“Oh my God, baby, are you okay?” Running up to Mike with the concerned voice only a mother could have, my face immediately ripped. Yeah, it’s my turn to clown now, if it ain’t the breakfast broad.
Mike turned my way to see if I was watching. Indeed I was. I twisted my mouth up raising my brow questioning him every nonverbal way I could. He knew I wanted to know who this girl was. He’d already ignored me all day for her and now she was on my territory. I felt the blood in my veins boiling. Smiling, throwing me for a loop, he grabbed her arm and started marching her my way.
“What is he doing?” Nique questioned, out of her trance now that Vic was gone. Still with a face of dried-up tears, she was still on guard for me.
“I don’t know, but we’re about to see.” I had to keep my fronts up. If nothing else, I was looking good. In the short time of watching ol’ girl, she wasn’t much to look at. She was bone thin and unexciting—no competition for the thickness Mike loved to grab on with me.
“Corielle, this is Alyssa. Alyssa, this is my ride or die chick Cori.” He let her hand go.
She had the nerve to raise it up to shake mine. Nique giggled.
“Nice meeting you, Cori.” She smiled, not knowing I’d knock her head from off her shoulders. Obviously she didn’t know any better so this would be her pass.
“Yeah, whatever, same to you. Mike, can I holla at you please?” Cutting my eyes hard, I was letting him know that no wasn’t an answer he could give.
“Sure. Alyssa, baby, g’on and get up out of here. I’ll meet you back at your crib when I shut the trap down.” He then smacked her on the ass making me want to smack him across the face. The blatant disrespect was uncalled for. I saw a lot of that was going down around here tonight.
“Okay, Mike baby, whatever you say. Nice to meet you again, Cori.” Not waiting for a reply, she walked away with confidence not knowing a cold-hearted bitch who wanted revenge off rip was watching her with evil intentions.
“So who is homegirl? And since when do you call the girl you’re sleeping with a ride or die chick? You’ve got some nerve nigga.” I wasted no time going in on him. We might’ve not had a title to what we were doing but he wasn’t about to flaunt girls in my face either. I might’ve liked Mike but he was trying my tolerance like I was some type of lightweight powder puff girl.
“Chill out, C. You and my cousin are both amped up tonight.” He laughed then took a swig from his Corona like it was nothing. “That’s Alyssa, like I said. I introduced y’all so you should’ve asked her when you had the chance.” Mike was talking with a smirk. He wasn’t taking my anger serious enough.
“I’ll go stop her and see for myself then.” I turned around quickly, ready to go chase Alyssa down and make good on my word, but he grabbed me back.
“Your ass stays feisty unless you blowing. That’s just a shorty I’ve been hooking up with; you know a nigga be down for whatever. Ain’t nothing serious like wedding bells, Cori, so calm your hype ass out. The turn up ain’t needed. It’s been enough heat surrounded around me for one night.”
“Boy, bye, whatever nonsense you talking, I ain’t trying to hear it. You keep that stank-breath bitch out of my face or else. You’ve got a lot of nerve to come at me about keeping the heat off of you when you invited her here. This is my turf.”
“Don’t threaten me, baby girl. You know I don’t take well to threats.” Mike’s dimples disappeared. He was all the way serious.
“And I don’t take well to people tempting me. So we’re even.”
“Get your ass to the back, Cori, now.”
I wasted no time doing as I was told. Moments later I was in the back bedroom with Mike’s tongue stuffed down my throat. As his hands roamed my body, rubbing on my exposed stomach, up my spine and unclipping my bra, he lifted my shirt then sucked each nipple like a starved child. I was moaning loudly in pure bliss and heat. I didn’t care who heard plus hoped Alyssa had crept back in and was listening outside of the door. I was serving Mike my milkshake and he was loving every drop.
“Now that you’ve calmed that little attitude of yours down, let’s talk business.”
