Excerpt from Neva Saw It Comin’

What happened to Rachael’s mother? Will Kayla come back and stir up more trouble? Will Raven and Imani find luck in their love lives? Read NEVA SAW IT COMIN’ to find out what happens next to the SistaGirlz!

“I wish I could find one faithful man!” my sister Imani lamented as she sulked in the passenger seat of my 2008 Chevy TrailBlazer. Just moments before, she and I caught her boyfriend, Vincent Wheeler, at his apartment with another woman between his legs.

“Damn that!” I nearly screamed as I started the ignition. “No woman should go through this hell! I wish any man that cheats on me drops dead in the other woman’s pussy!”

I smirked as I saw Vincent’s half naked body in my rearview mirror as he shouted Imani’s name. Just as Vincent was joined by his female companion, I yelled out the window as I peeled out of the parking lot.

“Watch your back cuz if I ever see you around my sister, I’ll fuck you up!”

“RAVEN!” Imani exclaimed as a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Sudden weather changes in St. Louis didn’t faze me or my driving skills. Instead, I braced myself for the thunder. Not from the storm but from Imani! “How could you say such a thing?!?”

“Because this isn’t the first time this has happened to either one of us not to mention countless others, both male and female. I mean REALLY?!? Is it that hard to be faithful to one person these days?” I inquired as a roll of thunder echoed over us. It was at least a decibel lower than my sister!

“That doesn’t mean you should wish harm on someone,” Imani stated as she turned on my car stereo. “Remember what goes around…”

“Comes around,” I finished, gently swatting Imani’s hand as I turned the radio to Foxy 95.5FM to listen to The Michael Baisden Show. With a raised eyebrow and instantly piqued interest in what my sister was implying, I asked, “So are you saying that you cheated on Vincent?”

“No!” Imani blushed as much as a mocha skinned sista could. “I mean that what you put out comes back to you and because I was faithful in my relationships, including with Vincent, the Lord will send me the man that’s right for me.”

Holding back a giggle at Imani’s Pollyanna attitude, I couldn’t help saying, “But I thought Vincent was your ‘man sent from God’. Are you telling me you were supposed to be cheated on?”

“Raven, you’re twisting my words,” Imani huffed.

Seeing that I was upsetting my sister, I dropped the subject and instead focused on the radio show. And wouldn’t you know that today’s topic was about cheating mates!

I still wish a man would dare to cheat on me and think he’ll get away with it!

Lightning flashed simultaneously as thunder rolled overhead. Deftly, I navigated the chaotic St. Louis traffic to guide us safely to my favorite Steak ‘n Shake location.

“It’s my own fault,” Imani said quietly, looking out of the passenger side window.

I didn’t respond until seconds later when we paused at a red light. “How is it your fault, Imani? Did you make him put that skank between his legs with her head all buried up in his lap?!”

My sister looked at me and rolled her eyes, no doubt at my crass choice of words. “I shouldn’t have shown up unannounced.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?!?” I shrieked as my anger resurfaced. I nearly peeled out of the intersection the moment the light changed to green.

“Raven! Do you have to use profanity?!?” Imani exclaimed in disdain.

“Look, you are only a few minutes older than me so quit trying to be Mother!” I snapped back. “And all this hostility you’re throwing at me needs to be directed at Vincent’s cheatin’ ass!”

After a deep breath, Imani apologized. “I know my feelings are misdirected. It’s not your fault that Vincent had another woman at his place today. Forgive me?”

Pulling into the Steak ‘n Shake lot, I accepted my sister’s apology. “All I can say is Vincent is damn lucky to have had you because his tires would’ve been hella flat not to mention he’d have a few busted windows by now if he was my man!” I said before humming Jazmine Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows” while pretending to bust the windows on my windshield.

Imani smiled sweetly. “I’ll be sure to keep you at the top of my prayer list, Sis.”

As we entered the restaurant, you would’ve thought it was a scene from Cheers when the whole bar shouts out “Norm!” except we heard “Raven!” Whenever my office did a lunch run, whoever had the best coupons won and most of those times it was my best friend Monique Clifton with her ever present Steak ‘n Shake coupons. She and I used the absence from the office not only as an opportunity to get away from our desks, but also to get some midday flirting in. Who knew fry cooks could be so damn sexy!

Moments after Imani and I sat ourselves in my favorite booth, our waitress came to take our orders.

“Welcome to Steak ‘n Shake. I’m Aisha and I’ll be your server this afternoon,” she said to Imani.

Looking up from her menu, Imani replied, “I need a few minutes but in the meantime, I’ll take a cherry Coke, no ice.”

“Sure thing,” Aisha said before turning to me. “Your usual, Raven?”

“Put my food order in with hers but I’ll take my shake now,” I smiled. “Thanks Eesh.”

“No prob, Ray,” she smiled back.

Looking dumbfounded, Imani watched as Aisha walked away. “She didn’t even wait for you to tell her what kind of shake you wanted!”

