Page 34 of Chrome

“Happy birthday bro. I know it ain’t easy holding BMG down, but we wouldn’t be the brotherhood we are today without you. You know I’ll do anything for you. I hope OG bless you enough to see another one.” Litty was one of them ones you never had to question. His loyalty was to me first and then BMG. He meant what he said when it came down to doing anything for me.

“Preciate it, bro,” I replied without wasting a second on throwing that shot back. The rest of the crew followed suit showing the unity.

“Heads up, Chrome. That bitch Rini back,” Zinc warned.

I scanned the street nonchalantly and caught her walking through with her homegirls. I wasn’t gon’ deny how good she looked because at the end of the day, Rini always knew how to step. My interest just didn’t lie with her no more. She was too grimy for me, and it wasn’t shit that could change how I felt about her. Getting pregnant by my opp and still trying to fuck with me was wild.

She spotted the crew and slowly made her way over. They didn’t fuck with her at all so they scattered like roaches before she could even close the gap good. I remained chilling and sipping not caring what she had to say. Her presence didn’t make me uncomfortable, either. It was bullshit whenever she was around, so I’d gotten used to it. It was only a matter of time before drama made its way into the picture.

“Happy birthday,” she voiced softly handing over a card and small rectangular box.

“Preciate it.” I tossed her shit to the side of me and kept eyeing the crowd.

“You’re not gonna open it?”

“What the fuck is it, Rini?” I didn’t have time to play her childish ass games.

“Just open it… please.”

I grabbed the card and peeled open the envelope. I removed the card and flipped it open. Inside was a folded piece of paper with a receipt. A Woman’s Choice Inc. sat at the top and the total of $750 sat at the bottom of it. Opening the folded paper, I scanned it and saw this bitch went out and got a fuckin’ abortion. I couldn’t do shit but chuckle. Her pregnancy didn’t have shit to do with me from jump, so I was confused on why the fuck she was giving this shit to me.

“That wasn’t my baby, Rini. I really don’t give a fuck.”

“I did that for you. I never meant to get pregnant by War. It was a drunk ass night and shit went down. I’m done with him so we can get back to us now, baby. That old ass bitch can’t fuck you like I can, or swallow dick like me. Yeah, I heard all about her.”

“If you don’t move the fuck around, I know something.” I waved her off bringing the bottle to my lips once more. She was talking out the side of her neck. It wasn’t shit I wanted from her trifling ass. She showed me how she got down and I believed her.

“Why you tripping on me, Chrome? We had fun together,” she said placing her hand on my chest. I knew Rini. This wasn’t shit but her seeing if she still had it like that.

Standing, I wrapped my arm around her neck and brought her in close. The music was blasting, and I didn’t need her misinterpreting shit. I was ‘bout to be heard loud and fuckin’ clear. Sometimes you had to give it to a bitch raw for them to understand it would never be them.

With my mouth to her ear, I uttered, “That old bitch you so pressed about, that’s wifey. I be in that wet muthafucka having the time of my life. That old bitch so fuckin’ addicting, a nigga having a small withdrawal as we speak. I can’t wait to blow her shit out again. I’m gon’ nut in that shit so good, I promise the next time youhear all about her, you gon’ hear she having anigga son. Now, get the fuck away from me before I have the twins light yo’ dumbass up.”

I peeped Fade standing with Zinc and Onyx eyeing me the entire time. Whatever was going through her mind, I wasn’t going to clear up. She fucked me up with the shit she did and now it was on her to fix this shit. She wasn’t invited, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt seeing her here. Whether it came from Zinc or Onyx giving her the run down, she showed. That meant something to a nigga.

I strolled past them not letting the bottle down from my lips. It wasn’t shit else this woman could do to knock me off my shit. I was already down bad struggling to stand the fuck up. My love for Fade wasn’t something I took lightly so if she wanted a nigga, she needed to come get me.

Chapter Twelve

KOSHA

Another day where I stared at my phone trying to figure out what to say to Chrasmere about the shit that went down. I wanted to apologize but I didn’t know if he would even answer for me. I never cowered from rejection but if I called or texted and that man didn’t answer either one, that shit was gon’ fuck me up. I was already emotional as hell and didn’t want to embarrass myself any further.

“Mama, I have a job interview at Footlocker in the mall later. You think you can take me?”

Ever since that day with Houston, Melanie had been quiet. She didn’t say much at all, but I did notice the little things like her helping with chores or trying to cook. Houston fucked my baby up and I didn’t know where to start first with the mending.

“Yeah baby. I have an appointment this morning as well that way so I can wing it. What time?” I asked, dropping my phone in my lap.

“At eleven. I figured I’d get a summer job and save a little before it’s time to move in the dorms.”

“You don’t have to work for anything, Mel. I have more than enough to fund you in college. Have you even decided on where you’re going? You don’t talk to me about anything so…”

“I chose GHU. Uncle Alex and Davis said they’ll help me move in and everything. I didn’t want to go too far.”

“Oh, okay. I didn’t even know you applied there.”

“It was last minute. I uhm, I made some breakfast and coffee if you wanted some.”

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