Dirty Laundry

by Cherie Briggins

  “I’m good on the wings, but you can get me another beer.”

  Choice got up to get him a beer. Wise watched her walk in the kitchen. Choice was rocking a white strapless dress that stopped a little past her knees and a blue jean vest with some white spiked wedges. She had her hair flat ironed and parted it down the middle.

  “Here you go,” Choice said bringing Wise his beer. She looked at her ringing cell phone.

  “Who is it? Is it your mom?” Wise looked up at the clock hanging on the wall. “Damn, it is late,” he said, noticing that it was already going on twelve.

  “Nope, I don’t know this number, but let me take this call,” Choice said, walking out on the patio before letting Ashley know.

  “Hello?” Choice answered, enjoying the light breeze on her face.

  “Yeah, can I talk to Choice?”

  “This is she,” she said, still not recognizing the voice. “Who dis?”

  “Supreme. So what’s been up with you? I’ve been meaning to get at you, but a nigga been busy as hell.”

  “Wow, really? For a minute there, I thought you forgot about me,” Choice grinned.

  “Nah, I could never forget about somebody as pretty as you. I’ve been busy as hell that’s all. I’ve been thinking about you though. So I decided to see what was up with you.”

  Choice smiled. “I didn’t think you thought I was all that pretty since it took you weeks to call me.”

  “I said you were pretty, didn’t I?” Supreme asked.

  “What you doing up?” Supreme asked.

  “Choice, you good?” Wise asked as he stuck his head out the patio door.

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll be there in a second.”

  “Who dat? Yo nigga?”

  “Boy bye. That’s my friend’s brother. We’re over his crib playing cards.”

  “I’m just checking. I don’t want to step on nobody’s toes,” Supreme said.

  “Nah, you good. You ain’t stepping on nobody’s toes.”

  “I’m good? Just making sure. I don’t want to have to body a nigga.”

  “Whatever. You crazy.”

  “Shit Ma, I’m dead ass serious.”

  “So, what’s up? If I come get you, you going to leave with me?”

  “If I was anywhere else, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. But I wouldn’t feel right giving you this man’s address, feel me?” Choice said.

  “I can respect that. Can I see you later?” Supreme asked.

  “Yep, I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “A’ight cool. I’m going let you get off the phone.”

  “Okay,” Choice said smiling from ear to ear. “I will talk to you later,” she said before hanging up.

  Choice walked in the living room and sat on Ashley’s lap. Everybody was sitting in the living room watching Wise and Spliff play Call of Duty on the PlayStation.

  Wise’s spot was very spacious. He had a fifty-five inch Sony Bravo mounted on the wall with built-in surround sound. A black leather sectional with a long glass table sat in the center of the living room. The color scheme was black, brown, and cream. African art hung on the walls. The house was very relaxing. Lil Wayne’s new mixtape played low while Wise, Spliff, and Butter passed around a blunt.

  “Where did Blue go?” Choice asked Ashley.

  “She went to take a quick nap,” Ashley said without looking up from her phone.

  “Ash, guess who I was out there talking to,” Choice said smiling.

  Ashley put her phone in her clutch and looked up at her best friend smiling.

  “Umm, let me take a guess,” Ashley said, tapping her chin. “Supreme?”

  “Yeah, that was him. He wanted to pick me up, but I told him we could hook up tomorrow. I wish I had told him to meet me at the bodega down the street.”

  “Choice, you’re not meeting him at no damn bodega by yourself. It’s hot as fuck, and you know how these niggas get in the summer time. If you want to go, we’re going to go together.”

  Choice looked at her phone and sent Supreme a quick text message.

  Hey! I wanted to know if you still wanted to come get me?

  So you want to see me now? Where you want me to pick you up at?

  Choice told him to meet her at the bodega and he agreed. Then she told Wise that her mom was at the bodega with Kyree tripping and that she had to leave. She was having a hard time convincing Ashley though.

  “Ashley, I’m going to stay on the phone with you until he get there.”

  Ashley raised her eyebrows. “Okay, go ahead.”

