Nicki kept looking in the mirror at the purple hickey on her neck and frowning. She looked in the mirror at him as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck and she looked at him through squinted eyes.
"I can't meet my mother in law like this."
"Man, we grown."
"Faree, I can't even cover it with make up because I had to cover the other ones for the show."
"I got my marks, and I don't care."
"You just don't understand."
"If we leave out the door now, I'll buy you the make up stuff, just let's go."
"Alright."
She replied grabbing her purse after he let her go. He looked off to the side then reached over to the nightstand by his room door and grabbed his keys. He stood over by the door and let her walk out first. She walked passed him and out of the bedroom heading for the stairs.
"Where we going to get this stuff?"
"At the mall."
"Really?"
"Really. You said.."
"Alright, yo."
She rolled her eyes at his sudden attitude that whole morning. He usually wasn't in this bad of a mood unless he was nervous or had a bad night. She knew he hadn't had a bad night which caused her to smile as she stared at him as he picked up his wallet off the sofa and followed her out the front door.
"It's going to be alright."
"Yeah, right."
He replied locking up the door, she turned around and looked at him. He stared back at her with his eyebrows furrowed. She rolled her eyes and stomped off the porch and towards his car. He shrugged it off as he walked to the car and unlocked it. She got in and sat watching him take his time as he pulled his phone out and dialed someone. He stood with his arms resting on the hood of the car as his phone rang on speaker. She reached over and tugged on his pants leg. He looked down into the car and looked at her. She patted the seat and rolled her eyes when he went back to the top.
"Jerk."
-
Nicki giggled as she applied the make up to her neck on the new red hickey he had just put on her side boob that was out. They were in the hospital family restroom and he couldn't keep his hands to himself. She pointed at him before puckering her lips to meet his.
"Stop."
"Alright."
"Did you get her gifts like I said?"
"Yeah, I got them sat outside the door before we go in."
"Okay, let's go pick up the roses before.."
"They're already up there. Come on."
She smiled as he held his hand out to her.
"The small things count."
"I'm glad they do."
He smirked pulling her close to his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Nicki placed her hand on his chest and caressed his abs through his shirt. They walked around the corner from where his mom's room was. She smiled seeing their gifts on the outside of the door. She looked at him when she heard him sigh loudly.
"It's going to be okay."
She smiled up at him then reached down and grabbed the gift bags. She handed him the flowers and the small bag from Tiffany's. He stood staring at the door as he whispered to himself. She rubbed his back with her friend hand as she pushed the knob down and egged him in. He looked down at her before pushing the door open to his mother staring at him. She rolled her eyes then looked at the TV.
"Hey, mom.. I brought a friend."
"Who?"
She looked interested until Nicki walked in with a wife smile and waving her hand which am most immediately stopped when their eyes met.
"Who is that?"
"Nicki, my girlfriend."
"Where is Leslie?"
"Mom.."
"What's that in her hands?"
She asked not acknowledging her. Nicki was upset as she passed the elderly woman her stuff. She pulled her hand away as soon as she placed it in her hand. She stepped back and frowned looking over at her. She pulled out the change of new clothes, shoes, tennis bracelet and smell goods that Safaree had told Nic she liked. She placed them back in the bag then reached out for Faree's gift. He handed it to her and she smiled at the roses. She looked at him and he pointed to Nicki, who was looking away from her as she held tight to his hand.
"Why you here?"
"We need to talk and.. My girl thought it'd be.."
"Your little girlfriend had to talk you into coming to see me."
"I just..."
"You weren't allowed in here."
She stated coldly as she looked back towards the TV. He walked over to her bed and sat on the edge of it and looked over her. He grabbed her hand and rubbed it in his big hands and kissed it.
"Mom, I love you. I just want you to be happy for me and rebuild our relationship before all of this."
"Why did you keep the house? Why?"
"That's what I wanted to talk about, I'm going to rent it out and have the checks sent to you... It's the least the house could do for you..."
"Really? After all these years..."
"And I only kept it because this was his home, he did us dirty, but he made a living out of this house for us even while doing his dirt. I'm sorry."
"It's fine... You were a child.."
She stated knowing he was apologizing for not telling her. She placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed it. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek and in return she did the same. He wanted to hug her, but he knew that would be too much. She looked over at Nicki then looked back at him.
"Why is she here?"
"I wanted her to meet you and she's my girl... Mom."
"Faree, I'll leave.. I'll meet you at the studio."
"Nic..."
"It's fine, let her go. She won't be around for long just like those girls before Leslie."
Nicki rolled her eyes as she turned to walk out. He wanted to follow her, but this was his mom. His mom watched as she left then faced Safaree who was just sitting there spaced out.
