Page 38 of No Remedy for Love

“Just one of many.” Remi winked, rendering him speechless.

“Damn, your pops really was a legend. Creating generational wealth is impressive.” Blaze nodded his head in respect. That’s exactly what he wanted to do for his future kids.

“Yeah and it also helps that I’m an only child. But seriously, Blaze, if you’re really serious about getting your own shit, the office is yours. We can discuss all the details later but you can hire at least ten barbers and run your own shop.”

“Hell yeah, I’m serious! We can talk details now, so I can get on the ball with the renovations. I also wanna know more about your sneaky ass and this nigga that I’m beefing with now.”

Blaze made a bold move and pulled Remi up from the sofa and sat her on his lap. He fully expected her to protest or jump up, but she surprised him when she got comfortable in her new spot. Over time, she loosened up around him and let her guard down. Remi wasn’t shy but she didn’t go too far knowing that he was a married man. Blaze thought about it long enough and he had finally decided that it was time for the divorce papers to come out of the safe and into the hands of his attorney once Reanna signed them. He was ready to move on with his life without her being in it. He was really feeling Remi and he wanted to see how far things with them would go. But, as petty as it sounded, he was gonna have a little fun with Mav before it was all said and done.

“Man, fuck! Stupid ass bitch!”

Ferris ended the call and stuck his phone in his front pocket. He’d been calling Reanna for almost a week, and she was still being a bitch. She answered just to curse him out and tell him off but that was about it. He knew that she would be pissed, but it never lasted that long. Ferris had a lot of product but he couldn’t do anything without her. Reanna wanted a nigga to kiss her big fake ass and unfortunately, he had to pucker up. She sent him a picture of the large quantities of Ketamine that she’d been taking fromher job but she was holding the shit hostage.

Monique was trying to come back to New Orleans for a while, but she waited too long to get the contract and the nurses were already chosen. They told her that she would have another opportunity soon, and he was trying to get right before that happened. He spent a lot of money when she visited before but he didn’t mind. He was about to make it right back if Reanna stopped being childish.

Ferris didn’t foresee things with Monique getting as serious as they did, but he wasn’t complaining. She was nothing like any other female that he’d ever been with and he found himself doing things differently. He liked their PDA and long, late-night talks. It wasn’t just about sex with her like it was with most females. He was falling in love with her and she had him wanting to settle down. It was a plus that she didn’t know anybody and nobody knew her either. Aside from Remi and Tracy, everything about his city was new to her. If she came back on a nursing contract, he was gonna do everything in his power to make the move a permanent one. He enjoyed visiting her in Arizona but New Orleans was home. They had never discussed it before, but he hoped that it would be home to her one day soon.

“Damn bruh, who pissed in your cereal?”

Mav walked outside of the rec room right as Ferris was hanging up his phone. A local organization was hosting a giveaway at the rec center and everybody in the hood showed up with donations of clothes, shoes, and other items to give to the less fortunate. Kiva had gathered up a bunch of their son’s old clothes and Mav had just dropped them off.

“These hoes got my nerves bad outchea fam. Give me a light.” Ferris pulled a pre-rolled blunt from his back pocket andput it in between his lips. He lit it with the lighter that Mav had just handed him and took a long pull.

“I thought you was in love and shit. Nigga barely see you since ole girl been in town.”

“You already know how that is. I see you niggas every day. I only get to see her every few months.”

“She must not be trying to go back home. Ole girl got you moving different and shit.”

“She went back home a few weeks ago, but that’s my baby. We’re good. She ain’t the one that I wanna slap the fuck out of.”

Hearing him say that had Mav in his feelings. Remi straight up lied to his face. She had him thinking that her girl was still in town. They were supposed to hook up when he saw her that last time, but she claimed to have gotten drunk and fell asleep by Tracy. It sounded like bullshit from the jump, but he didn’t press her too much. She was really playing with him, but it was all good. Admittedly, Mav was in his feelings. He knew that he was a fly ass nigga and he never had a problem with women. Remi was acting like he wasn’t that nigga and that kinda played on his self-esteem. Then, to know that she was more than likely entertaining a nigga that worked for him was insane.

“What’s the problem then?” Mav asked once he snapped back to reality.

“It’s this other dumb bitch who I need to get at. Her husband must be dicking her down again.”

“Bitch ass nigga.”

“Huh? I thought you and ole boy was cool.”

“Man, fuck that nigga. He seems to have problem with the rules of my shop, so we’ve been having a lil problem lately.”

“The fuck! Since when? Shit, last I heard, you were feeling fucked up for what his wife was doing to him.”

“He married a hoe, but that’s all on him. If he can’t follow the rules of my shop, he can get the fuck on. Ain’t no more of all that extra shit that he had going on.”

“I thought you said you let him do his lil weed thing in the shop since he brings in most of the customers.”

“Check it, the nigga is popular, I can’t even lie, but he ain’t the best barber in my shop. Niggas come because my people can cut. He ain’t gon’ make or break my business, believe that.” Mav was letting anger and jealousy get the best of him. He wasn’t making decisions that were best for his business.

“I hear you, bruh. But on another note, what’s this I hear about you and Remi fucking around again?” Ferris puffed on his blunt as he looked to Mav for an answer. That wasn’t his first time hearing it but the person who was saying it this time was a much more credible source.

Mav smirked, “Nah man, that ain’t true.”

“Shit, you ain’t gotta lie to me, nigga, but your girl might not take it too well. People talk and you should know that from the last time.”

“Man, my girl ain’t worrying about nothing that these jealous, bum ass hoes gotta say. She’s good and I make sure of it.”

---