Triggered (Sample)

Interlude

Chasmin turned on her back and stared up at the ceiling. Brent had been telling her for a while now to put curtains on their bedroom window, but she liked how the streetlight invaded their bedroom at night. She was a fan of darkness, but that small amount of light creeping into the room made it interesting when her body was pressed against her man. Her man wasn't home and it was after two in the morning.

Under no circumstance was it ever acceptable for a man to come into the house in the wee hours of the morning unless he had a job. Unfortunately, Brenton didn't have a job and wasn't looking for one. For what when your parents sent you a weekly allowance? It was frustrating to see and deal with. Now that he paid a good majority of the bills he felt he could do as he pleased. Chasmin didn't like that.

Chasmin tossed the blanket and climbed out of bed. The white T-shirt hit her thighs just as soon as she stood. She stretched then slowly crept over to the other side of the apartment where her baby boy was peacefully sleeping in his bed. He shared the same dark brown complexion as his parents, with his father's honey-colored eyes. Chasmin had recently started dreading his hair so his little wicks were covered with a durag.

Chasmin folded her arms as she stood in the door eyeing her son. She wanted the best life for him, and some days she felt like that life was moving further and further away from her. Every day it was a new bill or something that they needed. Especially her son. Not once did she complain about her responsibilities. Honestly, she was grateful to have them.

She had that mindset that if you complained about money, you would never have or keep any.

Chasmin walked into the room and checked her son's diaper to make sure he was still dry. Thankfully he was, so she left the room and cracked the door. Heading to the kitchen, she opened the fridge and pulled out a jar of grapes. She grabbed a few and rinsed them off before placing them in a bowl and then sitting at the table. It was December, two weeks into December to be exact and there wasn't a Christmas tree in sight.

There was no holiday spirit at all.

Keys rattling outside of the front door caught Chasmin's attention making her frown. She wanted to cause a scene, but she tried not to act out when her son was at home. Shit could get pretty crazy in her house sometimes, and hands would be thrown. She wouldn't say she was in a domestic relationship considering she threw most of the hits. However, sometimes when a nigga has you fucked up you have to show them instead of telling them.

The locks finally turned and the door attempted to open. Brenton frowned when he realized he couldn't get inside. It was almost as if something was keeping him from opening the door. His eyesight was a bit blurry from drinking, and he was growing annoyed. He didn't have time for Chasmin and her bullshit. Sleep was calling his name.

Chasmin walked over and stood near the door. She wanted Brenton to be able to see her through the crack since the door wouldn't open fully. Earlier in the day she had a latch installed because she was tired of repeating herself to Brenton about coming home at a decent hour. Now he could see that she wasn't playing.

"Why the fuck you wanna play with me?" Brenton asked eyeing her through the small slit in the door.

Chasmin shrugged carelessly popping grapes in her mouth, "My door is locked at ten. If you not here when I lock it, oh fucking well."

"I pay bills in this muthafucka!" Brenton frowned, while damn near foaming at the mouth.

"The jailhouse provides three hots and a cot but that doesn't make it the best place to be," Chasmin replied.

Brenton smacked his lips, "Come on, bae! A nigga tired and I wanna get some rest. You know I gotta take Kaapo to get a cut in the morning."

Chasmin stared at him for a moment then rolled her eyes. She tossed her bowl in the sink, finishing the last of her grapes then went over to the door to let him in. Only because he was taking their son to get a haircut in the morning. Chasmin shut it and then pushed the latch back before opening the door fully. Brenton smiled, stumbling into the house and damn near falling onto her. Chasmin frowned at the sour smell of weed mixed with cologne as it wafted through the air while Brenton shut and locked the door.

Hitting the light, Chasmin headed back to her bedroom. Brenton was hot on her heels, pulling her by the waist and pressing against her with his hard-on. He started to kiss on her neck making Chasmin cringe. She just couldn't fathom being intimate with him at the moment even if she was craving some back-breaking sex. No woman wanted a man coming home high off percs, weed, and lean humping on her and relieving himself inside of her throwing off her PH balance.

"Stop! You stink!" Chasmin fussed, pushing him off her.

Brenton sighed as they made it to the bedroom. Chasmin annoyed him so much. Between bitching about bills and what she and the baby needed, acting like she was so focused she couldn't spend any quality time with him, and not wanting to give him any pussy. When she did give him pussy it was as dry as the Sahara desert. He had to spit start it just to get it going.

However, he loved her.

Chasmin crawled into bed while Brenton struggled to remove his clothes. His shirt was the first to go. He stumbled over his feet as he attempted to kick off the Dunks, but he managed. Leaning against the bedroom wall with his eyes shut, Brenton licked his lips and stepped out of his jeans. His body fell onto the bed and he smiled in satisfaction. Brenton had never been so happy to see and feel a bed.

It didn't take him long to fall into a slumber. The drugs helped kick it off. While he slept like a baby, Chasmin laid staring at him. Her body didn't even get excited to see him anymore when he came around. She knew just like Brenton knew that the relationship was over and done with months ago. They were both just holding on to each other because they both had issues they were certain no one else would want to deal with.

However, if Brenton kept up with his bullshit Chasmin was going to leave him. She was tired. Beyond tired at this point.

Chasmin climbed out of bed. She needed to use the bathroom. Walking to the bathroom, she stepped on Brenton's jeans which held something something hard causing her to jump and grab her foot. Standing between the bathroom door and the room, she cut on the bathroom light and looked down to see what she stepped on. Her heart damn near fell on the floor as she stared at a pregnancy test displaying two lines.

Looking over at Brenton, Chasmin leaned down and stared at the test to get a better look. It was indeed a real test, with two lines meaning that the test was positive for someone being pregnant. Chasmin scratched at her ear and laughed at herself. She knew damn well this man didn't walk into her house with a pregnancy test. Who the fuck carries someone's pregnancy test in their pocket any fucking way?

Without thinking, Chasmin left the bedroom and went into the kitchen. She grabbed a knife from her knife set holder and went back into the bedroom, closing and locking the door. Walking over to the bed, she pressed the knife to Brenton's chin causing his eyes to slowly open. It took a minute for them to adjust, especially since Chasmin turned on the light on the nightstand. When they did adjust, he almost jumped out of his skin realizing that Chasmin had a knife to his neck.

"Get the fuck up. I wanna talk." Chasmin insisted with tears running down her face.

Chasmin wanted answers and she wanted them now.