Chapter 63: Infallible Remedy

Nicki

“Hey baby,” I kissed My’s head as I headed to the kitchen. She was in the living room on her laptop. She was so thankful when I gave it back to her because she was, in her words, dying without it.

“Hi mom!” She closed it and followed me. “So how are you and dad?” She smirked. She always gotta try to be all up in my business.

“Stay out of grown folks business,” I gave her a look. She huffed because I always tell her the same thing every time.

“I already know enough so I don’t see why you can’t tell me. I’m fourteen and I’m going to high school this school year. I think I’m grown enough,” she pouted.

“Try me again in five years,” I smiled.

“Auntie Nicki can I have a cookie?” Alexis asked when she ran in.

“You already had one,” I shook my head. I turned for a second and she tried to be sneaky. She climbed on the counter and grabbed the box but I turned around to grab her.

“You’re such a bad little kid,” I joked.

“Mylan said I was a b-,” she started.

“Beautiful angel!” Mylan cut in and cut her eyes at Alexis.

“Yeah that,” she mumbled. I looked in between them and shook my head. The girls were still sleeping but these two seemed to be wide awake.

“Your aunts and cousin want to go to the mall so can you babysit little miss Alexis?” I asked her.

“How much am I getting paid?” She held out her hand.

“I’ll shorten your punishment,” I reasoned with her.

“You’re in trouble?” Alexis looked at her.

“Deal,” My ignored her and I held in my laugh. She always gets in trouble with me. I just had to prepare myself to see Channing.

Drake 





I walked into the kitchen and saw Nicki washing dishes. “Where’s My?” I asked. She’s always doing something around here.

“She went next door with Alexis to hang out with Nyra,” she turned around and smiled at me. I walked over to her and kissed her.

“Are you ready for today?” I knew that she was scared about his reaction but I’m going with her so she shouldn’t be afraid.

“What if he tries something?” She whispered.

“I’ll be right by your side Onika. You already know that I can beat his ass,” I pulled her close.

“That’s what I’m scared of. What if you take it too far Aubrey?” She questioned. I didn’t even know how to answer her because she’s right.

“I won’t snap unless he does something to force me,” I shrugged.

“And how am I supposed to calm you down when you get like that? I’ve never seen you that mad and I don’t want to but I did see what you did to him,” she’s never seen how angry I really could get.

“What do you want me to do?” I was out of choices right about now.

“What if Mere came with us?” I shut that question down real quick.

“No, I refuse to let her come with us,” I shook my head.

“You won’t let her come because you know that she can stop you from going too far?” She scrunched up her face.

“No, that’s not why. I don’t want her to have flashbacks of what used to happen to her. I was so close to killing her ex and that’s the angriest I’ve gotten in my life. I don’t want her to experience that again nor do I want you,” I knew that my anger could get the best of me sometimes. “I’ll call her sister, Nessa. She can help in case it gets to that point,” I pecked her lips before going to call her. Nicki had a point because I don’t think that I’d trust me and Channing in the same room either.





Nicki

“Just stay downstairs unless something happens,” I told Drake and Nessa.

“How will I know if something happened if I’m down here?” He narrowed his eyes at me.

“Aubrey calm your ass down. Just let her breathe a little. I’ll make sure he stays down here but if I hear something, I’m letting him go,” Nessa looked at me and I nodded. I walked upstairs and went to the room that Channing and I were staying. He was on his phone when I walked in.

“Hey baby,” he stood up and hugged me.

“We need to talk Channing,” I sighed.

“Did you tell that nigga that I will kick his ass next time I see him?” He eyed me.

“Channing, I just don’t think this is working out anymore. It seems like were two different people than we were in Paris,” I blurted out.

“I know your ass isn’t trying to break up with me. You wouldn’t be that stupid,” he let out a dry chuckle before towering over me.

“I don’t even know you anymore. You’ve changed ever since we’ve gotten here. You’ve been putting your hands on me and that’s the last straw,” I shook my head.

“So you’re just gonna be a whore and go back to that nigga?” He looked down at me.

