Every Thug Needs A Lady (Thugs) (19 page)

Angel, where have you been?” Tasha asked, demanding to

She yawned and looked at her Cartier watch that Kay bought her. It was 8:45 in the morning, and she had only been in the office for fifteen minutes.

“I went to Miami to see Kaylin.” She yawned again.

“When?”

“Yesterday. I caught a two o’clock flight there and an eleven-fifty flight back. I didn’t get in the bed until almost three. I am beat.”

“Did you see Trae?”

“No. He said Trae was asleep in his room. Kay came by him-self. We had a hotel room at the airport.”

“How long are they gonna be gone?”

“They’ll be back Sunday night or Monday.”

“Good. I’m going home tonight to sleep in my own bed. My aunt’s house smells like Ben Gay, and it’s making me nauseous.”

“Ewww,” Angel squealed. “Are you picking me up to take me to Kyra’s?”

“What?”

“My party! I know you didn’t forget.”

“No, I didn’t forget. But Trae will most likely be there so I can’t go.”

“I just told you them niggas won’t be back until Sunday or Monday. Kay had the nerve to apologize ... saying he’ll make it up to me. He’s gonna owe me big time for this one.”

“Oh, how sweet.” Tasha was being smart.

“So how was your little rendezvous in the MIA?”

“Hot! It’s always hot with him. Before I ever gave him some he told me that he takes making love very serious. And he wasn’t lying. I love him.” She was smiling.

“You’re making me jealous.”

“Don’t be. If you wasn’t having your little so-called issues, you could have went with me.”

“Don’t start. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Around two.”

“Okay, Attorney Smith.”

Tasha was there to pick up Angel at 1:45. Angel looked cute in her all-white Gucci pantsuit. Tasha had on a white Prada belly blouse, jean shorts and sandals, and was looking just as cute as Angel.

They pulled up to Kyra’s at about 3:00. She hired a caterer and a deejay. Angel’s mother and quite a few guests were already there including a few people from her graduating class and her Aunt Jandelyn, herself a prosecuting attorney. Angel immediately began mingling with the guests.

Tasha said hello to everyone and slid upstairs to baby Aisha’s room with Kyra.

“Kyra, look what I found for Aisha. Is this too cute or what?” Tasha asked, walking into the baby’s bedroom.

“Awww!” Kyra drooled at the pink Baby Phat short set with sneakers to match.

“This is too cute! Look, Aisha,” Kyra said to the baby. “Look what Auntie Tasha got you.” Little Aisha wasn’t even looking. She was kicking her little legs. Kyra looked at Tasha.

“Why aren’t you downstairs mingling?”

“I am not feeling all of these people.”

“Still riding them emotions, huh?”

“Girl, puhleeze! I am never getting pregnant again. I’ve lost complete control, crying when I watch TV commercials, when I watch a movie. I’m just crying and being a bitch for no particular reason. Right, Aisha?” The baby was crying now.

“You feel me, don’t you? She is too adorable.” Tasha cooed.

“I wish I knew what was the matter with little Miss Adorable. She’s been cranky since last night.” They were standing at the crib looking down at her, Kyra on one side, Tasha on the other, when Kyra decided to change Aisha’s diaper.

“You hooked up the setting for her party real nice,” Tasha told her.

“I had to. l am so proud of her.”

“Me, too. She kicked ass, didn’t she?”

“Hell, yeah!” They high-fived each other.

Angel was still downstairs mingling with her guests when one of her classmates, Kia, pulling out her compact mirror, said, “Oh God! Who are these fine brothas comin’ up in here? You must introduce me! Ya’ll got strippers?”

Angel turned around and looked. “That’s my baby!” she squealed, running to him. “Baby!”

Kay picked her up and kissed her. “Hey, beautiful!”

“You liar. You told me you couldn’t make it,” she snapped, slapping him on the arm.

“I was so mad at you.”

“I wouldn’t miss my wifey’s graduation party. Not if I can help it.”

“Where is Trae? Roz is going to kill me.” She cringed.

“He was right behind me.”

“Shit! she is gonna swear that I set her up. Nigga it’s all your fault. I can’t believe you lied to me.”

“You lied to me. You said you didn’t know where she was.”

“I had to have my girl’s back.”

“I had to have my man’s back. So now we’re even,” he said, clutching her butt with both hands.

“Move your hands. My mom is probably watchin’ your every move.”

