home. One year, we had Thanksgiving dinner at our crib and Asia sucked my dick in the garage while everybody else sat down and ate. I went in there to get some ice out of the deep freezer and she followed without being noticed. Kirk said I was a damn fool for even trying that shit, but that's what made the sex better, and it gave me an adrenaline rush. Now I regret all that shit. Ever since this bitch had my son she had been on some other shit, but I got a trick and a treat for that ass!

Not my Man!

Yvette and I were in our favorite getaway from the world spot, Kelly's Tavern, when Chauncey called her cell phone and told her that Kirk had been shot. I immediately paid for our drinks and told the server to cancel our food order. We were only five minutes away from the barbershop, so it didn't take long for us to get there. I tried calling Milk, but he didn't answer his phone.

It was like déjà vu when I pulled up in front of the barbershop. There were police everywhere, orange cones next to bullet casings, and noisy ambulance sirens. The entrance of the barber shop was taped off, and nobody other than the police officers was permitted to walk in or out of the shop. I looked around for Milk, but I didn't see him anywhere, so I tried his cell again but he still didn't answer.

"I'mma see if they will let me in the shop. Wait for me, okay?" I told Yvette.

"Uh-uh . . . I'm coming with you," she said, unlatching her seat belt. We both got out of the car at the same time and walked toward the uniformed officer standing at the police barricade.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you are going to have to wait over there," he instructed, pointing to the crowd of people across the street.

"Officer, I am the owner of the barbershop and I was told that there had been a shooting inside. Is that, right?" I acted confused, so he would give me some information.

"I will be sure to let the detective in charge know that you are here in case he has any questions for you." He nodded without looking at me. "But, for right now I can't allow you into the shop." I noticed Milk's Escalade parked in front of the barbershop. It too had yellow tape blocking it off, and from where I was standing I could see the bullet holes all over the truck. I took off running.

"Sabrina?" I heard Yvette call after me.

"Ma'am?" the police officer sternly shouted. "Ma'am!" By the time I had reached Milk's truck the police officer had grabbed me by my shoulders from behind, but not before I was able to see Kirk slumped over the steering wheel. All of the windows had been shot out and he was dead.

"Oh my God," was all I could say as my knees began to buckle. All I could think about was that could have been Milk. I hadn't spoken to him since yesterday. Yvette picked me up after the fight we had over the pictures and I spent the night at her house. Now all of that shit seems so petty.

"Ma'am, if I have to tell you again, you will be arrested for obstruction of justice," the officer warned me. "Do I make myself clear?" He let go of me.

"I'm going to take her with me officer," Yvette said. "Sabrina, look." She pointed.

I instantly breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Milk across the street sitting down on the curb and my car was parked in the middle of the street. It wasn't there before, so he must've pulled up right after we did. I walked over and sat down on the curb next him and pulled Milk close to my chest. I couldn't get away from him fast enough yesterday, but now I didn't want to let him out of my sight. Milk would not rest until he found out who did this to Kirk, and I can already foresee the sleepless nights I was about to experience, knowing that my husband was about to go on a rampage.

Milk sat up out of my embrace shaking his head. "Not my man!"

"I know, baby. I'm so sorry, Milk." I rubbed his back. "I can't believe it myself." I was waiting for him to go off but he didn't. He didn't move. His face was like chiseled stone and I could see the veins in his neck moving.

"Excuse me, ma'am," the police officer who was chasing me spoke. With him was the detective that came to the hospital to question me the next day after the shooting at Quikshop. "This is . . ."

"Detective Lundy," I said before the officer had a chance to speak his name.

"How are you doing, Ms. Wright?" Detective Lundy reached out his hand to me.

"Mrs. Woodhouse," Milk corrected him after standing up. "Can I help you, officer?" he asked in a displeased voice.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Woodhouse I take it," he articulated cynically, as he chewed the flavor out of the gum in his mouth. "Officer Donahue informed me that your wife owned the barber shop. Oh, and its Detective Lundy, not officer by the way. And you are, sir?"

"Me?" Milk put his hand on his chest. "Oh, I ain't nobody."

"Mrs. Woodhouse, do you mind if I speak with you? I have a few questions I want to ask you," Detective Lundy asked.

"Speak to her for what? This happened in front of the barber shop not in it," Milk rudely stated. Detective Lundy glanced at me and then back to Milk.

"I was hoping she would be able to help us locate the owner of the vehicle the deceased was driving since he was employed at the barber shop."

"That's my truck," I said, quickly, going into ride-or- die mode.

"If I'm not mistaken didn't your husband just say that your last name was Woodhouse?" Detective Lundy prodded.

"Sabrina, shut up," Milk said, never taking his eyes off of the detective.

"This truck that you claim is yours is registered to a . . ." He flipped through his notepad, "a Miss Lisha Kookman."

"Never heard of her," Milk hurriedly said. "She don't know nothing 'bout that truck."

"I'm sorry, Detective Lundy, I was mistaken. That's not my truck," I lied. My garter belt was still hanging in the rearview mirror.

"Come on and let's go." Milk yanked me by my arm.

"Mrs. Woodhouse?" Milk and I both stopped and turned around at the same time. "We have to stop meeting like this," Detective Lundy said, and walked off in the opposite direction with the police officer.

I was now eyeballing Milk unsympathetically because I wanted to know who the fuck Lisha Kookman was. He must've sensed what I was about to ask, because he put one hand up and said, "Not now, Sabrina. Get in the car."

I followed him to my car, got in, and put my seatbelt on. I looked around in my purse for my cell phone so I could call Yvette to tell her I was leaving with Milk, when I felt something vibrate underneath my feet. "Hello?" I answered Milk's phone when I saw that it was Asia calling.

"Sabrina?"

"Why you didn't call me on my phone, Asia?"

"I did. You left your phone in Yvette's car," she explained. "She said she would bring it to you later. How is Milk doing? I heard about Kirk."

"Not good. I'll call you when I get home, okay?"

"Okay boo. Tell Milk I'm sorry for his loss and to give Trise my sympathy," she sincerely said, referring to Kirk's wife.

"I will. I'll talk to you later." I pressed end and passed Milk his cell phone.

We rode in silence the rest of the way home and I started two or three times to ask him who was Lisha Kookman, but I had to keep telling myself that now was not the time. When we finally pulled into our driveway, Milk put the car in park but he didn't turn off the ignition.

"Maine and Lee in the house and they gon' stay here with you until I get back. Go up to our bedroom," he calmly stated.

"Where the hell are you going, Milk?" I raised my voice. "And who the fuck is Lisha Kookman, and why is your got damn truck in her name?"

"Sabrina, get out the car," he replied, ignoring my series of questions. He then reached across me and opened the passenger side door.

"No, not until you answer me." I pulled the door shut. "Who the fuck is Lisha, Milk?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"Look, I ain't got time for this shit right now, Sabrina. Just get out the car and go in the house. I'll be back."

"So, you getting ready to go out here on a killing spree and leave me here with your goon squad and. . ."

I jumped in the seat when Milk shouted, "Why the fuck can't you ever just do what the fuck I ask you to do sometimes? You always got something to mothafucking say. Shut the fuck up and get yo' ass out the car right now, Sabrina!"

I hastily got out of the car and slammed the door shut. That was my way of saying, 'kiss my ass!' I still wanted to know who this bitch Lisha was, but I knew if I said anything else I would be the first one Milk murdered today. Lord, if looks could kill!

It Will Do!

"Man, I thought I had the nigga but it won't him driving his ride."

"Well, you damn sure lit somebody's ass up 'cause I saw the shit on the news," I told Gremlin

"I think that was his nigga Kirk." Gremlin gulped down his drink. I poured us both another shot of Hennessy and he wasted no time taking that one to the head, too.

"It ain't who I wanted but it'll do for now." I smiled.

"I can still get at him though 'cause I found out where that nigga live at. I can get at him later on tonight if you want me to."

"Nawl, man, don't go to his house," I told him thinking of Sabrina. "What's up with that other thing?"

"Them niggas on their way to us as we speak." Gremlin raised up his glass.

"A'ight." I nodded my head forward. "When the shit get ready to go down hit me, I'll meet up with y'all."

"I told you I don't like fucking with no computers, man. I don't know 'bout all that shit," he griped.

"Gremlin, you can send that shit straight from your phone, man. Stop whining." I laughed. "Let's get this money and then you can go back to jumping up and down in Lisha's ass."

"I ain't fucking with her tonight. She sucked just about all of the skin off my dick and my shit sore. I never thought I would ever be tired of getting some head. I might take her back to Miami with me though," he said.

"Don't do it, man. You can't trust that bitch," I told him. "You see how easy it was to get her to roll on Milk. That bitch will do you the same way."

"Nawl, I doubt that. Lisha knows not to fuck with me like that. Right about now she will do any and everything I tell her to do." Gremlin stood up.

"I bet Milk thought the same thing, too. Don't sleep on that bitch, man, I'm telling you. Women are treacherous." I walked Gremlin to the front door.

"You sure you don't want me to camp out here tonight with you until we meet up with Chino?" Gremlin asked. "You never can be too safe."

"Nawl, man, I'm good. I got some company coming over tonight."

"Shit, it's 'bout time nigga." We slapped hands. "Yo' ass been here for almost a year and you ain't knocked off shit." I opened the front door and Gremlin stepped out into the hallway.

"Hold up, man, that's my phone." I grabbed my cell off the table. "What's up?" I answered.

"I'm gone, man," Gremlin said. I snapped my fingers to get his attention before he walked out of the hallway.

"Don't go nowhere yet, man." Gremlin walked back inside of my condo and closed the door. "How the fuck this mothafucka . . ." I thought to myself as I listened to the caller on the other end. Now this nigga was deep in my pockets. Fuck!

That Should Be Me!

I called Sabrina and asked if I could ride with her and Milk to Kirk's funeral. I was pissed when I got in the car and saw that Milk wasn't in there. Sabrina said he rode to the church with some of the guys from the barber shop since most of them were pallbearers. Milk still will not answer the phone for me when I called him. I just wanted to let him know that I was here for him if he needed me for anything. Milk was standing outside by himself when we pulled up to Morning Glory Baptist Church, and I managed to steal me a hug though. I also whispered in his ear that I wanted to fuck him in the graveyard behind the church. Milk pinched the hell out of my waist and told me to go kill myself. Sabrina didn't catch any of that, of course. She never does. Besides, that should be me standing by Milk's side; not Sabrina.

Gone!

Kirk saved my life again, but lost his instead. Those bullets were meant for me and everybody knew it. Kirk's wife Trise asked me what he was driving my truck for in the first place, and I lied and told her my truck had been in the shop and Kirk picked it up for me. I could tell by her facial expression that she didn't believe that shit; but I had to lie to her. I couldn't tell his wife that Kirk used my truck whenever he would go to his baby momma's house out in Portsmouth. Trise would've shot Kirk's dead body up. I knew she wished that it had been me in the truck and not Kirk. Sabrina said to give her some time, but I saw it in her eyes that she hated me.

Trise and I have never really gotten along. Let her tell it I was a bad influence on Kirk, but little did she know we influenced each other. I've known Kirk since we were in elementary school. After my parents were killed me and my little brother went to live with my grandma out Youngs Park where Kirk stayed. My grandma died one month to the day my momma and daddy passed away and Ms. Sue, Kirk's momma, had temporary custody of us which later turned into full custody. But, right after my eighteenth birthday, Ms. Sue had a stroke and passed away and it felt as if I'd lost another mother all over again.

After Ms. Sue died we were all each other had. Rell was only twelve, so me and Kirk had to raise him on our own. We stayed as long as we could out in Youngs Park until CPS started coming around asking questions. I wasn't going to just let them take Rell and put him in a foster home, but I knew if I couldn't prove to those crackers that I could take care of my brother they would take him away from me. I was making a couple of dollars in the street hustling weed, so I was able to pay for hotel rooms a week at a time. I knew the first place CPS would look for Rell was at school, so I didn't make him go back, but Kirk didn't like that shit at all. He started hustling with me so we could get the hell out of Norfolk and get Rell back in school.

The one thing I will say about my man, Kirk, is that he was a smart ass mothafucka, and he also graduated from high school with honors. Kirk used to say that graduating was the one thing his momma ever asked him to do. Ms. Sue used to tell me the same thing, too. I tried my best to graduate on time, but after I snatched Rell out of school I couldn't go back either. Kirk had a cousin working in the Juvenile and Domestic office at the courthouse and she forged some papers giving him sole custody of Rell and then he officially withdrew him from school and we all moved to Virginia Beach. Once Rell was back in school, Kirk woke my ass up every morning, no matter how late we stayed out the night before, and made sure I went to school every day. I graduated class of 1992 from Bayside High School. Damn; my nigga gone.

We already had shit set up for us to rob Byrd for his re-up that night so that would have gone down regardless of what happened to Kirk. After I dropped Sabrina off at the house I called Tee and told him to not only to take all the dope off the truck, but grab the driver and meet me at my spot out in Deep Creek. The driver seemed to have a sudden case of amnesia, and refused to tell me what I wanted to know, so I shot him twice in the head and told Tee to throw his lifeless body off of the Campostella Bridge. I know how to make a nigga come out of hiding.

This Mothafucka!

"I'm in class now, 'Vette, I'll call you back when I get out," I whispered into my phone.

"Sabrina, don't hang up girl. I got something to tell you," she replied.

"Hold on." I gathered up my books and left out of the classroom. "This better be important. I got midterms coming up, Yvette."

"Oh, it is," she answered. "Are you in your car yet?"

"Damn, I have to leave school all together, Yvette?"

"Trust me, you are going to want to leave school for this shit. You might want to sit down for this one, Sabrina," she suggested.

"Girl, just tell me what's going on and fuck all of the theatrics." She was starting to annoy me at this point.

"I told you when you showed me those pictures of Milk with that girl that she looked familiar to me. Well, I saw her ass this afternoon up at Cut N' Curl getting her hair done," she informed me.

"Who is she?" I asked even though I knew who she was already.

"Some bitch name Lisa or Lina. Some shit like that," she rattled off.

"Her name is Lisha Kookman," I corrected her.

"What, you know her, Sabrina?" she asked sounding surprised.

"No."

"Well, we about to find out who this bitch is. I can do a skip trace on her now that I'm back at work. I'll be right back and don't hang up," she said, before placing me on hold.

I decided to go ahead and leave school for the day. My focus was no longer there anyway. As I approached my car I saw that there was a single red rose underneath one of the windshield wipers. I was just about to break the rose in half, assuming it was from Milk, until I read the note that was attached to it.

"A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you.

Call me 555-4457.Rico."

"I'm back, Sabrina," Yvette said. "Are you still there, Sabrina?"

"Yeah, I'm here." I sniffed the rose.

"Okay. Well, at least the bitch is legal. She's twenty-seven, no wait a minute she just had a birthday. She just turned twenty-eight back in . . . oh, shit! Sabrina, her birthday is on the same day as yours."

"What?" I placed the rose and the note on the passenger seat. "Is there an address listed for her?" I started up my car.

"Yeah, and I am going with you, too," Yvette proclaimed.

"Gee, how did I know that?" I said being sarcastic.

"Swing by here and pick me up. I suddenly feel sick." She faked a cough. "What are you going to do if she's home, Sabrina?"

"Whatever feels right," I told her. "I'm on my way."

Once I picked Yvette up from her job, I put Lisha's address into my GPS and it directed me toward the Sandbridge area in Virginia Beach.

"What's the house number, 'Vette?" I asked her.

"2613 Madison Drive. Slow down, Sabrina, we're coming up on it now." I slowed down and did what most people do when they're either lost or looking for an address; turned down the radio. "2607 . . . 2609 . . . 2611 . . . there it is 2613." She pointed. "But this can't be it, Sabrina, don't nobody live here. It's for sale."

"This mothafucka!" I shouted, as I reached across Yvette to the glove compartment. I knew the address seemed familiar to me.

"What?" Yvette asked with a tangled look on her face.

"Remember that day you picked me up to go register for school?" I asked her.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I told you when I got in the car that Milk called me . . . never mind. I don't even feel like doing all of that explaining. But, anyway, I signed some papers with this address on it. That bastard told me he was selling the house because Kirk had bought Trise a house in Suffolk," I explained to Yvette.

"Get the fuck out of here, Sabrina. Do you think he bought this house for Lisha?"

"Ain't no think, I know he did. He bought that bitch a truck, too! All this shit is starting to make sense now. After Kirk's funeral, I asked Trise how she liked her new house and she looked at me like I was crazy. Milk must've heard me, too, because all of a sudden his ass was ready to leave."

Yvette put her hand on my shoulder as I looked down at my wedding ring. I wasn't feeling anything. I wasn't upset. I didn't feel like crying; nothing. I put my car in drive and pulled off.

"Sabrina?" she called my name.

"What?" I answered, looking straight ahead.

"What are you going to do?"

"Do about what, Yvette?"

"This shit!" She held up the pictures. "That house . . . Milk! What are you going to do?" she repeated the initial question.

"Nothing," I answered, shrugging my shoulders.

"What do you mean nothing? Are you just gon' let Milk get away with this shit?"

"He already did, Yvette." I shook my head. "He already did."

Compliments of Milton Woodhouse!

"Hey, you." She smiled and gave me a hug smelling just as good as she looked. Sabrina was wearing a white dress, which flared out at the bottom, and it hugged her body in all the right places.

"Damn, you look good girl." I spun her around.

"Thank you."

"You make me want to go home and change my damn clothes."

"Rico, stop it. You look fine," she complimented me. "You already ordered you a drink?" She sat down in the booth across from me.

"I did, but I'm due for another one. What are you drinking?" I asked, looking around for the white girl who had brought me my first drink.

"I don't know, what are you drinking?" she asked.

"Henrock." I held up my glass.

"No, I don't like Hennessey." She frowned.

"Well, order what you want. Here comes the server now."

"Hi, how are you? I am Becky and I will be your server tonight," she greeted to Sabrina with a smile. "Would you like a dinner menu?"

"No, I'm not hungry. I'll just have a Patron on the rocks." I winked at Becky. "What was that for, Rico?" Sabrina laughed.

"Don't do nothing to set yourself back. Patron ain't no . . . what's that wine y'all women love so much, Moscato?"

"First of all, I don't even like wine and how many drinks have you had already?" she threw at me, implying that I may have been drunk.

"I may have had one or two, but you're the one who had me sitting here waiting for you for over an hour," I said teasingly. "Becky, can you please bring my late friend a Patron on the rocks and I'll take another shot, too." I lifted my empty glass and then set it back down on the table.

"Sure, no problem. I'll be right back." Becky chuckled as she walked away.

"I know I'm late, Rico. I'm late for everything so please don't take it personally. I'm sorry." She smiled and reached for my hand.

"Oh, now you want to be my friend after you done called me an alcoholic. Talking 'bout, 'how many drinks have you had Rico? You alcoholic.' Ain't that what you said?"

Sabrina tapped the back of my hand playfully. "No I didn't and I do not sound like that." She giggled.

"So, how are your classes coming along?" I asked, getting serious.

"Fine I guess. I haven't been to school in a week, though," she replied nonchalantly.

"A week?" I frowned up my face. "Why not? You ain't going to finish like that."

"I'm dealing with some stuff right now at home. I need to just go ahead and take this semester off. I don't know. I haven't decided what to do about school yet," she said. "What made you move up here to Virginia?"

"My cousin."

"Oh, so you have family here?"

Just then the server returned with our drinks. I waited until she sat our drinks down and walked away before I responded to Sabrina's question. "I did, but my cousin got killed last year."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Was he in a car accident or something like that?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink.

"Nawl, he got shot," I disclosed even though I really didn't want to talk about it. My cousin's death was a very sensitive subject.

"Am I being too nosey?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"Nawl, you a'ight. I just don't like to talk about it, that's all. Plus, you are a female and asking nosey questions is what y'all do best." I smiled to lighten the mood.

"Is it now?" Sabrina was now smiling, too. "Well, tell me something else about women since you know so much. Enlighten me."

"Okay, this one is going to surprise you though. You ready?"

"Come on with the bullshit, Rico. I can't wait to hear this." She placed her glass down on the table and sat straight up in the booth. I swallowed the last of my Hennessy and raised my glass up signaling to Becky to bring me another one drink.

"Women are the backbone of a man. Everything we men do revolve around a woman one way or another. Women are our strength, as well as our weakness. People think its money that makes the world go around when in all actuality its women who make this shit spin for real."

"Which mens magazine was that player line in or is that a Rico original?"

"That's mine and it's the truth. Think about it. Why do you think men pursue money like we do?" I quizzed her.

"Let me guess." Sabrina paused. "Because of women?"

I picked up the fork and tapped the side of my glass with it and chimed, "Ding . . . ding . . . ding . . . Exactly!"

"Whatever." Sabrina bent her wrist, dismissing my theory.

"It's the truth," I told her.

"If you say so, who am I to disagree?" Sabrina downed the rest of her cocktail. "Find Becky and tell her to bring me another one."

"You sure you ready for another one? Patron ain't nothing to play with, girl, I'm telling you. That shit will sneak up on you."

"I'm a big girl, Rico, I know my limit." I put both of my hands up expressing I didn't mean any harm by what I had just said.

"Okay, Ms. Sabrina, I don't want no trouble." I laughed. "Do you, ma. You got it."

"Thank you." She nodded her head forward. "Now back to you. So, what does your woman think about Rico's originals?"

"If that's your way of asking me if I'm single then answer is yes. I am single." I took her left hand into mine. "And it looks like you're single, too. Well, tonight anyway." Sabrina drew her hand back "What happened you couldn't wait to get to me, so you rushed out of the house and forgot to put your wedding ring back on?" I asked her.

"My we full of ourselves all of a sudden aren't we?" she said in a sarcastic tone.

"I'll tell you one thing, if you were my wife you wouldn't make it to the front door, let alone out of the house, without the ring I put on your finger. You can bet that," I said adamantly.

"Wow, all this coming from a single man." She laughed. "Why are you single anyway, Rico?"

"I guess I haven't found the right woman yet." I leaned in closer to Sabrina over the table.

"Well, what is it you're looking for in a woman or are you that picky?" I sat back in the booth, rubbed my hand across my jaw, and thought about what Sabrina had just asked me. I couldn't help but stare at her while I was thinking, and I wanted to tell her that she was the kind of woman I was looking for.

"Personality and confidence within herself is important to me, because I can't deal with a weak minded woman," I added.

"You left out something important didn't you?" Sabrina smiled.

"And what's that?"

"Looks."

"I knew you were going to say that. Yeah, looks are important, but they are not the most important. She could be the most beautifulest thing in this world, as Keith Murray would say, but if she ain't got shit up here," I pointed to my head, "then that's all she got is her looks and that shit ain't going to take you but so far in life."

"So, you're not seeing anyone right now?" she asked.

"I was dealing with somebody for a minute, but she was married," I confessed.

"Did you know she was married when you started seeing her?"

"No," I answered as I watched Sabrina guzzle down her second drink. I really didn't want her to order another one because she had to drive home. Shit, neither one of us needed anything else to drink tonight for real.

"Where is the waitress?" Sabrina scanned the restaurant in search of our server. "Becky is fucking up her tip!"

* * *

We sat in that booth for what seemed like hours talking about some of everything. I told Sabrina she was going to have to eat something if she was going to continue drinking. Between the two of us, we both put down some drinks tonight. I was waiting for her to say that she had to go when I noticed her looking at her phone a couple of times, but then she turned it off and tossed it inside of her purse. I figured it was her punk ass husband calling.

"You ready for another shot, Rico?"

"Nawl, I think we better hold off until the next time. I want you to be able to make it home safely." Now it was my cell phone ringing. I thought I had turned it off, but it was on vibrate. I looked down to see who it was calling me and pressed ignore to send her to voicemail. She was the last person I wanted to talk to right now.

"Can't hang, huh?" Sabrina said humorously.

"I'm looking out for you. I don't know how far you have to go to get home, but you still have to drive there," I reminded her.

"Well, aren't you the gentleman, but who said I had to go home tonight?" She rubbed the side of my face.

"I'm sure your husband will be looking for you to do just that," I said trying to feel her out.

"Fuck that nigga! I'm grown. I will go home when I feel like it," she stated with a neck roll.

Something told me that there may have been some trouble in paradise with the newlyweds. I tell you. When the fuck will niggas learn? You are never supposed to let your woman out of sight when she's pissed off with you. They might as well put a sign around her neck saying 'come get this pussy.' My instincts told me that she had something in mind other than just drinks tonight, too.

Sabrina was now slurring her words and I knew I couldn't let her get another drink. I couldn't help but laugh at her, though; she looked cute drunk. Now that people were leaving the restaurant the music seemed much louder.

"Ooh. . . I love this song." Sabrina seized my hand. "Dance with me, Rico."

"Dance with you where?" I laughed as I slid out of the booth seat. "There ain't no dance floor in here."

"We don't need no dance floor, we can dance right here beside our table," she said.

Sabrina put her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. Tony Terry's song, When I'm With You was playing and it just so happened to be one of my old school favorites, too. I know the remaining patrons in the restaurant thought we were some crazy colored folks, but I didn't give a fuck. Having her in my arms at this very moment felt good to me, and I wanted her to look up at me so bad so I could kiss her.

"You smell good, Rico," she said, with her face now buried in my neck.

"Thank you, lady," I replied, tightening my grip around her lower back.

Sabrina finally raised her head and softly kissed me on the lips. "I like you, Rico."

"You do, huh?" She kissed me again and nodded her head yes. "What made you want to meet me for drinks tonight, Sabrina? Are you and your man going through something?"

"Honestly? Yeah, but he doesn't know that we are. It's a long story, one that I don't care to talk about. I'm enjoying your company and that's all that matters to me right now." She pulled me closer to her and kissed me again and this time our tongues were introduced to one another. "I feel safe with you, Rico. Just like I did the night all that crazy shit happened."

"That's good to know, ma." I backed away from her when I felt my dick getting hard. "You ready to go?"

"That's up to you." She kissed my neck. "As a matter of fact, I am. Find Becky so I can pay the bill," she slurred loudly.

"So you can do what?" I looked at her to see if she was serious.

"Look, Rico, I know our tab has to be high and I was the one who invited you out to have a drink."

"So, what? You ain't paying no bill. What even made you think I would let you? Sabrina, don't test my manhood like that. I can afford to pay for our drinks." She let go of our embrace.

"To be perfectly honest with you, Rico, I asked you for drinks tonight out of spite-"

"You don't have to explain nothing to me Sabrina," I said interrupting her.

"Hear me out, okay?" she asked sternly.

"A'ight, go 'head," I said, curious as to what she was about to say.

"I felt it the night I met you and I feel it now. There is something about you that makes me want to be in your presence. I respect the fact that you work for what you have, no matter where it is. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, too, as big as it is." She joked.

"I can show you a big head if that's what you want to see," I lowered my tone and pressed my dick up against her.

"How about you get the bill the next time?" she whispered to me. I leaned down and kissed Sabrina on her forehead.

"Oh, so there will be a next time?"

"Are we all set here?" Becky asked, as she collected our empty glasses off the table.

"Yes, Becky, as a matter of fact we are," Sabrina said while pointing. "I want you to put all of those people over there at the bar drinks on my credit card along with ours as well." She then threw her arms up in the air with excitement. "Hell, go ahead and put everybody's bill on my credit card and tell them it was compliments of Milton Woodhouse. It's his way of giving back to the community."

