Page 84 of Arris, Jayme & Dyani
“Sounds like you’ll be busy.” I whistled.
“Yeah, but I’m not complaining. A little extra money ain’t never hurt anything.”
“Tell me about it,” Jayme snickered, the sound making Arris’s little smirk morph into a full-fledged smile.
“If either of y’all need me, call me though. I’m going to leave my cell phone’s volume on.” Arris looked from me to Jayme.
“Alright.” She rolled her eyes with a little grin.
“Dyani?”
“If I need you, I’ll call you,” I assured him.
“I’m holding you to that.”
I nodded and Arris pushed off the counter and finally let his hands fully fall from my body.
The three of us got ready for our days then headed out. I was able to secure my sale and collect my check. I spent a little time on the phone with Illiana who actually did have a project she wanted to bring me in on so we met up at her office and discussed the details. Then I went to work hunting down the art she was looking for. After about three hours I had it locked down and verification in process.
I continued to ignore text messages from Darryl and calls from my dad. By the time I finished it was a little bit past lunch so I picked up two pizzas and did the rounds, bringing one to Arris, then one to Jayme. Both of them beamed when they saw me and welcomed me with hugs and kisses.
The salon Jayme worked out of was extremely welcoming and I hung out while she worked. She had magical hands. I’d never seen her at work before but it was crazy how good she was. She was personable and good at being firm while not being rude as she compromised with the different people in her chair, making sure they got what they wanted and didn’t veer too far from what they originally booked and paid for.
When she finished for the day, we split up so she could go pick up Blake and I could head home and shower.
The new normal of spending every night with Arris, Jayme, and Blake was nice and I hoped we kept it up even when we were out of this “new relationship cupcake phase”.
After my shower, I packed a bag and headed down to Jayme’s spot where she was sitting on the floor in the living room with Blake. They invited me to sit on the floor and color with them. I stared at Blake while he talked about how he’d spent his day and the new monster truck he was interested in getting.
Jayme asked about his classmates, teacher, and work and I just listened to the whole thing while I colored the sheet Blake had assigned to me.
We watched a little cartoon, then the three of us had dinner. I cleaned the kitchen while Jayme got Blake in the tub then I helped her with bedtime for the very first time.
She let me read the book to him and watching him fall asleep was the sweetest little thing. We cleaned up the living room and I did a double take when I saw Blake’s little drawing. There were four people in the picture and I immediately got teary eyed because I saw I was one of them.
I hadn’t questioned my relationship with Jayme and Arris in a while but the picture in front of me made all the other noise in my world silent.
I was definitely meant to be right where I was, no matter who didn’t support it.
Chapter 18
Arris
I turnedthe mirror to the girl standing in front of me doing her best to see the koi fish I’d tattooed on the back of her leg. She looked in the mirror and tilted her head one way then the other.
“This looks amazing, Arris. Thank you!” She smiled.
“No problem. I’m glad you love it.”
“I really do.” She pulled cash out of her bra and I watched her count it out before she handed it to me.
I counted it a second time, out loud to her, before I pocketed it. Then I walked her ass to the door. It was already nine at night. I’d been going all day but I’d raked the cash in. I’d even taken some small tattoos between the large ones I had scheduled.
I’d moved my jewelry and a few valuables I had laying around to my car and would be leaving it at Jayme’s spot now that I had people coming in and out of my spot and I was spending every night there. Did I think anybody was stupid enough to try to get some shit over on me? Fuck no, especially not in D-Ville, but crazier shit had happened. If the Bedford Boys had a mark on me from that lil fight outside the liquor store, it was better to be safe and proactive.
I got ready to smoke a joint and clean my work station.
Then I looked down at my phone and cursed when I saw it was Kassir, one of the two DP leaders. It was unusual that he was calling me. Shit. He usually didn’t need to. I did my work, stayed beneath the radar, and did my best to make sure I contributed to DP however and whenever I could. I’d never tried to slide up the ranks or no shit like that and I was sure that was how I was able to move how I did. I was a firm believer in not having too many leaders and nobody to lead. I was cool with following when a nigga was worthy of the respect required to lead. Kassir and Suleem were easily them niggas.