“Damn! Why you ain’t tell me? Where is she?”

“I just did. She’s over there to your left. Put me down.”

“That woman next to her. You know her?” Kay asked.

“That’s my Aunt Jan. Why?”

“Small fuckin’ world.”

“Why you say that?”

“She work for the Feds, don’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s a federal prosecutor. You know her?”

“We crossed paths before.” Then he handed her a small box.

“Congratulations.”

“Ooh. What is it?” she asked, untying the ribbon. She pulled out two keys and smiled at Kay. “What do they go to?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“C’mon Kaylin!” She was practically jumping up and down. He smiled at her.

“The brochure is in the glove compartment.”

Just then, Trae walked up and kissed her on the cheek.

“Congratulations, Miss attorney-at-law,” he said, handing her an envelope.

“Didn’t think we would make it, did you? You know I’m still mad at you.”

“Trae, I tried to talk to her. I told her she was dead wrong, so go easy on her. This pregnancy is wreaking havoc with her emotions,” Angel said, giving him a hug.

“Where is she?”

“Upstairs in the baby’s room with Kyra,” she said.

“Glad you could make it.” And she headed outside to get the brochure for her new whip.

Trae had to laugh at himself because he was actually nervous. He was having a hard time accepting that he allowed Tasha to pull him off his square. Any other time he would have said fuck it and moved on to the next bitch.

When Trae opened the door to the baby’s room, Tasha and Kyra were still standing over the crib admiring Aisha. Kyra looked up and saw him first and told Tasha to keep an eye on

Aisha for a minute, she’d be right back. Trae eased up behind Tasha and grabbed her around the waist, frightening her.

“Damn, you scared me!” she gasped.

He pulled her close and sung in her ear, “It’s a cold, cold, cold world living without you. Although I tried to get along without you but couldn’t. I need you to be here.”

She didn’t say anything and went back to patting Aisha on the back, trying to put her to sleep. Aisha wasn’t having it. She kept bobbing her head up and down.

“Why are you shuttin’ me down like this?” he asked, rubbing Tasha’s stomach and kissing her shoulder. “I miss you.” She still wasn’t talking. “Are you still in love with me?”

“I’m trying not to be.”

“Ouch! That hurt,” he said.

Baby Aisha started crying, so Tasha reached in the crib and picked her up. She was walking back and forth and patting her back. Trae noticed that Tasha’s stomach was starting to poke out. That was turning him on big time.

“One minute I’m in love with you, the next minute I can’t stand you. So instead of us going through all of these unnecessary changes and tripping, we might as well go our separate ways.” She was trying her best to hold back, but the tears started streaming down her face.

“Baby I’m not the one tripping,” he said, noticing that she didn’t have her engagement ring on. He watched her as she walked back and forth trying to soothe Aisha. That sight only made him want her and his baby that much more.

“Let me hold her,” he said causing her to look at him like he was crazy.

“C’mon, let me hold her,” he told her again.

“I think she needs to burp. Put that blanket on your shoulder and sit down,” she instructed. Trae put the receiving blanket over his shoulder and sat down on the love seat.

She brought Aisha over to Trae and laid her on his chest. Her head was resting on his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Aisha,” she whispered.

Trae started patting the baby’s back. Aisha slowly wound down and then finally stopped crying. Tasha couldn’t help but smile at Trae. Aisha was still fighting sleep, turning her head from side to side. She finally let out one big burp.

“Damn!” Trae said, laughing and looking at her.

“What are they feeding you?”

Just then Marvin opened the door to peek in at the baby. He laughed when he saw Aisha stretched out on Trae’s chest.

“She’s beautiful, ain’t she,” Marvin beamed.

“Yeah, she is,” said Trae.

“Nigga, what? You gettin’ some practice?”

“Maybe. Sounds like you need a little more practice, fainting in the delivery room and shit!” he joked.

They both started laughing. “I didn’t faint. I couldn’t see straight, but I didn’t faint. I got a whole new respect for our women after witnessing that shit. I bet you won’t do any better.”

“Shit. You got me fucked up. How much? I’m ready to handle mines.”

“Ready ain’t the same as doin’. Two Gs, playa!”

“A’ight, nigga. It’s on.”

“What up, baby sis?” Marvin asked Tasha.

“You alright?”

“I’m hangin’.”

“What you doing to my baby sister, dawg?”

