Queen Hustlaz

by Falicia Love

  “My man just got home, and we got to show him a good time. Baby, I won’t be out late, okay?” Toby replied, kissing her on the forehead and returning to where Thad and Orlando were sitting.

  “Chris still outside on the phone?” he asked.

  “Hell yeah, probably trying to beg Stephanie for some ass.” Thad laughed.

  “Probably is.” Toby laughed also.

  Thad turned his attention to one of the strippers that wouldn’t leave him alone. He looked at Toby and smiled. “Bitch gon’ make me stick my dick in her mouth before I leave from here.” He laughed.

  “Boy, your ass gon’ catch something for real. I keep trying to warn your ass, but you won’t pay your big brother no mind,” Toby said, shaking his head.

  * * *

  It had started raining, and it was coming down pretty hard. Stephanie was lying next to Robin and was relaxed. She felt at ease whenever she was with her. She figured Jeryca was right about one thing she’d said the other day: she had done her a huge favor by sleeping with Chris and removing him from her life. It didn’t change the fact that she never wanted to deal with her again, but she was happy.

  “Bae, what you gonna cook tonight?” Stephanie asked.

  “Shit, I figured you would cook,” Robin replied.

  “I can. What would you like?” Stephanie asked.

  “I want seafood, baby,” Robin replied.

  “I ain’t cooking no seafood.” Stephanie laughed.

  “I guess that means we will go out for dinner then,” Robin replied.

  “I don’t want to go out. It’s raining, and I want to stay here, lying next to you,” Stephanie whined.

  “Yeah, but I want seafood, baby,” Robin replied.

  “Here you go!” Stephanie said as she placed Robin’s hand between her thighs.

  Just then, her cell phone rang, and when she picked it up, she saw that it was Chris. “What the fuck is he calling me for?” Stephanie murmured aloud.

  “Who?” Robin asked.

  “That muthafuckin’ Chris,” Stephanie replied.

  “Let me answer it, bae,” Robin said, reaching for the phone.

  Stephanie handed Robin the phone.

  “Hello?” Robin answered.

  “Can I speak with Stephanie?” Chris asked.

  “Stephanie isn’t available at the moment. May I ask who’s calling?” Robin asked, winking and smiling at Stephanie.

  “Who is this?” Chris asked, getting annoyed.

  “I’m Stephanie’s girlfriend, and again, who is this?” Robin asked.

  There was a brief silence on the other end, then a low laugh. “Stephanie don’t have a girlfriend. I’d put my life on that. So who the hell is this?” Chris asked.

  “All I can say is die, nigga, ’cause right at this moment, Stephanie is playing in my pussy, and I’m loving it. Say hey, baby,” Robin said as she put the phone close to Stephanie’s mouth.

  “Hello?” Stephanie answered.

  “Stephanie, what the fuck is going on? This bitch saying you her chick, and I know that’s a lie,” Chris growled.

  “Well, Chris, she is telling the truth. She is my baby,” Stephanie answered, never taking her eyes off Robin.

  “I need some pussy, Stephanie. I just got home, and I am in need,” Chris replied.

  “Didn’t you just hear what was said? I am with someone now, and I wouldn’t disrespect her like that. Shit, I wouldn’t disrespect myself like that,” Stephanie responded.

  “Shit, she can come too. All of us can play.” Chris laughed.

  Stephanie grabbed the phone from Robin and hung up. She didn’t want to hear any more of his disrespectful, lame-ass comments.

  A few seconds later, Stephanie’s phone rang again, and she saw that it was Chris calling back.

  “Girl, turn that bitch off. Let’s get dressed and go get something to eat,” Stephanie said as Robin picked it up, getting ready to answer it.

  “Girl, I will cuss that bastard out. He had his chance with you and he blew it. I got you now, and he can get over it,” Robin hissed.

  “Look at my bae, all protective and shit,” Stephanie said, smiling.

  “I’m so serious. You are taken now, and I’m not losing you.” Robin started singing “Forever My Lady” by Jodeci.

  * * *

  Chris stood on the porch and watched the rainfall. He was angry, yet amused by how Stephanie had just played him. He always got what he wanted, and he could get Stephanie back if he wanted her. He was going to wait and see how things played out concerning her.

