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“Come on now Era… Be for real right now. Look at you, I mean you pretty and chocolate but you big as fuck. I’m actually a good look for you, I compliment you well. You think cause Shelby out here giving you pitiful handouts that you gone get far. You sneaking around probably reaching out to my industry friends to get an expensive bitch like Shelby on your team. You know the money will run out. What? You back working like a slave smelling like greasy ass food at that restaurant? Or…. Is you giving that good ass pussy away to make a nigga trick cause I know you-” I raised my hand and slapped the fuck out of Devin.

“I love when people reveal exactly how they been feeling. Don’t worry about what I’m doing and how the fuck I’m doing that shit. Just be prepared to be sick of hearing and seeing me around this industry.” I walked away as he shouted and called me all kinds of fat bitches. Picking up my duffle bag, security was waiting right outside my door. Handing him my bag I knocked at Shelby door with no ill feelings.

Niggas like Devin were the worse. If I was a weak-ass bitch, I would’ve taken him back then let him play me again.

Chapter Twenty-Four

SOULFUL HURTZ

“Don’t tell me shit about loyalty when you couldn’t even show me that shit!” I yelled at the top of my lungs feeling weak and defeated. My team lost the Superbowl, and I felt like I let them down. My head wasn’t in the game trying to finalize my divorce with Jocelyn. She tried to do everything in her power to save our marriage like offering to get help for her drug habit.

“I went and got an abortion Soulful! There was no point in keeping that baby if it breaks us apart. Soulful listen to me… after losing my brother, I just found myself trying to numb all the pain from that. I tried the drugs and couldn’t stop. I start feeling jealous of you. I don’t know exactly why. It just felt like I had to share my husband with the NFL! You were never really here and when you were here it was all about your sisters.”

The tears that decorated her face should have moved me and made me feel sorry for her, but it didn’t do any of that. All I heard was a bunch of excuses for the bullshit she had done. I would’ve made us work beyond all the long-term cheating she did. The fact that she was pregnant by this nigga showed me how much out of love she was with me. Shit crushed me to my core.

Another thing was, I didn’t want to deal with a drug user. It’s like once a person got hooked on drugs, they had the possibility of relapsing. Not saying Jocelyn could beat the drugs and never go back to them. I just didn’t want to chance that shit. I went through enough disappointment dealing with my mom. All the fake getting clean talks and my mom telling me that she would do better. Promising not only me but my little sisters then doing nothing but disappointing us all.

“Why would I put myself through more bullshit with you Jah? Like really tell a nigga why the fuck should I give us a chance? Our divorce is final. Will I be there for you? Yes, I will when I really don’t even have to do that. As far as us as a union, I can’t do it. I don’t even look at you the same man. You making this shit hard.”

“I’m not going anywhere Soulful. I love you too much.” She stood off the bed and eyed me somberly. I couldn’t even believe what I was looking at. Jocelyn looked pitiful, desperate, and weak. I didn’t want to kick her while she was down, but I needed her to understand that shit with us became dead from the moment she admitted to being pregnant by another nigga.

I had time to think about all of her actions. Jocelyn would become my downfall if I decided to stay with her. She already had me making calls and getting niggas killed because I felt violated. When I really thought deeply about all of this shit, I knew deep down I would never forgive Jah for cheating on me. After all the years of being faithful, something drove me to cheat. I wasn’t some cheating ass nigga but after all this time I became one and just one night and couldn’t seem to get the black thick beauty out of my mental.

“Did you hear what I said Soulful?” Her voice cracked as I looked into her dry tear-stricken face.

“Yea, I heard you. I just don’t understand you still. You don’t got to go nowhere Jah. This house is yours and paid for. I would turn it over so it could be fully in your name, but I can’t trust you on that. You might sell the house and go buy the shit I use to sell to survive.” She dramatically fell down to her knees and cried out loud and hard. I felt numb inside so none of it moved me.