Yeah, she's madder than a mothafucka with that nigga, so I know I'm good for some pussy tonight!

If I Were Your Wife!

I was asleep last night when my cell phone woke me up. I got excited when I saw that it was Milk calling me, but then my excitement turned to utter disgust after he asked me if I knew where Sabrina was. I started to cuss him out for free, but I was curious to know myself where Sabrina was that time of morning. One thing I did know was that she wasn't with another nigga, mainly because none of the dudes from around here would even approach her; they knew better. Besides, Sabrina ain't bold enough to fuck another nigga in the first place. I always thought her and Yvette was bumping coaches anyway, as much time the two bitches spent together. That's probably where her ass was last night.

I tried to persuade Milk to come over to my house since I knew he was home alone. I told him that if I were his wife I wouldn't be out running the streets all time of the night, instead, I would be home in the bed with him where I belonged sucking his big, black dick. And even though Milk said he would cut his dick off first before he ever allowed me to put my lips on it again, I'm sure he didn't mean it.

I called Sabrina this morning to see if I could get her to tell me where she was last night; but she didn't. However, I did let her know that Milk called looking for her last night and she told me if he ever called me again not to answer my phone for him. Something was definitely up and I was going to make it my business to find out what it is.

Ain't No Fun When the Rabbit Got the Gun!

"Well, damn! It's about time you answered your phone. I have been calling you all morning, Sabrina. Where the fuck were you at last night? Your crazy ass husband called me at four o'clock this morning," Yvette said all in one breathe.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I laughed.

"Sabrina, don't play with me. Where were you?" She smacked her lips. "I was worried about you my damn self."

"Girrrllll . . . I got some shit to tell you. Hold on, let me make sure Milk is gone." I got up out of the bed and peeked out the window. "Okay, he's gone." I got back into my bed. "Okay, I did something."

"What? Whatchu' you do heifer?"

"I fucked somebody last night." I giggled.

"Bitch, stop lying!" Yvette dismissed me.

"On everything I love." I raised my right hand up as if Yvette could see me.

"You're serious, ain't you?" She got quiet for a second. "Who was it?"

"Rico." I smiled, waiting for Yvette's response.

"Rico who?" she continued on with her interrogation.

"Rico," I repeated.

"TCC Rico?" she asked surprisingly.

"Yep."

"Sabrina, you are lying." She laughed. "Bitch, please tell me this is a joke. I'm being punked, right? Come on out the closet Ashton," she moved the phone away from her mouth and said.

"Whatever. I did it and I'm going to do it again," I revealed proudly.

"Bitch, you know you got my mouth wide open right now, don't you?" she said sounding serious.

"You're the one who's always telling me I need to do me and stop worrying about what Milk is doing," I stated to jog her memory. "I wanted to do it so I did."

"Well, how did all this come about? I didn't even know you liked Rico, Sabrina," she said with a slight attitude.

"I invited him out for drinks last night, and FYI; don't fuck with Patron." I laughed while shaking my head. "Bitch, Patron will make you do wrong!"

"I hear you, Stella! Bitch done went and got her mothafucking groove back. I ain't mad at you." She laughed. "What time did you get home?"

"Around six this morning," I told her.

"Oh, bitch, you are tripping now. What did Milk say?"

"He asked me where the fuck I had been that's all."

"And what did you tell him, Sabrina?" she asked.

"He tried to go detective on me, but I was one step ahead of him. I told him I was at my sister's house for a bridal shower. I figured you and my momma would be the first ones he called, but he wouldn't dare call Stephanie looking for me."

"And he believed you?" she sounded surprised.

"He didn't have any choice but to believe me. I did one of his numbers and took me a shower and climbed right into the bed like I hadn't done shit. Then he had the nerve to try to get some pussy when he realized I was in the bed. I faked snored so loud he moved his ass over to the other side of the bed." I started laughing just thinking about it. "I was asleep when you called me this morning, though."

"My . . . my . . . my . . . how the tables have turned. I still can't believe you fucked that boy, Sabrina." I sat up in the bed.

"Well, believe it 'cause I'm damn sure gon' do it again."

"Look, now. You got your little fuck on now just leave it at that," she advised.

"I know damn well you ain't talking Mrs., 'I'm going to leave my husband for another nigga,'" I threw back at her.

"I got caught up that's all as will you if you don't end it now," was her rebuttal.

"Damn, Yvette, I thought you would be happy for me." I was back up out of the bed checking to see if Milk had returned. "Besides, I'm just having a little fun. Rico knows that I'm married."

"Okay, now . . . let's just not forget who takes care of home," she replied with authority.

"I never said that I was leaving Milk, I said I was having a little fun that's all."

"I know, you're not that crazy." She laughed. "Not the way you can spend money and Rico can't do a damn thing for you besides give you all the free Slurpees you can drink. Oh, damn, he can't even do that because he doesn't work there anymore." She clowned and even I had to laugh.

"You're a stupid bitch girl, you know that?"

"Seriously, speaking though," she cleared her throat, "what is it about Rico that makes you positive you're going fuck him again?"

"The dick is what makes me positive!" I exclaimed, thinking about the good loving Rico put on me last night. "To say that he fucked me good would be an understatement." I smiled. "He was gentle when I wanted him to be and a beast when he had to be. Umph!"

"So, what, you have never had any good dick before?" she asked shrewdly.

"You know Milk is the only man I have ever been with. It felt good fucking somebody else. Plus, I like the way he makes me feel."

"Makes you feel?" Yvette's voice elevated. "You don't know that nigga like that, Sabrina!"

"Well, I am going to get to know him," I quickly told my best friend. "And would you calm your ass down. Had I known you were going to react like this I would have never told you about it."

"Don't lead that boy on, Sabrina." She lowered her voice. "You got your revenge now just leave it alone."

"The last time I checked my momma's name was Janis," I said sternly to put Yvette in her place.

"Bitch, do not go there." She laughed. "You may have stepped out this one time, but I ain't got you doing it again."

"Tsk," I sucked my teeth, "shitting me! I'm going to hop on Rico's dick the first chance I get."

"You know what, bitch, I have entertained you long enough. You ain't bold enough to do it again."

"Well, I won't call you and tell you about it when I do," I told her and I meant it.

"Sabrina, you had better be careful. I didn't know what to say to Milk last night when he called. It was a good thing I told him you might've been at your sister's house."

"As my Aunt Neicy says, 'it ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun.' I'll call you back later, 'Vette, I'm going back to sleep."

Caught Up!

"Hey, Rico, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, and you?" I answered her with a question of my own.

"I'm doing alright. I called you the last night. Actually, I called you a couple of times last night. Did you get my messages?" she asked crudely.

"Yeah, I got them, but I was busy at the time you called," I replied.

"Busy doing what?"

"Look, you probably already know where I was and who I was with, so we can skip all the small talk. What's up?" I asked, growing tired of her questioning me as if she was my girlfriend or something.

"Don't think I'm going to let you keep fucking my best friend. I'm going to tell Sabrina about us, Rico!" Yvette snapped.

"First of all, what I do with Sabrina ain't none of your fucking business. Me and you were just a fuck, nothing more, nothing less," I reminded her. "Plus, you married so you really don't have a voice."

"So, you and Sabrina won't just a fuck?" she said sarcastically.

"That's some more of your business. Anyway, I got to go. Is that all you wanted?"

"I see you didn't tell Sabrina about us."

"I see you didn't either, Yvette, and I would appreciate it if you kept that shit to yourself," I told her.

"How can I not tell her, Rico? That is my best friend," she scowled, voice elevating a notch.

"Why you didn't tell her when she introduced us that you knew me, Yvette?"

"Because our shit was on the low that's why. What I look like going around telling people I am fucking a cashier who worked at Quikshop?"

"I'll tell you what then, you go ahead and tell Sabrina about us and I'll tell your husband," I threatened. "Let's all get together and go out to dinner and share our news with both of them at the same time. Just let me know when."

"That shit ain't funny, Rico," she replied.

"You already kept it from her, Yvette. I knew when she called me to go out for drinks that you didn't tell her about us or she never would have called me in the first place. Sabrina ain't like that."

"Don't talk about her like you know her, Rico. You don't know shit about, Sabrina, so stop it."

"I know a lot more than what you think I do, shawty. Bet that."

"So, what is it you think is going to come out of this? You think Sabrina is going to leave her husband for you, Rico? Are you serious?" She giggled arrogantly.

"You don't know what the future may bring." I joined in on the laughter.

"Yeah, and you can dream, too. You don't have enough money for Sabrina. I've been to your place before and it's cute, but nothing like the mansion she lives in. I can't see Sabrina trading in her Mercedes for a matching Camry to go with yours. You could work three damn jobs and you still couldn't afford her. She would never leave her husband for you," she rattled off.

"Let me tell you something, Yvette, since you know so damn much. You don't know what the fuck I got, so stop speaking on me. Next, your time would be better spent working on your home life and not worrying about what the fuck is going on between two consenting adults. So, with that being said I'll speak to you another time." I was about to hang up my phone, but I had to fuck with Yvette just one more time. "By the way, I didn't have a chance to tell you that day I saw you at TCC, but you really need to pick your face up. You starting to look bad girl."

"Fuck you, Rico!" She hung up the phone.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Something ain't Right!

I walked inside of the house and closed the front door behind me. "Sabrina?" I called out.

"What?" she yelled.

"Where you at, bae?" I asked her.

"I'm in the kitchen, Milk. What do you want?"

"Come into the living room for a minute, I got something I want to show you."

She gone love this.

"What is it, Milk? I'm doing my homework," she muttered as she walked into the living room.

"Close your eyes, Sabrina," I told her.

"Close my eyes for what?"

"Girl, just play along, damn." I went into the hallway and walked back into the living room carrying two suitcases. "Okay, you can open your eyes now."

"Luggage?" she wrinkled up her face and said unenthused. "That's my surprise some more luggage?"

"Open the suitcase, bae," I told her, ignoring her sour mood. Sabrina unzipped one of the suitcases and removed the two envelopes that were inside.

"What are these, Milk?"

"They're plane tickets," I happily stated.

"Plane tickets to go where, and why are there three?" She held them up in the air and her facial expression were starting to piss me off.

"I got one for you, yo' momma, and Stephanie. I'm sending y'all on a cruise to Cancun."

"Milk, I don't want to go on no cruise." She opened up the other envelope that was inside of the suitcase. "But I will keep this though," she said, referring to the neatly wrapped money.

"That was spending money for yo' cruise." I snatched the envelope out of her hand. "I was trying to do something nice for you and yo' family, but I see you don't appreciate shit."

"Milk, you can't stand my sister so why all of a sudden you got a case of the niceness? And, why aren't you going?"

"I thought you might like to spend some time with yo' people," I lied. I really wanted her to leave town for a while until this shit with Byrd blew over.

"Well, you thought wrong. I got midterms coming up next week." Sabrina sat the tickets down on top of the suitcase and carted off toward the kitchen, leaving me standing in the middle of the living room floor angrily biting down on my bottom lip. Now I was hot!

"Aye, yo . . . what the fuck been yo' got damn problem lately, Sabrina?" I followed her into the kitchen. "You walk 'round this mothafucka singing to yo' self and won't open yo' damn mouth to me unless I ask you something. A nigga can't get no meals, no pussy, no talk, nothing! I thought yo' period was the reason for yo' attitude, but this shit has gone on for a month now. What the fuck is up with you, 'cause something ain't right?"

"I don't know what you are talking about baby boy," she calmly stated with her head buried inside of the book she was reading.

"And that! That shit right there," I yelled. "When the fuck did you start calling me some fucking baby boy? Every time I turn around, its 'baby boy this and baby boy that.' Do I look like a fucking baby boy to you?"

"Damn, Milk, you call me bae, so why can't I call you baby boy?" Sabrina replied without lifting her head to look at me.

"Hell no you can't call me that bullshit, 'cause every time you do, you get that sneaky ass smirk on your face like you do now." She had me fuming.

"Okay, Milk, if it bothers you that much I won't call you baby boy anymore." She continued to smirk.

"Well, you could at least say thank you," I barked at her next.

"Thank you for what?"

"'Thank you for what?'" I mimicked her. "Thank you for these mothafucking cruise tickets I bought for you whether you go or not."

"Oh, yeah, thanks," she said as if she was annoyed.

"'Oh yeah, thanks,'" I mocked her again. "That's all you got to say?"

"What else you want me to say, baby b-. . . I mean, Milk?" she stopped herself from calling me baby boy again while laughing. I nodded my head furiously indicating my frustration with her clowning.

"I tell you what, you need to hurry up and get off that bullshit you on and I mean quick." I marched out of the kitchen to leave the house.

"But, I did need some new luggage though, so thank you for the luggage, babe." I turned right back around and made a b-line for the kitchen.

"Man, carry yo' fake ass somewhere. That shit didn't even sound sincere!"

"Now why would you say that, baby?" she asked with her head slightly tilted to the side.

"Sabrina, you are really starting to piss me the fuck off with yo' bullshit," I snapped at her and walked out of the kitchen again before I completely lost my temper.

"Well, then maybe you should go take you a drive somewhere. You know, relax your mind a little," she said, following me to the front door. I stopped and turned around and saw that Sabrina's sneaky smirk had returned.

"I need to do what?" I asked, confused by what she meant.

"Go take a drive somewhere to calm your nerves. I hear the view out Sandbridge is very nice this time of year. You're familiar with the area aren't you? As a matter of fact, you should take a stroll down Madison Avenue to be exact. Or is it Madison Drive?"

Sabrina's smile was now turned upside down as her eyes rolled. Damn. She must've found out about Lisha's house.

Kiss my ass!

No Matter What Happens!

Yvette and I met in the parking garage of the building she worked at. I was in my car getting ready to pull out of the space I was parked when she walked right in front of my car, causing me to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting her. I did the honorable thing and got out of my car and apologized; we exchanged numbers and the rest is history. Within a week I had Yvette cumming in my sheets. We kicked it for about a month, but I had to cut her ass loose when she started talking about leaving her husband and shit. She cool people and all that, but I weren't feeling her like that. Sabrina, on the other hand was different.

Honestly, my intentions were just to fuck the shit out of her just to have one more thing to throw in Milk's face before I put him in the ground, but the more time I spent with her the more I wanted to make her mine. I don't know what it is about her, but she definitely has my nose open. I tried not to let it show too much, but I can't help myself. Last night I cooked dinner for Sabrina, and we watched Love Jones. After that for the rest of the night we just talked. I wanted to show her that it wasn't just about the sex; for me it wasn't anyway.

We fell asleep on the sofa and I woke her up around three to go home. I hated the thought of her going home and getting into bed with that nigga, but if she stayed out all night there was no telling what he might do. How ironic is it that my beef with her husband is what led her to me. But, no matter what happens between us; Milk is going to die. I just have to make sure Sabrina doesn't get caught up in the crossfire like she did before. I don't know how much of his business he shared with her, so I have to make sure nothing can be tied back to me.

We were in the shower together the other night and Sabrina asked me who Byrd was. It threw me for a minute until I remembered the tattoo on my back. She then asked if she could call me by my nickname, but I played it off with a joke and told her she could only call me Byrd when I was breaking her back out. I didn't want Sabrina calling me by my street name, especially now that I knew she talked about us to Yvette. The less I am known to people as Byrd the better.

Daddy's Home!

I could hear the music from Milk's truck coming down the street as I touched up my lip-gloss in the mirror. I then squirted a few drops of Jadoir perfume behind each ear and in-between my legs, and then ran my fingers through my hair so the spikes would stand straight up. I was looking and smelling too good. Usher's song Daddy's Home played modestly in the background and I couldn't wait to give my loving to Milk. The locks on the front door, turned and in he walked. I inhaled a deep gulp of air before walking out of my bedroom.

"Yo, Deshawn?" I waited for Milk's reaction, but he didn't say a word. I walked over to where he was standing and put my arms around his neck. "Man, get the fuck off of me, Asia." He grabbed my wrist and pushed me away. "Where's my son?"

"He's with my momma. Honestly, I really didn't think you were coming today. You have been neglecting your child for the last two months." Milk looked at me up-and-down.

"The fuck you didn't know I was coming dressed like that." I rubbed the back of his neck.

"How do you know I don't have company coming over?"

"Move, Asia!" He walked away from me again and headed toward the kitchen. "I wish like hell you did have somebody coming over this mothafucka so you can get you some business and stay the fuck out of mine." Milk opened the refrigerator door.

I rolled my eyes at his backside. "Ain't nobody in your business. Contrary to what you may believe, I do have a life."

Milk munched on the leftover pizza he found in the refrigerator before he spoke again. "Lies you tell. And before you say some stupid shit like what I'm talking 'bout, I'm talking 'bout them damn pictures you sent to Sabrina."

"What pictures?" I tried my best to appear guilt free. "I didn't send Sabrina shit. Why would I do that?" I asked with a slight grin on my face.

"Yeah, go 'head and laugh. I know it was you that did that shit, but I ain't mad at you." Milk crammed the rest of the pizza slice in his mouth.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I put a hand on my hip.

"I'm 'bout to show you what it means. It's a damn shame Deshawn ain't here. I guess I'll have to wait until he comes back to take him school shopping."

"I don't need you to take my son shopping. Just give me the money like you have been doing." Now I had both hands on my hips.

"Fuck no!" Milk said, shaking his head. "Ain't no more of that shit. From now on I'm not putting shit in yo' hands. Anything you need for Deshawn call me and I'll get it my got damn self. The bills and shit I'll pay them, too. Since you out here playacting like yo' ass the paparazzi make you some money to maintain yo' personal needs." Milk twisted the cap of a Michelob he got out of the refrigerator and gulped it down.

"Oh, so you really not going to give me any more money, Milk?" He tossed the empty bottle into the trash can.

"You heard right, I didn't utter, mutter, or mothafucking stutter. Bitch, I'm cutting you the fuck off!"

"Okay, if that's how you want to play." I walked over to the other side of the kitchen and I bent over pretending to look for something in the cabinet under the sink. I knew Milk was watching me and I made sure he got a good glimpse of my ass with my thong buried in-between my butt cheeks. "I have been meaning to ask you, did you ever find out where your wife was that night you called me looking for her?"

"Yeah, why?" he asked.

I was at Stephanie's house the day after Sabrina was nowhere to be found and she called and told Stephanie if Milk called to tell him that she spent the night at her house. I started to call Milk then and bust her ass out, but something told me to wait for the right time. "Oh, no reason. I was just worried about my cousin that's all." I smiled. "It's not like Sabrina to be out all times of the night. I called Stephanie after you hung up on me to see if she knew where you wife was, and she told me she hadn't seen Sabrina."

"Stop lying, Asia. I already know she was at Stephanie's house at a party."

"Is that what she told you?" I walked over to Milk and stood in front of him.

"So, whatchu' trying to say, she won't at Stephanie crib that night?"

"I'm not trying to say anything. If that's what you want to believe. After all, Sabrina wouldn't lie to you." I tell by the way his nostrils flared as he was starting to get a little upset. Now that he was slightly distracted thinking about whether or not Sabrina had told him the truth, it was time for me to do what I did best. I lowered myself down to my knees and unzipped Milk's zipper.

"Go 'head on with that shit, Asia. I know what you are trying to do and trust me the shit ain't gon' work." He tried to move around me.

"Come on and let me taste it for old time's sake," I whispered. "I know Sabrina don't suck your dick on the regular. Even she told me that." I could feel his dick getting hard.

"Nawl, man, I ain't fucking with you like that."

"We ain't got to fuck, Milk, I just want to suck it just one more time since you cut me off." Milk didn't try to move this time. "Umph . . . looks to me like somebody wants to come out and play."

I swallowed Milk's dick in one slurp. I really didn't expect him to give in so quickly and when I saw his head tilt back I knew I had him. I tried to take every inch of his dick into the confines of my mouth, and balls, too, but I couldn't get to them like I wanted. I unbuttoned his pants and pulled them all the way down around his ankles as I catered to every inch of Milk's rod. It was starting to feel good to him, too, because he now had both of his hands on the back of my head drawing me closer to him. I gently caressed his dick in the palm of my hand as I licked each ball one-by-one. I had Milk going crazy as his eyes rolled upward in ecstasy.

"You like that, baby?" I asked between licks.

"You know I do," he responded with a slight chuckle.

"I bet your wife head ain't as good as mine is it?" I asked but Milk didn't respond. "Is it?" I repeated.

"Shh . . . shh . . . stay right there and don't stop," Milk said out of breath. "Stay just like that girl." Seeing how turned on he was, made me want to deep throat him even more, and I worked his pole like the back of my mouth was endless. "That's it . . . just like that Asia . . . yeah . . . that's it . . . stay right there . . . aahh, stay right there . . . aahh . . . that shit feels good . . ." Milk then grabbed me by the back of my neck, pulled his dick out of my mouth, and jerked his cum all over my face and hair. Next, he commenced to slapping me in the face with it.

"You mothafucka," I yelled, as I tried to stand up.

"Bitch, bring yo' ass back down here." Milk grabbed me by my neck again and pulled me back down to my knees. "What's wrong, Asia?" he asked, as he smeared his cum all over my face with his dick, and then resumed slapping me with it. "Didn't . . . I . . . tell . . . yo' . . . ass . . . to . . . stop . . . fucking . . . with . . . me, huh?" I was getting ready to bite a chunk of his dick when I heard what sounded like a gun cock. "Go 'head so I can blow yo' mothafucking brains out. Bite it, bitch, I dare you!" I didn't have to look up to verify if Milk had a gun or not, because it was now pointed at my left temple. "Now this the last time I'm gon' tell yo' ass this; I don't want yo' ass, I'm never gon' leave Sabrina for you, so you might as well move the fuck on. The only reason you ain't fish food right now is because of my son. Don't make me have to kill you, Asia, 'cause you know I will." He squeezed my neck. "Don't you?" He squeezed tighter. "You know I'll kill you right, bitch?" I shook my head yes.

Milk let go of my neck and I fell backwards to the floor. I got up and went to the kitchen sink, grabbed the dishtowel, and aggressively wiped my face with it. When I turned around Milk was pulling up his pants laughing. "That shit ain't funny, Milk," I barked, as I used the microwave as a mirror to wipe his cum out of my hair. I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry.

"You said you wanted to taste it, so I let you taste it. Good, won't it?" Milk taunted me still laughing. "Now, bitch, we even." I threw a glass at him, but he quickly ducked and it shattered against the wall. "You might not want to be breaking up yo' shit. I ain't giving yo' ass no more money." He opened the front door to leave.

"Oh, I'm going to get mine, you can bank on that!"

"Yeah, well get it how you get it!" He slammed the door shut.

Catching Feelings!

"Alright, you are getting a little carried away now, don't you think?"

"What are you talking about now, Yvette?" I asked, knowing full well what she was about to say.

"Not only are you doing shit totally out of character for even you, you act like you're catching feelings for this nigga, Sabrina," she clarified.

"How am I acting out of character, Yvette? I just like spending time with him, that's all. Girl, the other night Rico oiled me up with some motion lotion and gave me a full-body massage from head to toe." I smiled reminiscing about my latest night of passion.

"See that," she pointed, "that's what I am talking about right there." Yvette rolled her eyes at me.

"What?" I asked, taking a bite of my chicken wing.

"The way your face lights up whenever you're talking about, Rico, is what. Have you forgotten that you are married, Sabrina?

"How can I forget I'm married, I look at that mothafucka every day," I said and took a swig of my Corona.

"You didn't even carry on like this with when you first got with Milk. I'm telling you, Sabrina, cut it out now. What if Milk finds out?" she asked, bombarding me with a series of questions.

"How is he going to find out, Yvette? Who gon' tell him, you?" I wiped my fingers with a napkin.

"Milk knows a lot of people and you don't know who Rico could be running his mouth too. I'm just saying." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Girl, fuck him. I can lie just like he can. Besides, Rico and I are just chilling right now. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Yes, there is something wrong with that, Sabrina. Stop wasting your time on his broke ass," she ordered.

"Wow, Yvette, you don't even know him. Talk about acting out of character. Who the fuck are you, and what have you done with my best friend, Yvette?" I studied her face for a response. "And as much as you fuck around on Chauncey."

"I'm just trying to look out for you, Sabrina. You are in way over your head." She shook her head at me.

"I got this 'Vette, and if it bothers you so much I will not talk to you about Rico anymore and I mean it this time."

"Sabrina, I have something I need to tell you," Yvette said.

I reached inside of my purse to retrieve my cell phone after hearing Milk's designated ring tone. "Hold on, let me see what Milk wants," I told her. "Hello?"

"Aye yo, where you at, Sabrina?" he shouted.

"Why?" I asked, irritated by his tone of voice.

"Because, I fucking asked you that's why!"

"I'm at AJ Gators with Yvette. Why, what's up?"

"Let me say hi to Yvette. I haven't talked to her in a long time," he said smugly.

I held a finger up to Yvette to excuse myself as I got up from the table. "What's up, Milk? You have never wanted to speak to my friend before."

"Nawl, you tell me what the fuck is up," he lowered his voice. "You a lying ass mothafucka, too, Sabrina you know that? Where the fuck was you at the night you told me you stayed at your sister house?"

I was caught off guard and I had to think quickly on my feet. "I was at Lisha's house on Madison Drive," I said, pretending to have an attitude.

"Yo, you real funny. That's some bullshit and you know it. I figured you had found out 'bout the house when you said that slick shit when I gave you those plane tickets. So, I guess you have been at Lisha's house on Madison Drive all those other nights yo' ass been out parlaying and shit all times of the night, too, huh? But, when I do that shit I'm fucking around."

"Nine times out of ten you are," I replied. "Look, me and Yvette are having dinner and then we're going to hang out for a little while if that's alright with you, Daddy."

"The fuck you is! Sabrina, you better bring yo' ass home. Let that mothafucking sun beat you home again and see what the fuck happens," he threatened.

"I will be home when I get good and fucking ready." I laughed. "Milk, you're not my daddy for real."

"Sabrina, if I have to come looking for you I'm-"

Rather than to give Milk a chance to belt out yet another warning, I disconnected our call and turned my cell phone off. I had plans with Rico later that I was not going to break. I'll deal with Milk when I get home. I walked back to the table and sat down. Yvette had finished her plate of hot wings and was drinking her Corona.

"Look, if Milk calls you tonight, don't answer your phone. Chauncey is still out of town, right?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Yvette raised one of her eyebrows.

"Because he will call Chauncey if you don't answer your phone. What was it you had to tell me before I got up anyway?"

"Sabrina, I know damn well you are not going to see Rico tonight. You're being reckless now." She threw her napkin down on the table, shaking her head left to right.

"Didn't you say that you had something to tell me?" I asked her again to change the subject.

"Never mind, it wasn't important." She waved her hand at me.

"Yvette, you know I hate it when you do that shit," I told her. Honestly, I really didn't understand why my dealings with Rico has her so upset.

"You just need to be careful, that's all. You my girl and I got your back, but Rico isn't worth all the drama you about to put yourself through. You had your fun now let it go, Sabrina," she pleaded with me.

"I ain't letting go of shit until I am ready. Do you know how long ago it was when Milk bought that house for that bitch?" I didn't wait for her response "Five years ago. So, who the fuck cares what he figures out. Let his ass see how the shit feels." I swallowed the last of my Corona.

