Page 27 of Suleem and Yahzi
I smiled so damn big then rolled my eyes. “I was gonna stop on the way and get what I needed.”
He chuckled and pulled from the blunt pinched between his fingers. “It’s cool, I got you. You ready now?”
I nodded and lifted onto my toes to kiss him. I tried to make it quick but he moved his hand down my back and palmed my ass, holding me to him while he blew smoke in my mouth then followed that up with his tongue exploring mine. He ashed what was left of his blunt in the glass dish filled with sand sitting on the table next to him. I folded the glass doors back in place while he went to the room to get his keys and wallet.
It was crazy to me how different this building was now compared to before they remodeled everything. Suleem’s space was wide open with glass walls, exposed brick, and heated natural wood floors stained to make them look black and match the hardware and accents in the kitchen and bathroom.
He had matte black appliances—stove, refrigerator, and oven—which replaced the cheap old school white joints that the property managers purchased in bulk years ago. These units were beautiful. Although the rest of the building wasn’t as nice, they were definitely upgraded from the basic, cheap layouts they used to be.
We left the building and as soon as we stepped off the elevator into the lobby a group of kids barreled through the entryway. He frowned and stepped in their way.
“The fuck y’all running for? What I tell you 'bout that?”
“We need to get to Miss Chandra’s before she close the store. She ’bout to get married.”
“It’s too damn early for y’all to be banging on her door. Here…” He reached in his pocket, removed a fold of cash, and handed each of them ten dollars. “Go to the corner store and stay yall’s bad asses out the street.”
“Can I have two tens?” The one little girl with them looked up at him and smiled sweetly, forcing one from me.
“Yo’ ass is hustling niggas already?” He kneeled down. “Come here.”
She walked to him and he looked her in the eyes. “Don’t ever ask a man for stuff. Real men take care of the women in their lives. You should never have to ask for anything. That’s your brother, right?” Suleem jerked his head and motioned to one of the little boys and she nodded. “He’s gonna make sure you good. Isn’t that right, lil man?”
I watched her brother frown for a minute then he nodded. “She can have my money.”
“That’s what’s up. You see that, pretty?” She smiled and took the ten her brother extended her way. Suleem tapped her chin and stood before he removed two more tens and handed them to her brother.
“This for me?”
“Yeah, you was ready to look out for your sister. I respect that. Go get what you want but don’t spend all that shit today.”
“Thank you.” He beamed, shoving the bills into his pocket.
The rest of them started asking for more and Suleem shook his head. “Nah, y’all ain’t about to hustle me, say thank you or I’m taking my money back.”
They all sang thank you as they ran toward the entrance talking about what they were going to buy.
“And stop fucking running,” Suleem yelled, shaking his head.
“You’re cute, that was sweet.”
He smiled lazily, giving me low eyes. “I’m cute ’cause I’m trying not to get hustled by them kids?”
“No, you’re cute because you’re dropping knowledge so she doesn’t grow up hustling men.”
“She’s still gonna do that shit though.” He grinned and I shrugged.
“She might but she also could remember what you said and want better for herself when she’s old enough to understand what you just told her.”
He dropped his arm around my shoulders and tucked me at his side before he kissed my temple. We walked out the back entrance to the building and he hit the locks on his Jeep and opened my door before he got in on the other side.
I rode shotgun next to my man, scrolling through my phone while he bobbed his head, rapping Krist’s song “Banger” word for word. When we made it to the shop, at a business park near Highland Park Recreational Center, he exited first to let me out and walked me to the door. I was prepared to tell him I’d call when I was ready but he opened the door and followed me in. At eight, three of the five stations were already full and four other women were seated on the pink vinyl sofas placed in an L to form a waiting area.
“Who you seeing?”
“Miesha.”
“Ay, who is Miesha?” I cringed when he yelled that shit, getting everyone’s attention. Every set of eyes in the building moved to Suleem then slowly over to me. I could see them trying to figure out what the hell he was doing in there which made me relax some because this was obviously very out of character.
