Page 9 of He Thugged Me First

“That wasn’t an excuse. I fucked up and I hurt you. I’m sorry, shorty,” he responded. He looked at me, and I swear I felt his apology in my soul. It was different.

“I accept your apology, Mazzier Carson.”

“C’mon, really? The government, G?” He laughed as he picked up his chopsticks and went back to eating.

“What have you been up to?” I asked.

“To sum it all up, a lil’ bit of everything. You?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Work. I guess the usual.”

He laughed. “You’ve always been career driven, even when you had that lil’ job at the corner store and I had to beat the owner’s ass because he thought he was getting between ya legs.”

I shook my head because I remembered that day very vividly.

“I bet he didn’t try that shit again.” He laughed.

“Hell nah, because I got fired the next day.”

He busted up into laughter. “Well.”

I shook my head as the laughter died down.

“When is the date?” he asked, nodding toward my ring.

I shook my head. “Who knows.” That slipped from my mouth, but I was never one to hold my tongue.

He laughed and waited for me to explain.

“Things happen and people grow?—”

“Apart? But why you still wearing that nigga’s ring?” he asked, resting back against the booth, staring at me.

“Too damn comfortable.” I shrugged.

“Nigga ain’t loving you right,” he said, crossing his arms and studying me.

What he didn’t know was he had me hot as hell just talking about being loved right. I mean, damn, was it a certain thing I did that showed him that? I laughed because I definitely didn’t have a response.

“Yeen gotta tell me, G. I see it, but I’mma mind my business until it’s mine.” He licked his full lips.

MAZZ

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Gayze wasn’t being touched right, if she was even being touched at all.

Maybe it did, but I knew her body like the back of my hand.

Old boy wasn’t working out, and now that she was back in my life, he might as well take his ring back and move on.

I was finishing shit, and that was just it.

She didn’t know it, but she’d given me all that I needed to bring her home.

Gayze belonged to me, end of fucking story.

We ended up talking and kicking shit at Canez for a while until it was set to be opening.

Neither of us wanted to attend the space on a Wednesday night, so currently, I was taking her to her car.

She seemed to be deep in thought the entire ride, which seemed to be a good thing.

“So you have no kids?” she asked out of nowhere after turning my radio down.

“Nope. Just Mel and Mec.” I shrugged. I was careful with these hoes. I didn’t need no kids with questionable genes running around this bitch.

“Mhmm.” She shrugged and rested back against my seat.

I laughed. “What does that mean, G?”

“Nothing. I just figured you’d at least have one by now.”

“Just anybody can’t give me kids, Gayze. Only female I’m busting in will be the one who spends the rest of her life with me. I ain’t talking about none of that marriage shit either.” I pulled into the parking garage and looked over at her.

I guess what I said to her was brain food because she nodded and bit her bottom lip, something I remember her doing when she was deep in thought.

“What floor?” I asked.

“This one.” She pointed to the cocaine white G Wagon sitting in the parking space next to the door.

I couldn’t help but smile in appreciation of her whip.

It was clean as fuck, and I could just bet it had the peanut butter interior.

That was her dream car. Before she could unlock the door to get out, I hit the locks, locking the doors.

“When I’mma see you again?” I asked her as if she had control over that.

She pursed her lips and looked at me. “Now why woul?—”

“Don’t ask dumb questions, G. Dinner tomorrow?” I asked, studying her expression.

“I do have a man, Mazzier.”

I laughed. “Nah, you got a boy.”

She shook her head. She definitely didn’t argue there, because it was just like I thought. He wasn’t touching her right. “Now, Mazz.”

“Now, Gayze. I could sit right here all night, shorty. I ain’t go?—”

“Fine. I’ll be here until five, then—” She started.

“Yeah, alright.” I handed her my phone to put her number in.

After she had tapped in her digits, I pressed call to make sure this was her number. The moment I heard her phone ring, I hung up.

“Is that all?” she asked once I dropped my phone in the cup holder and didn’t move to unlock the car door.

“Is there any?—”

I interrupted her question the moment my hands touched her neck and I brought her closer to me.

She didn’t resist either. Instead, she closed her eyes in anticipation of me pressing my lips against hers.

I did just that. I had missed her lips something serious, and I’d be damned if I didn’t savor the moment.

As If she was reading my thoughts, she jumped back, “Mazz, I can’t?—”

“Gayze, shut the fuck up and get back over here,” I demanded.