  “Thanks Mom,” Choice said being sarcastic.

  “I’m not playing,” Ashley said as she raised her phone up. “Get to calling.”

  “I’m on it,” Choice said pulling her phone out of her vest.

  “Damn, you sure you don’t want me to give you a ride?” Wise took a pull from the blunt he was smoking.

  “Yeah, she tripping. You know how my mom can get, so I better hurry up,” Choice said as she walked out the door followed by Wise.

  “A’ight, make sure you call or text me or some shit so I can know you safe.” Wise said.

  “You know I will,” was Choice’s reply.

  There were so many people outside it could have been twelve in the afternoon instead of twelve in the morning. As soon as Choice was out of Wise’s sight, she dialed up Ashley.

  “Girl, what is that nigga Wise doing? Looking like a sad puppy dog. Dang, I feel bad.”

  “Not that bad to turn back around,” Ashley said.

  “Ash, you loud. Where you at?”

  “Calm down. He’s downstairs with Butter and Spliff. I’m up here in the extra bedroom where Blue was sleep. She’s in the shower. She’s getting ready for work.”

  “Okay, just checking,” Choice said as she put some gum in her mouth. “You still goin’ to the club with Blue to have drinks while she dance?”

  “Yeah, I guess I’m going to still go.”

  Choice stopped walking. Ashley didn’t sound sure.

  “What’s up Ash? You want me to come back?”

  “Nah, you already know I’m going to be good. I just thought me and you were going to turn up. I guess I will have to turn up by myself,” Ashley said.

  “You sure? I can turn back around and see him tomorrow.”

  “Nope, you better not turn around.”

  “I’m nervous to see him,” Choice said, rubbing her hands together.

  “You’ll be fine. You in good hands.”

  “How you know?”

  “He’s Petey’s cousin, that’s how I know.”

  “Girl, there’s like six or seven niggas standing in front of the bodega,” Choice said as she rounded the corner.

  “That’s exactly why I didn’t want you going by yourself.”

  Choice walked up to the group of guys slowly. She recognized Bear and Rosco immediately and turned up her nose when she heard them talking about her.

  “Look at that fat ass,” Bear said to Rosco.

  Choice saw Supreme look up from the dice game he was playing with Dylan, Mark, and a couple of other dudes from around the way.

  “Ashley?” Choice called into the phone. “Ashley?”

  “Yeah girl, I’m putting my heels back on.”

  “Supreme’s here,” Choice whispered.

  “What? I thought you said it was a group of dudes.”

  “He’s with them. He’s playing dice or something.”

  “Come here,” Supreme told her. “You straight?” he asked her as Bear and Rosco eyed her from head to toe.

  “I’ll be done here in a minute,” Supreme said, focusing back on the dice game.

  “Ain’t you shorty from the store? Choice, right?” Bear asked, playing stupid.

  Choice gave him a faint smile and stood behind Supreme as he finished the dice game.

  “That’s right baby, don’t talk to strangers,” Supreme laughed without looking up from what he was doing.

  “She still got
a fat ass,” Rosco said.

  “Stop catcalling, lil nigga. You act like you ain’t never seen a bad female. You know what stop talking to her, or at her all together.”

  Everybody stopped talking. Supreme didn’t have to raise his voice to get his point across. They knew Supreme was serious.

  “Damn, check,” Ashley giggled through the phone.

  Choice had forgotten that she was still on the phone with Ashley. “Girl, I’ll talk to you later.”

  “A’ight, have fun,” Ashley said before hanging up.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Seeing Choice threw Bear for a loop. He couldn’t believe Choice was there for Supreme.

  When the fuck did that shit happen? I wasn’t locked up that long, he thought to himself.

  Bear looked Choice up and down. She was looking real good. She must have felt Bear staring at her because she looked at him then back at Supreme.

  Shit, that nigga can’t control where my eyes move, Bear thought to himself. I’ll beat that bitch ass nigga’s ass, then throw him in the dumpster. Supreme can’t save her from me.

