Payback With Ya Life (7 page)

CHAPTER SIX

H
ey, luv, you aiight?”

“Who is this?” Nyla snapped.

Peanut laughed. “Oh, it’s like that now? A nigga can’t even check on a beautiful lady nowadays without getting snapped on. What is the world coming to?” he joked.

“Peanut?” She finally recognized his voice. “I’m sorry about that. Wait. What am I apologizing for? You called me collect the last time I spoke to you, so what’s up? Wait a minute. You’re out?” She sounded excited. “Oh my God, you’re out!” she squealed.

“Yeah, I’m out. I’ve been home for a couple of weeks.”

“A couple of weeks? And you’re just calling me? I should hang up on yo’ ass.”

“Nah. You don’t want to do that. Go easy on a nigga. I’m out here trying to get back on track. So how you holdin’ up and when can I see you?”

Shit
. Peanut had caught her off guard fo’real. It’s like he always knew to call when she was straddling the fence. Here she had just gone out on a limb to set Shan up so that Forever could come home and the bitch didn’t even come to work. Instead she did one better and quit, making Nyla look and feel stupid. So now she was still pissed at Forever for fucking the bitch raw and getting her pregnant. She was at the point of love him or leave him. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t see leaving him since she had put in so much work. They were married and had their beautiful daughter, Tameerah. But that hadn’t stopped her from thinking of a get-back and Peanut just may be the answer.

“You still there?” Peanut interrupted her flashback and train of thought.

“I’m here.”

“A nigga tryna see you, so what’s up?”

Damn. He’s coming on strong. But shit, I wouldn’t mind seeing his ass. Beep.
“Can you hold on a sec, that’s my other line.” She pumped her fist.
Yes! Saved by the bell . . . or should I say the beep? And right before I got into something I ain’t have no business getting into.

“Hold on? Do I look like a secretary, maine? Just tell me when can I see you.”

“You gonna let me take this call or what? If you ain’t got time to wait, then call me back,” she went back at him and then clicked over. Whoever was on the other line hung up, so she clicked back over to Peanut. “Now was that so hard? It didn’t even take long,” she teased.

“Naw, but tell me how long I’m going to have to wait to see you.” Yeah, he was pressin’ her. But he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was the ultimate picture of a lady in his eyes. He wanted her to be his lady. There was an attraction between them that he couldn’t control . . . no matter how hard he tried . . . and he knew that she could feel it as well. It didn’t matter to him that she was holdin’ a nigga down on lock. He wanted her to be his lady.

“Actually—”
Beep.
“Shit, that’s my line again; do you mind holdin’ on?”

“Damn, your line is bumpin’. I’m glad I called when I did or I probably would be the one struggling to get through. But go ahead. Do you need me to take some messages for you?” He was bein’ real smart with it.

“You got jokes. Nigga, don’t be like that. I promise it won’t take long. Hold on.” She clicked over.

It was Forever.

Oh shit, oh shit.
She hopped around as if she were stepping on hot coals.
Just my luck. Does this nigga have ESP?
When the recording said
Press five to accept
, she hesitated. “Oh God, calm down, Nyla, breathe.” She finally did . . . as she pressed five.

“Damn. I thought you wasn’t going to press five. Did I interrupt something?” Forever was nonchalant about it but she knew he was dead serious.

“Hold on. Let me get rid of this call.” She clicked over before Forever responded. “Peanut, I gotta take this call.”

“Is everything aiight?”

“Yeah. Well, no. I’ll get back with you.”

“You don’t even have my number. I’ll get back at you. Handle your business, shawty.” Peanut hung up.

Nyla sighed as she clicked back over to Forever. “Yeah,” Nyla spoke drily.

“Yeah? That’s all you got to say? Straight up, what dick got your mind gone?”

“Forever, did you just call here to argue?”

“I’m just sayin’ you—”

“You’re just saying what, Forever? Huh? Why it got to be some dick? I can’t be tired of your shit? Of course not. You think your shit don’t stink.”

