Page 22

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. That was 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. She said 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.”

“Oh, he home.” She snarled.

“Fuck that supposed to mean?”

“Just what it sound like. We not coming back.”

“You tryna take my son, Nariah?” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I just know you ain’t convinced yoself that I’mma let that shit fly.”

“I’ll never take him from you stupid. But this is where we’re living from now on. You can get him whenever you want him.”

“Well send him out.”

“Just not tonight.” Folding her arms across her chest she stared at me like she was waiting for me to make the next move.

“You got it, Nari.” I accepted defeat. I mean what else could I do? I fucked up so ultimately the ball was in her court.

“Jude, come say goodnight to your pappy.”

Nariah opened the door and took a few steps back so I could get to Juju. “Hey buddy.” I kneeled.

“Hey daddy.” He met me halfway for a hug. “We going home now?”

“Nawl big man.” Getting choked up I tossed my head back. “You and ya mama gone stay here for a while.”

“But why?” he asked and glanced behind him at Nariah.

“Daddy uh…Daddy did something bad and ya mama a lil mad right now.”

“Dog.” Byron groused behind me but shit I ain’t know else to say. I wasn’t ‘bout to tell him Nariah had left my ass and moved out.

“Mommy, can you not be mad at my daddy anymore?” Juju asked her.

Nariah mumbled something under breath before smiling at him. “I’m not mad baby.”

“Okay she not mad. Can we go home?” He asked again.

“Not tonight buddy. I’mma come get you tomorrow. How ‘bout that?”

“Okay.” He mumbled uncertainly. Holding him back I looked at him. “You know I love you right.”

“Yes sir.” Juju nodded.

“Good and you know daddy gon’ always be here right.”

“Yes sir.”

“Aight.” I held my fist out. “Pound me up.” Juju stretched his fist out and knocked it against mine. “Go to your room and let me holla at ya mama. I’mma call you as soon as I wake up cause I’mma be on my way.”

He eyed me suspiciously before confirming that he understood and walking away.

“How we gone do this Nariah?” I asked as soon a Juju was out of view.

“I don’t have an answer for you Julius. That’s probably something you should’ve considered before you stepped out.”

“I did consider it.” Closing my eyes I ran my hands down my face. “Nariah, I’m sorry as fuck bruh. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I know. What you love that girl or something?”

“Hell nawl.” I responded quickly. Love is what I felt for Nariah. I had nothing in my heart for Tamia. I did what I did for her 'cause shit I was a trick. But that didn’t mean I loved her.”

“You did.” Nariah scoffed. “I know you, Julius. You love that girl, that’s why you fucked around with her for so long.”

“I ain’t mean for it to end up like this. I cut Tamia off, and I guess she jus?—”

“Just what?” Nariah spat. “Bitter. She’s bitter ‘cause the nigga she been fucking with up and decided he wanted to be faithful. If we gone be anything Julius be fucking for real.”

“What can I do to fix this Nariah?”

“What can you do to fix this?” She repeated.

Palming my face Nariah mushed my ass. “What you could’ve done was keep ya dick in ya pants and not fuck that girl.

You could’ve kept it a bean and put me on game instead of embarrassing me by letting this girl air yo ass out on social media.

You could’ve done a lot but like a fucking coward you didn’t.

So now you gotta live with me moving on. ”

Umph, I see what type of time Nariah on.

She was popping off at the mouth and shit and all I saw was fucking red.

Talking ‘bout how she was gone go give her pussy to a nigga that deserved it. And I was all kind of fuck niggas and ain’t shit ass niggas.

She was gone hurt me like I hurt her and all that rara shit.

Grabbing her by the robe I hiked her ass up against the door.

“Fuck off me! I’m just talking to her.” I raged when Byron tried to pull me off her. “Nariah I will murk you. I love you but I’ll kill you if you even think ‘bout fucking with another nigga. You don’t want that on yo conscience love, I promise you don’t.”

“Julius this late in the game your threats don’t move me. I’m done with yo ass.”

Getting eye level with her I chuckled. “You ain’t done with shit.” I let her robe go. “Go fuck a nigga if you want and yo folks gone be picking out yo burial plot.”

“Julius, fuck you.” She laughed manically. “Niggas been in my inbox. I been playing them niggas to the left for yo nothing ass. I’ll go fuck a nigga, get pregnant, and bring the baby home for you to raise!”

Nariah pushed the wrong fucking button. I knew she was mad and all but that bullshit she just let slip out of her mouth cut a lil too deep. “Bitch you got me fucked up!” Before I could catch myself, my hand was landing across her face.

The hallway grew eerily quiet. Nariah’s mouth was gaped wide opened, and her hand was over the area I struck. It took a few seconds for the shit I had done to register in everyone’s mind.

“Nigga you muthafucking tripping.” This time when Byron pushed me back, I didn’t fight him on it.

Rushing to Nari’s side he walked her further into the crib while I stood there with my hands on my head. “Nariah, I’m sorry.”

“Get out!” She wailed and turned back to Byron. “I’m calling the cops.”

“I’m sorry.” Tucking my hands in my pocket I backed out of her crib. I moved on autopilot until I was back outside and sitting in the sprinter. I heard Tito asking me what happened but the sounds of police sirens advancing on us drowned him out.

When twelve pulled up I stepped out of the sprinter with my hands in the air. After reading me my rights I was cuffed and thrown into the backseat. For the first time since I’d been in my position, my name was now in the blogs all because I fucked the wrong bitch.

Ducking my head I trekked out of the precinct doors with Tito and my attorney beside me. The three of us didn’t utter a word until we were in the back of the black truck pulling away from the precinct.

Tito was the first one to speak up when he asked, “What the fuck were you thinking, Juice?”

Dropping my head I sighed. “I wasn’t.”