Secrets

  LeAnna Hayes

  Copyright © 2014 by LeAnna Hayes.

  ISBN:

  Softcover

  978-1-4990-7656-1

  eBook

  978-1-4990-7655-4

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

  Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

  Rev. date: 05/29/2021

  Xlibris

  844-714-8691

  www.Xlibris.com

  671852

  Contents

  Eboni

  Tyrell

  Arikah

  Jared

  Brittany

  Eboni

  Cassandrah

  Rashidah

  Eboni

  Tyrell

  Tyrah

  Jared

  Arikah

  Marcus

  Rashidah

  Bridget

  Quardarius

  Arikah

  Tyrell

  Tyrell

  Tyrah

  Quardarius

  Tyrell

  Arikah

  Jared

  EBONI

  “DAMN, IT SURE is hot out here. I wish I had a way to get the beach or to a cookout, but I don’t have my car, it broke down, and I won’t have it fixed until tomorrow, but I can’t get it out until next week when I get paid. All of my friends are working on this beautiful day, so no fun time for us today because they going to be too tired when they do get off this evening. Tyrell, I need a favor from you. I need some more money so I can catch the bus to pick up some groceries.”

  “Damn, Eboni, I just gave you money yesterday to go over Sheryl’s house.”

  “Well, that was yesterday. Today is a brand-new day, so are you going to give some more or not? If not, I’ll just call Brittany to come and get me to get the groceries since you want to be an asshole.”

  “I don’t want to hear your nagging today, Eboni, I just wish you would understand that I’m making money to provide for me and you, but you still want to spend money on nonsense shit, and it’s beginning to get ridiculous.”

  “Tyrell, I’m sorry that I make you feel like I’m taking advantage of your money, but it’s not that at all. I’m trying to enjoy my life while I can because you never know when your time is up, am I right or wrong?”

  “Look, baby, I know what you are trying to do, but I don’t work for nothing.”

  “But you’re forgetting I work too. It’s not just you that has a job. I can’t believe you right now. I’m busting my ass wide the fuck open, and so do you, but when I’m broke, needing money or a ride, you change on me. It’s like you don’t be asking me for money and I be kind enough to give it to you like always.”

  “Eboni, it’s not when I get paid I be having other things to do.”

  “Like what, please tell, because the only thing I see that you be getting is weed, nothing else, and paying the bills I do, so basically it’s like you don’t do shit.”

  “Eboni Monae Monroe, why the fuck are you saying shit like that? I love you. I’m not that type of guy anymore. I’ve changed for you, but you’re too damn stupid to see it. I’ve done everything, even going out buying your personal items and high-ass meds you be taking, so therefore, don’t say shit else about me not shit for you.”

  “Rell, look, now that I think about it, you have changed, and I’ll apologize for jumping down your throat about not being good enough for me, but now I’m starting to see how good you are to me, and I love you so much, Rell.”

  “Eboni, come here real quick, I got a surprise for you.”

  Eboni ran downstairs to find Tyrell wearing an all-white suit with a rose in his hand. She asked, “What’s this for? What did I do to deserve this?”

  Tyrell took Eboni by her hands and put his index finger across her firm lips and told her, “Shh, let me talk. You are the most beautiful woman I know, and when I first looked at you, I knew you were the one for me, and at first I was very skeptical about you until I got to know you, and everything else is history between us, and after all, we’ve been through enough. I don’t want nobody else but you. But I want to know, Eboni Monae Monroe, will you marry me?”

  Eboni just stared at the ring until she heard Tyrell clear his throat, and she took him by the back of his head, bent him down, and told him “Yes, I would love to marry you, honey,” and they embraced in a kiss.

  He told her, “Now do you believe that I’m a changed man?”

  “Yeah, but putting a ring on it doesn’t mean you’ve completely changed. It’s the way you act from this day forward.”

  Tyrell slapped Eboni on the ass and told her, “Go into the kitchen.”

  She said, “For what?”

  He told her, “Because there’s something good to eat in there, waiting to be cooked.”

  Eboni decided before going to bed that she and Rell were going to call their family and friends to tell them about their engagement and how beautiful the engagement was. Eboni called her mom first, and her mom told her “Congratulations” and that her next step should be a baby. She told her mom “Good night” and that she loved her. They both hung up their phones.

  Eboni’s next call wasn’t going to be so pleasant because it was her childhood friend Brittany London. Eboni and Brittany have been friends for almost twenty-two years and haven’t told a soul their secrets. Eboni called Brittany and told Brittany, “I have something to tell you.”

  Brittany said, “Hope you’re not pregnant.”

  Eboni said, “No, I’m not pregnant, but I am engaged.”

  “Why the fuck he put a ring on you for?”

