by Nique Luarks
I giggled, shaking my head at her.
“Half.”
“Morgan…”
“Just take half a perc and a couple of shots.” She unlocked the doors. “I’ll never ask you for anything ever again.”
I hopped in the car and shut my door. “We both know that’s a lie.”
There were a few cars in the parking lot of Ava’s tattoo shop when we pulled up. I put the cap on the Patrón bottle before I reached back and put it on the floor.
“I wonder if they’re still doing tattoos,” Morgan slurred a little. “I want a heart next to my eye.”
“A little one right? And not colored in?”
She nodded. “Yep red. We should get matching ones.”
Frowning, I opened my door. “You already peer pressured me into taking a Percocet.”
“Well, I’m getting mine.” She snickered as she got out. “Ooh, this wind feels so good,” she said in a sing-song tone. “I wish I could fly.”
I laughed, shutting my door. “Girl, come on. It’s chilly out here.”
“That’s means you ain’t drunk enough.” I waited as she made her way around her Tesla and we hooked arms.
“I’m plenty drunk. High too.” That was why I wanted to get inside so I could drink some water.
As we approached the entrance, loud music could be heard. Security stood in front of the door with their arms crossed and with mean mugs in full effect. I recognized one as Ross and waved as we approached.
“Hey, Ross.”
“What’s up, Chance.” He nodded.
“Hey, Ross,” Morgan flirted and then laughed. “His ass is fine.”
I shook my head at her as Ross opened the door and let us in. The shop was lit up in neon lights and packed with familiar faces. Morgan took off towards the sitting area that had been designed to look like a hookah lounge. My eyes scanned the building as 21 Savage’s “A&T” played. When my eyes landed on Ava who was coming down the spiral staircase, I cheesed.
“’Bout muthafuckin’ time, yo!” She grinned approaching me. “I was just about to call you again.” Her thick New York accent was so dope to me.
“I told you I was on my way.”
“I told these niggas it was just supposed to have been a small kickback, but there is a handful of hoes I don’t know here.” She frowned. “I told Roman they got one time, and I’m going on a tasing spree,” Ava said, holding her finger up.
I laughed hard. I knew Ava was dead serious. She was that friend you could always have a good time with. You just never knew what to expect from her. Ava was rowdy and violent as hell, but it was expected since she worked side by side with Tone. But she was also well educated and kind to the people she cared about.
“You getting tatted?” she asked as she led the way to the bar.
“I didn’t plan on it.”
Morgan turned around with two shots, smiling. “Hey, Ava.”
“Sup, Morgan?” Ava nodded. “What you drinkin’ on.”
“Liquid marijuana shots.” She handed me one and then passed the second to Ava. “I already took two.”
“Two.” I stared at her. Morgan was trying to mask her pain by self-medicating. We were definitely having a heart-to-heart before the week was up.
“Yep.” She nodded. “So, hurry up and take yours.”
Ava wasted no time tossing hers back. I followed suit. Sitting the shot glass on the bar, I bobbed my head to the beat.
“I’ll be back. I’m going to the bathroom.” I took off, greeting and giving hugs to the people I considered my extended family.
After I used the bathroom, Morgan stood right outside of the door waiting on me. “Let’s get a tattoo.”
True
Walking into Ava’s tattoo joint, I locked B’s with a couple of the homies. Slipping my hands into my jean jacket, I swagged through the spot, checking the scenery. I did a quick head count of the muthafuckas I didn’t know. When I noticed Nia, a thottie from the hood, I grabbed the crotch area of my black jeans and tossed my head back. She smirked, shaking her head before turning around to talk to some chick. I chuckled, pulling the brim of my red Tommy Hilfiger dad hat down.
“Hey, True.” Ava switched past me on her phone.
I nodded.
Once I got to the hookah area, I slapped fives with Tone, Roman, and Drake.
“What you niggas got up?” I took a seat on the sectional and leaned back.
Roman passed the weed to me. “Shit, Ava’s ass ‘bout to get locked in her office.”
Drake laughed. “Nigga, you been threatening that girl all night. You ain’t gon’ do shit.” He shook his head. “Sprung-ass nigga…”
We all shared a laugh. Ava was a wild card. She’d been groomed by her people in New York. Shorty made business deals with big bosses and sat at round tables with Dons. My nigga, Roman, had locked her down, but her strong personality had him wanting to put his foot up her ass every once in a while.
“Hey, True.” Nia approached the section, tossing her long hair to the side.
I tossed my chin up and grabbed a bottle off the table. “Wassup, shorty?”
“I ain’t seen you in a minute.”
Shrugging, my eyes roamed around the room and they landed on Chance who was coming from the back with that hoe, Morgan. I couldn’t see her eyes because of the hat she had on, but judging by how slow she was walking, I knew she was high.
“What you doin’ when you leave here?”Nia asked.
I shrugged.
“Well, if you wanna link, hit me up.” She smiled before turning to leave. Just as she walked away, Chance entered the section.
“Hey, True.”
“’Sup, Jelly?” I’d been calling her that name more often than usual.
