C H A P T E R
N I N E

Walking around the mall Anaya and Cali looked at all the different stores debating on which store they wanted to shop in first.

It had been a minute since the two have chilled together since Cali is usually working or with her son and Anaya is usually with Marcus or creating designs for clothes.

"But yeah anyways girl we spent the rest of the day together just talking and making love .. he's really something special." Anaya spoke up about the time her and Marcus spent together.

"Really happy for you sis,"

"Thanks, did Ahmad ever text you?"

"Why would he have texted me when he doesn't have my number?" Cali asked glaring at her friend.

"Um well .. I saw him that day I went to see Marcus and he asked about you .. so I gave him your number."

"Why would you do that? What did he say?"

"He just asked how you been, and I did it because yo grouchy ass needs dick. After y'all fucked you were nicer now you back mean."

"Oh shut up,  you know I wanted that night to just be something to just look back on, I hope he doesn't text me." She sighed.

Cali really did not want to face Ahmad after what they did. Like it was said before the night they shared was magical and down right freaky.

She brought out a side only Reggie had got to see and let all her morals fly out the window that night.

Her fear was seeing him and he judged her assuming she got down like that all the time so she wanted to just walk away from that whole situation.

"Why you frontin' on that man Cal? You know you wouldn't mind sharing another night with him especially after you said how good he put it down,"

Rolling her eyes she walked into Victoria Secret, "I'm scared to face him cause sis listen .. that night I brought out my freaky side, I went all out .. its gonna be embarrassing seeing him again."

"I honestly don't think he looks at you like that sis, but anyways if he hits you up you better reply."

"I'm not, anyways can we just focus on the task at hand which is buying bras and underwear."

"Fine, how's my baby Marquette? I know he misses his favorite auntie."

Cali laughed. "Alisha took your spot, she stops by every other day to see him and takes him to get ice cream and stuff."

"Of course she can do that cause she doesn't have a nigga like I do .. my time is divided between work, you guys and my man."

"And your man has been getting all the time, Alisha told me you called out of work for three days just to be with Mr. Marcus."

Anaya blushed. "I was only with him for two out of the three days, the last day I had to rest cause he wore my black ass out."

"You guys are a hot mess,"

"We really is but some how our hot mess asses go together perfectly.." She smiled.

Cali smiled as she continued looking through the store. She longed to have something that Anaya found, she wanted a man to sweep her off her feet one day, she felt she deserved it but it was like no one was ever good enough.

Plus with her having a son that sorta made things harder in the dating game, a lot of men didn't want to play step-daddy so of course they had to go because if you didn't love her son, you couldn't love her.

She could never understand how women sometimes put their men before their kids, and her mama was the prime example of this.

Growing up her mama hated being alone so she constantly had boyfriends and soon as that relationship didn't last she had another one.

But Cali wasn't tripping on that, she knew her mama just wasn't the type to not have someone by her side but when her mama started putting her man needs before hers and her brother needs that's when it became a problem.

So eventually her brother had to go out and do what he had to do to get food on the table which led him to getting arrested and serving five years in jail since at the time he was only a minor, the fourth year just passed and her brother should be returning very soon.

He has yet to meet Marquette but he does know about him since in the letters she talks about him and sends him pictures of her son all the time.

The plan was soon as he gets out, she was going to help him get his barber license and then give him a station in her salon since he liked cutting hair, she knew once he got out it was gonna be hard for him to get back on his feet since people would always look at his record and turn the other cheek.

So she was going to avoid that whole process so he could get back to living and doing better for himself quickly.

But also after he went to jail it opened their moms eyes of her actions. She felt bad that her own son had to go out and try to get money for him and Cali just to make ends meet when that was her job so she changed her ways, found God and tried her best to make things right.

That was also sorta a fear that Cali was scared of which was getting too caught up in a guy and losing herself, she's seen it happen .. women would get so caught up in their relationship and lose sight of reality for a second and she would hate to do that to her son.

But she did want to find love someday, going to bed alone every night but seeing people around find love including Reggie got old.

The more she thought about her lonely life, the more she kinda hoped Ahmad did hit her up.

She was starting to think about what he and her could both bring to the table as one. But she even thought about them just being fuck buddies, she wouldn't mind having someone like him to call on whenever she was in the mood.