“Damn. And your mouth fly. You can’t tell me another nigga ain’t in this equation. What’s the nigga’s name?”

“Why?”

Forever chuckled. “I knew there was a nigga in the equation. I don’t believe this shit. You fucked him already? Can you at least tell me that?”

“What difference would it make?”

“You bitch.”

“Fuck you, Forever. Unlike you, I haven’t crossed that line or broken my marriage vows.”

“The way you poppin’ off you expect me to believe that bullshit?”

Nyla was fighting back her tears. “I’m starting to hate you, Forever.”

“Ain’t this a bitch. So it’s over?”

“I answered your call. I’m still here, ain’t I?”

“Fo’real, I can’t tell. You got niggas callin’ the crib and shit. Are we through?”

“Do you really care, Forever?”

“Nyla go ’head with the bullshit, this is me, Forever, baby. Fuck you mean do I care?”

“Yeah, the same Forever that fucked a bitch and got her pregnant. That Forever, right? How many more bitches you up there fucking, and getting pregnant?” Nyla now had tears streaming nonstop down her cheeks.

“C’mon, Nyla.”

“C’mon my ass, Forever. Nigga, I got your last name and your daughter,” she screamed.

You have one minute remaining
, the recorder chimed.

“Nyla, don’t do this.”

“You already did it, Forever. And fuck you. You need to sweat for a minute.” The phone disconnected.

“Fuck!” Forever slammed the phone down. He had waited exactly fifteen minutes to call her back but now she wasn’t answering. He picked up the phone and dialed again. Nyla still wouldn’t pick up.

“Yo, man, can I jump on the phone right quick? Shit!” one of the inmates standing in line quipped.

Forever ignored him and walked away. He spotted his cousin and codefendant Zeke going down the hall. He needed someone, preferably Zeke, to listen to him vent.

“Zeke!” Forever yelled out. Zeke turned around, nodded and kept it moving.

“What the fuck?” Forever was really confused.
This nigga has been acting standoffish for the past few days.

“Zeke,” Forever called out again as he picked up his pace, determined to catch up with him. “Zeke, hold up, nigga, I need to holla at you.”

“Nigga, I gotta take care of something. I’ll get with you later,” Zeke yelled back and strolled off.

Peanut ended up calling Nyla back and talked her into meeting him at the movies. They went to see
The Pursuit of Happyness
with Will Smith, and now they were standing in the parking lot, leaned up against Peanut’s Denali. He was holding both of her hands.

“I enjoyed our little date. Even though we took separate cars,” he teased.

Peanut was massaging her palms. Her short haircut, beautiful smile and petite body were a complete turn-on. She had on a jeans outfit with some stiletto boots, and she was still a little itty-bitty thing.

“I enjoyed myself too.” The gentle massage she was receiving was making her tingle. Add the fact that his Jean P cologne was making her head swim. “I think it’s time for me to be going.”

“You don’t sound so sure. You want to get something to eat? I’m hungry fo’real, how about you?”

“I’m nervous and I feel guilty. He asked me for your name today.”

“Is that why you’re nervous, lil’ mama? I can take care of myself. If I was in his shoes I’d be asking the same thing. Yo, but listen, it was just a movie, right?”

“Yeah. Just a movie.”

“When you’re ready to do a little something more, just let me know.” He reluctantly let her hands go. “Let me walk you to your car.” He grabbed one of her hands and she giggled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“What? You are laughing because I can’t stop touching you?”

She took out her keys and unlocked the door. “Good night, Peanut.”

He put his hand on the door handle. “You know I want to kiss you, right? What would you do if I kissed you?” He didn’t give her a chance to respond, his tongue was parting her lips as one of his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her in close. He felt her hand glide up and caress his chest, and just as quickly she gently pushed him away.

Nyla leaned back and gazed up into his eyes. “We just kissed. Didn’t we?”

