Girls From da Hood 7

by Nikki-Michelle Redd

  My phone vibrating alerted me to an incoming text. It was my lover asking me to come see her. I ignored her. Although she claimed to love me, every time she wanted to see me, it involved sex and, not that I was complaining, but I wasn’t in the mood. After her texts went unanswered she called over and over until I simply turned my phone off. I must have fallen asleep not soon after because I woke up seven hours later. I looked at the clock, realizing that I only had thirty minutes to make it to the session my teacher was having at Barnes & Noble. I quickly jumped up and got dressed. It took me fifteen minutes to get myself together. Good thing Barnes & Noble was right down the street. As I drove, I remembered his warning about not being late, but I couldn’t care less. My mission was still to get him. No matter what was going on in my personal life, I wouldn’t allow it to stop me.

  Needless to say, by the time I got there everyone was packing up to leave. I spotted Mr. Rodriguez as students were leaving and rushed over to him. He spotted me from the corner of his eye as he sat at the table, gathering his things.

  “Ms. Dixon, nice of you to show up. I didn’t spot you in class today, either,” he said as he looked up at me.

  He was so sexy. Those honey-golden eyes looked up at me, waiting for me to give him a plausible excuse.

  “I tried to get here on time, but things at home just aren’t working too well for me—”

  “Excuses are for people looking for a way out, Ms. Dixon. Now, I opened the spot for you in this group because you’re one of my best students and because you said you needed help. There were many other students whom I told no when they asked to join after the deadline who needed to be here more than you.”

  I watched as he stood and grabbed his leather laptop bag and threw it over his shoulders.

  “I know and I’m really sorry, but some things can’t be helped, Mr. Rodriguez—”

  “Still making excuses, Ms. Dixon. If you want to be here tomorrow then be here; if not, I will carry on and you will not be allowed another chance. This session is over. See you tomorrow.”

  And with that, he left me there looking like a fool. I sighed and shook my head. I should have just stayed in my hotel room. All of this to get some dick was not what I was used to. Usually it took me no time to hook and snare a man. I picked up my face and walked out to my car, but realized I was hungry. Quickly turning back around I went inside the café at Barnes & Noble and ordered myself a sandwich and a red velvet muffin, with a white chocolate mocha. I did all of that to get to the register and realize I’d left my damn wallet in my hotel room. Feeling embarrassed, I cursed myself and just walked away from the counter.

  I wanted to scream, but just walked to my car, shaking my head, then realized I’d left my keys on the damn counter at the register. I laughed at the craziness of it all, but before I could turn around and make my way back in the store, Mr. Rodriguez called my name. I turned around and he stood there with my keys and the food I’d ordered.

  “Thank you.” I smiled and shook my head. “You didn’t have to buy the food.”

  “It was nothing,” he said as he passed my keys to me and the bag with my food in it.

  I watched as he looked past me to my car. I’d just realized that clothes were still thrown haphazardly across the back seat. I laughed to myself at how it must have looked and was about to explain that it wasn’t as it looked when I stopped myself. Maybe this can work in my best interest if I play my cards right, I thought.

  I gave what appeared to him to be an embarrassed smile. “Have some things going on at home ...”

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain anything,” he said as he looked at me and we both stood silent for a moment. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  I quickly shook my head. “No. I’ll get it figured out in a couple of days.”

  “Are you living in your car?”

  I looked up at the concern etched over his face. He’d probably go home and tell his wife about how it was sad to see one of his students live such a way. That only made me want him more. Lots of things attracted me to a man, not just his pockets.

  I shrugged and looked at him while I fumbled around with my keys. “Technically,” I answered. “I have a hotel room, but tomorrow is my last day, then I have to figure out my plan B.”

  “You have no family that could lend a hand?”

  “My mom is the one who put me out. All my family that I know of is back in New York.”

  He put a hand in his pocket and we both pulled our jackets closed when the wind came barreling through.

  “Look, I have to get going to pick my wife up from work, but look on the class Web site and take my cell down. Call me and let me know you’re okay and I’ll see what I can do to get you some help. You shouldn’t be living in your car and you need to figure out where you’ll sleep after tonight. My wife works with a women’s shelter. I’ll talk to her and see what we can help with.”

  I was surprised when he took my keys from my hand, unlocked my door, and held it open for me. I got in and took my keys when he held them out to me.

  “Thank you. I really appreciate this. I’ll pay you back.”

  “You worry about getting a roof over your head. Maybe you can go back and talk to your mom. Maybe you and she can work something out?”

  I shook my head. “I’ll take my chances in a hotel. Thank you again. I have to go.”

  I pulled my door closed and waited for him to back away before starting the car and backing out. I’d made up my mind already that there was no way I was setting foot back in my mom’s home. That was her first and last time putting me out.

  I made it back to the hotel and showered, all the while thinking of ways to get out of this hotel and find me a suitable place to live. I could have gone out and found me another sponsor, but I wasn’t in the mood. I hadn’t been touched by a man in six months and I needed to be touched badly. I always waited before jumping to another sponsor so as not to get anything mixed up. I needed to make sure one was completely out of the picture before stepping to another. While I loved men, sex, dick, and money, I was not about to possibly get caught in the crossfire of two men fighting. Yes, my pussy was just good.

