By the time I came out the room, it was late in the afternoon, and the sun was hittin’ through the windows in a way that made everything feel slower. I ain’t bother throwin’ no shirt on, butjust stepped out in some shorts and my weed already in my hand, ready to chill.
I was headin’ to the back to sit by the pool, break down, and smoke while I let my mind cool off, but when I passed through the kitchen, somethin’ hit me that made me stop without even plannin’ to.
The smell hit me before I even realized what it was. It was rich and heavy, like that shit had been cookin’ for a minute, seasoned right and sittin’ deep in the air, and it made me stop mid-step without even meanin’ to.
I turned my head toward the stove, and that’s when I saw a pot sittin’ there with oxtails simmerin’ in dark gravy with that rich type of mix that clung to the meat and looked like it would fall apart the second you touched it. The oil sat on top just right, glistenin’ under the light, and next to it was rice, cabbage, and fried plantains laid out like whoever made it wasn’t in there playin’ around.
I frowned a lil’, already knowin’ Toni wasn’t here and ’Lo damn sure wasn’t cookin’ no shit like this, and I knew for a fact Kelli ol’ white ass ain’t throw down like this.
“Who the fuck…” I muttered low, but I ain’t stay on it.
I grabbed a tray and kept it pushin’, headin’ outside like I planned.
Soon as I stepped into the backyard, the heat from the sun sat on my skin while the water in the pool moved slow and the music carried through the air low and smooth.
That’s when I saw Sha’Nelle.
She was laid back by the pool, sittin’ in one of the chairs with her feet up near the edge, a blunt between her fingers and a cup in her hand like she ain’t give a fuck about what was goin’ on in the world. She was in her own zone, bobbin’ her head to the music, not payin’ attention to shit else around her.
And the way she was sittin’…
Yeah…
Her swimsuit hugged her body like it was poured on, every curve settin’ in place like it ain’t have nowhere else to be. When she shifted in the chair, her thighs pressed together slow, thick as hell, and her hips rolled just enough to make a nigga notice without her even tryin’. The way her ass sat back in that seat had hella weight to it, like it knew it was gon’ get looked at whether she cared or not.
Her chest sat full in that top, pushed up just right, risin’ and fallin’ easy every time she breathed, and the sun had her skin glowin’ in a way that made it hard to look away once you started. Her shit was smooth and warm like she been layin’ in the heat for hours.
Her lips stayed glossy like she kept somethin’ on ‘em at all times. Her eyes sat low, like she was halfway in her own world.
Her hair was full, thick and curly. It was pulled up high, but still fallin’ down her back and around her face.
Sha’Nelle always looked good. That wasn’t new. But sittin’ out here like that, relaxed and comfortable… yeah, that was the type of shit that made a nigga look a second longer than he meant to.
Sha’Nelle had been around long enough for all of us to know her, so none of this was new to me. She was always around whenever we linked up, whether it was cards, dominos, or Toni havin’ somethin’ goin’ on. Her ass would be right there like it was regular, laughin’, eatin’, talkin’ her shit and movin’ around comfortable like she belonged.
And truth be told, she did.
That’s why I never let myself sit in her energy too long. It wasn’t ’cause I ain’t see her or ain’t notice what she had goin’ on. I saw all of it. I just knew where that road led if I let myself play with it. So I kept it where it was.
For a second, I thought about turnin’ around and takin’ my ass back inside, but I shook that shit off quick.
Man, fuck that.
I wasn’t about to be dodgin’ nobody in a house that wasn’t even hers. I came out here to smoke and chill, and that’s what I was gon’ do.
So I walked past her without sayin’ nothin’, set my tray down, and sat where I had a clear view of the water, keepin’ my attention on breakin’ down my weed like that was the only thing on my mind.
But I felt her here…
Even without lookin’, I knew she was right here. The way that chair scraped, the way she moved around, the way her presence kept catchin’ my attention… that shit kept tryna pull at a nigga, but I wasn’t goin’.
I kept my head down, rollin’ up slow, takin’ my time with it, then lit it once I had it right and leaned back, pullin’ in deep.
The smoke hit smooth, and I let it out slow, lettin’ my body settle into it.
My phone buzzed in my hand, and when I looked down, I saw Reni name pop up.
I smirked before I even opened it. She sent a picture, and soon as it loaded, I already knew what she was on.