Walking around the store she pulled her phone out sorta hoping for that simple text of possibilities.

-

Amira walked inside the shop to surprise Ahmad with lunch. Hazel spotted her and got right up to greet her with a warm hug. "Look at you getting so big, pretty self."

"Thanks, getting thick too gotta thank my boyfriend for that though." She winked laughing.

"Girl don't let Ahmad here you say that,"

She waved her off, "He ain't gon' do nothing with his grumpy ass, where he at anyways?"

"In his station finishing up a client."

"Okay, I'ma go speak."

"Alright girl, next time text me when you coming we need to go out for lunch or something to catch up."

"Will do,"

Walking towards his office she stuck her head inside Marcus station waving to him then continued her way to his.

Sneaking by his station without him noticing her she stepped inside his office taking a seat in his office chair.

Taking the food she brought for herself out, she began eating then turned on the tv he had mounted on the wall clicking on pandora going straight to SZA's station and just her luck Love Galore was the first song that played.

Singing along to the words she texted her boyfriend letting him know where she was and ate her food in peace but that peace was soon interrupted when Ahmad walked in.

"Turn this gay shit off." He mumbled wiping his hands with an alcohol wipe.

Rolling her eyes she turned the volume down alittle. "Don't do SZA sir, this song is straight gold."

Waving her off he walked over to the bag of food pointing at it then pointed to himself. "Yeah its yours, decided to stop by and see my favorite big brother today." She smiled.

Smacking his teeth he grabbed the food taking a seat on the couch in his office. "Stop lying, why you really here?"

Sighing, she placed her hands together. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"I wanted to know would you let me move in with you." She stated quickly.

Laughing, he took a bite out of his philly cheese stake sandwich. "Yeah no,"

She frowned. "Why not?"

"I like my privacy, you too nosey."

"Please Ahmad, I'm tired of staying with mama and daddy .. I'll stay to myself, I'll clean, cook, whatever you want just please let me stay." She pleaded.

"I'll think on it." He mumbled.

"Well um I technically already moved my stuff in.. mama let me use her key you gave her for emergencies and I felt this was an emergency so after school I went straight home packed my shit and loaded it up in my car and moved it into your condo." She smiled innocently.

Dropping his philly cheese steak sandwich down on the to-go box he had, he frowned. "You and mama gon' me punch y'all teeth out .. I gave that key for emergencies only, y'all be in my shit like y'all pay the bills or something."

Amira sighed. "I'm sorry Ahmad, its just I can't be under that roof no longer."

"What's so bad about staying there? They let yo ugly ass do whatever you want so why you buggin'?"

"It's not that, lately I don't know something has been off between them .. all they do is argue."

He shrugged. "Couples argue Amira, its common."

"No, mama and daddy have never fist fought before .. it scared me seeing them like that."

His face immediately softened once he seen his little eyes water up. "What were they fighting for?"

She shrugged. "I came home from Lucas house and I heard them arguing in their bedroom and since it had became something common over the past weeks I brushed it off and headed to my room but that was until I heard a loud thud then I heard my dad screaming for mama to keep her hands to herself then I guess he hit her back out of defense then he left the house slamming doors and shit."

Ahmad sighed scratching his eye brow. "If it ain't one thing, its another." He mumbled losing his appetite to eat.

"Do you think their gonna get a divorce?" She asked in hopes he had the answers.

Amira looked up to Ahmad as strange as that sounds, she liked how he never let anything get to him but little did she know he did, he just never let his emotions show.

Whenever something was wrong she always looked to him for the answers, she used to do that with Amir but he always let her down with so many his false promises.

Ahmad always kept his word, and that was one thing she loved about him. She knew she could count on him for anything. "I don't know sis, mama and daddy love each other very much but like I said all couples argue and all relationships aren't easy and if it makes you that uncomfortable you can stay with me."

Getting up she walked over to him giving him a hug. "I swear you're the best brother any girl could ask for, you may be an asshole to the world but you're a true sweetheart under that tough skin." She mumbled as he smiled rubbing her back.

"I love you too," Kissing her forehead  she stood up straight. "Can we go home now? I just wanna go home and set up my room with your help of course."

