Nasty Girls (28 page)

It's been awhile since we talked like this. I was happy for this moment we shared together in my apartment. The only girl missing was Shy. We all had our problems, but we had each other to help work things out. I was glad to have Camille as a friend. When we first met, we were enemies and couldn't stand each other. I always thought she was fake. But she proved me wrong. Camille is the realest woman out there.

It was 12:25 when I heard the doorbell.

“That's him?” Camille inquired.

“Yeah.” I said, leaving the bedroom. Camille never met Casey, and honestly, I wanted her approval. She knew Casey was a cop; I told her that much, and she didn't care. She said as long as I was happy with him, and he was treating me right, then she was cool. Shit, I think Camille would have been happy with anybody as long as it wasn't James. She hated him.

I tried to clear my mind and answer the door with a smile across my face. I was determined not to let the troubling news Camille told me ruin my day. Nah, fuck that, it was a holiday and I was going to enjoy this day stress-free—or try, at least.

I was looking good. I answered the door in an off-the-shoulder silk charmeuse blouse and black modern evening pants. My shoes were satin sling-backs with rhinestone trim.

I opened my door and greeted Casey with a smile plastered across my face. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving. You look beautiful, Jade.” Casey returned.

“Thank you.”

Casey stepped into my apartment looking fine himself. He wore a Rocawear shirt with Vokal jeans and a green Vokal jacket and a pair of white Adidas.

“You're so cute,” I told him.

He smiled.

Camille came out my bedroom the minute Casey entered my apartment.

“Casey, this is my best friend, Camille. Camille, this is Casey.”

“Nice to meet you,” Casey said, extending out his arm for a handshake.

“Same here,” Camille returned, gripping Casey's hand. “Jade, I gotta go. Cream is picking me up soon.”

“Okay, girl. Have fun.”

“I'll try.”

I walked her to the door, and before Camille left, she looked at me and said, “He's cute.”

I smiled.

“Thanks for listening and being my friend, Jade. You're my sista, and I'm happy for you. He's going to be around for a while. I like him already,” she said.

“Thank you. You and Cream go and paint the town red, and don't get pregnant too soon,” I joked.

Camille laughed. “I'm gonna take it slow with him. We'll see what's up.”

“I love you, Camille. You be safe out there,” I proclaimed.

“I love you, too, girl. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“You, too.”

We gave each other one last hug. I watched Camille get into the elevator, and then went back into my apartment to finish getting ready.

“I mean it, Jade. . . . You look really nice today. I know my family is going to love you,” Casey stated.

“I hope so. I'm so nervous right now.”

“Don't be,” he said.

I went into my bedroom and picked up a few things to place in my purse, including my blade. I probably didn't need it, but it was a habit for me to carry it around.

I came out the bedroom throwing on my light brown leather jacket and headed for the door. Casey and I had small talk on the way out.

When we walked out my building, my face instantly twisted up with anger and rage when I noticed James standing across the street in front of the bodega with a few of his peoples. A bitch just snapped. I said nothing to Casey as I quickly strutted across the street in my heels to confront him. Him and Shy together—fucking, it disgusted me that he would even do that to me. He saw me coming, and a smirk appeared on his face.

I said nothing, just marched up to him, and as I came close, extended my arm out as far possible and smacked the shit out of him.

“Ooohhh,” I heard one of his friends mutter.

“Bitch, you fuckin' crazy!” James barked, looking like he was about to come at me, but noticed Casey behind me. “Don't you ever put your fuckin' hands on me again. I'll kill you, bitch!”

“Fuck you, James. How dare you! . . . You're dead wrong, James. You're wrong fo' that. Shy, James. You were fuckin' my best friend behind my back like that!” I barked.

His anger turned into a devilish smirk when I brought up the subject. “You know, huh?” he said mockingly. “Don't hate, bitch!”

Before I could react again, Casey held me in his arms, preventing me from lunging at James.

“She fucks better than you, bitch!” James said loudly. “Pussy all good.”

“Fuck you, nigga. You a bitch-ass nigga! I swear, you gonna get yours. . . . Watch, nigga!” I shouted, wishing I could tear his dick off with my bare hands.

