by J Peach
“Craig not gon’ be out there no mo, so you niggas out there in Marshall Town, Mane taking over for him. Yo, no other niggas out there besides y’all bet not be slanging shit. If you gotda drop a nigga, do what you gotda, just be low with that shit.” I stopped talking and looked at Mane to make sure he got what I was saying. With a head nod from him, I turned my attention to Mac and Pooh.
“You two out in Tarrytown and Ivanhoe, all that’s y’all. Get you a few niggas to work that with you. Same rules apply, besides y’all niggas I don’t want nobody working in or outside that bitch. I don’t want yo bitches out there bringing unwanted attention. Tell them mothafuckas to stay off my shit, it ain’t a fuckin’ hang out.
“Mac, Pooh, I’m about to open that house back up out there. None of the niggas before y’all came up short with that money and shit better not start happening now. If so, I’m not asking why shit low or missing, I’m just letting my baby rip. I don’t give a fuck. Yo bitch gon’ be nigga-less, yo mom’s gon’ have one less child, and yo kid gon’ be fatherless. Don’t fuck with my money, don’t be stupid. If none of that happen, we good. If you wanna get out now, gon’ head, there’s the door.” Nobody said anything or moved.
I gave them a few minutes to think on it before asking again, only to get the same response. Grabbing the three duffle bags from my side, I tossed two to Mane.
“Mane, don’t fuck up. It’s a paper in there with the amount it’s supposed to total up to. I don’t want shit less than that back. The rest you, baby. Mac, Pooh, I ain’t even gotda warn you two mothafuckas after that shit happened last time.” They laughed at my reference to a few months back when they brought that Trina bitch and a few of her girls back to the spot and I had to slap that bitch for tryna kiss me.
Mac and Pooh was some young hungry niggas, no older than twenty-one. Just how Dmitri, King’s father, took me under his wing, I did the same with them.
They were smart, but reckless as fuck. I saw a lot of myself in them, Mac more so than Pooh. But I took to the little niggas and the fact that they wasn’t afraid to drop a body was always good in my opinion. Also, they were loyal, that’s why I gave them Tarrytown and Ivanhoe. I knew they’d do right.
“Man, that was Pooh ass with them bitches. I ain’t have shit to do with that.” The smirk and sideways glance he gave Pooh let me know he was lying.
“Get the fuck outda here with that shit. Whenever bitches around the spot, that’s because of yo ass. You ain’t slick, nigga, I got eyes everywhere,” I told him before looking at Pooh and Mane. “I roll through the spot last week to check on the place and guess who in that mothafucka with two hoes screaming like a bitch?” Pooh and Mane burst out laughing.
“Fuck you, yo. That bitch had swallowed my dick, shit was mind boggling. Boss, nigga. Shit was so good I dropped that other bitch off, took ol’ girl to the crib and ask that hoe to marry me,” Mac said, making us laugh. “And she got that wet, bitch had my ass locked in the house for two days swimming in that shit. Big Homie, I think I’m in love, yo.”
“You in love with her pussy?”
“Fuck yeah, man. Baby sexy as hell, don’t get me wrong, but I hate to hear that bitch talk. I be quick to shove this dick down her throat as soon as she open that bitch.” Mac had me holding my side laughing at his stupid ass. “But shid, that nut be having my ass seeing stars, yo.”
“That’s the bitch that’s gon’ break yo ass and poke holes in the condom. Yo ass gon’ be hearing that annoying ass voice for eighteen, my nigga,” I told his ass and he stopped laughing, giving me a funny look.
“Don’t sit yo ass there like you don’t know. Where that pretty little thang you be taggin’ at? Baby got homie nose wide opened. I ain’t caught whiff of shorty in a minute. Yo ass ain’t been lookin’ beat up either, you still taggin’ baby?” Mac pointed a finger at me before rubbing his chin.
Confused, my brow rose. “Who you talkin’ bout?”
“That one babe you brought to the club a while ago. Short light brown chick, long hair, deep dimples in her cheeks—”
“Damn, nigga. How hard was you looking at her?” This mothafucka was describing Peaches to a T and I ain’t like that shit. He must have noticed from the hard tone my voice held that I wasn’t feeling it.
