Page 18 of Gotta Jones For Ya
“My girl, I’m slam packed. My shoulders hurt. My playlist stayed lit all day, though.”
She made a little “mmhmm” sound, always proud of how I kept my hustle going. “And how’s your love life?” she asked next, like it wasn’t comin’. “You stillsinglesingle?”
“Hmmm…” I paused and bit my lip. “…I’m kinda seeing somebody. Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Maybe. Something like it.”
Silence.
“Ohhh?” she dragged it out, voice full of interest. “Is he handsome? Employed? Does he believe in Jesus?”
I snorted. “Yes, yes, and… I think so? He doesn’t live in Arbor Hills. East Hollis. But he comes here… often. He’s… okay. I like… I like him. And he makes me laugh.”
She hummed again. “Well, I’ll reserve judgment until I meet him, but I’m happy for you, baby. Just don’t get too caught up too fast. You know you lead with your heart sometimes.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. “I’m tryna be smart about it.”
“Well, good,” she said. “Carl and I are about to order room service, and I just wanted to hear your voice. I’ll text you some pics in the morning, okay?”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Love you more, sunshine.”
I hung up, stared at my phone for a second, then back at the box on the counter. And just like that… another text came in.
I shook my head and smiled as I went to cleanse the day away.
Fresh out the shower, my skin smelled like cocoa butter and honey. I stood in front of the mirror, still damp, dragging warm oil over my thighs and arms, watching the way the glow kissed my curves. Afterwards, I slipped into the blush pink lace lingerie that hugged me in all the right places and left damn near nothing to the imagination.
I reached for the necklace and clicked it into place around my neck, and then hooked the anklet around my ankle. For whatever reason, my heart thudded wildly in my chest. Reachingfor my phone on the nightstand, I took a breath and pressed the FaceTime button. The screen rang twice before connecting, but Knuck wasn’t on the other end.
It was some girl with long box braids and long lashes. A messy background that looked like a trap house. She smirked at me. “Oh, hey Future Wifey,” she said, tilting her head like she was amused.
I blinked. “Um… where’s Keon?”
She laughed. “He’s outside. So, you’re the new girl, huh? You’re pretty as hell.”
My jaw locked. “The new girl? Who the hell are you?”
“Geesh,” she rolled her eyes. “He never mentioned me? I’m his fav—”
I didn’t even wait for her to finish. I hung up, and silence swallowed the room. I sat there for all of three seconds before I snatched the necklace and anklet off, throwing them on the nightstand like they burned me.
“That’s what I get,” I muttered to myself, pacing my bedroom, hands on my hips. “That’s what the fuck I get for slipping and letting a fine-ass, toxic ass, crazy ass thug with a bomb dick get me caught up.” I grabbed my phone, jaw tight, vision blurry. I typed fast as hell.
I hit send, and I blocked Knuck’s number, then blocked him on social media. Placing my phone face down on the nightstand,I climbed into bed, chest hollow and hot. Tears hit my pillow without permission, and I curled into myself, trying to stop the ache in my chest from spreading.I shoulda known better…
Chapter NInE
Two weeks back in my city, and shit picked up right where I left it. My phone had been ringin’ nonstop wit’ customers at the lot wantin’ whips they can’t afford, runners checkin’ in wit’ money drop-offs, couple old heads asking for favors I didn’t have time to entertain. I’d been movin’ ‘round heavily, handlin’ business on both ends.
Spendin’ mornin’s at the dealership wit’ Kev and late nights collectin’ money and makin’ sure Wock held the streets down. Same old cycle. But somehow, through all that motion, Nyomi kept slow-dancin’ through my head.
Lil’ fine shit.
Every time my phone buzzed, I wanted it to be her. Every time I slid into my bed, I wanted it to be her in it. And I wasn’t even the type to get stuck like that, but somethin’ about her hitdifferent. That night at her place flipped some shit in both of us, and I felt it every damn day since. We wasn’t official, but I knew I was slowly wearin’ her ass down.
I leaned back in one of the fold-out chairs outside my sister’s crib, big ass smoke cloud leavin’ my lips as Wock and Trap talked across me.
“Bruh, I’m sayin’, we do the trade now, flip it by Friday, that’s a clean twenty-five in profit,” Wock said, tossing his lighter between his fingers. “But you gotta hit that dude up tonight, Knuck.”
