13. Cemone

"Hello?" I picked up my phone, shaking my head already.

I'd tried to text my moms and tell her about going down south and shit, but instead of replying like I wanted her to, she called a nigga.

"Explain this to me."

"Nothing to explain. I'm going to visit Yolani's family like I said in the text, Ma." I chuckled, shaking my head again at her ass.

"Dang! I'm gonna lose my hundred dollars!" Banks shouted in the back.

"Banks!" My mama chided her.

"I forgot about that bet. Yeah, Shakur about to collect on you niggas," I replied.

"Okay, y'all can have that conversation another time. I wanna know when can everyone else meet Yolani? And why didn't I get free tickets to her LA show? I had to pay."

"Ma, come on."

Giggling, she said, "I'm kidding about the ticket part but not the meeting."

"Let me lock shit down for good first. When we come back from Mississippi, it should be time."

"Okay, I guess I can wait."

"Hurry up! I love Yolani!" Banks commented.

"You know, I'm happy you found someone that you actually feel is worth you acting like you have some sense, Cemone," my mother spoke softly.

"Me too."

"I always told you, you'd have to find a woman that either had just as much success or money because that would humble your ass."

Chuckling, I replied, "I know, and I used to say no female would ever have as much as me."

"Now look at your ass. You better not do anything to keep her from being my daughter-in-law. If I need to hog-tie Solene and Ananda in a basement until after the wedding, let me know."

I heard Banks and Prime guffaw in the background before Prime took the phone.

"We not about to let them interfere with shit," Prime said.

"Nah, you know me. I don't even deal with them outside of my kids. Only thing that would make shit better is if they decided to pull a Devante so I could have 'em full time."

"Man, that would be amazing." Prime agreed. "I'm proud of you though, son. I thought you was gon' be out here on some bullshit for a few more decades."

"Shit, me too." I gripped the phone. "All the shit you used to tell us actually makes sense now. I always thought you niggas was just soft. But you was speaking some real shit when you said a woman you love will have you giving up shit to make her ass happy. Half this shit I'm doing with Yolani, I wouldn't have even fathomed doing a year ago."

"That's how you know. A woman that ain't for you won't be able to make you conform, in a positive way. I told you then you wouldn't understand until you met her."

"She got me being celibate, waiting for her and shit."

"You?"

Chuckling, I said, "Who else, nigga?"

"She beyond a good woman; she a fucking magician in these streets," he half joked, and we chortled loudly.

"You not lying at all. I appreciate you, old man." I inhaled on the blunt I'd lit.

"You better hope that shit work when you my age," he said.

"'Cause his does!" My mama shouted in the back.

"Ugh!" Banks howled in disgust.

And on that note, I got my ass off the phone.

T onight, Yolani was having an end of tour party, something she always threw to do some nice shit for her crew, dancers, band, background singers, and the whole fucking nine. I thought the sentiment was dope, considering most people in her position didn't give a fuck about none of that.

"You paid top dollar for this shit." I took in the decorations of the venue along with the catered food, open bar, and deejay.

"They deserve it. They work hard to make sure my show goes off without a hitch." She smiled up at me, her pretty ass face compelling me to kiss her.

Currently, she had on some short ass pink skirt and a matching top that was barely there.

Pressing my hardening dick to her round ass, I moved her hair to the side, then bent down some to whisper, "You driving me fucking crazy."

She simpered like she always did into her glass filled with some pink sparkly cocktail she'd been nursing all night.

"You like the tease." She turned to face me, allowing me to kiss her gloss covered lips.

Looking into her eyes for a moment as I kept her close to me with my free hand, I said, "I do. I love that shit and you."

Her smile dissipated shortly before I kissed her again, slow and deep, the way she liked the shit. I noticed every time I did it, goosebumps arose on her golden skin. My hand drifted down to its favorite place, groping her ass as the kiss continued.

"Yolani, this party is amazing!" Some flamboyant ass nigga interrupted our moment.

Whipping around to face him, Yolani replied, "Thank you. Wanted to do something nice for my people before I left town."

I watched him as he ran his mouth, wondering why he was acting so cool after the comments he'd made about Yolani on his little podcast show. I'd never even heard of the muthafucka, but Banks sent me the clip from it where he stated one of Yolani's tour outfits was too tight in the middle one night.

"Don't you think you should apologize?" I spoke up, unable to ignore the shit. I couldn't stand a muthafucka that would talk shit then come smile in yo' face. Yolani was too nice when it came to shit like this, but I wasn't.

"Huh?" he asked, trying to keep a smile on his face.

"Huh?" I mocked him. "Nigga, you heard what the fuck I said. Apologize for what you said, and after you do it here, make a public one too."

He and I had a staring contest for a bit, people nearby starting to pay attention.

"It's fine," Yolani assured him.

"With her, maybe, but not with me. You a grown ass man commenting on my woman's body. Other niggas may let you get away with it, but I ain't. Either you apologize, nigga, or we can take this shit outside." I set my drink on the table closest to me. "Up to you." I shrugged calmly.

