“Please. That's the bare fuckin' minimum.”
Maria laughed. “Height don’t matter when he got it like that.”
“Got it like that, huh?” I smirked. “Wait ‘til I’m the one ruinin’ him.”
“Nah, girl.” Maria laughed, flickin’ ash. “You could walk over there butt-fuckin’ naked. He ain’t about that. Won’t even look at your tits if you flashed him. I’m tellin’ you—bro don’t bite.”
I dragged my smoke, watchin’ Andrew posted up by the hood with Danny, Mateo, and Frankie, the guys circlin' him—mouths runnin’, beers half-full. Laughter cracked between 'em, bouncin' off the windshields and side mirrors.
But not Andrew. He was noddin', half-listenin’, eyes pointed two cars down, where some drunk idiot was slammin’ outStill of the Nighton a beat-up Strat plugged into an amp the size of a shoebox. His grip strangled his Coke, five seconds from walkin’ over and yankin’ the guitar right outta his hands. A grip that saidI could school this guy in my fuckin’ sleep.
Smoke curled up around Maria’s face when she said, “Never seen him post up on a girl, Rox. He don’t chase pussy. He don’t play games. You try? Probably embarrass yourself.”
“Please. Every guy caves for pussy,” I said, my throat thick as smoke spilled out. “I never had a man say no. Only thing I ever been rejected by is a vending machine.”
Carlos leaned back against his car next to me. “That’s what I been sayin’. You? Fine as hell. That Harding kid? Please. He sees you comin’, it’s game over. Guaran-fuckin’-teed. Kid won’t last a minute. I wouldn’t believe half the shit people say about him.”
Josalyn packed her smokes, then tore off the wrapper. “Nah. I’m with Maria on this one. You go over there? He’ll be all polite and shit, then go right back to pretendin’ you don’t exist. He ain’t desperate.”
I leaned back against the car. “What kinda guy does shit like that?”
Maria huffed a breath. “The kinda guy who fingers you on a fire escape, got you sayin’thank you, then walks you home like he’s your brother.” She turned to Josalyn. “Didn’t your cousin get with him?”
“Yeah, said he ate her out for two hours, got her off three times, called her beautiful, cleaned her up, grabbed his jacket, dipped. And yo—my cuz? Couldn’t turn a head in a blackout. No clue how she pulled him.”
“Nah. I’m callin’ bullshit.” Carlos reached into his pocket for a lighter. “I’ve seen Vic. Ain’t no one touchin’ that pussy with a ten foot pole.”
I faced Josalyn. “So what you sayin’? He’ll fuck wit’ anyone?”
“Nah, he's all mouth and hands, no dick."
"He don't fuck, he feeds." Maria cackled. "He's in hiseat-pray-pussyera."
"And not just any girl,” Josalyn said, shakin’ her head. “Sammy—gorgeous Sammy—threw herself at him at a party. Made it easy. Bro wanted no part of it.”
“Yeah,” Maria agreed. “You get lucky with him the way you hit the lottery.”
“Nah. Y’all fuckin’ wild.” Carlos laughed. “Somethin’ wrong below the belt. Ain’t game, it’s damage control. Run it so hard nobody finds out he’s workin’ with a thumb.”
"Only one way to find out, babe." I pulled the last drag off my cigarette, lips catchin’ the filter. “He can act hard all he wants. I'mma melt that shit real quick.”
“Uh-huh. Same way you claim you got with that pitcher at Rutgers?” Maria gestured around the lot. “Look around, Rox. Every girl out here’s watchin’ him, nobody’s walkin’ up. They know they ain’t got a shot.”
“He’s gotta fuckin’ dick, Maria,” I said, pointin’ my cig at him. “Dick only craves holes. He ain’t untouchable. Watch—I’mma have his ass beggin’ in five minutes.”
Maria nodded with a smirk.
“Yeah, girl. You go right ahead wit’ yo bad self.”
Carlos rubbed his palms together. “Fifty bucks says he chasin’ that tail.”
Josalyn laughed. “Fifty bucks says he won’t.”
I flicked my cig into the parkin' lot and strut off, cherry glowin’ behind me. “I’m done talkin’. Y’all can kiss my ass while I’m walkin’.”
Josalyn exhaled. “Might be the last time you say that out loud," she muttered under her breath.
Carlos whistled low. The girls leaned into each other, crackin’ up. They all watched as I walked across the parkin' lot, liftin’ my hair off my neck so it didn't get caught in the wind.
