by B. , Ivory
The trio walked through the exit gates of the park and headed towards Ty’s car. Once Lucky spotted Los her heart started beating wildly. He was sitting half way in and out of his black 750 Beamer. The driver’s side door was wide open and his feet were planted on the ground. Being that his body was facing the sidewalk Lucky knew she would have to walk by him, there was no getting around that. For a split second she entertained the thought of cutting across the street to try and avoid him altogether. Nah fuck that! He not about to have me cutting across no damn street. It’s not that serious. Los was on the phone as the trio went to walk by. Lucky told herself not to even look his way. That was her plan but her eyes had a plan of their own. As soon as she raised her eyes from the ground their eyes met. For a split second she thought his eyes mirrored the same sadness she saw every time she looked in the mirror. He turned his head away breaking eye contact and Lucky did the same. A lump formed in Lucky’s throat but she swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions at bay.
As Keema and Ty blasted music getting in party mode they left Lucky to her thoughts. She was thankful for that too, all she wanted to do was run under the covers and sleep the night away so she wouldn’t have to think about Carlos. Ty and Keema were getting club ready with their turn up music on blast. “So sophisticated!! Whoop!” Ty and Keema rapped along to Rick Ross and Meek Mill. The double trouble duo dropped Lucky off and kept it moving.
Lucky walked in the house feeling exhausted. While she was sitting around moping, she could only imagine what type of shit ole boy was getting himself into or who he was getting into. He probably had chicks waiting for him at the telly ass naked ready to celebrate his win. She shook her head knowing she was only hurting herself further by letting her thoughts run rampant. After taking a long hot shower she gripped her pillow as she lay down in bed under her sheets, batting her eyes trying to fight back tears before falling off to sleep.
Lucky jolted from her sleep sitting straight up in bed turning on the lamp. She sat still waiting to see if she were hallucinating or if that loud crash she heard downstairs was real. Her initial thought was that Ty’s cat Sparkle knocked something down while leaping around the house as she usually did. When she heard giggling she relaxed knowing it was no one else but Ty and Keema. From the looks of it they definitely had a good time.
“Was’ zup Lady Luck? Oh my god girl we had sooo much fun, you should’ve came out with us,” Keema said obviously feeling the effects of that happy juice. Lucky walked in the living room flopping down on the couch, ready to hear all about their night out on the town. Keema ran to the bathroom to pee knocking things over along the way, she was tore up from the floor up. When Keema returned from the bathroom she flopped down on the couch beside Lucky and threw her arms around her neck “Lucky baby I missed you,” she slurred. “Eww, girl you smell like that stankin ass weed. What the fuck do they be puttin in that mess, Skunk?” Lucky said with her face screwed up pushing Keema off of her. “Oh hell yeah, Luck that’s that loud, me and my boo was puffin on that good shit. As a matter of fact let me call him right now. He supposed to be picking me up from here. I told his ass I’m not turning in for the night until he comes right along with me.” Keema called Jah and he told her he was on his way. You would’ve thought she won the lotto, she was smiling so hard.
The girls gave Lucky the rundown of the night and it was nothing new to Lucky, same ratchet shit different day. Chicks getting into fights over dick, dudes about to bust off over beef. Chicks getting slapped up in the clubs by their baby daddy’s and baby mamas getting straight ignorant trying to bust out their baby daddy’s car windows. Lucky shook her head, at the craziness they’d witnessed that night. They had talked about everyone except Los. And Lucky was dying to know what he had been up to but her pride wouldn’t let her ask.
“C’mon wit it Lucky, ask about ya boy?” Ty said with a grin calling Lucky out. Lucky tried to play it off like she had no idea what Ty was talking about. “Stop frontin, bitch you know you wanna know what Los was up to. I’ll be happy to report that he didn’t stay long. He was at the club for about 45 minutes tops and then he broke out. He was looking for you. Then when he peeped you wasn’t there he left.” “Please, I doubt he was looking for me. How you figure he was looking for me?” “Hoe cause I know. I peeped his whole style he wasn’t even slick. He spotted Keema and me in V.I.P with his crew. His eyes started wandering all around the room before he walks up to Nice and whispers something to him. Then Nice comes up to me on some friendly shit and ask me how I was doing? Before he asks where you were. I told him you went home. He sat there with me for a few minutes before walking over to Los and telling him exactly what I just told him,” Ty said in a amped tone. “How you know what he said?” Lucky questioned. “Cause I can read lips hoe! And ya ass is gonna flip when you hear this!” “What?!” Lucky asked excitedly matching Ty’s tone. “Girl he looked so disappointed that you wasn’t there.” The smile fell from Lucky’s face almost instantly, she sucked her teeth before waving her hand dismissively. “Girl bye, I ain’t tryna hear that. I thought you had something serious to tell me. And just because he left early doesn’t mean he left by himself. He probably in the telly pipe’in the next bitch down as we speak. I’m not impressed,” Lucky said dryly. “True, true,” Keema co-signed Lucky’s assessment of the situation. “So what if he is. He’s not your man Lucky, that’s what you gotta understand. You gotta make that nigga want you and lock his ass down. Cause it’s plenty of bitches out here gunning for the position of wifey with him. Lucky you gotta go for yours. Don’t front for me and Keem, we already know you got ya panties all twisted in a bunch over that man. Lucky don’t forget I was the one holding you when you would cry all night when y’all first fell out with each other,” Lucky glared at Ty for putting her on blast. It was something about liquor that seemed to always loosen lips. “I’m not tryna be funny, you don’t have no shame wit us we all fam, all I’m saying is step ya game up, and state ya claim on that nigga. You know as well as I do you gon be too upset if he finds him a little something to be on some exclusive shit wit.” “Yup,” Keema interjected, “That’s why you need to go to his birthday party in a couple of weeks. He’s having a few parties during the weekend of his birthday out in A.C. Friday’s going to be a crazy ass pool party at a resort in Jersey. Jah told me they rented out a whole floor in the resort. It’s some luxury resort right outside of Atlantic City. And on Saturday their throwing him another birthday party at a club in one of the casinos You already know chicks gon be up in there straight dehydrated, lookin for a nigga wit long money to take care of them and Los will be high on their lists of things to do. Feel what I’m sayin?” Keema said.
