Both occupants of the bed were awake, but neither of them said a word to the other. Hakeem was on his side, and Bri hers.

Silent.

Brielle wished she had somewhere else to go because she didn't want to be in his house. She knew Raelyn was happy on her date and she didn't want to ruin the rest of their night, so she just sat there.

Hakeem wished Bri would at least talk to him, but she told him they'd talk about it in a minute.

That was hours ago.

"Bri?"

She pretended to be sleep.

"I know you up." He stated quietly, "You ain't gotta treat me like this."

His voice sounded sad, making Brielle open her eyes, "I'm not treating you like anything. I want some time to think."

"It ain't like I tried to do it. I would've never got her pregnant. You know Ion even like babies."

Bri sighed, "That's not really the point. It's just a lot going on right now and this adds to that. I don't like Maya and Maya hates me. Her being pregnant by you complicates stuff way more, and at this point, I'm wondering if I can even deal with that stress."

"What you dealing with? You act like I'm asking you to help raise them or some. You ain't ever gotta say shit to Maya again if you don't want to."

His voice was now lacking the quiet tone from before, replaced with anger.

"I know you not mad at me." Bri laughed, "Like I'm the one fucking up our relationship. Like I'm the one who ruining some shit that has potential."

In his mind, Brielle was being dramatic. People co-parented all the time, and he had no problem putting Maya in her place and making her stay there. Their relationship would be fine, but Bri didn't seem interested in trying to make it work.

"Chill out man. You doing too much."

She wasn't doing enough.

"And I'ma get my own test 'cause that hoe sneaky."

Turning over to face the wall, Bri ignored Hakeem until his breathing evened out, alerting her to the fact that he was sleep. She waited about an hour to ensure he was sleep before slowly sitting up in the bed.

Bri had never in her life thought about going through someone's phone, and she hated the fact that Maya made her insecure enough to consider doing it.

Hakeem was partially to blame too since he continued to omit things. She was always the last one to find out anything while everyone else was already in the know.

She slid out of the bed and walked to where Hakeem kept his phone, taking it off the charger and tiptoeing into the bathroom where she locked the door and sat on the toilet and stared at the phone screen.

"Bitch what you gone do if you find some?" She whispered to herself, "Still get your crybaby ass back in the bed with him."

Taking a deep breath, Bri put in the passcode and started her newfound job as Hakeem's FBI agent.

Maya was the last person to text him, though he hadn't responded, let alone opened the message. If she opened it, he'd know that she went through his phone and that was a scenario she was trying to avoid.

He can't beat your ass, the voice in her head spoke, Open that shit sis.

"Period."

The message thread showed where Maya repeatedly texted him, what she wanted ranging from him to call her, to tonight when she sent some long ass paragraph about them working together to raise their child.

She reiterated throughout the message the fact that she was looking forward to it, and Bri shook her head in annoyance and disbelief.

Maya was helping Hakeem's case though, as she was able to see just how many times Maya would text him and receive no response.

Why he ain't block that hoe? The voice questioned.

"Bitch don't ask me."

Not caring to read the rest of his messages, Bri locked the phone back and sighed.

A small part of her wondered if she was being hypocritical by wanting to leave when Hakeem didn't question her desire to get custody of Kayla, instead trying to help her get that outcome.

But Kayla was her sister. Not her child from some crazy girl who seemed intent on making him be with her.

Standing up from the toilet, Bri quietly opened the bathroom door and went to put his phone back on the charger.

She thought Hakeem was still sleeping until he spoke, making her almost fall back out of the bed, "Ian with that shit Bri. If you wanna know some you can just ask bro."

"You not gone tell me. I gotta go to your mama house to find out you got somebody pregnant. I gotta hear from your bitch that you giving her abortion money."

"Corey gave her that money and that ain't my bitch."

"Nigga fuck you and Corey."

Bri felt him leave the bed, mumbling something under his breath. It was no point in following him because they both needed space.

He slept in the same room he lent to Brielle when she first came to his house all those months ago.

• • •

Raelyn couldn't stop smiling.