"Sabrina, you act like you don't know what kind of nigga Milk is and what he is capable of. Girl, don't you know if Milk was to find out about Rico he would kill him?"

"I'm not going to let it get that far."

Yvette stood up and put her purse on her shoulder. "You can talk all the shit you want, Sabrina, but this is me. I know you better than anyone else does. You feel something for Rico."

"So what if I do?" I stood up, too. "Did you pay the bill?"

"Yeah, I paid the bill and bitch don't act like I didn't hear what you said."

"What?" I laughed.

"That 'so what if I do,' shit. Let it go Sabrina!"

"I am. I'm just going to fuck him one more time before I do."

Top Story!

My Aunt Gail called and told me Nicole, my cousin Breon's baby momma, just up and left Miami and took my little cousin Bre with her. Aunt Gail said she called Nicole's mother, but she wouldn't tell her anything. Honestly, my aunt couldn't care less about Nicole; she wanted her grandson back home. After my cousin died, my aunt insisted Bre stayed with her until Nicole got herself together. Breon had planned to move Nicole and their son to live Virginia with him. He even bought a house for them to live in and I stayed there from time to time. I was just about to call Gremlin, to get him to look for Nicole when he got back to Miami, but then Sabrina knocked at the door.

As she lay on my chest I couldn't help but stare at her through the mirror. She was so beautiful. I could lay up with her like this all day. Sabrina has definitely taken my attention away from the streets, and even though I loved spending time with her, I can't get caught slipping again. I still had shit to handle here in Virginia and back home.

"Who decorated your condo, Rico?" She sat up and faced me.

"I did. Why, you don't like it, Miss Interior Design?" I gave her a soft kiss on her lips.

"No, it's not that. I love the color scheme you got going on in each room. You did a good job, Mr. Jones." She smiled as I rubbed her back.

"I know a little something," I said confidently.

"I must admit I was impressed the first time I came to your condo. I was expecting a true bachelor's pad, but you have some real nice things in here and expensive, too."

"Alright, you got me so I got to tell you the truth now. I'm a Quikshop worker by night and a drug kingpin by day," I revealed to her which wasn't a lie.

"Get the fuck out of here, Rico." She lightheartedly punched me on my arm. "You ain't got it in you to sell aspirin boy, let alone some dope." She cackled. "It's not your makeup."

"Really now?" I sat up against the headboard. "So, what is my makeup, then?"

"I have enough experience to know when a man is on the grind. But, that's one of the things I like about you, Rico. You're getting yours the old-fashion way by working for it and I respect that." She kissed me on my lips.

"So, in other words you don't think I am built for the streets?"

"I'm not saying that, but why would you want to be built for the streets?"

"Oh, this is coming from someone driving a 2010 Mercedes Benz."

"And you said that to say what?" she asked with an attitude, and then moved over to the other side of my bed.

"Wait a minute now before you go getting all salty." I pulled Sabrina back closer to me. "All I'm saying is somebody is giving you all the things you want out of life. Regardless of how he is getting it you don't seem to mind."

"I may not have worked for everything I have but I've damn sure earned it. It doesn't take much to get caught up in the lifestyle of dealing with a hustler, but where there's money there are woman, and my husband has had his full share of them. The money could never compare to the hurt feelings I've suffered over the years dealing with Milk. I never told you how I ended up at Quikshop that night did I?" she asked me.

"Nawl, we never really talked about that night and what happened. I never brought it up because I didn't know how it would affect you," I sincerely stated.

"Well, my dumb ass was out looking for him that night trying to catch him with somebody my cousin told me she had seen him with."

"Come here, baby." I lifted Sabrina up closer to me so I could put my arms around her. I could see she was starting to get upset, as I held her tightly in my arms. Little did she know that I was responsible for what happened that night, too. "All of that is behind us now and you're safe with me. Nothing like that will ever happen to you again as long as I am around." I kissed her forehead.

"Aren't you going to ask me why?" She wiped away a tear.

"Why, what Sabrina?"

"Why I still married Milk?" she replied.

"It's not for me to know why. You married him because that is what you wanted to do. Who am I to judge? We all have a story," I said. "But, clearly you're not happy. I know you started fucking with me to get some get back and I rolled with it, but you can't honestly tell me you're still seeing me now out of revenge. You're feeling me just as much as I'm feeling you. Am I right?"

"Keeping it real, yes, I do feel something for you, but at the same time this is all new to me. I've never cheated on Milk the entire time we have been together. I'm not going to lie and tell you I don't love my husband because I do. I have been with him for a long time and it's not easy just to walk away from him," she affirmed.

"You have to want something better for yourself, Sabrina. Sounds like you are just settling for a nothing ass nigga just because he gives you the world."

"I know. You're right." She took a deep breath. "My best friend keeps telling me I need to end things with you and focus on my husband." I made myself a mental note to call Yvette the first chance I got.

"What does she have to do with me and you? You're a grown woman and you can do what the fuck you want to do."

"She's just trying to look out for me," Sabrina said in her defense.

"Yvette needs to mind her own fucking business," is what I wanted to say, but I didn't want to come off like that. A burnt car on the news caught my attention and it looked familiar to me, but I couldn't hear the details because the TV was on mute. "Sit up for a minute, baby. I think you're laying on the remote." I got the remote pressed the button to turn up the volume.

"In today's Top Story, the Chesapeake Police Department asks for your help with any information that could help them identify one of the victims found shot to death and then set on fire in the Chesapeake Square shopping center late last night. One of the victims has already been identified as Lisha Kookman of the 2600 block of Madison Drive in Virginia Beach, who the car was registered to. Ms. Kookman was identified through dental records. Sources within the police department have confirmed that the other victim is in fact a male. If you have any information that could help police identify the victim, you are asked to call 1-889-LOCKUUP. Brian back to you."

We Can Get It All Out!

I pulled into the driveway and turned the lights off. I checked my hair and make-up in the rearview mirror to make sure everything was in place. It wasn't my intentions to fall asleep at Rico's place, and for the last twenty minutes my cell phone rang off the hook. I never turned my phone back on after I hung up on Milk earlier today until now and he has left me at least ten messages. I was about to turn my phone off again when I saw it was Yvette calling.

"Hello?"

"Bitch, are you going home anytime soon so I can get me some rest, you tramp?" I started laughing.

"What are you still doing up this time of morning, Yvette?"

"Who the hell can sleep? Your damn husband called me every hour on the hour from twelve o'clock on, Sabrina."

"Well, I'm home now I just pulled up. You didn't answer your phone did you?" I asked.

"No, but I started to just to cuss him out," she said, followed by a yawn.

"Alright, let me get in this house. I'll call you tomorrow girl."

I was just about to hang up my phone when I heard Yvette say, "Wait, Sabrina, that ain't what I called you for. I know you have been busy getting your freak on and all, so you probably don't know that Lisha was found in a car shot and burnt the fuck up."

"Who, the bitch Milk was fucking with?"

"Um-hmm . . . her along with some dude they haven't identified yet," she added.

"Yvette, you're lying," I said with my mouth wide open in disbelief. "Rico was watching something about a car on the news tonight but I fell asleep and didn't see it. I'm going to see if it's on LNC when I get in the house. They show the same newscast over and over."

"That's what the bitch gets for being a sideline hoe."

"Yeah, but nobody deserves to die like that. I wonder if Milk had anything to do with it."

"Fuck that. You reap what you sow. Anyway, do you need me to come to your house with the po-po 'cause Milk is going to fuck you up when you get in that house. You should hear some of the voicemails he left me, Sabrina." Yvette yawned again.

"Whatever. I will think of something to tell his ass by the time I make it to the front door. Bye girl . . . what the fuck . . ." I looked through the rearview mirror and screamed. I could hear Yvette calling my name, but my cell phone slid in between the seats when it slipped out my hand.

"Get out the mothafucking car right now!" I knew that voice anywhere. It was Milk. The same bat that I hit him with the day we got into it about those pictures was the same bat, he was now using to bust out my car windows. When I turned around again, he was walking toward the driver's side, so I locked the doors and moved over to the passenger seat. "I didn't say move to the other side, I said get out the fucking car," he hollered.

"No, I'm not! What the fuck is wrong with you?" I yelled back at him through the window.

"Oh, you gon' get out this bitch one way or another." Milk raised the bat up over his head and just as he was about to crash into the windshield with it. I frantically unlocked the door, got out of the car, and ran toward the house, but he caught up with me just as I reached the top step and grabbed me from behind.

"Get the fuck off me, Milk!"

He kicked open the front door and I lost my balance and fell to the floor once he let me go. I slowly inched backwards toward the stairway as I looked up at Milk from the floor. Out of the ten plus years he and I have been together, I've never seen him this angry with me before.

"Now, I'mma ask you one time, where the fuck you been at all night?" he towered over the top of me and asked.

"Milk, I told you me and Yvette was going to hang out tonight," I screamed. He then walked over to me, leaned down, and picked me up by my shirt collar. Milk was breathing so hard, his breath was blowing my hair. I had to think of something fast.

"Sabrina, you lie to me again and I'mma go to yo' ass."

"Milk, you better get the fuck off of me! Put your got damn hands on me if you want to and see where the fuck you end up tonight." Milk let go of my collar and I was now standing on my feet. He then reached into his front pocket and pulled out his cell phone and held it out to me.

"Here you go, call 'em and while you at it go 'head and call a mothafucking ambulance, too, 'cause bitch you gon' need one tonight!" I smacked his hand out of my face and the phone fell to the floor. I looked around to see what was in my reach to hit him with.

"As much as you rip and run the damn streets, I hang out for a little while and it's a damn tragedy," I shouted.

"I used to rip and run. Now I'm sitting back waiting on you to bring yo' ass home, and you still ain't told me where the fuck you been at all night!"

"I ain't got time for this shit. I'm going to bed." I turned around to walk up the stairs, but Milk pulled me back down by my arm.

"Sabrina, I already know you lied about being at yo' sister house that night," he hurled at me, gripping my arm tighter.

"I was at my sister's house," I screamed loudly. Milk then drew his hand back with his fist balled up, and I closed my eyes to brace myself for the impact to my face.

"Man, you gon' make me hurt you, girl." He punched the wall. "What the fuck do I look like to you? I ain't fucking stupid, Sabrina," his voice roared, as our shouting match continued.

"And I ain't fucking stupid either," I yelled back. "You want to know why the fuck I have been gone so much? You want to know why you can't get no hot meals, no pussy, no talk as you can say? It's because of you Milk. You! I knew all about Lisha and I'm not just talking about the fucking house either. I know about the car, the trips y'all took together," 'Lying my ass off,' "I know about all that shit. So, you want to talk, then let's talk about that." I sat down on the bottom step confidently as if I had just won my case. "Come on, Milk, I don't hear you saying nothing. We can get all this shit out tonight, because I got all night if you do, too."

"Man, don't try and come at me with that old bullshit! Right now we talking 'bout you and where the fuck you been spending so much time at lately," he squawked, pacing back-and-forth in front of me.

"What do you mean by old shit? You've been fucking with that bitch for years, Milk. I signed those papers to that house almost five fucking years ago regardless of when you stop fucking with her." I got a little bold and stood up pointing my finger at Milk's face. "And that bitch's birthday is the same day as mine. What did you do, spent the day with me and spent the night with her?" Silence. I had his ass now. I walked up the stairs, but then I stopped and turned back around. "Oh, and by the way, you have my condolences."

"What the fuck is you talking 'bout?"

"Don't tell me you ain't heard?" I popped my lips. "That was Lisha they found dead in the car last night. How I get that before you, baby boy?" I could have bought him for a penny.

"So, what you call yourself doing, Sabrina, getting you some get back?" Milk walked up the stairs and was now in my face again. I should've left well enough alone.

"I ain't doing shit just like you ain't." I continued up the stairs.

Milk didn't try and stop me this time, but he was dead on my heels. When I reached the top of the steps he pushed me in the back, but I was able to catch my balance on the wall. I turned around with as much strength as I could muster and punched Milk in his face. He then forced both of my hands behind my back with one hand, and he now had the other hand grasped firmly around my throat.

"You fucking somebody, Sabrina, huh?" he asked through clenched teeth as I struggled to free myself from the death grip he had on me. "Are you fucking somebody, girl? You fucking somebody ain't you?" Milk squeezed tighter. "Sabrina, I will kill you. Do you hear me? I will fucking kill yo' ass, girl!"

I tried my best to shake my head no, but I couldn't move. I felt drool running out of the side of my mouth, and then Milk finally let me go. In between the coughing and gasping for air I began to cry. What if he did kill Lisha? Yvette did say that she was with a man. Maybe he caught them together and killed them both out of jealousy. Milk was now punching and kicking the walls and doors. I had to pull myself together. One more wrong move and this nigga will kill me in this house.

"Man, let me get the fuck out of here," he grunted.

"You see how you acting with just the thought that I might be fucking somebody?" I waited to see if he was going to respond. He didn't. "I'm not cheating, Milk, I just wanted to make you think I was so you could see how it felt. I don't think you're fucking other bitches, I know for a fact you have." I was on a roll. "Milk, I would never cheat on you. I love you too much to do that, but I can't stand being around you right now. I don't believe shit you say anymore, nothing! I think we may need to separate for a little while until I figure out what I want to do." I wiped my eyes and got up off the floor. Milk stared at me, but didn't say anything. "I'm tired of this shit. You're not capable of being faithful."

I walked into our bedroom, turned the light on, and sat down at my vanity table to survey the damage. I already bruised easily because of my light skin, and I could see Milk's hand print up around my neck. He appeared to have calmed down some as he strolled into our bedroom. I looked at him through the mirror.

"You see this shit?" I pointed to my neck. Milk looked away briefly and then back up to me.

"Look, Sabrina," he said, as he lowered himself down on one knee. "As long as we have been together, I have never put my hands on you like that before. I was jealous. Of what, I don't know, but I let my anger get the best of me. Look at me, Sabrina."

"I am looking at you," I replied scornfully. At this point I really didn't want to hear anything else he had to say. I was tired and all I wanted to do now was to go to bed.

"No, turn around and look at me," he spoke in a low tone. I reluctantly turned around to face him. "I'm sorry, bae."

"I don't want to hear that, Milk. Think of a new word because you have used that one up."

"Sabrina, here's my right hand to God," he lifted up his hand, "I will never put my hands like that on you ever again." I got up from my table and walked across the room toward the bathroom. "We don't need no separation, Sabrina. If yo' intentions were to make me jealous, well, dammit, it worked."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better, Milk?" He followed me into the bathroom.

"No, but I know how to make you feel better." I pulled away from him after he put his arms around me. "Bae, come here." Milk pulled me to him and started kissing me on my bruised neck. "I'm sorry, Sabrina," he said in between kisses. "I'm so sorry."

As much as I didn't want to I know if I denied this nigga some pussy one more night he was going to eventually rape me. "Wait, Milk, hold up." I put my hands on his chest. "I'm going to take me a shower and put on something sexy for you, baby," I told him.

"You still love me, Sabrina?"

"You know I do."

"Can I get in the shower with you?" He begin to plant kisses on my neck again.

"No, boo, wait for me in the bed. I won't take long, I promise."

"You forgive me, Sabrina?" he whispered in my ear.

"Yes, Milk, I forgive you," I told him, ushering him out of the bathroom and closing the door. I turned around a looked at myself in the mirror. "What are you doing, Sabrina?" I mumbled to myself. I turned the shower on after removing my clothes and got inside of the steaming hot water. Once I had finished bathing, I purposely took my time lollygagging while I applied lotion to every inch of my body, and then I brushed my teeth. "Thank God," I mumbled, assuming Milk was asleep as I tiptoed around our bedroom.

"Thank God, what?" He pulled the comforter and sheets back showing that he was naked.

"Thank God, I don't have class tomorrow. I'm tired." I sat down on the side of the bed to think of another stall tactic.

"If you have anything you got to do tomorrow take one of the other cars, so I can get yo' windows fixed."

"I'm not leaving this house tomorrow looking like Tina Turner." I was trying to make Milk feel guilty, so he would leave me alone.

"It don't look that bad, Sabrina. But, that's good you not going nowhere tomorrow. I'mma get up in the morning and take yo' car to the dealership and come straight back home. We can spend the day together." He kissed me on the lips.

Milk sat up against the headboard and was now rubbing my back. I might as well go ahead and get this over with. I removed my towel and slid into bed next to him. I let out a few fake moans as he made his way in between my legs, but I wasn't feeling it at all until he licked my clit up and down with the tip of his tongue. Milk knew that was my one true spot and he was giving it all he had causing my body to give in. The funny thing was as he gave my pussy the best tongue-lashing he ever has, I was thinking about Rico.

Way Down Low!

I went ahead and bought Sabrina another car; same model, same year, just a different color. Some of the glass fucked up the back seats. Sabrina has still been a little distant to me ever since that night, but shit will eventually get back to normal. I called myself giving her space since I knew for a fact she has been spending most of her time with Yvette. Come to find out the nigga that was set on fire in the car with Lisha was Chauncey, Yvette's husband.

When Sabrina and I first got together, Yvette used to tell her every damn thing she heard about me. I thought she was trying to give me the pussy, too, by the way she was acting. I introduced her to Chauncey when shit didn't work out between her and Kirk so she would have something to focus on other than what I was doing. Chauncey ran my barbershop out in the Park Place, a neighborhood in the city of Norfolk. He wasn't heavily in the game like people were saying, but he has dabbled with a little weed here and there. Nonetheless, he was a cool ass nigga. I don't know how he ended up with Lisha's ass though; he wasn't Lisha's style.

Chauncey had everyone thinking he was in DC visiting his momma. At least that's what he told me and his wife, but Yvette called his momma and found out he was never there. She waited another day before calling the police when she couldn't reach him on his cell phone. It had crossed my mind that Byrd may have had something to do with Lisha's death, but I couldn't see him capping the person he was getting his information from. I'd been so caught up with trying to find out what Sabrina's ass had been doing, when I should've been making sure my paper was straight.

At times I looked at Sabrina and I didn't even know who she was anymore, and she's still rationing out her pussy to me like she was saving it for somebody else. I tell you one what though, if her ass is fucking around behind my back, she had better keep that shit on the low. Way down low!

Back and Forth!

I had a dream about Sabrina last night that Milk had followed her to my house and shot her to death right in front of me. I woke up in a sweat and I tried to call her right then, but I got her voicemail. The dream got me to thinking about all of this back-and-forth shit between me and Milk, and how it could potentially backfire, and caused Sabrina to get hurt in the process. I thought she was avoiding me on purpose at first until she told me what happened to Yvette's husband, but I was able to talk her into coming to my house tonight.

I heard the hallway door slam shut and footsteps running up the stairs, as I lit the Aromatherapy candles I had spread around my living room and bedroom. I grabbed my gun from under the coach, closest to the front door, and placed it behind my back as I looked through the peephole just in case it wasn't her.

"Open the door, Rico, it's me." Sabrina pounded. I ran over to the hall closet, put the gun on the top shelf, and covered it with some towels.

"What's wrong with you, baby?" I asked after opening the front door for her. "Why are you running up the stairs like somebody chasing you?" I tried to kiss her on the cheek but she sprinted pass me toward the bathroom.

"I feel sick." Sabrina closed the bathroom door and I heard the lid hit up against the back of the toilet stool. I closed the front door and followed her to the bathroom.

"Baby, you a'ight? Can I get you something?" I cracked the door open slightly when she didn't answer me. Sabrina was sitting on the bathroom floor with her hand on her stomach. I grabbed a towel and wet it so that she could wipe her mouth. I waited until she had finished hurling before I handed her the damp towel.

"Thank you, Rico."

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, shifting her hair away from her face.

"It must've been the Mexican food I ate earlier today." She spit into the toilet. "Do you have an extra toothbrush, babe?"

"Yeah, it's in the hall closet." I thought about the gun on the top shelf, so I told Sabrina to stay where she was and that I would get it for her.

"Okay. I feel like shit," she moaned, still with her hand on her stomach

"You want something to drink, too?"

"Do you have any ginger ale?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so. How about some crackers? It might help to settle your stomach."

"No, thank you, the soda is good. I don't think I would be able to hold anything else down."

"Okay. I'll be right back." I got the toothbrush out of the hall closet, and then I went into the kitchen for the ginger ale. "Here you go, baby." I handed her the can soda. "Come lay down on my bed." I followed her into the bedroom and blew out the candles.

"Oh, Rico, I'm so sorry," Sabrina expressed as she looked around the room.

"Sorry for what?" I asked, not understanding what she was apologizing for.

"You obviously had something special planned for us tonight and here I am throwing my guts up all over your bathroom."

"Don't worry you gon' clean all that shit up, too," I said teasingly.

"I'mma clean it up, just give me a minute."

"I'm fucking with you, girl." I pulled the covers back so she could lie down. "Plus, it's still early. We got plenty of time."

"I can't stay long tonight, Rico."

"Why not, Sabrina?" I asked sharply. "I haven't seen you in over two weeks."

"For one, because I feel like shit. I think I may have food poisoning or something," she stated before climbing into my bed.

"Food poisoning doesn't hit you that fast, baby, but what does that have to do with you staying here with me tonight?"

"How do you know that it doesn't affect people fast, Dr. Rico M.D.?"

"Because I know a little something about a lot of shit, and stop trying to change the subject."

"I promise you I'm not. Rico, I would love to stay here with you tonight, but I need to get back over to Yvette's house before it gets too late," she explained.

"How is she doing?"

"I guess she is dealing with everything the best way she knows how," she replied, sipping on the ginger ale.

"And how have you been, lady? I haven't seen you in about a month," I said just to give Sabrina a hard time.

"Lord, first you said it was two weeks now it's a month. Make your mind up, Rico." She laughed. "But you have been on my mind, please know that."

"I can't tell," I said in a somber tone.

"What do you mean by that?" She sat up.

"Sabrina, we went from seeing each other damn near every day to not seeing each other at all. I thought I did something to you."

"Well, you thought wrong." She rubbed the side of my face. "I've just been going through a lot of drama with Milk, too, and then this shit happens to Chauncey. Most of my time has been spent with Yvette. That's my best friend and I have to be there for her."

"Baby, I understand all of that and I'm sorry about what happened to your friend's husband, but for the last two months, Sabrina, you've been my best friend. I missed us."

"Aww . . . baby, I missed you, too." She leaned forward to kiss me.

"Whoa, wait a minute. Did, you brush your teeth?" I said with a serious face.

"You are really funny, Rico."

I blocked the pillow Sabrina had thrown at me with my arm. We both were laughing now. "Better?" I asked as I lay down beside her.

"I am now," she said and this time I let her kiss me.

"I can't tell you enough how much I missed your ass, girl."

I pulled Sabrina's jeans off, followed by her shirt, and tossed them on the floor. Looking at the pink lace thong and bra to match she was wearing made my dick pulsate. I didn't bother taking her thong off either—I just moved it to the side, and her clit was standing at attention as if it had been waiting for me, so I dove right in. She tried to jerk away from me, so I gently snatched her by the hips and pulled her back down to me.

"Where you going, girl? Come here." Her juices tasted so good and I wanted it all. I stripped her of the rest of her clothes and tossed them on the pile on the floor. I spread her legs open wide to get a glimpse at what I was about to indulge in. "You're so beautiful, Sabrina," I whispered to her as I tenderly massaged her breast.

"Rico," she moaned my name.

I pulled her down to the edge of the bed and lowered myself down on my knees. I parted her lips apart with my tongue and then tried my best to suck out her uterus causing her right leg to tremble. I knew that feeling all too well; she was about to cum, and I was ready to swallow every drop of it.

"How you feel?"

"I'm good baby . . ." She cooed.

"You ready for this dick?"

"I'm always ready for your dick," she answered as she rubbed my bald head.

After Sabrina gave in to her mini-earthquake, I stood up and took off my shorts. I then moved her up to the middle of the bed and spread her legs apart as far as I could stretch them. My dick was so hard and I couldn't get it in fast enough, but no sooner than my snake slithered deep inside of her, I was ready to unleash my two week reserve. Sabrina tossed the pussy back at me like we were in competition with each other. Never one to be outshined, I raised both of her legs up on my shoulders and pushed every inch of my baby maker as far as her vaginal walls allowed me to go.

"Stay with me tonight, Sabrina." I looked into her eyes never slowing down my pace.

"I can't tonight, Rico."

"Please? I want to wake up with you in the morning, baby."

"Rico, I can't," she said, turning me down again.

"Yes you can, Sabrina." I amplified my speed as our tongues danced with one another. Her body began to quiver uncontrollably and this time I was going to come with her. "You gon' stay, baby?" I withdrew my dick and flipped Sabrina over on her stomach in a matter of seconds. "Huh?" I lifted her toward me until she had the perfect arch in her back. "You gon' stay with me, Sabrina?" I didn't wait for her to respond, instead I went into overdrive.

"I'mma stay with you, Rico," she screamed out as we both let go at the same time.

"Baby, are you sure you're okay? I've never seen you sweat this much."

"I'm okay. I just need to catch my breath," she said now lying flat on her stomach.

"You want some more ginger ale?" I offered.

"No, but move," she sprung up out of the bed, "I got to throw up again."

So much for round two.

Time to Man Up!

"What floor he on, Asia?"

"Third floor ICU." I could tell she had been crying, but I didn't give a fuck.

"My mothafucking' son been in the hospital for three damn days and I'm just finding out," I shouted through the phone as I turned into the hospital parking garage.

"Look, Milk, my baby in here fighting for his life and the last thing I need is for you coming up here making me feel worse."

"Why the fuck did Stephanie have to call me, Asia?"

"Milk, I don't know," she retorted with an attitude.

"What the fuck you mean you don't know? You told her, didn't you?" I asked her.

"Yeah, she knows, Milk," she admitted.

"When you tell her, Asia?"

"Stephanie has known for a long time that you were Deshawn's daddy, Milk. But, what I can't believe is the fact that you're worried about fucking Sabrina finding out and not about my baby!"

"Ain't this some mothafu-. . ." I shook my head. I could already foresee how this shit was going to play out today. "Man, I'm parking." I hung up the phone on Asia and flung it on the passenger seat. "Fuck!"

I don't need this shit right now. Sabrina didn't bring her black ass home until ten this morning, I got a mothafucka in the street trying to kill me, and I got a dumb bitch for a baby momma. Shit just cannot get any worse. Damn; shit just got worse! Stephanie was the first person I saw when I stepped off the elevator and she had the same look on her face she always did whenever she saw me; like I stink. At least now I know why.

"How you doing, Stephanie?" She looked me up and down and pressed her lips together. "So, what's wrong with him? I can't get shit out of Asia?" I asked her.

"Asia didn't tell you what happened to Deshawn?" I shook my head no and she rolled her eyes.

"I didn't even know he was in the hospital until you called me."

"That girl is unbelievable. She didn't tell anybody Deshawn was in the hospital," she replied.

"Well, what the fuck happened to him?" I asked growing impatient with Stephanie's fucked up looks.

"Milk, Deshawn was accidentally shot."

"What the hell you mean he was accidentally shot? Who the fuck shot him?" I could feel the rage coming on.

"The next door neighbor's son was spending the night with Deshawn at their house."

"Where the fuck did they get a gun from?" I was yelling now.