Chapter Eight
Nique
Not supposed to drink because I was carrying Vic’s child, I sipped from Cori’s cup needing the liquor to help numb the hurt I was going through. I knew he wasn’t going to be thrilled about knocking me up, but I didn’t expect him to go as crazy as he did. Let that be a lesson to all men claiming not to want babies: strap up with a Magnum or get ready to help strap shorty up. He was acting like having a child with me was a death sentence or at least twenty-one years to life. True, I was a thief twenty-four hours of the day with the temper of a bull; but he was my bad boy and I thought together we’d be the new power couple like Bey and Jay. I hadn’t even gotten a chance to tell him I’d gotten some grams to flip from Wally. Here I was trying to get him back on in the streets but he was kicking me to the curb.
As I thought back on how the whole fiasco played out, I took a few more sips feeling it start to get me buzzed but nauseated at the same time. Images of the expression on Vic’s face as he yoked me up over the pool table wouldn’t go away. I thought Mike was gonna let him kill me. That nigga so tight with his money, he probably could rationalize a good reason and understand Vic set-tripping for me knocking his money from his hands. The only thing I could think of when I was trying to rip his chubby fingers from around my throat was how good it felt when we were together. Nothing in my life was going down the way it was supposed to. I’ve never been dealt the best hand of cards to play with so I guess karma ain’t done kicking my ass.
“Tell ya girl Tasha she can still run up.” I rubbed my big belly mean mugging the two chicks who were known to run with her who were staring off to the side. “Pregnant or not, her fake ass will still get the business.” Vic and his dick had caused nothing but problems for me.
“So how much did he give you?”
“Twenty-one hundred-dollar bills.” Cori waved the counterfeit money in the air. “That’s ten each.”
“What does he want on the come back?”
“I’ve got his list, don’t worry. He would’ve charged you two hundred dollars cash but wanted to contribute to helping you out of a tough situation.” Cori didn’t hold me up by blatantly pointing to my midsection.
“What the fuck? So instead of getting sexually pleasured, y’all were back there running down me getting the vacuum hooked up to my coochie?” Mike and Cori had me twisted.
“Girl, chill out. Please believe we weren’t back there sweating you getting knocked up by Slick Dick Vic. Your name came up as a sidebar when he ran down how to spend the cash at hand. Please don’t overplay your position.”
“Oh shit, that’s my bad. I just had to check two of Tasha’s friends for staring at me before you came from the backroom with Mike,” I apologized to Cori. I thought my hormones might’ve been getting the best of me, too.
“I ain’t trying to get cursed out for caring, Ta’Nique, but please just think long and hard about what’s best for you. If you keep that baby though, I’m gonna have to find me a place to stay. Between your hormones and Vic practicing for Wrestle Mania, I ain’t got time.”
“Girl, whatever. You owe me big for keeping chink boy Sam from snatching your ass up this morning. He was on you like white on rice, and you know they love them some rice.” Sharing laughs with my girl felt good. Me and Cori had been so caught up in drama, trying to survive, and the daily bullshit that surrounded us in the hood, that we’d forgotten how to just chill being two twenty-one-year-olds doing careless things.
It was totally time out for young-minded foolishness as we pulled into the parking lot of Walmart. It was time to do what made us most comfortable: being sneaky. Mike had given us $2,000 in counterfeit bills that we were getting ready to pass off as legitimate. If all went well, he’d promised to produce more. Almost three in the morning, the stores were close to empty as expected. Besides a few vamping strangers getti
ng late-night snacks or odds and ends, it was just me, Cori, and the underpaid workers. It could’ve been high noon with a store full of shoppers and we still would’ve done it big. I didn’t know about Cori but I felt real boss-like with a pocketful of money, knock-off Ben Franks or not. Both grabbing separate buggies, we each intended on filling them with miscellaneous items while scoping the scene. Even though the main goal was to get gift cards, we always shopped for other items to blend in and not seem too suspicious.
