Authors: Jazmyne
Chapter 13
Sunshine walked up onto Keema’s porch; she was a nervous wreck. She hadn’t seen or talked to any of her girls in three long years, almost four. She didn’t know if they were gonna be happy about seeing her or act brand new. Either way, she had to see her children even if it was the last time. Sunshine didn’t know what Ace had been telling people but she was about to find out. She knocked on the door and took a step back as she checked her reflection through the screen door. The music was bumping; she knew Keema was having some type of get together. She had been back in town for a few weeks now and was more than ready to show her face to the world once again. For the last few weeks, she and J’vion had been getting to know one another on various levels; she was feeling him hard. She wouldn’t say she was in love just yet but she could see things going far between them.
Boy opened the door, “Sunshine?” He asked surprised to see her.
“Yes, it’s me. I stopped by to see Keema.”
“Come in!” He said as he held the door open for her. “Go on in, she’s in the kitchen,” He instructed.
As if on queue, the music stopped. The house fell dead silent. All eyes were on Sunshine as she walked into the house.
Sunshine made it to the kitchen to find, Keema, Neisha, Tamera, Ellis and a few others sitting around the table having a few drinks and chatting away.
“Oh shit, Sunshine!?” Keema said as she jumped from her seat and hugged Sunshine. Once again, all eyes were on Sunshine. She could tell from the looks on everyone’s faces they had a lot of questions for her.
“Look, I can see that everyone is chilling. So, I’ll come back another time and explain everything,” Sunshine said looking around the room.
“Girl, you are more than welcome to stay. Come in, enjoy yourself, and play catch up,” Neisha said as she hugged Sunshine next.
“I can’t; I have my man outside waiting for me. And no it isn’t Ace,” Sunshine informed them before anyone could ask.
“Sunshine, he’s welcome to join us too,” Keema stated.
“Okay, let me run out and get him.” Sunshine said, already heading out of the kitchen.
*
J’vion was pissed. However, he tried not to show it. He was angry that Sunshine had him sitting in the car while she was inside mingling with her so called friends.
Sunshine climbed back into the passenger seat. “Sorry it took me so long but they started talking and asking questions,” Sunshine informed him. “They want to meet you.”
“No,” J’vion spoke, shaking his head.
“Why not? I wanna chill with my girls for an hour,” she pouted. “That isn’t long at all.”
“NO! I don’t wanna meet anybody,” J’vion shouted.
“J’vion, I haven’t seen my girls in three years because I was kidnapped and held hostage during that time,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Please, do this one thing for me. I’ll make it up to you later,” she said reaching over and grabbing his dick.
“A’ight,” J’vion agreed as he exited the car.
“Thank you!” Sunshine smiled as she did the same. They walked into Keema’s house hand-in-hand.
*
As soon as J’vion entered the door, he got a bad vibe. He didn’t know if it was him being paranoid or if his gut was telling him something was up. He hated situations like this. He didn’t have his gun on him; he wasn’t even sure if he would need it. This was one of those situations where he’d rather have a gun and not need it versus not having one and needing it. “How long are we gon’ be here?” He whispered in Sunshine’s ear.
“About an hour. Relax, everyone here is cool,” she whispered back.
“I sure hope so.” J’vion thought as they entered the kitchen.
“Hello everyone, this is J’vion.” Sunshine introduced him to everyone in the kitchen.
*
“Did she just say, J’vion?” Boy thought as he looked over to Jay and Boog.
“Did I just hear that correctly?” Jay asked as he got up from his seat and tossed away the last of the blunt he had been smoking.
All three men were sitting on the back porch wondering the same thing.
“We all couldn’t have heard wrong,” Boog said.
Boy stopped Jay. “Not here, my wife and kids are in there,” he commanded.
Jay nodded his head. “I got you mane,” he said as he opened the door and walked inside with Boy and Boog right behind him.
When they stepped into the room, the entire atmosphere changed. The tension was so thick that everyone picked up on it.
“Jay, Boog, oh my, look at you two!” Sunshine said as she went to hug Jay. He stepped to the side and held his hand in the air, preventing any further advancement.
“I don’t fuck with ya kind homey,” Jay retorted.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Sunshine asked. Her feelings were hurt; she had always loved Jay and Boog like brothers. She thought he would be happy to see her alive and well.
“It means I don’t fuck with ya kind,” Jay repeated. “It’s self-explanatory. Neisha we out, let’s roll,” Jay said harshly.
