Page 8 of Terrez and Shalene (D-Ville Projects #4)

Shalene

When my head hit the headrest in Terrez’s truck, I burst out in laughter. I was filled with so many emotions but all I could do was laugh. The way he just handled Brevin wasn’t what I was expecting.

“What the hell you laughin’ about?” Terrez asked as he pulled into traffic.

“Why did you tell that man he was destined to be a bitch? You do realize he had no control over his name, right?”

“I don’t give a damn. All I know is ain’t no nigga named Brevin about to be goin’ around Diamond Falls sayin’ I’m beefin’ with him. But I won’t lie, I thought you were about to take off on ol’ girl when she came outside.”

“The thought crossed my mind, but what’s the point? Brevin is the one I’m angry with. He’s the one pulling all the strings. Even if she does have a role in all of this, it’s still because of him that we’re here,” I explained.

When I saw the woman standing in the doorway of the house I once called my home, I thought I’d lose it.

Some level of anger did consume me, but I didn’t feel half as bad as I expected.

The woman I was when Brevin and I had first gotten married would’ve been inconsolable at the sight I’d just seen.

Right now, I just wanted to go to my apartment and start the process of settling in.

A nice bubble bath with a glass of wine sounded like heaven right now.

“You mind me asking what happened? What ended the marriage?” Terrez asked.

At this point, we were too far in for me to tell him to mind his business.

This man showed up and helped me in more ways than one when he didn’t have to.

There was also the curious part of me that wanted to explore whatever this was between us.

Jumping into a new relationship while being freshly divorced didn’t seem right, but then again, who the hell cared.

“My mom passed away,” I said softly. “Our marriage was good up until that point. To make a long story short, I was beyond depressed and Brevin wasn’t happy.

He was understanding at the beginning, but over time, things felt different.

Sometimes I feel like if I’d tried harder to get my mental together, we’d still be married. ”

“Don’t dwell in that shit too long. I ain’t never been nobody’s husband, but I know the title comes with challenges.

You can take up for his lame ass and say he was there in the beginning, but the fact is, he never should’ve stopped.

You lost your damn mother. Until a person goes through that pain, they can’t tell you how to grieve or when to stop.

If anything, he should’ve been loving you harder. ”

“I felt the same way at first. He really had me thinking I was doing the most for no reason. Pat had always been the one to tell me I wasn’t overdoing it, but she also never cared for Brevin either,” I admitted.

“It’s clear as day why she doesn’t. All men can be assholes, but he’s the type of nigga that be needing his ass whooped.

He thinks shit’s sweet. I’m glad I followed my first mind and came to get you.

I know you gotta co-parent with that nigga but keep his ass at a safe distance.

I already know I’m gon’ have to beat his ass, but him fuckin’ with you won’t do shit but bring that day closer. ”

Chuckling at Terrez’s statement, I turned to the window and watched as we drove through the city.

Life was truly full of surprises. Had someone told me six months ago I’d be allowing another man to be so involved in my life, I would’ve laughed.

For years, Brevin had me fooled. Terrez seemed like a different type of man, but I’d still be careful.

I’d never give another man the chance to put me and my child in a situation like this.

As we got closer to the apartment, the clouds came back out and it started to rain again.

Terrez and I were now letting the radio fill the space of his truck while we dwelled in our thoughts.

There were a few times I wanted to ask him what he was thinking about, but I had no energy to speak right now.

“Go ahead and go in but wait for me at the elevator. You can stay in my crib until my lil niggas done moving your stuff in,” Terrez said as he pulled to the front of the building.

I was about to speak when my phone rang with a call from Pat.

“Hey, Pat. Everything okay with Amayah?” I asked in a panic as I briskly walked into the building.

“Hey, sis, and she’s fine. She’s eating her eggs and sausage as we speak. I was calling to check on you. Did you get everything moved in?”

“Girl, it’s been one hell of a morning, but I’m waiting on the moving truck to pull up right now. Shit didn’t go as planned, so Terrez is helping me out.”

“Who is Terrez?”

“You remember…from the club last night. I told you he lived in my building.”

“Oh yes! That fine ass man. How did he end up helping you out? Didn’t y’all just exchange numbers last night?” Pat questioned.

Approaching the elevator, I stood to the side and watched the entrance door as I brought her up to speed on what happened.

I hated that it seemed like my life always had some shit going on, but Pat lived for it.

Instead of judging me, she’d find a way to make light of the situation and that was what I needed.

I never wanted a lap dog or a yes man as a friend, but every little thing didn’t need to be turned into a teaching moment.

“I really hope someone beats the shit out of Brevin. I know that’s Amayah’s dad, but Shalene, that man has taken this to a whole new level. I’m sure that new bitch is why he put you out last night and I don’t like that,” Pat expressed.

“I know. But it’s funny because he had the nerve to try and explain the shit to me, like there could be a valid reason for any of this. It’s cool though. I’m out of the house for good and I’m never looking back.”

“There’s nothing for you to look back to. He’s a trash ass nigga and he deserves the trash ass hoe he’s with.”

Before I could respond, I saw Terrez walking inside with the other men following him, boxes in hand.

“Pat, they just came in with my things. After everything gets in, I’ll give you a call. I should still be back for Amayah around three.”

“It’s no rush, Shalene. I wouldn’t have offered to watch her if I had plans. I’m about to put her in the tub, then we’ll be going to see Daevon. He has his niece, so I told him we can have a play date.”

Daevon was Pat’s on-again, off-again boyfriend.

She hated when I called him that, but that’s what he was.

