Page 7 of No Remedy for Love

Remi looked over at her friend with slanted eyes, silently warning her not to break the girl code.

“Nothing, that’s just a unique name. I know about the basketball team but I’ve never met anyone with the same name. I like it.” Monique was a quick thinker and she was happy that she didn’t disappoint her friend.

“Man, forget all that. I’m Ferris. And you are?”

“Off limits,” Remi replied before her friend could. Ferris kept his poker face on but he was getting pissed. Now, he wished like hell that Mav would keep Remi occupied while he got to know her girl.

“Damn, why your sis hating on my dude like that?” Mav walked over to Tracy as he asked the question.

“Remi is a grown woman. I’m sure she can speak for herself.”

Remi had his sneaky ass right. Mav had been watching her all night and he finally made his way over to her.

He and Kiva hadn’t been around each other all day, so she didn’t know if they broke up or not.

Tracy had her own relationship drama so she didn’t have time to entertain nobody else’s.

She knew that her sis could handle herself in any situation.

Mav should have steered clear of Remi though.

Her girl had Mav’s mind gone a few years ago and it seemed as if time did nothing to change his feelings.

Tracy knew without a doubt that Remi could handle herself, so she wasn’t worried about that.

“I sure can and I’m too real to hate. That ain’t even in my blood.”

Remi peeped how Ferris made his way over to Monique and started talking to her.

Her girl was blushing hard so she knew that her cousin was spittin’ his usual bullshit.

Monique’s cousin stepped away to give them some privacy and talk on her phone.

Like she’d just told Mav, she was far from being a hater so she let them be.

She was gonna put Monique up on game, but the rest was up to her.

If she still chose to entertain Ferris, she was grown and that would be her decision.

If they did hook up, she didn’t know how it was gonna work since they lived so far away from one another.

“Well, act like it then,” Mav spoke up, shaking Remi out of her daydream. Tracy was busy texting someone so she wasn’t paying attention to them anymore.

“What do you want Mav?”

“I want your big fine ass.”

“It’s a hard no for me. I don’t break up happy homes boo. It was good while it lasted, but our time together has passed.”

“Come spend the night with me.”

Mav knew he was wrong as hell but he couldn’t help it. Remi had him ready to risk it all. He had to be careful though because he wasn’t trying to lose his family. He knew without a doubt that Remi would never deal with him as long as Kiva was still in the picture.

“Where am I gonna sleep, in between Kiva and your son? Keep it pushing Mav. I’m not in the mood.”

Remi walked away and headed to the bar for a drink.

Mav wanted to follow her but he had to be careful.

He played it off and looked around for Kiva and her people.

When he saw them on the dance floor doing some kind of line dance, he knew that he had time.

He walked over to the bar and stood behind Remi.

“You know a nigga still love you, right?” Mav whispered in her ear, making her body involuntarily shiver.

Truthfully, Remi was never in love with Mav but she did have strong feelings for him at one time.

She thought she loved him, but moving to Arizona opened her eyes to a lot of things.

If her feelings were as deep as they should have been, she would have jumped at the idea of Mav moving there to be with her.

Mav fucked like a porn star, and she realized that it was more lust than anything.

Even now, she had no butterflies flipping in her belly and her heart never skipped a beat.

Her kitty was thumping like a bass drum, but that was the only effect that Mav had on her.

Her father went to his grave not liking him or their relationship.

He always told Remi that he was gonna do her the same way he did Kiva, and she believed it.

“Nigga, if you wanna fuck, just say that.” Remi walked away once again, but it was even better that time since she went to the other side of the bar where it was secluded.

“Seriously Remi? Pussy is everywhere and it ain’t hard to get. You know you always did have my heart and ain’t nothing changed. I’m not trying to crowd you though, love. I know you got a lot going on right now and I’m not trying to stress you out. Just know that I’m here for whatever you need.”

Mav sounded sincere, and Remi felt bad for how she was handling him.

He had always been good to her and spoiled her with whatever she wanted.

Mav was a good boyfriend but she wasn’t interested in rekindling their old flame, even if he was being truthful about his breakup with Kiva.

She was ready to settle down and possibly start a family one day.

She just didn’t want to do it with Maverick.

She didn’t mind them being friends with benefits though.