"Yolani, I'm sorry. He's right, I shouldn't have said that." He nodded, looking to me for confirmation.

"I wanna hear that shit on yo' next episode too. Make it public like the last comment." I fake smiled, and he again nodded. "You can dip." I picked my drink back up.

"Have a good night." He turned and speed walked out, probably about to cry in the car with his bitch ass.

Yolani watched him leave, before tugging me to the balcony, people still watching a little bit.

"You didn't need to do that, Cemone." Her face bunched out of irritation.

"I did. He don't need to be commenting on you in that way, and he not gon' do the shit. Not while I'm alive."

"I am used to it. People say negative things about me all the time, and you can't get upset when it happens."

"I will because I love you, and I got feelings for you. If I see a nigga in person who was running their mouth about you, I'm gon' press 'em, Yolani. And that's gon' be the fucking case until niggas learn to stop talking."

"I have been getting talked about my whole life, Cemone. You're famous too; you know how this works. I would be miserable if I confronted every person."

Bringing her into me, I said, "I get that, and I understand that, but I ain't gon' let the shit happen. Muthafuckas gon' think twice before mentioning you in a negative manner, especially grown ass men."

She sighed before half smiling.

"Thank you." She softened before she got on her tiptoes to peck me. "I love how much you care," she whispered.

"Yo, fuck was that?" Her faux ass brother stepped onto the balcony.

"Aye, nigga, I'm not in the mood," I warned him. "You can get this shit too. Only reason you ain't in the hospital hooked up is 'cause of Yolani, and to be honest, the fight wouldn't even be fair."

"Y'all, this is not necessary," Yolani spoke up.

"Wouldn't be fair? For who? Nigga, height ain't got shit to do with it!" Avery barked, stepping forward.

"Nah, but the size of my foot breaking off in yo' ass should. Step forward again and I'm slapping the shit out you," I told him calmly.

Trying to be tough, he took one step forward, and my hand reached over Yolani's head with ease to greet his ass. His head whipped in the other direction as the loud sound of me slapping his ass seemed to echo through the live ass party, making people hanging near the balcony look outside with their jaws open.

"You bitch ass nigga!" He started toward me.

"Avery! No! Please!" Yolani begged him.

"Listen to yo' sister, muthafucka. This ain't what you want," I warned him, smiling a bit because of how hot the nigga was. "I don' already had to slap you like a ho in front of the whole party."

"Nigga, fuck you! This my sister!" He barked over Yolani's head.

"Yeah, and she just mine. Keep going, and I'm gon' have to put a bullet in you, nigga."

"You his?" Avery quizzed.

"You know what's up already, Avery." Yolani sighed, exasperated.

"Nah, I thought this was some phase you was in or some shit. I didn't know you went and made shit official with this nigga." He frowned, eyes bouncing around her face.

I didn't give a fuck what Yolani said, this nigga wasn't on her out of no sibling protection shit. Right now, he looked hurt like she'd chosen another nigga over him.

"We're together, Avery."

"Okay, well if he staying at the party, I'm leaving."

"Bye, nigga." I waved him off, and when he tried to charge me, Yolani got in between us, but I swiftly put her behind me. "We gon' stop acting like Yolani's small ass is holding you back, bitch. I don't play fair, and I don't play shit safe, so if you want beef with me, nigga, just know I'm with the shits at all fucking times, and it'll be a muthafuckin' beef you won't make it up out of. I guarantee you that."

Avery stared up at me, no longer having the barrier of Yolani before backing down, shaking his head as he flipped his back to us and stormed out.

"Oh my gosh." Yolani tousled her hair when I turned to face her. "This not good." She low-key panicked. "Y'all are both crazy, Cemone, and I don't want this escalating."

"He lil' crazy. I'm big crazy 'round this bitch. If you give a fuck about yo' brother, talk some sense into him and let him know I ain't the muthafucka to play tough big brother with. You mine, and anybody that got an issue with that or try to come in between that shit wanna sleep in caskets. It's that fucking simple, love."

"I will talk to him, but for me, can you please tone it down with him. I know it'll be hard, but try, for me." She took my hands into hers.

"What I always say?"

"It's whatever for me." She half smiled. As I kissed her lips, she continued. "I love you. I'm in love with you."

C hecking the time on my phone, I proceeded to get dressed. Before I could even get my boxers and joggers on good, the shit was ringing. Checking to be sure it wasn't Yolani or my mama, who was picking up my son today, I saw it was Solene's stupid ass. Typically, I would ignore her calls and shit, but since today we were to exchange my son, I wanted to be sure she wasn't starting no shit.

"What?" I answered rudely as I always did.

"Your damn mama just slapped me!" Solene screeched into the phone like a fucking banshee.

"Huh? My mama?" I pointed to my bare chest as if Solene could see me.

"Yes, nigga! Is your damn mammy still Lisara?"

"Wait, hold on," I said, confused and frustrated as to why this exchange didn't go smoothly. Pulling my beeping phone from my ear, I saw my moms was calling me, too, so I switched the calls. "Ma?—"

"Chianti is going to have to do this shit from now on because I'm gonna end up killing that stupid bitch!" she fussed.

