Page 46 of Juice

“Nariah, think about him.” She nodded her head toward Jude.

I know my mama wasn’t encouraging me to stay with Julius. That was the least of my concern, her plight was how all of this was going to interrupt my son’s life and I understood that. However, I also knew when to hold and when to fold. And right now, I was choosing me. Nibbling on my bottom lip I looked down at Jude before bringing my eyes back up to my mama. “I am.” I muttered before giving her a faint smile.

Julius should’ve thought about Jude before he fucked off. Now he was going to have to face the consequences and explain to his son why the two of us were no longer living with him.

juice

. . .

Glancing down at my phone,I tried to talk myself down off the ledge. I was in the middle of sound check when my fucking phone kept going off. I thought something had happened to one of my hearts when Tito ordered my DJ to cut the track. The last fucking thing I expected was to be aired out by Tamia.

Bitch had got on Instagram posting ‘bout how we had been fucking off behind Nari back and how I refused to pay her rent and shit. Hoe even put screenshots of our texts up. The nigga in me wanted to kill that bitch but when I thought logically, I knew this wasn’t on Tamia. I fucked up, hell. I was the one in a relationship not her ass. She ain’t owe Nari no loyalty, I did.

When the shit came out, I hit Nari up and if she had heard the news she ain’t let me know. The only way I knew she had found out was ‘cause Juju called me from his iPad asking me if we got a new house. My ass was confused until he flipped the camera and showed me Nariah’s condo. He said his mama had told him they was staying there now. What she should’ve told him was not to tell anybody but who am I kidding. Juju all me, my lil hitta was gone put me up on game.

Instead of having the driver take me to the crib I had him bringing me across town so I could pull up on Nari and my jit.

“Don’t go in here on no stupid shit either Juice.” Tito said the minute we pulled up to Nari building.

“I ain’t.” I lied. “I’m ‘bout to go get my son though.”

“You moving foul, Juice. What you expect?”

“I ain’t expect her to take my fucking son out the crib!” I roared.

Holding his hands up palm side out Tito conceded, “You got it nigga.”

“I know I do.” Hiking my jeans up I hopped out of the sprinter and started for the door. Over my shoulder I heard Tito tell Byron to come with me. I ain’t give a fuck who came to be honest. When I stepped through the door the bellman spoke to me. The nigga was so starstruck he ain’t even ask for id or which unit I was going to see.

“You think she gone let him go with you?” Byron questioned once we were on the elevator.

“Choice ain’t really up to her if I’m keeping it a bean.”

“Aight Juice.” He snorted. “She done already whopped yo ass once with a belt. Don’t get up here and get beat again.”

“I wish Nari would.”

When the elevator dinged the door opened revealing Nari’s front door. Ambling over to it I beat on that muthafucka like I was the police. Nari had the penthouse suite, so her unit was the only one on this floor.Thatwas probably the only thing working in my favor right now.

I heard Juju yelling that somebody was at the door and when he asked if he could open it Nari and I both yelled no. Juju opening any door was something we didn’t play with. Muthafuckas was weird nowadays and celebrity or not our address could easily be found.

The chains on the door started to rattle letting me know that Nari was getting ready to open it.

Narrowing her eyes at me, Nariah stood in between the door, blocking my view. “Why are you here, Julius?”

“Fuck you mean?” I asked and looked her up and down. “My muthafucking son in here.”

“With his mother. Where he’s going to stay.” She shared while snaking her neck around.

“Look I know you heard?—.”

That muthafucka hauled off and slapped my ass before I could even get the shit out of my mouth. “Yeah, I heard. Yo lying ass told me you ain’t know that bum bitch.Shesaid y’all been fucking off for a cool minute.”

“Nariah.”

“Nigga don’t call my muthafucking name. I knew yo ass was lying then. I couldn’t prove it, but I knew. Bitch was looking at me like I was stepping on her toes. Whole time it was her doing the shit to me.”

“You mad—I know right now you not tryna hear nothing I gotta say. I just wanna get Juju and take him home.”

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