First Queen II

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LAI

"Momma, I'm exhausted." I said to her as Malasia ran to play with her cousins. I sat at the island counter, resting my head on the surface.

Momma sat her glass down. "It's what comes with being an adult. How is everything going, though?"

I picked my head up and smiled at her. "Fine. Lasia been acting her normal self. I let Maliah move in because of her situation but your grand daughter doesn't like her."

My mom looked at me. "You mean Nancy's daughter? The same woman who whooped her daughter because you came over to their house?"

I nodded. She rolled her eyes.

She was well aware of Maliah's mom dislike towards me. She hated me for no exact reason. My mom and her got into a big argument about me. Nancy called me every single name in the book. She told me I was worthless and was never going to amount to anything in life because I was pregnant! She enjoyed hearing her words become reality.

It was well known that Nancy was a miserable person. She didn't love Maliah or herself. She only cared about one thing. Money. It was evident because Maliah's dad was big on money. He had lots of it but no woman to spoil. Nancy knew this and decided to give herself to him, and took his love for her for granted. 

The only reason she had Maliah was to keep that poor man to herself! She treated Maliah like pure shit. She called her out of her name and told her things like she was going to be dead like her dad. I witnessed this all and even had Maliah cry on my chest from it. I knew Maliah didn't know her worth. Without her, Nancy would have been starving and still freeloading off of others.

Maliah was her meal ticket.

It made me sometimes wonder if Maliah took after her mother. She surrounded herself with money hungry women, excluding myself and Pam. She was rude to others and even made some people feel beneath her. I knew before we began hanging back out, she mentioned a Kym.

Kym was a ho. I knew this from Michael. He told me how she went from concert to parties to houses, searching for a dude to get money out of. I never met her personally but Maliah seemed to like her. I didn't know what she seen or maybe they were just alike. Maybe.

"I know you like Maliah but you can't trust everyone. You can't tell me she took no part in her mom's dislike towards you. Her mom has put so much stuff in her head. There's no telling how crazy that child is. You know them babies see things we don't. Maybe my adorable grand daughter sees through dishonest people." Momma picked Lasia up, who was smiling wide.

Maliah could be trusted. She knew me way too long. We had too much history. I loved her like she was family and vice versa. We told one another everything. She had cried on my shoulder and I had cried on hers when things had gotten too rough. We loved each other too much to ever betray one another. That's one person who would have me regardless.

Amare walked into kitchen with his friend. "Bye, ma."

"You leaving already, BJ?" Mama gave him a hug and he nodded. It was obvious he was close enough to Mom to be calling her Ma. Amare and him had to be friends for a minute, plus he looked real familiar.

The doorbell rang and in walked a tall, masculine boy. He had his back turned to the living room waving to Daddy then he turned into the kitchen. My heart almost dropped to the pit of my stomach. There was no way in hell that he had gotten this fine. The years had treated him so well. Brandon's eyes fell on me.

"Hey, Brandon. This is my daughter Lainni. Lainni, this is BJ's brother Brandon." Momma introduced us as we looked at one another. His smooth skin was now covered with a couple tattoos. That smile. It was so bright, boyish, and it fit him. I liked it a lot. The new him was more refreshing.

"We know one another." He gave me a hug and I smiled. "Miss Hollywood forgot all about me."

"No, you look good," I complemented. He spun me around and I laughed, running my hand over my dress to keep it down.

"Thank you. You look good, too, Lainni." he replied.

Suddenly, an idea went off in my head.

"Do you still have the same number?"

"No, let me get yours and we can keep in touch." He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to me. I put my number in it and gave him one last hug before he and BJ left.

Mama and Amare eyed me as I sat back down, peeling an orange. The two of them looked at one another then back at me. "Oh, you look so good," Mama mocked me. Amare laughed lightly and I rolled my eyes.

"No, Michael is my man. I can have friends. I just have a great idea."

"Oh, yeah? Well, he's single, you know?" Amare added in, "But Michael is my nigga."

Mama nudged him.

Pam, Maliah, and I sat at my counter with wine coolers in our hands! I invited Pam over so I could tell the two of them my idea. Maliah was already anxious to hear the good news, plus Pam wanted her apology from Maliah for allowing Montreal to call her old.

"Pam, I know I never made the best decisions. Lai accepted my apology for not listening to you two. Montreal was never really the right one for me. It took me another ass whooping to realize that love doesn't black your eye. I apologize for not listening to the two of you and putting you both through so much trouble."

Pam nodded her head. She replied, "Thank you. I don't hold grudges so we're good. I just want you to focus on yourself and not a man. Let them come to you and you stop just jumping into relationships because they offer them. All men are different with different issues. Take the time to get to know him before you decide to start giving your all to him. Be patient, your time is coming."

"She's right," I added, "That's why I'm bringing you a new friend by the name of Brandon. He's sweet, has one younger brother that lives with him, and is very handsome. I'm not rushing you into it with him but let him take you out at least."

Maliah sighed. "Job?"

"Has one."

"Any kids?" she asked.

"Zero."

She smiled. "It's a date."

Pam threw her hands up. "Are you two for real right now? This woman just broke up with a NBA player that was abusive. Lai, I would expect more from you. You know that she is not in the best condition to be going on dates. Give your heart some time to heal before you decide to just jump into love again. He has all the right requirements, but this is going to take time."

Maliah chuckled. "So? I'm over Montreal. Hook me up with Brandon. If this doesn't work, then I will give it some time and try to analyze it all. Is that fine with you, Pam?"

"It doesn't matter to me. She doesn't care either. My ring is right here and Lai's man is out working." Pam shrugged. I laughed as Maliah threw a chip at Pam.