"Wait, I'm about to come."

"Hurry up, or I might be in cuffs!"

Hanging up, I snatched up my wife beater and yanked it over my head before slipping on some socks and my corduroy slippers. I made sure I had my heat, just in case. Hurrying out, I rushed to my truck and sped off while putting on my seat belt at the same time.

As soon as I pulled onto the street where Solene's rental home was located, I saw my mama, Solene, and my pops outside in the yard, holding Callen. Climbing out the car, I jogged across the street, ignoring the muthafuckas staring, with their mouths open at the sight of me.

Solene was crying hysterically, holding her face as my dad tried to calm her ass down. My mama was off to the side, going off, so I walked up to her first, taking her a few steps down the sidewalk.

"Aye, aye, what happened?" I made my moms look up at me.

Sighing, she replied, "She brought up how you plan to bring Callen to Mississippi with you, and I said it should be fine. She got smart with me saying you're bringing her son to chase pussy. I corrected the bitch and let her smart tone slide, explaining you wanted Yolani and her family to meet him but also, why would you spend all that time away from him? The bitch then had the nerve to say I'm one of those mamas that support her trifling sons no matter what, so my hand, out of reflex, slapped her disrespectful ass."

"Aight." I kissed my mom on the forehead, hugging her briefly. "I apologize for that, Ma." I pecked her face as she nodded to say she accepted, before telling her to stay put.

"You gotta calm the hell down," I heard Prime tell a hysterical Solene who was squatted in the yard. "When you talk shit, you gotta be ready to back that shit up."

"Aye, stand up," I told Solene. "Pop, give me a minute." I ruffled my son's head of curly hair before Prime stalked off toward my mama. "I want you to hear me, Solene, and hear me good. You come at my mama out the side of ya neck again, I'm gon' squeeze the fuck out of it until you stop breathing."

Sniffling but calming down as she looked into my eyes, she asked, "Why are you even going to Mississippi?"

"Yolani."

"What about Yolani?"

"That's what I'm going for. Wherever the fuck she at, that's where I'm at when I can be."

"Why does Callen need to come? So y'all can be some big happy family? With my son?"

"Because he my son, and I ain't about to go weeks without seeing him when I don't fucking have to. Stop fucking questioning me like you my bitch. I don't ask you shit when you got him, so show me the same fucking respect," I spat, just as her nigga stepped out of the building, frowning and scoping like he was about to set shit straight.

"That's because I don't be moving like you do!"

"Bitch—"

"Watch yo' mouth nig—" Ross tried to step in, but I quickly pressed my piece to his forehead.

"This ain't the time to play captain save a ho, nigga. You gon' have plenty more chances with this one, but right now ain't the best muthafuckin' time unless you ready to die behind yours."

"Cemone!" My mama shrieked, but I heard Prime tell her to fall back.

"Ross, go back in." Solene whimpered, scared as fuck.

"Nah, before you go, repeat that shit back to me so I can make sure you understood me, nigga." I kept my eyes trained on him, unswervingly.

"This ain't a good time," he said through clenched teeth.

Twisting my mouth and thinking for a second, I said, "I'll take that since I'm pressed for time. But next time, use ya noggin'," I tapped his temple, "and say that shit verbatim."

"Okay, Cemone." Solene was still panicking, eyes darting from me to the gun and then to Ross, before starting over again.

Looking her way, I spoke through gritted teeth. "I get he mad you had a baby on him like the ho that you are, but make sure this nigga mind his business when the shit involves me. He bet not step to me no more, Solene."

"He won't! He won't! Right, baby?" Solene nudged him.

"Nah," Ross said dryly, mouth bunched up.

"Cemone!" My mama called me again.

After a few seconds, I mushed him with the gun then lifted the steel from his head and put the safety back on before locking it in my waist.

Before I could even make it to my parents to grab my son, Ross and Solene had darted into the house.

"How much she paying monthly for this shit?" Prime quizzed, eyeing the place. "I been wondering since we started doing the exchanges for you."

"Almost seven grand." I shook my head, getting a peek of the large ass house over my shoulder for a moment.

"Despite you offering a whole four-bedroom home for free? That's why she still begging and shit," he said. "She could spend less on a mortgage."

"Yeah, but the house I offered her didn't look like a mansion, so she ain't want it." I shook my head.

"I hate that bitch." My mama chimed in, watching the home as if it were Solene. Focusing up at me, she said, "I know you don't like her and him, but you need to calm all that shit down for Yolani."

"I know." I looked off into the street. "I be trying, but the shit evaporates as soon as a muthafucka pisses me off."

"Yeah, well if you plan to be with her for a long time, relax, son." She rubbed my arm as I kissed Callen's face.

"She know this nigga crazy, and she must like it, so don't get rid of the shit all the way." Prime winked as my mama slapped his arm.

"I don't even think I could if I fucking tried."

We said our goodbyes, and then I swung by Ananda's to get Blakely, with no issue, thankfully, before continuing on with my fucking day.