She studied me for a moment before doing as I asked and leaning back my way. “This is wrong,” she said before her lips touched mine. After smothering her succulent ass lips with my own for a while longer, I pulled back and just pecked her shit before locking eyes with her.

“Ain’t shit wrong. What’s wrong is you wearing that nigga’s ring and you belong to me.”

She laughed and hopped out of my lap. “I don’t belong to anyone but myself. Now let me out so I can go home, Mazzier.”

I laughed and unlocked the door. She didn’t expect me to get out as well, but I did walk her to her car, which was less than three feet from mine. I held her door open for her to get in before leaning into her window.

“Don’t make me send this bitch up tomorrow.”

She giggled. “Now why the hell would you do that?”

“Because you got that look like you’re about to play with my time,” I responded, smirking.

“Nah, I’m not. I’ll be here.” She gave me that big, bright, pretty ass smile.

I didn’t even plan on making that move on Gayze earlier, but I couldn’t resist it.

She was sitting over there all smooth and chocolaty.

A nigga had a sweet tooth, and she was the closest thing to helping my craving.

Once I let her pull off, I hopped into my truck and called Kasair.

He was the only nigga I knew who would call me to death if I didn’t answer the phone the first fucking time.

If I ain’t know any better, I’d think this nigga was worried about me.

“What, bitch?” he asked as soon as he answered the phone.

“Yo’ ass called me, Sair.” I laughed.

“And yo’ inconsiderate ass ain’t answer. A nigga was just checking on you.” I could hear him pouting through the phone.

“Nigga, I was with Gayze.” I responded.

“That’s good and all, but ya ass did just get shot. Niggas need to know ya coordinates for a while.”

“Awh shit, ya ole sentimental ass was worried about a nigga.” I laughed.

“Man, fuck you. I was worried about you because I’m ’bout to go fuck ya sister up.”

I shook my head. “I told y’all asses to keep me out of ya bullshit.” I really didn’t wanna hear their shit. They were dysfunctional as fuck.

“Well, nigga, you gotta hear about it. Quari’s stupid ass is having family time,” he responded.

I laughed.

“Why the fuck she keep playing with me like I won’t send old boy home to his moms in a pine box?”

“And why would you do that?” I asked, focusing on the road. I was on my way to pick Mel up and go home.

“Because I feel like she’s tryna love him,” he responded reluctantly.

I couldn’t even help it. I started laughing.

“Nigga, this ain’t funny. What the fuck am I supposed to do?” he asked.

“I’on know. Get ya shit together before it’s too late.” I shrugged. I would’ve at least thought that was obvious, but Kasair’s mother had to have dropped him when he was a baby.

“How the fuck am I supposed to do that, Mazz?” he asked like that was impossible.

“Drop the bitches and let her know how you feel, fam.”

“Damn, that’s?—”

“Nigga, get off my phone.” I didn’t even feel like having this conversation anymore. Anything I said went in one ear and out of the other with him.

“So what’s up with Gayze?” I could hear his toothy smile through the phone.

“I’on know. Too soon to tell.” I shrugged, just thinking about her beautiful ass.

“Awh shit. Nigga all in love and shit.” He started to laugh. “Remember she still engaged, nigga. Don’t go fucking up a happy home.”

“Fuck outta here. Fuck that unhappy ass apartment.” I mugged the air.

MECCA

“So you’re going to Vegas tomorrow, and you’re inviting me to come last minute?” I asked Justice. I hated when people expected me to uproot my life to fit their needs.

“I mean, yeah. I was tryna?—”

“I can’t go, Justice. I have my sister,” I lied. Truth of the matter is I didn’t want to go.

“I get you. I mean, there’ll be plenty of other trips.” He damn sure didn’t sound too messed up about it.

“What are you—” I didn’t even let him finish the sentence.

I was no longer feeling it. Once I tossed my phone onto the sofa next to me, I laughed.

Lately I wasn’t me. I felt more isolated and less like I wanted to be bothered.

I just couldn’t deal with people and expectations.

Every time I thought I wanted to take things serious with Justice, he gave me a reason not to.

Then Kasair was just Kasair. I felt like I was in a transitioning stage, like I was evolving.

I just didn’t know who or what I was becoming.

The sound of keys jingling at my door caused me to look toward the clock.

It was almost five thirty, which meant Mazzier was here to get Mel.

