Page 20 of Finessed By A Hood White Boy

“Hell yea, ain't you?”

“To do what?” he questioned.

“Nigga, you act like the sky aint the limit,” Ace chimed in. “We get our money clean, we can do whatever the fuck we want.”

I nodded in agreement. I knew Ace would see my vision. Duke, on the other hand, was too invested in the drug game and felt that was the only way to live and get money. If he wanted to continue, and move forward with that journey, I would still support him no matter what. However, my mind was made up, and it was time for me to start my journey on a new route. Bruh was quiet for several seconds.

“Alright, I’m down.” He agreed, and we slapped hands.

“So, that’s it?” Ace checked his phone.

I knew his ass was eager to get up outta there because whenever pussy was on the line, he acted like a crack head.

“Yea, that’s all.” I shrugged. “I have a lot of shit going on when it comes to this new position. I’m letting yall know right now, I’m going to be laying low for a while.”

“You good man, handle your business.” Duke dapped me up.

“Yea, we got this. But uh, good talk, I’m out. I’ll holla at y’all niggas tomorrow!” Ace dipped.

Duke stayed behind to chill, and we continued to chop shit up. I even told him about Ava. I’d had my share of dating black girls. Well, I wouldn’t say I dated them—more like fuckin’ them and moving along. Anyway, I could tell she wasn’t like the girls from around my way. The more I watched her at work, and the more we talked on the phone, the more interested I became in getting to know her on a personal level. We’d been to lunch three times so far, and I enjoyed our one-on-one time.

It was something about the softness of her voice and her smile that made my dick jump and my heart pump a little faster. She didn’t give me a straight forward answer when I asked if she had a man. There was no ring on her finger, so I wasn’t concerned about whatever complicated situation she was referring to. I wanted her. I wanted her so bad I could damn near taste it. But, of course, I had been trying to keep shit professional. I wasn’t sure how long that would last, because sexually, I was a whole other person. And that muthafucka had been dying to come out to play. If I played my cards right, I just might let him. I was starting to see certain qualities in Ms. Ava that let me know she was the perfect match for my boy.

“Daddy, how come you don’t have a girlfriend?” Zoie asked out of the blue.

We were chillin’ and eating tacos I ordered from the Mexican restaurant not too far from my crib. This girl was always coming out of the blue and asking random ass questions that caught me off guard.

“Why are you asking me that, Zo? You think I need a girlfriend?”

She giggled, then shrugged her little shoulders.

“I don’t know. Mommy has a boyfriend.”

“She does?” I lifted my eyebrow.

“Umm hmm.”

“Your mommy let her boyfriend stay the night?” I questioned.

“Um…I don’t know. One time.” She bit into her taco.

I made a mental note to check Zenobia as soon as her ass came to pick Zoie up. She knew damn well I didn’t play those fuckin’ games. Although I paid all her bills, I didn’t give a damn who she spent her time with, as long as she didn't have random muthafuckas around my daughter. This was my first time catching wind of some shit like this. But to hear it come straight from Zoie, that shit had me heated. All the women I’d dealt with and fucked on, I never had them around my kid. The most they’d seen was a picture of her. When it came to my princess, I was careful about the company I kept around her.

“Can I have a boyfriend?” Zoie’s question pulled me from my thoughts.

“Zoe, haven’t we already talked about that?”

“But I’m nine now,” she sassed.

I chuckled, then wiped my mouth with a napkin.

“Age ain't nothing but a number, kid. When you finish school, go to college, graduate, and become a millionaire, maybe I’ll let you have a boyfriend. But that’ll be like fifty years from now.”

The ringing of my doorbell interrupted our conversation, and I knew it was Zenobia. Zoie already had her stuff neatly by the door, but she was in no rush to leave.

“Hey.” Zenobia smiled when I opened up.

I focused on her face with a scowl on mine. Her smile quickly faded as she looked at me with confusion.