“I’m sorry for my fucked up attitude Mav, but you’re right. I do have a lot on my plate but I shouldn’t be taking that out on you.”

“It’s cool, love. I know how close you and your pops were. How you been holding up?”

“As best as I can. I’ve been trying to stay busy so I don’t really have to think about it too much. I know I can’t do that forever though. I wanna get a job once I handle all my business and get settled.”

“Oh, and congrats on the new degree.”

“Thanks.” Remi smiled, melting his heart like butter.

“Let me take you out to celebrate.”

“Can I take a raincheck, Mav? I have a lot to figure out. I don’t even have furniture for my house yet. I have to reach out to all the tenants in the rental properties and so much more.”

“I understand, baby. I’m just happy that you didn’t say no. And I’m here if you need help moving and shit.”

“Thanks. How’s the barbering business?”

“I’m the boss, baby. Business is always good for me.”

Mav didn’t really cut hair as much as he used to in the beginning.

One of his barbers was popular with a lot of kids and he kept the crowd coming in, even on slow days.

He couldn’t always get to all of his customers so Mav jumped in and helped out sometimes.

Mav was cool with him selling his weed out of his barbershop because that, too, kept the place busy.

His real income came from the houses that he and his pops loved to flip.

“Still cocky I see. But help me understand something.”

“What’s good, love?”

Mav couldn’t stop looking at Remi, even if he tried.

She was naturally beautiful and her sex appeal was off the charts.

He didn’t know if Remi was dealing with somebody back in Arizona or not, and he really didn’t care.

He stood to lose a lot but he wasn’t sure that Remi would be taking the same risk.

“How you claim you and your girl broke up but y’all still work in the same shop?”

“We own it together, so nobody can put the other one out of that bitch. Ain’t no beef with us though.

We remain cordial for the sake of our son.

She stay in the back and I stay up front.

” Mav hadn’t even done anything wrong and he was feeling bad already.

He was straight up lying like he and Kiva didn’t just talk about marriage earlier that morning.

“Yeah, I hear you.” Remi looked at him sideways but she didn’t care one way or the other. She had outgrown Mav, but he would serve as a good fuck buddy.

“So, when can I take you out so we can get reacquainted?”

“When you come help me move like you just offered to.”

“I got you, love. I always will,” Mav said right as her girl walked over with Ferris trailing behind her. Mav didn’t want to leave but he had to when he saw that his boy was walking away. That wouldn’t have been a good look and he didn’t need the added drama.

“Girl, your cousin is a mess.” Monique smiled and blushed.

“He’s also a hoe. I know you can handle yourself but I’m just issuing a friendly warning.

Ferris is not known to be a one woman kinda man.

That’s my cousin and I love him, but I would be less than a friend to let you walk into anything blindly.

If you still choose to deal with him, I’ll respect your wishes and mind my business. ”

“Yeah, I figured as much just by the way he was talking. I’m not trying to start up nothing with nobody in another state anyway. That would be a waste of both our time. I told him we can hang whenever I visit but I can’t offer much more.”

“Girl, fuck all these niggas. Get some dick and keep it pushing. They ain’t good for shit else.” Tracy rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“Oh no. Trouble in paradise?” Remi looked at her girl, already knowing that she was upset about something.

“Bitch, just be prepared to get drunk tonight.”

Remi was drained but she stayed at the repast until the last few people left. Some of the people from the neighborhood cleaned up the rec room and got rid of all the food. The place looked like it had never been used, and she was grateful.

“Well, back to reality,” Remi sighed as she locked up yet another building that now belonged to her.

“You know I got you, my love. We’re gonna get through this together.” Tracy gave her a one-arm hug.

She knew all too well how it felt to lose a parent since she had lost both of hers.

Most people stayed so busy with making arrangements that they didn’t really have time to think about it or grieve properly.

It was after your loved one was laid to rest that mattered most. That’s when the loneliness and depression set in.

She was determined not to let that happen to Remi because she didn’t let it happen to her.

“Honey, you ain’t the only one trying to be here for me,” Remi replied as she showed her a text that had just come through from Mav.

“Whew, chile, this is gonna be a hot ass summer and I’m here for it.” Tracy laughed but she had no way of knowing just how hot it would be.