A Heart Full of Lies (9 page)

              Amina typed something into the computer and faced Jeanette. “Now what was I saying? Aw yeah, so he came over around five something high, tryna act like he didn’t just show out. I let his ass have it.” Amina rolled her neck and continued. “Talking ‘bout I need to learn how to stay in my place.”

              “You make him leave?” Jeanette asked.

              Amina made a face. “Hell no, he right I ain’t his girl. But like I told him I’m not sharing the dick with nobody. He laughed me off, but he knows I ain’t playing.”

              Jeanette didn’t quite understand. “So … y’all made up?”

              “Bitch duh, I sucked the shit out his dick, so he would know what he was missing out on if he ever gave this up.” She ran her hands over her thighs and ass. “He ain’t stupid Jeanette. I’ma find out who that bitch was though and I’ma shut it down.”

              Jeanette laughed at her. “Your ass is crazy.”

              Amina smirked. “And you know this. Shit your ass would be crazy too over a nigga like Tone. With the kinda paper he making, I’d put up with anything. I’m tryna be that nigga’s wife, and be set for life, and ain’t no way I’ma just let some random take my spot.”

Chapter Seven: Where Have You Been

              Sasha looked over the menu and decided she just wanted a burger and some fries. She closed it and eyed Shawn as he skimmed through the options. She hated coming to “Ugly Joes” but Shawn loved the atmosphere. She hated all the loud noise, and between the pool table, bar, and darts games that were going on she couldn’t think straight, let alone enjoy a meal.  It was Sunday and in their household this was the day Shawn insisted they spend “quality time.”

              She loved that he’d designated a day just for them, only thing wrong was the destination he chose. She knew that after he ate, he would head straight to the bar and pool table, and forget all about her. But she wasn’t in the mood to argue so she just played it cool.

              “What you getting?” Shawn asked as he closed his menu.

              “A burger.” she stated plainly.

              “Fries too?”

              “Yea I do-“ She stopped midsentence as she locked eyes with Michael who was sitting at the bar. She quickly looked away, stammering her words. “I, um, I .. I’m not really hungry.”

              Shawn looked back at the bar. “What?”

              Sasha shook her head. “Nothing I thought I seen somebody I know.” She kicked herself for being so sloppy.

              Shawn gave her a look. “Who the fuck you thought you knew in here?”

              “Shawn, don’t start. We’re supposed to be enjoying each other not fighting.” She sucked her teeth.

              Shawn took a sip of his drink. “Let me find out.”

              Sasha was about to say something smart when she noticed Michael coming over to their table. She looked up at one of the big screens hanging from the wall, trying to avoid eye contact so he wouldn’t come over and speak. Too late.

              Michael walked up on the table and smiled. “Hey Sasha, how are you? I wasn’t for sure if that was you or not, I see you changed your hair.”

              Shawn gave her an evil look, then spoke to Michael. “Who are you?” He looked back over at Sasha. “Who the fuck is this?”

              Sasha sat up straight. “Baby, calm down, this is Michael, my boss.” She smiled at Michael. “Hey.” She wanted to disappear, if not forever, then just for this moment.

              Shawn leaned forward. “Yo’ boss? Since when the fuck did you get a male boss.” This was all new to him. Sasha hadn’t said anything about assisting another man.

              Michael gave Sasha a sorry look. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

              Shawn waved him off. “Yea, aight.”

              As Michael walked away, Sasha shook her head. “Really Shawn? That’s my damn boss, you going to get me fired!” She let out an angry sigh. “And I didn’t tell you because I knew you would act like this.”

              Shawn grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair and stood up. “Let’s go.”

              Sasha stared up at him. “Why? We haven’t even eaten yet. You’re tripping.”

              Shawn put his jacket on and snatched her out of her chair. “Get your ass up and let’s go.”

              Sasha snatched away from him. “Get off me.” She couldn’t believe he was acting like this. She grabbed her belongings and followed him past the drunken crowd and out the door. She rolled her eyes as she got in the car, for all this she should’ve just fucked him.

              As they drove home in silence Sasha’s mind went back to Michael and the bar. He cleaned up nice in regular clothes. She just wished she’d been prepared for when he approached her. Yea, she never told Shawn she worked for him, but then again he never asked. Still that gave him no right to grab on her and embarrass her in public, especially in front of Michael. What if Shawn had just cost her her job?

              Shawn pulled his 2015 Cadillac Escalade into the driveway and turned the truck off. He leaned his head back against the head rest and took a deep breath. Sasha could tell he was pissed, but she really didn’t care, he’d snatched her up like she was a damn rag doll. She wasn’t down for that type of disrespect and Shawn knew it.

              “So you’ve been working for that nigga all this time?” Shawn looked over at her.

              Sasha ignored him and opened her door exiting the truck.

              Shawn did the same. “You hear me?!” he slammed the door and followed her into the house. “You fucking that nigga?” He didn’t want to ask but he had to know.

              Sasha laughed. “Are you serious?” She sat down on the couch. “You grabbing me by fuckin’ arm and shit, I’m not your child. You need to treat me with more respect.”

              “Why you didn’t tell me you were working for him? It just be y’all two?” he asked. “And you might as well let that little job go, because you’re finished.”

              Sasha took her coat off grabbing the remote control and turned the television on.  “Why does it matter that he’s a man? He’s my employer, not my lover. I’m not quitting, I don’t care what you say or how you feel about it. Just because you out here fuckin’ your baby mama still don’t mean I’m doing nothing.” She shot him a mean look.

              Shawn gave a puzzled look. “Man, what are you talking about?”

