You Had Me at Hello Read online

  “A’ight. Let me know if you need anything.”

  She looked back at me and smirked.

  “You know I got it. I appreciate the gesture though. I get off at eight. If you’re not busy, we can go out to eat and maybe catch a movie.”

  She draped the hand towel over the bar on the oven door and walked towards me. She gave me a quick kiss, grabbed her phone and keys and walked to the door.

  “A’ight, call me on your break.”

  “I will. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Once Bre left, I dialed Daymeon’s number and placed the phone on speaker.

  “What’s good, nigga,” he answered after the third ring.

  “I finally did it.”

  “Did what?”

  I stood up and adjusted my jeans over my sneakers.

  “Me and Bre are official, nigga. Now you and Ky can shut up,” I laughed as I grabbed the phone off of the couch and went to grab a snapback to throw on.

  “It’s about motherfucking time. I’m surprised she even held out that long without walking away. She must really love your ass.”

  I laughed at Daymeon’s antics.

  “Whatever nigga. Where’s Ky? I’m tryna handle this business so a nigga can try to catch a nap,” I told him.

  He and Ky had been handling majority of the street business, but I was ready to step back in.

  “No clue. Hit his line and let me know. I’ll meet y’all at the spot on Swan.”

  “Say no more.”

  I walked out the door as I dialed Kyshawn’s number. He didn’t answer. I wasn’t the type of nigga to leave messages, so I hung up and dialed him again. I received his voicemail again. I shook it off, jumped in my ride and took off to meet Daymeon. I didn’t have time to play find Kyshawn. He knew my number, and when he was ready to talk, he would hit my line. Until then, I would handle the business that needed to be handled.

  Chapter Seven

  “Complicated” Nivea

  Breionna

  My entire ride to work, I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face. I couldn’t believe that Ziyon and I were really together. It was exactly what I wanted; I just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. I dialed Azariah’s number. I needed somebody to share the good news with.

  “What’s up Bre,” she answered.

  “Guess what?”

  “I’m not playing the guessing game with you woman. What?”

  “Me and Ziyon are together,” I shrieked, pulling into the parking lot.

  “You and Ziyon been together, so what are you talking about?” I could hear the confusion in her voice.

  I pulled into a spot and killed the engine.

  “No, Zari. I mean, he actually asked me out. We actually have a title to this shit we have.”

  “Well, it’s about damn time. I thought I was going to have to threaten his ass or something. I knew it would happen though. Y’all were already damn near a couple.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her, but she was right. We did everything that people do in a relationship; we just didn’t have title on it.

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m just glad it’s official now. Anyway, I’m about to head into work. I’ll call you later.”

  “Alright.”

  I ended the call, stepped out and locked the door to head into the dreadful place I called employment. It wasn’t the job itself that I so much hated, but more so the rude ass customers. I prayed that these nine hours would go by quickly. I went into the employee room and grabbed the god-awful apron we had to wear and grabbed a cash drawer to jump on a register.

  “Breionna,” my boss called. I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. “Can you relieve Jessica on register six?”

  I nodded and headed out the door. I sucked my teeth as I walked up and noticed she had a line damn near down the aisle. She was scanning shit so slow that I wanted to hit her with the cash drawer that I had.

  “Go on break after this customer,” I told her, not even attempting to hide the annoyance in my voice.

  It was like the moment I said that, she began ringing out customers quicker. People like her got on my nerves with the shit they did. We quickly changed spots, and I picked up where she left off. Normally I hated the first of the month, but today, I loved it. I didn’t want to be at work, but the constant flow of customers had the day going by quicker. I ended up working through my break and leaving an hour early.

  I clocked out and dialed Ziyon’s number just as I left the store.

  “Why didn’t you call me on your break?” He asked, skipping all pleasantries.

  “Well, hello to you too. I didn’t go on break. It’s the first, so we had a constant rush. I worked through my break and left an hour early,” I explained.

