“Heat it is then. Are you wearing what you wore to work or are you going to go change?”
“I’m showering and changing,” I answered. “The kids painted today, so I look like a walking canvas.”
“I’ll come to your place then so we can ride together.”
“Okay, that’s cool, but Kabria, I’m only going to Heat. Nowhere else.”
“Okay, Diamond.”
“I’m serious,” I assured her. “I will order a uRide.”
“Diamond, I said okay, hoe.”
“I have to tell you a few times for you to understand.”
“I’m hanging up. Bye.”
She disconnected the call before I could respond. I laughed and turned the music up once it came back in. Kabria was a social butterfly. It fit because she was a publicist and worked with a lot of different people, but I was more introverted and to myself in comparison.
When I got home, I immediately noticed that there was a sticky note attached to my door. I snatched it off and went inside, instantly annoyed. I knew it was from nobody but my sister. I hadn’t seen her in months and she was the only person that wrote notes and didn’t care about having shit taped to the door for everyone to see. That was literally my life growing up.
We’d stayed more places than I could count. I didn’t experience stability until I was an adult and able to provide it for myself and her. I tried allowing her to stay with me when I first got my place in the Palisades, but it didn’t work.Shedidn’t work. She didn’t like to wash, she wanted to have her own company which I was fine with, it waswhoher company was that was an issue.
My sister had fallen victim to the streets when I was ten, right after our parents died. They’d tried robbing a local convenience store because, unfortunately, they’d both rather do anything besides work. The store clerk ended up shooting and killing them right there, and things had been downhill for my sister ever since.
It hurt me just as much as it did her, maybe even more, because she was ten years older than me and had at least experienced them for her entire childhood, but I’d been robbed of that, even though they were shitty most of the time.
I didn’t even bother reading the note because I knew it said the same things the others had said. She was asking for money and telling me where she would be for the next few days. I’d gotten her three phones over the years so that she could contact me instead of sticking notes on my door, but she sold them all. I tried getting her help a few times too, but it proved to be a waste of my time and money, so I gave up. I had to make peace with the fact that she was grown and was going to make her own decisions.
I turned the shower on before going to find something to wear. It was warm out, so I decided on an orange two-piece set from Fashion Nova that I planned to pair with some gold sandals and jewelry. I’d just gotten some Bohemian knotless braids, so I was thankful that I didn’t have to worry about my hair.
I laid my clothes out on my bed before undressing and getting in the shower. I had to hurry but still wash thoroughly because Kabria would be to my place quickly. After my shower, I brushed and flossed my teeth then applied my body butter. By the time I got my bra and panties on, my best friend was walking in my room.
“I just have to throw my clothes on and touch up my edges, then I’ll be ready.” I let her know as I grabbed my shirt.
“Okay.” She plopped down on my bed then began meddling like she always did. “Gwen’s been by here?”
“Seems like it.” I sighed. “No matter how many times I ask her not to leave stuff on my door, she still does.”
“You know how she is.” She shook her head. “I told you to order a little flip phone and call it a day.”
“For her to sell that too?” I frowned. “Because we both know she would.”
“I know. I hate that, bestie.”
“Yeah, me too.” I replied somberly. “But I don’t even want to think about it, which is why I didn’t read the note. I just want to enjoy tonight then I’ll read it tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” She nodded. “You look cute, bitch.”
“Thank you.”
I’d finished dressing, so I walked back to the bathroom to fix my edges then put on some perfume and my jewelry. After that we headed out.
Kabria spent most of the car ride talking shit and complaining about her on and off boyfriend of three years. Her and Vince were exhausting. She hated him on most days but was so comfortable with him that she didn’t leave. I didn’t understand that. A nigga barely had one time to play with me, and he was getting the boot. My ex, Tristan, was the perfect example.
Me and him were together for a few years after I graduated college. He did everything that he was supposed to do; paid bills, bought gifts, took me on dates, was there to help me through the roller coaster ride my sister constantly took me on, but the moment foul play came into the mix, I was gone. I didn’t care how much he did for me or claimed to love me. If he didn’t want to lose me, he wouldn’t have fucked up.
Heat had a nice crowd when we made it. I wasn’t surprised because people loved their wings, and the bartenders were always heavy handed with the drinks. The club was fairly big, but they only had the section with the high-top tables and bar area open.