"Why you being like that?"
"She will never be Leslie.. You let a good girl go because of mistakes."
"She cheated on me..."
"With one..."
"With several guys.. Over hundred guys."
"Safaree?"
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to break you guys bond, but you just disrespected my girl... It's almost been a year since me and her got together and I'm in love with her..."
"You just love her body... I know who she is... And she isn't a girl you marry Safaree."
"You don't know her... At all."
"I know that type of girl."
"She'll prove you wrong."
He stated becoming upset with her. She looked off mad that he was taking up for a stripper.
"And she's the one that bought you these gifts, more than what Leslie has done for you since you've been in the hospital these last two days."
"Leslie doesn't..."
"I told her the other night and she said she had stuff to do than go see you with me."
He huffed getting up.
"This why we can't have a relationship, you just as bitter as Granny was.. Can't stand to see me happy."
"She's taking you away from already."
"You never wanted me in the first place."
He replied angrily. He walked out of her hospital room and out into the hallway. He passed a few ladies and asked them had they seen Nicki and all said they hadn't. He pulled out his phone and dialed her. She answered sounding frantic.
"Baby?"
"I can't find the car."
"Where are you?"
"In the second parking garage."
"Alright."
He hung up and kept pressing the down button of the elevator. Fuck it, he thought pulling the door open to the stairs and running down them. He got to the second floor and pushed the door open and looked around for Nicki. She walked over to him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"Come on, we gone go to the studio together."
"Why doesn't she like me?"
"Can we talk about it later."
"Why are you mad?"
"It's all stupid, I shouldn't have came here."
"You don't give up on people you love, Safaree."
"You don't keep beating a dead horse, neither."
He stated which caused her to grow quiet. They sat in the car for awhile before he pulled out of the lot. He looked over to see her crying.
"Baby?"
"I never seen someone so hateful."
"It's not you..."
"We shouldn't give up on her..."
He smiled at her "we". It made him love her even more. The fact she didn't let it get in the way of what she wants. He knew she wanted for him and his mother to be cool again and hopefully accept her, but he had a feel neither would happen until she was near her last breath of air.
"We won't give up."
-
Nicki rubbed her hands together after rubbing lotion on his back. He pulled his shirt on then his suit jacket and turned towards her with her white robe on. He pushed it open and stared down at her nude body besides her black lace thong. She grabbed his chin and made him look up at her.
"Go."
"A week? Why can't you come?"
"I have business to take care of here. Have fun and kick ass."
He sighed not wanting to be away from her too long. He was going on a business trip with his boss to defend a current wrestler who was jailed for beating his ex girlfriend's face in. He had invited her to come, but she refused because while he was away, she was going to visit his mom and other sister with his sister Neeq.
"Don't eat all my food, my wife don't need to know you been here."
"She can't share... It's caring."
She smirked as he chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her neck. He kissed her lips then grabbed his suitcase and walked out the door.
~
Nicki was annoyed by Safaree's sister Sam and his mother talking like she wasn't there. Neeq was even more annoyed because they kept bringing up Leslie. She got so mad that she went off on both of them.
"You guys are so fucking annoying."
"Neeq, you not gone disrespect..."
"Girl, don't say shit to me before I catch a case on you. This is Safaree's girlfriend. That nasty bitch Leslie fucked damn near three hundred niggas before she left college. She cheated on someone we love and... Let me go. Nicki, I'll talk to you later sis."
"Um, okay..."
Nicki stammered as she collected her things also to leave. Sam grabbed her arm and walked out the door with her. Nic braced herself for more shit talk, but was surprised when she got a hug instead. She stood stuff and worried until she pulled away.
"It's finally nice to meet you.."
"Huh? You.."
"Everyone is against my mom... We all can't just attack her all at once. Look, don't let her get to you... She treated Leslie the same way."
"Why? I'm just..."
"She didn't shut you out... You're the reason her son is even trying to communicate with her.. It's a love/hate thing.. She isn't as hateful as she wants you and Safaree to believe. She misses him just as much as he yearns for her."
She hugged Nicki again then turned back to go into the room. Nicki smiled to herself then walked down to the gift shop and got her future mother in law, roses, a card, a notepad, a pen and some chocolate. She got a gift bag and a balloon to go with it. She placed all the things inside neatly after she wrote a letter in the front of notepad and wrote on the gift card from herself and Safaree since it was his money she spent. She walked back up to the room and it fell quiet. She saw a new lady and a man, who both mmhmmed when she came in. She placed the bag on the bed then placed the flowers in her lap.
"I hope you like it, I'll be back to see you tomorrow."
"Mhmm."