  “Where you at now?”

  “Just getting to my car.”

  “Where you heading?”

  “I thought we were gonna grab something to eat and catch a movie,” I said, hoping he hadn’t forgotten because I was really looking forward to it.

  “Shit! A’ight, let me finish up here with the guys, and I’ll meet you at the crib. Is that cool?”

  “I guess.”

  I ended the call before he even responded. My mood was shot. I didn’t even go to his house. I hated how careless and forgetful Ziyon could be. Whenever he was wrapped up with Daymeon and Kyshawn, he tended to forget about plans that we made. I found myself outside of Azariah’s house, and I didn’t even know if she was home. I dialed her number, and she answered on the first ring.

  “I’m outside,” I said the moment she answered.

  “How you figure I’m home?”

  “Because your nosey ass just looked out the living room window,” I said, laughing and stepping out of the car.

  She laughed on the other end and hung up before opening her front door.

  “What are you doing here?”

  I sighed as I stepped over the threshold.

  “Ziyon and I were supposed to hang out, but he’s wrapped up with Daymeon and Kyshawn. Ain’t no telling how long that will take. I’m not about to sit around his house waiting for him to drag his ass through the door,” I told her truthfully.

  Just as I finished, my phone vibrated in my hand alerting me of a text.

  Ziy: (7:14pm) – I should be done in about a half hour or so

  I rolled my eyes and didn’t even respond. I lost count of how many times he said thirty minutes and didn’t walk in until several hours later.

  “Y’all are sickening. I want you to know that,” Zari joked. “I love y’all but damn. I wasn’t doing shit though, just kicking it here and texting Kareem’s ass.”

  Azariah and met Kareem a few weeks ago. From what I knew, they hung out a few times, and Zari was feeling him. I hadn’t met him, so I didn’t know if the feeling was mutual, but for Zari’s sake, I hope it was. Zari was like me, when we loved; we loved hard. I would hate to see her get her heart broke.

  “What’s the deal between you and him?” I asked. as I sat next to her on the couch.

  She shrugged.

  “I don’t know yet. I guess right now we’re still getting to know each other, and take it from there. I’m not tryna rush anything, and neither is he. I like the way things are going now, and I hope we can keep them like that and eventually take it to the next level. Only time will tell though.”

  “That’s what’s up. I hope he’s the one for you though, Zari. You deserve it, boo,” I smiled at her.

  “Awww thanks Bre. Alright, don’t be tryna make me emotional and shit. Let’s finish watching Love & Basketball and see if ole dummy calls,” she said in reference to Ziyon.

  I laughed at her as I kicked off my shoes and got comfortable on the couch with Azariah as she pressed play on the movie. Shortly after the movie started, I dozed off.

  I woke up to Azariah kicking my leg.

  “Get that damn phone,” she groaned, as she rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

  I looked at the time and n
oticed it was after ten at night.

  “Shit.”

  I grabbed my phone off the table and noticed I had fifteen missed calls and six text messages from Ziyon. I knew by now he was flipping out. I sat up and redialed his number back.

  “Where the fuck are you,” he barked into the phone.

  “Stop yelling!” I rubbed my temples. If I wasn’t awake before, I was awake after his outburst. “I’m at Azariah’s.”

  “I’ve been calling you for the last hour. Why the hell didn’t you answer?”

  “I was sleep. I need you to stop yelling, you’re giving me a fucking headache.”

  Azariah groaned, and I got up and walked towards the door to go outside.

  “Bring your ass outside,” he said, hanging up.

  Just as I opened the door, I noticed his car coming down the street. I crossed my arms over my chest as I made my way down the stairs and over to his car. I barely had my legs in before he pulled off.

  “What the fuck! The hell is wrong with you?” I slammed his door hard, which I knew only pissed him off even more.

  “Didn’t I tell you I was coming home right after I wrapped up with Day and Ky?”

  “Yeah and?”

  “So why the hell wasn’t you at the house?”

