“Right,” she waved a dismissive hand. “You and I both know she’s just a placeholder till your real girl gets her shit together and comes around.”
“So, who’s your placeholder for Slim?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.
She smiled again. “Carmelo is… Carmelo. He’s fun, but I can’t seriously be with a man like that with a kid. You know that.”
Despite what she said, I could hear the conflict in her voice. Drea loved the benefits of the life we were tied to but stayed on the sidelines to keep Gunnar away from it all.
This wasn’t always the case. My nephew’s sperm donor was a low-level runner that used to work out of one of our stash houses. I never approved because he was an arrogant motherfucker, but Drea thought she knew better. He put hands on her in places no one could see, and she kept it from me, knowing how I’d react. The last time was when she was pregnant with Gunnar. Cash and Slim talked me out of lighting that nigga up—said I needed to play it smart. So, I did. He got arrested, and while he was locked up, I told my sister to take out a million dollar life insurance policy on him.
Three months after his release, his brakes conveniently failed on the interstate, and he hit an eighteen-wheeler head on.
The insurance payout put Gunnar in private school and covered her cosmetology license. Now she had her own hair salon with plans to expand and wasn’t struggling as a single mother.
I looked at her. “You’ve done good, D.”
Her expression softened. “And I’m gonna keep doing right by him.” She paused. “That’s why Slim is just…” she shook her head, the corner of her mouth turning up. “He gets it. We’re good. We just like fucking with you.”
I shook my head and let her have it.
3 /NAIROBI CRAWFORD
I wasn’t quiteready to go straight to my condo after I landed in Atlanta, and I damn sure wasn’t going to my parents’ house, so I went to one of my favorite spots, Sweetie’s Cafe, for an early lunch.
I settled into a corner table with an iced matcha latte, waiting for my go-to order: a roast chicken sandwich on rosemary focaccia.
“Nairobi?”
I glanced up at the sound of my name and froze for a second. A very pregnant Jasmine was ambling toward me, her baby bump leading the way. Pregnancy looked good on her. Her faux locs were piled into a high bun, her hips and face had filled out, and her peanut butter skin was practically glowing. A huge diamond ring caught the sunlight as she walked.
“Jasmine,” I said, smiling as I stood to greet her. She pulled me into a warm hug. The last time I saw her was in the safe house in New York. A pang of guilt hit me. Even after everything she went through with Marcus, she’d still been eager to get to know me. But in my rush to distance myself from Fontaine and everything tied to him, I’d slammed a door in her face too.
“Congratulations,” I said, nodding towards her stomach.
She rubbed her belly with a smile and dropped into the chair across from me. “Thank you, but I’m so ready for this baby to get the fuck out.”
I laughed as she groaned dramatically.
“Cash didn’t tell me you were back in town,” she said, pursing her lips slightly.
I sipped my latte slowly, trying to play it cool. “That’s because he doesn’t know. I just got back this morning.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh!”
The server approached and set my sandwich in front of me. Jasmine looked at it briefly, but kept her eyes on me, clearly waiting for me to elaborate.
I picked up the pickle on my plate and took a bite. “Yeah my dad died, so...” I let the words hang.
“Oh, Nai, I’m so sorry,” she said softly, reaching across the table to pat my hand. “Do you need anything?”
I shook my head. “It’s fine,” I said quickly. “I mean, it’s obviously not fine, but… we weren’t close. I’m just here to help my mom out.”
Jasmine nodded sympathetically. “Does anyone know you’re back?”
“No. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Cash.”
She leaned back, rubbing her stomach as she studied me. “Look, Nairobi. I don’t know what you’ve got going on, but you already know how shit goes in this city, especially in the circles Money runs in. If I ran into you, it’s only a matter of time before someone else does. And I don’t hide shit from my husband. If he finds out I saw you and didn’t tell him…” She raised her eyebrow.
I nodded. I didn’t want to cause problems for her, and she wasn’t obligated to keep my secrets, especially since I basically blewoff her friendship.