  Eboni said, “What you mean why? Look here, you’re just jealous of me.”

  “No, it’s not that, Eb, you’re hiding a deep, dark secret from this man, and he needs to know.”

  “Brittany, look, it’s like this, I didn’t call you to have this conversation. You better be glad that he’s asleep because I don’t want him to know about my secret until I’m ready to tell him about it, if that’s okay with you now. I have to go, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  TYRELL

  “YO, BRO, GUESS what I just did.”

  “Yo, what you do?” Marcus asked Rell.

  “I put a ring on it, man.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, man? That bitch ain’t what you think she may be, man. I’m telling almost every guy in this town done had that, and they ran trains on her and everything.”

  “Marcus, look, I just called to tell you this, and you are my brother. We don’t have nobody but each other, and you dogging my lady’s name too. You know what, I’m going to ask her about this shit because I’m not going to let her play me as no motherfucking fool.”

  “Well, Rell, it’s like this, don’t go too hard on her because she probably figure that you wouldn’t find out, but just ask to make sure she tells you the truth. If you need me, I’m here, bro, holla.”

  “Bye.”

  “Tyrell, you sure is looking good tonight.” Tonya went to him and rubbed his arm.

  “Look, Tonya, I’m your sister’s man. I don’t know why you are trying to push up on me. I don’t want your ass, I have a woman.”

  “Yeah, a woman who is holding some things you need to know about before proceeding with this engagement.”

  “Tonya, what the fuck are you talking about? Eboni don’t have any secrets, we tell each other everything. She wouldn’t hide anything from me, or are you telling me to watch my back because you want me?”

  “Look, boo, I’m just giving you the benefit of the doubt. The bitch ain’t who she say she is. Trust I know, that’s my damn sister, I should know, right?”

  Tyrell called Eboni and told her to meet him back at the house because he had something on his mind that he needed to tell her before they moved forward.

  Tyrell arrived at the house eleven minutes before Eboni did, so when she got in, he was sweating.

  She asked him, “Where have you been?”

  He said, “Nowhere, here, why?”

  Eboni said, “Because you are sweating.”

  “Well, when you get yourself together, come sit next to me so I can see how you went and rub your feet.”

  Eboni put her bags and keys down and took off her shoes and lay back so Tyrell could massage her feet.

  Tyrell said, “Well, I ran into your sister today, and she was telling me that you ain’t the one for me and how I should’ve checked your background before putting a ring on it.”

  “What the fuck, are you serious right now? She told you this shit? And what did you say? I hope you told this bitch that we was good and we tell each other everything.�

��

  “Yeah, babe, I told her that, but she still told me to check with you about whatever there is you supposedly be holding in.”

  “Rell, I’m not holding anything back from you. I’m good, we’re good, it’s just that I’m scared because people keep filling your ears up about something that isn’t even happening.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on with people and their lies these days.”

  “Well, baby, we’ll just take it one day at a time because this is going to be a long ride as you can see. Just know that we’re going to get married and that all that matters is just us two, baby,” and they embraced in a passionate kiss.

  ARIKAH

  “JARED, I NEED a favor, can you come here?”

  “What you need, baby?”

  “Can you help me out of this chair? I hate it, and I told you to get rid of it.”

  “So if you knew you couldn’t fit in it anymore, why the hell did you try to fit in for? That was just dumb of you.”

  “Oh, shut up, Jared, and help me up, will you please.”

  “Sure, honey, anything for you. If you knew the chair was broken, why would you sit in it anyway? That just dumb on your behalf. But you know what, people are jealous of us.”

  “Well, how do you know that they are jealous?”

  “Look, baby, I know because of the way they be sticking their noses up at you when we be passing by.”

  “Well, maybe it’s just women that you’ve slept with, and now they see me, they want you back. Have you ever thought of that, huh?”

  “No, honey, I haven’t, but I haven’t slept with nobody but you through our whole relationship. I just hope we can be like Eboni and Tyrell, happy.”

  “So why would you want to be like them for? We are happy.”

  “Yeah, we are, but I want that extreme happiness.”

  “Well, you have the right to do that in front of you, baby. I love you and I’m not letting you go, do you hear me?”

  “Yes, I hear you, baby, I love you too. Have you heard from them today?”

  “No, I haven’t heard from them today, why you ask?”

  “Oh, nothing, I was just asking because there’s a rumor going around saying that Eboni has a deep, dark secret that she’s hiding from Tyrell. But he doesn’t know. Do you know about this?”

  “No, I don’t know the secret, but I have heard about the rumor. I hope it’s not true because he just got engaged to her.”

  “Oh yeah, me either.”

  “So when do you think you’re going to put a ring on it?”