  He scrolled through his contacts and found Debra’s number, but when he called, it went straight to voice mail. He was getting worried now and wondered what the hell was going on with her. He had called her several times in the last week, and each time, it went to voice mail. He was going to find out what was going on with his friend as soon as he could get away from Thad and them.

  “Aye, man, you just gonna stand out here in the rain? Come on in and let’s blow a li’l kush and then hit the Oasis,” Austin said as he stood in the doorway.

  “I’m coming. What y’all niggas got to eat? You know I been starving down there in county,” Chris said, laughing.

  “I think Tiff made some chicken and broccoli Alfredo and some hot wings. You should see if it’s finished, ’cause I’m hungry my damn self,” Austin admitted.

  “I will get Toby to ask her, ’cause you know Tiffany will cuss yo’ ass out quick.” Chris laughed.

  “Hell yeah. She will go from zero to a hundred quick,” Austin replied.

  “Who will?” Toby asked.

  “We were talking ’bout Tiffany and how she’ll cuss a person out without thinking twice. So we figured we would get you to go and see if the food is done,” Chris replied.

  “Y’all trying to get me cussed out, huh?” Toby asked.

  “Shit, bro, better you than us. Besides, we at yo’ crib,” Austin said as he walked into the front room and sat down next to Thad.

  “Thad, man, are you hungry too?” he asked, looking at him and smiling.

  “Hell yeah, I got the munchies for real. Here, twist this blunt. I’ma go and see what’s ready, and then we can head to the Oasis,” Thad said as he stood up and walked past Toby.

  “Good luck.” Toby laughed.

  Chris laughed along with them and sat back as he inhaled the smoke from the blunt. It felt good to be free, and he needed to get high after experiencing everything he had in the past few months. A few seconds later, they heard Tiffany cussing and saw Thad walking quickly back in the room.

  “Got him!” Toby laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Friday morning, Dana went to work and walked into Brittany’s office. “Have you talked to Orlando or Zack today?”

  “Yeah, they called me about thirty minutes ago, checking in as usual. Why? What’s up?” Brittany asked.

  “Girl, I guess I’m just paranoid about the whole Debra situation,” Dana answered.

  “You still on that? I told you I would handle the situation, but we don’t need any unnecessary attention drawn to us. First of all, we are running a law firm that is well established, and I don’t need any unwanted or unnecessary scrutiny from the law. You know just like I do that a lot of things I do ain’t one hundred percent legit, so feel how you want to feel, but I’m not going to move recklessly because you want me to,” Brittany snapped.

  “You know what, Brittany? I never thought you would show a shady side. Now, where was all that talk when things got out of control with Farrah? You were praising me for that, but when it’s your turn to fix shit, you find every excuse why you can’t! Tell me why that is,” Dana said angrily.

  “I don’t have to explain shit. I just said what I had to say, Dana, and if you can’t comprehend the truth, that isn’t my fault. Just like it isn’t my fault that you been running around town half damn cocked. Yeah, I praised you for doing what you been doing, but girl, you can’t keep trying to do things to jeopardize what
we got going on,” Brittany said, getting agitated.

  “Whatever, Brittany. I think I’m going to leave early today. I’m suddenly feeling sick,” Dana replied.

  Brittany looked at Dana long and hard, and without batting an eye, she said, “Suck it up. There’s work that needs to be done. Get out your fucking feelings and complete those files that are on your desk. Our clients don’t pay us big money to get sick out the blue and put they shit to the side. If that’s a problem, Dana, I can find someone else to do your work for you permanently. It’s nothing personal, but I have a business to run, little girl.”

  Dana felt like she wanted to cry. Brittany had never spoken to her in that tone, and she was deeply affected by that. Dana shook her head. “I got it.”

  “Good. Now, please trust me a little bit, Dana. I know what I’m doing,” Brittany said. Dana walked out of Brittany’s office and didn’t say a word.

  Brittany stared at the door for a few seconds after Dana left. “Baby girl might become a problem,” she muttered to herself. Brittany picked up the phone and called the one person she assumed could talk to Dana.

