Chapter 4
Going out that night was worth it when Bebe saw Miki enter the club. She wasn’t alone, so he assumed the guy with his hand securely around her back was her boyfriend. He also had to be the one that got physical with her.
Bebe watched them as they made their way to a private section separate even from VIP. Bebe had wondered what made them so special. He tapped his cousin Keonte. “Who that?”
“Who?” Keonte asked.
Bebe nodded up at the tiered level where Miki was. “Up there.”
“That’s Redd. He the owner of the club.”
“He in a bike club?”
“Nah but he’s affiliated with Ace of Spades. Like you; you affiliate with us, Lord’s Wrath but you won’t join. Nigga you got a bike and everything.”
“I ain’t got time for no club right now,” Bebe said. “Who’s the girl in the blue pants to him?”
“That’s Miki, his woman. Don’t be gettin’ no ideas Bebe. Ain’t nobody fighting at our party.”
“I ain’t gon’ start nothing...Not here at least.”
Keonte shot Bebe a contemptuous look. “Bebe, man, don’t be going after her. Redd will have your ass killed over her. One of his other broads, he probably wouldn’t care.”
“Chill, wit’cho shaky ass,” Bebe teased. He watched Redd and the other guy leave the two women alone. They came downstairs and disappeared in the back. After about ten minutes Miki and her friend came down to the floor. They met up with three other girls and talked.
Miki was a sexy ass woman. Bebe observed how she along with her tall friend made heads turn. Her friend had wide hips and thick thighs which made her shapely, but her ass didn’t stick out nice, thick, and meaty like Miki’s ass in those blue pants. They were body hugging in every way. She wore a black fringed sleeve shirt that was high in the front and low in the back falling right at the hump of her ass. The shirt fringed along the bottom too. Her hair was still the same way when he saw her at the school. She appeared taller because of the black five-inch pumps she had on.
Miki and her friends walked over to the bar ordering drinks. Miki’s back was to Bebe. Keonte looked at Bebe with his eyes locked on Miki. “Bebe!”
“I’ll be back,” Bebe said walking away.
“Nigga, I’m coming with yo stupid ass,” Keonte said in exasperation.
Bebe squeezed in a spot right behind Miki. He had to brush up against her ass to order a drink. He said to the bartender, “Hennessy, no ice.”
Miki glanced over shoulder with a frown and moved up.
Bebe said low to her, “You ain’t gotta move beautiful.”
Miki twisted around to see who he was. Her eyes widened, and she turned back to her friends. Bebe chuckled taking his drink. He leaned up against the bar with his back to it. He watched the crowd. He said, “I know you here with your man. So I ain’t trying no shit. I’m just gonna stand here and enjoy the view.”
Keonte laughed, “Man, you crazy!”
Miki seemed to relax. Her ass backed up against Bebe. She did it more than once. Then he felt her swaying, brushing his side.
Bebe chuckled and said lowly, “I hear you loud and clear.”
Miki glanced back with a smile.
Bebe saw Redd in the distance. “Your man is coming.”
Miki jumped away from him like he was on fire. She squeezed in the middle of her friends. That nigga had her extremely scared. That didn’t sit well with Bebe.
“What are you doing?” the tall one asked. Then she looked Bebe’s way and whispered something.
Redd and two of his cronies showed up at the bar. Redd glanced Bebe’s and Keonte’s way. “What’s up Ke-lo,” Redd said to Keonte. They exchanged a one-hand shoulder bump greeting.
Bebe sized Redd up. He was pretty sure he could kick Redd’s ass, but Redd seemed like the type who wouldn’t fight. He’d rather get somebody else to do it or use a gun.
Keonte said, “This my cousin Bebe. This is Redd.”
Redd went to speak but Bebe casually walked away. He wasn’t about to speak to Redd or get acquainted when he had every intention of getting his girl.
