17. Avery Nielson

SOME DAYS LATER…

For our last night here, everybody decided to go out but separately… kind of. There was only one club other than the strip club, and since both parties wanted to go, we had no choice but to be in the same place around the same time. But while I sat on one end of the club with my nigga Hux and a pissed-off Tilsa, Cemone and Yolani were on the other side.

I did my best not to show my frustration at the sight of them over there hugged the fuck up, her soft legs thrown across him as his hands went further and further up her silky thighs.

I was in love with Yolani and had been since we were kids. But after she told me she wasn't fucking with me in that regard, I suppressed it, always feeling like she would realize I was the right man for her one day and change her mind.

I did everything I could to prove to her that she was out here searching for what was right in her face, but she never took the bait. I even participated in helping all her past niggas cheat, but all she would do was get upset, leave them, and then be single until she ran into a new one. Never once did she look my way, recognizing what was right there, waiting for fucking years.

I hated that Cemone didn't fall victim to the shit because, in the past, better niggas had. I honestly believed some of Yolani's exes had real love for her, but once a little alcohol and a pretty bitch got in their faces, especially after dealing with Yolani's hectic and tight schedule, they always fell into some shit they had no business.

I should've known shit was going downhill when Cemone refused to drink. He, unfortunately, was a few steps ahead of my ass, and the shit had bitten me in the balls because now Yolani acted like I was a stranger, which was worse than before. At least before she would talk to me, laugh with me, kick it with a nigga, but now I was essentially a ghost to her, and that shit had my chest tight.

"What's over there for you, Avery?" Tilsa snapped her fingers in my face, some shit she always fucking did that irritated me.

One thing I couldn't stand about Tilsa was her inability to keep her hands and the small stints of disrespect at bay. She was always snapping, clapping, mushing, and doing all kinds of shit that back in the day would've gotten her ass backhanded.

"I don't like being at odds with my sister, that's all," I answered, putting the blunt to my lips and taking a deep pull before handing it off to Hux.

"What about being at odds with me?" she quizzed, face still pretty messed up from that ass whupping Yolani put on her.

I didn't feel too bad because I'd warned Tilsa that Yolani had hands and to stop fucking with her. She didn't believe it, though, laughing me off and saying Yolani was soft. Now her face was evidence of the contrary.

"What is you even talking about?" I asked, exasperated as fuck.

This whole trip with Tilsa had been filled with bickering and bullshit. That was how it was with me and her, but the makeup sex was phenomenal. She was a freak and did whatever my heart desired in the bedroom, so at times, the constant fallouts were worth it.

"I still haven't gotten an explanation as to what Yolani was talking about when she said you admitted to being in love with her when y'all were younger."

"Man, that was years ago, Tilsa! A decade to be exact, and well before I even knew yo' ass."

I shook my head, running my hands down my still tender face. That nigga had done a number on me, and I vowed to repay him, just not here. I ain't have my resources here like I did in LA. Sure, I had Hux, but his muthafuckin' ass had gotten knocked out with one hit at the strip club, so I needed more than him to do what I planned to Cemone's bitch ass.

"Did you tell her you loved her, Avery?" She spoke to me how Ms. April did when she wanted me to stop lying, except Tilsa wasn't a mother figure and had no business taking that fucking tone with me.

I had love for Tilsa, but I wasn't in love. She was a good time, was up for anything when it came to sex, and she was easily impressed by anything I gave her or threw her way. And while she was my girlfriend, I moved how the fuck I wanted to, fucking other women when and if I felt the urge to. If I ever ran across a woman that made me feel the way I did about Yolani, Tilsa would be history quick and fast.

"Did you try to fuck Cemone in my people's house?" I shot back, and her shoulders sagged as she looked away from me.

"I told you I only did that because of what she'd said. I wasn't going to go through with it."

"I'm sure you wasn't." I accepted the blunt back from Hux.

I wasn't a fool. I knew Tilsa was only as interested in my ass for how many connections I had in the industry. She always did the most anytime I took her someplace where there'd be a lot of celebrity niggas. She was ready, waiting for the right nigga with fat pockets and fame to offer her better so she could use me as a stepping stool on her way to a bigger fish.

I'd peeped the way she looked at Cemone, how she watched him at the dinner table, laughed at everything he said, complimented him on the smallest shit, and would sometimes be so caught up in staring at him and Yolani she wouldn't even be listening to shit I said.

I didn't give a fuck enough about her to be jealous really. I just didn't fuck with the fact that she was openly lusting after another nigga while kicking it with my people. Not only that, the muthafucka she was choosing had stolen the love of my life and put his hands on me.

"Well I'm gonna go get my own drink. These ghetto bitches in here are too busy trying to get a man to actually take and bring orders." Tilsa stomped off.

