Chapter 11
Miki flopped down on Kat’s couch. Her emotions caught up in her dilemma. However, she had pushed her issues aside to be there for Kat.
Kat slowly walked to her kitchen. “If you were pregnant,” Kat started. She got distracted by what was in the refrigerator. She continued, “Would you tell Bebe?”
“Nope. Bebe would want me to keep the baby. I know he would.”
“How you know? You act like y’all been together forever and you know that man like that,” Kat teased.
“It’s been a little over a month, but I swear it feels like it’s been years.”
Kat smiled. She wished her friend would wake up and smell the coffee. Bebe was a good dude. Miki’s fear was preventing her from experiencing a true love that would surely make her happy. But then again, Kat was faced with the same issue. “I can tell he’s really feeling you?”
“The feeling is definitely mutual.”
“So, you wouldn’t tell him for real?”
Miki shook her head.
“I wish you could be with Bebe. Just like I wished I could be with a certain person.”
“Who? I know you ain’t talking about Ox.”
“Naw. Fuck him,” she said. She smiled as thoughts of Dwayne entered her mind. “He ain’t nothing like Ox.”
“Are you sure you like him then?” Miki joked.
“Yeah. I mean he’s kinda like him but he don’t sell drugs or nothing. He got a legit job.”
“Is it the doctor dude? Did you get that man’s number?”
Kat laughed. “Naw girl. I should have. How ‘bout I gotta go see him again.”
“Get his number next time.”
“So, he can look at me like I’m crazy,” Kat said. “He probably don’t date females like me. I want a nigga like Bebe anyway.”
Miki thought about the night before and the memories made her shudder, her stomach quivered, and her pussy ached. Bebe knew he was the shit in the sheets. She couldn’t get enough. She hated the fact that she had to leave when she did. She could have stayed in Bebe’s bed for the whole day, but she knew Redd was coming home.
Miki’s phone rang. She rolled her eyes. She answered. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” It was Redd. He sounded perturbed.
“I’m at Kat’s.”
“Oh, so your hot ass didn’t go to church. Where’s Téa?” His attitude was nasty.
“She’s with Maddie,” she answered. Her heart began to pound as nervousness consumed her. Téa was not with Maddie. Miki had actually left Téa at Bebe’s to play with Kennedi.
“Go get Téa and bring your ass home.”
“Ok—”
“Now!”
Miki looked at her phone as it flashed that the call had ended. She looked at Kat and rolled her eyes with aggravation. “That’s his ass. He want me to come home. I guess that means he’s here.”
Kat looked disappointed. “That means Ox on his way too.”
Miki got up grabbing her purse and keys. “Well I guess I talk with you later.”
“You make sure you call me.”
Miki hurried back over to Bebe’s. When Bebe answered the door, Miki didn’t bother stepping inside. “Where’s Téa? We gotta go.”
“What’s the problem?” Bebe asked.
“Redd’s home and he wanna see us,” Miki said. Her phone started ringing again. She retrieved it from her purse. It was Redd. She hit ignore to send him to voicemail. She figured she would deal with that when she got home.
Bebe disappeared. Seconds later a sad Téa was coming out of the door. “Mommy, I wanna stay here.”
Kennedi was standing beside Bebe. “Why ain’t she can stay?”
Miki chuckled. She loved listening to Kennedi talk in her own language. Miki said, “Because her daddy wants to see her.”
“Oh. My daddy sees me all da time,” Kennedi said.
“I know,” Miki said eyeing a displeased Bebe. “Your daddy is a good daddy.”
“My know,” Kennedi said.
Miki looked in Bebe’s eyes. “Stop looking like that. I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Yeah,” he murmured.
Miki hurried Téa to the vehicle. Redd was still calling. Miki turned off the phone. She would pretend that she accidentally powered her phone off and didn’t realize it. In the driveway, she cut the phone back on and went through the call log and her texts to make sure nothing was suspicious. She shut it back off.
Letting herself inside Miki plastered a smile on her face to show Redd she was happy to see him. Redd came around the corner. He looked like an albino bull ready to charge.
He ordered, “Téa go to your room.”
Miki began to worry. “Why is she going to her room?” She watched Téa scurry along. Miki froze there in the foyer.
“If you ain’t at church where the fuck do you think you should be?” Redd asked through gritted teeth. He asked in a calmer tone, “Are you fucking around on me?”
“No,” she said nervously.
“What mothafucka’s been in your face?”
Miki could turn around real fast and try for the front door. She was sure she could slip out before he reached her, but he had started moving her way. Miki said, “I don’t have nobody in my face.”
“I’ma ask you one more time. What nigga’s been in your face?” He stood directly in front of her.
“When?” she asked nervously. Redd did this often. His paranoia would cause him to make up situations that would allow him to go off and feel justified. However, this time what he was accusing her of was true.
Redd struck her in the face. Miki’s head whipped back. She grabbed her face where it started throbbing immediately. He snarled, “Bitch don’t play with me. Now tell me who the fuck it is.”
Miki began to cry. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He yanked her purse from her and found her phone. “Who the fuck—bitch what the fuck you turn your phone off for?” He struck her again.
“Please Redd. I didn’t do anything,” Miki cried.
“Why the fuck you turn your phone off?”
“I didn’t turn my phone off.”
“Why the fuck is it off? Don’t play with me Miki!”
“I’m not,” she cowered.
He pointed towards their bedroom. “Get in the room.”
“Redd…please,” she whimpered. Anytime he ordered her to the room, it usually meant at least an hour of torture.
“Getcho ass in the gotdamn room!”
Miki cautiously walked pass him fearing that he would hit her again. Once in the bedroom Miki sat down on the bed. She tried to figure out what she could say or do to get out of this.
Redd was caught up in scrolling through Miki’s phone. “I think you fucking with me. And I think you’ve been deleting shit out of your phone. Why the fuck you lying and playing, Miki?”
Miki couldn’t respond with anything. Redd grabbed her by her throat and lifted her from the bed. Immediately, her hands went up to his to try to pry it away. It wasn’t budging.
Maliciously, he said, “Let me find out you fucking around. I’m killing you and him. You hear me? Keep mothafuckin playing with me.”
He threw her down like she was a ragdoll. Miki rubbed her neck and started crying.
“Whatchu crying for?”
“Because…you always do this, and I don’t be doing nothing. I don’t deserve this Redd.”
“You what?” he asked with incredible disbelief.
“I don’t do anyth—” her words were cut off by a blow from Redd.
He barked, “Bitch, I know what the fuck you deserve and what you don’t deserve. Fuck you mean…Learn how to shut the fuck up!”
Miki was partially lying on her side ready to protect herself in the fetal position if needed. She tried not to cry as she didn’t want to upset him even more.
He eventually left her there. Miki ended up falling asleep only to be awakened by him softly telling her to take her clothes off and get in the bed. He was being soothing. “Baby, go on and get in the bed.”
“What time is it?” Miki asked groggily.
“It’s night time.”
Miki tried to get out of bed. “I gotta cook something.”
“That’s alright. Mama brought us some plates. Just get in the bed and get some rest. You want something to drink or something?”
Jesus! This man was bipolar. Miki undressed and eased into bed. Something had to give. But every time Miki thought about a future without Redd she saw devastation and chaos.