“Hell yeah. Why the hell not? We on flights and flings! Leaving our feelings in the rearview.”
FIVE
OFF THE TABLE
“Domino, mothafucka!” Crew slammed his last bone on the table and knocked his chair over when he stood with both arms up in victory. “Run me my shit!”
“This nigga.” One of the homies, Carvelle, shook his head and flipped the rest of his bones over.
“We running that shit back, Crew. Fuck that!” Zero sat forward, hooded eyes also glossed over as he turned his fitted cap to the back.
Crew collected his bills from the table and was counting them up when Maisie approached with Giselle lingering behind her.
“Fuck it. Shuffle them muhfuckas.” He shrugged as Maisie slid her arms around him in a hug. “Yo, let me tell you right now, my wife got hands and know how to shoot. You might wanna back up.”
“That bitch ain’t got shit on me.” Maisie kissed the back of his neck, and a big ass grin took over Crew’s face before he turned and scooped her off her feet.
“Shit, Crew! Stop! You’ve been drinking!” Maisie laughed when he tossed her in the air and caught her.
“Nah, you know I always got my baby.” Crew pulled her into him and dropped his lips against hers.
He didn’t give one fuck who was around to witness. He loved Maisie out loud every chance he got. With his arm still around her, he walked her back over to the table where Giselle had taken his seat between Carvelle and Zero. Both were ogling her curiously as she sat there, feeling like the sun was cooking her. On the sidelines, Heavy remained quiet, taking in everything, but keeping a closer eye on Giselle.
“You just gon’ take my spot, G?” Crew scratched one of his cheeks and motioned to his chair.
“My feet hurt. Gimme like five minutes. Ugh, and I need some fucking shade. Did it jump right to summer around this bitch?” She fanned herself.
“Ain’t nobody tell you to wear them damn heels, man. You fucking with my rhythm right now.”
“G, come on. Let’s go get something to eat.” Maisie suggested. “You want something, baby?”
“Hell yeah.” Crew stuck his finger through the loop of her jeans and tugged her to him. “Come chill with me when you done, aight? You looking good as fuck today.”
“Crew, don’t start that shit, okay?” Maisie pecked his lips once again before backing away.
“Let’s go,ma cherie.” Maisie feigned a French accent and held her hand out to Giselle.
She used to tease her all the time that she had a name like some kind of royal, and when they found out it was of German and French descent, it became a running joke to them throughout the years. Pulling her to her feet, the two of them fell in stride down the street to check in with Remi.
“So, tell me one thing.” Maisie bumped her hip against Giselle’s. “How does it really feel to be back here?”
“I don’t know.” Giselle shrugged. “I can’t say I don’t belong here, or I couldn’t make it work. I just don’t know if this is where I’m supposed to be. You know?”
“No, G. I don’t know because what is waiting for you out there? Do you know what you want to do? Have you even figured that out yet?”
“Before all this, I had my portfolio presented to all kinds of furniture districts. I got word back from a few places, but by that time, I was going through all this. I just haven’t followed up with anyone. I don’t know what to do, and every time I realize that… I want to call my mom or my dad, and it hits me right here…” She pressed a finger into her chest and whimpered. “And I can’t breathe or think… and I keep hearing the screams in my ears… f-from my mother. It wakes me up out of my sleep.” Giselle’s chest caved while tears flooded her eyes.
“Oh, G.” Maisie pulled her into her arms, careful not to let Giselle’s drink spill on her from the cup in her hand.
Over her shoulder, she caught her mother ear hustling with Gem, both with tears in their eyes too as Giselle wept.
“How long have you been holding that in?”
“What good is me falling apart going to do?” Giselle yanked back and quickly wiped her tears.
She hated crying and always found it weak. Maybe that was why she was so bitter and mean.
“Don’t you feel a little better?”
