Keith stood up. “I got you.”
After he walked out, I sent Islah a message checking on her. She sent me a picture that put a smile on my face, but it should have been the other way around.
I grabbed my blunt and went over to my design table and finished the ring I was workin’ on for her. Once I was done, I stared at it.
That lil’ ring was the start to so much for Islah and me. My only worry was that nigga, and her sayin’ no because he’s still around.
I put that shit to the side when I heard my name being called from the showroom. My nigga Kai slid through. I could see him on the cameras talking to Keith; he was one of the niggas I grew up with in East Atlanta. But now, the nigga was a rapper. I laughed to myself, listening to his loud ass and acting like my store was his home.
I stepped outta my office to see him and his crew walking around my shit, looking at everything. Before I could even say anything, Kai grinned at me.
“’Bout time yo ass came out. What the fuck you doin back there, hiding with a bitch?”
I laughed as I dapped him up. “My lady at work, wussup with you, Kai?”
“I need some new shit, some fire shit. I knew you were the only nigga to come to in the city.”
“You already know. Come on, let’s get to work.”
I took Kai and his niggas into my office, and they rolled up. We chopped it up for a lil’ bit, talking about the old neighborhood, and what he’s been up to. But once the lighter flicked, we got down to business.
“Iight nigga,” I said, reaching for my sketchpad. “Talk to me, what you lookin’ for?”
Kai started throwing ideas, and I listened, taking it all in, until it sounded fucked up.
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head a lil’. “You stacking too much; it’s going to be too busy. My work is not busy.”
“Well, shit nigga, you the designer nigga. Tell me what you think?”
I continued to draw, letting him and his niggas talk. Once I was done, I took the blunt out my ashtray.
“You want this shit to hit,” I said, lighting my blunt. “You let it breathe.” I turned my design around and showed it to him.
Kai leaned forward, looking at it; his niggas did too. Kai then looked at his nigga, who gave him a smirk. Then they both looked at me.
“Mannnn, that shit cold!” Kai yelled out.
His nigga nodded. “Hell yeah, I’ma have to get a piece from you, real talk.”
Without further conversation, Kai slammed ‘bout four or five stacks on the table.
“Down payment nigga, let me know the rest of the bill when you’re done.”
I stood up, dapped them up, and they headed out. I sat back down, rolled myself another blunt, and went back to work on Kai’s piece, thinking about all the shit that was going on. I worked on Kai’s shit until Keith knocked on my door.
“Iight nigga, I closed up.”
I looked up, checked the time, and my phone to see that Islah had texted my shit a few times.
“Oh shit,” I said, standing up. “I’ve been in my zone, let me get outta here.”
I grabbed my designs, Islah’s ring, my other shit and walked out with Keith. I locked up, and he dapped me up.
“You coming in tomorrow?” Keith yelled at me as he headed to his car.
“I don’t know yet. I was in that room thinking. I’ll let you know.”
I hopped in my car and pulled off. On my way home, I picked up some flowers, some more smoke, a bottle of wine, and went home. When I got home, I heard music coming from inside. I unlocked the door expecting to see my girl in there with her girls, but instead, the house was dark, candles lit. When I got to the end of the hallway, I saw my girl standing at the island with two plates, a smile on her face.