              Sasha tilted her head. “Yea I thought you would learn by now to erase the messages out of your phone.” Unbeknownst to Shawn, Sasha went through his cellphone and home office computer every night. She’d seen the back and forth text and emails between him and Milan, and she knew he had been going over to her house a lot.

              Shawn rubbed his hand over his head. “I only go over there to see my daughter, I’m not fuckin’ her.”

              “You expect me to believe that? That’s why you’re all in your feelings about my boss, because you the one doing dirt. I haven’t did anything wrong, so the insecurities are all you.” Sasha gave the tv her undivided attention, ending the conversation.

              Shawn opened the front door. “I’m not doing shit, but let me find out anything is going on between you and that nigga, I’ma dead both of y’all.”

              Sasha rolled her eyes, tired of the constant disrespect from Shawn. “You ain’t gone do shit.”

              Shawn walked out slamming the door behind him.

              Erin had just came back from grocery shopping when she saw Tone’s Camaro sitting in front of her house. It had only been a couple days since she’d last seen him, and she had to admit she felt some type of way. Maybe it was the fact that while they were chilling she started to get comfortable, too comfortable. His conversation was intriguing and he had a good head on his shoulders. She wasn’t ready to be around him yet.

              She exited her car popping her trunk as Tone got out of his car. The cold November air smacked her causing her to shutter just a little. As Tone came up on her she couldn’t help but notice how good he looked. He wore all black, coke white Air Force Ones, and a black and white Yankee fitted cap. Erin couldn’t help but smile to herself as his cologne surrounded her.

              Tone adjusted his North Face coat. “Wassup love.”

              Erin grabbed as many bags as she could. “Hey.” She didn’t know why he was here or what he wanted, but she wasn’t in the mood.

              Tone smiled at her. “You ain’t been answering my calls.” He grabbed the remainder of the bags out of the trunk and took a few bags from Erin.

              Erin shut the trunk. “I know.”

              Tone followed her up the walkway and into the house before he asked. “So what’s up with that? A nigga cook you breakfast and get booted?” he laughed. He still couldn’t believe she put him out. He’d told his homies about it and couldn’t do nothing but laugh and want her more. But one thing he wasn’t gone do was let Amina come between him and Erin. Bitches like Amina came a dime a dozen, but women like Erin were rare and priceless.

              Erin sighed. “I don’t do men who have wives, girlfriends, and baby mama’s.” She began putting the groceries away.

              Tone started helping. “Good, cause I ain’t got neither. What’s all this food for?”

              Erin rolled her eyes. “Yea, ok. I’m not stupid.”

              Tone shook his head at her. “You a trip, I’ma break down them walls though.”

              Erin ignored him. “Santonio besides that, what did you want, because I gotta meet somebody in a little bit.”

              Tone frowned. “Who?”

              Erin ignored him. There was no way she was going to answer to Tone. He was not her man and she didn’t owe him anything. The look on his face said otherwise though.  She was meeting up with Sasha later, but that was none of his business. She knew deep down whoever called Tone the other night was more than just a friend.

              Tone stopped what he was doing. “Erin, who you going to meet? A nigga?”

              “Santonio, why does it matter if I’m going to meet a nigga? I’m not your woman, so cut it out.” Erin couldn’t front she was amused to see how bothered he was. Yea it was petty but Tone needed to realize she wasn’t fazed either way.

              Tone stood in front of her. “You will be my woman soon.  Know that.”

              Erin looked up into his pretty eyes. “How sure are you?”

              Tone rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “Very. I don’t care how long it takes for you to see I ain’t like the lames that you used to. I know you’ve been hurt, I can see it. But what I also see is perfection; you’re everything I ever wanted, and I knew that the night I looked through my rearview mirror and saw you standing there. You’re smart, independent, head strong, funny, and fine as hell.” He corrected himself. “I’m sorry, beautiful. I’m not asking for you to be a part of my world, I want the honor of being in yours. If I gotta change my number, and you be the only one who got it for you to rock with me, I’ll do that. So you can stop trying to get rid of me cause Erin I ain’t going nowhere.”

              Sasha couldn’t wait to tell Erin about last night with Shawn, and how he acted a damn fool. When she’d woke up this morning to get ready for work he wouldn’t even let her leave the house until she cursed him the fuck out. Sasha didn’t know what was coming over her but every day she was around Michael, her relationship with Shawn was getting worse. She was taking her lunch break at 54
th
Street Bar and Grill and needed to vent badly.

              Sasha saw Erin come in and waved. “E!”

              Erin smiled and walked over. “Sorry it took me so long, Santonio’s ass wouldn’t let up.” She took her jacket off and sat down.

              Sasha grinned. “I thought you were done with him because of the shit he pulled the other night.” Sasha was happy Tone wouldn’t let up, and from the stories Erin told her, she personally liked him. He was persistent, and Erin needed that consistency. Sasha didn’t want her to give up on love.

              “Girl he popped up, AGAIN. Talking bout he ain’t giving up.” She looked over her menu, trying to avoid eye contact with Sasha.

              Sasha of course noticed. “You gone fuck him, and you gone be hooked, watch.” she laughed. “You’re trying to play hard to get and shit, that ain’t making him mad, that’s making his dick hard.”

              Erin laughed. “You are so stupid. I’m not fucking him all that’s gone come with Tone are late nights, and headaches.”

              Sasha waved her off. “Yea, ok. You don’t have to try and convince me. I see you blush when you’re talking about him, turning all red and shit.” She cracked up.

              Erin flipped her off, “Why you sound so pressed when I talked to you this morning?” she asked switching the subject. The waiter came and took their order.

              Sasha sighed. “Shawn’s disrespectful ass. I’m getting tired of it.”