“Man, it ain’t even like that. I’ve seen her with you around the way. She ain’t my type though, I like a submissive bitch. Baby girl fine as hell, don’t get me wrong, but she got them thumpers and I ain’t trying box with her. I’d fuck around and shoot her short ass,” Mac said, getting a laugh out of everybody, including myself.
Peaches’ short ass was violent as hell, but I liked that she fought back and didn’t take my bullshit sometimes. But with the shit I spit at her, I had done really fuck’d up. Baby girl was straight dodging my ass. Then me showing up at her job didn’t make shit better, only worse.
Peaches probably hate my ass right now.
Damn, I needed to fix that shit. But how the fuck did I begin fixing anything when her ass wouldn’t even talk to me?
“B, ain’t no poppers in here. Those mothafuckas live off that shit, they eat that shit like its candy, no lie,” Pooh stated, getting my attention.
When he said that, I knew what I had to do. Unlocking the last drawer, I pulled it open and grabbed a large jar that looked like skittles filled it instead of Ecstasy.
“Y’all straight on everything that was talked about? I don’t wanna hear later on you missed shit. Is y’all good on everything said?” Pooh, Mac, and Mane stood up and nodded.
“Yeah, we hear you. We’ll be at the spot setting up if you need us,” Mac stated while reaching across the table to shake up with me.
“I’ight, I’ll be through there later on today, yo. Mac, I don’t want no bullshit, you hear me?” My eyes slanted, letting him know I wasn’t takin’ no shit.
“We good, I hear you man.” He nodded and held my gaze for a short second before he broke the stare. He looked back at me again, then nodded. “I hear you.” Even though he reminded me of my younger self, I wouldn’t hesitant putting two in his forehead.
Once they left, I got my work phone out and started calling a few doctors I did business with.
Chapter 5
Peaches
It had been four days since I’d been back home. I never called Mark because I wasn’t ready for new friends, especially not niggas that sometimes did business with Blaze. I felt that was best for the both of us. Blaze had stopped calling those past four days. A part of me was happy, but that love struck part wanted him to come to Muncie and make good on that threat. It was good he hadn’t, though.
This was what I wanted, right?
For him to leave me alone, to stay away from me?
Wasn’t it?
I was now back at my apartment, looking for something to wear to an interview for a job I hadn’t even applied for. It was a small Doctors office run by a woman. My last night in Muncie I got a call from a Dr. Katelyn Harris. When I told her I hadn’t applied for the job at her office she told me I was referred to her. She wouldn’t tell me by who, but that my resume had gotten to her and apparently she liked it.
After putting on lotion, I grabbed my grey pin stripped skirt off the bed and stepped into it. Pulling it up, my hand found the zipper as another hand covered mine.
Quickly turning around, my fist shot out and a scream left me as I hit Blaze in the mouth.
“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry— What the hell are you doing here? You scared the shit outda me,” I snapped, hitting him again before I placed a hand over my fast beating heart.
“Damn, yo scary ass just busted my damn lip,” he said, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth.
“You bet not spit on my damn floor.” I noticed he had a habit of spitting blood from his mouth no matter where he was. “Why are you here?”
“I ain’t know you were back. I left something here, just came to get it.” He had a week to get whatever he left, but he chose the day I came back to get it? Right. Co
incidence my ass. I opened my mouth to say that, but found his eyes on my breast. Grabbing my lavender shirt off the bed, I slipped it on and buttoned it up.
“Okay, well lock the door on your way out.” I wasn’t about to comment on his roaming eyes. I wasn’t even going there with him. Once I finished the last button on my top, I went to the vanity, combed my hair down before applying black eyeliner to my eyes, then some grey and purple eye shadow. After that, I finished my make-up off with some clear lip gloss. “Find what you were looking for?” I asked, turning to see him sitting on the bed.
“Yep, so where you going dressed like that?” He asked, still staring.
I was nervous as hell about the damn interview. It would be my first and I didn’t know what she was going to ask me. What if I was too dressed? I didn’t know if Blaze really wanted to know the answer to that question exactly, but I was going to give it.
