Page 65 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio
“Aye mayne! Say mayne. Whole lotta Memphis ish going on,” Glee mimicked, causing me to roar in laughter.
“Please…neverdo that again. You sound like Terrance Howard in Hustle and Flow.”
I hadn’t really known many people from Memphis, but I knew enough to realize that her impression of the accent was terrible. Memphians are country, and they have that twang in their speech because I could hear it every time Tunan opened his mouth, but they weren’t that damn country.
“I’m just saying, that's how they sound. Now, where you meet him, and is it serious?”
Plopping down on the bed beside my half-packed suitcase, I shrugged. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. As a big sister, who wanted my little sister to be the complete opposite of me and do everything the right way, I wasn’t about to talk to her about the arrangement Tunan had proposed to me. No way. I’d have a heart attack if I knew my sister was getting fucked, let alone marrying a stranger just because she wanted to “belong.”
“Glee…” I used my strict voice.
Rolling her eyes, she made her way into my closet. “I know, I know. No boys. You can say that until you’re green in the face, and my answer will remain the same.” I could hear her shifting clothing on the rack. “Blayke and I aren’t worried about boys. I’m telling you…”
Once she graced me with her pretty face again, I smiled at the outfit she had held out. Taking it off the hanger, she shook it and handed it over while looking at me. “Let us live vicariously through you, though. Wear this. I hid it in hopes you’d forget about it so I could wear it myself.”
I chuckled at her candid personality. It was about to be a long summer with Calista and Blayke, but the grin on my face said it would be a fun one. I just had to get through this mess with Tunan first. Hopefully, it was all a bluff because hidingmy marriage from my sister and mother was something I didn’t want to do.
But I would.
It wasn’t like it would be real if we did get hitched. It would only be for the plot.
Shieldingmy hand over my eyes to block out the sun, I squinted while looking among the row of cars. I didn’t know what I was looking for; I just knew he was coming to pick me up. I’d been off my flight for about ten minutes, and in that short time, I’d relieved my bladder, touched up my makeup, and gotten through the airport. I knew Memphis was small, but their airport? It was almost laughable how tiny it was. Jagoda Bay’s was huge; not as big as Atlanta’s, but at least three times the size of Memphis. Even Sparkling City had Memphis beat, and before now, theirs had been the smallest to me.
I could feel my edges curling up, which meant the heat was melting the edge control, and if sweat poured from my hairline, my makeup would be ruined. I wasn't trying to look like a melted candle, but didn’t have a solution since I’d packed light. I’d already talked to my sister, who was now at home with Blayke and waiting for the pizza I’d just ordered for them. I’d even texted Tunan before I had gotten off the plane, since we were on the landing strip for a few minutes. He hadn’t replied. That was twenty-five minutes ago, and I was trying my hardest not to let my anger get the best of me. Just as I was about to bite the bullet and call Tunan, a loud voice boomed beside me.
“Ain’t that my fucking luggage?” A man, who was so slim that he had to use one of his hands to hold his black sweatpants up his waist, approached another guy with an accusatory glance,who was hauling a navy suitcase. “On God, I’m ’bout to lay yo’ thieving ass out if you stole my shit!”
Black sweatpants pulled up his pants one last time before getting into a fighting stance, holding his fist up while the person with the suitcase just stood there as if he wasn’t about to fight.
As I scanned the area, I tried to see if I was imagining this or if it was really happening. Two people stood with their cameras out, snickering, while everyone else walked past them, either shaking their heads or ignoring them completely.
“Is anyone going to stop this?” I asked myself, since I was alone in a city I’d never frequented.
I had no ride, I couldn’t take a Uber because I didn’t know where to go, and I had no desire to stick around in the murder capital of the South. I was about to use the remainder of the money Tunan sent and book a flight back home after blocking his number.
“Girl, that nigga shouldn’t have stole his shit. Times too fucking hard for niggas to be snatching up muhfuckas’ suitcases. I hope he dog walk his ass,” a cute brown-skinned girl with a round face and a laid gray frontal that looked like it was grown from her scalp said.
Before I could reply to her, black sweatpants threw the first punch, but didn’t stop there. He rained blows on the guy who still hadn’t let the luggage go, even while getting his head pounded.
“Period! This ain’t that, beat that nigga ass!” The girl held her phone up so that she could capture the fight.
My phone was still in my hand, but I was in disbelief that these people were fighting at the airport. There was no way I could ever. Who was trying to get put on the No Fly List? Not me.
The girl with the gray weave glanced from the fight to her phone and then to me. She kept recording, her phone positionedtoward the fight, but her eyes lingered. “You look cute, boo. I love that Lactose set.”
I’d put navy biker shorts underneath my white outfit to make it more practical for travel, and the entire time I prayed I hadn’t gotten it dirty. My look was simple but cute: a white Lacoste polo with the collar lined in navy. I had the shirt tucked into the matching double-pleated skirt. At the hem of the skirt, there was also a navy line. The brand's logo, which was an alligator, sat on the upper left side of the shirt. I finished my look with navy Bottega sneakers that had been a gift from Jisei; she’d been in the store buying herself a few pairs and bought me some. It was my first time wearing them, and they were more comfortable than I assumed they’d be. I’d also added a silver anklet and some minor silver accessories to top off the look.
“I had my eye on that set, but the booster got caught up with all my shit in the trunk. I told that hoe not to play in Tex-Ar county!”
“Thank you…” I was trying to engage in the conversation while also making sure I kept my eyes on the fight.
I didn’t know if I was watching for enjoyment or terror. Nonetheless, I was stuck. Black sweatpants were still winning, but the luggage thief had now begun lifting the suitcase and attempting to hit his opponent with it.
“You must be here to see you a lil’ junt or sum’n?”
“Hunh?” I’d looked back at the girl, and even though I was clearly alarmed, she continued to check out my attire.
“I said, ‘You must be ’bout to get up with a nigga?’ Don’t get me wrong, we got us some bad bitches out here, but you stick out like a sore thumb. Plus, I know you not vacationin’ out here. Memphis in May ain’t until next week, and it ain’t shit else going on in the city. Unless you one of them TikTok people that travel to test out different cities. You do look familiar…” Shesquinted and tilted her head, all while still holding the phone and recording the fight.
