Page 6 of The Love Bully
“I’m not debating that, but what I do know is sometimes love is not enough to hold someone from using the person they love as a pawn. Now as I was saying, you refused the test. When Orion got the call from you that your daughter died, he felt bad because he’s a human fucking being. I mean, when he called me about it, I shed a tear. I told him to go to you and comfort you because I knew no other man would show up for your ho ass.” The shop was vested into this life lesson. Not a head was being attended to while I spoke.
“Now, this is about to go deep, and I wish you would have chilled like Morgan suggested because you could have saved yourself this embarrassment that is about to fall on your head, sweetheart.” She shifted on her feet. “Don’t look nervous now, Miss Lisa. You caused this, lil dick biter. Now when your baby girl died, Orion asked if he could spend some time alone with her. Well, Lisa, that allowed the time for the doctor to draw blood for a paternity test. See, if she was his child, she would have been covered under death benefits from his estate.”
The murmuring started as it should have. Lisa looked like she wanted to cry because she knew her ass fucked up by fucking with me. I gave her a minute to process all the information that was laid out in front of her while I pulled up something in the files on my phone.
“Lisa, did Orion tell you that he had a vasectomy in his early forties? Yeah, baby girl, he did. See, he had that procedure months after I had my hysterectomy. The only reason he had a vasectomy was, and I quote, ‘Once all chances were gone to put a baby in you, then my soldiers didn’t need fuckin’ guns. No one else was getting my good enrichment seeds,’ end quote.” My head tilted to the side.
My phone had the capability to cast on the largest television screen in the salon. I took the moment of silence to use the function. Everyone’s head turned to the screen. Lisa’s mouth dropped a little before a tear fell down her cheek.
“Now, does everyone understand today’s lesson and why you should probably take heed to it?” There was no need for me to explain what was on the screen. All of us knew what paternity test results looked like. We also knew what that zero percent probability of paternity meant too.
Chelsea was the first to speak. “Oh, I will always take heed. There is no way I’m letting anyone embarrass me like this.”
I strutted my fine ass over to Lisa. I tilted my head and got in her face. In a quiet tone, I said, “Now you know what me and Orion have known for years. See, we let you run with this narrative because what sense did it make pointing out that a deceased little girl was a bastard. You just won’t stop, though, so there you fuckin’ go. Now get the fuck out of my shop before I take these heels off and beat your ass.”
Oh, those tears fell at a rapid pace now. It looked like Morgan was halfway done with her hair. If she wanted that head done, she would have to get Morgan to come to her or get someone elseto do it. I truly hated to take it there, but you could only take but so much from an idiot without pointing out their idiocracy.
“Marsha, please tell me that girl did not do all of that only to be shamed?” Norma asked in a fit of giggles.
We were at our favorite lunch spot. Bridgette had already eaten and was asleep in her arms. The quickest way to get that baby to sleep was to get her belly full. She was no good on a full stomach.
“Norma, I didn’t want to take it there, I swear I didn’t. You know that girl has been picking at me for years. You would think that she would harass Orion, but no, she came for me. That’s how it is though. I told this nigga years ago that these bitches fuck with him just to get one up on me,” I told her. “All this bullshit is one of the main reasons I refuse to fuck with Orion now.”
Norma shook her head. “Marsha, you know that’s not fair. Orion cannot control what these heifers do. Orion can have as many women as he wants, because you claim you don’t want him. What do you want him to do? Not mess with anyone until you’re ready to give in to the apologies that he’s given you for years?”
That was exactly what I wanted. I knew it was unrealistic, but I didn’t care. All I’d ever wanted was to have Orion 100 percent to myself. I couldn’t say that I ever had that. I waved her off. “Orion won’t get another chance to hurt me.”
She shifted Bridgette in her arms to lean forward. “Marsha, after all these years, do you really think that man wants to hurt you? What I, hell, everyone sees is a man that loves you and has been trying to show you for over three decades.” She laughedwhen I rolled my eyes. “Well, shit, if you’re not going to be with him, then I have someone I want you to meet.”
It was my turn to lean forward. “Well, tell me more. Who is it?”
Before she could answer, my phone vibrated on the table. I took a moment to pick it up. My cheeks rose.
Orion:
Really Marsh! You had to blast those test results in front of the whole shop? Lol
Me:
I told you to control your bitches. She was in there antagonizing me, so I antagonized back.
Orion:
I get it love. Do what you got to do. Thank you for having my back.
Me:
I didn’t have shit. I was doing what you said. I simply bullied the bully.
A Little Earlier
The Other Side Of Town . . .
“Yeah, Pops. Those new line of edibles sold out already. Didn’t I tell you that would be a good investment?” Derrick told me from behind the counter. “The Westins are out here making money in every lane.”
I smiled at my boy’s enthusiasm. Some years ago, Derrick came to me about opening a smoke shop. I wasn’t sure about it, but I said what the fuck and funded it.All The Smokewas one of Charlotte’s premiere smoke shops. The shop did fine all by itself. Now with the addition of our own line of edibles, we were killing the game.
It was one thing to own a smoke shop, but to have your own line of edibles that actually hit on shit was another level. Oh, and it wasn’t cheap. It was a gamble, but I was happy that I jumped on it. The Westin boys’ brand was only sold atAll The Smokelocations. We had two locations and just broke ground on a third.