  It didn’t take long after I got out of the shower for my phone to start ringing.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to see you, Vix.”

  “Why? So you can start another fight?”

  She sighed. “No, baby. I miss you and I’m sorry. You know I just hate to see you give my love away.”

  “Give it away? I’m not seeing anyone but you.” I sat down on the bed and began oiling my legs.

  “I know, but I see the way you look at him. He’s married and he barely pays you any attention anyway, Vix. Why do you throw yourself at these men?”

  “I don’t throw myself at any man and even if I did, it’s my prerogative.”

  She was silent for a moment. Her voice was beautiful, very smooth and feminine, the kind that could make any man weak at the knees.

  “They’ll never love you like I do.”

  “I don’t want them to.”

  “Fuck you, Vix.”

  I’d known that would make her mad.

  “You can if you want to.”

  Just like I knew what would make her mad, I knew what would calm her down.

  “Really?”

  I could hear the excitement in her voice.

  “Yes, really. I’m horny and need a fix. Where are you?”

  “Our place.”

  “Okay. Be there in an hour.”

  It was nothing to get her to calm down and it meant that I could get out of that hotel room. I finished oiling my skin and pulled on a sweater dress with no underwear. The wind against my yoni felt good to me. On the drive over to her place, I thought about my life. Ever since I could remember I’d been a fighter except for that first time being touched by a man. Even when I knew he was violating me, I didn’t fight back h
ard enough and that shit always bothered me. I couldn’t tell you why. I never had the urge to be a victim of my circumstances like most of the people from my hood. Most of those motherfuckers were okay forever being what they called “hood.” Not me. I was so happy when my mom finished school and pulled us up out of there.

  I remember one morning stepping out of the building we’d lived in. I was on my way to school, and my friends and I stepped right over a dead body. The sad part about it was we’d gotten so used to it that we stepped over it just as if it was a piece of trash in the street. Police, sirens, and crime scene tape, those were our Christmas decorations at one point in time. Used needles, condoms, and crack pipes seemed to be our Christmas ornaments. Never again would I go back to that.

  My car started beeping. I looked at the dashboard and shook my head. I never remembered to put gas in my car until the last minute and it’d finally caught up with me. My car was threatening to cut off on me and before I made it to an exit I ended up having to pull over on the side of the road.

  “Damn.”

  I looked behind me at headlights, shaking my head as other cars passed me. I was about to call my lover when I remembered Mr. Rodriguez telling me to call him. I believed in a thing called fate and I liked to think fate had something to do with the situation I was in. I’d taken the time when I got back to the hotel room to take his number from the school Web site. I dialed his number and waited.

  “Hello,” he answered, sounding as if he was sleeping.

  “Hi. Is this Mr. Rodriguez?”

  “Sí. Who’s calling?”

  Damn, that simple yes in Spanish made my yoni thump.

  “This ... this is Vix Dixon. I was calling—”

  “Hold on,” he said before I could finish.

  I heard him speaking to someone in Spanish in the background and it sounded like covers rustling, like he was getting out of bed. I could tell he had gone somewhere quiet because I could no longer here the TV that had been blaring in the background.

  “What can I do for you, Ms. Dixon?”

  I put on my best damsel-in-distress voice. “I called because you said I could if I needed anything. I’m kind of stuck on the side of the road.”

  “What do you mean kind of stuck?”

  “My car ran out of gas. I was driving around to see if I could find a cheaper hotel and I forgot I needed gas.”

  I heard water running as he talked. “Still no help from anyone who could let you stay with them?”

  “No, I don’t have friends like that.”

  He sighed. “Where are you, Ms. Dixon?”

  “I’m stuck on 75 North just before exit 246.”

  “Okay. I’ll be there in thirty. Stay in the car, keep the doors locked, and turn your blinkers on. I’ll call this number back when I think I see you.”

  “Okay and thank you.”

  I smiled to myself as I pressed the end call button on my cell. I was beyond excited and felt my nipples harden at the thought of him being near me. His wife had to be dumber than a box of rocks. No way would I allow my husband to come out alone and help some random woman. I pulled down my visor and made sure my lips were still glossy and my hair still had its fluff. I love the way my hair flowed down my back, and its natural auburn color always got compliments. I was only a couple of exits away from my lover’s condo, but was in no hurry to get there. I looked at my cell as it rang. I ignored it and got out of the car after pushing the button to pop my trunk. Although the sweater dress was warm, it wasn’t warm enough to keep out the chills.

  It wasn’t too long before the horns started blaring as men caught the sight of my heart-shaped ass bent over in the trunk of my car. I had to search in a few bags before I found a coat. Just as I was pulling it on, my cell rang and I rushed back around to the front seat to grab it.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Ms. Dixon, I asked you to stay in your car until I got to you. It’s not safe for a woman to do what you’re doing.”