“I am in no way, shape, or form a whore. I’ve been celibate for six years Channing!” I pushed him out of my face.

“I bet you been getting dick from other niggas. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are a whore considering that you were pregnant,” he taunted me. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down but the tears flew down my eyes. He hit a trigger point and I grew angry.

“Shut the fuck up Channing!” I snapped.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” He pushed me away from him. My back hit the wall hard and I heard footsteps running up the stairs. Just as Channing was about to hit me, Aubrey stood in the doorway.

“I wish you would. I really wish you would because I swear to god that I will kill you right now if you try,” he threatened. Channing moved his hand back and went to slap me but Aubrey tackled him to the ground. I stood there in disbelief as Aubrey attacked him. I have never seen him like this and it was terrifying. All I saw was blood and Nessa rushed into the room.

“Aubrey!” She pulled him off.

“I’m gonna kill him,” he tried to hit him again but she held him back.

“He’s not Antonio! Don’t make the same mistake twice!” She pleaded with him. He looked back at Channing and it seemed like he was thinking hard about it. “You’ve stopped Nicki before she could ever get to the point where Mere did. I promise you that this is not worth it. You’ve proven your point and you can keep Nicki safe. You have My and Nicki to think about. Think about you family before you do this,” as soon as she said that he looked over at my fearful expression. He sighed before getting up but he grabbed Channing with him. He was border lining unconsciousness so Aubrey made sure to kick his ass out of Nae’s house along with his things. I needed a minute to take in what just happened. He walked towards me and Nessa.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed.

“Thank you for not going too far. You have to let the past go Aubrey. Antonio is long gone and you don’t have to worry about him. Yes, Channing deserved to get his ass beaten but you didn’t have to take it that far. Mere’s over the past and you need to get over it too,” Nessa looked at him.

“You’re right,” he nodded. She hugged him and then me before she left. “I didn’t want you to see me like that,” he looked embarrassed.

“Why do you get like that? It’s like you become a whole different person,” I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t a little shaken up by this.

“Mere was in the emergency room fighting for her life because of Antonio. I never wanted to kill someone so bad in my life. That’s why I’m so protective of her. Any guy that lays his hands on a woman reminds me of him. I just go back to eight years ago and I can’t help it,” he explained.

“Well it’s over,” I walked to him and wrapped my arms around him.

“I’ll never let him hurt you again,” he kissed my head.

We went home and just cuddled on the bed. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t there,” I sighed.

“I’m never gonna leave you Nicki, I promise you that I won’t leave you. What do you think that promise ring was for?” he kissed my forehead.

“Do you still have it?” I mumbled. He got up and went into his closet and grabbed it. I sat up and smiled at the sight of it.

“I told you to never take that shit off,” he joked.