“I have an interview in like thirty minutes and I’m nervous. I mean, what if I’m not what she expects you know? I don’t know. Do I look professional? Do you think I’m overdressed? Yeah? I think so. Maybe I should change my shirt. Should I?” A little nervous was an understatement, but I’d never done an interview before so I didn’t know what I was walking into. Sly’s clinic was my first job and I didn’t have an interview for that.
Blaze suddenly let out a laugh as he shook his head, I couldn’t help but join in.
“It’s not funny, I’m nervous. Man, I need this damn job,” I confessed truthfully. I didn’t necessarily need it, but I wanted to work.
Grabbing my arms, Blaze pulled me to him.
“Chill, I’m sho you gon’ get it. If not, I’ll kill her old ass for you,” Blaze saying that had a small laugh leaving my mouth.
“You better kill her too, promise,” I said, holding out my pinky. Blaze looked at it funny, then looked at me with a brow raised. “Nigga, pinky promise. Don’t play.” Laughing, he locked his finger around mine.
“This childish as fuck,” he stated. Realizing how true that was, a smile came to my lips which he returned.
“Blaze.” That was why I couldn’t be with him, why I shouldn’t have been close to him. I lost all sense of reality of the reasons why we shouldn’t be. All it took was a touch, a gentle touch, a simple caress.
A touch always spoke words a person’s mouth couldn’t. Just as a kiss…
A kiss could be so hateful, but so passionate at the same time. It was the love and hate the person felt, the battle between the two. It couldn’t be concluded so you got a mixture of rough and gentle.
The only thing a kiss and a touch couldn’t explain was the reason why.
Why he kissed me so roughly, but let his hands gently caress my clothed body. Why his touch suddenly turned rough as his kiss softened against my lips, easing the aches his biting to them caused.
Blaze raised my skirt to my waist before grabbing ahold of my thighs, lifting and pressing me into the wall.
My arms eagerly wrapped around his neck and I held him tighter to me as our tongues danced together. Blaze’s hand soon found its way between my legs.
What the hell am I doing?
“Blaze,” putting my hands between our bodies, I pushed at his chest, moving him back. “I can’t do this, please put me down.”
God, I was so stupid, damn. Blaze let out an irritable sigh before moving his hands, almost making me fall. I didn’t say anything about it, I simply grabbed my purple open toe stilettoes by the silver straps. I wasn’t gon’ run like I wanted to. Instead, I fixed my skirt, then sat on my bed, putting on my shoes.
“Peaches, how long you gon’ be mad?” He asked.
“I’m not mad no more. You learn and move on. I learned that you don’t give two fucks about me and I’m moving on. What just happened was a slip. The first and only, so go do you. It was my fault, I shouldn’t have gotten attached.”
My voice wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be, the sad emotion seeped through. I just hoped he hadn’t caught it. Breaking eye contact with him, I grabbed my purple clutch bag and phone off the bed, then looked back to him.
“While you’re here you might as well get the rest of your stuff, including the TV. Leave your key on the table…” I trialed off, staring at him for a second before I cleared my throat. “I gotda go.” Without another look at him, I left the room. “Come on, Cherry.” My cat was on the table by the front door where my keys were. “Yo little ass just knew you were coming, huh?” I clamped the leash on her collar, then left my apartment.
For some odd reason I didn’t feel bad about what just happened between us. I wasn’t even mad any more. Once Cherry and I were settled into the car, I pulled off with one thing on my mind.
God I hope I get this job!
****
“King!” I yelled as I opened the door to his house. Unhooking Cherry, I walked farther in. “King!”
“What? Why the hell you yelling?” He said from the pool table as he broke the balls. “What?” He asked, looking up at me.
Squeaking, I jumped on him. “I got the job! Ahhh!” I screamed, making him laugh before he dropped me to the floor. “Ow, you bitch!” Punching his leg, I got up off the floor. Leaning against the table, I took off my heels then threw them under the pool table.
