Page 31

“Sssss ahh shit!” I yelled. It felt like something hot had just struck me across the back. Hopping out of bed I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “Nariah!” I barked when her ass swung that fucking belt and connected with my lower stomach.

What is it with this girl and fucking belts? I tried to snatch that shit out of her hand, but she spun around and popped my ass across the legs.

“Bitch!” She roared. “I’mma beat yo ass like Ms. Norma should’ve did when you was a baby!”

“Got damnit.” The lick to my side caused me to flinch, the moment I tensed up Nariah went to town on my ass.

“I done told you to quit fucking playing with me! You done lost yo muthafucking mind!” She spat. Nariah’s chest was heaving up and down, hell her ass looked possessed.

When she cracked the belt again, I tried to grab it and got hit on my already bloody knuckles. “Somebody come help me get this girl.”

Nariah was moving around the room like her ass was on speed or something. Thinking quick I lunged at her, knocking us both to the ground. The two of us wrestled until I was able to overpower her and snatch the belt.

“Give me this shit!” Throwing the belt behind me I grabbed her wrist, held them above her head, and pushed my knee between her thighs. “Fuck you got going on?” I barked. “And what I tell you ‘bout hitting me with that damn belt.”

“You so full of shit Julius. How could you embarrass me like that?”

“I embarrassed you. You ain’t never fucking thought that.”

“Yeah, you dummy! How could you put my business out there like that?”

“The same way you fucked that nigga!” I bellowed. “Fuck is you saying yo? You did this shit! TWICE!”

Tears pooled in Nariah’s eyes, making me loosen the hold I had on her wrist. “Don’t tell me yo hard ass ‘bout to sit up here and cry?”

“Leave me alone, Julius?”

Sitting back on my knees I pulled Nariah into me. “Bruh don’t cry. Aight. I ain’t mean to make you feel a way. And if it make you feel better, I wrote that the night you told me.”

“It doesn’t make it right Julius.” She fretted.

“I ain’t saying it to make it right. I’m just letting you know I did it cause I was mad.”

“You know how many times I’ve been mad at you? Have I ever did some shit like that?”

“Nigga.” I drawled and cocked my head to the side. “So, you ain’t get on live and tell the world I was a trick and had Tamia played her part her rent prolly would’ve still been getting paid.” When she ain’t say shit I asked again. “That wasn’t you twin?”

“It’s the truth ain’t it.” She bleated, making me laugh.

“Not the point Nariah.” Using the back of my hand I wiped the tears from her face. “I know you did that shit with Flocco to get a reaction out of me. I ain’t understand the shit then but the more I sit and think ‘bout it I’m realizing had I kept it a stack we wouldn’t even be in this predicament.

When you asked me ‘bout Tamia I should’ve kept it funky with you then, but I wasn’t ready for you to walk away. So, I lied ‘cause I ain’t think the shit was ever gone come out.”

“But it did Julius. You know how bad that shit hurt me. We’re not eighteen and twenty-two no more. We got a kid. At some point we gotta grow up and stop playing games.”

“You right. I’m not gon’ even argue with you.

” Dropping my shoulders I clapped my hands together.

“I fucked up and it really ain’t nothing I can say to make this shit better.

I could sit here and act like I’mma be okay with you moving on to another nigga but I’m not.

Will I try to be? Maybe so. Do it and find out. ”

“Julius.” She groaned.

My eyebrows dipped. “Shit you want me to lie. I’mma ease up off you though. Let you do yo thang.”

“Are you really?”

“So, you want another nigga, Nariah?”

“See.” She sucked her teeth.

“I’m fucking with ya.” I smirked. “Like I said I prolly got ‘bout three-four more crash outs in me before I get the picture.”

As much as it bothered me to say this shit, I knew I had to.

I couldn’t keep whooping niggas ass behind Nariah.

I would never stay out of jail. I had to think ‘bout my jit.

I would forever love her ass but if I had to let her go in order for us to survive, I was willing to put my pride to the side and do just that.

“You gon always have my heart. You gave me my seed, Nariah. I’mma always put you above the rest of them bitches. If another nigga is what you want, then you got my blessing.”

Nariah palmed my forehead and stared at me. “Are you sick?”

“Nawl. But I know I’m ‘bout to be.” I chuckled. “Especially when you get a boyfriend. I’mma be sick as a bitch.”

“I’m not looking for a boyfriend, Julius.”

“Them muthafuckas sholl looking for you. Tell Dip I’mma let him ride.”

“Well.” Nariah huffed. “I think last night was it for him. He texted me and said we need to put us on ice.”

“Don’t tell me the nigga weak.”

“Julius, you threatened to end that man’s career.”

“I did huh.” I chuckled. “Tell him I was playing.”

“I’m good. I got too much on my plate as is. A relationship won’t do shit but slow me down.”

“That’s ‘bout the smartest shit yo ass done ever said.”

“Fuck you.” She sassed.

Now that I’d waved the white flag I prayed Nariah, and I could at least get back on speaking terms. “We good?” I questioned and held my hand out.

“We’re good Julius.”

“Good.” Wrapping my arm around her I pulled her into a hug. “I love you, Nariah.”

“I love you too, Julius.” She whispered.

After letting her go I stood from the floor and reached my hand out to help her up. “Are we still doing Jude’s birthday together?”

“He would be mad if we didn’t.”

“Aight. Let me know what you need from me, and we can go from there.”

“I’ll send you an email later.”

“Bet. You still want me to get him?”

“He’s downstairs with yo mama now.”

“Oh, shit let me go holla at my lil hitta.”

“I’mma use the bathroom first. I’ll meet you downstairs.” She let me know before pivoting into the ensuite bathroom.

“You did good, Juice.” Tito praised when I stepped out of my bedroom.

“Nigga. How long yo ass been standing there?”

“Oh, I walked up here with Nariah.” He laughed. “You ate them licks.”

“Fuck you dog. I’m in there getting my ass beat and you out here listening. You ain’t shit for real.”

“Y’all needed to get that shit out.”

“Yeah aight.” I snorted.

“You serious ‘bout letting her go?”

Glancing behind me at the bathroom door I nodded my head. “Yeah.” I breathed. “Ain’t no since in dragging her through the mud when I know we only in this position ‘cause I fucked up. When I get my head right, I’m coming for what’s mine.”

“There it is.”

“There it is.” I repeated and jogged down the stairs. My focus now was being the best father I could to Juju and my music. I was confident that before it was over Nariah, and I would be back together. I had to get me right first.