Lucky pondered on the whole birthday party thing for a minute. “Nah y’all can go on without me,” she finally said. Keema looked really disappointed. For the longest time the three of them always made moves together so going anywhere with one group member missing would feel funny. Ty became instantly aggravated she was so tired of Lucky being passive. “Yo Lucky you need to get off your ass and go to this party, cause I’m about tired of you and this Carlos bullshit,” she spat. Lucky couldn’t understand why Ty was taking her situation so personal and getting upset. And what the hell happened tonight that made Ty and Keema turn so TEAM LOS all of a sudden? Lucky sucked her teeth succumbing to pressure, “Alright, alright I’ll go. Damn I’ll go.”
Two hours away Los lay awake in bed looking up at the sky through the skylight above his bed. He had started to take two chicks to the telly to smash the both of them but had a change of heart and took his ass home. It was something about seeing Lucky today that had him not wanting to be bothered with no other chick. It had been a minute since he’d seen or spoken to her and even though he was feeling it he was doing him. He knew he’d eventually have to break down and talk to her. He just wasn’t used to apologizing. For all of his 24 almost 25 years on earth he had never chased after a female. And if he and a female had a falling out then she was always the one
to come calling him back, even if he were in the wrong. So when Lucky walked by him earlier that day he was shocked. Baby girl looked at him and kept it moving, he couldn’t help but find himself a little more attracted to her for handling the situation like she did. Los knew whatever chick he settled down with would have to be special. She would have to definitely be of a certain pedigree to deal with him, because he wasn’t the easiest person to deal with. Yes, he liked to be in control, but he also liked a chick to have that right amount of talk back and fight. A chick who wouldn’t allow him to treat her like a doormat. He craved that type of challenge. By all accounts Lucky seemed like she could possibly be just that challenge he needed.
Nice told him Lucky wouldn’t put up with his spoiled ass ways that she was different from the chicks he was used to. Los disagreed, he was so confident in Lucky crawling back to him he challenged Nice to put money where his mouth was. Nice betting and gambling ass took him up on the wager immediately. Nice bet 10 racks that Lucky wouldn’t come crawling back to him that day at the game if she saw him. And now Nice was 10g’s richer. It wasn’t about the money that was small change to both men. It was more or less bragging rights and a chance for Nice to say I told you so. Now if not to anyone else in the world but himself Los had to admit that his feelings were a little hurt. Nice peeped the whole thing go down, so when Lucky walked out of sight without saying a word, Los couldn’t say or do anything but pop the trunk and let Nice retrieve the neat stacks of money from his gym bag.
Los shifted and his jaw set tight as he thought about the game and how he went hard on dude who tried to holla at Lucky. Honestly, he could hardly believe he had done that. He’d never been the type of dude to handcuff and tuck a broad. So the fact he actually got so jealous and possessive over Lucky was crazy. This whole jealous emotion was new to him and he was going to have to learn to control it. He wasn’t too worried about anything poppin off from the little altercation on the courts earlier. Them boys from North Philly were far from soft but they definitely didn’t want beef with Los and his team. What could they really do when he controlled whether they ate or not? After racking his brain with thoughts of Lucky he decided to call it a night. There wasn’t much he could do about his situation tonight. All he knew was he needed to get things back right with Lucky and after seeing her today he had a new determination to do just that.
Birthday Bash!
The girls had just pulled up to the resort and the line even getting to the valet service snaked all the way down the street and crawled at a snail’s pace. Keema and Ty were amped as hell after seeing all the traffic; they could tell this was going to be a night to remember. Brigantine Island in New Jersey, a quiet beach town 10 minutes away from AC was being overrun by hood celebrities. Locals stopped and stared, turning to look at the fleet of luxury cars rolling into the small upscale beach front community. Lucky was a nervous wreck sitting in the back seat. Her nerves were so bad she was convinced once she made it into her room she would be praising that porcelain god. There was no avoiding, running or hiding from Los this weekend, since he was the man of the hour. Their paths were bound to cross one way or the other.