  “Well, honestly, I don’t know, baby, because I don’t want to get too wrapped up into you and then we end up getting a divorce.”

  “Jared, I’m ready to get married, baby. I just feel it in my heart that we’re going to be together forever.”

  “Well, I don’t feel the same way you do. I’m just letting you know now. I love you dearly, but I’m not ready to settle down.”

  “Damn, Jared, I wish you would’ve let me know this before we moved in.”

  “Look, baby, I never said we wasn’t, just not right now, baby, that’s all.”

  “Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know. Now my whole night is fucked up because of what you just said. Dammit, Jared, I hate you for this.”

  JARED

  “MAN, WHAT’S UP, yo? I haven’t heard from you in a minute what’s good. I heard you got engaged.”

  “Hell yeah, man, you should put a ring on it before somebody else does.”

  “I’m not worried about that happening because she’s too classy for another man to take care of her, so I’m not going to get married to her, no way. I might as well let her know.”

  “Why you not marrying her?”

  “I’m not marrying, Ty, because I’m in love with another woman, and the other woman is her sister, Lauren.”

  “What the fuck, why would you move her in knowing your true feelings for her sister?”

  “Man, I wasn’t thinking. I sure wasn’t now that I think about it. Ty, look, I love Arikah, don’t get me wrong, but she’s spending too much of my money, and I’m behind bills, and all she wants to do is shop.”

  “I love Eboni, and I don’t care if she were hiding something from me, but I thank God that we don’t have these types of issues in our relationship. I just hope you can get up the nerve to tell her because you don’t want to be walking around here with a lot on your mind, you know what I’m saying?”

  “Yeah, Ty, I know what you saying. I just don’t know how to tell her. I hope she forgive me for this, but if I was her, I wouldn’t because I’ve put her through so much over these five years we’ve been together.”

  “Look, Jay, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later on. My old lady just stepped in, so tell Arikah I said hey, and hold your head up. Hell, shit do be happening.”

  “Yeah, thanks, man, for listening to me.”

  “I just got off the phone with Tyrell, and he made me realize that if you got something strong, you hold on to it, but, Arikah, there’s something I have to tell you, and I don’t know how you’re going to take my news.”

  “Jared, I don’t have time for nobody’s secrets, especially yours, and we just moved in together, baby, don’t do this to me now. I don’t want to go to bed with this heartache, please, baby, I’m begging you.”

  He wiped her tears and told her, “Arikah, look, you know I love you, right?”

  She said yes through sobs.

  He said, “Well, the truth is, I’m not in love with you. I’m in love with your sister, Lauren, and she supposed to be on her way over here to see me, and she doesn’t know that I’ve moved you in here.”

  “So why the fuck am I here with you if you’re fucking my sister, huh? Tell me that!”

  “I’m sorry, Arikah, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “You didn’t mean for what to happen—moving me in and lying to my face or being with my sister and making us both look like some dummies?”

  “Arikah, baby, it’s not like that. I need for you to understand, I was just starting to fall for you.”

  “Oh, really, is there anything else you want to say to me? Because I’m about to get my shit and some of yours and move the fuck out.”

  “Arikah, don’t you do this to me.”

  “No, Jared, you done this to yourself. I can’t believe you did this. My own sister, damn. Who else you fucking in my family? Tell me now so I can go and blast them too”

  “Arikah, calm down. Damn, it’s not that.”

  “Oh, it’s not that serious, you fucking my sister. It’s that serious to me, whether you know it or not. Damn, this shit hurt so bad, man, you just don’t know.”

  Arikah packed up all her things and some of his, like she said, and she left him there in the doorway, crying.

  BRITTANY

  “I LOVE YOU, MARCUS, I really do, but you’re not showing the one that I fell in love with five years ago, and yeah, do you know Tyrell and Eboni got engaged a couple of weeks ago? And I was wondering, when will I get mine?”

  “Look, Brit, it’s like this, I’m going to keep it real with you. I’ve been cheating on you for the past two years of our relationship, and it was with your mother.”

  “What the fuck did you just say to me? You cheated on me with whom again? My mother? Man, what the fuck is wrong with you! Damn, you have some serious issues.”

  “I don’t have any issues, it was just that you wasn’t giving me no pussy, so I had to do what I had to do.”

  “Yeah, you could’ve, but not with my own damn mother. I don’t know what to do now that you done slept with her.”

  “No, you don’t have to move out. I’ll just leave. I don’t want no more conflict going on between the two of us, so just tell the kids Daddy loves them and I’ll see them soon.”

  “Marcus, look, baby, it was an accident. I don’t want you to move out knowing we have kids together. I just wish that I could’ve satisfied you the way that you wanted it so you wouldn’t have went out and found somebody else.”

 

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