“It won’t be much longer. I’ve put distance between me and that fuck nigga for a reason.’
“What reason is that?”
“He ain’t taking care of his seed. I can’t fuck with niggas who spend more money and time on bitches than on their creation. I can’t respect it. I can’t get down with it. Nigga barely acknowledges the fucking kid.”
“I respect it. A nigga who doesn’t fuck with his kid is a questionable motherfucker.”
“Ya feel me?” Sully questioned. “I’ma let her have her way for now. But, in a year, I bet I lock that fine motherfucker down. Upgrade her life. Take that stress off her plate. Put an end to the bullshit she has going on in an attempt to survive out here. Bring some peace to her life. Fuck her good. Get a few minis running around this bitch.”
“And you’re ready for that?”
“Shit, I will be when I get her on my team.”
“Nigga, you need to be ready before she gets on your team.”
“You ready?” Sully asked, reaching for the blunt. “Don’t think I don’t see you sweating that damn Hyphen. I hope your pockets deep, homie. She ain’t giving that shit up for free.”
“I got the money for the pussy. I know she got that snapper for the money.”
Chuckling, Sully choked off the smoke he’d inhaled.
“Real shit, though– Yeah. I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever Hyph is ready for and probably a little more. Some nigga just fucked her over. She’ll need some time to recover. To trust again. To let her guard down again. But, the moment she does, I’ll be in position to sweep her right off them pretty toes.”
“This nigga in love!” Sully bellowed. “This nigga in love.”
Shrugging, I nodded.
“I’m just a nigga who knows exactly what he wants and sees no reason to fuck around.”
“Hyphen Stone is what you want?” He asked, wanting to be certain.
“She’s exactly what I want.”
“Lock your shit down, and I’m going to lock my shit down. We meet in Vegas and make it forever.”
“Nigga, I can bet my last dollar I’m beating you to the courthouse,” I countered.
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I’d make it official with Hyphen. I didn’t want to make her my woman. When this shit was all said and done, I wanted to make her my wife.
My father had made it abundantly clear that if I didn’t plan to make an honest woman out of someone, then I shouldn’t pursue them in the manner that I intended to pursue Hyphen. I’d secretly saved my energy for something real. Someone real. Someone special.
When she took off three years ago, my heart was still hurting too bad to notice. But, as the weeks grew into months, her absence became the bane of my existence. I wanted to kick my own ass for not hollering at her the week before my mother and father were murdered at his place of business.
A year later, my world was still spinning and she was out of Dooley. Many nights, I wished I could turn back the hands of time.
“It’s a bet then, nigga. A band?”
“Two bands, nigga.”
“Say less.”
The night progressedand so did the void I felt. Hyphen wasn’t pinned to Saga’s side. She’d passed me enough times to know. Her absence disturbed me to the core. As much as I wanted to stop her to make sure Hyph was all good, I decided against it.
Maybe she’s gotten a new job.
Maybe they’ve had a fight.
Maybe she’s resting.