"They were playing in Asia's room and found it in one of her dresser drawers," she said. "He made it through the first surgery the day he was admitted and the doctors want to schedule him for another surgery, because his lungs aren't holding up and they keep collapsing. The only problem is Deshawn has a very rare blood type, so rare that Asia is not even a match. The hospital is trying to find blood through the Red Cross now."

"Asia got to do better than this. I need to take my fucking . . . just tell me where I need to go to have the blood work done. Where the fuck is Asia at anyway?" I asked, as I looked around the third floor.

"I think she went downstairs to the cafeteria to get something to eat."

"Look, Stephanie. I ain't got no excuses for what happened between me and Asia, but it is what it is. Deshawn is my son and I'm going to do what I have to do to save his life. Just let me be the one to tell, Sabrina, please."

"Tell me what?" Sabrina looked at Stephanie and then to me. "How is Deshawn doing? Where's, Asia?"

"CPS has been to the hospital every day questioning her about the gun and what happened. She's downstairs in the cafeteria now. I'm going to go check on her." Stephanie rolled her eyes at me for a third time before she walked away. I sat down in a chair outside of Deshawn's room. I wanted to go in and see him, but ever since I saw my momma in the hospital after her car accident with so many tubes hooked up to her, I've tried to avoid hospitals all together.

Sabrina came over and sat down beside me. I knew I what I had to do, but I couldn't even begin to form the right words to tell her. I swear I don't want to hurt her like this. My heart was beating so fast I might need to be admitted my damn self.

"What was it you had to tell me, Milk?" Sabrina asked. "And stop looking like that. I know you're crazy about Deshawn but he will pull through this. Deshawn is a Wright and we're built Ford-tough. I just hope they don't try and take him away from Asia. I wonder if anybody called his daddy in New York."

I took one last deep breath.

Here we go.

"Sabrina, I need to tell you something, bae." I took her hand in mine. "Where are yo' wedding rings?" I asked after noticing she wasn't wearing them.

"I took them off. My hand is either swollen or I'm gaining weight because they are getting too tight. I'mma have them resized sometime this week." She looked at her hand and then back at me. "Go ahead and tell me what you had to tell me, Milk."

"Look, I did something a long time ago . . . and I . . . I um . . . shit." I couldn't even look Sabrina in her face.

"What is it, Milk?" She frowned. "Just say it."

"I made a mistake, Sabrina, a bad one. It's fucking me up right now that I even have to tell you this shit." I looked down at the floor and Sabrina stood up.

"I don't want to hear all of that shit, Milk. What the fuck did you do?" She raised her voice. I stood up, too.

"Sabrina, Deshawn is my son." I told her, still looking down at the floor.

"What do you mean Deshawn is your son?" Sabrina moved closer to me.

"One night, all fucked up I . . . I mean me and Asia . . . um we . . . um. . ." Before I could say another word Sabrina had punched me in my mouth. I bit down on my bottom lip and tried to shake it off. I still couldn't look her in the face though. I couldn't do anything but just stand here.

"You are a trifling ass mothafucka! All these bitches around here and you go and fuck my cousin, Milk? My got damn cousin? Are you fucking serious?" she yelled.

"Bae, it only happened one time." I tried to look as sincere as possible. "I know it don't make it right, but . . ." Sabrina interrupted me again, but not with her fist; this time with spit. Had this been anybody else I would have shot them. "Look . . ." I wiped the side of my face with my hand. "Come on, let's go outside." I grabbed her by the arm when I saw a nurse walking toward us.

"Fuck you! I don't give a fuck who hears me." She swung at me again. Just then Asia and Stephanie stepped off the elevator.

"I'm going to have to ask you all to leave before I call security," the nurse said.

"I don't give a fuck who you call, bitch," Sabrina told the nurse.

"This is not the time or place, Sabrina," Stephanie interceded.

"What? You knew about them, Stephanie?" Sabrina had a puzzled look on her face. "You knew about this shit and you didn't tell me?"

"Come on, Sabrina, let's go," Stephanie repeated. "I know you're upset and we are going to deal with this, but not here."

Sabrina looked back-and-forth between her sister and me with a look of devastation on her face. "I'm not going anywhere. And you bitch!" She turned to Asia and pummeled her in her face with her fist harder than she hit me.

Asia fell against the elevator doors, dropping the food she was carrying to the floor. Sabrina then straddled over top of her, grabbed a fist full of Asia's hair, and threw punch after punch to her face. Even though Asia deserved every single blow Sabrina threw at her I had to break them up, because I didn't want to have to fuck one of those hospital flash light cops up in case they handled her the wrong way. I knew somebody more than likely had called for security by now.

Yep. Here they come.

"I'm going to have to ask anyone that is not immediate family to leave the hospital right now," the security guard ordered. Stephanie was now holding Asia back and I picked Sabrina up and carried her into the stairway so we could have some privacy. I did manage to make it down to the second floor despite the fact that Sabrina was elbowing the fuck out of my chin before I put her down.

"Bitch, I'mma beat your ass the next time I see you." Asia was at the top of the stairway screaming with Stephanie still trying to hold her back.

"Let that bitch go, Stephanie, so I can finish fucking her up." Sabrina tried to run past me back up the stairs, so I picked her up again.

"This is my very last warning, immediate family only. Folks, I would hate to have to involve the police department," the security guard looked directly at me and said.

"My son is the one in ICU. I'm his mother and that's his father." Asia pointed at me.

"Yeah, that's right. Put me down Milk and go play daddy," Sabrina said sarcastically. I didn't know what the fuck to say, so I didn't say shit.

"He doesn't have to play shit, he is daddy, bitch!" Asia announced so that everybody in the damn hospital could hear her.

"Asia, why don't you shut the fuck up! Come here, Sabrina, let me talk to you," I spoke into her ear.

"And, bitch you can have him!" Sabrina spit back. "Fuck you and him. Let me go, Milk. We don't have shit to talk about. "

"I did fuck him, bitch, and in your mothafucking bed repeatedly," Asia charged.

This bitch is going to make me kill her ass!

Sabrina suddenly turned around and looked at me as if she was waiting for me to say that Asia was lying. "You're dead to me. Do you hear me, Milk? I fucking hate your ass."

I stood on the steps until I could no longer hear Sabrina's cries. I didn't even bother to follow her either, because by the way she looked at me had me feeling fucked up inside. Instead, I walked back up the stairs and went to Deshawn's hospital room with Asia right behind me. Stephanie was on her cell phone probably calling everybody in their family by now to tell them what had just happened.

I leaned down and kissed my son on his forehead and whispered in his ear, "Fight Dee. You hear me, man? Fight!" Just then a nurse walked into the room wheeling a machine in backwards.

"Hello, my name is Keisha. I came to get little man's vitals." I waited for her to turn around because her voice sounded familiar. "Milk?" She smiled. I thought it was her. I went to high school with Keisha and she still looked the same; good. I tried my best to get at her back in the day, but she was too into her books to give a care, plus she wasn't giving up any pussy to anybody.

"Hey, Keisha, how you doing?"

"Is this your son, Milk?" she asked.

"Yeah, this me," I told her.

"Oh, I am so sorry this happened to him, Milk." She gripped my hand.

"I thought you came in here to check my son's vitals," Asia said, interrupting our reunion.

"I did," Keisha replied with just as much attitude.

"Well, then check 'em, bitch!" Asia told her.

I swear if could figure out a way to dismember this bitch without the shit coming back to me I would.

Get Over It!

Once Sabrina finally left the hospital, Milk was able to concentrate on what was most important—our son. Of course, everyone in the family hates; me as if I cared. My baby was going to live, I had my man at my side, and I didn't have to lie anymore about who Deshawn's father was. Let's just see what they have to say once Milk and I are officially a couple.

Thank God we didn't have to wait for Milk's results to come back for Deshawn to have his surgery. Later that day the Red Cross delivered the blood he needed, and he pulled through his surgery without any complications. Milk spent the night at the hospital with Deshawn and I was so happy. I wanted to stay there with them, too, but he said the only way he would stay was if I went home. The doctors said that Deshawn was expected to make a full recovery and I was the happiest woman on earth. Life was good—all of five minutes.

The nurse I had to check that day in Dee's room for smiling all up in my man's face came back a few days later and asked Milk if she could speak to him in private. I told the bitch anything concerning my son, she needed to tell me, too, and not just his father. However, since my baby told me to stay in the room until he came back, I didn't press the issue. Milk was not out of the room a minute before he kicked Deshawn's room door open, and then charged at me as if I were a man. I didn't know what the fuck was going on. It took three nurses and the same security guard who had threatened to throw us out of the hospital a few days before to pull him off of me. It turns out Milk isn't Deshawn's father after all.

At first I didn't believe the results. I swore Milk up and down that there had to be a mistake somewhere, but he wasn't trying to hear that shit at all. He kissed Deshawn before he left out of the room and I have not spoken to him since. So, if Milk isn't Deshawn's father then there was only one other person, it could be; that damn Larry. That shit is crazy, too, because I didn't even really fuck Larry. I was mad at Milk one night, because he wouldn't come over my house, so I called Larry and asked him to come out of spite. I was ready to give him some pussy, too, but as soon as Larry put the head of his dick inside of me I immediately reconsidered. I let the mothafucka play in my pussy for less than thirty seconds and he knocked me up. Damn pre-cum!

I told the police when they arrived that I didn't want to press any charges against Milk. How could I? Any man would have gone the fuck off the same way he did; I'm just going to give him some space. Milk loves Deshawn and he wouldn't just cut him off like that. In time he will eventually get over it.

That Would Be A Shame!

Not a single person has heard from Sabrina in the last two weeks since she left the hospital. Yvette found out what happened at the hospital, and she called me trying to throw her two cents in about the situation. As much respect as I had for my nigga, Chauncey, I had to crush her ass. How the fuck she looked like calling me out and her husband was just recently found dead in a car with another bitch?

Ms. Janis called and gave me the business, too, but I couldn't talk shit to her like I did Yvette. Plus, I have mad love and respect for Ms. Janis. All of the shit that Sabrina and I have been through over the years, Ms. Janis has always kept it real with me, and ain't anything phony about her. She made it clear that she did not appreciate what I've put her daughter through, but it was ultimately Sabrina's decision where she wanted to do as far as our relationship was concerned. Ms. Janis did ask me not to try and contact Sabrina anymore and to give her some time to herself. As much as I hated to do it, I told Ms. Janis I would fall back.

In the back of my mind, I had always known that I was going to have to tell, Sabrina, the truth about Deshawn at some point but not like this. The way her eyes pierced me, and the look on her face, played over continuously in my head. It was good to see Asia getting her ass whipped, but I did more damage to that bitch than Sabrina did after Keisha told me there was no possible way that I could be Deshawn's father. I tried to choke the shit out of Asia in that room and I figured Keisha knew that there would be a potential problem, because the toy cop was already on standby at the nurses' station. All these years of putting up with her shit and Deshawn ain't even my son. I ain't going to front either; she got me. Nevertheless, I was glad Deshawn was sleeping, so he didn't have to witness me trying to kill his momma. I don't want to just cut my man off like that, but I'm sure Asia knows who his real daddy is so let him step up.

I've been so caught up with this shit going on with me and Sabrina and I haven't been in the streets as much, but everything has been quiet anyway as far as Byrd was concerned. He was able to bounce back quickly after I robbed him for his last re-up. He made some moves and still was able to get some work out in the streets on time as promised, but I'm sure he's probably wondering what happened to all of his clientele.

Now, he and his cousin might've been able establish a decent come up somewhere else in Virginia like Petersburg or Franklin, but these niggas came straight to Norfolk and to Park Place at that. Lisha was the one who called and told me there were some niggas from Miami fresh on the block letting bricks go for $3,000 less than what I sold them for. I told her to get one of the niggas that worked at my barber shop in Park Place to go holler at the dude and hit me back. Once I found out the shit was legit, I sent eight more niggas to Byrd's cousin to cop some dope to make him feel like he was making progress. But, what shocked me was how easy it was to get over on them. In their mind they were building up clientele, when really the only customer they had was me.

I continued to front all the money their newfound customers paid them with and turned over a nice profit, too. I was all for keeping the lie alive; shit I was getting over like a fat rat, but then this mothafucka fucked up and tried to come at Lisha. Word on the street was he was throwing paper in Lisha face hard trying to get at her. I confronted Lisha about what I heard and of course she denied fucking with him or taking his money, but I already knew Lisha got down. It didn't matter if it was a bitch offering to give her some money, Lisha was going take it.

Therefore, that was strike two for Byrd's people right there, and the one thing Milk didn't do was give a nigga a chance to make strike three. There are two things that I don't play with under any circumstances; my money and pussy. Thus, it was time for Breon to go and it wasn't too long after that Lisha started to change. That's how I know she fucked him. She felt some kind of way about me killing that nigga, and I guess that's what made her decide to be like Superhead and tell everything she knew about me to Byrd.

I can strongly feel Byrd's animosity toward me, because I most would be doing the same exact thing if the shit were reversed. But, that best thing for him to at this point was to charge the shit to the game and take his ass back home. From what my sources told me his grandfather just got out of the hospital after having a heart attack and he ain't looking too good. I sure would hate for something to happen to cause him to have another one. That would be a shame.

Some Jerry Springer Shit!

"Sabrina, just call me so that I know you're alright. I know about everything that is going on and I know you are hurting right now baby. What Milk and Asia did was wrong, but I'm worried sick about you. If you don't want to talk fine send me a text message. Then I'll know you're okay. I love you Sabrina."

I pressed seven on the key pad and deleted the message from my momma.

Next message . . .

"Sabrina, this me . . . um . . . man . . . shit . . . I don't even know what to say. I um . . . uh . . . damn. Look, this the last time I'm going to hit you. I understand why you don't want shit to do with me right now, but at least call Ms. Janis and put her mind at ease. She asked me to give you some space and I told her I would. Sabrina you know I love. . ." I pressed seven on the keypad to delete Milk's message, too.

Next message . . .

"Bitch when I see your ass I'm going to fuck . . . you . . . up! My son laid up in the hospital with a gunshot wound and all anybody can talk about is where the fuck is Sabrina. Stay gone bitch. Don't be mad because you can't have fucking kids with your barren ass! I will take care of Milk for you. He don't want. . ." I quickly deleted Asia's message; I'd heard enough.

I've been staying in a hotel out in Newport News for the last two weeks. I haven't even called Yvette and I know Rico is like, 'what the fuck?' I had been ignoring his calls, too, even though he has nothing to do with what's going on. I'm just not in the mood to speak to anybody, but I am going to call my momma to let her know that I was going to Atlanta to visit my daddy for a little while. I just wanted to get away from everybody right about now.

Being with Milk as long as I have one thing I've learned from him was that you never let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. I have a bank account that, Milk knew nothing about, and my own credit cards, too. I was able to put away a nice little nest egg over the last five years, so I will be comfortable in Atlanta until I figure out what I want to do. Enterprise Rental Car will be here in an hour to pick me up with the car I rented online. I didn't want to drive my car to Atlanta; the less attention the better.

So many different emotions are running through my head right now. My husband has been fucking my first cousin and had a baby with her. This is some real Jerry Springer shit, and I really feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. And my sister; what part of the game is she playing? She and Asia have always been tight, but I am her fucking sister. Then on top of everything that is going on, I somehow caught the flu, and I haven't been able to keep any food down in the last two days. One more day of feeling bad and I am going to go to the emergency room.

I stepped into the shower and began to lather up. As I bent down to wash my feet a sharp pain jolted up my backside, causing me to almost slip, when it dawned on me that I was due for my period. I mentally added a box of Tampax to my list of things to get from the store before I got on the road. After my shower, I got dressed and packed up what little bit of clothes I did have with me and left the hotel room. Once I got off the elevator I looked around to see if I saw anyone wearing an Enterprise uniform. Next thing I knew, I was lying flat on my back looking up at the chandeliers in the ceiling of the hotel's lobby, and when I opened my eyes again Milk was standing over top of me.

And Baby Makes Three!

"Mr. Woodhouse?"

"I'm right here," I answered, getting up out of the chair to meet the nurse who had just called my name.

"You can go in and see your wife now," the nurse told me.

"Okay, thanks. But what made her pass out like that in the first place? Is she sick?" I asked.

"No, she's not sick, but she was dehydrated when the ambulance first brought her in. But, that's common for most women in their first trimester of pregnancy. We pumped some fluids in her and her vitals are now stable, so she's ready to go home." She patted me on the shoulder and began to walk away.

"Miss, hold up." The nurse stopped and turned around.

"Yes, Mr. Woodhouse?"

"Is you trying to tell me that my wife is pregnant?" I asked her.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She put two fingers on her lips as she walked back toward me. "Did I ruin the surprise? I'm so sorry," she apologized. "As far along as she is I thought you knew. She's twelve weeks, so I assumed. . . oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Woodhouse. My husband is always telling me that I run my mouth too much an-"

"Nawl, nawl, it's cool," I cut her off as I took off toward Sabrina's hospital room. I haven't seen or spoken to her since the shit popped off at the hospital. "Hey, bae, how you feeling?" I asked, and reached for her hand. Sabrina looked up at me and then around the room.

"Where am I?" She sat up in the bed and snatched her hand away from me.

"You're in the hospital, Sabrina. You passed out," I told her.

"Well, I am alright now so you can go," she raised her voice and said.

"Calm down and lay back down, Sabrina. I know you a'ight, the nurse told me that. How long have you known you were pregnant, and why you didn't tell me?" I pulled up a chair beside the bed and sat down.

"I'm not pregnant. Who the hell told you I was pregnant?" she asked with a mean look on her face.

"The nurse did," I said smiling. "She said you were 'bout twelve weeks."

"No, I'm not. Ain't nobody tell you that shit." She drew the covers back and stood up on the other side of the bed.

"Where are you trying to go, Sabrina? You need to lay back down until they tell you, you can leave. You still got an IV in your arm, girl. Lay back down." I stood up and reached for her arm.

"Don't touch me, Milk." She backed away. "Don't ever put your fucking hands on me again!"

"Bae, you really need to calm down before you overexert yourself. You passed out one time already," I said, trying to reason with her. "Look, I know you hot with me right now, but you have to think about our baby."

"You don't tell me what to think about. I don't have shit to say to you, Milk. Ain't nothing changed. Go talk to my cousin." Sabrina pressed the call button to the nurse's station.

"How can we help you, Mrs. Woodhouse?"

"Am I ready to be discharged?" Sabrina spoke into the intercom.

"Yes, ma'am, we are putting together your discharge instructions as we speak," the nurse answered. "It shouldn't be too much longer."

"Thank you." Sabrina sat back down on the bed and I was now looking at the back of her head. I'm not going to even trip. I knew she wasn't going to make this easy on me. I know I fucked up.

"Deshawn is not my son, Sabrina." I sat back down in the chair.

"Oh, now he's not your son," she turned to me and said with that smirk on her face I can't stand.

"I took a blood test and he's not my son," I repeated.

"Milk, you thought he was yours or you never would have told me," Sabrina replied with an arrogant chuckle. "You must've just now found out he wasn't your son and that's what the fuck you get! Walking around here thinking you were keeping something on the low. Well, the low was on you this time, huh baby boy?"

A nurse walked into the room. "How are we doing, Mrs. Woodhouse? You all ready to go?" she asked Sabrina.

"Yes, I am, and it's Miss Wright," Sabrina corrected the nurse.

Oh, now she's Miss. Wright again like me giving her my last name don't mean shit. I ain't even gone say shit.

"Okay, now let's get that IV out of your arm. While I'm doing that I'm going to go over discharge instructions," the nurse explained. As she removed the IV, the nurse advised Sabrina to drink plenty of liquids, relax for the next couple of days, and to follow up with an OBGYN. "Do you have any questions?" Sabrina shook her head no. "Alright then you're free to leave. Take care." She smiled.

"Thank you," I told the nurse before she left out of the room. "You ready to go home?"

"Am I ready to go home? You're joking, right?" Sabrina asked with a straight face.

"Hell, nawl I ain't joking. We have a lot to talk about, Sabrina."

"We do?" She put her shoes on. "What, because you didn't impregnate my cousin we are supposed to be good now? I am supposed to excuse the fact that you even fucked Asia in the first place?" She put on her jacket.

"Sabrina, that shit with Asia happened a long time ago. I was drunk and it was only one time. I know that don't make the shit right, but. . ."

"Milk, you might as well save your breath." Sabrina took her cell phone out of her purse. "Clearly, you have shown me that you have no boundaries. Who's next, my sister? Wait a minute, did you fuck Stephanie, too? Is that why she can't stand you?"

"Fuck nawl, I ain't fucked with yo' sister and you know it." Her smart ass mouth was starting to piss me off now but I maintained my cool.

"Hey, girl . . . I'm alright . . . I know . . . I know Yvette. Okay. . . listen, I need you to come and pick me up." I walked up to her and snatched the phone out of Sabrina's hand. "Milk, give me back my fucking phone," she said, reaching up in the air for it.

"You don't need Yvette to come pick you up and I'm right here. That's why mothafuckas is always in our business, 'cause you invite them in. Now get yo' shit so we can get the fuck out of here, Sabrina."

"You must not be hearing or understanding me. We don't have any more business. I am through with you, Milk, and the first chance I get I'm getting this bullshit of a marriage annulled." Sabrina attempted to by-pass me as she walked toward the door, but I stepped in front of her to block her path.

"Bae, please don't do this," I said in a calming voice, hoping it would make her less combative toward me. "We can fix this, Sabrina. I know I fucked up and I'm sorry. Bae, please give me another chance. We got a baby on the way, Sabrina." I reached for her hand, but she instantly jerked away from me.

"I asked you not to touch me didn't I?" she said. I followed her out of the emergency room entrance to a nearby bench in front of the hospital. "Milk, will you stop following me, I already told you I don't have shit else to say to you. Just leave me alone. Damn!"

"Sabrina, I'm not gon' just leave you in Newport News. Just get in the truck and I'll take you wherever you want to go," I said, while praying to God that she would. If I get her in my truck I'm driving straight out of Virginia. We need some time alone and I won't be able to make shit right with everybody in her ear.

"So you will know where I am and worry the fuck out of me? No thank you. I will get where I need to go." She yanked her head in the opposite direction.

"Sabrina, you know I love you. Don't do this, bae, please. I'm begging you."

"Yeah, you have shown me repeatedly just how much you love me. Did you love me when you were fucking my cousin in our bed?" She swung her head around and looked at me. "How about when you were fucking, Lisha, did you love me then, too?"

"Sabrina, you know I'm not gon' let you go just like that. Especially not with my baby on the way," I let her know while keeping my distance.

"So, you, me and baby makes three? We're supposed to live happily ever after now like we're one big happy family?" She annoyingly shook her head. "Can I please have my cell phone so I can call me a ride? The next time I want to see you Milk is in court."

"Court for what?" I asked, furious now.

"I want an annulment. What, you thought I was bullshitting?"

Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe!

"Can I come in?" Yvette asked from the other side of the door. I wiped my eyes with a tissue, sat up in the bed, and then cleared my throat.

"Yeah, you can come in." I put on a fake smile.

"How are you feeling, girl?" Yvette placed a tray of food across my lap. "You look better."

"Yvette, I appreciate you making me something to eat, but please move this tray before I throw up on you and me. And don't lie to me either. I know I look like shit." Yvette removed the tray from in front of me and sat it on top of the dresser.

"Sabrina, you have to eat something. You can't survive off of ginger ale and crackers your entire pregnancy," she stated as she opened the blinds. "And when are you going to get up out of that bed?"

"One day," I mumbled.

"When do you go back to the doctor, Sabrina? This can't be healthy for you and the baby to be throwing up so much." She sat down at the edge of the bed.

"I know this Florence Nightingale," I told her. "I have an appointment this afternoon. I don't know how much more of this shit I can take."

"You're going to the doctor I recommended for you, right? The one in the building I work at?"

"Yes, for the tenth time." I threw a pillow at her. "And I know why you wanted me to pick a doctor in your building, too, so you could go to all of my appointments right?" I laughed.

"You got it. I'm going to spoil the hell out of this baby." She rubbed my stomach with both of her hands.

"Lord, you sound like my momma." I rolled my eyes at the ceiling.

"Sabrina, try to eat a little bit of applesauce," she suggested. "You might be able to keep that down. It's light."

"Ahh . . . no. Don't worry about me, Yvette, I'm fine. My momma said she was like this when she was pregnant with Stephanie and she lived."

"I just hope it's a girl, but I know Milk probably wants a boy, huh?"

"I couldn't tell you. I haven't talked to Milk since the day you picked me up from the hospital."

I finally got up out of the bed and walked over to the closet to pick out something to wear today. I haven't gained much weight, so I am still able to wear my clothes, but sooner than later I am going to have to get some maternity attire. I am approximately four months today, and although I do have a little bump, it isn't noticeable with my clothes on.

"Well, I'm just glad you're having a baby no matter what it is. You never know, maybe in time you will be able to forgive Milk. You two have been through a lot together. Maybe this could be what made him change his ways."

"You don't mean that shit, Yvette, so stop trying to make me feel better about the situation and what he did. Baby or not I am done with Milton Woodhouse." I went into the bathroom to wash my face.

"Why do you keep saying baby or not, Sabrina?" Yvette followed me into the bathroom. "What do you mean by that? There is no such thing as not, because you're already pregnant." I looked at her through the bathroom mirror after I finished washing my face.

"Yvette, I need to tell you something." I turned around.

"What?" she asked. "Tell me what Sabrina?"

I inhaled a deep breath and then released it. "I don't know who I'm pregnant by," I blurted out. "It could be Rico's baby."

"How is that possible? You were using condoms with Rico right?" She crooked her neck sideways. "Tell me you were not fucking that nigga raw, Sabrina?" My silence spoke for itself. "Sabrina, what is wrong with you?" She put a hand on her hip.

"I don't know, Yvette. I ask myself that every day." I wiped the tear that was rolling down my cheek.

"Don't start crying now," she said, putting her arms around me. "You gon' have me in this mothafucka crying, too."

I rested my head on Yvette's shoulder, as I had done so many times before, and cried until my eyes burned. For once I wasn't crying over anything Milk had done to me, I was crying about my own fuck up. Not knowing who the father of my unborn child was making it hard for me to get excited about even being pregnant.

"What am I going to do, Yvette?" I wiped my face with my shirt. Yvette leaned back and looked at me.

"Sabrina, you don't have to do anything. Milk doesn't have to know this may or may not be his child. Who's going to tell him any different?" Yvette went into the bathroom and came back with some tissue. "Here."

"Thanks." I blew my nose.

"I say you take what happened with Rico and him possibly being the baby's daddy to your grave. You and I both know what Milk would do if he found out you have been fucking around behind his back and possibly pregnant by somebody else. Shit, that nigga would kill you, Rico, and me too thinking I had covered for you the nights he called looking for you."

"I know. Besides, I don't want to bring all my drama into Rico's world. He's not from the streets like Milk and he is trying to make something of his life. I don't want to interfere with that."

"When was the last time you even spoke to Rico?" Yvette asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. Shit, I can't remember. I got so much shit going on in my head right now." I rubbed my left temple to ward off the headache I felt coming on.

"Have you told anybody else you're pregnant?" Yvette sat back down on the bed.

"Just my momma, but I told her not to tell the family yet. I don't want anyone else to know for now."

"Why? Sabrina, don't worry about what anyone has to say. This is between you and Milk," she argued. "Fuck everyone else. Have you talked to Stephanie at all?"

