Page 9 of Until the Ink Dries

“Tierra’s usual shit, coming to the shop, asking for money. I have told her on more than one occasion to stay out of my shit. But when it comes to what she wants, she doesn’t care. She caused all of this for ten fucking dollars! I offered her fifty, man, just to speak to Charlie and she couldn’t even do that.”

I could feel myself getting angry all over again.

“Man, I hate to hear little bit has to keep going through that. You might have to get a restraining order on her or something,” he offered.

I chuckled. “You know they aren’t going for that shit. It’s going to be the same thing. Let’s just talk about something else. I saw you put up thirty points all by your damn self last night.”

“Man, you know this shit is light work for me. Now, back to this class reunion. I think I’m going to go, shit, why not? If for nothing else, just to see what everyone has gotten themselves into. If I go, you gotta go.”

“Says who? If you want to be in there taking pictures all night, that’s on you. I’m the only parent my daughter has, and the little time I do have left outside of work is hers.”

“If that’s the case, what are you doing in the bar right now? We all need a moment where we aren’t needed. You need a second to just be Ben. At least think about it,” he pointed out.

I heard him loud and clear, but it was hard to separate the two when I was all my daughter had.

“I’ll think about it.”

When Shirah said she would get me back to my old self, I didn’t think it would start so soon. I’d been back in town for twenty-four hours, and she already had me roaming the streets with her like we used to do. When she popped up at my parents’ house this evening, I thought she was coming to hang out until I saw her walk into my childhood bedroom with a duffel bag. She told me we were hitting the streets tonight, and she didn’t want to hear any lip about it.

Of course, I couldn’t say no. I was still trying to get back on her good side, so I got my ass up, found me something to wear, and now I was strolling the Rose Haven streets with her. We’d been out for about two hours now and had been to three different bars. The good thing was, we hadn’t paid for a single drink. Men kept adding our tab to theirs and we kept drinking.

We were headed to another place called Chrome Bar.

The line was already wrapped around the building, so I was confused when she walked straight up to the door.

“Hey, Big Bone,” she said to the security.

He smiled at her. “What up, Shy? You looking good as always.”

“I try, I try. Big, this is my bestie, Willow.”

He smiled at me. “Good evening, Ms. Willow. You look just as beautiful as your friend here.”

I blushed. “Thank you.”

“Is it lit in here tonight?” Shirah asked.

He nodded as he took the rope off to let us in. “You know it. Y’all ladies have a good night.”

I followed behind Shirah as the people in line complained about us not having to wait.

“You must come here often,” I said as we stepped into the liveliness.

“All the time, girl. I should have sunk my claws into Duke’s fine ass a long time ago.”

“Duke?”

“Duke Hinton owns this place.”

“The same Duke Hinton that was dipping and diving in every ho at the school?”

She laughed. “That Duke.”

Duke Hinton was absolutely a ladies man back in high school. We were friends only because I wouldn’t sleep with him. I had to friendzone him because he was a little too friendly with his dick. Girls were always fighting over him and it was so embarrassing.

“Is he still a ho?” I asked.

“He’s calmed down a lot, girl. He’s been chilling, running this place and running his motorcycle club.” She looked around the bar before pointing. “There he is.”

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