  “Hold up, Ziyon. First off, you’re not my father. Second of all, you said that three hours ago, meaning you ain’t been home but a hot minute! Chill the fuck out. I’m not about to sit here and argue with you over some bullshit. I told you I was at Azariah’s house sleep, and that’s where I was. Maybe next time you won’t fucking cancel on me, and we won’t have this problem.”

  I sat back in the seat with a visible attitude, but I didn’t care. If he didn’t know, he was about to learn that he wasn’t gonna throw bitch fits with me and think he’s gonna get his way. He got Breionna Lynette Richards fucked all the way up.

  “So again, why the hell wasn’t you answering the phone?”

  “I was sleep! What part of that aren’t you fucking understanding?” I shouted. “Are you dumb or deaf? I’m starting to think it’s both.”

  He didn’t say anything. We rode around in silence for a few minutes before he pulled back onto Azariah’s street.

  “Listen Ziy, I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me. Every time I said I was somewhere, I’ve always been there. I haven’t fucked with anybody since I’ve been fucking with you. Stop all the theatrics. They aren’t doing shit but turning me off.”

  He pulled up behind my car and put the car in park. He turned his head to look out of the driver’s side window.

  “I don’t know what else I have to do or say to show you that this is where I want to be. I don’t want you thinking I’m out here trying to get with the next nigga because that’s not the case what so ever. If you can’t trust me, let me know, because without trust, we have nothing.”

  “I do trust you,” he said just above a whisper. “You coming to the crib tonight?”

  I chuckled to myself at how quickly he changed the conversation. I just shook my head.

  “I don’t know. I may just stay home tonight.”

  I didn’t want to stay home, but I didn’t know what type of mood Ziyon was in, and I refused to argue with him all night long.

  “Can you stop doing that?” He was talking, but he never looked in my direction.

  His eyes remained focused out of the driver’s side window.

  “Doing what, Ziyon?”

  “Bre, you already know I want you to be at the crib. You know when you’re not there, a nigga can’t and don’t sleep. I tossed and turned last night ‘cause you weren’t there. You gon’ do that to me again?”

  This time, he looked at me. Looking in his eyes, I could see the stress of his every day hustle in his eyes. He looked worn out, and I hated seeing him like that.

  I sighed.

  “I’ll meet you at your house, Ziyon.”

  I reached for the door handle to let myself out. He grabbed my arm to stop me and leaned over and kissed my lips.

  “I love you, Bre, and I’m sorry for flipping out.”

  “I love you too.”

  I didn’t bother to touch on his spazz attack. I climbed out and went back inside to grab my stuff I left. I heard him pull off as I closed the door. Azariah was in the kitchen rummaging through the cabinets.

  “Everything okay?” She asked.

  “Yeah. I’m heading out. Call me tomorrow, and we can link up or something.”

  “Alright.”

  I shot my mother a text letting her know I was coming home to get clothes and staying at Ziy’s for the night. I hoped tonight would be relaxing because I wasn’t in the mood for going back and forth with him anymore.

  Chapter Eight

  “Let It Burn” Usher

  Ziyon

  Shout out to my niggas on nightshift

  Shout out to my niggas on nightshift

  Shout out to my niggas on nightshift

  Fuck sleep I’m gettin’ it

  I sped through the streets towards my spot as I blasted Nightshift by Antwididda. I definitely felt what he was spitting. The game came with many late and sleepless nights, but the cash flow made it worth it. Ten minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot that housed the cars of the tenants. The cool September breeze felt good. I walked into my apartment and did my normal routine of kicking off my shoes by the door and dropping my keys on the table. I stripped down as I walked to my bedroom. By the time I made it there, I had on basketball shorts and a wife beater. I climbed in bed and allowed sleep to find me quickly.

  I was awakened by my bedroom light turning on.

  “Oh shit,” I heard Bre say. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were sleeping.”