"Girl, fuck Stephanie." I rolled my eyes.

"Sabrina, I know you're mad with her right now, but she is still your sister."

"Somebody should be telling her that about me." I looked at Yvette waiting for her to agree with me. "What, you think she did right by not telling me?"

"I wouldn't say she did right but. . ."

"But what, Yvette?" I looked at her sternly. "Go ahead and say it."

"Sabrina, don't take this the wrong way, but you know I always have to play devil's advocate."

"You know what?" I stood up. "Never mind, I already know what you're going to say."

"Wait, Sabrina." Yvette stood up, too. "You are my best friend and I love the shit out of you, but I have to keep it real with you."

"What you knew about them, too, and didn't tell me?" I placed my hand on my chest.

"No, I didn't know shit until Stephanie called me and told me what went on at the hospital," she replied. "But I can't honestly say that I would have told you, had I known."

"What kind of shit is that? You're supposed to be my best friend. Why wouldn't you tell me?" I wanted to know.

"Sabrina, look how many times you have left Milk. You see how your family is divided right now because of this shit. You always say you are done and you're going to leave Milk alone, but somehow some kind of way you always seem to end up right back with him. Why put you through the hurt when you're most likely going to still be with him anyway?"

"So, how would you like it if I told you that I knew that Chauncey was fucking with that bitch Lisha and I knew about it? Would you be mad?" I asked her.

"Sabrina you are talking oranges and apples. Milk and Chauncey are not one in the same and we're not talking about me we're talking about you." She pointed at me. "I can understand you being mad, as well as hurt, but why should anybody keep coming to you with shit about Milk and you continue to stay with him? That's all I am saying."

"Whatever. I'm through talking about it. Okay, so I have always taken Milk back for whatever reason, but this wasn't just any bitch off the streets that he had supposedly gotten pregnant this time. We're talking about my fucking cousin, but regardless of how I handle my business when it comes to, Milk, I still have the right to know. But it's cool though. I ain't mad about the shit no more because I'm done with Milk." I saw Yvette look around the room with her eyes as if she didn't believe me. "And please don't make that face. I know I have cried wolf many times, but this is the absolute end. I'm done!"

* * *

Yvette's mother locked her keys inside of her car and needed her to bring the spare key, so I ended up going to the doctor by myself. I lost five pounds, which was not good for the baby, and I found out I am having a girl. Dr. Hoffman threatened to put me on bed rest if I lost any more weight, too. She asked if there was anything bothering me or had I been experiencing any undue stress lately. I was honest with her and told her that I was going through a divorce. Now, I'm on my way to the annulment hearing.

I walked out of my doctor's office when I looked up and saw Rico coming down the hallway toward me. "Shit," I mumbled under my breath. I tried to put my head down so that he wouldn't recognize me. I even thought about turning around and walking the other way, but it was too late; he saw me. To play it off I dropped the bag of sample products the assistant had given me for my baby. I was trying to read his facial expression, but that would've required me to make eye contact with him. I took a deep breath and started to think about what I going to say to him.

"Hey, lady, how you doing?" Rico asked sarcastically.

"I'm fine and you?" I replied, countering his sarcasm to feel him out. I know he's upset with me and he had every right to be.

"You know I saw that shit, right?"

"You saw what? What are you talking about?" I asked rhetorically, still not making direct eye contact with Rico.

"You trying to act like you did not see me is what I'm talking about." Rico looked at me as I looked down at my shoes. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you? Come here girl." He put his arms around my waist and picked me up. "I missed you so much, Sabrina." I had to admit I missed him, too, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

"Rico put me down." I laughed. "People are looking at us."

"Fuck them," he said, putting me down. "Okay, now cut the bullshit, Sabrina, what's really good with you? Where the hell have you been? I've been calling your phone like crazy until you changed your phone number up on me."

"I'm doing alright," was the best response I could give to him.

"You're lying to me, Sabrina. No, you not a'ight. What is all of this?" he asked, pointing to the bag of samples. Rico glanced over at the office I had just come out of and then back at me. "You pregnant?" he asked, now looking down at my stomach.

"No, I'm not pregnant, Rico." I laughed. "I'm here with a friend. I was just going to my car to get something," I lied.

"You can't even look at me right now that's how I know you lying." Rico, raised my chin upward, forcing me to look at him. "Tell me the truth, Sabrina, is this my baby?" I moved my chin away and looked down at my stomach as Rico rubbed it. "That's why you were so sick the last time I saw you. You didn't have food poisoning, you were pregnant then." I could feel the tears starting to form. It seemed as if all I did these days was cry and throw up. I looked back up at Rico and a tear escaped out of the corner of my eye and rolled down my face. "How far along are you, Sabrina?"

"Four months," I said, barely above a whisper.

"You weren't even going to tell me, were you? That's why you've been avoiding my calls and shit, ain't it?" he asked and then bit down on his bottom lip.

"It's not like that, Rico." I wiped my face. "I'm just going through a lot of shit right now that you wouldn't understand."

"Sabrina, don't tell me what I don't understand. Look, do you have somewhere you have to be, 'cause we need to talk?" he said sternly, growing more aggravated with me.

"Now is not a good time, Rico," I told him. "I do have somewhere to be in a half hour and I am running late."

"A'ight, will you come see me later then?"

"Rico I can't." I started to walk away from him.

"Nawl, hold up." He took me by my wrist. "What you mean you can't? Sabrina, I think you owe me at least that much. I mean damn!"

"I have to go, Rico," I raised my voice.

"Sabrina, I don't care how loud you get. So, what the fuck am I supposed to do, just pretend like I didn't see you today? You're carrying my child, baby." He rubbed my stomach again as I shook my head.

"I don't know if this baby is yours or not, Rico," I loudly blurted out, but then I lowered my voice when I realized people were staring at us.

"What?" Rico had a look of disappointment on his face. I could see that I had hurt his feelings.

"Look, I can't do this with you right now. I have to go."

"Well, if not now then when?"

"I'll come see you tonight," I told him as I walked away. "I have to go, Rico."

This time Rico didn't stop me from leaving. I thought my legs were going to give out on me as I walked toward the elevators. I knew he was watching me, but I never turned around to see. One thing I do know for sure, no matter how much I tell myself that I'm not, I am in love with Rico.

Momma's baby, daddy's maybe. Damn! Never thought that would be my story.

Tell Me You Don't Love Me No More!

I heard Sabrina when she pulled up outside. I knew it was her by the way she slammed the car door. I know she's hot as piss with me right now, too, for not showing up to the annulment hearing this afternoon. Since I'm contesting the shit my lawyer told me I didn't have to be there, and knowing my wife like I did I knew this would be the first place she looked for me. I didn't change the locks or anything after she moved in with Yvette.

Actually, this will be the first time I have seen Sabrina since I went to the hospital to pick her up. Every time I called her, she would hang up on me and then she had the nerve to change her cell phone number. I went over to Yvette's house about a week ago to try and talk to her, but she wouldn't open the door for me, so I kicked that bitch in. After that, Sabrina went and got a restraining order against me. I know she still loves me, but I had to let her be. I didn't want to keep upsetting her. I had to think about our baby; so I left her alone.

"Milk," she howled, as she trotted up the stairs. "I know you hear me calling you." Sabrina walked into our bedroom breathing heavily. I wanted to grab her so bad and hug and kiss her all over but I didn't. So far my plan is working. "Why didn't you show up for the hearing, Milk?"

"My lawyer went to court in my place, and how you doing today, Sabrina?" I smiled.

"I didn't marry your fucking lawyer," she said, pointing at my face, "I married your ass. You think you slick!"

"Well, technically, Sabrina, I'm not supposed to be within a hundred feet of you. That would violate yo' court order." I said still smiling. "And what are you doing here anyway? Don't make me get my own restraining order."

"Fuck you and your restraining order. How you gon' come to somebody else house tearing up shit. You lucky Yvette didn't call the police on you."

"You should have opened the damn door, then," I told her and then pressed my lips together just to annoy her. Sabrina shook her head at me.

"So, did your lawyer tell you that we were ordered into counseling?"

"Whatchu' talking 'bout, bae?" I asked to be funny.

"You know what the fuck I'm talking about, Milk, so stop it." She put a hand on her hip. "Your fucking lawyer was the one who requested we go."

"He did?" I gave her my best surprised look. "Well, I guess we are going to have to do what the judge said. I don't want to be in contempt of court."

"I swear I hate your ass." Sabrina walked out of the room and I got up and followed her.

"Wait a minute, girl," I called after her. "Sabrina, wait. I got something to show you."

"You don't have shit I want to see." She kept walking so I scooped her up from behind in my arms. "Put me down before you make me fall."

"You know I'm not going to drop you," I told her. "Just let me show you this and I won't try and stop you from leaving."

"I know damn well you're not trying to get me in your bedroom," she snapped.

"No, I'm not and it is our bedroom." I put her down at the guest bedroom door. "Close your eyes."

"Fuck no!" she shouted angrily.

"Girl, I swear you would fuck up a wet dream." Now I was the one shaking my head. I reached around Sabrina and opened the door, and the look on her face told me I had surprised her. "Go 'head in." I smiled. Sabrina walked in the room and looked around.

"It's nice," she said dryly, and it wasn't the response I was hoping for.

"That's all you have to say is that it's nice? This is the best room in the house right now," I said admiring my work.

"Umph, too, bad you went through all the trouble. Especially, since the baby won't be living here." She smirked.

"Man, I spent a lot of time getting this room right for the baby."

"What, you think just because you did this I'm supposed to move back in here? You just don't get it do you baby boy?"

"You know you don't mean that shit for real. You're not even giving us a chance. This ain't just 'bout you and me, Sabrina, we have a baby on the way. I can't just let you go just like that." I moved a little closer to her and lowered my voice. "Will you just at least think about it? Think about us?"

"I have thought about it. You fucked my cousin, end of the story," she replied in a smart tone. "Ain't no coming back from that so you might as well save it for somebody who wants to hear it. I have to go."

"But. . ."

"Ain't no buts. The only reason I am going along with this bullshit marriage counseling is because the judge is making me go. So, with that being said I'll see you on Thursday." She stormed out of the nursery.

"Can you at least tell me how my baby is doing? I know you been to the doctor. Is everything alright?" I followed her downstairs.

"The baby is healthy," she replied without turning around.

"Do you know what we having yet?"

"It's a girl, Milk," she huffed as if my questions were getting on her nerves.

"For real, it's a girl?" I smiled. My heart was turning into cotton just thinking about my baby. I actually wanted a girl, too. "That's what's up." I was trying to think of something to say that would convince Sabrina to give us another chance. All I need in my life was my two girls. Damn, I'm going to spoil my baby rotten. Man, I want Sabrina to come home so bad. Not only do I miss the fuck out of her, I want to be around her while she's pregnant. Rubbing on her stomach, doctor visits, getting up all times of the night and going out to get her whatever food she's craving. She most definitely has that pregnant glow, too. Ass looked fuller, titties getting bigger; my dick was getting hard right now just looking at her. "Sabrina?"

"What, Milk?" She stopped walking and turned around.

"You don't love me no more?"

"I don't have time for this today with you, Milk." She sighed.

"Sabrina, you're my world, bae, and it ain't shit without you in it." I reached out for her hand and surprisingly she allowed me to take it. "I'm sorry for disrespecting and for hurting you. I swear to God, I will never do anything to hurt you again. Bae, I just want you to come home." I kissed the back of her hand.

"I can't do this no more, Milk, I just can't. I'm tired." Sabrina looked as if she was about to cry.

"I'm not trying to upset you, Sabrina. That's the last thing I want to do." I took a step closer to her. "Bae, you don't love me no more?" Silence. "Tell me you don't love me no more if you don't." I waited for Sabrina to say something but she just looked away from me. "Tell me you don't love me no more and I will sign the papers for the annulment right now."

Got Her!

I was parked outside on the street five houses down from Milk and Sabrina's house when I spotted them coming out of the front door. I had just pulled up ten minutes ago, so I wasn't for certain how long Sabrina has been there. Milk walked Sabrina to her car, and soon as she backed out of the driveway he went back inside. I guess the rumors about Sabrina being pregnant are true. She's not that big, but I was able to see her small baby bump. My assumption about her not being able to have kids was wrong, too, but it doesn't matter though. She will never get back with Milk, now that she knows that he cheated on her with me, if nothing more than to save face.

I've spied on Milk for the last few nights so I could follow him to see if he's fucking with a new bitch, but lately he hasn't left his house that much. Feeling as if tonight would be more of the same, I decided to follow Sabrina instead just out of curiosity. Once, Sabrina turned the corner out of the neighborhood, she pulled over to the side of the road and parked. I was a few cars behind her, but I was still able to see inside the car.

"Why the fuck is she stopping?" I said aloud to myself, reclining the driver's seat back and turning off the lights. From what I could see she was talking on her cell phone, and after a few minutes she drove off. I waited a few seconds before following her, but I kept my distance once we were on the interstate.

Finally, she made a right on Cedar Road and then another right into Cedar Road Commons. She then drove toward the back of the neighborhood and parked in the visitor parking area. I pulled my car in an assigned parking space, and watched Sabrina through my rearview mirror as she walked toward the middle building. I turned around in my seat to get a good look, because I thought I saw a man walking toward her; I was right.

"Got her." I smiled to myself. "I got this bitch now! Where the fuck is my camera?"

He Can't Love You!

I just got back to Virginia a few days ago. My granddad had a heart attack that almost took him away from here. I arranged for a nurse to take care of him before I moved to Virginia. The agency has a practice here in Virginia, where I go to pay his bill, and I was on my way there this morning when I ran into Sabrina.

I didn't believe her at first when she said that she would come by my house tonight so that we could talk, until she called and told me that she was on her way. She sounded like she had been crying when I spoke to her, too. I haven't been able to stop thinking about her ever since I saw her earlier today. I was enraged when she told me that she didn't know if the baby she's carrying was mine. I'd assumed she wasn't fucking that nigga anymore as much as we had been getting it in, but that's what happens when you assume. My gut is telling me that the baby is mine. But, to tell the truth, I don't even want to know, because it makes no difference to me one way or the other. If the baby is mine that is cool, but if it isn't, then that's cool, too. I'll take care of both of them.

I'm just about ready to say fuck it all. My beef with Milk, hustling; all of it. I'm not making any money in Virginia no way. If I can convince Sabrina to move to Miami with me I'm out. Really, it doesn't even have to be Miami either. I would go anywhere she wanted to, just as long as I had her and the baby with me. Now, I know I am going to have to tell Sabrina the truth about me, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

"You okay?" I knew she had been crying as swollen and red as her eyes were.

"I was trying to get myself together before I got here," she replied, attempting a smile. I kissed her on the tip of her nose, then walked her inside.

"Come on over here and sit beside me." I patted the couch.

"Rico, I'm sorry for not at least calling you." She sat down beside me.

"You don't have to apologize to me, Sabrina, and whatever has you so upset you don't have to worry about that shit either. So, what's going on? Where have you been and how long have you known you were pregnant?" I hit her with a barrage of questions.

"I found out some shit about my husband and I just needed to get away from everybody. I found out I was pregnant not too long after that."

"So where are you now?" I continued my interrogation.

"What do you mean, where am I living?" she asked for clarity.

"Yeah, that, too. You said you left to get away from everybody, so where is your mindset at now?" I wanted to know. I refused to allow Sabrina to give me anymore half-ass answers this time, especially now that there was a baby involved.

"You wouldn't understand, Rico, it's complicated." She waved her hand at me, dismissing my question.

"Try me." I sat straight up and rested my elbows on my knees. "It can't be that complicated."

"Honestly, I don't know what to say to you, Rico. It's no-"

"Okay, then I'll go first," I abruptly interrupted her. "Sabrina, there's a lot about me that you don't know and one day I am going to tell you everything. I can't even begin to describe, let alone put into words how I feel about you. I don't care who, what, when, or how we got together, the fact is we did and in the process I fell in love with you. Now, you say found out some shit about your husband and you left to get away from everybody, but then you turn back around and went back to the nigga!"

Sabrina got up off the couch and walked to the other side of the room. "Rico, I haven't been with my husband for the last two months. I've been staying with Yvette. When I saw you earlier today I was on my way then to a hearing to have my marriage annulled."

"So, you aren't married anymore?" I prayed she would say no.

"Yeah, I'm still married. Milk is contesting the annulment and now we have to go to marriage counseling." She sighed.

"And you mean to tell me you're going through with it?" I shook my head while slightly laughing.

"Rico, I don't have a choice," she said in a low tone. "What do you want from me?"

"Okay, so what happens after the counseling?" I elevated my voice a notch. The more she talked the angrier I was becoming. "You know damn well that ain't going to change shit. The counseling is just a formality, then what?"

"I don't know," she lowered her head and said. "I feel like I need to give it a chance."

"Oh, so you came over here to tell me that you left your husband, but you are going back to him? Is that why you're so fucking upset? You crying behind that nothing ass nigga?"

"Rico?" she yelled my name.

"What? Rico, what?" I leaped up off the couch and stood directly in front of her.

"You know what . . . I shouldn't have come over here. I don't need this shit!" Sabrina leaned down and grabbed her purse off the couch, but I quickly snatched it away from her.

"No, Sabrina, not this time," I lowered my voice and said. "You can't keep running away from me. It's a possibility that this baby is mine." I rubbed her stomach.

"What do you want me to do, Rico?" she yelled, arms flapping around in the air. "You act like I planned all of this shit. I never expected to fall in love with you."

"Stop!"

"Stop what?" she lowered her arms and put her hands on her hips.

"Listen to yourself. Did you just hear what you said?" I asked her. "You said you never anticipated falling in love with me."

"Rico, I can admit how I feel about you, but I am not going to lie to you and tell you that I don't love my husband anymore either."

"You don't love that mothafucka he's just your safety net." I walked away the other side of the room. "How, can you honestly say that you love somebody that treats you the way he does?"

"I can't explain why, I just do."

"That's some bullshit and you know it, Sabrina. What do you love about the nigga? Answer that!" I turned around and asked.

"Look, Rico, I have had one hell of a day," she said without making eye contact with me. "Will you please give me my purse so I can leave?"

"Okay, I will answer my own fucking question then," I said, ignoring her about the purse. "I can tell you why you don't want to leave this nigga it's because of money," I shouted, as I walked back over to where she was standing. "So, you can walk around with shit like this." I held up her wrist referring to the diamond tennis bracelet she was wearing. "The cars, the lavish spending, that's what the fuck you love!"

"Whatever, Rico, you know me so damn well, huh?" She rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

"Sabrina, tell me you don't see a nigga you met working at Quikshop with no real money when you look at me," I fired at her.

"Rico, I would take your blue collar over a street collar any day of the week. Yeah, my husband gives me whatever I want. Actually, he spoils me rotten, but look at the shit I have to put up with in return."

"And that's the kind of shit you want to go back to?" I wrinkled up my face as I looked at her. At this point I was confused as to what she really wanted.

"Nothing is official yet, Rico. I just told him I would give the counseling a try."

"So, where does that leave me and you? What am I supposed to do, just sit back and wait for you to go through the motions with this counseling shit?" I pulled Sabrina close to me and kissed her on her neck. "Is that what you are asking me to do, Sabrina, just be idle?" I kissed her on the other side of her neck. "You got away from me one time, I'm not letting you go again," I whispered in her ear. "He can't love you like I love you, baby." I rubbed up close against her so she could feel how hard my dick was, and the way she kissed me back I was ready to give it to her right now. "I'm not going to let you go, Sabrina. I need you in my life, baby." I begin unbuttoning her blouse. "Tell me you love me, I want to hear you say it."

"I love you, Rico." That was all I needed to hear. I picked her up, laid her down on the couch, and slowly begin to undress her, but I paused after taking off her blouse. It amazed me to see Sabrina's stomach knowing that a baby was growing inside. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, I just want to look at you for a minute." I smiled as I looked down at her.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this right now, Rico," she said, as sat up.

"Shhh . . . lay back down. Just let me love you."

Torn!

"So, how did it go?" Yvette asked. Milk and I had our first appointment tonight with the marriage counselor.

"Girl, I don't even want to talk about it." I sat down and took my shoes off. "My feet hurt like hell."

"I told you to stop wearing those high heels, Sabrina. You're pregnant and you can't keep dressing like you're not. As a matter of fact, let's go shopping for some maternity clothes," she said excitingly.

"Damn, I could have sworn my momma's name was Janis," I snapped back at her. "And, there is nothing wrong with what I have on."

"Bitch, please. I don't care nothing about you getting an attitude and those heels you have on are too high for you to be walking around in. Now tell me what happened. You know I'm nosey." She smiled.

"For real, 'Vette, we didn't even finish the session before Milk got up and walked out. This nigga had the audacity to say that I knew what type of man he was when I got with him," I told her as I rubbed my feet. "Basically, saying that I shouldn't make a big deal out the fact that he cheats."

"That mothafucka got balls big as Massachusetts. You would've thought he would have gone in there tonight eating some humble pie. So, you should just accept that he cheats?"

"I think he called himself being honest. That's what the lady told us to do."

"And what did you say?" Yvette asked.

"Hardly shit, I just listened." I went into the kitchen, poured myself a glass of Pepsi, and then grabbed the Fig Newtons from on top of the refrigerator.

"What are you doing, girl?" Yvette asked with her head cocked to the side.

I crammed a cookie into my mouth as I sat back down on the sofa. "What?"

"Sabrina, you really shouldn't be drinking soda, it's not good for the baby."

I love Yvette like a sister, but she was really starting to get on my last nerves telling me what I can and cannot wear, what I should eat, how I should sleep on my back and not my side. Shit, I am ready to go and get me another hotel room. I'm this close to cussing her out.

"Yvette, would you please stop nagging me? I'm going to drink this soda."

"Anyway, I thought you were going to give the counseling a try. What, did you change your mind?" I didn't even bother to answer. I was in no mood to talk about Milk anymore. "Something is up with you, bitch, and it ain't your damn hormones either." I turned my head the other way so Yvette wouldn't see smiling. "What is so funny? What you done did, Sabrina?"

"Nothing, Mommy Dearest," I said as I giggled.

"Don't give me that nothing shit. Bitch, I know your ass and you can't keep anything from me." Yvette looked at me suspiciously. "And don't think I haven't noticed that you've been walking around here for the last few days smiling your ass off, and you haven't been throwing up either. Come on out with it, sistah girl!"

"Can't I be in a good mood for a change?" I grinned. Yvette went into the kitchen and came back with a glass of milk. "I don't want any milk. I didn't drink milk before I was pregnant and I'm not drinking it now. That shit is nasty." I passed the glass back to her. "I'll compromise and drink some water."

Yvette took the milk in the kitchen, came back with a bottled water, and sat down beside me. I was trying my best not to laugh, but I could see Yvette looking at me out of the corner of my eyes.

"Is that a dick smile on your face?" she asked slightly unsure of herself. "Umm . . . hmm . . . that is a dick look." She laughed. "I knew it, I knew it. You got you some dick didn't you? You cow and weren't going to tell me." Yvette nudged me on the arm

"Tell you what? Plus, I don't kiss and tell," I said with a straight face.

"Bitch, you don't have to tell. I see it all over your face. I knew you would give into Milk eventually." I turned my head the other way again. "Don't look over there. You fucked, Milk?" she asked.

"No, I didn't." I shook my head.

"Yes, you did, Sabrina. Don't lie."

"I promise you I didn't." I got up to go to the bathroom with Yvette right behind me. "Can I use the bathroom please?" I tried to close the door, but she now had her foot lodged in the doorway.

"You don't have to lie to me, Sabrina, I'm not judging you."

"I know that 'Vette." I sighed. "I did get me some dick, but it wasn't Milk." I waited for the next question.

"Well, if not Milk, then who?" I just looked at her, hoping my silence would answer the question for me; it did. "Rico, Sabrina? Oh, hell nawl don't close the door. Sabrina, you are asking for trouble," she announced, as she pushed on the door to keep me from closing it. "When did you even start talking to Rico again?"

"I ran into him last week."

"Does he know about the baby?"

"Yeah, he knows," I told her.

"Tell me you did not tell him he might be your baby's daddy, Sabrina."

"I didn't have to, Yvette, he figured it out. It doesn't take much to count the months," I answered with an attitude. "Mother, may I pee now?" She removed her foot.

"Well, what did he say and how did you end up fucking him again, Sabrina? Did you go to his house?"

"Yvette, just leave it alone. Yes, I went to his house. We talked and one thing led to another, the end." I slammed the door in her face.

Now I regretted even telling Milk that I would commit to the counseling. I guess I was just caught up in the moment, feeling sorry for him. Plus, the shit I have been doing made me feel a tad bit guilty even though I know I shouldn't. At this point I am torn between the two. Deep down I do love, Milk, but I am not in love with him anymore. The counseling is just a waste of my time, because it's truly over between us as far as I am concerned. But, when Milk is in my face, it's hard for me to stick to what I say I am going to do. I don't want to have to keep sneaking around with, Rico, because he is where I want to be.

Hold My Own!

"It's open," I yelled from the bathroom. Sabrina called and said that she was on her way to my house, so I left the front door open for her. I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked into the living room to greet her. "Yvette, what the fuck is you doing here?"

"Is that any way to speak to an old friend, Rico?" She smiled as she sat down on the couch. I quickly locked the front door.

"I didn't hear you, what did you say you were doing here?" I asked her again. I went into my bedroom, put on some shorts and went back into the living room.

"You didn't have to put any clothes on for me. I know what you working with." She laughed.

"Yvette, get the fuck out right now." I pointed to the front door. "Sabrina is on her way over here."

"That's what I came to see you about. Look, Rico, you need to leave Sabrina the fuck alone," she voiced adamantly.

"I told you before, you don't have shit to do with what goes on between me and Sabrina." She crossed her legs and spread her arms out on the back of the couch. "I don't believe this shit," I said to myself as rubbed my head. "Yvette, don't make me hurt you. Get up and get the fuck out my house!" I reached for her arm and she stood up.

"Rico, you don't know Sabrina's husband like I do. Milk is crazy. He will kill you and Sabrina and won't lose a bit of sleep," she protested, seizing her arm back.

"Fuck, Milk, and fuck you, too. You may know him, but you damn sure don't know me. I can hold my own. I'm not worried about that nigga," I barked back, which was truly how I felt.

"You're not from around here, Rico. Milk is deep in the streets and you are way out of your league." She pointed at me with her index finger

"Yvette, get the fuck out!" I yelled once again, pointing at the front door.

"You think that is your baby don't you?" she asked just as Sabrina knocked at the door.

"Shit," I said, lowering my voice. "Yvette, look, go-"

"Nawl, let her in. I should have been told her about us." She began to walk toward the front door. I grabbed her by the arm again and lowered my voice down to a whisper.

"Yvette, I'm telling you unless you want to join your dead husband you better take your ass out the back door," I threatened. She was about to say something, but I put my hand over her mouth and spoke directly into her ear. "You keep fucking with me, you're going to meet my alter ego." I could tell by the way her eyes widened she knew I meant what I said. I slid Yvette's purse on her shoulders and then escorted her to the back door with my hand still covering her mouth. I opened the back door and she went down the staircase without turning around. "Crazy bitch," I muttered to myself. I ran back to my room, took my shorts off, and threw the towel I had on back around my waist. "I'm coming," I said, opening the front door.

