He was dead serious, and Raven had to admit that when he wasn’t being an asshole, he was even finer. She swallowed hard because she found herself seriously contemplating letting him take her out, and that was crazy as hell to her.
“Listen, if we go out, I’ll clear your debt with Canyon. You won’t have to take that shit to Virginia.”
Now, that was music to her ears, but she still had to try him. After all, he’d given her enough slick comments and ruderemarks. “So, how would you know that I really want to go out with you, and that I’m not just using you to clear my debt.”
Diric kissed his teeth. “I ain’t even worried about that shit.”
Raven wanted so badly not to be intrigued by him. She wanted so bad to make his mouthy ass beg, but he was offering to clear her debt. She’d be a fool not to go, and she wished that was the only reason she wanted to go. “And where would we be going?” she tried to sound like she didn’t really care one way or the other.
Diric eyed her and licked his lips. “Where you want to go?”
“You asked me out.”
“Bet. We can go to the gun range, and then we can go get something to eat.”
Raven narrowed her eyes at him. “Gun range? Who goes to the gun range for a date?”
“Me. If you gon’ be fucking with a nigga like me, then you need to know how to shoot.”
Raven drew back. “Who said I was gon’ be fucking with you like that? One date doesn’t guarantee that I’ll let you take me out again. And for as much shit as you talk, you sure you want to be in my presence while I have a gun in my hand?”
“I’m not worried about shit that you talking about. Less talking and more working. I’m not trying to be here all day.”
Raven kissed her teeth. “You really get on my nerves, and I’m not even exaggerating.”
Diric pulled a blunt from behind his ear. “You’ll be aight.”
He lit the blunt and finally stopped ignoring his nonstop ringing cell phone. For the next hour, he smoked and answered call after call. Some calls he was on the phone for ten seconds, some calls he was on the phone for fifteen minutes. Raven could tell that some were women, and some were men. When she was done, Diric cleaned up the kitchen, and they left. Her pussyalmost got wet as they walked to the car, and she noticed for the first time that he was slightly bowlegged.
Aside from the music playing, the car ride was silent. Raven was in a better mood knowing that Diric would clear her debt with Canyon. A huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. Raven literally felt like she could breathe easier. When he pulled up at her house, Diric looked over at her.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow around six, and I know you won’t be busy because tomorrow was designated for Virginia.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “You have a very bad habit oftellingand notasking.”
“You saying that’s a bad habit is a matter of opinion.”
Raven let out a deep sigh. “Good-bye, Diric.”
He tossed an award-winning smile her way. “See you later, beautiful.”
Raven had to bite her bottom lip to keep a smile from forming on her face. She had never in her life met a man like Diric, and she didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
CHAPTER 9
Cheyenne walked nervouslyup the long corridor to the visitation room. She hadn’t spoken to Canyon since she hung up on him, so she was surprised that he came to see her. Normally, he only came to see her if she really wanted him to. Cheyenne was aware that the prison wasn’t his favorite place to come. Because of that fact and her erratic mood swings, she hadn’t seen Canyon in almost six months. When Cheyenne first got locked up, she was depressed. She would barely eat, and all she did was sleep and cry. After about a month, her appetite picked back up and since Canyon kept her account stacked, she ate good as hell. She began to put the weight back on and after a few months, she began to feel ugly. Cheyenne didn’t care about being cute for the bitches in prison, but she didn’t want Canyon to come visit her while she felt disgusting. Especially since he was free and surrounded by gorgeous women in the real world, and she was stuck in a drab cell.
It took almost a year for her to feel like doing anything but finally, she got some drive. Cheyenne started working out and doing things to keep herself busy. She read a lot and picked up some new hobbies. She even learned to play volleyball. Prison was far from fun and the last place she wanted to be, but shecouldn’t wither away and rot for ten years. Someone pointed out to her that if she didn’t come out of prison a better person than she went in, then she had wasted her time. Cheyenne was trying to become a better person and not get lost in the abyss that was depression. She was locked up with so many women that had terrible horror stories. Some were abused, raped, addicted to drugs, etc. they lived lives she couldn’t imagine, and she was down for killing her husband’s side chick. It made her feel stupid and pathetic and some days, she transferred that energy to him. Some days, in her world, everything was Canyon’s fault. But he was here, and she was kind of excited to see him. Her long hair was going straight back in ten long cornrows. She didn’t have a six-pack or anything but playing volleyball and running had her waist slim and her butt poking. Her legs were toned, and it was a damn shame she had to hide them in those ugly brown uniform pants.
Cheyenne took a deep breath while she waited for the correctional officer to open the door. When she stepped through it, her eyes briefly darted around the room. It didn’t take her long at all to spot sexy ass Canyon with the heavy melanin drip. Her knees almost buckled. That was how fine he was, and he was her husband. What a gift and a curse. She glanced down at her bare ring finger longing for the 2 carat ring that she had to leave behind when she was processed into jail. She was allowed to wear a simple gold band if she wanted to but on one of the many occasions where she was pissed at Canyon, she threw it away.
Cheyenne’s legs felt like they were made of lead as she walked toward the table. She swallowed what felt like a lump as she noticed Canyon’s clenched jaw muscles. He was pissed about something. By the time she reached the table, he hadn’t made a move to stand up and hug her, so she knew something really had to be up.
“Hi. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“How would you know? You haven’t called, and it’s not like I can call you.” His tone was laced with ice.
Cheyenne sat down. She wasn’t used to him being the one angry with her. She was usually the one lashing out at him. “Okay, Canyon, you’re obviously upset. What’s wrong?”