“Officer, you better do sumthin' about that bitch. . . . She causin' a scene. . . . Do sumthin', arrest her ass for disorderly conduct!” James mocked.

“Shut up, and step back.” Casey scolded James.

“I hate you, nigga. I fuckin' hate you,” I yelled.

“Bitch, be easy wit' that. You was already on my dick fo' the longest. You know you was lovin' Daddy long fo' a long time. He's been good to you.” He ridiculed me, grabbing his crotch in a very sexual gesture.

Casey carried me off to his car with me yelling and screaming at James, causing a scene on a holiday.

“Bitch, watch your back from now on!” I heard James shout.

“Get in the car!” Casey demanded.

I didn't argue. I got in on the passenger side and slammed his door. Casey jumped in afterwards, looked at me, and asked, “Can you tell me what that was all about?”

I looked at him. A few tears escaped from my eyes. “I'm sorry,” I apologized.

“You okay?”

I nodded.

“Listen, we can't be going to see my family with you being so upset right now. So calm down and talk to me,” he said evenly.

I took in a deep breath and said, “Everything is so fucked up, Casey. I just found out that that son of a bitch was fuckin' my best friend on the low.”

“Damn,” he muttered.

“Can we just leave? I don't wanna be here anymore,” I said, staring out the passenger window.

“A'ight. But calm down. We'll go for a ride,” he said, starting up the car, putting it in drive, and pulling off my block.

I was quiet for the next ten minutes. My mind was everywhere; I was feeling really incoherent at that moment. Casey continued to drive, not uttering a single word to me. I guess he
was waiting for me to collect myself and have me speak first on it. I did have an attitude, but as we drove and traveled farther away from my buildings, my mood became more relaxed, and I listened in on the radio. I glanced at Casey. He drove with his seat reclined back, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and looking like a hustler right now. I noticed his jeweled hand on the wheel and thought to myself, he acts more like a home-boy than 5.0. His attitude, I loved it.

“I'm sorry,” I blurted out, breaking the silence between us in the car.

“You calm now?”

“Yeah.”

He flashed a quick smile. “No more drama fo' the afternoon, right?”

I smiled. “I'll try.”

“I'm serious, Jade. Today, you're wit' me. So I want you to free your mind and enjoy the day. Forget about all that bullshit back there. I understand you're upset, but when you get that turkey in your system and you meet my family, everythin' is going to be all good.”

“Promise?” I smiled.

“Yo, you ain't got nothin' to worry about when you're with me,” he guaranteed.

“I'll take your word fo' it.”

He hit the Southern State, and we were on our way to L.I. to meet his family.

It took us about twenty minutes to reach his destination: Brentwood. He pulled up to a beautiful sprawling colonial home with the shrubberies lining the driveway, manicured lawns that were
covered with autumn leaves, and the block so tranquil that it felt like the day was on pause.

Casey spoke, putting the car in park and smiling. “This is it.”

“It's beautiful out here.” I said, looking out at the home and property somewhat in awe.

“Come on, I think everybody is inside already,” Casey said, excited.

“Casey . . . ,” I started to say, feeling nervous, with butterflies swimming around in my stomach. “Ohmygod, I'm so nervous.”

“Don't be. My family is cool, Jade. We won't bite. We'll be too busy eatin' on turkey and yams.”

This was new to me. I never had Thanksgiving with family—probably once with Shana and my aunt, but holidays always ended up in drama, with one of us fighting and leaving the crib with a black eye or a busted lip.

Casey coached me out of the car and promised to be by my side the whole time. Cars of all makes and models were parked in the driveway and on the streets. I knew there had to be a lot of people up in the house. And here I was, a complete stranger to everyone—even to Casey, to some extent—and I had to play nice and act like everything's all good.

As we approached, I asked, “Okay, and these are the people on your father's side?”

“Yeah. My younger brother, my aunt, my cousins, and my uncles. My father's side is where I have most of the family. Randy is spending the holiday with his mother.” He looked a little bummed about that.

