“I’m not grown enough for that yet!”
Tia rolled her eyes. “Meadow, Zaire told you to use his card. So use that muthafucka.”
Meadow shook her head, fighting between not wanting to use it and her eyes flashing to a bag that looked so pretty to her. It had the designer’s logo monogramed all over it in a cute green color. She could picture it on her arm but felt so bad spending Zaire’s money.
Tia caught her looking and waved a sales associate over. “Hey, my friend would like to see that bag.”
The sales associate smiled. “Come on, love,” she nodded Meadow over.
“Tia,” Meadow whined. “I’m sorry but I can’t-”
“Friend, you’re walking around with a heavy ass card, its only right you get something cute to put it in.” Tia grabbed her arms, speaking in a low tone so no one else could hear her.
“You’re talking like I’ll have this card for forever… this is temporary.”
Tia kissed her teeth. “You’re really blowing my mind right now, Meadow! Get the fuckin’ bag…consider it a parting gift since you seem to think you and that man won’t be together come this time in five years.”
“Ma’am?” The sales associate called out with wide eyes, hoping she got a sale. It was her first day and she needed to show the shop that she was valuable. To take matters into her own hands, she grabbed the bag from the display rack.
Meadow was startled when she pushed up on her to show her the bag on her arm in the mirror.
“This looks so nice against your skin. Don’t you think?” She turned to face Tia who nodded.
Staring at herself through the mirror, Meadow had to admit the bag did look good on her. Still, she was hesitant.
“Meadow!” Tia stomped her foot.
“Ummm,” Meadow sighed, chewing on her bottom lip. Her heart told her to get the fucking bag. It was her brain in that big ass head of hers that had her not wanting to. Her heart won. “I’ll take it.”
The associate beamed. “Great choice. Do you need a wallet and some cute accessories to go with it?”
“The wallet, yes!” Tia pushed in.
Meadow could only laugh and shake her head while still admiring herself in the mirror.
After Tia grabbed something for herself, they went to the register to check out.
Meadow was in better spirits but all that disappeared when the cashier said, “Five thousand, twelve dollars.”
The card in her hand felt heavier. Her eyes bucked out of her head and she choked on her words, needing a bottle of water. Tia rushed to grab her one and damn near shoved it down her throat.
Gathering her bearings, Meadow told the associates, “Put it back.”
“Wait, what?!” Tia yelled. “Meadow get the fuckin’ bag.”
“Tia, this is too much money…it ain’t even all that.”
“Girl, please!” Tia waved her off. “Get that bag and bring your ass on. I know this is all new for you but babe, if he wants to spoil you - let him.”
Meadow didn’t know what to do. On one hand, she wanted the bag because she’d always dreamed of having a few luxury items. On the other hand, she thought about how much that amount of money could benefit her life in other ways and if she was going to spend on anything, she felt her life was the better fit. Because in her mind, Zaire might not be around to fix it again so she needed to take advantage of the funds she had access to now. It was better to leave a man better than you came.
Before she could politely tell the woman ‘no’, Tia snatched the card from her hand and tapped it against the register. “Bitch!”
Tia shrugged. “Hate me if you wanna but you’re getting that bag.”
“Ummm,” the associate didn’t know what to do. It was clear they were friends but Tia had basically committed fraud and the associate knew that wouldn’t be good for her on her first day. “I can’t…”
Zaire’s name popped up on Meadow’s phone. Her heart jumped out of her chest and her eyes bounced to Tia.