"Can we talkkkkk, for a minute?" Josiah sang, making Raelyn's smile grow, "Girl I wanttt to knowww your nameee."

"Bae stop."

"You don't like my singing?"

He was about to take her home as he always did, when she told him she wanted to spend the night. In the past, she avoided spending the night with him because Josiah had a real mouthpiece and she knew he could talk her into it.

She felt like they were past the point where she needed to hold off on sex, and when she asked for a sign not to, she didn't get one.

"No 'cause you tryna sing your way into some puss."

"You with puss, Bri with coochie. I gotta stop hanging 'round y'all."

Rae laughed and turned to face him, "Not too much on my sis. She's the reason you might luck up tonight."

"That ain't got nun to do with luck baby."

He told her that Bri planned the date, excluding the fact that he'd asked last minute. Brielle did a good job too, a task that she found easy since Raelyn basically told her everything she liked over the short course of their friendship.

A vibration against her leg made her sigh in annoyance, because only one person had the number to that phone.

"What?" Josiah asked.

He knew that she used to talk to some dude in jail, so she decided to just tell the truth.

"Brandon wrote me and was like he heard I been fucking with some light-skin nigga and he gone beat both of our ass."

Josiah pulled down the visor to look in the mirror, then looked at Raelyn, "Shit we look alike. Tell that nigga I'm your brother."

"Josiah.... He knows my brother."

"What that mean? Bae you don't know how to lie good enough. I'ma have to teach you."

He wasn't concerned at all, hence the reason he was still making jokes. Raelyn, on the other hand, had seen first hand what Brandon was capable of.

"Why you looking like that?"

"'Cause you not taking me seriously."

He was almost home, so he stopped in the middle of the street, making Raelyn look at him, "You worried about that shit forreal? Lemme know some 'cause that nigga won't even make it outta there if you that scared."

What he meant was clear, and Raelyn considered his question, "I'm that scared."

"Bet. What's his last name?"

She told him, while thinking about how she was about to suck the skin off his dick when they got inside.

That never happened, because a very pregnant Kyra was in the driveway.

Rae looked at her, then back to Josiah, "You be having me fucked up." She laughed, "I tried being nice but that ain't work. My daddy ain't shit, and now I'm finna show you why I look just like him."

"Raelyn Ian know this fucking girl was gone be here. Why would I even come home?"

He'd spent some time on his phone after she told him she wanted to go to his house, which wasn't the initial plan. So Raelyn felt like Josiah knew that Kyra was there, and was trying to get rid of her before they got there.

If putting two and two together and believing whatever the fuck you come up with was a person.

"I'm not finna keep doing this shit with you!" Josiah yelled, "Either you can believe what I be telling you, or leave me the fuck alone!"

Raelyn dug through her purse for her taser and mace, in preparation to walk, "Bye stepdaddy Jo."

He wasn't expecting her to actually leave him alone. Raelyn continuously threw him for a loop because she didn't act like this before.

"You still making that girl walk?" Kyra asked with a smile when Josiah got out of the car.

"Get your stupid ass out my yard."

"I need a favor." She paused, "Please."

He looked at her and laughed when he saw she was serious, "You'll never get shit else from me. Don't waste your time asking."

"You the one killed my baby daddy!" Kyra screamed loudly, "I wouldn't be asking you for anything 'cause Travis would've given it to me!"

"Sad case. Go home roger."

Kyra was expecting a different outcome. He wouldn't even listen to what she wanted before saying no. Like she said though, Josiah owed her because he was the one who took Travis from her.

"Give me 10 thousand dollars."

Josiah didn't even respond, walking to the door to go inside.

"Or I'ma tell the police you killed Travis."

He laughed, "They can't do shit without a body. Keep talking and that body gone be yours. Ion give a fuck about that baby in you."

"I hate you." She spoke, her voice quivering as the frustration began to overwhelm her, "I really wish you would just die."

A song popped up in his head, and he turned to smile at her one more time, "Bitch shutup or kill me."