"Aye, you know it's nothing to get that handled for you." Hux tapped me, speaking lowly and glancing at Cemone across the way.

"Nah," I looked on with him, "just give it some time. I'm sure it won't be long after we land before that nigga is sending her excuses as to why he can't see her before he breaks that shit off. He got what he wanted. He only keeping this ruse up so he can get his fill while he here."

"I mean, yeah, I get you. But I can tell you pissed, so I was just offering. Let me know if you change yo' mind, nigga."

"I won't." I shook my head. "Anything happen to him out here and Yolani gon' point her finger right at me. That's only gon' pull us further apart, but worse because she might get her people on her side in the beef. They seem to like the fake ass nigga."

"We got Cemone Compton and his beautiful songstress girlfriend, Yolani, in the building!" the deejay had to announce, making people cheer and go crazy. "What you say?" the deejay asked, looking at Cemone, then nodded with a grin. "Excuse me, y'all. He said that's his wife."

I sucked my teeth and gave Hux a look as the club went crazy at that. I hated that he referred to her in that way, getting her fucking hopes up, knowing she would have to drag him down the aisle. Cemone was a fuck nigga who got off on conquering women, but once he did, he lost interest and skated off on them. I knew what type of nigga he was. Shit, we'd all heard about it too.

A couple hours later, the crowd in the club began to die down, so we all left in separate cars, of course.

Once home, Tilsa and I went to the bedroom, but she had an attitude like always. I didn't give a fuck, but I would make it up to her later tonight when I wanted some pussy.

I heard Cemone go to the bathroom near his bedroom, so I hopped up, leaving the room and darting to Yolani's. I peeked in but didn't see her, making me go in all the way to look further. She wasn't in here, so I stepped out, confused, wondering if she maybe stepped out into the backyard or was in her mom's room kicking it with Yailey.

But as I passed the bathroom Cemone was showering in, I heard her soft giggle. Placing my ear to the door, I listened to them kissing before moaning followed. The sound enraged me, and before I could even think, I was halfway to Grandpa Leslie and Grandma Harriet's bedroom. Cemone's kids were knocked out in their bed, looking like they'd had a good ass time today.

"You know they been fucking in yo' house this whole time, right?" I got right to the point, halting their laughter at whatever the fuck the joke was. "They in the shower right now, and I heard moaning! Every night they been having sex in the bedrooms, the pool in the backyard, the rental car, and even the damn roof."

As I listed every location, the thought caused a pang in my fucking chest. Walking in to see Yolani straddling him and about to take her shirt off felt like being hit in the stomach with a kettlebell. It only worsened when I peered out my window to see them in the pool, had to hear them in the shower just now, or her soft moans coming from the roof that one night, then her coming in looking disheveled after they went to ‘chill' in the car on another night. And the fact that she was letting him in without a hat was wild. I was beyond sick. I was dying a little bit.

"What?" Harriet frowned.

"And what the hell am I supposed to do?" Leslie frowned, shrugging. "Go yank 'em out of the shower?" He looked me over skeptically, and I didn't like that shit.

"Leave them alone, Avery. Let her have some fun." Harriet waved me off, rubbing lotion into her feet.

"Yeah! Just like you have fun in that room with Tilsa, despite us telling you she needs to sleep in there by herself and you in the den," Leslie chided.

I couldn't do anything but shake my head as I exited their bedroom, realizing they wouldn't be any fucking help because they were blinded by Cemone's fuckboy ass charms.

I went back to my room, thankful Tilsa was in the other bathroom showering and not here to question my ass and the mood I was in.

I listened and waited until I heard two doors close, so I knew Yolani was in her own room. I gave it a second, then padded down the hall, knocking lightly. I got in ready mode just in case he was somehow in here and answered the door.

"What, Avery?" She cracked the door some, in a large T-shirt with the LA Bulldogs on it that swallowed her shapely but short frame. Her soap scent flowed out, pleasantly dancing up my nose.

Even without her hair done and makeup on, Yolani was a sight to see, making me lose my train of thought for a second. Until she lifted her brows to silently ask me again.

I loathed seeing her in that fucking shirt. It was like she was covered in that muthafucka and at all times. I hated it.

"You know it's disrespectful for you to be showering with Cemone in this house, right?" I used air quotes for showering to let her know I knew what they were actually doing. "You would've never done this with any of them other niggas."

"Why the fuck are you clocking my moves, Avery? Worry about your own bitch and who the fuck she's showering with. You so worried about my pussy that you didn't even know your own bitch was trying to give hers away."

"I don't mean it like that, Lani."

"Listen, I told you I was done with you, and I meant it. The only reason we are even around each other right now is because we are staying in the same home and are in this small ass town with one of everything. But make no mistake; once we're back in LA, you won't see me unless it's a family event and only because I have no control over that."