“Jay what’s with you?” Neisha asked. She wasn’t ready to go nor was she ready for her night to end.
“I don’t want you talking to Sunshine anymore,” Jay demanded. He had never been one to bite his tongue.
“Jay, I’m a grown ass woman. You cannot tell me who I can and can’t talk to,” Neisha rebelled, pissed off.
“Ma, you got that. You gon’ be a single, grown ass woman if I find out you talking to her, kicking it with her, or any of that shit,” Jay rebuked. “Out of respect for my big homey, I won’t be fucking shit up tonight. With that being said, I’ma remove myself from the premises. Y’all enjoy the rest of your night. Neisha, you rolling or what?” Jay questioned on his way out the front door.
“Will you all excuse me?” Neisha stated. “I got a nigga to check and put in his place.” She finished as she followed Jay out the front door.
“What just happened?” Sunshine asked confused. Jay had just come at her on some real disrespectful shit for no reason at all.
“I think we should leave,” J’vion advised.
“I think so too. I’m sorry if I ruined anyone’s day,” Sunshine apologized. “Keema, I’ll see you around. We’ll catch up soon love,” she said as she hugged Keema. “Boog, do you have anything you’d like to get off your chest?” Sunshine asked looking into his eyes.
“Just know that eventually, everything that’s done in the dark will come to the light,” Boog admonished and left it at that.
“I know when I’m not wanted; so I’ll leave,” Sunshine alerted everyone.
“It isn’t you that’s not wanted,” Boy said finally joining the conversation as he nodded his head toward J’vion.
“Why…”
“Sunshine, it really doesn’t matter why I’m not wanted here. These are your friends, not mine. So, I respect that,” J’vion answered on their behalf. Sunshine turned to walk away.
“Boom,” Boog said as he used his fingers as a gun, acting as if he was pulling the trigger.
J’vion smiled, “Not if I get you first,” he declared as he followed Sunshine out the door.
Keema knew things had to be bad if Boy didn’t agree with Sunshine’s new man being in the house. She looked at Boy wanting to know what had just occurred.
“I’ll explain it to you later,” he responded to her expression. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” He said as he and Boog also exited through the front door.
*
“What the fuck is your problem?” Neisha asked as she climbed into the passenger seat of the car.
“You’ve never questioned me about what I said before. Why are you doing it now?” Jay answered with a question of his own as he started the car and pulled off.
“Why did you have to come at me like that in front of everyone? And since when did you start telling me who I can and can’t speak to?”
“Neisha, I know Sunshine is your girl and all. Hell, I use to love her like a sister…”
“Use to, when did you stop?”
“When she walked in the door with the fucking enemy,” he snapped. “My nigga struggled with her death for three years. As soon as he thought she was alive, he put his life on the line day in and day out to find her. He’s been in shootout after shootout for her, nursed her back to health, and she walks away with the fucking enemy!” Jay spat pissed off. “Where is the loyalty?”
“I didn’t know,” Neisha apologized.
“You know now and that’s what matters. I love you girl,” Jay declared.
“I love you back,” Neisha countered.
*
Ace had been lounging around the house all day with Aaliyah, Serenity, and Savanna–something he hadn’t done in a very long time. “I could get use to this,” he said as he laid back. They were having movie night.
“You can get use to what?” Aaliyah asked as she snuggled under him. The twins were lying on the floor in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn.
“Shhh, y’all can’t talk while the movie is on,” Savanna scolded.
“I can get use to days like this. The quiet, time spent with you and my daughters, and having no worries,” Ace whispered. “You know Boy called and invited us over, right?”
“Why didn’t we go?”
“Because, I spend enough time with my homeys as it is. When I’m not running the streets, every chance I get, I’m going to spend with you three,” Ace stated.
“We can still hear you,” Serenity said causing Ace and Aaliyah to laugh. “Daddy you cannot whisper at all,” she said smacking her forehead.
“KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“What the hell,” Aaliyah said as she began to get up to answer the door.
“Sit down, I’ll answer it,” Ace said smacking her on the ass.
Ace opened the door to find, Jay and Neisha standing there.
“What brings you this way?” Ace asked as they slapped hands. He hugged Neisha then invited them inside. If Jay drove all the way to see him, something serious was up.
“Neisha, Aaliyah, and the girls are in the living room,” Ace stated before turning his attention to Jay. He entered the kitchen and offered Jay something to drink. “What’s going on?” Ace asked after Jay declined a drink.
“Sunshine,” Jay answered taking a seat.