  * * *

  Dana sat at her desk, angry and hurt. She felt that betrayal was all around her. She needed to get away and quick. She needed the money from the robbery they pulled on Thad, and then she was going to bounce. She had decided to tell Zack and Brittany that she was out of the next robbery. She felt that she couldn’t trust them and wasn’t going to set herself up for failure.

  She sighed and pulled a file from her drawer to begin doing an analysis on the case. After fifteen minutes, her phone rang.

  “Holmes, Howell, and Fuller Associates.”

  “Hey, it’s Zack. What’s up, Dana?” he asked.

  “Hey, Zack. How are you doing?” Dana asked, frowning. She didn’t know why he was calling her on the office phone rather than her cell.

  “Shit, nothing. I just talked to Brit and was wondering if we could meet somewhere later and talk,” he replied.

  Dana laughed and shook her head. “Wow, you too? This is too much for me.”

  “Hold up. It ain’t no ‘you too.’ First of all, I just wanted to check to make sure you are good, so you can kill the attitude,” Zack retorted.

  “You know what? First of all,” Dana mimicked, “you have never called my office phone, so that makes you suspect in my book, and second of all, don’t ever speak to me in that damn tone. Y’all got shit twisted.”

  Zack laughed. “I’m not even going to respond, Dana. Can we meet or not?” he asked again.

  “Maybe tomorrow. I’m busy tonight,” Dana answered. She wasn’t busy, but she wasn’t going to meet him anywhere. She had to gather her thoughts and find a way to win without any of them.

  “All right, Dana. Look, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but please chill out with the extra drama,” Zack said.

  “I hear you. I got to go,” Dana said and hung up.

  Dana was heated. She wanted to cuss Brittany out for calling Zack, but she refrained from doing it. She worked on her case file until noon and decided to call Stephanie. She needed a night out.

  She hadn’t talked to her since they had words about Stephanie and Jeryca fighting. They talked for an hour and decided that they would meet at the Oasis to get a few drinks.

  Stephanie asked Robin to join them, and she happily agreed. Stephanie and Robin decided to go out to dinner before they met Dana at the club. They talked and discussed things they each wanted to do before they died.

  “Bae, I want to go to Hawaii. I want to put on a grass skirt and dance barefoot in the sand,” Robin said, staring off into space.

  Stephanie could see how important it was to Robin to go to Hawaii from the look in her eyes when she talked about it. “I’m going to make it happen for you, Robin. If I don’t do anything else, I’m taking you to Hawaii,” Stephanie said.

  Robin smiled at Stephanie and took a sip of her wine. “Babe, I believe you. Are you ready to go to the Oasis?”

  “You don’t believe me, but I’m serious. We are going to go and soon,” Stephanie said as she stood up and laid a tip on the table.

  Robin knew that Stephanie was serious, but she didn’t want her to feel as if she had to do it. After they paid the bill, they left and headed to the Oasis. When they got there, Dana hadn’t arrived, so they grabbed a table and ordered a few drinks. Stephanie was enjoying herself, until her eyes landed on Chris.

  “Shit, what the hell is he doing here?” she whispered to herself. He was smiling at her, and Robin didn’t miss the look exchanged between them.

  “Bae, who is that?” Robin asked, already knowing the answer.

  Stephanie looked at her and muttered, “That’s Chris.”

  “Well, I will say you got great taste in men as well as women.” Robin laughed as she leaned over and kissed Stephanie.

  A few minutes later, Chris was making his way to Stephanie’s table. “How are you doing, Stephanie?” he asked.

  “I’m good, Chris. How are you?” she replied.

  “I’m good. You still looking good, Stephanie,” he said, smiling.

  “This is my baby, Robin. Robin, this is my ex, Chris,” Stephanie replied, ignoring Chris’s last comment.

  “How are you? Damn, you are a sexy li’l thang also. I’d love to buy you two ladies a drink,” Chris drawled.

  “Thank you, and yes, you can buy us a drink,” Robin answered before Stephanie could refuse.

  “All right, what do you want?” Chris asked.

  “I want a Tom Collins,” Robin said, smiling.

  “I don’t want anything, thanks,” Stephanie replied.

  “Come on, Steph. Don’t be like that. I’m just trying to be a nice guy,” Chris said.

