Chapter One
Itossed the box of cereal and cookies on the conveyor belt and pulled my money clip from my pocket. A snowstorm was approaching Heartville and the surrounding areas, including Law Grove and Crest Grove.
“You don’t have to throw your things up here like that,” a soft voice popped off. It came from the girl behind the register, ringing up my shit.
My face balled up.
“Bitch, just do your job,” I mumbled out.
“What did you just call me?”
“Maaaan, you heard me. Keep on, you ‘bout to lose yo job,” I growled lowly.
Her hands froze mid-scan. I couldn’t call her an ugly bitch like I wanted to ‘cause she wasn’t that. Almond brown skin, big brown eyes, glossy full lips, and long lashes that surely weren’t hers. Her hair was for sure her shit. It was straight and touching her shoulders.
Since I was a tall nigga standing at 6’4”, I didn’t have to stretch my neck to see she was fine and that ass was fat inthe back. The red shirt fit her snugly, her medium-sized breasts sitting up.
“Who do you think you’re talking to like that?” she hissed out, chin tilted.
Stepping closer to the counter with my jaw tight, I told her, “A cashier who needs this damn job.” I tossed a ten-dollar bill on the counter. “Keep the change, bitch.”
Not even needing her ass to bag my shit, I grabbed the boxes and sauntered out of the store. The wind hit my ass with a two-piece. I snatched my hoodie over my head and pulled the strings to tighten it around my face.
Flakes of snow stung my cheeks as I crossed the parking lot to my black Charger. I hit the unlock button on my key fob, and once I reached it, slid in and cussed under my breath. The red leather seats were icy cold.
My phone rang as soon as I backed out of the parking spot.
“Yeah, Ma?” I answered.
“I should have known you’d be out in this bad weather,” she fussed.
“It’s not bad yet,” I rebutted. “I needed cereal and cookies.”
“Junk food. Your dad just got off the phone with Kasim and Sneaux. We were talking about their wedding. I can’t wait until you find the one and…”
“Aye, Ma. I know you ain’t call me to talk ‘bout Kasim, and hound me ‘bout settling down.” I stopped at a red light. “You finna get hung up on.”
She laughed, not taking me seriously. Mama never did. Kasim’s my half-brother on our dad’s side... I was the youngest out of us by two years.
“I’ma punch you in your throat if you do, Shad. I swear, once this storm passes. Why don’t you come over and stay here? You know there is plenty of room.”
“Pshh, yeah right. I’m heading home,” I scoffed. I placed my foot on the gas and eased forward. The snow wasn’t sticking yet, but it was already making the streets slick.
The windshield wipers dragged back and forth, struggling. Light rain had started to fall, and as frigid as it was, it instantly turned into ice.
“Be careful, Shad.”
“I will. I’m headed home,” I assured her. “I’m two minutes away.”
“Do you want me to stay on the phone while you…”
I hung up.
As I promised, I made it to my apartment complex in two minutes. Grabbing my groceries, I tucked them under my arm and left the car. I took off in a light jog. Big mistake.
My foot hit a slick patch I didn’t even see, and the ground snatched my ass up quick. One second I was moving, the next I was flat on my back, cereal and cookies flying out of my arm. The impact punched the breath out of me.
For a second, I just lay there, staring up at the cloudy, icy sky, snowflakes falling onto my face. Then I sat up, laughing. That had to have been my karma for calling that cashier a bitch. She was probably still huffing and puffing, wishing for my downfall.