I strolled down the aisles with a watcher’s eye trying to see what everyone was doing. As always, Cori was already in motion not caring who or what could’ve been two steps ahead. The more I try to steal smart, the more reckless she becomes. Moving a little faster so I didn’t have to see what she was doing, something far more distracting caught my eye. Overwhelmed by the tiny clothes, bottles, and decorations in the baby section of Walmart, I couldn’t help myself from becoming emotional. If I were to have this baby, I’d be in sections like these day in and out. I went into a fantasy land as I ran my hands over the clothes gently trying to connect to the idea of possibly having a son or daughter. The idea didn’t seem too bad. It would finally give me the opportunity to be a better mother to my child than my mother had been to me. I decided to purchase the cutest unisex outfit that I could find. Tears were welling in each eye. My decision wasn’t made yet but, just in case, my preparation had begun.
Finally meeting back up with C, we knew the routine when dealing with self-checkout. Any items that passed the register without being scanned would trigger the register to stop scanning, alerting both the cashier and customer the item needed to be scanned. And neither of us wanted that glitch in our plan. I picked up five gift cards and was planning on loading $200 on each to flip for half. I started scanning items and hurriedly stuffing the baby clothes into a bag. I didn’t want to hear Cori’s opinions and judgments.
“Baby clothes, Nique? Are you truly serious? Hell naw, did Vic cut the oxygen off from your brain when he was choking you?”
“This ain’t the time or place.” I cut my eyes in her direction, refusing to look at her dead on. I knew what I was doing seemed half crazy and in no way could she relate but I wasn’t the type of girl who backed down from dudes who threw her shade. As much as we were alike in setting it off with a scheme, we were like night and day when it came to wearing our hearts on our sleeves. I didn’t think Corielle could understand even if she wanted to.
“Chick, whatever, but you’re doing the most.”
“I know you’re not judging me with a buggy full of men’s products. You’re all up Mike’s ass.” I rolled my neck at Nique giving her just as much judgment as she’d just given me.
“Bitch, bye, this is business right here. You know everything I do is tied to getting down.” I watched Cori insert each fake bill into the machine and not one shot back out. As her total balance due decreased to zero, at the end her change and receipt shot out. “Hurry your slow ass up, baby momma. Toss me the keys; I’ll have the car curbside.” She winked.
I watched Cori for a minute as she rolled her cart out of Walmart. She was already on her phone texting people we were on deck with gift cards.
Chapter Nine
Corielle
The sun peeked through my blinds as I awoke to the same usual gunshots, screeching tires of a speeding car doing at least seventy-five miles per hour up the block, and the wails of some innocent bystander caught up in the middle witnessing the whole ordeal. It was a different day, same shit; good morning. What just went down was nothing in my ratchet neighborhood. Only the few neighbors who still cared about the property value of our neighborhood still bothered to call 911 but if a squad car bothered to show up, it would only be one and they’d barely take pictures or an accurate report.
I rolled over trying to get my droopy eyes to focus on the digital numbers on the DirecTV box. It was only 7:19 in the morning. Shit, I’m dizzy tired. I need about couple more hours of sleep to get right. Closing my eyes back, wishing I could really stay that way, I had to get up and get busy making all of the orders I’d gotten last night at the party. Four people paid me up front for insurance paperwork, so they had to be ready by nine o’clock at least. Running a ghetto business didn’t mean you had to adopt trifling tactics. My word was bond because my reputation meant everything.
Looking over at Nique, she was cuddled up with her blanket on the opposite couch. Comatose sleep, she didn’t even blink or budge to the gunshots. My girl was going through the motions in a bad way. We’d barely made it in the door last night after going through a whirlwind of drama at Mike’s spot and Walmart afterward. But it felt good to crash with her like kids having girl talk about ol’ girl Alyssa but most importantly the situation between her and Vic. It was hard to stay quiet about how I felt since this really wasn’t my situation to have a say in, but I didn’t know what the holdup was on Nique’s end. Going to the abortion clinic should’ve been the second step after confirming the pregnancy. I would’ve stuck a hanger up my own twat if I were in her situation. Not a second thought about it. Not only did Vic not want the baby, but he was a jerk as well. Nique should’ve been running from his coward ass instead of trying to breed with him. But again, that’s just my opinion.