  She quickly turned the big light on and used the flashlight on her phone to maneuver through the room.

  “You good. Go ahead and turn the light on to get yourself situated,” I told her, as I stretched out in my bed. I looked at my digital clock on my nightstand and noticed it was pushing midnight. “Where were you?”

  “I went by my house to get clothes.”

  She turned the light back on and dropped her duffle bag on the floor. She plugged in her phone, kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed with me. I immediately wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as close to me as I could. It wasn’t long before I was back to sleep.

  I thought I was dreaming when I heard a faint vibration. I opened my eyes but laid completely still to pinpoint the noise. I thought it was Breionna’s phone until I looked in the direction of my nightstand and didn’t see any light but still heard the noise. It briefly stopped, but not for long. I looked towards the foot of my bed and noticed the illumination off of my dresser. I slowly slid out of bed and grabbed my phone. Before I could answer, this missed call joined the other five she had placed. Something had to be wrong. I dialed her number back, and she answered on the first ring.

  “Ziyon,” she sniffled.

  “What’s wrong, Miranda?”

  “I need you.”

  “What can I do eight hundred miles away?”

  I stood and looked over Breionna’s sleeping body. My dick began rising.

  “I’m in town.” I could hear her sniffle again. “I’m staying at the Marriott on Orms Street.”

  I sighed deeply as I sat at my kitchen table.

  “What do you need, Miranda?”

  “Just please, Ziyon. All I need is maybe twenty minutes and your shoulder. That’s it!”

  Against my better judgment, I agreed. What could twenty minutes do; I thought to myself.

  “A’ight man. Twenty minutes, Miranda, and that’s it!”

  “Okay. I’m in room 402.”

  I hung up without saying anything else. I considered standing her up and just going back to bed with my baby, but it was very rare that Miranda showed emotion, and she seemed to be an emotional mess. I went back into my room to grab some sweats.

  “Everything alright?” Breionna asked, startling me.

&n
bsp; “Uh. Y-yeah. Go ahead back to sleep. I’ll be right back.” I walked over and kissed her forehead and then her lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I kissed her forehead again and left out of the room. I slid my feet into the same sneakers I had on earlier, grabbed my phone and keys and headed to where Miranda was. I hoped like hell she wouldn’t make me regret this.

  ***

  Fifteen minutes later, I was knocking on her hotel room door. She came to the door in one of my old t-shirts.

  “Hi.”

  She offered a faint smile. Her eyes were puffy and red. Her hair was disheveled and unkempt. Truthfully, she looked a mess.

  “What’s up, Miranda?”

  She closed the door behind me, walked by me and sat on the bed. I sat in the small chair that adorned the room. She looked at me but said nothing.

  “I miss you, Ziyon.”

  I sucked my teeth.

  “You called me over here for that? Come on now, Miranda. We’ve been over and done for damn near a year. I thought we agreed to that?”

  “No Ziyon. I just went along with what I knew you wanted. In my heart, I knew you were over me, but I tried all I could to get you to see how much I love you. I only wanted you to love me the same.” She sniffled and wiped the falling tears with the back of her hand. “What happened to us, Ziy?”

  “Life! We fell apart, Ma. I told you, it just wasn’t meant for us to be.”

  “You didn’t even try! You didn’t try to come to North Carolina to fix us. You just let it fail. I thought you loved and cared about me,” she cried.

  I washed my hands over my face and groaned.

  “I do love and care about you, Miranda.”

  “So why are you with her and not trying to fix me and you?” She asked, cutting me off.

  “Because I’m in love with her.”

  I surprised myself by saying that, but it was true. I found myself always wanting to be around Breionna, and I always thought about her when she wasn’t around. There was a point in time I felt the same about Miranda.

  “I’ll always care about you and have love for you because you are the first woman outside of my mama that I ever loved. We’ve been through a lot together and, nothing can change that. But in life, shit happens and people drift apart, and we are two of those people. We’re on two different paths in life.”