She smiled as I stood up to give her a hug. Wrapping my arms around her torso, I gave her a slight squeeze and licked my lip. Our hugged lingered for a minute before I released her.
“Hey.” She waved to the homies.
“Sup Chance?”
“What’s goin’ on, Channy?” Drake and Roman spoke simultaneously.
Tone tossed his chin up, still looking down at his phone.
Morgan plopped down and snatched the bottle of D’usse out of my hand.
“Guess what I did.” Chance cheesed, lifting her hat a little.
I pulled her closer and draped my left arm around her waist. “What?”
She turned sideways. “I got a tattoo.”
“Where?”
“Right here.” She pointed to the spot right outside of her ear. It was a red heart, but it wasn’t colored in.
I chuckled. “You gangster now?” The tat looked good on her. It wasn’t big and it wasn’t directly on her face.
“Her ass was supposed to get it next to her eye.” Morgan sucked her teeth. “Scary cat…”
Chance giggled. “I’m not about that life.”
Looking down on Morgan, I noticed she’d gone through with her initial plan. “Let me rap wit’ you.” I tapped her butt. Chance nodded and spun around, leading the way out of the section.
“Can somebody show me how to get this hookah going?” I heard Morgan ask as we walked towards the back of the shop.
We ended up in one of the tattoo artists’ room. Shutting the door, I rested my back against it. Chance hopped up on a pink massage table. I stared at her for minute as she bobbed her head to the music coming from the speakers in the ceiling. Licking my lips, I glanced down at my red Jordan 11’s.
“Where you been?” I crossed my arms at my waist.
She shrugged. “Around. I’ve been busy getting the shops together. I should be moving back to my loft by the end of the month.”
“I know. I talked to Emmit. He came by to get the rest of his money the other day.”
“Really? He didn’t tell me.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
Pushing off the door, I approached the table. “You’re welcome.” I stood between the gap in her thick thighs. Her eyes fluttered and then she glanc
ed at the wall. When she faced me again, I smirked. “Where you been, Chance?”
“I told you.”
“You know what the fuck I’m talkin’ ‘bout.” She’d been MIA since after the day Chase got released from the hospital. That was five days ago. I’d been moving around a lot with Drake for the last three days, which was the only reason why she’d gotten away with the shit. The entire time we’d gone without talking, all I could do was think about all the fuckin’ we had done when she’d spent the night with me.
“I’ve been busy, True.”
“Too busy for me?” I hugged her body, and then leaned back to stare at her face. “’Cause I talked to Chassy today.”
She sighed.
“And she told me you took her to get her nails painted after school Wednesday.”
“That’s different.”
I chuckled. “What I do to you?”
Chance smirked and then grabbed the sides of my white tee. “You know exactly what you did.” She bit down on her bottom lip as she eyed me. “I was serious when I said we needed space, True.”
I sucked my teeth. “You still on this stupid shit.”
She grimaced. “So, my feelings are stupid?”
“You know that’s not what I’m saying.” My hands slid down her hips and across her ass.
“Well, that’s why we need to space. My feelings are all over the place and it’s only fair that I get to let them be free.”
Chance was into all that spiritual feeling–your-feelings shit. She didn’t believe in bad feelings or people. Her theory was that there was good in everything and everybody. When she was in college, she used to watch me bag up work while I listened to her read those self-help books. She was especially hard on me about personal growth when I got shot six times a couple of summers ago.
“My feelings are all over the place too.” I leaned in and hugged her. “I’m sad ‘cause I miss my Jelly,” I faked pouted and she giggled.
“True, I’m serious.”
I kissed the side of her neck.
“I don’t know what it is that we’re doing. You still have sex with other people.” She tugged at my shirt. “And I can’t be mad at that ‘cause you’re not my man. But I feel mad because we’ve compromised our friendship.” Chance rested the top of her head against my chest. “All of our foundation.”
We stayed quiet for a minute.
“I’m sad too.” She sighed, and I rubbed her back. “What if I’m in love with you?”
Taken aback by that, I released her. “Jelly…” The tears in her eyes made me suck my teeth.
“This is why we need space, True. Being around you makes me emotional. I don’t want this to become our dynamic.” She wiped her cheeks. “I don’t want us to argue or have disagreements every time we see each other. That’ll just make us not want to be around each other.”
“And not being around each other ain’t something I’m interested in.” Stepping back, I widened my stance and crossed my arms.
“So, forget how I feel?” she asked in disbelief.
“Did I say that?”
“Then tell me what exactly you’re saying.” She frowned. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to stop trippin’ on titles and where you stand in my life. You know I love you. You know you come before any and every bitch, baby mamas included. You can’t tell I fuck wit’ you?” I mugged her. “You said fuck me, but I made sure shit for your loft and shops still got paid for.”
“So, I’m supposed to just settle for being your favorite?”
I gripped her chin. “Nah, you’re supposed to be my Jelly, the only person who owns the spare key to my heart.”