"Damn, Rico, I've been knocking at the door for five minutes," she exclaimed with feeling. "I'm glad won't nobody chasing me."

"Hello to you, too, miss. Can I get a kiss before you start fussing me out?" I stretched my neck and kissed her on the cheek as she walked inside headed straight for the kitchen. "Where are you going?" I closed the door and locked it.

"Damn, I'm getting something to drink," she replied and made a sour face. "Is that allowed? What is wrong with you? Why are you acting all jumpy and shit?" I followed her into the kitchen.

"What makes you say that?" I glanced over at the back door and Sabrina started laughing.

"I'm just messing with you, boy." She giggled.

"Well, can I have a real kiss now then?" I puckered up my lips.

"I don't give out kisses on Thursdays," she replied still laughing. I grabbed her anyway and kissed her all over her neck and face. "Stop now, you know that's my spot."

"Just one of many," I said to remind her. Sabrina grabbed a can soda out of the refrigerator and opened it.

"You don't know me like that, Rico," she stated jokingly.

"Baby, don't drink that." I took the can of soda out of her hand. "It's some grape juice in there, drink that." I poured the soda down the sink.

"Rico?" She sulked.

"Rico what?" I looked at her.

"I was going to drink that." She popped her lips.

"Soda is not good for the baby, Sabrina."

"There you go. You know what . . ." She started to say and then stopped. "Never mind, would you please go put some clothes on so we can go eat. I'm starving."

"Your ass always hungry now that you've gotten your appetite back. Now food ain't safe around you," I teased her.

"Ha-ha, very funny. Go get dressed before I leave your black ass here." She playfully punched me on my shoulder. Sabrina then removed a bag of Doritos from her purse as she went into the living room and sat down on the couch.

"I'm not even gon' tell you those are bad for you, too," I told her as I walked to my bedroom to get dressed.

"Leave me alone, Rico. You are starting to get on my nerves, too," she shouted from the living room.

As I pulled my shirt over my head, I saw Sabrina standing in the doorway of my bedroom through the mirror. "Baby, I was just fucking with you about the Doritos," I told her after seeing the serious look on her face. "It ain't that serious is it?"

"No, but these are," she replied, holding up what looked like panties.

"Whose are those?"

"I don't know, you tell me." I could sense by her body language that she was mad.

"Baby, I don't know. They ain't mine. Where you get them from?"

"Out of your fucking couch, Rico," she roared, throwing the panties at me and then walked away.

"Sabrina, wait a minute." I caught up with her just as she reached the front door. She opened the door and I immediately shut it. She turned around and faced me.

"Let me guess, you don't have any idea how those thongs got in your couch, right?" she asked cynically.

"Yeah, I do, but you have to promise to hear me out."

That got damn Yvette!

"I really don't want to hear it, Rico. This is just more of the same shit I have been dealing with my husband." She angrily waved her finger at me.

"Sabrina, I'm not your husband so don't say that shit. Don't com-." She cut me off.

"Don't do what? Don't compare you to him?" Sabrina folded her arms.

Here we go.

"Yes, got dammit, don't compare anything that happens in our relationship to what you went through in your last one." Now I had an attitude. "Like I said, I'm not your husband."

"You know what . . . you don't have to answer to me. I'm the married one, right? My bad, I forgot you were single." She opened the front door. This time I locked it after closing it shut.

"That's not what I'm saying and you know it," I lowered my voice, hoping that she would follow suit. "Now, look," I begin to explain, taking her hand in mine. "Remember the woman I told you about the night we had drinks?" Sabrina shook her head yes.

"So, what, you're back with her now?" She folded her arms across her chest in a huff.

"No, just listen to me," I replied, slightly irritated with her constant interruptions. "The girl ain't with her husband no more and now she's trying to fuck shit up between me and you."

"And how does she know about me?"

"Shit, I told her."

"I'm supposed to believe that, Rico?"

"You have to believe it, baby, because it's the truth." I unfolded her arms. "Look, I don't want anybody else but you, baby." I kissed her softly on her lips. "Just trust me on this one, Sabrina."

Back On My Grind!

"Well, look who decided to return to the land of the living," Dap said, as I walked into the barbershop.

"What's going on, man?" We simultaneously slapped hands and bumped shoulders.

"What you know good, man?" he asked.

"Not shit," I replied, as I looked around the shop. "Where everybody at?"

"Ain't nobody here but One Man and Biggie. They in the back room," he answered.

"What they doing back there man, shooting dice?" I asked Dap.

"Man, I don't know what those crazy niggas back there doing, Milk. Hold your head down," he told the little boy sitting in the chair getting his hair cut.

"I remember you lil' man, ain't yo' name Bre?" I asked him.

"Umm . . . hmm." Bre shook his head yes. Dap poured Sea Breeze on a paper towel and then applied it around the little boy's hairline. "Okay, Bre, you done."

"Can I go in the back there with One Man and 'dem?" Bre asked Dap.

"No, but you can take your little ass over there and play with the WII," Dap told him.

"Alright," Bre agreed, as he got down out of the chair. Dap began to sweep up the hair around his station.

"Damn, Nicole travels to all of my barber shops don't she?"

Dap turned and looked at me as if I had said something wrong. "How do you know Nicole, man?"

"I met her at my Princess Anne shop. Blac was cutting her son's hair. Oh yeah, you were out of town that weekend," I let him know.

"Oh, okay. I told her to go to Blac if I wasn't here when she came in. I knew Blac wasn't gon' charge her nothing to cut her son's hair." Dap went back to cleaning up the rest of the hair off the floor.

"She some kin to you, man?" I asked, trying to figure out what Dap's side-eye glance at me was all about.

"Nawl, Milk, she ain't no kin to me," he answered. "I know Nicole fucked your head up, too, when you saw her didn't she?" He laughed.

"Man, what! Her and Sabrina could be sisters." I chuckled. "How long she been in VA?"

"Nicole moved here a little over a year ago."

"She got a man?" Dap cut his eyes at me again. "Damn, man, why all these funny ass looks? I'm just asking." I smiled.

"You got enough shit going on with you and Sabrina. That's the last thing you need is to add more drama to your life. Nicole is a good girl and she has been through enough shit." He sat the broom and dust pan against the wall and sat down in his chair.

"Nawl, Dap, it ain't nothing like that." I laughed. "I was just being nosey that's all. I ain't fucking 'round. Sabrina gets wind of the littlest thing and that's my ass. She already ain't talking to me."

"I promised her mother, I would look out for her while she's here until she gets herself straight."

"That's a'ight, man." We slapped hands again, as I sat down in the empty chair next to his station.

Over the years, Dap and I have gotten really tight. He reminds me a lot of my daddy, too. Other than his thinning gray hair, he could easily pass for my pop's brother and ever since Kirk died we've gotten closer. He knew all about the shit that's going on between me and Sabrina, too.

Dap used to own his own barbershop in Norfolk down on Church Street, but he lost his shop, wife, kids, and anything else he had going for himself getting high. I used to sell dope to him back in the day when I was fresh out the gate, and Kirk shot him in the back for trying to steal the dope we had stashed behind the apartment building we were hustling out of. I was nervous as hell every time I would see the police thinking they were coming to arrest me and Kirk for shooting him, but Dap never gave either one of us up.

After he got out of the hospital he went into rehab and got his shit together, and I put him on as a barber at one of my shops to try him out. I even left money out around him to see if he was going to take it, but he never did. When I opened the shop up out in Virginia Beach, I put Dap in charge and he's been running the shop ever since.

"No, nigga fuck that. Give me back my shit!" I turned around to see One Man and Biggie coming out of the back room and One Man had a wad of money in his hands. "I won that side bet mothafucka, give me my money, nigga," Biggie said, trying to snatch the money out of One Man's hand.

"Biggie, I'm telling you, you better back the fuck up man! You can't do that shit and you know it." One Man turned around and pushed him.

"Aye . . . aye, what the fuck is the problem?" I intervened.

"Milk, this nigga bet on high spades and. . ." One Man begins to explain before Biggie cut him off.

"And I had the ace, nigga!" he charged.

"You can't pick that shit up and put it in yo' hand with the rest of your cards and then throw it out. You should've left it down on the table until you had a spread, nigga." One Man stuffed the wad of money into his pocket.

"Where in the fuck you learn how to play cards at, Biggie?" I laughed. "One Man is right, you can't do that shit, man."

"I done told y'all 'bout all that extra shit. I will make a no gambling rule up in this shop," Dap told the fellas.

"One Man, you gon' give me my shit back, nigga!" Biggie pointed in One Man's face, and then he stormed out the barbershop.

"Wait on it you fat mothafucka." One Man put up his middle finger at Biggie's backside.

"Biggie, gon' fuck yo' ass up, One Man, keep fucking with him," I warned him. "You remember that time you ate his sub? That nigga went off in this damn shop." Dap and I both laughed.

"Man, talk about some funny shit," Dap added. "It took me, you, and Kirk to hold Biggie off of his ass."

"Shit," One Man swatted the air, "I ain't stunting Biggie. Y'all underestimate a me 'cause I'm short. But you know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Plus, I was gon' give that crying mothafucka his shit back. I was just fucking with him."

"One Man, what the hell you doing here anyway?" I asked him.

"I'm cutting hair here now, Milk. You ain't know that?"

"What, Blac kicked you out Princess Anne?" I asked.

"Nawl, man, never that. I was the best barber in Princess Anne. My car fucked up right now and I'm staying with my girl in Atlantis," he said, referring to the neighborhood located behind the barber shop. "Now I can just walk to work until I get my shit fixed." I spun around in the chair and when it stopped I saw Nicole walking into the barber shop. "Well, if it isn't my future baby momma." One Man smiled. "You look fine as ever."

"Thank you, One Man." Nicole winked at him. "Hey, Dap."

"Hey sugar." Dap kissed Nicole's cheek. "You get everything you need?"

"Yeah, I picked out a few things. I still need to work on my living room, though," she conveyed to him.

"I told you if you needed anything to come to me, Nicole," Dap responded.

"I'm good." She smiled. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

"How you doing, Nicole?" I asked.

"I'm well, Milton, and yourself?" she replied with a smirk on her face.

"When I told you my real name I didn't intend for you to call me by it," I said.

"And I told you that Milton sounds so much better than Milk, didn't I?"

"You can call me anything you want, baby girl," I threw back at her.

"I will keep that in mind. Dap, I talked to Peaches last night and she told me to tell you to call her when you get a chance," Nicole said, looking around the barbershop. "Come on, Bre. We're getting ready to go."

"Alright," Dap said. "I'll call her later on."

"Nice seeing you again, Milton. See you later One Man."

"Okay, baby, I'll be 'round your house later on," One Man joked with Nicole.

"Didn't I tell you that you have to be this tall," Nicole raised her arm over her head, "to ride this ride?"

"There you go." One Man annoyingly shook his head. "We all the same size lying down, baby," he said as Nicole left out of the barbershop with her son in tow. "So, Milk, when you gon' holler at yo' peoples for me, man?"

"One Man, I told you, stop sitting back waiting on these mothafuckas to come back to VA to put you on. If you are trying to get in the music game, you got to put the spotlight on your damn self, man. Them niggas ain't obligated to do nothing for you," I told him.

"I know, man, but that's some fucked up shit. How you not gon' look out for the niggas in your hometown when we the ones who put them on the map. What's his name head swollen like a mothafucka, too. You see his new video, man?" One Man asked.

"Fuck that nigga. Let me hear what you got, man," I told him. One Man walked over and stood in front of me.

"Check it, I don't cry over spilled milk, I'm tryna' grind—stay alive—and avoid getting killed.

Please excuse my language, but you know shit is real. Especially out here, when you gotta' pay bills.

Everything I had, I don' moved, anything I get, I'mma move.

I don't play 'da game to lose, you know I'm in it to win it.

I'm re-upping when I'm finish, 'den once again when 'dats finished.

I'll repeat 'da process, until my pockets are thicker.

Meanwhile, ducking police, while in 'da projects wit' killas.

Atlantis—we vanish, when we hear sirens. Old ladies can't stand us, 'dey say we too violent.

My girl wants 'da finer things, shoes, bags, and diamond rings. So I gotta get it anyway 'dat I can. So I'm putting in work, like a maintenance man."

"A'ight, I see you, One Man." I nodded my head. "Let me holler at my nigga, Frank Nitty, and see what he can do for you."

Can I At Least Get Some!

"Damn, Sabrina, slow down," Milk called out to me as I walked across the parking lot toward my car.

"I'm in a hurry, Milk." I turned around. "What?"

"Where are you on your way to?"

"Why?" I frowned up my face. "I don't ask you your whereabouts."

"Because, I asked that's why. What the fuck is wrong with you tonight? You feeling a'ight?" he questioned.

"I'm tired," I lied. I had plans with Rico again tonight and I wanted to get back to Yvette's house to take a shower and change my clothes.

"Is my baby wearing you out?" He reached his hand out to touch my stomach and I instantly backed away.

"I'm fine. I'll be alright," I informed him.

"Why don't you come home with me tonight, Sabrina, and let me take care of you? We can go get some takeout from Fridays and chill like we used to do," he politely offered despite my rude demeanor.

"I'm not going back to that house with you." I opened my car door and threw my purse on the passenger seat.

"Whatchu' mean 'that house?'" he scoffed at me. "You know what, Sabrina . . . never mind. I ain't trying to get into it with you tonight."

"See you next week." I sat down in my car and just as I was about to close the door he snatched it open.

"What the fuck you mean next week, Sabrina?

"Yeah, next week like I said." I stared back at him.

"So, when are we supposed to spend some time together? I miss you, bae," he spoke softly, trying to maintain a calm appearance.

"I'm not ready to spend any time alone with you yet, Milk," I told him. Truthfully, I wanted to tell him that I was never going to spend any time alone with him again.

"Well, when then?" he asked with an attitude.

"I don't know, Milk. I'm getting ready to go home. I'm tired."

"Man, do you know how long it has been since I had some pussy, Sabrina?"

"Um . . . last night," I quickly answered.

"You real funny, you know that? I'm not fucking anybody if that's what you are trying to say. I know it's been all of four months since the last time we had sex."

"And, your point is?" I reached for the car door handle, but Milk tightened the grip he had on the door.

"Man, you won't spend no time with me. You won't let me go to the doctor with you. I can't touch your stomach. Can I at least get some pussy? I mean shit!" Milk brushed his hand against my left thigh, but I smacked it away.

"Don't try and sell me no dream. You expect me to believe that you haven't been fucking anybody?" I giggled. "Okay, Milk, what the fuck ever."

"You know what, man, fuck this shit!" he fumed as he walked away from my car with both of his hands clasp together behind his head. I thought about starting up my car and pulling off, because he looked as if he was about to snap. "Whatchu' want to do Sabrina?" he asked, walking back toward my car. "You want the divorce?"

Without thinking about I said, "Yes, I do. I want the divorce, Milk." He looked as if he was going to cry but sucked it back up. I felt crying myself.

"That's what you want?" he asked again and I shook my head yes. "A'ight, I'll call my lawyer in the morning." He slammed my car door shut causing me to flinch. I started my car and pulled off before he changed his mind.

Don't Listen To What People Say!

So, I went ahead and signed the papers, and Sabrina and I are no longer married. I guess she meant the shit this time. I always thought that no matter what I did she would never leave me, but I now see that even her love had its limits. Sabrina doesn't call me and I don't bother her. I would like to know how my baby is doing though. I got so much shit for her and she's not even here yet. On the other hand, the one thing I can say is I know without a shadow of a doubt this is my baby, so she still has to deal with me on some level. But, all hope is not gone yet. My plan was to give her some space with the hopes that she will come back to me on her own. There are moments when I do miss the hell out of her, but I have to admit it does feel good not having anybody nagging the fuck out of me.

I finally got me some pussy, though, and I've been fucking a different bitch every night, too. I also put Nicole's sexy ass on my Gots to fuck her list. I've been hanging up in my barber shop in Virginia Beach, trying to catch Nicole there, and when that didn't work I had to put on my Double O Negro hat and do some more investigating. I found out Nicole worked at my home girl Lea's shop, and I'm on my way up there now to see if I can get Nicole to twist my hair. I've been thinking about dreading up for a while now, but Sabrina always said that she didn't think the hairstyle would look good on me.

As soon as I walked inside of Cut N' Curl, all conversations ceased. "Ladies, how y'all doing today?" I spoke to no one in particular.

"Hey, Milk." Lea was the first to acknowledge me. "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you around the way lately." She smiled as she hugged me.

"What's up, girl?" I released our embrace. "I came to get my hair twisted."

"Milk, you should have called me. I got one in the chair, one under the dryer and two waiting on me," she said.

"Nawl . . . nawl . . . you go 'head. I see my hair stylist right over there," I said, referring to Nicole who was at the sink washing her client's hair.

"Oh, really?" Lea grinned. "Your ass will never change."

"You know how I do." I winked at her.

"Alright, Milk. I don't want any shit up in my shop," she said with her head tilted to the side.

"Look, do me a favor, Lea. Come here and let me holler at you for a second." I reached into my pocket and took out some money. I led her to the waiting area out of earshot from everybody. "Tell Nicole you usually do my hair, but you backed up today and get her to hook me up." I passed her a hundred dollar bill.

"Uh . . . uh, Milk." Lea shook her head vigorously. "You know me and Sabrina cool. I can't do her like that."

"Me and Sabrina ain't together anymore, Lea," I told her.

"What?" she said, shocked. "What did you do, Milk?"

"Long story, ma. So, you gon' do that for me?"

"I guess," she agreed, putting the money inside of her bra. I sat down in the waiting area and Lea walked toward the back of the shop where Nicole was. I picked up a Vibe magazine and started flipping through it.

* * *

"Milton . . . Milton?" I opened my eyes to Nicole standing over top of me shaking my leg. I looked around the shop and everybody else was gone. Plus, it was dark outside.

"What I tell you 'bout that Milton shit, Nicole?" I sat up in the chair and wiped the side of my mouth with the back of my hand.

"No, what did I tell you?" She laughed. "Come on here."

I got up and followed Nicole back to her station with my eyes glued to her ass. "Gosh almighty," I uttered to myself. Nicole stopped and turned around.

"Did you say something to me, Milton?"

"Nawl." I smiled, shaking my head no. "I ain't say shit."

"And, look, you can't be coming up in here making all that damn noise either," she said.

"What noise, Nicole?"

"Snoring! Your ass ran everybody out the damn shop." She clowned.

"Go 'head on with that shit." I waved my hand at her. "Was I really snoring, Nicole?" I snickered.

"Yeah, you were," a voice answered for her. It was a girl name Renada, but everybody called her Precious. I knew her because she hung around with Asia.

"Won't nobody talking to yo' ass, so mind yo' own mothafucking' business bi-. . ."

"Milton?" Nicole interrupted my rant before I had a chance to really go in on Precious.

"I'm out of here, Nicole. You know how to turn on the alarm right?" Precious asked.

"Yeah, girl, I got it. I'll see you later." I sat down in Nicole's chair and she fastened a cape around my neck.

"Okay, I'll see you later," Precious said, cutting her eyes at me. I ignored her.

"So, what you want done to your head, negro?" Nicole spun me around to face her.

"Surprise me. I see you got skills." I smiled.

Nicole told me to go over to the sink area so she could wash my hair, and as I lay back in the chair I could feel her titties rubbing up against my chest. I was trying to get a glimpse down her shirt, but she kept pushing my head back down into the water, so I sat back to enjoy getting my hair washed. Nicole had my shit feeling good by the time she finished washing it.

"Okay, Milton, you can go back to my chair," she motioned with her hand.

"Look, if I give you a really nice tip would you please stop calling me Milton?" I sat down in the chair at her station.

"I'll think about it," she replied nonchalantly.

"Damn, you tough money, girl." I shook my head.

"Hold still, sir," she requested, as she rubbed something in my hair that had a sweet smell to it.

"What is that you putting in my hair, Nicole?" I lifted my head and asked. "Don't have me in here smelling like no broad."

"It's a leave in conditioner, now hold still, Milk."

"I like the way you say my name, girl." I smiled at her. "Say it again."

"You are silly as hell you know that?" She laughed.

"So, how do you like VA so far, ma?"

"I like it, but it's really different from where I come from."

"What part of Florida are you from?" I asked.

"Miami," she replied, as she continued to massage the conditioner into my scalp.

"So, do you think you will make Virginia your home for good?"

"Damn, do you work for the Feds or something, Milton?"

"I was just trying to make conversation," I told her. "I can sit here and be quiet."

"You probably don't know how to be quiet." She laughed. "You never did tell me how you got the nickname, Milk, either."

"I told you I would tell you over dinner." Nicole gave me a stern 'nigga please' look. "A'ight, don't cuss me out." I chuckled at her facial expression. "My little brother couldn't pronounce Milton when he was little, so he called me Milk. Everybody else picked up on it and started calling me Milk, too," I explained.

"So, you have a brother huh, any sisters?" Nicole never stopped doing my hair as we talked.

"Nope, just me and Rell as far as I know. I been to Miami a few times and I had a mothafucking ball. What made you move up here?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Hold your head down for me. And to answer your question I needed a change of scenery."

"Is your son the only one you have?" I turned my head slightly, as I continued to drill her with questions.

"Yes, and he is more than enough." She yanked my head back around. "I don't have to see your face to talk to you, Milton."

"Damn, shorty." I balled my face up. "Did you have to jerk my head like that?" Nicole started laughing. "What the fuck is so funny?"

"You're what's funny," she answered. "Let me find out you're tender headed." It took her damn near two hours to finish twisting up my hair, but by the time she was done, Nicole had my shit looking sharper than a mothafucka.

"So, whatchu' you got planned for the rest of the evening?" I asked, hoping I could get some of her time tonight.

"Not a damn thing. I'm going to go pick up my son from the babysitter's house and carry my ass home. I'm tired as shit." Nicole stretched her arms out as she yawned. I reached in my pocket and took out my money.

"Here you go." I handed the money to her.

"What's this for, Milk?"

"That's for you." I smiled.

"You're giving me three hundred dollars?" she sneered at my kind gesture.

"What's wrong, it's not enough?" I started peeling off more money. "I told you I was going to give you a nice tip didn't I?"

Nicole took the money and put it inside of her cape. "Thanks."

"You welcome. There is more where that came from, too, shorty," I told her.

"Is that right?" She looked me up and down.

"Damn right." I took a step forward closer to her.

"Woe playa'," she said, backing away with her hands up. "You got me fucked up to think that you're going to get some ass just because you gave me a funky three hundred dollars."

"What, you need three hundred more?" I said confidently.

"So, I guess what they say about you is true, huh?" She turned her back to me as she began to straighten up her station.

"Who the fuck is they? Shorty, don't listen to what people say about me. If you want to know something 'bout Milk, ask me."

"Oh, I think I know all I need to know about Milk." She grabbed her purse and then turned the lights off over her station. "Come on, let's get out of here," she said, walking toward the shop entrance.

"How 'bout we go have a few drinks, ma? Let me show you around town," I suggested. Nicole stopped and turned around.

"No, thank you. I don't have drinks with married men." She held up my left hand. I had gotten so used to wearing my wedding band and never took it off.

Nicole wasn't going to be as easy to break as I thought.

White Girl!

Ever since last night I've had sharp pains in my lower back and side. I called my doctor's office this morning, because I didn't know if I should to go to the emergency room or not, but she told me to come in to the office for a checkup just to be safe. I've dilated one centimeter, but my doctor said that it wasn't uncommon and for me not to worry. However, Dr. Hoffman did advise me to stay off my feet as much as possible.

I had been spending so much time at Rico's house; Yvette probably thinks that I have completely moved out. She still hasn't gone back to work yet and I am starting to worry about her, because all she wanted to do was to stay closed up in her room reading books. I do feel kind of bad though. Yvette has been there by my side throughout all my Milk drama and I feel as if I've neglected her in a sense. I plan to spend the next couple of days with her. I'm afraid she's falling into a deep depression.

As I pulled into the visitor's parking space, I noticed a white girl coming out of Yvette's condo and she looked as if she could use a good bath. I couldn't get out my car fast enough, but before I could reach her she had gotten into a green Neon with a huge dent in the passenger side door.

"Can I help you with something?" I tapped on the window.

"No," she replied without rolling the window down. She then started up the car, shifted it into reverse, and pulled out.

"No the fuck she didn't," I said aloud to myself. I watched her drive down the street until I could no longer see the car, and then I hurried up the steps as fast as my body would allow me. The front door was unlocked, so I didn't need to use my key to get in. "What the world?" I looked around the living room in disbelief. It looked as if a hurricane had been through it. Empty beer cans and liquor bottles were everywhere, and the stench of cigarettes and weed filled the air. I walked straight to Yvette's room and banged on the door. "Yvette, open this door." I pounded. "Are you in there?" No answer. I turned the doorknob, but it was locked, so I banged on the door again. "Yvette, open this damn door, girl," I hollered, and just then the door flung open.

"What, Sabrina?" she shouted. "Banging on the fucking door like you is the police or something." Yvette's eyes were blood red and swollen, like she hadn't slept in days, and she had on the same clothes she was wearing the last time I saw her three days ago. Her bedroom looked as trifling as the rest of her condo.

"What the hell happened in here, Yvette? This shit ain't even you," I told her.

"I had some friends over, so what?" She ran her hand across her nose.

"What fucking friends, Yvette?" I pushed the bedroom door open.

"Get out of my room, Sabrina!" she ordered as she held on to the doorknob to stop me from entering her bedroom.

"And what is that shit all over your face?" I pointed.

She wiped her nose again and snorted. "What?"

"That white shit!" I yelled. "And why are you so nervous?"

"I don't have time for this shit right now." She attempted to close the door on me, but I pushed it open with all of my might causing her to stumble backwards.

I walked over to the nightstand when I saw a white substance on a glass mirror. "Oh, so we do cocaine now? Is that what's all over your fucking face, Yvette?" I put a hand on my hip, as I held up the mirror. "Is that what that dirty ass looking white girl was doing in here with you?"

"Look, Sabrina, the last time I checked, I was fucking grown. Don't worry about what I do. Carry your ass back over to your man's house," she said, getting up off the floor.

"You know that this shit is not going to bring Chauncey back, Yvette," I said, lowering my voice.

"Fuck that mothafucka!" she screamed. "Fuck Chauncey!"

"You don't mean that, you're just high right now." I walked past Yvette headed to the bathroom.

"Give me my shit, Sabrina." She reached for the mirror.

"Get back, Yvette!" I yelled and kept walking. "I'm flushing this shit down the stool," I told her.

"The fuck you are, bitch." Yvette pulled me by my arm. I dropped the mirror and it shattered on the hardwood floor. "See what the fuck you just did!" She dropped to her knees and tried to salvage what she could as I stood in disbelief. How did I not know or see any signs that she was getting high? "I just got this shit."

"Yvette," I spoke calmly.

"Leave me the fuck alone, Sabrina," she replied coldly.

"Yvette, I'm not going to sit back and watch you fuck your life up over this shit. Now, I know you're still hurting and I know you miss him, but cocaine is not the answer."

"Who are you to tell me anything?" She stood up. "Clean out your own closet before you start judging me." She rolled her eyes at me.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Ask Byrd." She walked back into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Can't Knock Your Hustle!