"I have two more clients, you can go on home and once I get done here I'll head straight there to help."

Nodding her headed she walked back to her seat and continued eating as he did the same. They spent the rest of his time waiting on his next client going over rules and what he expected since she would be living with him for now on until she got better at his parents house.

When she finally left and he was alone in his office he sat back in his seat shaking his head. He had a feeling what caused the problems in their marriage.

Reaching inside his desk drawer he grabbed his pills pouring two into his hand then poppped them in his mouth.

Getting up from his dress he clapped his hands two times loudly before walking out his office to his station.

-

Sitting on the floor with Amira he helped her put the dresser he brought her together. "I feel like this is gonna be fun, us living together and shit." She cheesed handing him a screw.

"I sometimes host kickbacks here so when that time comes you will be locked away in your room."

"I am not a child, why can't I come?"

"You a child compared to the grown ass niggas I be inviting so therefore yo fast ass will be in your room."

She rolled her eyes. "Niggas stay cock blockin',"

"Amira say one more thing and watch how fast I knock you out." He mumbled putting the last drawer in its place.

"Whatever, can I invite Twan over?"

"Negative, yo little girlfriends cool whatever but no niggas .. you wanna see him, you gotta go to him."

"Fair enough, do I have a curfew?"

"What was your curfew back at home?"

"Eleven,"

"Okay eleven it is, but be mindful I do be sleep sometimes so don't be running in and out this bitch like its a hotel alright?"

She nodded. "Anything else I need to know?"

"Yeah some nights I might be out but that don't mean you invite any and everybody over either .. Marcus lives right next door and he will pop up on yo ass so you better make sure you on your best behavior."

"Okay,"

"And food .. help yourself to whatever, and don't be alarmed if you wake up and see Marcus rummaging through the food he does that, and if he sleep on the couch."

"But I thought you just said he lives next door."

"Okay and? If my boy want some of my food and wants to sleep on my couch he can do that,"

Laughing she threw her hands up in surrender. "You guys are best friend goals forreal."

"Goals? We just some real ass niggas might need to take notes."

Rolling her eyes she waved him off. "Just giving you a heads up .. Imani my bestfriend will be the main one over and she has sorta a small crush on you."

"She cute?" He smirked,

"Please don't .. she's eighteen ew."

"Last I check eighteen was legal..so why you buggin'?"

"Cause .. no, ew that's my bestfriend .. and seeing her with you um gross."

"Girl shut up, don't nobody want yo cluck ass friends .. I like mature pussy anyways."

"Yeah, I'm gon' let you continue putting my bed together and whatever else .. cause I'm not having this conversation with you."

Laughing he shrugged. "It's the truth sorry, and put on some damn clothes the fuck you got booty shorts and a small ass crop top on? If Marcus was to bring his ass over yo ass would not be dressed appropriately."

"Once again I am grown so shut up," Standing to her feet she mushed his head and went to run but he grabbed her by her ankle making her fall. "I real life hate you." She groaned.

"Get in line with everybody else who hates me and while you at it order some pizza."

Flicking him off she grabbed her phone and walked out slowly dialing pizzahut.

Grabbing his phone he pressed play on the song that paused and let it play out before connecting it to his iHome speaker.

When Unforgettable by French Montana ft. Swae-Lee came on his mind immediately drifted off to the night him and Cali shared.

Going to her contact he pressed it then began typing a message. Erasing what he was gonna say about five times he finally settled on the simplest thing to say.

He didn't want to come off too thirsty and drive her away but at least something to let her know he was thinking about her.

Ahmad to Cali🌴 :
Um what's up, this Ahmad .. the guy from the club 😏 I know its been a minute since you last seen me but hopefully you remember me..
- Sent 8:23 pm

Locking and turning off his phone he sighed sitting it on the side of him. He was nervous of her reaction, he didn't know what to expect.

He knew Cali was a different type of chick and really didn't know how to approach someone like her.

He just hope something good came out of this even though the rest of his life was shit..

-

Hello guys, school starts Monday and I also work so I'm going to try and update tomorrow as well and then Tuesday since I'm off and have no classes ..

Again thanks for all the support, love you guys so much!
- Denise 💕