“Yeah, we did. If you need to blame somebody, blame me. I initiated it. I’ve been waiting and wanting to do that for a long time, girl.”

“I gotta get going. Thanks for the movie.”

Peanut grabbed her wrist. “Do you feel guilty for kissing me?”

“Yes and no.”

Peanut chuckled. “What’s that supposed to mean? Talk to me.”

“Later, okay? I need to go and pick up my daughter.”

“So when can I see you again?”

“I’ll call you.”

He opened the door for her and stood by as she started her ride and drove off.

Nyla made it to her sister Lisha’s house in record time. She was in a zombie state of mind. She heard Lisha yell out before peeking through the mini-blinds. Nyla heard the several locks being released and then the door flew open.

“Hi,” Nyla said to her sister.

“Nyla, what are you doing here after midnight? Tameerah is sound asleep!”

“So . . . can I come in?”

Lisha sucked her teeth and pushed the screen door open. “Forever has been calling here all night looking for you. Where were you?”

“What did you tell him?”

Lisha looked at her baby sister and could tell that something wasn’t right. “I told him I didn’t know.”

“Oh, my God.” Nyla gasped. “My plan of making him sweat is in full effect. That nigga ain’t gonna get no sleep tonight.”

“Don’t tell me you were creepin’ out on Forever.” Lisha stood there holding her robe closed. When Nyla didn’t respond, she yelled, “Oh, no you didn’t!”

“I went on a date, Lisha.” Nyla started crying as she flopped down on the couch and covered her face.

Lisha jumped up to get her sister some tissues. When she came back, Nyla was pacing back and forth, hugging herself and still crying.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Start with drying your face. How you gonna get to the end of the bid and start fucking around on him?”

“I didn’t fuck around on him!” Nyla spat defensively. Then she said above a whisper, “But part of me wanted to.”

“Oookay.” Lisha backed away from her sister as if she was in shock.

“Lisha, you don’t know what it’s like. You never been with a nigga that’s locked up. I’ve been doing this shit for five years. Five long years, Lisha.”

“Lower your voice, you’ll wake up the kids. And, bitch, please, I know how long it’s been. I been doing the damn time with you; that’s why I said it’s almost over. You can’t hang in there a little while longer?”

“Oh, girl, you just don’t know how hard I’m trying. I miss him so much. And I used to love him more than I love myself.”

“Used to?”

“Yes, used to.” She blew her nose. “Forever got some other bitch pregnant, Lisha.”

“He what!” Lisha shrieked.

“You heard me. She was the computer teacher up there. He was fuckin’ her and he had her bringing in his dope.”

“Aww hell to the naw! That’s fucked up! He went up in that bitch raw-dog? Damn, Nyla, I would have . . . shit . . .” She thought about it. “I don’t know what the fuck I would have done. That is so fucked up. When did you find all of this out? And why are you just telling me?”

Nyla laughed. “Girl, I was just as shocked as you are. The shit happened so fast. Then I had this brilliant idea, since he claimed that it was just business and she was expendable. I said, ‘Let’s set this bitch up so that you can come home.’ The nigga didn’t want to do it but I didn’t give him a choice in the matter.”

“So what happened? What’s up with that? And you? Setting somebody up? Forever snitchin’? This story is getting crazier by the minute.”

“The shit fell through. He gave her the dope and everything but she quit. Just like that. My baby would have been home, Lisha,” Nyla cried.

“Damn, that’s some foul shit, Nyla. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Me neither. I was so angry at him, at her, and now he has a baby on the way . . . by her, Lisha. I’m still angry with him. More than angry. I’m so hurt. I can’t believe he would do this to me. And niggas be wondering why bitches leave them for dead. This is why. After five long years . . . this is the thanks I get.”

Nyla’s cell phone rang, startling both of them.

“Who is that?” Lisha looked at the phone as if it were a snake, then said, “I bet you it’s either one of two people, your husband on them gotdamned contraband cell phones or the nigga you was out with tonight. You need to answer it.”