Page 4 of He Snatched My Soul

“And how am I acting, Ju?” I mugged him.

His brows lifted. “Last week, you wrecked what… your second car in just over a year? Ain’t nobody saying you can’t live your life, J. At some point, you gotta grow up, bro. Just go and dowhat you do. You and Modesty barely have to see each other. If it ain’t about work, you go your way, and I’m sure she would do the same, seeing she cold dissed your ass.” He found that shit funny.

“Man, whatever. She isn’t all that, anyway. I have better-looking bitches on my roster, so I ain’t trippin’,” I lied. Modesty was in a class by herself. She was beautiful, educated, and had her own bag. What was there not to like?

“You sure you don’t know her? The way she kept mugging your ass, you would swear y’all had some type of bad history.”

“Listen, when I tell you this… you can’t tell Pops. He already thinks I’m a fuck up.”

“I knew it! You hit that, didn’t you?” Julius shook his head.

“Man, keep your voice down,” I said, looking around for listening ears. “ But yeah, I did. When I bumped into shorty at my boy Omar’s club. I didn’t remember who she was. It wasn’t until I saw her today that the night we first met came back to me. It was at the soft opening at the spot here in Melville.” I told him, remembering bits and pieces of that day at our family’s hotel and casino.

“That was three years ago, bro. Modesty is fine as fuck. How the hell did you forget about her?”

“That night, I was high and drunk off my ass. All I remember was how beautiful I thought she was when I spotted her at the bar. Some shit must have gone down with her, though, because she looked like she had been crying.”

“So you played Captain Save-A-Hoe?”

“Hell naw! I was just trying to get some pussy. Modesty still looks the same, minus the blonde wig she wore that night. We sat at the bar, throwing back shots of Hennessy- just shooting the breeze. Her vibe was on point, and I genuinely enjoyed our conversation. We both were fucked up. I don’t think she had planned on fucking me that night. She invited me to her room, though, and that’s when shit got real.”

“What do you mean, got real?” Julius probed, looking intrigued.

“Bro, I never had a bitch out fuck me. I fuck bitches, not the other way around.” I shook my head, taking a long pull of my blunt. “She had me sprawled out like a bitch. I’m only admitting this to you. So if you tell anyone, I’ma fuck you up, then I’ma deny the shit.”

“Nigga, who I’m gonna tell?”

“I don’t know. Your ass looks like a snitch.” We both laughed. “But, for real, Modesty’s thick ass had me moaning like a bitch. It was like she knew a nigga better than I know myself. Ain’t no female ever had me like that.”

“Not even, Anastasia?” he said, talking about my ex.

“Naw, not even her. It wasn’t just the sex; it was her whole vibe. The next morning, I woke up with her head on my chest, drooling and shit. I remember just staring at her ass as she slept, thinking how beautiful she looked, even with dried up slob, crusty eyes, and her hair all over her head. I was thinking how good it felt having her in my arms. My heart started beating so hard as I lay there just watching her sleep so peacefully like we’d known each other for years. The shit freaked a nigga out. I couldn’t have that man. So I dipped out.”

“Damn. You a foul nigga. That’s why she looked like she was ready to cut yo’ ass at the table. She definitely remembers you.”

“Man, fuck you. And I think so, too.”

“You should talk to her. Could you imagine how she feels, knowing that a man she had a one-night stand with doesn’t even remember her name? You flaw, for that, bro.”

“Naw, I’m good. I ain’t trying to get caught up again. These hoes ain’t loyal.”

“Girl, no he didn’t try you like that!” Jayla, my best friend, cackled.

“And did. I kindly knocked his spoiled, arrogant ass down to size.” I joined in on my bestie’s laughter. “I still can’t believe the man who, in one night, snatched my whole soul didn't even remember me. I never felt so fucking stupid, friend. But not as stupid when I woke up the next morning to an empty hotel room.”

We were at a bar not too far from my condo. I had invited her out for drinks after I left Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong’s house. I was telling her about what had happened at dinner and about Jamian. I still can’t believe that he tried to shoot his shot with me like we ain’t ever met before.

“Why didn’t you just tell him who you were?”

“And risk being even more embarrassed? No, I’m good. At one point, I thought he did remember.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because when his dad offered me something to drink, that nigga gonna blurt out, ‘Don’t give me no Hennessy because it makes women do some wild shit.’ Girl, I about died.”

“Maybe he does remember. He’s just faking like he doesn’t. Didn’t you say y’all were drinking Hennessy that night?”

“Yes, but that could be just a coincidence. Jamian probably doesn’t even remember the bitch he slept with the night before last.” I downed another shot, feeling the burn in my chest from the warm liquid.

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