He loved my best friend, but she refused to take him seriously.

I knew it was because of the heartache she’d gone through with her college boyfriend, but it was her choice.

She and Daevon had been in a situationship for a little over two years and I knew it wouldn’t be long before he gave her an ultimatum.

Hopefully she’d give him a fair chance, but I wouldn’t speak on it until she asked my opinion.

After saying our goodbyes, I stuffed my phone back into my purse as Terrez approached me with my keys.

“Thank you.”

“Anything you need.”

Pressing the button to open the elevator, I stood there as I listened to the men joke about someone’s girl getting caught cheating. I was only halfway listening when I heard one of them mention the Bedford Boys gang.

“Man, fuck that nigga. I’ll knock on his door and spit on a green bandana right in his mafuckin’ face.”

“Yo! Why the fuck you niggas talkin’ like it’s not a fuckin’ lady right here? Keep that shit to a minimum before I start knockin’ y’all heads off y’all fuckin’ shoulders,” Terrez stated calmly.

The silence that followed his statement was deafening.

No one said a word or even made a move until the elevator sounded off and opened.

Once we made it to my floor, I led them to my apartment.

Opening the door, the smell of fresh paint hit my nostrils.

The layout of the unit was nice and there were also other things about the place I appreciated as I looked around.

The last time I came, my emotions were so high that I didn’t care to take in the scenery.

All I knew was it was clean and spacious.

Ideas came to mind of where I wanted to place each piece of furniture as I walked to the bedrooms and bathroom.

“You good?”

Terrez’s voice pulled me from my thoughts and back to the new issue at hand.

If he was part of a gang, this friendship would have to end right here.

I appreciated everything he did for me today, but I wouldn’t continue whatever this was.

Getting involved with a man who called himself gang banging was one I didn’t want anything to do with.

I had myself and my daughter to protect.

Now that I was out in the world as a single woman, I needed to make sure our safety came first.

“I am. But I actually have something I need to speak to you about,” I said as I ran a hand through my curls.

“What’s up?”

“Are you in a gang?” I asked without hesitation.

“What made you ask that?”

“Just from the conversation by the elevator. I’m assuming you’re with DP, since they were disrespecting the Bedford Boys.”

I may have been far from street, but I wasn’t stupid. DP and the Bedford Boys had been known in Diamond Falls for a while now. Social media and people I went to school with kept me up to date with both gangs. Either way, I wanted no parts.

“Can we talk about this at my place? Let me get you something to eat and we can discuss it.”

“No. If you’re in a gang, I don’t wanna be seen with you at all.

I have to protect myself and there’s no telling what can happen to me if I’m out in public with you.

I appreciate everything you helped me with but tell them they don’t have to bring anything else up.

I’ll call my dad and have him help me with the rest,” I said dismissively.

“Damn, I haven’t even answered the question and you givin’ a nigga the boot.

But to answer your question, I am part of DP, but it’s not on no goofy shit.

I’m not out here running the streets and killing innocent people.

I only pull my shit out if I need to and I haven’t needed to.

We’re not out here moving sloppy and makin’ enemies for the fuck of it.

You’re never gonna see me on social media showing guns or stacks of money.

On top of that, we give back to the community.

Food drives, back to school events. The list goes on.

Yeah, it’s a gang, but it’s deeper than that,” he tried to explain.

“That’s honorable, but I don’t think it’s something I wanna be part of. I’d like for us to still be cool, but that’s where it stops for me.”

With a blank expression, Terrez nodded before removing his hands from his pockets and turning to walk away.

“I’ll have them bring up the rest of your things and they’ll leave when they’re finished,” he threw over his shoulder.

Part of me felt bad, but the logical part of me was feeling like I’d done the right thing.

Heading back to my living room, I started to separate the boxes by room.

When the men had finished with their last trip, the one I knew as Mike had informed me that they were finished.

I expected them to be rude or nasty with me since I’d just cut Terrez off, but he wasn’t.

Mike made sure I didn’t need anything else and informed me of where to find him in case I did.

Once they left, I called Pat and checked on my baby before unpacking a few of the boxes and getting the bathroom set up.

Between unpacking boxes I made a list of things I needed from the store.

I’d been in the zone for about an hour before I got a call about my furniture being delivered.

I was thankful the delivery people would also be putting everything together for me.

I could do a lot of things, but I was in no way a DIY girl.

In no time, my furniture was assembled in every room just how I wanted it.

Amayah’s room was complete and it put a smile on my face when I realized this was all because of me.

Outside of a two-parent household, she wasn’t lacking or going without anything.

She’d be just as comfortable here as she’d be at her dad’s.

It was five o’clock when I slid back into my sandals to head out.

I’d pretty much had everything unpacked except the kitchen boxes and some of the decorations for my room and the living room.

Once that was finished, the last thing would be to get all the boxes and trash out.

When I made it to Pat’s house, she met me outside with Amayah.

I was grateful because I was truly tired and didn’t have energy for any long-winded conversation tonight.

Plus, I’d have her over soon enough to take a look at my new place.

Before going back home, I stopped at a Chinese restaurant to grab dinner.

Thankfully, I didn’t run into Terrez when I made it back home.

The hot bubble bath I couldn’t stop daydreaming of had finally become a reality.

Amayah was now fed, bathed, and in bed with her favorite cartoon on.

After making sure my door was locked and my cameras were intact, I turned all the lights off excluding the light above the stove and went to run my bath water.

When it was ready, I turned my Bluetooth speaker on and listened to some old school music before getting in.

I exhaled a deep breath and washed the day away.