I heard the background noise—the hum of waves, the echo of voices, laughter, and trap music. I knew that sound. He was posted up in the Southshore Terrace.
“You good?” he asked, voice low and steady.
“I’m good. Just left Gucci.”
“Oh, so you’re spending my money now, huh?” he teased.
“Your money? Please.” I smiled, shifting Coast’s pacifier back into his mouth.
I added, casually, “By the way… one of your Colorado bitches called me. Storm? You might wanna tell her to find a new hobby before I have to step outta retirement.”
He laughed; a smooth, dark sound that made me bite my lip.
“Storm? Man, that was before us. That bitch is crazy, though, so if she step to you, shoot that bitch.”
I raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see me. “Mmmhmm, she said she slashed your tires. You ain’t tell me that, but I’ma let you live.”
“You good, mama?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah, I’m good. We’re heading home after this. The baby needs a nap, and I’m tryna get back to my sketches.”
“I’m tryna take you out tonight. My aunt just opened up a seafood spot on the upscale side of Sable Cove. It’s beachfront, real exclusive. No Southwave shit, just upscale vibes. Just us taking over the rest of the summer.”
A slow grin spread across my face.
“Oh, okay. So you tryna show out, huh?”
He laughed, low and smooth. “You know how I do.”
I ended the call, feeling light for the first time in a minute. I bought a new dress for the date, something soft but bad, and a few more things for the baby.
By the time I left the mall, the sun was starting to dip, and LA traffic was thick. I hit the freeway, creeping back to Prince Valley while Coast slept in the back with the city lights blurring into the night.
A few hours later, I handed the baby off to Solace, thankful for her pulling up last minute to babysit. A black Rolls Royce pulled up in front of the house. The driver stepped out, opening the door like it was a movie.
I stepped in, and the leather was soft, the air cold, and the bass low.
Two hours to Sable Cove, but I was good.
I felt like a boss again.
Like Yummi was back.
For real this time.
TRUST ME
I pulledup to my aunt’s spot and waited for Yummi to arrive. It was beachfront, upscale, the kind of place you don’t just stumble into. I wanted to do something different for hertonight. Something soft. Something that made her feel like she wasn’t just a girl from Southwave who’d been through too much.
She stepped out of the back of the car service, looking like a problem—tight dress, legs out, hair down her back. My baby.
We sat down right by the water, waves crashing in the background like a low drum. The lights were soft, real intimate, just the two of us and a table full of crab legs, lobster tails, and grilled oysters.
I watched her crack a crab leg like it wasn’t shit, licking her fingers slow, and I couldn’t stop staring.
I had to tell her the news.
“Look, baby… I know you wanted to take that cruise with your friends at the end of summer,” I started, watching her face. “I tried, but the whole ship booked out. Sold up to the last room. It won’t be back until next summer.”