  I saw his headlights pull in behind me and looked over my shoulders with a smile. Excitement rained over me.

  “I was cold. Just got out to get a coat.”

  “It was still a bad judgment call, Ms. Dixon.”

  He didn’t say anything else and a few seconds later he appeared at my driver’s side door. I had one foot in and one foot out of the car as he kneeled down and immediately looked at my gas gauge.

  “Start your car if you can.”

  I did what he asked, and it had just enough juice so he could see that I really had no gas. Him being so close to me in such an intimate way made me lick my lips as I looked down at him.

  “I always do this and it finally caught up with me.”

  “Do what?”

  “Wait until the last minute to put gas in my car.”

  He made the mistake of looking straight ahead and caught a glimpse of my bare essentials. I wanted to smirk, but quickly played coy by pulling my dress down and pulling my other leg into the car. The fact that it made him nervous because he rubbed the top of his head and looked away quickly turned me on. His Spanish heritage gave him black, shiny, silky hair that sat in a low cut on his head. He smelled good and he looked even better. He smelled like a spicy musk and Ivory bath soap. I was about to make my move when the horn blared from his truck. I quickly turned around, then looked back at him.

  He looked up at me. “I brought my wife with me.”

  I wanted to laugh to myself at the way he said it. It was like he knew what I was up to and he was sending a message, but his wife I couldn’t care less about. I heard a door slam behind us and looked to see a woman walking toward us with her arms folded. It was clear that she was cold even underneath her coat, scarf, and hat. Even I was surprised at how cold Atlanta’s weather had gotten.

  “Is she okay?” I heard her ask.

  He quickly stood and walked to meet her halfway. I listened to him tell her that they would have to take me to get gas. Not wanting to be rude, I stepped out of my car to introduce myself. His wife’s nice demeanor immediately faltered.

  “This,” she stated firmly as she pointed at me. “This is your student?”

  Trouble in paradise, I thought as I walked over to introduce myself. I watched as he closed the gap between them as he talked to her.

  “Sí, she is my student, Maria. Nothing more.”

  “Motherfucker, you must think I’m stupid or something ?” Her Spanish accent was thick. She reminded me of the Puerto Rican chicks from back home.

  “Maria, calmar los ánimos. No hacerlo aquí. I brought you with me. Do you think I would have done that had it been anything else?”

  He was holding her arms as he spoke to her, searching her face for some hope that she believed him, but she kept her eyes locked on me. I smirked.

  “Nigga, get your hands off me. You think I’m stupid, Alex? Huh? Think I’m gon’ sit my ass at home this time and pretend that I don’t notice your shit starting to stank?”

  He stepped closer to her and, although I couldn’t make out what he was saying, I could tell he was speaking through clenched teeth. Whatever he said to her calmed her down enough to stop her from talking. I waved at her and walked back to my car and a few seconds later he came back.

  “I can take you to a gas station just off this exit and get you some gas. I have a container in my truck.”

  I was about to respond when, much to the surprise of us both, his wife started his truck and pulled off into traffic. To be honest, I didn’t know whether to jump for joy or be embarrassed for him. Some women are so fucking stupid and her stupidity just put her husband right into the lion’s den.

  He pursed his lips and cursed in Spanish.

  I sat with my mouth open in mock shock and surprise. “Oh my God! Did she just leave you out here?”

  I got out of my car and walked back to my trunk. I pulled off my thigh-high boots and grabbed my Nike Shox, throwing them on.

  “Look, I’m sorry about this,” he said to me as he wat
ched me. “You can sit in your car and I’ll walk to get you some gas. Do you have a gas container?”

  I shook my head as I pulled my coat from the car, then my purse and cell, before slamming the door closed.

  “If I’d known this would have been such a hassle for you, I wouldn’t have called. I could have just walked myself.”

  He grabbed me by my arm to turn me to face him after I hit the button to set the alarm on my car.

  “Look, just relax, okay? I said I would go and get the gas for you. Stay here until I get back.”

  “No. It’s cold, and at least when we get to a gas station I can warm up.”

  He looked at me for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, but walk on the inside. I don’t want you to get hit.”

  I nodded and we began to walk. Judging by the looks of things it would be a minute before we found a gas station. We walked in silence for a while. My phone kept ringing. My lover was probably furious that I wouldn’t answer the phone. In this case, she could wait. I was cold and pissed.

  “I’m sorry about the thing with your wife. I didn’t mean to cause any problems,” I finally said to him after we’d walked a mile or so.

  “Trust me, you’re not the real issue,” he responded. His tall frame towered over me and even with his shoulders bunched up and hands deep in his pockets, he was still sexy.

  “Well whatever it is, I triggered her outburst and I’m sorry.”

  He looked at me as we walked, both almost frozen stiff. “It’s my own issues and shit that caused that. I guess seeing you opened old wounds for her.”

  As cars zoomed past and some blew their horns at us in annoyance, we kept walking, having this mild conversation to taper away at the awkwardness of it all.