"Yolani—"

"Go back to ya room, nigga." Cemone's deep voice shattered my thoughts immediately.

I turned to see him with his two sleeping kids, watching me like he wanted to shoot me or whup my ass but didn't have free hands.

I was about to respond but thought better of it and took my ass back to the room.

I couldn't wait to get up out of here because at least back home, I would have the opportunity to be around Yolani and actually talk to her for more than a couple damn minutes. I couldn't do that here with that hawk ass boyfriend she had. Not to mention, he wasn't gon' play with me like this back home where I could make the moves I needed to.

LOS ANGELES, CA…

Sitting down in my home office, I dialed Redmond Hill Records headquarters to get the budget for Yolani's next promo tour. I liked to do shit early before she even recorded her single, because it made shit easier.

"Redmond Hill, this is Sandra. How can I help you?"

"Sandra, it's Avery. I'm just calling for Yolani's promo tour budget."

"Okay, hold on." She put the waiting music on before I could protest. I didn't know what was up because I'd been doing this shit the past four years, and they were used to it by now. "Hello, Avery?"

"Yes." I frowned as if she stood before me.

"Yolani doesn't have you listed here as an authorized personnel anymore, so I wouldn't be able to give you that information."

Chuckling, I said, "Sandra, it's me. I do this all the time. Yolani is just upset with me on some brother and sister shit. I'm sure once she calms down, she won't mind."

"Whether she minds or not, Avery, you know protocol. We can only give that out to her listed authorized personnel. Have her update it, and we can move forward."

"Thanks." I hung up before Sandra could reply, steepling my fingers and covering my mouth.

Yolani was fucking tripping going this far. This was my job, my livelihood, and no matter how many quarrels we'd gotten in, in the past, she'd never gone this fucking far.

I dialed her but learned quickly that my number was blocked. I shouted angrily, shooting up out of my chair. I didn't know what pissed me off more: Yolani not fucking with me to this extent or the potential loss of my job.

Calling the only voice of reason, I let out a sigh when her father picked up.

"What's going on, Avery? How was the trip?—"

"Lani bugging, Darrell." I paced frantically.

"How so, son?"

"She took me off her authorization list at the label. She ain't told you 'bout this? You her manager."

"No, she didn't, and probably because she knew I wouldn't approve. You just found out?"

"Yes. Called to get the budget, like always, and they told me I couldn't. It ain't no mistake because I talked to Sandra, and she know me. She gave me the shit last year."

"Hmm, alright. I will talk to Lani and see what the hell is going on. Did you two fight?"

"I mean, nothing like we haven't had before," I lied. "It's that nigga behind this, Darrell. Listen to what I tell you." I stopped pacing and fell into my desk chair, frustrated.

"I doubt that, Avery. She likes him, but Yolani is about her business. She isn't gonna let a man dictate anything, especially one she isn't serious with."

I laughed mirthlessly.

"Not serious?" I exclaimed. "She invited him down?—"

"He invited himself down."

"Aight, well, however the hell he got there, it don't matter. She serious as hell with him. Serious enough to sleep with him, boss. I walked in on them in the act," I embellished.

I mean, I basically did. She was about to fuck him, so same thing in my book. Everybody who knew Yolani knew she didn't go fucking people randomly. She was too comfortable when I walked in, letting me know that nigga smashed prior to that moment.

I clenched my molars at the thought.

Many celebrity niggas had attempted to get with Yolani in the past. She was a hot commodity, making it common for most, if not all, men at these industry parties, shows, and events to try their luck with her. But she wasn't an easy fortress to breach, so majority had been unsuccessful. So this wasn't the first time a man of Cemone's caliber had pursued Yolani, but it was the first time one had succeeded and on this level.

Even Dwayne, her actor ex, hadn't been able to get her in this position. She was in love with Cemone. I could tell by the way she was looking at him in the club. By saying that, it was urgent we got her away from him.

"What?" Darrell snapped.

"Yeah! Had her acting like his little housewife the whole time, too, cooking, massaging his shoulders, and was even calling her his wife all over town. Every time I turned my head, they were sleeping together or going somewhere to do it. I know this may be TMI, but it was without protection too."

I had to tell him because with Cemone's reputation, Darrell would surely catch my drift. And a father's worst nightmare would be for her to get pregnant by a muthafucka like Cemone Compton.

I knew I was digging myself into a deeper hole with Yolani by telling her father all this shit, but if she wanted to play dirty, we could do that. Same time, I knew Darrell would nip that relationship in a bud, and it was rare and almost unseen for Yolani to challenge her pops.

I would just sit back and let Darrell do the rest of the work until I got her back in my life.