Once I got to my room, I peeled my clothes off as my mind drifted off to the impromptu sex session with Mike. He hadn’t texted or called back from me letting him know all went well and the cards were on deck. He was probably knee deep in Alyssa. Oh well, when it’s my turn, it’ll be mine. I put off taking a shower, left on my cum-stained panties and bra, and slid on one of the shirts he left over here a while ago. I wanted to smell like him longer. Powering up my computer and sitting down with the spiral notebook I kept my customer’s information in, I diligently got to work. I was a mastermind when it came to creating illegitimate seven-day insurance policies. Mimicking an actual policy issued by these knock-off places like LA Insurance, who charged over $250 for seven worthless days of insurance, you could pay me a lowball fifty dollars for the same thing. My desk had all the necessary supplies to make each form look certifiable; and never once had my knock-offs not worked. I’d charged seventy-five dollars for each one last night: a twenty-five buck increase because I knew the big spenders in attendance had it. Instead of putting the $300 into my bill stash, I set it aside for the Ta’Nique abortion fund. After getting all four of them printed out and slid inside a stamped manila envelope to appear extra official, with no hesitation I hit up each one of their cells letting them know their forms were ready for pickup. I didn’t play when it came to getting my customers in and out. The quicker they got their product, the quicker they’d be out of my hair and hopefully referring my services to others. I wasn’t a friendly type chick but I was infatuated with making love to the money.
It was just after 8:30. No one had responded to my text as of yet but I promised myself they weren’t about to hold me up. Today was going to be a moneymaking day for sure. Macy’s had a sale going on today so I had to get to my hands on the good stuff only the early bird risers were privy to. Making sure my scarf secured my weave, I hopped into the shower using the Dove body wash I stole from Target to wash and moisturize my skin. Rubbing the loofa over my breasts and stomach, thoughts of Mike flooded my mind, this time mixed with those of Alyssa. Whoever this chick was she was getting major time. He’d fed me some bullshit about it not being that serious, but if that was truly the case, why was she getting so much press? Breakfast photo ops, public affection, and getting to drive his truck; she was more than just the jump off he classified me as. I’d heard him tell Alyssa he’d be there after the party last night and since I played sleepover with Nique last night, I obviously wasn’t the chosen one. He’d pacified me with a nut at his party. I’d gotten played. Letting the water soothe me, I washed up a few more times then stood there talking to God. I was in desperate need for Him to get my life right. He had to guide me to a path much better than this one. I was tired of the struggle.
A
s I rummaged through my closet for something relaxed to wear for the day, I decided to keep it simple with a pair of lightweight cotton Abercrombie and Fitch jogging pants, T-shirt, and no-brand boat shoes. Standing in front of the mirror, I was trying to decide on what type of accessories I should rock and if the nerd glasses would be doing too much. I wanted to blend in with the preppy girls who would be spending money since I’d be swiping everything that caught my eye. My closet was needing a makeover plus the people I usually boosted were calling to spend money. Who was I not to deliver on demand? As I applied my makeup, I was yawning out of control but I refused to turn down the opportunity to shop when someone else was treating.
“Good morning, sissy, I see you’re up and at it.” Nique was standing in my doorway with sleep caked up in the corners of her eyes. The long wand curls that were flowing down her back last night were now pulled up into a ponytail, limp and dry. Fighting, crying, and getting tipsy while pregnant wasn’t ending up being a good look for her.
“Hey, good morning, boo. How do you feel?”
“Like shit, but I’ll be good after I blow through this blunt and take a long shower. What’s up on your agenda for today?”
“I’m about to hit that Macy’s sale, clean a few racks off.” I laughed, acting like I was popping my collar.
“Oh, why didn’t you wake me up? I’m trying to ride out too. We can hit a few stores up and make a killing real quick.” Nique was already making a move for the bathroom. “Roll up since you’re already looking like a doll. I won’t be long.”
“If it weren’t for me wanting to give my customers a little more time, you’d be ass out. Make sure you hurry up in there please,” I shouted behind Nique as she slammed the door before my words were finished.
Around the Way Girls 9 Page 28