“You put that on my shoulders, now let me carry it.”
Niles chuckled. “Do what you do. I don’t have no complaints. You just better hope this works.”
“It’s gonna work. There’s no falling when you’re on the come up.”
13
Samari missedher girl and wanted to make up for her absence. It had been three weeks since that night Asao spent at her apartment, and since that day, every free second either of them had was spent together while Sheree was busy being a wife and mother.
Today Samari and Sheree were kicking it, so when she noticed the navy SUV easing into the driveway and pulling to a stop next to her car, a smile blossomed on Samari’s face as she hurried out of the driver’s seat prepared to hug her favorite people. As much as she’d missed her girl, she’d missed theminiature version of Sheree even more. So the bubbly ten month old was her first stop.
“She’s growing so fast. How are you so big?” Samari moved to the rear of Sheree’s SUV and lifted her goddaughter from the car seat. A slight pout found its way onto her face. She felt as if she had missed so much in the little beauty’s life.
“You don’t have time for us anymore so you’re missing everything.” Sheree’s hip bumped Samari’s before she reached around her girl to grab Jomie’s diaper bag.
“Don’t do that. I always have time.” Samari kissed the toddler’s fat cheeks then focused on Sheree. “You want me to be the bad guy when you’re the one who not so gently pushed me toward the person who’s been taking up all my time.’
Sheree’s eyes rolled heavy but she donned a smile. “I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be petty and give you shit.”
“I brought goodies. Will that make it right?” Samari smiled at her friend and motioned toward her vehicle.
“Depends on what you brought.” Sheree moved around the rear of her girl’s BMW and yanked the passenger door open. A goofy smile spread across her face when she noticed the bags of their favorite things—Chicago Mix popcorn, two bottles of sweet red from Divine Vines, and cake pops from Seasonal Sweets.
“This is a start but we’re not cool until I get all the details on your new man. Starting with what that dick do.”
Samari dropped her mouth open and pressed a hand to the side of Jomie’s face, bringing her tiny head to her chest, pretending to dramatically shield her tender ears from her mother’s foul mouth.
“Why are you trying to taint my baby? She doesn’t need to know…”
“That her godmommy is a hoe?” Sheree cut in with a smirk in place before she grabbed everything from the passenger seat and bumped the door closed with her hip. “Because that betterbe what you were going to say considering the only thing that should have kept you from us was good dick.”
Samari followed Sheree to the door and narrowed her eyes when her girl glanced over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out right before keying the code to grant them entry.
After they were inside and Jomie was occupied close by with toys, Sheree began removing what she needed to make dinner. She’d marinated chicken in a butter, rosemary, and garlic blend that morning. When Samari realized what her friend was doing, she smiled widely.
“Aww, friend. You love me real bad, don’t you?”
“Bitch, no. I love my man. You’re not the only one who loves my butter chicken and curry rice.”
“But he has to work overnight.”
“You act like he’s not coming home, hoe.” Sheree playfully rolled her eyes while she moved through the kitchen preparing dinner for her girl. While she cooked, Samari kept her company between keeping Jomie out of trouble. With wobbly steps and a curious mind, Jomie moved around the kitchen and living room finding interest in everything other than her toys. Yet another reminder of how much had changed in Samari’s absence. The ten month old was now mobile and learning to be independent.
The friends talked shit and chatted while dinner was prepared. Samari fed Jomie baked chicken and rice her mother prepared on the side knowing the butter chicken and curry rice would be too rich and spicy. While Sheree put the final touches on their dinner, Samari bathed her goddaughter and got her in bed, moving through two short books before the toddler was out cold.
By the time she made it back into the living room, a plate was waiting along with a glass of wine. The friends sat on the floor with the massive leather ottoman centered between them while they devoured their food.
“You done talked your ass all the way around the one thing I want to know.”
Samari smiled smugly at her girl before she slowly chewed the mouthful of food, swallowed, then lifted her wine. After a large gulp, she shifted her expression to one of mock offense. “You don’t want to know how things are going with reviving my career? I thought that was a priority.”
“Hoe, it is, but the details I need right now are whether or not you’re riding the dick of the man reviving your career. Run that and I want all the dirt, like whether or not you hopped off that dick to make sure you’re still a good friend.”
Samari choked on a laugh. “There’s no dirt, friend, and no I didn’t hop off his dick to come see you. That man’s dick hasn’t been anywhere near me or in me.”
Sheree paused her fork midbite, lowered it, and stared at her girl with a gaze that could rival the most accurate lie detectors. After a moment of thorough inspection, Sheree’s mouth dropped open briefly. “You haven’t fucked him yet.”
“No, which I just told you.”