Chuckling, I stated, “Imani, as much as I eat here, I wouldn’t be surprised if they started preparing my meal the minute we walked in and had it finished before we sat down in this booth!”

“Oh!” Imani blushed as Aisha returned with our drinks.

“Ready to order?” Aisha smiled attentively at Imani after placing her drink in front of her.

As my sister ordered her lunch, her cell phone rang. Imani sighed in exasperation after looking at the caller ID display.

“Vincent?” I asked without looking up from my banana mocha side by side shake.

“Yes,” she replied flatly. Imani’s phone chirped to let her know that she had a voicemail message. “I’m not in the mood to deal with him right now. Ray, since my car is going to be in the shop for another week, I’ll need you to go back with me to get my things.”

“Of course, Sis,” I said patting her hand.

We ate our late Sunday afternoon lunch and chatted about work, men and our mom, all in between Vincent’s phone calls, voicemails and text messages. Eventually, I reached across the table and turned off Imani’s phone.

“Raven, what am I doing wrong?” asked my sister as she pushed away her half empty plate.

“The only thing you’re doing wrong is thinking that you are doing something wrong!” I replied. “Up to this point, has Vincent done or said anything to make you think he would cheat on you?”

“No,” Imani said, frowning as she looked out the window just as the sun’s rays broke through the grey clouds above.

“So why would he suddenly do this? Knowing you have access to his apartment and can walk in at any moment, why would Vincent cheat on you at his place?” I asked, against my better judgment, considering that I had no idea why Vincent would be so foolish!

“I don’t really know why, Ray,” Imani said turning her gaze toward me. The pain in her eyes made me want to go back to Vincent’s and make him hurt as bad as my sister was feeling right now. I tried to keep the rest of our conversation on lighter fare but Imani’s thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

In an effort to change the subject, I inquired about my sister’s writing.

“Are you still doing spoken word at Legacy?” I asked.

“Not lately,” Imani half smiled. “With everything being so crazy at work, it’s been hard to settle down long enough to write but I keep my notebook and pen nearby at all times.”

“Sounds like me,” I said as I reached into my purse for my writing essentials: a pen and a mini-notebook. As I flashed them for Imani, I imitated the credit card commercial. “I never leave home without them!”

It was nice to hear my sister’s laugh.

Later that evening as I prepared for bed, I received a text message from an unexpected source.

BSTJ87: Hey Beautiful. Whatcha doin?

“What the hell?” I said, looking at the cell phone.

BLACKBIRD: Nuthin. Goin 2 bed.

BSTJ87: Can I be your pillow?

Sighing in annoyance, I waited a minute before replying as I thought back to the last time I’d seen Brian St. James. While he seemed to be happy with our Booty Call arrangement, I was at a point in my life where I needed more than the occasional touch of a man and instead desired the security of a stable and faithful relationship. Brian didn’t act like he wanted a full time girlfriend so we parted ways.

BLACKBIRD: No time 4 games. U know what I want. U’re not ready.

BSTJ87: Who says I’m not?

I couldn’t believe I actually got excited from his response!!

BLACKBIRD: Don’t play Brian

I’d been messing around with Brian for the past couple of years. Since he didn’t act like he wanted a serious relationship, he was the ideal Maintenance Man for me while I was in between boyfriends. Brian was respectful of any situation I was in but no sooner than I’d broken up with my l’amour du jour, any time I got that itch, Brian was there to scratch it! Eventually, I wanted more than just casual sex and, compared to the ones before him, I knew that Brian was the right man for me. But, being the intelligent sista that I am, I wasn’t about to waste my time convincing Brian if he wasn’t already on the same page!

Been there, done that. Not playing that game anymore just to get hurt again.

BSTJ87: Raven, I need you

“You need me?” I said quietly aloud. I got warm shivers from reading those words!!

Could Brian be just as ready as I am to be in a committed relationship?

BSTJ87: You still there?

BLACKBIRD: Yes

BSTJ87: Can I come over tonight?

BLACKBIRD: 2moro’s betta

BSTJ87: After work?

BLACKBIRD: Yes

BSTJ87: See you tomorrow Beautiful

Grinning, I slipped into my queen sized bed with thoughts of a real relationship with Brian.

“I wonder if Brian is as good outside the bedroom as he is in it,” I said to myself as I settled into bed, preparing to let the TV lull me to sleep as ideas for our first date popped into my brain.

“He said ‘Raven I need you’,” I said as I re-read our text conversation. Finally, I had hope for Brian and me.

Shaking my head, making my locs swing back and forth, I came back to reality.

Just because he said he needs you doesn’t mean he’s not talking about sex. That was Randy’s line, too, remember?

Damn! It’s a good thing my conscience kicked in! I was liable to do the same thing with Brian that I did with my ex-lover, Randy Boorman.

No more half-assed relationships, Raven. Either you’re the only woman or you’re nobody’s woman!

Smiling to myself, I said, “Amen to that!”