Page 7 of I Don't Want You Back

Chapter 2

“Come on Faryn. You never go anywhere with me. I’ll even drive, since I know you hate to,” Faryn’s neighbor, Harley, said.

She and Faryn had gotten close over the past year that they’d lived across the hall from each other. Faryn was a beautiful girl with a figure to die for, but she was too much of a homebody in Harley’s opinion. Men would fall at her feet, but she never gave them a chance to get close to her. Faryn was sorry when she got on the elevator and saw Harley running to catch up. She wanted the doors to close, but Harley made it before that could happen. They both lived on the fourth floor of their luxury apartment building and they’d moved in during the same week. Faryn had a lot of things that needed to be hooked up and Harley’s husband, Kyron, lent her a helping hand. Kyron was cool and he looked out for Faryn whenever he could. She was a single woman, so he didn’t mind. Harley liked her and that was good enough for him. Kyron and Harley had just finished the first-time home buyers program and they were in the process of looking for a house. Harley hated that she would be leaving Faryn all alone, but she was okay with being a loner.

“I keep telling you that I have to work tomorrow Harley. Besides, you know that your girl hates me. Why would you want me to go anywhere with her?” Faryn questioned.

“Monica is cool in her own way. She’s just intimidated when she sees another woman who’s doing better than she is,” Harley replied.

“That sounds stupid as hell. She doesn’t even know me. It’s not my fault that she lives in the hood and has multiple baby daddies. I’ve always tried to be nice, but fuck her,” Faryn argued.

Harley’s cousin, Patrice, used to come with them all the time, but she was pregnant now. Patrice was cool and she and Faryn got along great.

“Forget her Faryn. Are you gonna come out with me or not?” Harley asked.

“Not,” Faryn said as she fell out laughing.

“Ugh. You make me sick. You don’t do shit but sit inside and look up Pinterest recipes all day,” Harley fussed.

“Bitch, I don’t hear you complaining when it’s time to eat it though,” Faryn replied, right as the elevator stopped on their floor.

“I’m no fool honey. That shit be good as hell,” Harley laughed.

“Bye Harley. Not all of us are off every Saturday. I need to get ready for work tomorrow,” Faryn said as she pulled her keys from her purse.

“Seriously Faryn? It’s only six o’clock. Will you at least think about going out with me tomorrow night?” Harley asked.

“Yes Harley, I’ll think about it,” Faryn replied.

“I know your ass is lying. You have no life outside of work and home. You might as well become a nun,” Harley said, right as Faryn entered her apartment and closed the door in her face.

Harley was always saying that Faryn had no life and was probably a virgin, but she just didn’t know. The saying, ‘been there, done that’, truly applied to her life, but Faryn didn’t feel the need to disclose that information to anyone. She had seen enough drama to last her a lifetime and she welcomed the peace and quiet that she now had. Although she’d danced in the club for years, clubbing was never her thing. Faryn was happy watching a movie or curling up with a good book. She didn’t care what anyone said about her and she never did.

Faryn let out a breath of relief, happy to be back in her comfort zone. She looked around her modernly decorated apartment and smiled in appreciation. Faryn had moved in with only a few pieces of furniture, clothing, and electronics. During the first few months of her stay, she managed to fully furnish her two-bedroom apartment and purchase a car. The apartment that she lived in was pricey, but it was worth it. All her utilities were included, as well as a washer and dryer. She didn’t try to live above her means, so rent, car note, and insurance were really the only bills that she had. Faryn kicked off her black leather red bottoms and went to her spare bedroom to put them back in their box.

Faryn was never the type to care about labels, but her red bottom shoe collection had become her babies. It was Faryn’s guilty pleasure and she purchased a pair every time she got paid, as a special treat to herself. She had quite a few pairs of red bottom heels, high tops, and a few other styles that she fallen in love with. Aside from bills, it was the only thing that she’d ever spent money on. Redd had purchased her first pair for her as a graduation gift and she had been hooked ever since. A few of the girls in her graduating class wore a pair and, for the first time ever, Faryn felt like she fit in. She smiled at the shoe boxes, happy that she’d purchased them the honest way. When Faryn’s phone rang, she looked down at the screen and shook her head in disgust.

“What’s up Redd?” Faryn said as she answered the phone and made her way to her bathroom.

“Stop asking me what’s up like you don’t already know,” Redd replied.

Faryn didn’t know if he was dumb or stupid, but something had to be wrong. An entire year had passed since she left the strip club and last saw him. He called her just about every week trying to hook up, but Faryn’s answer was always the same. They still hadn’t exchanged real names, so he should have taken the hint.

“I have to work in the morning Redd,” Faryn said as she took off her work clothes and tossed them into the hamper.

“What about when you get off? I miss you, baby. I miss the way you smell, the way you taste. I just miss everything about you,” Redd confessed.

“I know Redd, but I be so busy all the time,” Faryn lied.

“Do you even still live in New Orleans? I don’t understand how I never ran into you nowhere for an entire year. This city is too damn small for that,” Redd replied.

“Of course, I still live here. I’ve never been out of New Orleans before in my life,” Faryn admitted.

“I can change that too. Just meet up with me and let’s talk. You got me feigning like a damn crack head,” Redd laughed.

“I’ll see Redd,” Faryn replied.

“You must have another nigga or something. You ain’t never used to turn me down before. This tongue used to have your ass climbing the walls at one time. I guess that new nigga must be hitting it right,” Redd speculated.

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