  “I’m good, Chris. I got a drink right here,” Stephanie replied.

  “All right. Maybe later,” he said as he walked to the bar to get Robin’s drink.

  Stephanie looked at Robin and grabbed her hand roughly. “Bae, you can’t play with a man like Chris. I see it in your face, all the flirting and shit. Don’t do that.”

  “It’s harmless, Steph.” Robin laughed, using the nickname Chris used for her.

  “To you it’s harmless, but to him, it’s something else. Please just listen to me on this,” Stephanie said.

  When Chris returned, Thad and Toby accompanied him. “Hey, lady, long time no see,” Thad said.

  “Yeah, it’s been a while. How is the family?” Stephanie asked. She wasn’t feeling the whole situation at all. She didn’t want to see them. She knew that they were after the people who robbed them, and she didn’t want to set off the wrong vibe.

  “Everyone is good. Sorry to hear about Farrah. We been meaning to go by Shirley’s house to check on Travis, but for some reason we just haven’t made it,” Toby said, smiling at Robin.

  Stephanie noticed the look and immediately introduced her. “This is my girlfriend, Robin. Robin, this is Thad and Toby.”

  Everyone spoke and talked for a few minutes longer, before they were interrupted by Dana.

  “Well, ain’t this cozy.”

  “Hey, come on and have a seat,” Stephanie said quickly.

  Dana sat down and looked at Thad long and hard, without cracking one smile. She didn’t speak to any of the guys at the table, period. Chris excused himself, along with Thad and Toby, but not before Thad broke the silence between him and Dana.

  “Dana, you’re looking gorgeous as ever. By the way, have you heard from Keith lately? He seems to have disappeared with some things that belong to me.”

  “I haven’t heard from Keith in a while. Enjoy your night, fellas,” Dana replied before turning her attention to Robin. “How are you doing, Ms. Robin?”

  Once the men were gone, Dana looked at Stephanie. “What the fuck did they want?”

  “Shit, Chris came over first, and before we knew it, we were surrounded by their asses,” Stephanie answered.

  “Well, anyway, I’ma go get me a drink. I’ll be right
back, okay?” Dana replied as she stood up and walked to the bar.

  When she returned, she sat down, and the ladies talked about several things. They were enjoying the atmosphere in the Oasis. They had drunk several drinks, so one girl after the other had to take a bathroom break. When Robin stood up for the third time and excused herself from the table to go to the restroom, Chris, who had been checking out the ladies’ table all night, followed her to the bathroom door. He blocked her entrance and smiled.

  “Stephanie got her a fine-ass chick.”

  “She sure does, and I got me a fine-ass female as well, and I plan on keeping her,” Robin stated flatly.

  “Listen, I’m not trying to stop what y’all got going on, but I need to talk with Steph, one-on-one. Do you think that will be possible?” he asked.

  Robin laughed. “When pigs fly,” she answered.

  “Shit, I can make that happen, baby girl,” he replied.

  “Listen, I got to go in here and piss and get back to my baby. So unless there is anything else you want, move,” Robin demanded.

  “All right, all right, don’t get so defensive. Look, here is my number. Call me and let’s chat about it,” Chris said as he wrote his number down on a napkin and placed it in her pocket.

  Robin rolled her eyes and pushed past him into the restroom. After she finished, she stood looking in the mirror and then at the number Chris handed her. She didn’t know why she wasn’t throwing it away, because she knew deep down that she was playing with fire.

  She returned to the table, and the ladies danced and enjoyed the rest of their night without any further interruptions from Chris or his crew.

  * * *

  Saturday morning, Stephanie lay in bed, thinking about Chris. She couldn’t believe that he had cornered her in the bathroom at the Oasis last night and attempted to fondle her and kiss her. She fought him off and walked quickly back to the table where Dana and Robin were waiting. She didn’t tell Robin what had happened, but she wanted to. The kiss that Chris planted on her left her lips—both sets—tingling. She loved Robin, but she ached for Chris.

  She shook her head as if trying to shake the thought of Chris from her head. He was bad for her, and she knew it. She couldn’t do that to Robin. She was in love with someone who loved her back for her.