“I’m giving you an allowance of ten thousand dollars a month. You will be drugged test, so rather you get clean or not it’s up to you. The cars and all that nice shit stays here, it’s yours. The only thing that I will be taking is my new Range Rover, my clothes and jewelry. If your drug test comes back negative and shit in the house come up missing when I come to check in with you. Then I will take your allowance away and treat you how I used to treat my momma.” She looked up at me like she was staring at a stranger.

It fucked me up that I even had to talk and treat her this way, but Jocelyn was no longer considered my wife. If I was totally heartless, I’d kick her out on the streets or kill her ass and pay the money out to make it appear as a freak accident.

“If you get back on drugs and I notice you selling cars and the house is fucked up then I will kick you out of here and place you back in the projects so you can be a real smoker broad. I’ll change my fuckin’ number and stop by the hood once a month to bring your ass groceries and shit. You know that I’m a man of my word.” I warned her. She balled her pretty face up and now looked at me with hate.

“Just go Soulful, I hate I ever took you back when you left me the first time. I took on you and those girls and all your mommy issues and now you want to turn your fucking back on me.” I chuckled bitterly at the audacity of this bitch. More and more I was starting to have a strong dislike for her ass.

“Yea, I know. I hate I ever even doubled back with you when I could’ve been just fine without yo’ weak ass.” I gave her my broad back and walked out carrying the last of my shit. I knew soon as I left my new crib to come here and get the last of my shit that I would have to face Jocelyn. I paid extra money just to expedite my divorce and today was all the closure that I was going to allow myself to have with Jocelyn.

Soon as I hit the locks on my cocaine white Range Rover, Debo was calling me. Since that shit went down with Dmack, we both been talking a lot more. I was interested in starting a summer league with men from Watts, mainly the projects. My men would be facing off with his Los Angeles men better known as his Slaughter gang niggas.

“What’s good nigga?”

“Shit maintaining bout to hit a couple of corners and check up on my girl. I was calling to see when I could meet up with you, so we can put together these different game days and practice. Usually, me and my nigga Sosa throw a big annual game like the one you came to before. Now I’m trying to do some new shit. I think you will like my idea.” I perked up at that. I really needed something to get my mind off of all the bullshit I had going on. Losing a Superbowl was a big thing as well.

A lot of people tried to make the shit feel better by saying at least my team made it to the Superbowl. In my eyes, I felt like what was the point of celebrating going when you indeed didn’t get that ring.

“I’m free right now, if you got the time.”

“Bet, meet me at my restaurant. I got to meet with yo’ girl to give her this last check.” I looked at the phone wondering what the hell he meant by my girl. Then my mind went to Era and a silly ass smile appeared on my face.

“Bet. I’m on the way.” Shit, I didn’t know what Era thought of me. I know what all I thought of her. She was talented, pretty as hell and all natural. I loved her voice, that shit touched a niggas soul and her pussy felt and tasted immaculate.

I sat inside of the back of Debo’s restaurant eating Hennessy wings. I kept replaying me and Jocelyn’s conversation, not believing after all these years this was where we were. I had to really realize that nothing was forever. Loss is inevitable and feelings were best locked away and buried somewhere safe if a person didn’t want to risk being hurt. I couldn’t deny my feelings, I just didn’t want to become a bitter ass nigga which was why I felt like I should still provide for Jah.

Looking up towards the restaurant entrance my eyes landed on Era. My stomach rumbled like I was hungry when I’ve already stuffed myself with over ten wings and garlic fries. It’s obvious she’s not here for work. She’s wearing a black halter romper with some Rick Owen boots. My eyes roam her full figure, dick stiffening watching her hips sway to a silent beat. We connect eyes and she stops walking momentarily as I hold my hand up to signal her sexy ass over to my table.

She seemed reluctant, pushing her purse more up on her shoulders. Era started my way and had me locked in with her deep set of eyes. Era was beyond beautiful, her rich chocolate skin tone looked tasty as fuck. I was anxious to smell her scent and have her close to me. The chemistry between us was strong, I couldn’t deny it the first time I laid eyes on her.

Era walked up smelling like wild berries and soft sandalwood.