“For once you’re on time.” I called out when I heard the door opening.

“I’on even wanna hear it, Mec.” He walked around and took a seat on the sofa across from me.

I glanced at him, and he looked like he was damn near glowing. Then he had an undertone of a smile on his face. “Why are you smiling so hard?” I narrowed my eyes staring at him.

“My business,” he responded just as my phone started to ring.

I glanced down and it was Justice. I ignored it and focused back on my brother.

“Trouble in paradise?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. “Hardly paradise. I just wanna be left the fuck alone, and niggas don’t get that.”

He busted up laughing. “Who the fuck raised ya moody ass?”

I laughed. “You, nigga. Anyways, back into your business. Who the fuck put a smile on your face?”

I shook my head. “You?—”

“Mazzi!” Mel screamed, running into the living room and hopping into his arms. At six years old, my sister resembled my brother more than anything.

He was indeed her twin. Sometimes it was so odd that we were both so much older, and we had a six-year-old sister.

I watched her hop into his arms and hug him before kissing him on the cheek. “Where have you been?”

“I was handling business, baby. You missed me?” He smiled, holding her. I could tell he still felt pain from where he was shot, but he wouldn’t let her see it. He’d successfully shielded Mel from his life.

“Well, I guess. Are we going home tonight?” She was too damn excited.

“Yup. Go get your stuff, baby girl.”

She nodded and trotted off down the hall to her bedroom.

“You saw Gayze, huh?” I asked out of nowhere.

He didn’t respond. He just smiled like a fat kid in a candy store.

“You gonna fuck it up this time?”

Again, he didn’t respond. He was just nodding his head.

“Fine. Don’t tell me shit. Just know that if you do fuck it up this time, I’ll be hitting you with my car.

” I stood to go help Mel pack her bags. If I didn’t, she’d pack all Barbie dolls.

Mazzi and I took turns taking care of her.

She had a boatload of clothes and a bedroom full of them between both of our houses.

The thing was, she was six, so she always had a favorite something.

So for sure I knew if she didn’t pack her stupid ass Peppa Pig plushie and matching sleeping fit, her ass wouldn’t sleep tonight.

She’d drive Mazz nuts until he came and got it or I dropped it off.

Once my brother took Mel and left, I felt home free.

I didn’t have anything to do, so instead of finding something, I ordered a pizza and bought myself a couple movies.

I needed me time and the moments to think.

Just as I was settling in, a knock at the door made me stand up.

My pizza was right on time. I peeked through the peephole, and the sight before me made me roll my eyes to the ceiling.

“Why are you here?” I asked as I opened the door for Kasair carrying my pizza.

“Damn, I don’t get a hey, how was ya day? Or I?—”

“No, you don’t because you didn’t call first.” I snatched the box from him and set it on my counter.

He laughed. “This is what the fuck I get for being remotely nice to yo’ rude ass. I did fucking call, and you didn’t answer.”

“Well, that had to be a sign, right?” I asked.

I glanced over at him. Kasair was as handsome as they came.

He stood at about six feet even with an athletic build.

He had waves and the perfect pecan complexion to compliment it.

Not only was he fine as fuck, but the nigga could dress for days.

I mean, literally dress. His style reminded me of that rapper Fabulous. It was sick as fuck.

“You must be on ya rag.” He tilted his head to the side.

“No. I just figured you’ve spent enough time here bothering me. Don’t you have other bitches to?—”

“Why do you do that, Mec?” he asked, shaking his head and walking over to wash his hands in the kitchen sink. He knew I hated when he did that, but he still did it.

“Why do I do what?”

“Bring up other bitches when I’m tryna spend time with you.” He looked so serious that I was questioning myself.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t feel that I needed to because he knew why.

Grabbing the pizza box, I retreated to my living room and set it on the table in front of my sofa.

I hated that I loved Kasair. I hated it even more that he probably knew it but wouldn’t bring it up.

Instead, he showed up in these moments and gave me his time and hope.

This was why I was becoming less of a people person.

This was why I craved isolation. If I was left the fuck alone, I wouldn’t be let down, and I would have nothing to get my hopes up over.

I looked up from the pizza and my moment of staring into space to see him looking at me. Something about the moment was awkward, and he felt it too because within seconds he was telling me he had something he needed to take care of and rushing out. This was what I meant. I needed to just be alone.