• • •

"Gender-neutral." Monica reminded Maya, taking the pink onesie from her hands, "Yellows and greys."

"I knowww. I'm just hoping it's a girl, so when I get Jayden back he'll have a little sister."

The pair was in Belk looking at baby clothes, an idea suggested by Maya. She and Monica had grown close in a very short span of time, and that could be contributed to the fact that she was pregnant.

It could also be because Maya was doing what Bri wouldn't: Kissing Monica's ass.

"Have you talked to your mama? See where her head is at?"

"Every time I try to talk about it with her, she's just like "wait until court". That's so stupid though because court is what I'm tryna avoid."

Monica shook her head, "You don't deserve this."

As if she was were in a position to make that assumption. Maya's mother has known her for the entirety of her life. Monica? A couple months.

"I'm not worried about it. God got me. This baby is my blessing."

"And no matter what you and Hakeem have going on, you can always come to me."

For some reason, Monica was acting like Maya was the girlfriend.

Picking up a yellow shirt, Maya scoffed, "We'll never be on good terms as long as Bri keeps putting stuff in his head."

"Stuff like what?" She asked, wondering what Brielle was telling Hakeem.

"Telling stories on me. That's why Hakeem said what he said about me being with multiple people. I'm guessing she told him that."

Monica rolled her eyes, "And for what? She just wants him to cater to whatever she's going through and not give a damn about anybody else."

Her ears perked up, "What's she going through?"

"What's she not going through? It's always something different and there goes Hakeem running to save the day."

"Maybe he'll get tired."

"Maybe." Monica paused, "Hopefully."

Soon after, they decided they'd gotten enough clothes for the day, and Maya's face held a permanent smile as Monica pulled out her card to pay for everything.

As she always did.

There was no way Maya was letting anything stop this.

• • •

"Why she say fuck me?" Corey asked with a laugh, "Ian did nothing to y'all."

"I told her you gave that girl the money for the abortion. She said 'fuck his lil short ugly ass'. I was like gone chill on my bro."

"Bitch that girl ain't say nun like that."

Josiah had been temporarily replaced. Not on purpose, but because he and Hakeem weren't talking. It wasn't out of the ordinary for either of them to go missing for a while, and whenever he came back around it'd be like old times.

"Corey I wouldn't lie to you. You ain't the side bitch right now."

"You niggas gone go to the grave making jokes. All in hell talking shit."

Hakeem looked at him, "You think I'm going to hell?"

"With gasoline drawls. Me and Jo gone be there too though so we lit don't even worry 'bout it."

"They gone put us up under hell." Hakeem made a face, "Damn I needa go to church Sunday."

Corey leaned up in his seat, "There he go."

Though they were far away, they could see Deon walk out of his apartment building with a phone to his ear. He looked around, slowly, almost like he knew someone was watching him, before getting into his car.

"So they was right then."

Hakeem started the car in preparation to follow him, "Yeah. I don't understand how this nigga been here and ain't nobody know."

"Shit it ain't like you was concerned with that."

Which was true, but that's because he shouldn't have been anywhere around there. To Deon's credit, his apartment was at least an hour away from Mobile, a drive not many people took.

The car still hadn't pulled off, and they understood why when Darnishia walked outside, damn near skipping to the passenger side.

"That's the sister?" Corey asked.

Hakeem nodded his head.

"Damn.... You think...?"

Hakeem nodded again.

"Damn."

Deon was a convicted felon, a registered sex offender, and an all around terrible person.

He started off the same way Hakeem had, drug trafficking. At some point, Deon realized he'd make more money if he moved a different product: Women.

Teenage girls to be exact.

The entire family was blindsided when the FBI came and got him, telling him the charges as they walked him out of  the house.

He plead guilty to a lesser charge of prostitution, in addition to giving up some of the names of buyers, and only did 7 years in prison.

Since he'd always taken care of them and made sure they were good, Deon expected his family to ignore the fact that he was selling teenagers to the highest bidder, and visit him in prison.

Comedy.

He didn't try to contact them when he got out, and nobody went looking for him either.

