Page 5 of Rhyot & Nyelle (D-Ville Projects #6)

Chapter

Four

Nyelle’s heart was pounding so hard that she swore Rhy heard it. A huge knot filled her throat as she pondered her next set of words that would flip their whole friendship on its head.

The real reason she didn’t bother going to visit him while he was incarcerated and opted to only write him letters and occasional phone calls.

She briefly looked at her white painted toes and back up to his awaiting orbs.

Damn, he fine as fuck when he’s frustrated.

He was now the one who had questions. She closed her eyes and thought to herself, Fuck it let me just tell him .

Taking a deep inhale, she finally spoke “Her name… her name is Rhyelle.”

The second that name left her lips, the whole room seemed to go dead silent. Rhyot’s head snapped back like she’d punched him in the gut. His eyes widened then his hardened face twisted in confusion and anger before he spoke. “The fuck you just say?”

Nyelle’s lips trembled as she toyed with her thumbs while staring at him. “I-I have a daughter and her name is Rhyelle.”

It took a few moments for him to process what she had said then he exploded.

“So what the fuck you telling me is that you had a fucking child and been sending me letters about every fucking thing else and forgot to mention that?!” His voice thundered through the small, two-bedroom apartment.

She jumped at the sound of his voice but knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

“Rhyot, let me explain?—”

“Nah, fuck that! You named her after me! After us! And you never said nothing ?” He stared at her with so much anger that she almost regretted her decision of not telling him the truth from the gate.

He then turned back around as he looked at Rhyelle’s belongings throughout the living room area.

“So who is her pops? He was cool with you naming his seed after me?” He quizzed Ny, sounding stern and cold.

“She’s Chop’s.”

Rhyot froze as he quickly spun back around. His jaw twitched as he glared at her, his eyes narrowed into slits. She already knew he was gonna let her have it. Rhyot grabbed the bridge of his nose before he started laughing even though there wasn’t a damn thing funny.

“So wait… you fucked with this bitch ass nigga after he was gon’ let you rot in muthafucking jail?”

“Oh, so you can’t fucking talk now? You became a fucking mute too? You don’t hear me talking to you?” She had seen Rhy spaz out more than enough times but she was never on the receiving end and the shit hurt.

“What you want me to tell you?” She avoided eye contact but could feel his eyes burning a hole into her.

“The fuck you mean? C’mon now, Boog. You got me looking at you funny now, just like that nigga. Let me find out you was in on that shit too.”

Her head whipped in his direction and she felt her body temperature rising. She knew she had fucked up but for him to insinuate some bullshit like that was low. She found out about Chop’s snakish ways after she became pregnant.

“You know I would never do no shit like that,” Ny snapped, her emotions getting the best of her as tears began to flow freely down her cheeks.

“Do I?” he stated coldly before continuing.

Stepping in slightly, he said, “Three years a nigga was down, eating a fucking charge for both of us, and not once did you tell me you was still fucking with him. I’m supposed to be your best friend!

Thirteen years and you chose that fuck ass nigga over me? ”

“It’s not like that.”

“Well that’s what it feels like. I thought you was one of the good ones, Ny. You could’ve had a baby with anyone else and I would’ve been cool but this shit…” he chuckled and his words trailed off as he nodded. “It’s cool though.”

How do I fix this? Ny thought as she reached out and tried to grab his arm but he pulled away.

Her heart broke into a million pieces as the only man she ever truly loved looked at her with disgust. Though they had never been romantically involved, Ny saw Rhy as the end all be all.

Tears broke free, rolling hot down her face.

“I wanted to tell you, Rhy. I didn’t know how,” she stated.

He scoffed but she continued. “There was never really a right time. I didn’t want to tell you through a damn letter and I couldn’t stand the thought of facing you.

Especially after finding out about Chop and his bullshit while I was pregnant.

I’ve been doing this shit by myself, Rhy, and?—“

“Mommy,” a small voice called out, causing Rhy and Ny to turn their heads in the direction of where it came from. The prettiest set of brown eyes stared back at them. Rhyelle stood hesitant in the doorway to the living room.

“Yes, baby?” Ny attempted to pull herself together and tend to her child.

“You loud.” Her comment caused not only Nyelle to laugh but Rhyot to chuckle as well.

“I’m sorry baby. I know it’s late. Come here,” Ny cooed as she opened her arms, awaiting Rhyelle.

Rhyelle briefly looked at Rhyot before walking over to her mother who scooped her up and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Rhy, I want you to meet someone. This is my bestest friend Rhyot. Can you say hi?”

Ny watched as her eighteen month old daughter buried herself into her chest and looked out the side of her eye shyly at Rhyot. Nyelle wasn’t one to have just anyone around her child, so naturally, Rhyelle was shy. She did, however, wave her small hand which Rhyot seemed amused by.

“Hi, Lil Rhy… I’m Big Rhy. How are you?” Again, Rhyelle looked at her mother for confirmation. When Nyelle nodded that it was okay, Rhyelle responded.

“Good,” she said, giving Rhyot a lazy smile due to her still being tired.

Rhyelle was every bit of Nyelle, from her chocolate complexion to her full lips and button nose. Nyelle could see the frustration Rhyot had been holding onto chipping away.

Ny walked over to the sofa with Rhyelle still securely in her arms and sat down as she began to rock her in an attempt at putting her back to sleep.

She focused on her baby girl but felt the sofa sink beside her.

She caught a glimpse of Rhyot staring at her and Rhyelle’s interaction before he parted his lips and finally spoke to her.

“So this is really you now?” he asked with a half smirk.