___________
Miki was shocked by the disrespectful move Bebe just made. He was one arrogant man. But Miki had to admit, it was sexy as hell. The way he just walked away without a care in the world turned Miki on.
Redd asked Keonte, “The fuck his problem?”
Keonte said, “Sorry man, he a little tipsy. But he cool people.”
“You betta check your cousin,” Redd said with a threatening tone. Redd turned his attention back to Miki, “Why the fuck you down here?”
“We saw Free, Kim and Toya,” Miki replied.
“I don’t care who you saw. Barack and Michelle coulda been down here and if I ain’t said you could come down here, then your ass can’t be down here. C’mon.”
Redd grabbed Miki by the wrist.
Mokeba whined, “Aw c’mon Redd. She can’t hang out with us?”
“Nope,” Redd said pulling Miki along.
Miki loudly said, “Redd, I got on these heels. You’re gonna make me break my ankles!”
“They need to break. If they was broke you wouldn’t be able to walk your ass down here.”
Redd lead her back out the club through the back where his truck was. Miki asked, “Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“Why Redd?”
“You don’t listen. You had all them niggas in there wanting your ass...Bringing you out is too stressful.”
“How?”
“Cause Miki...it just is.”
Redd took her back home, but he left right back out. She exhaled. Well at least he didn’t hit her. As she removed her shoes her phone rang. It was Kat.
“What?”
“That nigga took you home didn’t he?”
“Yep. And he left.”
“What I wanna know is who was that fine ass dude that was talking to you? The one who ignored Redd. That shit was kinda funny.”
“That’s the dude I was talking about that tried to talk to me at Téa’s school,” Miki said excitedly.
“That’s him?” Kat asked in disbelief.
“Yep. I guess he saw me. He sexy!”
“He can get it! So why won’t you talk to him?”
“So Redd can beat his ass and mine?”
“Just talk to him. You ain’t gotta have a relationship. Shit girl, that nigga got all kinds of hoes in his face. And he can dance. If you don’t talk to him, I will. But I think he wants you.”
“I don’t know Kat.” Miki heard a male ask Kat, “Who you talking to?”
Miki said, “Girl you go on and enjoy yourself. Ox gon’ think you talking to some dude.”
“Ox don’t even need to be in my face. You heard what I did to her right. That bitch of his had the nerves to try to press charges on me but Ox talked her ass out of it. Now his ass tryna get some ass from me. Nigga still on fucking punishment.”
Miki started giggling. “Girl you crazy.”
“Alright. I’ll hit you up tomorrow.” Kat said before ending the call.
Miki went to sleep thinking of Bebe. He was different from all of the other guys that tried talking to her. He was confident, and Redd didn’t intimidate him whatsoever. Miki liked that about him.
________
The next morning Miki got up and picked Téa up from Redd’s sister house first thing. Miki got herself and Téa ready for church. Miki asked Redd, “Are you going with us?”
Redd mumbled, “Why you ask me that every Sunday?”
“Because I’m hoping you’ll say yes one Sunday.”
Redd flipped over on his back and looked at Miki and Téa. “My queen and my princess.”
“Daddy, you the king!” Téa giggled.
“That’s right baby. Daddy is the king,” Redd grinned. “C’mere and give Daddy a hug.”
Téa went around to his side of the bed. Redd hugged Téa to him. He looked at Miki. “Come here baby.”
Miki went to his side. Redd kissed her on the lips. “I love you Miki.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Being so mean. I’m trying to work on it. Just continue to be patient with me.”
Did he hear himself sometimes? Miki thought. She hated his apologies. They sounded genuine and sincere, but they were empty apologies. They weren’t worth a penny. And what was up with this patient business? Be patient and in the meantime, accept the beatings while he’s “working on it”?
Miki said, “Okay.”
“Y’all go ahead and go. I’ll meet y’all later at Mama’s.”
“Alright. Bye baby,” Miki said. “C’mon Téa.”