“What job you get?” He asked
“At this small doctor’s office not far from campus. Which is why you should get me that townhouse. Anyways, the place is run by a Dr. Katelyn Harris. I don’t know too much about her, but she seems cool, though,” I told him and he stopped mid shot.
“Katelyn Harris?” A thoughtful look covered his features.
Nodding my head, I grabbed the other pool stick. “Yep, why?”
“The name sounds familiar,” he suddenly snapped his fingers and licked his lips as he pointed at me. “I got good news too. I called about that house…” My eyes widened. As I smiled widely a small squeak was ready to leave my mouth. “…but someone already got it.” He finished his sentence.
My smile quickly faded and King started laughing, making me glare at him. “Why yo ass playin’, damn.” I snapped.
“I ain’t playin’, somebody did get the house. I even tried to find out who bought it, but they wasn’t telling. I even tried bribing, but those mothafuckas still ain’t talk,” he told me and I groaned.
“Well, at least I got a job now. As for finding a house, you’ll figure something out,” I said, laughing as I jumped off the pool table to get the door.
“No the fuck I ain’t. You’ll figure something out,” he told me as he hit a ball.
“If you want me out yo shit, you’ll figure it out. I’m cock blocking, remember?” I yelled out to him.
“Stupid ass!” He replied, making me laugh.
Opening the door, my smile never faded. Hell, I got a job, I was rockin’ this damn smile for a week. Even seeing Blaze didn’t wipe it off.
“I got the job!” I sang. I was happy, I didn’t care.
“Hm, okay,” was all he said before walking in the house.
I simply rolled my eyes at that. Closing the door, I walked back in there.
“King, what time Ebony gets off?” I asked while taking out my laptop so I could start searching for an apartment or a house.
“How the fuck am I supposed to know that?”
“I don’t see why she with yo triflin’ ass. I swear she could do so much better than a fuck ass hood,” I mumbled to myself.
“The fuck you just say?” His voice was suddenly closer than I expected it to be. Shit! “Make me beat yo ass. The first time she speak some bullshit like that, I’m beating the fuck outda you,” he threatened.
Shrugging, I rolled my eyes before a thought came to me. “King, you love Ebony?” I asked seriously.
“What?” He replied dumbly. “Fuck kinda question is that?”
“A simple one, I didn’t think it was a hard one. I mean, it’s a simple yes or no answer. But let me dumb it down for you. Does the organ in your chest beat normally when you’
re with Ebony or does it pound really fast like it does when you think of me?” King jumped at me. Grabbing the pillow, I whacked his ass. “Do you?”
“That’s my bae, with her crazy ass.” He shrugged nonchalantly like it was nothing.
“But you cheat?”
“I’m a man—”
“No, yous a hoe ass nigga who thinks with his dick. If you think just because you’re a man it gives you the right to cheat then I really do hope she leaves yo ass. I mean, what’s your purpose for being with Ebony if you’re doing everything you do with her to another bitch? Being a hood ain’t gon’ get yo ass nowhere. And if she does leave, it’s not because of me.” Leaving it at that, I grabbed my laptop then got off the couch. “Come on, Cherry.”
I hoped Ebony didn’t leave because she was the best thing that happened to him, especially when our parents died. Even so, the friend in me wanted her to. She deserved better than what she was getting. He may have been my brother, but he was dumb as fuck.
Taking off my skirt and top, I put on some colorful, comfortable clothes. A neon pink shirt and some lime green shorts.
“Yo ass be colorful for no damn reason. Ain’t nobody tryna see yo ass, so turn that shit down,” Blaze said from behind me.
“I like bright colors. You know I left my apartment to get away from you, right?” I asked as he sat on the bed next to me.
“Is that the reason why? Damn, I didn’t even realize it,” he stated before taking my phone and pushing Cherry off the bed.
“Stop, why would you do that? She hasn’t done anything to you. Come on, Cherry, baby,” I called and she jumped on the bed.
“Man, don’t put that damn cat on this fuckin’ bed,” Blaze said, making a grab for her.
I slapped his arms. “Blaze, stop, leave her alone. You and King both gon’ make me beat y’all ass for fuckin’ with my baby.” Grabbing Cherry, I laid her on my chest.