15
Unexpected
Chance
Looking at my tattoo in the little mirror I kept on my desk, I shook my head at how reckless I had been. Only Morgan could’ve convince me to get a small, red heart tattoo on my face. I sat the mirror down and pushed my chair back. Standing up, I pulled my pencil skirt down and grabbed my phone off the desk. After grabbing a folder, I sashayed out of my office. My main donut shop in Lees Summit had been open for business again for three days now. A pipe had burst in the new building, causing a small setback.
When I rounded the corner to the lobby, a young lady was waiting by the cash register. There were maybe seven people in the shop altogether, including Keri. A few customers sat in booths, either reading, writing, or doing something on their laptops. I approached the young woman smiling with my hand extended.
“You must be Piper.” I smiled.
She smiled, taking my hand into hers. “Yes, and you must be Chance.”
“The one and only.” I ushered her towards a vacant booth. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Piper shook her head no. “I’m fine.”
After taking a seat at the table, I sat the folder in front of me and then put my phone on silent. “First things first, I want to thank you for your interest in the position. However, you do know the building won’t be ready for another few weeks.” I opened the folder and removed my glasses from the pouch.
“Yes, I received your voicemail. That’s fine. I’m in the middle of moving and finding a babysitter for my kids.”
“You have babies? How old?” I took out a few papers.
“Two and six months.”
“That’s wonderful.” I smiled. “I want kids one day.” I grabbed a pen from the pocket and put my glasses on. “Okay, so as you know, the position is for a full-time baker. Forty hours a week, every other weekend off.” Scribbling down a note about her kids, I cleared my throat. I then looked up at her.
Piper nodded. “That’s exactly what I need right now.”
Available.
“Perfect. You mind telling me how and why you’re qualified for this position?”
“Sure. I have a culinary degree. I worked part time at a bakery in Vegas for three years. I loved it actually.”
“Wow. Vegas?” I was impressed. “Do you happen to have your résumé?”
“Of course.” She slid a piece of paper across the table.
I quickly scanned through her school history. “So, if you loved it so much, why are you leaving?” I sat the paper down. “Especially so far away? Missouri and Las Vegas are nothing alike.” I’d been to Vegas plenty of times with True, just so he could gamble. The atmosphere there was almost contagious enough to make me consider staying.
“My fiancé and I called it quits and I have family here.” Piper looked off. “The last couple of months of my life have been pretty hectic.”
“Trust me. I know all about the inconveniences of life,” I empathized. “Every third Thursday of the month, I’ll need you to work 5am to 5pm. A good friend of mine hosts a ladies’ day and she brings approximately forty women here for donuts and coffee for breakfast. They leave and come back a little after dinner for pastries and desserts.”
Piper shrugged. “I’m sure I could find the extra help once a month.”
“Great.”
Flexible.
“Chance…” Keri walked up on the table. “Haze is on the phone.”
“You mind taking a message or asking if he can call back?”
“So, how long have you been open?” Piper glanced around the shop. “I love the colors and the vibe. Will the other store look like this?”
“Thanks.” I closed the folder and removed my glasses. “It’ll be an exact replica but just a little more spacious.”
“What’s usually your busiest day of the week?”
“I’m glad you asked that.” I appreciated her interest in the position enough to ask her own questions. “So, Monday, surprisingly, it stays pretty busy as well as Saturday mornings. I also cater for birthday parties, weddings, and a number of different celebrations.”
Piper looked impressed. “You’re doing well for yourself.”
“I’m just trying to stay afloat.”
“Later, Chance.” A customer walked past the table.
�
�See ya later, Dominique.” I smiled. “We have a lot of customers who come here just to have an expresso and write.” I chuckled. “Some bring books to study while they enjoy a shake. Then you have a handful who come just to snack and use me for my wi-fi.”
Piper laughed.
“A lot of teens come here after school as well. So, eventually, you’ll start to recognize faces and put names with them.”
“That’s cool.” She smiled. “The environment is so lax like a black Starbucks.”
I giggled as the door to the shop opened and Haze walked in. Our eyes connected, and he tossed his head up. He then walked to the counter and found a seat. Keri started taking his order and I gave Piper my attention.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” I hated to cut her interview short, but I couldn’t concentrate. My gaze shifted quickly to Haze who was now staring at me.
“No, not that I can think of right now.”
“Great. I’ll stay in touch.” Scooting out of the booth, I fixed my skirt. “If you think of anything after you leave, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email.” I held my hand out.
“Thank you, Chance.” Piper gave me a firm handshake before she grabbed her purse.
“Have a pastry and shake on the house before you go,” I offered.
“Really?” She looked unsure.
“Of course.” I motioned for her to follow me. “Keri, can you take care of Piper for me?” Crossing my arms, I stared at Haze. “What can I do for you?”
“I came to talk to you.” He licked his plump lips. I hadn’t seen him in a while. Haze had expressed numerous times his attraction to me and even wanted to pursue something serious. But because he’d had a hard time accepting my relationship with True, he had backed off.
Sighing, I spun around. “In my office.”
True
“I swear I can’t wait until his arm and shit heals.”