I sent a dozen of red roses to Cut N' Curl every day for a week after Nicole did my hair, but even that didn't work because she never called me; so I had to put in some real work. I was on a mission to fuck, and I wasn't going to be satisfied until I did. I took into consideration the fact that Nicole wasn't from around here, therefore, she didn't know my name spoke for itself. But fuck it; I had nothing but time on my hands. Sabrina ass is still tripping, so I've got nothing to lose

I remembered Dap and Nicole's talking about living room furniture the day she was in the barbershop, so I bought her a new living room set for her crib. I even paid the maintenance man five-hundred dollars to take her old furniture out and set up the new shit. Do you think this broad picked up the phone to say hi; bye—dog—cat, kiss my ass—anything? Not a mothafucking word, but her not responding to my gifts made me want her ass even more. So, I thought it was time for me to pay her another visit, and similar to the last time I walked into Cut N' Curl; all talking ceased.

"Good afternoon, ladies," I said as I looked around the salon for Nicole. After spotting her at the sink, I made my way over to her as the spectators watched. The closer I got to the sink area I noticed the tattoo on the girl's ankle that was getting her hair washed. "I know damn well . . .," I whispered to myself, and then I stopped dead in my tracks. It was Asia. This was the first time I've seen her since I tried to choke the life out of her ass. No wonder you could hear a pin drop in this mothafucka.

Fuck!

"Hey, Milk, how you doing?" Asia spoke to me.

"What's up, ma?" I said to Nicole, pretending as if I didn't see Asia sitting there.

"Not much," she replied, as she gathered combs out of the sink. "That was awful rude of you. Didn't you hear my client speaking to you?" she asked, looking back-and-forth at me and Asia. I didn't want to say shit to the bitch for real, but I knew if I didn't she would only keep fucking with me. And it was no telling what Asia was going to tell Nicole once I was gone.

I looked at Asia, who had the sneakiest grin on her face, and nodded my head forward. "Let me holler at you for a minute, Nicole."

"I'm busy right now, Milk. I still have two people waiting for me," she said. "You can go to my chair, Asia. I'll be right there."

"Okay. Nice seeing you again, Milk. "Asia winked at me as she walked away.

I swear I hate this bitch!

Nicole ain't Sabrina, so she can fuck with me now if she wants, too, and I will make good on my promise to pay somebody to beat her ass. She just don't know how lucky her as is to be alive. All eyes were now upon us, but I didn't care give a fuck. I'm going to get this pussy. The only one who may have a real problem with it was Asia. Anyway; back to Nicole.

"So, did you like the furniture I sent to you?"

"Oh, you sent that furniture to me?" she asked smiling. "So, I take it you must not know that I sent all that shit back."

"You did what?" I asked, lowering my voice. "Sent it back for what? I spent a lot of time picking that shit out for you, shorty."

"Look," she articulated, moving closer to me. "First of all, don't ever come to my place of business like you're my man or something. That's the first thing." Nicole held up her index finger. "Second, nigga I don't give a fuck how much money you have and who the fuck you think you are, that shit don't mean a damn thing to me. Been there, done that, and I can take care of myself." The smile that she had on her face a minute ago was now replaced by a look of irritation. "All y'all mothafuckas are the same. You think all you have to do is toss some dough around and bitches will fall in line trying to get with you. I know your type." Nicole didn't know it, but all of her shit talking only made my dick hard, and I couldn't help but smile. "What the fuck are you grinning at, Milton?" she said now smiling, too.

"You," I told her. "I'm smiling at you."

"Look, I have people waiting on me. I don't have time to entertain you anymore, Milton," she said, as she walked away from me. I grabbed her by the arm. Not too hard, but hard enough to let her know I was serious.

"I'm starting to like the way you say Milton, too," I leaned down close to her ear and said. I let her arm go now that I had her undivided attention. "I want you to say my name just like that when I'm up in you throwing you this dick." Nicole looked at me as if she were in a trance. "You know my type, huh? Shit," I looked her up and down, "I know your type, too, ma. You moved up here to Virginia and now all of a sudden you a hairstylist."

"And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, don't take it that the wrong way, ma. I ain't trying to knock yo' hustle, because you good at what you do. But, looking at those $600 Manolo Blahniks you walking 'round this shop in I know some nigga was taking good care of you back in Miami." I sucked my teeth. "I can tell you like the finer things in life and you damn sure can't maintain it working up in here."

"You don't know shit about me mothafucka, move out my way!"

Priceless!

Nicole ran her hands over my head, and then she motioned for me to come from under the dryer.

"Finally, that dryer ain't no joke! Whew," I said, fanning myself with my towel.

"Girl, you will be alright." Nicole laughed. "You were only under there for fifteen minutes. It's a good thing you have short hair," she said, while placing curling irons inside of the stove to get hot. "So, you still want the mohawk, right?"

"Yeah," I agreed.

"Do you want me to take some hair off around the side?" she asked while rubbing something into my hair. I turned around toward the mirror.

"Yeah, and take a little off the top, too. I'm sick of having to constantly sweep my hair out of my eyes," I told her.

"Okay, I gotcha."

As Nicole started bumping my hair I thought about how I should approach her about Milk, but by the way she shut his ass down it made me think I really didn't have anything to worry about. Obviously, she wasn't interested in him.

"So, Nicole, what do you think of Virginia so far?" Nicole let out a long sigh. I was looking at her through the mirror across from her station.

"It's just different, that's all I can say."

"You don't sound too happy about being here. What made you move here in the first place?"

"Hold your ear for me, Asia," she said. I put my hand over my left ear and leaned my head to the side. "Okay, you can let it go now. Girl, how I got here is a long story, one that I care to not talk about. Don't get me wrong, I do like it here, but it's just taking me a while to get myself situated without having any family here. I'm getting used to it though."

"Well, you definitely have the niggas attention. Word gets around fast, and they can smell fresh meat." I laughed. "Anytime you have Milk chasing behind you."

"Turn your head this way for me," she said. "And he is chasing the right one, too, baby. What Milk eats don't make me shit. I'm use to money. I walked away from money coming here to Virginia, so that doesn't impress me the least."

I'm thinking to myself, as Nicole speed curled my hair that she was crazy as hell to let Milk and all of his money pass by. "I know that's right girl." I faked a weak laugh. "One thing I will say about Milk is that he has plenty of money and plenty of bitches to go along with it, too. You're doing the right thing. Don't get caught up with his no good ass. He tried to holler at me plenty of times, but I don't have time for the drama that comes along with having five baby mommas."

Nicole stopped mid-curl and turned me around to face her. "He has five kids, Asia?" I nodded my head yes.

"And one on the way, girl," I added. Sabrina is pregnant; we just don't know who the daddy is yet.

"Shut the fuck up," she whispered, and turned me around to finish curling my hair.

"Girl, that ain't even the half of it." I sat up and looked around to see who may have been ear hustling, and then I motioned for Nicole to lean down. "You better not tell anyone I told you this, but I heard that Milk had herpes, too."

I sat back in the chair and waited for her to respond, and the look on Nicole's face was priceless! Now, that's one less bitch, I have to worry about giving my man some pussy.

To Be Happy!

Rico has been catering to me hand and foot and I loved every minute of it. However, I did tell him that he didn't have to miss any more time from work on my account, but he is adamant about staying close to home in case I went into premature labor. We talked more about moving to Atlanta together, even though I know he preferred to move back to Miami. I don't know; I guess we'll figure it out when the time comes.

Today I cleaned up Rico's condo, rearranged his closet and drawers, and cooked him a nice dinner. This was the kind of life I wanted to live with Milk at one time; instead I was always warming food up in the microwave for him, two o'clock in the morning, once he would finally make his way home. I am curious to know why he hasn't contacted me within the last month.

I was just about to turn on the water to take a shower and get the Pine-Sol smell off of me, when I heard knocking at the front door.

"Who is it?" I stood on the tip of my toes and looked through the peephole.

"Shawn," the voice answered

"Can I help you?"

"Looking for, Rico," he replied.

"Rico is not here right now," I answered back. "I will tell him you came by."

"I just need to drop something off to him," Shawn said. I opened the door.

"Hi, how are you doing?" I asked, moving away from the door. "You can come in."

"Nawl, that's a'ight." He smiled. "Just give him this for me." Shawn handed me an envelope. I'm sure he must've thought I was crazy by the way I stared at him, but for some reason he looked familiar to me.

"Oh, okay. I'm Sabrina by the way," I said, reaching out my hand to shake his. "I don't mean to stare at you, but I feel like I know you from somewhere." He shook my hand and then looked the other way.

"Do you know when Rico will be back?" he asked.

"He's on his way here now. He should be in any minute, do you want to wait for him?"

"Nawl, just tell him I said to check his email and get at me."

"Okay. I sure will. Do you work at TCC, too? That might be where I know you from," I said, convinced that's where I knew him from.

"Yeah, I do work with Byrd . . . I mean, Rico. Just tell him I really need for him to get at me. Thanks Sandy." He turned to leave.

"Sabrina."

"What?" He turned back around.

"My name is, Sabrina," I repeated.

"Oh, my bad." He smiled. "Oh, and tell him I said congratulations." He glanced down at my stomach.

"I will," I said, closing the door.

I walked into the bedroom and pressed play on Rico's CD player, and as I took off my clothes I couldn't help but stare at myself in the full-length mirror on the wall. My stomach had dropped and my navel button was completely pushed all the way out. I also had stretch marks on the side of my stomach, as well as on my lower back. "You did this to me," I said aloud, as I rubbed my stomach. Just then the baby kicked me hard as if she understood that I was talking about her. I grabbed the towel off the bed and sung along with Mary as I walked toward the bathroom.

"All I really want, is to be happy, to find a love that's mine, it would be so sweet. . ."

We Talking 'Bout A Nigga!

"Hey, Granddad, how are you feeling?"

"Oh, I can't complain son, besides don't nobody want to hear it anyway." He cleared his throat.

"How's the medicine the doctor put you on working for you?" I asked waiting to hear him tell me a lie.

"It's working just fine, Byrd," he answered in between coughs.

"Pop, I already talked to the nurse that's taking care of you and she told me you refused to take your medicine." I waited for him to answer me and when he didn't respond, I knew I was going to have to take a trip home. "Pop, you just had a heart attack, man. Your body needs that medicine to get right. Aren't you trying to get up out of that bed? I know you have to be tired of it by now," I told him.

"Yeah, son, I am tired," he answered, but the way he said it made me think he wasn't talking about the same thing I was.

"What you are talking about, Pop? What are you tired of?" I sat down on the steps in the hallway of my building to brace myself for what I was about to hear. I knew this man; he raised me. He may not have been my biological father, but he knew me just like I know him. I was name after my granddad, even down to my nickname.

"Byrd, man . . . I lived my life son and I have lived a good one, too. . ." he said, gasping for air.

"Pop . . ." I started to say before he cut me off

"Look, boy, I know what you about to say and ain't no reason for you to come home on the count of me," he said still coughing. "Like I said, I lived my life and I have no regrets. It's just my time boy. It's just my time."

"Pop, I'm not trying to hear that. We all gon' have a time, but you could get better if you do what the damn doctors tell you. You are so fucking stubborn, man. You always have been. I'll be home this weekend," I added.

"Come on, and I will be waiting for your ass to put my foot in it. Don't think because I'm on the verge of death that I won't still put something on you. I still stay strapped no matter how sick I am and if you ever . . . if you ever talk to me again like that you won't have to come to Miami, 'cause I'mma come find you!"

"Alright, Pop," I said in between laughs. "I hear you. Gon' and get you some sleep. I'll see you this weekend."

"Umm . . . hmm, bye." He hung up the phone.

"That man ain't gon' ever change," I said aloud to myself. I unlocked the front door and walked inside to what smelled like a combination of Pine-Sol and bleach. "Damn, that shit is strong." I held my jacket over my face.

I knocked on the bathroom door, but with the music as loud as it was, it was no wonder Sabrina didn't hear me. I opened the bathroom door and saw that she was washing her hair with her eyes closed. I immediately took my cell out of my pocket and snapped a picture of her.

"What the fuck?" She turned around startled. "Oh, it's just you."

"Well, hello to you, too, baby." I laughed.

"Hey, boo. I'm sorry, but you scared me. I'm glad you here, though, you can wash my feet for me." Sabrina sat down on the side of the bathtub.

"Wash your feet?" I said making a stank face. "I don't do feet, baby."

"Boy, as much as my feet stay in your mouth, nigga please." Sabrina hit me with the washcloth. "Come on, Rico, I can't reach them. Help a sister out." She kissed me on the cheek.

"Oh, you gonna kiss more than just my cheek when I finish with these feet." We both laughed.

"I know you aren't trying to ask me to suck your dick are you?" she asked, imitating Bernie Mac.

"You is a funny girl, you know that?" I laughed. I turned the shower off and pulled up the lever to stop the water from going doing the drain. I then made Sabrina sit all the way down in the bathtub so I could wash her feet.

"Damn, baby, that feels good. You see how swollen my feet are?"

"That's because you don't eat the right things. The doctor told you to cut down your salt intake, but nooooo . . ." I ducked my head down low when I saw the washcloth coming at me again. "You missed." I stuck my tongue out at her.

"I won't next time." She laughed. "Hey, babe, I forgot to tell you when you that Shawn stopped by. That's good, Rico, help me get up," she said, positioning herself to stand.

"Girl, slow down before you fuck around and fall." I scooped her up out of the tub and laid her down on the bed.

"Rico, I am wet," she yelled.

"So, what?"

"So, what? Okay, then, this is your side of the bed tonight."

"The whole bed is going to be wet when I finish with you," I told her as I planted individual kisses on her neck.

"Baby, did you hear me when I said your friend Shawn came by?" I heard her the first time she said it, but I was trying to avoid her asking me any questions about Gremlin.

"Yeah, baby, I heard you."

"He said to tell you to check your email or something and he left that envelope for you over there on the dresser. I've never heard you mention him before."

"He's a dude, I ball with sometimes that's all," I lied.

"Somebody you play ball with, huh?" I turned around and looked at Sabrina, because the way she responded didn't sound right to me.

"Yeah," I repeated. "I play ball with him sometimes. What's wrong with that?"

"When the hell do you play basketball, Rico?" she asked in a smart tone, implying that I wasn't telling her the truth.

"Damn, Sabrina, this is a nigga we are talking 'bout, not a bitch. Why would I lie about something like that?" I got up off the bed and started to take my clothes off. "I'm going to take me a shower."

"What the hell are you getting pissy for? I just asked a question," she snapped back.

I walked into the bathroom without responding to her, closed the door, and turned on the shower. I shadow boxed the air for a minute throwing out punches. This nigga knew better than to come over my house without calling me first. Shit!

Keep It Moving!

After Rico told me that bold-faced lie, as small as it may have been to him, I packed up all of my shit and left. You would have thought I was questioning him about another woman by his reaction, and I figured he was on some down low shit. I've had enough of the lying and cheating from my ex-husband, and I refused to be a fool any longer for a man, so it was best for me to keep it moving. I thought about renting an apartment at first, but I didn't want to be alone in case I went into labor, so I decided to go back to momma's house and stay. My plans were to have my baby, and then get the fuck out of Virginia for my own sanity.

I went over to Yvette's house several to check on her, but she wasn't there. Her condo was in the same condition as it was the last time I was there, and I had absolutely no clue where to even begin to look for her either. I didn't want to keep calling Yvette's momma looking for her, because I didn't want her to worry, but eventually I'm going to have to tell her the truth about what's going on with her daughter with the hopes that she will be able to convince Yvette to get the help she needed.

As I was driving down Virginia Beach Boulevard, headed for the interstate, I spotted Rico pulling out of a car dealership driving a white Range Rover.

"Whose truck is that he's driving?" I said aloud myself. "It must be his boyfriend's truck," I concluded. I struggled to keep up with him, because of the rush-hour traffic, but I was able to catch back up with him now that he was stopped at a red-light. "What the fuck are you doing, Sabrina?" I mumbled to myself, as I followed Rico into the Larimore Estates neighborhood. I slowed down because there wasn't a car in front of me and I didn't want Rico to see that I was following him.

I stopped at the corner and waited a few minutes before making a right on the street I saw Rico turn on. The Range Rover was now parked in the driveway of a three-story brick house. Rico got out of the truck and walked up to the front door and my mouth literally dropped to my knees when I saw him pull the keys from his pants pocket and open the front door.

"Ugh," I growled after a sharp kick from the baby. "Now is not the time little, girl. Momma trying to figure out what the fuck is going on," I mumbled as if she could hear me and then she kicked me again. I inhaled several deep puffs of air to calm myself down.

I sat in my car debating on what I should do next, and then I noticed that there was also a Lexus and a BMW parked in the driveway, too. Now I was even more confused. "Fuck this!" I drove up to the house and parked directly behind the Range Rover. I wanted some answers and I was about to get them. I got out of my car and trotted up to the front door. I knocked several times, but he didn't answer.

"Rico, open this damn door!" I pounded my fist on the metal door as hard as I could. I then turned the doorknob and found that it was unlocked, but I stopped myself from going in. I didn't know who this house belonged, too, and it also crossed my mind that he could've been inside with a woman, and I was in no condition to be fighting. I knocked one more time and when he still didn't answer the door, I did the next best thing; I invited myself inside.

Mystery Man!

Something told me if I stayed close to Sabrina's mystery man, I would be able to find out exactly who he was. Earlier this morning I followed Mystery Man to a storage unit. I couldn't see exactly what he was doing inside, because of where I was parked, but when I looked up, he was driving a white Range Rover out of the storage unit. He then parked the truck, got out, and drove to the Camry was originally driving inside.

"This nigga think he Batman, don't he?" I mumbled to myself.

Mystery Man then came back out, attached a lock to the storage unit, and then hopped into the Range Rover. After he pulled off I waited until he was out of the parking lot before following him again. Next, I trailed him to a car dealership and I parked at the Exxon next door to it. Mystery Man walked around the car lot with a salesman and then they stopped a row of Cadillac Escalades. The car salesman handed Mystery Man what appeared to be a set of keys and he then unlocked the driver's side door and got inside of the truck. He was only inside for a hot second, and then he got right back out carrying a duffle bag. Mystery Man and the salesman took another stroll around the lot, and then he got back into the Range Rover and drove off.

Just as I was about to pull into traffic to follow him, a car pulled in front of me from out of nowhere causing me to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting him.

"Would you mind getting the fuck out of my way?" I yelled out the window as I laid on the horn to get his attention. The driver flipped me the finger up, so I threw my middle finger back up at the fat fucker. Finally, he moved his car and I saw that Mystery Man was now stopped at a red-light. "Oh, but wait a minute . . . is that . . ." I adjusted my visor to block the sun. "Hell, yeah, that's that bitch!" I said aloud, referring to Sabrina. I then slowed down so she wouldn't see me, but what had me tripping was, it appeared as if she was following Mystery Man, too. "Ain't this some shit." I giggled to myself.

Suddenly, I had to pull into someone's driveway, because Sabrina had stopped at the corner. Once she pulled off, and proceeded up the street, I put my car in reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway.

"Are you fucking kidding me!" I shouted, slamming my brakes once again. Here was another fat mothafucka in my way. I rolled my window down.

"Can you please let me out, sir?" I politely asked him. "I was at the wrong house."

"No, you're at the right house, baby." He smiled as he got out of his car and wobbled toward me.

"Ugh," I mumbled under my breath. "That's sweet, mister, really it is," I said in my phoniest voice. "But, I am really in a hurry." I smiled.

"Are you lost, sweetheart?" he asked, leaning his head down inside of my car with his breath smelling like he had just finished inhaling a shit sandwich.

"No, sir, I'm not lost," I replied, trying to hold my breath to keep from smelling his. "But, I am going to be, so can you please let me out?"

"Only, if you promise to come back and see me later on, sugar."

"Oh my gosh." I frowned, as I covered my mouth and nose with my hand.

"What the fuck you doing all that for?" the man snapped.

"Because your breath smells like you have been drinking garbage juice with your fat ass! Now, I tried to be polite and asked you nicely to move the fuck out of my way. Ain't nobody tell you to get your ass out the car and come over here and breathe all over me . . . but here . . . wait just one second." I dug inside of my purse. "Here you go and you can thank me by getting the fuck out of my way." He furiously smacked my hand away.

"Keep your fucking Tic-Tac's, bitch," the man said, as he waddled back to his car.

As soon as I was able to pull out onto the street I rolled down the passenger side window and threw the Tic-Tacs at his car. "No, fuck you, you fat mothafucka!" Then I hauled ass around the corner I had seen Sabrina turn on praying I hadn't lost her.

Immediately after turning on the street, I saw that Mystery man and Sabrina were outside and it looked like they were arguing. I pulled over on the side of the road and parked behind a Winnebago. Sabrina was now trying to walk away from him, but he wouldn't let go of her arm. Click. I checked my camera to make sure the picture I snapped was a good shot and as usual my digital camera was on point. I adjusted the zoom settings to get a closer shot. Click. Sabrina just hit Mystery Man on his arm with her purse. Click. Mystery man just scooped Sabrina up from behind. Click. Sabrina tried to break away from Mystery Man and lost her shoe. Click.

WTF!

I've been sitting outside of Asia's house for an hour waiting for her ass to come home. I was getting ready to get it in with this bitch as soon as her ass pulled up, and I didn't give a fuck who saw me either. I'll gladly take a charge for this tramp today, and once I get my hands around her neck this time nobody will be able to stop me from tearing her fucking head off. Nicole told me what she said about me having herpes and five kids with one on the way. First, I was going to just pay another broad to tag her ass, but I wanted to fuck her up my got damn self, and I am going to beat this bitch's ass like she stole something!

"There go that bitch," I said as I hopped out my truck with my gun tucked in the front of my pants.

"Uncle Milk?" Deshawn excitedly yelled as he ran toward me.

"Fuck!" I didn't even think about him being with her. "What's up, man?" I bent down and picked him up. "What's good, witcha'?" Deshawn was smiled as if he was posing for a camera. I know he missed me.

"Nuffin', just coming from my Nana's house," I heard him say, but my attention was now focused on his momma who looked as if she had seen a fucking ghost. I put Deshawn down. "How come you ain't been to see me, Unc?" he looked up at me and asked.

"Unc, been a little busy, man," I told him. "You been doing, a'ight?" I asked, never taking my eyes off of Asia.

"Come on, Dee, let's go in the house." She reached out her hand out to Deshawn, but he wrapped his arms around my leg.

"No, I wanna go with, Uncle Milk," he squealed.

"Do what yo' momma said, Dee," I looked down and told him. "What it do, Asia?"

"Hey, Milk," she answered without looking at me. "Come on, Deshawn. I'm not going to tell you again."

"Unc, can you come in wit' me? I wanna show you my new Xbox my daddy got me." Dee pulled on my arm.

"Yo' daddy, huh?" I sucked my teeth and flash Asia a phony smile.

"What I tell you about running your fucking mouth, boy?" Asia snatched him by his arm and pulled him to her.

"Aye yo, you ain't got to handle him like that." I grabbed her arm with the same force she used on her son. "What's his daddy name, Asia?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Let me go, Milk. Don't come around here acting all jealous and shit now," she barked, and I was tempted to mush her ass in her fucking face. She's lucky Deshawn was standing beside me, because he was the only thing saving her right now. I moved closer to her ear so Deshawn couldn't hear me.

"Listen, bitch." I gripped her arm tighter. "You had better keep my mothafucking name out your got damn mouth, you hear me?" I squeezed harder. "My intentions were to come over here and fuck you up, and the only thing keeping me from doing is Deshawn. Hear me and hear me good, if one more person comes to me 'bout some shit you don' said concerning me, baaabbbyyy . . . I'mma come at you like you was a straight nigga. And you already know how I take care of mothafuckas in the street. You hear me, girl?"

"Let me go, Milk." She squirmed. "Ain't nobody thinking about you."

"And you gon' stand here and talk shit! Bitch, I will. . ." I looked down and saw that Deshawn was looking at me so I let go of Asia's arm.

"Look, Unc . . . here go Auntie 'Brina in a picture," he said, holding up a camera.

"Give me that, Deshawn." Asia reached out to him, but I grabbed her by the arm and moved her to the side.

"Whatchu' got there, man?" I bent down and took the camera from him. Asia tried to snatch it out of my hands, which made me want to look at it even more, but I pushed her. She stumbled, but she didn't fall down. "Aye, who the fuck took these pictures, Asia?" I looked at her and then back down at the camera. "Never mind, I don't know why I even asked you. Yo' paparazzi ass did."

"Give me back my camera, Milk!" she hollered.

"Asia, you better move the fuck out the way." I recognized Sabrina's ass for sure, but I couldn't make out who the dude was in the picture with her. I took a step back when I saw her coming toward me. I held the camera up in the air with one hand and stretched my other arm out to distance her from me. "When you take these pictures, Asia?"

"It ain't none of your fucking business when I took the pictures. Why do you even care anyway? Y'all not together anymore?"

"Yo, Deshawn, come here for a minute, man." I opened the back door of my truck. "Get in the back," I told him and closed the door once he was inside.

"Where the fuck are you going with my got damn child, Milton?" Asia ran around to the other side of the truck and tried to open the door, but I had already locked it.

I walked over to Asia with my gun by my side. Now, side-by-side with her, I held my gun to her back. "I'mma ask you one more fucking time, when the fuck did you take these pictures?" She didn't answer fast enough, so I cocked the gun and jabbed her side with it.

"I ain't got nothing to do with this shit, Milk," she cried.

"Oh, now you ain't got shit to do with it?" I had to laugh. "Bitch, you don't give a fuck 'bout yo' cousin for real, so don't get lockjaw now. When you take these pictures and I ain't gon' ask you again." I took a step back so she could see the gun.

"Today," she whispered.

"Whatchu' say?" I wasn't for sure, but I thought I heard her say that she had taken the pictures today. "You took them when?"

"I took some of them today and the rest I been had," she said nervously.

"The rest, what the fuck you mean the rest?" I clicked the menu button on the camera and started scrolling through the rest of the pictures. "What the fuck!" This crazy bitch has been following Sabrina around for months. "Look at this shit," I said in disbelief.

"Can you open the door so I can get my son?" Asia shouted but I ignored her.

My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest it was beating so fast, and when I got to the picture of Sabrina kissing the dude I thought my knees were going to give out on me.

"Wait a fucking minute . . . I know this mothafucka!" I threw the camera across the street after I saw the picture of Byrd rubbing on Sabrina's stomach. "Deshawn, get out, man," I said, opening the back door.

"Are you still coming in my room, Uncle Milk?" He looked up at me.

"Nawl, man. Unc gotta' go." I closed the back door.

"Milk?" Asia grabbed my arm.

"Get the fuck off me." I snatched my arm out of her reach.

"Milk, wait a minute." She walked in front of me to keep me from opening the driver's side door. "Don't go and do no crazy shit, Milk."

Before I knew it, I had grabbed Asia by her throat and her feet were now dangling above the ground. "Don't fuck with me right now, girl," I told her. "Somebody better find yo' cousin before I do and tell her she might want to get the fuck out of Virginia, 'cause I'mma kill her and that nigga if I find them first."

"Let my mommy go." Deshawn kicked me in the leg and it brought me out of the trance I was in. I let go of Asia and she hit the ground.