“Yeah..” Nyelle returned the same half smirk before refocusing on her sleepy child. “Just give me a minute to put her back down and get her situated. I’ll explain everything after.”

“Cool.” Rhyot didn’t object and nodded.

The two of them didn’t say anything else as Nyelle went into mommy mode. For him, it was amazing to see. He had grown up with Nyelle and had never seen her be this soft, attentive, or loving. He would’ve never thought she had it in her but he loved to see it.

Rhyelle fell back to sleep in no time and Ny was grateful as she went to lay her down in her room, taking a few moments to stare at her as she slept before closing the door and returning to the living room.

Rhyot now had his hoodie off, showing his bulky, tatted arms and chiseled chest under his wife beater.

The stacks of money he thumbed through and neatly placed on the table had Ny curious.

“Rhyot, what is this?” Her brows furrowed as she looked back and forth between Rhy and the money.

“You said that nigga ain’t helping, right? Well, I am…”

“Rhy, you don’t have to—” Ny started to protest but he cut her off.

“It’s not up for debate, Boogs.” He stared at her hard but the look was different.

He called me Boogs, I guess he ain’t that mad anymore , she thought.

“Okay,” Ny finally responded, out of defeat. She knew Rhyot wouldn’t take no for an answer, and though she desperately needed the money, her pride wouldn’t let her tell him that. “Thank you,” was all she could muster.

“Come here,” he stated calmly as he stood with his arms outstretched.

Once she walked into his embrace, he kissed her forehead softly while holding her close.

His mouth brushed against her forehead as he spoke.

“Fuck that nigga. I’m here now. Take this shit and get you and Lil Rhy right. I’ll be straight.”

“But where did you get this?” She looked up at him, searching as if she’d see the truth in his eyes. She didn’t want him to do anything to jeopardize his freedom. Not again… she didn’t think she could take it.

Ignoring her question he stared down at her before breaking away and digging into the duffle bag.

A few seconds later he pulled out the custom VVS chain with the medium-sized AK-47 pendant attached.

There were specks of blood on it, which caused Ny’s eyes to damn near bug out of her head.

Not that she cared too much for Chop but he was still her child’s father.

If there was any confusion on where Rhy got the money, the chain in itself cleared that all the way up.

Nyelle’s knees weakened and her heart rate increased as her eyes locked on the chain dangling from Rhy’s hand.

She knew the piece all too well. Chop always flaunted the chain around and even bragged about dropping thirteen racks to get it.

Ny knew Chop wouldn’t just give him the chain but Rhy ain’t never ask niggas for shit. If he wanted it… it was his.

“Rhy…” Her voice trembled. “What did you do?”

Rhyot’s face twisted up “Relax, Boogs. I just went to collect the shit that was rightfully owed to me. Don’t worry, he’s still with us, for now.”

Ny was a little skeptical even though she knew he wouldn’t lie. She knew how ruthless Rhyot was. Chop was a thing of her past but Rhyot, however, had always been there for her, and now, her child.

“You… you took his chain?” Her voice came out low, barely above a whisper as her eyes flitted between the bloody AK pendant and Rhy’s nonchalant facial expression.

“Nah.” Rhy smirked but there wasn’t anything humorous.

“I earned it. This shit…“ he said, waving the chain over the stacks of money and pulling more jewels out of the duffle bag with his other hand, “It’s for the one thousand ninety-five days I had to serve because that bitch ass nigga decided to set niggas up.”

She didn’t want to argue but she also didn’t want to lose him. She hoped telling him this would make him tighten up and put his best foot forward.

“Rhyot, you just got out. You can’t keep making reckless decisions.” Nyelle decided to say what was on her heart. “I don’t wanna lose you again.” Her voice trailed off at the thought and honestly it was too painful to say aloud.

Rhy’s eyes softened, and before she knew it, he invaded her personal space again, his scent lingering. He surprised her when his hand stroked her cheek and wiped away a lone tear that had escaped. He carefully searched her face before speaking.

“You not gon’ lose me, Boogs,” he vowed as he peered into the portals to her soul. “I promise you that.” The way he said it made her feel like he meant something else.

Time stood still and for a moment it was like they were the only two people in the world. Her mind and heart were playing tug of war. She closed her eyes briefly and the words poured out from her heart.

“Then stay.”

“Stay?” Rhy’s brows furrowed. He was as taken aback as she was.

“Spend the night… here. With us,” she repeated slowly as she rested her hand on top of his. He searched her eyes and saw another layer peel away. Ny’s heart skipped a beat.

“You sure that’s really what you want?” His voice was deep, hypnotizing, and poetic. She couldn’t help but feel the need to have him near, in her space.

Ny flashed a smile, nodding before speaking confidently.

“I’ve always wanted you here, Rhyot.” That was true because in her eyes, for the past thirteen years, they would eventually be together.

No matter who she was with, her heart always craved him.

She wanted to respect the boundaries of their friendship but now she didn’t know if she could fake it any longer.

Finally, Rhyot flashed a smile that reached his eyes. He tossed the chain onto the table then pulled her body into his slender, solid frame.

“Then I guess I ain’t going nowhere.” He pressed his lips to hers and she didn’t pull away.

The electricity that shot through her core ignited something inside of her.

Slipping her tongue into his mouth, he gripped her hips as their tongues danced around one another.

Just as it was getting good, he finally pulled away.

Ny’s eyes fluttered open to find him staring at her.

“I’mma sleep on the couch. I wanna respect whatever boundaries you have. ”

Though she wanted to object and say fuck boundaries, she thought better of it and just nodded before walking away, trying not to think about the kiss that had her body on fire.