Tit For Tat 3

By Ty Khea

Jasmine Townsend seems like a woman with it all. She has her own business, a husband, and a son. She should be living the dream. Yet, like her staff at Candy Kloset, Jasmine is not immune to drama. After her husband violates her trust, Jasmine finds herself spinning out of control and on the verge of corrupting everything that she has worked for. She gets caught up with some people, who are supposed to help with solutions, but only cause more problems. All while she tries to play Mama Bear to a shop full of wayward employees. As danger, lies, sex, and secret plots threaten to take over, Jasmine will have to find a way to protect herself and those around her. The more severe things become, the more Jasmine questions who she can trust. We find there is little sweet about what is coming for the women of Candy Kloset.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ty Khea
• Release date: May 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386843436

Book preview

1

Jasmine

I’m getting my day started like I usually do, trying to make sure that my son has everything he needs to get ready for school. I know he isn't a little boy anymore, but I still like to do for him while I can. I iron his clothes, make him breakfast, and make sure that he has everything that he needs. In spite of all of this, Blake still seems to have an attitude for some reason.

I tell him good morning, and he doesn't even answer. I let him know breakfast is ready, and he just sits down and eats without a word. Anytime I talk to him, he has something smart to say. I guess maybe it’s because he’ll be a teenager soon. It seems to be getting worse and worse.

Nothing I say or do seems to be good enough. It is very frustrating.

While making sure he's ready, I still have to get myself ready for work. I jump in the shower, brush my teeth, get my hair together, pull on a dress, and put on my makeup. When I walk through the kitchen to get some coffee, I by pass Blake. When he sees me, he looks me up and down and then makes a face.

I look myself over trying to see what the problem is. I think I look good. There’s not a hair out of place, my face is beat, and my dress is hitting just like it needs to.

I say, Uh, is there something wrong with how I look?

Not if that's what you're going for.

What is that?

An Instagram thot.

Hey! Watch your mouth!

You asked me. I'm just saying.

I am your mother. Do not talk to me like that.

Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to then.

Just as I'm about to get in his ass, in comes his father. I tell him, You’d better get your son before I do.

What's the problem?

Blake interjects, She asked me about her look, and I told her. Now she wants to get an attitude like I'm wrong. Don't dress like that if you don't want people saying nothing.

Keshaun replies, Aye, chill out. Come on with me over here, I wanna talk to you.

Keshaun puts an arm around him and leads him out of the kitchen. I don't know what he is saying, but he better say something because if I gotta get him it's gonna be bad.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with that boy. He did not say stuff like that to me in the past. He used to be a mama's boy, and I could barely go anywhere without him being on my tale. He used to love to come with me to my store. We would snuggle up and watch movies. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was my little buddy, my little shadow. But for what feels like months now, he has not been wanting very much to do with me. It's like he can't stand me now, and I don't know what's changed.

The more I think about it, the more it gets to me, especially because Keshaun does not seem to be having the same problems. They're like besties, and I'm just the odd man out. I want to figure out what the problem is, but I don't even know where to start.

I'm starting to think it might be the rumors that’re going around about me. As he's gotten older, I am sure that he has started to hear more of them. The whole myth surrounding my store—Candy Kloset—has usually worked in my favor, so I encouraged it. I didn't mind the little murmurs from people, so long as it brought in business. I knew the truth and so I didn't care about the gossip. Plus, I’ve fanned the flames a bit from time to time.

I’ve never really thought about how it would be if it ever got back to my son. I would have hoped that he knew me well enough, as his mother, not to let it change how he viewed me. I guess it can be tough, as a boy, to have a mother who is rumored to be some kind of porn star freak. There’s no telling what the other boys might be saying to him, and I don't know how to talk to him about it. It was hard enough to give him the talk.

But something is going to have to give.

A few minutes later, Keshaun comes back in the room. He says, It's alright. I talked to him before he left for the bus.

He left and didn't even say anything to me? That's what I’m talking about.

Leave the boy alone. He’s just being a teen.

Not with you. He only pulls that shit with me.

It's just a phase, don't worry about it. Now come here.

For what?

Girl, don't play. You already know what I'm on. Ain't nobody here but you and me, so you know what that means.

I just look at him. Keshaun’s tryna get something started, but I'm still a little tight about Blake. He walks towards me, flashing those eyes at me, tryna change my mood. I do have some frustration that I need to take out, so I don't mind the change in direction.

He walks behind me and puts his arms around me, drawing me back into him. He starts kissing on my ear and down my neck. I grab his hands, as he runs them down my body. Then, I turn around to face him, as I reach up for his face and pull it down to mine.

We kiss slowly at first, tasting each other like we have a thousand times. Then the intensity starts to pick up. I jump up and wrap my legs around Keshaun's waist. He holds me up by my ass and carries me to the bedroom.

As soon as we get to the bed, he sits me down and starts to undress me. I know he is about to mess