Trae’s nostrils flared. “What am I doin’ to her? You need to rephrase that. Ask her what she doin’ to me. I’m the one locked the fuck out of the house where I pay all the bills. I’m the one who don’t even have the phone number. I’m not the one who’s been missing in action for the last two, three weeks. I didn’t know if my wife or unborn child was alive or not. Who looks stressed the fuck out? Me or her? You mean what the fuck is she doing to me!”

“I see I done opened a can of worms.” He looked at Tasha. “Baby sis, ain’t nothin’ nice.”

“Maybe if pregnant women came with a fuckin’ handbook or instruction manual, I’d know what the fuck was goin’ on,” Trae complained and getting more heated by the moment.

“Sho’ you right! But, I hate to be the one to tell you that it don’t get easier.”

“Marv!” Tasha yelled. She was annoyed at the way Marvin and Trae were talking as if she wasn’t even there.

“I’m sorry, baby sis, but I gots to side with my man on this one. Y’all pregnant women can be real bitches. Nigga, be thankful it only lasts nine months. Let me holla at you, man.”

“A’ight. Give me a minute.”

Marvin left. Trae looked at Aisha, who was now sound asleep, and kissed her on the cheek. Tasha picked her up and put her in the crib. Trae then turned to Tasha and said, “Don’t go nowhere. I’ll be right back.” She just looked at him.

“A’ight? Please?” And he left. She checked to make sure Aisha was dry before throwing the receiving blanket over her. Then she picked up her bag, turned out the light, and went downstairs.

“Roz!” Angel yelled, waving her over. “Look!” She was dangling the car keys at her and holding up the brochure to the 2001 champagne-colored Lexus SUV.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Tasha said, trying to sound enthused.

“Come here, Tasha!” Kay called.

“Just a minute, Kay.” She looked at Angel. I’m getting ready to bounce.”

“You’re leaving?” Angel asked, shocked. “I swear. I didn’t know they were coming!”

She nodded. “Tell Kyra the baby is dry and asleep.”

“Ooh!” She sounded like a kid about to tell. “Trae know you’re leaving?”

Roz told her no with a shake of the head and made her way to the door.

“Tasha!” Kay yelled again when he saw her leaving.

“Yo Trae!” Kay hollered.

“Trae!”

When Trae came to the top of the stairs and looked down, Kay pointed at the front door. By the time Trae got outside, Tasha was already in her Benz, fumbling for the keys in her bag. He knocked on the window.

“Get out the car ma.” She ignored him and started it up. “Tasha turn the fuckin’ engine off!” She took it out of park and was about to back out the driveway when he pulled out his gat and blew a hole in the tire, making a loud pop. Rubber flew everywhere. She screamed as she sat there, gripping the steering wheel.

“Shut it off and get out,” he said, glaring at her. She shut it off but didn’t get out. He pulled his gat out again. “Do you want me to blow the fuckin’ window out and drag you out, or are you going to unlock it for me?” With that he aimed the gat at the window. She quickly unlocked the door, and he put the gat away.

All the while Angel and Kay were standing in the doorway watching. Angel’s mother and several other guests came to the door to check on the commotion out front. Someone asked was it fireworks. Angel told them it was an accident and to go back and enjoy her party. Then her and Kaylin resumed their watch of the reunited couple.

“Y’all females know y’all can take a nigga through some changes,” Kay commented.

Angel punched him. “So can y’all. He better not hit her!”

“C’mon, nosy,” Kay said, pulling her away from the door, “he won’t hit her.”

Trae opened the door and snatched the keys out of the ignition. He got ready to lift her out the car. All of a sudden she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

“God, I’ve missed you,” she whispered in his ear.

“Let me go, Tasha. I ain’t trying to hear that bullshit right now. I’m tired of playing with you.”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” she said, holding him even tighter.

“I love you so much. Please forgive me.”

He kissed her cheek, then bit down on it real hard. With no plans of letting go.

“Owwwww! Trae you’re hurtin’ me!” she squealed. He bit down harder.

“I said I’m sorry,” she cried. “Owwwww! Please stop Trae,” she cried in anguish. He bit down a little harder be-fore letting go, and she cried harder as he lifted her out of her ride.

“You better not ever pull no shit like this again,” he said, slamming the door and hitting the lock.

“And put your ring back the fuck on! Don’t ever take it off again,” he warned. He opened the Navigator, lifted her inside, and closed the door. Then he opened it back up and leaned over her to start it and put the air on. All the while she was still crying.