“Thank you, Relli,” I said sincerely.
She hugged me back.
“Next time don’t hide from me,” she said. “I’ll see your emotional pregnant ass tomorrow.”
She left just as quickly as she came.
I pulled my phone out and texted King, asking him to meet me tomorrow. Once I sent him my address, I headed to my room and climbed into bed. The second my eyes closed, my phone went off, it was Rellianah.
“I need my hair done,” she said immediately. “Tell that trifling hoe Shadonna to be at the shop by four tomorrow.” She hung up.
I burst out laughing as I pulled my phone out and went to my notes to write out my apology to Shadonna. Rellianah couldn’t stand her… but somehow, she still trusted her to wash and blow-dry her hair every two weeks. I laughed remembering how Shadonna told me how nervous Rellianah made her while doing her hair.
Rellianah’s hair was thick, long, and curly, stopping right at her thick hips. all the way down to her hips. She was Jamaican and Puerto Rican with a crazy texture of hair that made it hard for her to manage. Shadonna mastered it and did a great job detangling it.
Once I finished rereading over what I typed out to send to Shadonna, I copied and pasted it to our text thread then locked my phone.
Chapter Thirty-One
King
“That’s it, cuz! Run me myDoe Ray Meh!” Hussle exclaimed.
I shook my head then leaned back in my chair, watching my cousin Hussle effortlessly snatch niggas’ money in a dice game. He was an expert since grade school when it came to gambling. Dice hit the concrete, bounced, and somehow always landed in his favor.
We were all over his house today for his birthday. Normally Hussle threw parties that would shut the whole damn city down. His birthdays used to be wild as hell, music blasting, liquor flowing, freaky strippers everywhere, and hoes crawling all over the place.
His wife Territa stepped into his world and changed all of that. They still had their ups and downs, but Territa knew how to get his ass together whenever he started drifting back into his old habits.
I knew this nigga was different when he decided to throw a small kickback instead of going all out for his birthday last year. A few of his homies crowded around the table playing dice and cards while Territa was in the kitchen throwing down. Big bottles of liquor was in constant rotation, and the smell ofweed filled the air, as my thoughts kept drifting somewhere else entirely.
“Nigga let’s play something else,” Byron groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. “My girl gone kill me when I get home broke.”
Byron had lost the most money so far. He took a long swig of his beer, then slumped into his chair. Hussle laughed loud as hell.
“Y’all already know I’m theking of dice!” he bragged. “A nigga done cleared over thirty bands tonight. Y’all niggas playing too small today! Show a brother some love!”
Hussle talked more shit than anybody I knew but the nigga could back it all up. We were still joking and talking shit when Territa walked out carrying a huge platter piled high with BBQ wings, hot wings, teriyaki… and a couple other flavors I couldn’t even name. Her friend Sharessa was right behind her with a big tray full of sides.
The smell alone made my stomach growl. She set the platter down in front of us before turning around and coming back with another tray stacked with fries and dipping sauces. The moment she disappeared; we all jumped on the food like starved dogs.
My phone pinged in the middle of the chaos. I paused mid-bite not giving a damn how hungry I still was. I wiped my hands then picked my phone up quickly. Layloni had sent a message saying we needed to talk. Another message followed with her texting her full address.
For some reason that text made my dick instantly swell. Talking could come later. Right now, I just needed her.
“I gotta slide,” I said casually, grabbing my jacket. “My girl just texted me.” The words came out so smooth I didn’t even realize what I had said.
Hussle stopped chewing, he struggled swallowing down the remainder of his food just so he could quickly turn to me with a huge grin spreading across his face.
“Hold up,” he said loudly. “What girl?” He raised his brows.
It seemed like everybody outside was waiting for me to answer him. I rubbed the back of my neck before standing up.
“I just know this nigga talking bout one of his jump offs.” Byron chuckled out.
I shrugged but quickly shook my head no. They all should have known that I would never refer to a hoe as my girl.
“My baby momma,” I said simply.