  Choice looked over at Bear again, so he stuck his tongue out at her and winked. Bear passed Rosco the loud they were puffing on, then chuckled.

  “Bear, what the fuck you laughing at? Rosco asked, eyeing Bear.

  “Shit, I’m about to head out and find me some pussy to get into,” Bear replied. He took out his cell phone and called up London as he walked to his Tahoe.

  “What?” London asked on the first ring.

  “Bitch, that’s not how you answer the phone. Where the fuck is my son?” Bear asked London as he got in his truck.

  “I told you he’s not your son.”

  “London, you know he look just like me. You’re in denial.”

  “You know who his daddy is. And I thought I told you to stop calling me,” London said.

  “Don’t start with the guilt trip. That nigga ain’t worried about you. Fuck you worried about him for?”

  “Because the shit is wrong, Bear. We fucked twice and the shit was good, I ain’t gon’ lie, but we’re being disloyal. You should feel bad. Supreme is your friend. You still going to buy me that red mustang?” London questioned.

  “Are you worth it, London? And what happened to all that ‘we’re being disloyal, Bear’ shit?” Bear mimicked London. “We’ll talk about it when I get there,” Bear said.

  Bear sat in his truck staring at Supreme with malice in his heart. Bear hated Supreme with a passion. He always had. It started when they were little boys and just got worst. Bear wanted everything Supreme had and was determined to get it. Bear fucked with London because Supreme had her first. Bear didn’t want to admit it, but he was obsessed with Supreme. Bear let out a loud sigh.

  “Make sure you wash that pussy good. I’ll be there in a minute to taste you.”

  “Bear, didn’t I just say I wasn’t fucking with you? You know you want these eleven inches up in you. Like I said, I’ll be there in a minute,” Bear said before hanging up.

  ****

  “Game!” Supreme hollered as he snatched up the hundred dollar bills adding up to fifteen thousand dollars.

  “Man, let’s play again! One more game,” Dylan said. “Come on, let me win my money back.”

  “Hell nah. I gotta go,” Supreme said standing up.

  Supreme was rocking a red and black Louis Vuttion v-neck, black khaki shorts, and white Louis Vuttion sneakers on his feet.

  “You going to let me win my money back,” Dylan yelled once again.

  “Dylan, stop acting like you broke. You make plenty of money, my nigga,” Supreme said as he opened the door for Choice to get in.

  Supreme rode the streets of Miami feeling like the world belonged to him. He turned down the Kendrick Lamar CD and looked over at Choice.

  “What were you about to get into tonight?”

  “Me and Ashley were going to go to the King of Diamonds to have a couple of drinks and turn up. Our friend Blue works there. She’s performing tonight.”

  “I see,” Supreme said taking his eyes off the road for a second to look over at Choice. “How were you going to get in? Aren’t you a minor?”

  “You see me, right? Believe me, they were going to let me in. Plus my girl, Blue, got pull since she work there and all.”

  Supreme looked over at Choice then back at the road. “Yeah, I see you.”

  “Where are we going?” Choice asked.

  “I’m going to grab me something to eat at Miss Anne’s. I’m hungry as hell. What about you? You hungry?” Supreme asked.

  “Yeah, I can eat something.”

  Supreme got on the phone and called up Miss Anne’s place. He ordered himself a meatloaf meal with a corn bread muffin and a pork chop meal for Choice. When they pulled up, Miss Anne’s was packed as usual.

  “I’m going to run in here real quick to grab our food,” Supreme said as he parked illegally. “If the pigs pull up behind me, move the truck for me, okay?”

  “I got you,” Choice said, feeling happy to be in his presence.

  Supreme ran in to get their food and was back out in four minutes flat, followed by some light-skinned girl. He opened up the passenger side door and handed Choice their food.

  “What’s up, Keish? I’m busy right now. Let me hit you up some other time,” Supreme said, walking to the driver’s side.

  Choice stared at the girl as she ran her fingers through her hair. She recognized the girl. She was the same girl that was with Supreme the night she saw him at McDonald’s.