It didn't take a genius to see the pattern, and Hakeem knew nothing good would come out of a relationship with a 40 plus year old man and a 20 something year old woman.

"Gotta tell Bri to tell her sister to chill."

"You saw how she just walked to the car?" Hakeem asked, nodding when he saw the face Corey made, "Yeah exactly. She ain't chilling on shit."

"Bruh the nigga was literally selling pussy. Tell her to go search his name or some."

Corey was using past tense, but the conversation Hakeem had heard that first night he found out his dad was here made him think he was still doing it, just maybe under different pretenses.

Letting out a sigh, Hakeem pulled out of the parking lot to follow him. They drove around for about 45 minutes, further away from Mobile.

"You too close Keem."

He knew Corey was right, so he allowed more cars to get in front of him, "This nigga going on a road trip or some?"

"What it he finna try to sell her to somebody?" Corey asked, "Damn Ian intend on killing nobody today but fuck it."

"Fuck it. Might have to beat her cross the head with the gun to get her in the car but aye it is what it is."

They realized maybe their assumption was wrong when Deon pulled into a motel parking lot. Rather than turn in behind him, Hakeem looped around a second time to avoid suspicion.

The room number was unknown, so they parked close his car and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Corey yawned, "Maybe they just in there fucking."

"Ion know but I'm finna leave. We already gotta drive 2 hours."

Hakeem was leaving the parking spot when he had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car that turned into the parking lot, speeding into a spot right beside Deon's car. The car was barely in park before a man leaped out and ran to a door, knocking on it.

Maybe they stayed after that man left because they couldn't believe it.

By the 3rd car, there was no denying it.

• • •

Knocking was heard, but Hakeem ignored it. He was still sleep and it probably wasn't anybody important.

Bri couldn't ignore it though, kicking Hakeem, "Go see who that is."

"You go see who it is." He mumbled, "Fuck you mean."

"Who you talking to?"

Hakeem sat up in the bed, then realizing that the knocking wasn't at the front door, but rather his bedroom door.

Nobody but Josiah ass.

"Bitch what's wrong with you?!" Hakeem yelled, "Get the hell away from my door!"

"Y'all got clothes on?" Josiah asked.

Bri groaned and put her head under the pillow.

"Man Jo Ian in the mood this morning."

"I'm finna kill this bitch. She finna make me knock her ass out Keem on God."

Lifting her head from under the pillow, Brielle made eye contact with Hakeem who sighed and shook his head, "Open the door bruh."

Josiah entered the room, a hoodie over his head and a look that Hakeem couldn't place on his face, "She think I'm fucking Kyra again so she gone go lay up at another nigga house. On my life the only thing saving this girl is the fact that Ion know where she at." He looked at Bri, "Who else she talk to?"

"Ain't got shit to do with her." Hakeem interrupted, "You needa chill out."

He took a deep breath, "This some foul shit bro. Ion care if you mad, don't be posting no other nigga on the internet when you know I be watching your shit."

"She did what?"

After Raelyn left, she ended up going with a 'friend' of hers. The same friend she'd posted on her stories before, except Josiah didn't care back then.

Raelyn was single, and she was doing single people shit.

Josiah wanted her to do what he said, and it was quite literally driving him crazy that she wouldn't.

While he was still taking his deep breaths trying to calm down, Hakeem watched his friend in silence before speaking, "You might gotta let that shit go."

"Nah."

"Just go back to fucking with your hoes."

"I lost all my hoes. I was talking crazy and told them Ian want no more of they trash ass pussy. I just was tryna make myself leave them alone."

Brielle giggled under the covers but Hakeem didn't find the situation funny. He'd never seen Josiah like this, not even when he found out about Kyra and Travis. He was sure that Josiah meant every word he was saying.

"Well you gotta do some 'cause Ian finna let you crash out over no hoe."

"Why she gotta be all that?" Bri asked.

He didn't mean it literally, which Josiah knew, and was why he didn't care, "Kyra always fucking some shit up. Tank head ass hoe."

Sitting up, Bri was about to get out of the bed when Hakeem stopped her, "Whatchu' doing?"