“Bye Daddy,” Téa said sweetly.
Miki met up with her mama Ava and stepdaddy Larry at the church. Her older sister Maddie, her husband Gary, and their three kids joined them too.
Maddie leaned over the pew and said to Miki, “I need to have a word with you.”
Miki looked over her shoulder. Maddie had her head down pecking away on her cellphone. She briefly stopped only to push her glasses up on her nose. Maddie was older than Miki by seven years. They had a sister in between them, Kizzie. Maddie was the sensible mature one. She had the husband, the kids, the dogs, picket fence, the house, and a career. She actually owned a catering business specializing in bakery and pastries. She was in the process of opening her own store. She recently ventured into writing also. Her husband had a great job as a computer software engineer.
“What about?” Miki asked.
“We’ll talk after service,” Madison said still not looking up from her phone.
“Where is Kizzie?” Miki asked.
Ava said, “She should be on her way.”
Miki sat back relaxed as service was about to begin. She let her eyes wander over the congregation. She spotted her favorite people to watch down front. Miki didn’t know what it was, but she found Abe Masters and his brothers to be the sexiest men she had ever laid eyes on. They were a beautiful. And that damn Abe was dreamy with his icy blue eyes. She could stare at him all day.
Kizzie snuck in during the recital of the mission statement. Her girlfriend accompanied her. Ava scoffed at the sight of Toni. Miki shot her mother the side eye look, then turned to Kizzie and Toni with a smile. “Glad you made it.”
Kizzie tugged Miki’s twists. “I love your hair.”
Miki said, “Thanks.” She looked at her sister’s dreads that were almost as long as Miki’s twists. Kizzie had them bleach blonde and they really stood out. Kizzie was a fem but in an eccentric way. She had a funky urban hippie appeal. Toni on the other hand was a stud all the way. Short boy haircut, plaid button-down shirts with khaki pants. She was somewhat boyishly handsome.
As a family they enjoyed service together listening to Pastor Thomas. It was a good one as always. As soon as it was over Maddie pulled Miki and Kizzie aside. “Okay, listen up. Mama and Larry’s ten-year anniversary is coming up. I wanna throw them a nice surprise party. What say you?”
“Is this what you needed to have a word about with me?” Miki asked.
“Yeah. I couldn’t say it with Mama next to you,” Maddie said.
“What do you need us to do?” Kizzie asked.
“Well that’s what I wanted to go over with y’all about. Let’s make it a date. I gotta get with Debra too. She will be vital to the whole setup. So, what’s a good time for y’all to meet? We can have dinner, lunch, and go out for drinks.”
Kizzie said thoughtfully, “You know that would be a good idea. Cause how often do we get to get together anymore?”
“Exactly,” Maddie said. She grinned wrapping either arm around her sisters. “I miss you guys.”
Miki said, “You’re the busy one. And you Kizzie are all over the place.”
“Let’s do dinner this weekend,” Kizzie suggested.
Maddie asked Miki, “Do I have to go to Redd for permission?”
“You’re not funny,” Miki said blankly.
“I’m just saying. You know how he can be,” Maddie said shaking her head.
“Yeah, I know, but I’ll be there,” Miki assured her.
Ava walked over gracefully, “What are you three over here whispering about?”
“Nothing Mama,” Kizzie smiled. “Mama, you’re looking good. Whatchu doing different?”
Ava smiled proudly, “Well if you must know, I’ve lost fifteen pounds.”
“Larry must be getting it in again,” Kizzie teased.
Maddie looked at Kizzie scornfully, “Seriously Kizzie? We’re still on church grounds.”
Ava quipped, “That too.”
“Ew! Mama,” Miki laughed with Kizzie. Maddie shook her head in shame.
Miki said her goodbyes and gave them all hugs and kisses. As she sat in her car an exciting feeling came over her. It was Sunday. Monday was the next day. She would purposely run into Bebe.