“Okay.”

We went up to the door, and Casey pushed the doorbell with
me standing by his side. It looked like we've been a couple for years. He held my hand gently, with his shoulders broad and standing over me about nine inches.

The front door came open, and out came this hefty-looking female with long black hair, big hoop earrings, and the reddest lipstick spread across her thick lips. She had on a wide-neck thermal-knit top and a denim skirt with knee-high leather boots.

“Wassup, cuz,” she hollered, startling me. She rushed up to Casey, gripping him a serious bear hug.

“Hey, Tracy,” Casey groaned, as his cousin squeezed him into a loving hug. She finally placed him down on his feet, still smiling.

“It's been a long time,” she stated.

“Yeah, I know.”

His stout cousin then noticed me. As she stared at me, she asked, “Who you brought wit' you?”

“Tracy, this is Jade.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” I greeted graciously, extending out my arm in a handshake.

“There ain't no handshakes in this home,” she proclaimed. “We give out nothin' but hugs. You family to us if you wit' my cuz.” She scooping me up into her full-size arms and hugged me like I was family. I was shocked. I looked over at Casey, and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Come inside—everyone is almost here,” his cousin said. I was overwhelmed already. I never met a woman so lively. Tracy walked in first, followed by Casey, and then myself. When I walked in, we were greeted with a house full of folks—and not to be funny, but it looked like the Klumps up in here. I swear I
never felt so small. I was only five-two, petite, and looking at Casey's family, I felt like a mouse trapped in an elephant exhibit.
Whew!

“Casey, hey.”

“You've made it.”

“Ohmygod, who's your friend?”

“You got the day off from policin' huh, cuz?”

“Sit down.”

“We're about to eat in an hour or two.”

Everyone was joyous and exuberant about his arrival. Shit, Casey was the only slim person in the place. He and I were greeted with hugs and kisses. I was shocked. These people don't even know me, but they already were treating me like I was family.

“Jade, huh? That's a beautiful name,” one lady complimented. She was beautiful in the face, but thick all around. She had on a gray turtleneck and a long plaid skirt. “I'm Aunt Jerry.”

“Hello.”

“Girl, you're beautiful. But damn, you need some meat on them bones. . . . Casey, you ain't been feedin' your girlfriend. She about to pass out bein' so thin,” Aunt Jerry said, being humble about it.

“You know how y'all ladies are about food and diets. I try not to get involved,” Casey hollered from the other side of the room.

“Don't worry, Jade. Before you leave here, we gonna have you fittin' into some plus sizes,” Aunt Jerry said.

I smiled.

“She don't need no meat on her skin, Aunt Jerry. Homegirl fine just the way she is. . . . Hey, there, beautiful—I'm Travis,
Casey's older and more handsome and charmin' cousin. If you ever get tired of him, I'll treat you right,” he said, taking my hand into his and kissing the back of it.

I giggled.

“Travis, ain't nobody tryin' to hear your corny lines,” Casey joked. “Go help in the kitchen.”

“He think just because he carries a gun around, he can boss me around now. . . . Boy, I'll still whip your ass like we were kids,” Travis countered.

I chuckled.

Travis was big too, but he was cute, with curly hair and light skin. He wore a Sean John velour suit and brand-new Air Force Ones. He did have style. I'll give him that.

“So Jade, where are you from?” another one of his relatives asked. She looked older than the rest, with slight wrinkles in her face and a short ‘fro. She had thick framed glasses and clutched a cane in her hand.

“I'm from Queens. Born and raised out there,” I informed.

“Queens, huh? I know a few ex-girlfriends out there,” Travis chimed in. “Not as fine as you, though—but hey, I'm workin' on it.”

I laughed again. I liked Travis—he was cool.

“Boy, hush your mouth,” the lady clutching the cane hissed.

“Sorry, Big Ma,” he apologized.

“Serves him right,” Tracy butted in. “Travis always actin' a fool around company. Can't bring the boy around nowhere.”

“Hey, you can take your big ass into the kitchen and put your head in the oven fo' Thanksgivin',” Travis quipped back.