  “Okay,” Keisha said throwing up her hands in surrender. “That’s how it is, Supreme? I’ve been blowing up your phone and shit, concerned about you, worried because I ain’t heard from your ass and this how you treat me?”

  Keisha looked over at the passenger side and rolled her eyes at Choice.

  “So you take me to Mickey D’s, and this bitch getting Miss Anne’s and shit.”

  Choice looked up when she heard the word bitch.

  “Who the fuck you calling a bitch? Girl, you don’t know me. Whatever your problem is, handle that shit with him. Call me another bitch, and see what happen,” Choice said, ready to jump out the truck and smack the girl in the face.

  “Keish, you doing too much. You need to chill the fuck out. I didn’t tell your ass to be worried or concerned for me. That was all you. I’ll hit you up later.”

  Supreme hopped in the truck and drove off. Choice didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say at that point. She was a little pissed. Choice was very mature for her age, but still young. Being disrespected was not part of the game, especially not from a bitch in the hood. Choice had to deal with it enough at home so she had no room for it in the outside world.

  “You want to get a room at the Ramada?” Supreme asked, trying to break the silence.

  “Whatever you want to do is fine with me,” Choice said looking at the CDs in the CD case.

  Supreme shook his head from side to side. “Ain’t shit in there that interesting, Ma.”

  Ten minutes later, Supreme was pulling up to the Ramada Hotel. When the bellhop saw that it was Supreme driving, he rushed to get the keys to the truck. They knew Supreme very well and he tipped even better.

  “How are you doing, Mr. Givins?” the bellhop asked as soon as Supreme stepped out of the truck.

  “Good,” Supreme said tossing the bellhop the keys. “And make sure you don’t scratch my shit.”

  “I’ll take care of it, sir. No worries,” the old man said, scared shitless.

  Another bellhop came and helped Choice out of the truck.

  “How are you doing?” the young black bellhop asked Choice.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Supreme stood a few feet away watching the young dude.

  “Aye, homie, stop drooling over my female and let go of her damn hand. She’s good,” Supreme said as he waited for Choice so they could walk in the hotel together.

  “Hi, Mr.Givins. How are you
doing?” the desk clerk asked cheerfully as Supreme approached the desk.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “So what will it be for you today?” the desk clerk asked Supreme.

  Choice blocked out what the giddy white girl said after hearing that Supreme was a regular at the hotel. She stood behind Supreme and started texting Ashley. Then she remembered that she promised Wise she would text him so she sent him a quick text message letting him know that she was okay.

  The Ramada was beautiful. Choice went from room to room admiring how nicely decorated the place was. Supreme sat on the couch watching ESPN while he ate his food and ignored his vibrating cell phone.

  “Yo Choice, come eat. Your food going to get cold,” Supreme said with his mouth full of meatloaf.

  “This is so nice. Did you see the Jacuzzi out on the deck? Oh, wait, I forgot you a regular so you seen it all before.”

  Supreme looked away from the TV. “Me? A regular? Where you get that from?”

  Choice shrugged her shoulders. “Everybody seems to know you.”

  Choice changed the subject. She didn’t want to get into an argument with Supreme about being a regular or not. How could she? He wasn’t hers.

  “So, the girl at Miss Anne’s, is she your fuck buddy or something?”

  “Yep, me and ol’ girl fuck… nothing more.” Supreme said keeping it real with Choice.

  “I like your honesty. I gotta respect it, but you need to teach that ho to stay in her lane.”

  “She was definitely wilding out, but fuck her. Let’s watch TV,” Supreme said.”

  Supreme stood up and took off his shirt leaving his wifebeater on.

  “Okay, I’ll watch it with you, but we can’t both fit on the couch.”

  “Yes we can. Come here.”

  Choice took off her vest and her wedges. Supreme laid down on the couch and opened his arms for Choice to join him.

  “I don’t think we both can fit,” Choice said again before laying down on the couch with him.

  “We can if you just scoot back some,” Supreme said, pulling her closer to him as he wrapped his arm around Choice’s waist.