I hopped into my truck, started it up, and pulled off. I punched the rearview mirror so hard it fell off and cracked. "I'mma kill her . . . I'mma kill this bitch!" I said, chest heaving as I weaved in and out of traffic with nowhere in particular to go. "I'mma kill this bitch, I swear to . . . got me in this mothafucka crying and shit." I wiped my face with the sleeve of my shirt. "I'mma kill her ass!"

Can't Be!

"Put me down, Rico," Sabrina demanded. I closed the front door behind me with my foot.

"I'll put you down when you calm down." I carried her into the living room and waited for her to stop squirming before I put her down on the couch. "This the last thing you need to be doing right now," I said, now standing over top of her wondering how she found the house in the first place. "Listen to me, baby." I got down on one knee so that I was eye-level with her. "I don't know what you are thinking right now, but please hear me out, Sabrina."

"Hear you out, huh?" She looked around the room and then back to me. "Aren't you worried about your woman coming home and finding me in her house?"

"What woman?" I stood up.

"The bitch house we're in," she yelled, rolling her eyes.

"Sabrina, don't no woman live here. This is my house," I told her.

"This is your house? Yeah, right. What the fuck do I look like to you, a fool?" she said, as she scooted her way toward the edge of the couch.

"Wait . . . wait . . . wait." I put up my hands. "Don't get up." I sat down beside her.

"What, you kidnapping me now?" she asked sarcastically.

"Look, baby, this is my house. No bullshit. I bought this house when I first moved to Virginia. I was going to move somebody out here with me, but that didn't work out."

Sabrina moved over to the far end of the couch, away from me and then said, "Well, I guess after I have my baby I'll go and get me a job at Quikshop, too, or maybe even TCC seeing how it pays so well." She laughed. I didn't say anything. The less I said the better. "What, you can't open your mouth now?" She looked at me sternly. "Oh, okay, I get it now. That night when we were in bed and you told me you were a cashier by day and a drug lord at night you were serious, weren't you?" I remained silent as if I were being interrogated by the police. I really didn't know what to say to her. "You dragged me in here, so talk mothafucka! Don't shut down now . . . you know what?" She finally made her way up off the couch. "I ain't got time for this shit. Fuck you!"

This was not how I had planned to tell her about me, but I didn't want to upset her any more than she already was. I had to consider my baby.

"Baby, please don't leave. Sabrina?"

She stopped in the foyer, but then she turned around holding a picture of me, Gremlin and my cousin Breon taken at a club in Miami.

"This guy in this picture, this is Shawn, right?"

"Yeah, his name is Shawn. Why?"

"This shit just gets crazier by the minute," she said. "What did you do send him to my house?"

"What?" Now I was confused. "Send him to your house? Sabrina, I don't even know where you live." I thought back to the night I met up with Gremlin at Mt. Trashmore. I told him not to go to their house because of, Sabrina, but must've seen went anyway. Maybe she spotted him in the neighborhood or something.

"Sure you don't, Rico, if that's even really your fucking name," she said with a selfish smirk on her face.

"Sabrina, why would I send another nigga to your house? What sense does that make?" I asked, angrily running my hands down my face.

"I don't know, you tell me, Rico. I knew when I saw him at your house that day he looked familiar to me." Sabrina flinched and then rubbed her stomach. I could tell that she was in pain, too.

"Sabrina, you a'ight?" I walked toward her.

"Don't touch me." She stepped back. "So, it's just a coincidence that this man," she nodded toward the picture, "has dealings with Milk?"

"What?" I glanced at the picture and then back to her. "Dealings with who?"

"My fucking husband!" she shouted. "You know who the fuck I'm talking about. You must know him, too. So, what, you work for him? All this was a game for you to see if you could get next the boss's wife?" she said, still rubbing her stomach.

"Last time I checked you weren't married to that mothafucka no more, and as far as that other shit you talking 'bout fuck no I don't work for that nigga . . . oops, my bad. I mean your husband."

"You tell me why this man was at my house then?" She threw the picture on the floor at my feet.

"What do you mean at your house?"

"This was before I even met you. He has cut his dreads since then, but I don't forget a face. This is definitely him, Rico. I came home one day and he was in Milk's game room and they were smoking a blunt."

"Nawl", I thought to myself. "Can't be!"

Lord, What Have I Done!

I tried to call Sabrina's cell phone, but she changed her number. I couldn't call Stephanie and tell her what was going either, because the entire family would surely find out before the sun went down. Regardless of everything, Sabrina was still my cousin and I believed Milk when he said that he would kill her, so I have to do something. I could kill Deshawn for even showing that fucking camera to him, but he didn't know what he was doing. I didn't think Milk would react to the pictures the way he did. I only wanted him to see that Sabrina had moved on, so he would finally give our relationship a chance. The crazed look on his face terrified me, and not only was it a look of rage, but I could also see that he was hurt. It was then that I realized he really loved, Sabrina, and would never love me the same way. Man, I have really fucked up this time!

My heart began to race when I looked at the caller ID on my cell phone and saw that my momma was calling me. I just knew she was calling me to tell me that Milk had killed Sabrina. I had to pull over. I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing and I was starting to feel light headed. I pulled over on the side of the road and turned off the ignition.

"Hello?" I nervously answered her call.

"Hey, baby, where's my other, baby?" she asked, I'm sure referring to her grandson. I released a sigh of relief. She wouldn't be so happy if something were wrong.

"Hey, Ma. Deshawn is at Ms. Lorna's house," I told her.

"What is he doing over there? What I tell you about letting that crazy bitch watch my grandson?" she yelled.

"What's up, Ma? I'm kind of in the middle of something." I ignored her comment about Ms. Lorna.

"Who are you talking to like that?" she snapped. I should have never answered the fucking phone.

"I'm just saying, Ma-"

"Saying my ass," she sharply stated, cutting me off. "Bring my baby to me when you need somebody to keep him. He just got out of the damn hospital and already you out running the damn streets. Matter of fact, you bring him to me Friday. I'll be on vacation next week and I'm going to keep him the whole week."

"Okay, Ma, I will. Talk to you later."

I know she will be calling me back because I hung up on her, but I will just have to hear about it later. She will be alright.

I thought about calling Milk, but for what? He's not going to answer the phone for me. Shit, I don't know what to do at this point. I just pray that nothing happens to Sabrina. Lord, what have I done?

Love Stop Making a Fool of Me!

"You're just a lover out to score . . . I know that I should be looking for more . . . What could it be in you I see . . . What could it be . . . ohhh . . . Love . . . ohhh love . . . stop making a fool of me. . ."

"You ain't never lied, Denise," I said aloud, and then turned off the radio.

That song used to be one of my favorites back in junior high, and I could relate to it now more than ever, because I felt like the biggest fool there ever Right now I don't know whether I'm coming or going, and I have been parked my momma's driveway for at least an hour crying my eyes out. I mistakenly forgot the keys to my momma's house at Rico's place, and it was no telling when she would be home.

Rico finally told me everything and I do mean everything. He told me about his affair with Yvette, and a lot of other shit that I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around. I just didn't understand how all of this shit could be happening around me without me knowing anything about it. I was beyond clueless. When I couldn't take any more, let alone hear anymore, I left Rico's house and drove around to clear my head. I called my daddy and told him that I would most likely be in Atlanta by the end of this week. I'll just get me a hotel room for tonight.

I started my car up, put it in reverse, and slowly backed out of the driveway when a truck pulled up behind me. I quickly pressed the brakes and then shifted the gear into park. I wasn't able to see who was driving, but whoever it was had gotten out and was walking toward my car.

"Lord, have mercy. Not now," I said aloud, shaking my head left to right after realizing it was Milk. I rolled the driver's side window down. "What do you want, Milk?" I asked without looking at him. "You can't just come around here when you feel like it. I'm not trying to bring no drama to my momma's door, so just get back in your ride and carry your ass home."

"Looks like you on your way out yo' self," he said. "Kind of late to be roaming the streets ain't it?"

"That's not any of your concern anymore, now is it?" I rolled my eyes. "Move your truck out the way, Milk. I'm tired and ready to go. I don't have time for any of your shit tonight."

"Is that right?" he calmly stated.

"Don't move then, and see if I don't drive into your fucking truck!" He still didn't move. I was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling by the way Milk was looking at me. Something about his eyes pierced through me.

"How the baby doing?" he asked.

"She's fine."

"She?"

"Yes, Milk, she." I rolled my eyes at him again. "I told you I was having a girl."

"Don't you mean us? That is my baby, right?" he asked with a sly grin on his face. "Get yo' ass out the car, Sabrina."

"What?" I looked around to see if anyone else was outside. "Get out the car for what?"

"So I can rub on your stomach." He sucked his teeth and smiled. "I want to bond with my lil' girl some if that's a'ight with you. Yo' ass ain't been 'round me the whole time you have been pregnant and I missed out on a lot. No doctor visits with you. No picking out names. Are you even going to call me when you go into labor?" he rattled off question after question.

"That's what you came around here this time of night to ask me? We can talk about this another time." I locked the door and attempted to roll the window up, but Milk stuck his arm inside of the car. "What are you doing?" I leaned back in the seat.

"I just want to rub your stomach, bae, that's all. You have a problem with that? I can't feel my baby girl move?" Milk reached down and unlocked the door and then opened it. I could smell the liquor and weed on him when he reached inside of my car. "Come on out the fucking car, Sabrina!" he said backing up. I tried to close the door, but he grabbed the door handle and flung it back open.

"Look, I don't know what your problem is . . ." Milk grabbed me by my wrist before I could finish my statement.

"Whose baby is that you carrying?" he said coldly.

"Milk, go home before my momma comes out here." I pulled away from him.

"How long I been fucking with you, Sabrina . . . never mind, you ain't got to answer that. Get yo' mothafucking ass out the car, girl!" He yanked me by my arm this time.

"Okay, wait," I yelled. "Can I take my seatbelt off first? Damn!" Milk backed up away from my car and pulled a gun from behind his back.

"Do you know how much I fucking love your ass, girl?" He waved the gun at me. "Do you!" he yelled, startling me. Now I was becoming afraid. I've never seen Milk this angry, but for what?

"Milk, will you please calm down? You're scaring me."

"So, this how you get a nigga back, huh?" A lonely tear rolled down the side of Milk's cheek.

"Milk, what are you talking about?" I cried fearing that he was really about to do something to me.

"You got that much hate for me, Sabrina?"

"Milk . . . what . . ." He cut me off and pointed the gun in my face.

"Shut the fuck up! Don't give me that 'what are you talking 'bout shit.' I'm talking 'bout that nigga you been fucking wit'!" he screamed. I put my hand up to guard my face when he raised his hand up in the air, but when I didn't feel the impact of his fist I opened one eye. Milk was standing directly over top of me, motioning with his hands as if he was going to hit me, but couldn't bring himself to do it. "Ain't nobody tell me shit. I saw you with that nigga!" I prayed that someone in the neighborhood could hear his belligerent rant and call the police.

"Milk, what the hell are you so mad about?" I asked, as I quivered with fear.

"You got that nigga rubbing all on yo' fucking stomach and shit. Y'all two mothafuckas hugged the fuck up like y'all on a honeymoon. Don't sit there and act like you don't know what the fuck I'm talking 'bout, Sabrina." Milk raised his hand up like he was going to hit me again, but instead he balled his fist up and took his anger out on the roof of my car. "All those nights yo' ass won't nowhere to be found you was off somewhere with that nigga fucking, and then coming home and getting in my mothafucking bed!"

Clearly, he knows about me and Rico, and knowing Milk the way I did, he came here tonight to kill me. I reached over while he was not paying attention to me and opened the glove compartment.

"And then all of a sudden yo' ass comes up pregnant." Milk was now shouting in my face with his gun by his side.

"I'm alright, Ma, go back in the house," I said, pretending to wave. Milk then turned around expecting to see my momma behind him, and after seeing that she was not there he turned back around to find my gun pointing in his face.

"What the fuck?"

"You raise your hand an inch, and I will blow your fucking brains out, Milk!" I gripped the handle of the gun tightly in my hands. "Try me if you want to."

"What the fuck you gon' do with that shit, Sabrina?" He took a step toward me. "You gon' shoot me?" He laughed. "You gon' shoot me, Sabrina?" He took another step toward me.

"I'm telling you, Milk, don't come any closer to me I mean it. Back the fuck up!" I felt a sharp pain travel up my spine. "I'm not going to let you do anything to hurt my baby." Milk attempted to grab the gun from me, so I let a shot off above his head to show him that I was serious. I didn't want to hurt him, but I refused to let him do anything to hurt me either. I felt another sharp pain shoot up my back, followed by a few kicks from the baby. I kept a straight face, because I didn't want him to see that I was in pain. "Get back, Milk," I repeated, as I inched my way up out of the seat never taking my eyes off of him. "Drop the gun on the ground, Milk."

"So you hard now?" He laughed, dropping the gun on the ground. "Whatchu' waiting for, Sabrina? You got the motherfucking gun, shoot." He unzipped his jacket, stretched his arms, and pointed to the center of his chest with his index finger. "Go 'head, bae, shoot me right here."

"Oh, poor fucking, Milk," I taunted him "What's the matter baby boy, your feelings hurt?" Now, I was the one smiling. Milk bit down on his bottom lip while shaking his head. "Now you know how it feels," I paused and swallowed a breath, ". . . to have somebody play with your feelings. Now you know what betrayal feels like . . . don't feel so good does it?"

"Girl, do you know who the fuck this nigga is?" he hollered, taking another step toward me. I raised the gun up and aimed directly at his face.

"Don't do it, Milk, I mean it." The contraction I felt finally passed, but I was starting to feel dizzy. "Anything I did, I learned from you. Every lie, I ever told you was told to me." I motioned with the gun for him to back up when I noticed a red beam of light circling around his forehead.

"Put the gun down, Sabrina," I heard a voice behind me say.

I turned around and saw Rico holding the biggest gun I had ever seen. Just then Milk snatched the gun out of my hands and now had it pointed at Rico. He then took his free hand and moved me to the other side of him.

"Get down, Sabrina," he said with his eyes locked on Rico. "So, we finally meet, huh, nigga?"

"Come here, Sabrina," Rico shouted never taking his eyes off of Milk either. "Fuck you, you pussy ass mothafucka! You got this shit started when you fucked with my family. Sabrina, come on!" he yelled.

"Aye yo, who the fuck you think you talking to . . . you better not move, Sabrina," Milk shouted. "Nigga, fuck you!" I felt another contraction coming on and I couldn't hide this one as I leaned on the side of my car. Milk took his eyes off Rico for a second and moved closer to me. "Sit down in the car," he told me. "You should have warned your fam' to stay in his mothafucking lane, nigga. You see what time it is now don't you, Byrd?"

"Milk, I need to go to the hospital," I said in between breaths, as the contraction brought me down to my knees. I looked up at Rico and Milk as they continued to stare at each other. "Did y'all hear me got dammit? I'm going into labor!" Then I heard a car door slam.

"Sabrina, are you alright?" Asia bent down to help me up. "Milk, we got to get her to the hospital. Come on, Sabrina." As much shit as this bitch has done to me, this was the one time I was actually glad to see her. I was starting to feel a lot of pressure in the lower part of my stomach. I put one arm around Asia's neck and used to the car to balance my weight.

"Put the mothafucking gun down, nigga," Milk hollered, "so I can take her to the hospital."

"You put the gun down!" Rico replied, walking toward me. "You ain't taking her nowhere! Asia, help her into my truck."

Asia and I were now in between Milk and Rico, both with their guns still drawn at one another.

"We don't have time for this bullshit right now. Move out the way, Milk," Asia said as she tried to walk me passed them. Milk then grabbed Asia's arm and without warning, Rico lunged at him knocking Milk to the ground.

It was like déjà vu all over again. The familiar sounds of gunshots were now ringing in my ears, but neither Rico nor Milk was shooting their guns. I will never forget the distinct sounds of gunfire that night at Quickshop, and whomever was doing the shooting that night was the same person shooting at all of us now. Asia shoved me down on the ground, covering me with her body, as my momma's voice echoed throughout my mind once again. "What looks good to you ain't always good for you, Sabrina."

Next Up On The Agenda!

Money over bitches had to be the most important commandment in the game niggas needed to follow. Sabrina's pussy must be the next best thing since sliced bread, and after I had seen her at Byrd's crib that day, I made it my business to keep tabs on her.

I was following her when she must've seen Byrd somewhere and they both ended up at his house out on Larimore Estates. Imagine my surprise when I realized they were being followed, too. I stayed with the girl after she left Byrd's house, curious to see where she would lead me next. Whatever it was Milk was fighting to get away from her must've been some hellafied shit, because that nigga had shawty in a gruesome choke hold when I pulled up. But neither one of them saw me parked across the street. Something told me that it would be in my best interest to continue on with the follow-the-leader game, so after Milk pulled off; I stayed.

Shawty dropped the little boy off at somebody's house and then kept going. First, she drove to the townhouse they all ended up at later on tonight, but she didn't stop. I started to say fuck it, because it seemed like she was driving in circles, but I'm damn sure glad I didn't. She ended up back where I began following her from two hours earlier at Byrd's house. I could feel it in the air; and tonight was the night!

I parked my truck a street over from and turned the lights off, but I left the engine running. I retrieved my gun from under the seat, and then opened the armrest in search of the extra clip I had hidden for back-up. Once I got out of my truck I made sure not to make any noise, and as I crept up on them undetected I felt like a lion about to pounce on his prey. Fuck the Prince of VA, because after tonight niggas will be calling me the King of VA. And, once I made my way back down south, and take out Big Byrd, I will be the king of that mothafucka, too!

I jogged through the houses in the neighborhood and I ended up in the backyard of the townhouse they were in front of. And even though it was dark outside, I lowered myself down to the ground just in case my movements activated a motion light. I could hear Bird and Milk arguing from where I was positioned, but I wasn't able to make out what they were saying. "Oh shit!" A dog shot out of nowhere toward me and I could tell by its bark that it was a pit-bull, but luckily for me he was chained.

I could still hear those niggas arguing with each other as I resumed a slow crawl toward the front of the house until they were all in plain view. All my years of planning were finally about to come together. I definitely had to hit Byrd, that was a must, but if I got Milk in the process that would be even better. I could always come back to Virginia and take care of him. If either one of those bitches were to fall; oh well. That's life.

I lifted my gun, squeezed the trigger, and showered them with a cascade of bullets. "That's right niggas fall . . . . awww shit, Milk shooting back . . . Ugh," I moaned in pain after a bullet hit my hand. It was time for me to break camp now that my mission had been accomplished. I hopped inside my truck and pulled out of the neighborhood toward the interstate. I then reached in the backseat for a towel to wrap my hand with. The bullet only grazed me, so once I get the bleeding under control I'd be good. Next up on the agenda, Big Byrd!
Epilogue

Karma!

I was looking directly at Milk and Rico, and they both were on the ground now, too, so I knew that neither one of them was doing the shooting. As soon as I heard the shots I pushed my cousin down on the ground and tried to use my body as a human shield to protect Sabrina and her baby. I waited too long. When the first bullet hit me on my shoulder I told myself not to panic. I thought as long as it wasn't one of my vital organs, I would be able to survive the gunshot. But after the second bullet entered my chest, I knew it was my time. I fell forward and ended up being a shield for Sabrina after all. I don't know what frightened me the most; seeing the blood pouring out of my chest or Sabrina's screams. Eventually, I no longer heard the gunshots anymore and I knew what was happening to me right now was nothing more than karma!

Face Off!

I told Sabrina what was going on between Milk and I on the streets. I even told her about me and Yvette, but I gave her the PG version. I thought it was Sabrina knocking at the door like somebody was chasing her, but it turned out to be her cousin, Asia. Shawty was rambling her ass off when I opened the door, and all I heard was 'Milk—Sabrina, and he gon' kill her.' I made Asia wait for me downstairs, and then I hurried up the stairs to get my gun with the silencer and scope already attached. We pulled up just in time, too, because Sabrina had a gun pointed at Milk which was later turned on me.

I was prepared to face off with Milk once and for all, but now wasn't the time. Sabrina had gone into labor. I was able to wrestle Milk to the ground and we both lost our guns, but his gun was still in reach for him to grab to blast back after the shooting started. Sabrina was on the ground with Asia on top of her. Fuck Milk; I had to protect Sabrina, so I got up off the ground, with my gun in hand, and began firing in the same direction as Milk. It was dark and I wasn't able to see a shadow of anybody. Once, Milk ran out of bullets, he yelled to Sabrina and Asia to stay down on the ground. I really didn't want to take my eyes off of, Milk, but something told me, whoever was doing the shooting was trying to kill him and me, too.

Still Belong To Me!

In spite of everything she did I would die before I let anything happen to Sabrina and my baby. If revenge was what she was seeking, then she got it. I will never look at her the same again, though. I know you're probably thinking that I had some damn nerve to even feel that way, but one thing you have to understand ladies was that y'all can't do what niggas do. Bitches in the street had been just pussy to me; Sabrina had my heart. She belonged to me, and that went for her pussy, too. I don't care if Sabrina walked in on me with another broad actually fucking, her pussy still belonged to me. If I stayed out all night, three nights out of the week, Sabrina's pussy still belonged to me.

Asia had me thinking all of those years that her son was mine, and when I found out Sabrina was pregnant the last thing to ever cross my mind was that the baby she was carrying wasn't mine. I could tell by the pictures Asia took of Sabrina and Byrd together that she gave the nigga some pussy; correction—she gave him some of my pussy!

I was using the gun I bought for Sabrina to shoot with, but ask me who I was shooting at. It was dark and I couldn't see shit, so I had to let my instincts take over and shoot by ear and not by sight. Once I ran out of bullets I yelled to Sabrina and Asia to stay down on the ground as I looked around for my gun to shoot with. Me and Byrd has tried to kill each other on more than one occasion, and if he caught a bullet I wouldn't lose not a wink of sleep, but now we stood side-by-side trying to make sure nothing happened to Sabrina.

Saysha Needs Her Daddy!

I was on my way up the elevator of the hospital to ICU, rushing to get there before visiting hours were over.

"Hey, Sabrina, how you doing today?" the nurse greeted me as I stepped off of the elevator.

"Hey, Ms. Vera, I'm good. How are you doing?" I smiled.

"I'm blessed, sugar." She hugged me.

"How's our patient? Any change?" I asked, hoping for a different report today.

"No, baby," she took my hands into hers, "he's still in a coma, Sabrina." She made a slight frown. "He's in God's hands now and only He has the final say." She kissed me on my cheek.

"Let me go in and see him before y'all kick me out." I laughed to lighten the mood. "My momma is watching my baby and I have to pick her up in a little while."

"Alright sugar." Ms. Vera kissed me again on my cheek. "That one was for my baby, and you make sure she gets it, too," she said referring to my daughter.

"I will," I told her.

I was hoping today would be the day he would finally open his eyes. The doctors said that he was actually doing well considering where he was shot. While he was in surgery on one floor of the hospital, I was on another floor giving birth to his daughter. I knew just as soon as they cleaned her off, and laid her on my chest, who her father was. I didn't need a blood test as far as I was concerned, and I am sure that he will agree.

I pulled the curtains shut because it was starting to get dark. Afterwards, I sat down in the chair next to the bed, closed my eyes, and prayed. At this point that was all anyone could do. Next, I got the lotion out of the bathroom and rubbed some on his feet.

"I will be so glad when you wake up and get out of this hospital so you can help me with your daughter," I told him. "That little heifer is a handful and she's mad greedy, too." I laughed. "She is definitely your child." I covered his feet up with the blanket. "Now, that's better," I said, looking down at him, and then I pulled the blanket up close around his neck. "It's a little chilly in your room tonight." I leaned my head down and spoke directly into his ear. "Saysha needs her daddy, so you have to get up out of this bed." I took his hand in mine. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you didn't make it." I squeezed his hand. "Regardless of everything, I still love you." I did not even try to fight the tears that I felt coming on. "Please don't leave us."

And just then he squeezed my hand back.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

I was locked up with Milk for two years at Mecklenburg State Prison, and we both were transported to the Burg, as niggas called the prison, on the same day. We spent most of that day in receiving together not knowing that we would end up being cellmates. I overheard Milk telling some niggas on the tier that I was good people and not to fuck with me, and I didn't like that shit at all. I didn't need him to vouch for me. It didn't mean shit to me that I was from down south, because nobody was going to fuck with me anyway. But, being Milk's celly did have its advantages; I stayed high for one. Milk had the guards bringing him food and some more shit from the outside into the prison, and I will say that he made the first two years of my prison sentence lovely. Once he did the two years he was sentenced, too, Milk was released and then I got a new cellmate; Breon. The greenest nigga I'd ever met.

I knew Breon through his cousin Byrd. Breon only had a year to do for driving on a suspended license. Now, please tell me who the fuck actually gets locked up for that shit? Byrd and I grew up together in the Pork n' Beans projects, but we didn't start fucking with each other until we both started hustling. Big Byrd, his grandfather, had Miami sewed up and Byrd really didn't have to hustle for real. Big Byrd didn't want him involved in the streets at all, but Byrd did his thing anyway. One night, me and Byrd was gambling with some niggas from around the way and I got into his ass for five grand.

We were just starting to hustle back then, so that was a lot of money to us. Byrd bet me double or nothing I was going to crap out on my next roll after I already had $2500 of his money in my pocket. I knew that he didn't have any more money on him, but I don't turn down any bets. I won of course, and I told Byrd to just hit me off later, but the next day I caught a manslaughter charge which landed me in prison for the next eight years. I reached out to Byrd for my money, so I could get a paid lawyer, but he put the duck on me.

Once I finally got released from prison, I paid a visit to my public defender, and let me just say that he is no longer with us; may he rest in peace. I don't know which one of them was the better cellmate; Breon or Milk, but they both played a very important role in my plan. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? I saw all the respect Milk acquired from the Virginia niggas. Man, Milk had niggas shook. However, words of advice just in case you ever find yourself in prison; leave the streets on the streets. Don't go in that mothafucka telling your life story, especially if you were getting money out on the streets. You're asking to be set up.

Now, I had the self-proclaimed 'Prince of VA' talking about his life on the streets as a cellmate one minute, then this want to be down, dumb ass dirt mothafucka as a cellmate the next. I chalked it up all up to fate. Everything happened just like it was designed to. Both of them told me to look them up when I touched down and that's what I did. You know the rest. Milk knew me as Gee and to the almighty, Byrd, I was Gremlin. I know right; you love it when a plan comes together too. I'm headed back down south now. My work in VA is done!

Acknowledgements

To God be the glory, thank you Lord. This is a journey that without the help of others, I would not have been able to complete.

To my mother, Janet Jordan, thank you for being my biggest cheerleader. Kaleeaha Harden, Kaprelle Redden, our sisterhood goes farther than the eye can see. I miss you guys. To my children Savon and Sasha Wood, mommy loves you. Special thank you to Kivi Cooper, Frank Nitty (Ghetto Government), Lovell Wilder Sr, Lafara Lawton for gracing the cover of A Rumble IN VA, The Papercity Parkboyz, Paragon Publishing, 21st Street Urban Editing, Solaé Devhine, Editing, Writing and Self-Publishing Group, Innovative Twist, and Shannon Fields, impeccable Quality Editing.

To all my family and friends that I did not list, you know who you are. Thank you so much for the love and support.

### Rayven

Now available

Another Rumble

The Final Rumble

Still Rumbling

Cut N' Curl

Rayven Skyy Presents The Pen Pal: Volume 1