"....About to go get ready to leave?"

"Ain't you still wearing what you went to sleep in?"

His shirt and a pair of his briefs.

"Did you see me change?"

"Nah, that's why I'm confused on why you thought you was finna walk outta here."

Josiah looked up from the floor, "Damn y'all going through it too. I'ma go to Corey spot and see how him and Mia doing."

Bri was staring at Hakeem, repeating the same question from earlier, "Who the fuck you talking to?"

"You, Brielle. Fuck you wanna walk around a nigga with no clothes on for?"

"Hakeem go directly to hell, okay? I'll be done punched you in your shit now gone on."

He left the bed, "iight. You don't listen to shit I say no way. You don't give a fuck about what nobody dealing with if it don't involve you. I fucking love you, and do whatever you ask me to bro, and you ready to leave me over some shit that ain't my fault."

Josiah felt awkward, but he'd never miss the opportunity to mess with his friend, "Awww. He love us."

The argument had taken an entirely different path, and Bri was still staring at Hakeem, "You love me?"

"Got to. I let you keep your tampons in my bathroom cabinet."

"You been letting me do that."

"I been loved you Bri."

"I love you too lil spoon," Bri smiled.

Josiah fake sniffed, "Oh hell nah. I'm finna go forreal before y'all make a real nigga shed a tear."

• • •

Later that day, Brielle followed Hakeem up the steps to his mother's house.

It was his suggestion that they come, and she agreed because even if she didn't like his mama at the moment, she didn't want how she felt about Monica to affect she and Hakeem's relationship.

She didn't know that Hakeem planned on putting Maya and Monica in their place.

Though it was a weekday, it smelled like Sunday dinner in the house. They saw why when they entered the dining room and saw Maya's plate piled high with oxtails, rice and gravy, macaroni and cheese, and cabbage and cornbread. Beside the plate was a cup of purple Kool-Aid.

Bri stared at the table and wished she and Monica were talking.

Leaning down, Hakeem mumbled into her ear, "I'll steal you a plate."

The most generous king.

Those who occupied the table looked up at them, surprised to see them standing in the doorway.

"You blocked. Don't text me, don't say shit to me." He began, giving Monica a look when she opened her mouth to say something, "I'ma get my own test done, and Ian paying for nothing til we get it. If you got some you needa say, tell Grace or my mama and they'll tell me. Ian finna play no games at all, and we not doing that disrespect shit. Don't talk crazy to Bri or it's up."

"And stuck." Brielle added, "I'm not tryna beef with you but always remember I'm on whatever you on."

Maya glared at them, "Whatever."'

"How are you going to tell somebody not to disrespect her, yet you're disrespecting my house?"

Hakeem paused, "That disrespect part go for you too mama."

You could hear a rat piss on cotton.

Grace snickered at the table, "Period."

Standing up, Monica looked at Bri even though she was talking to Hakeem, "You burning all your bridges for one person. Letting everyone in your life go to make them happy."

"Sis what?" Brielle asked, talking her to like a child since she wanted to act like one.

"Mama what the- you really tripping. That girl not our problem, and I talk to y'all almost everyday."

"Just leave. The conversation is clearly not going anywhere."

He sighed, "Come on ma. I'm trying. We can go eat somewhere or some tomorrow if you want to."

Monica sat back down and continued eating.

Shaking his head, he turned around and walked out of the dining room with Brielle right behind him.

"Don't forget the cake." She whispered.

• • •

i'm kicking & screaminggg bc that's the legit thought process i had when i went my stupid ass through that man phone & got my mf feelings hurt. couldn't eat or nun lmfaooooooo i hate it here.

18 & a step mama? jesus bernard christ i hope it works out.

y'all feel like rae be doing too much?

sn: thank you guys for your patience, again, but i'm done w/ classes & back overseas where i don't have shit to do but write. i wanna do 3 updates a week & finish this book so i can put all my focus on a new book i'm putting out soon. i love y'all & thank you sm for the never ending support. we gang gang forever 🤞🏽