“Then put it on me,” I held out my hand. He slid the ring on my finger before kissing me. I deepened the kiss and grabbed the back of his neck. “Fuck being celibate,” I mumbled and he chuckled before picking me up.

~~~

“I still can’t believe that we got back together,” I told Cassie, Jessi, and Nae as we sat in the living room at Nae’s house.

“I’m happy for you Nic, this is exactly what you deserve,” Jessi smiled while everyone else agreed. It’s nice to have my girls encourage my relationship since they hated Channing.

“Thanks guys,” I blushed a bit at the thought of Aubrey. He still made me feel the same way that I did years ago. “So how are you?” I asked Nae. She scrunched up her face and looked over at me in confusion.

“I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be?” She questioned.

“I just haven’t seen Derrick around,” I shrugged. He usually is somewhere in this house when I come but I haven’t seen him at all.

“I broke up with him. I didn’t see the point of stringing him along. I just need some time to myself right now,” she admitted.

“Is it because of Blake?” She turned her head from me and nodded a bit.

“I just need time to clear my head. She makes shit so complicated,” she groaned. Alexis and Mylan came downstairs and sat by us.

“Can I have a cookie?” Alexis begged. She needs to stop eating all those cookies.

“You had way too many sweets. Remind me to lock them up next time My babysits you,” Cassie shot a look at My. My always gave her sweets when she would babysit.

“I never told you to let me babysit,” she held her hands up. She always hates to babysit her but she hangs out with Alexis already so I don’t see what the difference is.

“My is a fun babysitter! She teaches me so much!” Alexis exclaimed. Cassie and I looked over at Alexis curious.

“Like what?” I turned to look at her. When Mylan tells Alexis something it’s never something good or that she should know.

“She told me what a surf-,” she tried to tell us.

“Surfing in Hawaii is like,” My cut Alexis off. I know that’s a lie but I’ll let it go for now since she’s not gonna say it.

“Yeah,” Alexis nodded. I shot My a look and she just shrugged. “Can you call me Peaches!?” Alexis asked us. Mylan started coughing while Cassie looked at Alexis like she was crazy.

“Why would we do that?” She questioned cautiously.

“Because I like to get nasty,” she smiled. Mylan quickly got up and tried to go upstairs. I wish her ass would.

“Get your ass back here,” I called out. She sighed and sat back on the couch. “What else did My teach you?” I raised an eyebrow.



Drake

“Aubrey,” I felt Nicki shake me lightly. I turned and saw her sitting up on the bed. She looked so beautiful in the morning and I’ve missed this so much.

“Good morning baby,” I sat up and stretched.

“Good morning,” she pecked my lips before hopping up. “Shit,” she quickly stopped walking. I held an amused smirk on my face as she sucked her teeth. “You better not say shit,” she mumbled. We hit in a couple more round last night. I just can’t get enough of her and vice versa. She went in the bathroom and then I heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called out. Mylan walked in dangling something between her fingers. “Morning baby girl,” I got up and kissed her head.

“Morning dad,” she sighed.

“What’s wrong?” I questioned as she held up her hand. I eyed the wire and chuckled.

“My charger is broken and my phone is dead. I cannot live without my phone. Can you please drive me to the store Daddy?” She batted her eyelashes.

“You’re lucky that we’re out of milk,” I shook my head at her as Nicki walked out of the bathroom.

“Oh, what a surprise it is to find you in here,” My smirked at her.

“Mylan stay-,” Nicki started but she cut her off.

“Stay out of grown folks business. I already know that you’re back together. It’s quite obvious and I’m happy for you guys. Now you can just give me a little sibling and I’ll be fine. I prefer a little brother but I wouldn’t mind a sister,” she added in. I noticed Nicki tense up but shrugged it off. We just got back together so I can understand while talking about kids would get her tensed.

“Go get dressed, we’ll go in an hour,” I told her before she ran off.  

“Do you need anything from the store?” I asked Nicki. She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Condoms, lots and lots of condoms,” she whispered.

“You’ve missed me that much?” I chuckled.

“Buy those condoms and I’ll show you how much I’ve missed you,” she pecked my lips before going downstairs.

~~~

“Milk,” I placed it in the cart as My checked it off the list. We picked up a few more things before checking out. We put the groceries in the trunk and My went to put the cart up. I looked over and saw a guy leaning against his car talking on the phone. I eyed him a little closer and felt anger rush through my bones.

“Are we done?” My came back.

“Mylan get in the car and lock the doors,” I passed her my keys.

“What’s going on?” She always had to ask questions.

“Just get in the car Mylan,” I snapped. She sighed before getting in the car. I walked up to him as he slid his phone in his pocket. He turned and looked at me in shock. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill your ass right now?” I spoke through clenched teeth.

“Look man, it’s been eight years,” he tried to reason with me.

“It’s been six years since you put your hands on Mere,” I corrected him.

“I was on some shit. I’m not trying to relive my past right now,” he shook his head.

“I don’t give a fuck how you were six years ago! I’ve been waiting to do this for six years,” I balled my hands into fist.

“I ain’t gonna fight you,” he looked behind me for a second.

“It just makes it easier for me,” I raised my fist but I heard her voice.

“Aubrey! Don’t hit him!” I felt her hand on my fist. I turned and looked at Mere in shock.

            “What the fuck are you doing here with him?”