Nice and Jah had actually rented out the entire 16th floor of the resort. Lucky could only imagine how much money they spent renting out an entire floor of the lavish hotel/resort. Jah had already informed Keema that he left keys for a two bedroom suite at the front desk for Ty and Lucky. The resort was sold out; every single last room in the resort was booked for the weekend. Los had people flying in from all over, Cali, Miami, and ATL. Partygoers who were in close proximately like New York, DC, Philly and Jersey were driving in just like Lucky and her girls.
The resort’s décore was modern, with jaw dropping picturesque views of Atlantic City; from just about any window of the resort you could see the lights of Atlantic City casinos. Lucky caught herself peering down the end of the hall where Los was supposed to be staying in the Penthouse suite before entering her own room. The room was extravagant; each spacious bedroom was equipped with private bathroom and walk in closets. There was a full updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances. And the number one feature of the room was the balcony that ran from the living room and both bedrooms so that each room had its own private balcony. “Awwww!!!!” All three of them screamed in unison jumping up and down like college chicks on their first spring break trip. The rule of the thumb was too never act too impressed; the hell with the rule, the room was the shit!
They had a few hours before the pool party on the resorts rooftop was supposed to start. Ty sat down on the plush microfiber sectional stretching out over all the throw pillows that decorated it. “So have you scoped ya competition out yet?” “My competition? Competition for what?” “Carlos,” Ty answered bluntly. “Girl I ain’t worried about these bitches or Carlos for that matter. I just came to have a good time.” Ty sucked her teeth “Riiiiiight Lucky, And you copped that sexy ass monokini for who exactly?” Ty asked with a raised eyebrow trying to hold back a knowing smile. Lucky didn’t answer, she only shot Ty a nasty look. “I’m going down the hall to check out Keema’s room, I would tell you to come but I know ya scary ass won’t, you too afraid you might run into birthday boy.” “Ty whateva, leave me alone,” Lucky said dismissively grabbing the remote for the plasma and turning it on. “On some real shit though, I think I should go down to his room and tell him you wanna speak with him right quick,” Ty said running towards the door with a kool-aid smile. Lucky jumped up from the couch running after Ty. Lucky’s heart was beating out of her chest, she didn’t want her cousin saying and doing anything to embarrass her because she knew Ty, she would definitely go to his room and tell him some crazy mess. Lucky grabbed Ty’s arms and started pulling her away from the door while Ty laughed uncontrollably. “Carlos! Carlos!” Ty screamed through laughter. Lucky damn near had Ty in a choke hold. “Ssshhh! Ty be quiet stop playin,” Lucky said nervously, “Ty please stop, why you playin so damn much?” Ty looked up into Lucky’s face and couldn’t help but to laugh harder, Lucky looked so damn panicked, it was shameful. “Alright!, alright!, okay I give,” Ty pleaded through laughter. Lucky gave Ty one last warning with her eyes before slowly letting her up from the hold she had her in. “Bitch you better not have messed up my hair,” Ty said while patting her hair making sure it was in place. “Nothings wrong with your hair Ty, it’s fine but don’t call that man in here, for real. Ty don’t call him in here.” “Damn girl calm the fuck down, I was only playin. He’s not even in his room. Keema told me a whole bunch of them went to the casino for a couple hours. The party start at ten so I guess they’ll be out there till then.” Lucky took a sigh of relief, as she finally started to relax. Ty looked at her cousin with pity. “Lucky you gon have to talk to this nigga sooner than later. This whole cat and mouse game y’all playing is stupid. I don’t know what you thinking but he gotta be feeling some type of way if he told his peoples to make sure you got one of these rooms. Let’s be honest, he had his sure pick of broads to stay in this room.” “Ty unh, unh I can’t believe you just said that shit. If he really cared I would be up in the room with him, not a couple doors down.” “I can’t argue with that but it’s gonna be really hard to get to that point if you won’t even say two words to him,” Ty said with frustration. Honestly, she thought both Lucky and Los were acting childish, they were both acting like they didn’t care when they really did. “I’m out Lucky I’ll be back.” “Okay I’m going to take a quick nap while your gone.” Ty stopped dead in her tracks, spinning around to face Lucky. “Oh hell no you won’t! Mika laid her shit down this time. She got ya hair dead right. You not sleeping on your hair, messing it up before birthday boy gets to see you.” Lucky laughed, “Now girl you know a bitch can sleep and keep my hair tight at the same damn time. I’ll fold my arms and lay face down.” “Nah girl I don’t want your curls to fall. Mika got you lookin just like that chick Amerie in that Touch video, memba that shit? That was my jawn right there with T.I sexy ass. Don’t be afraid to
touch, I know you think I’ma good girl,” Ty sang off key and beat. Lucky was drawing a blank, she couldn’t say she remembered the video. “He gone be speechless when he see you trust, what you need to do is walk right up on him and sit on his lap and ask him if he miss that good shit?” Ty said as she did a seductive strut to the door. Lucky laughed and rolled her eyes, her cousin was a damn fool.
Ty ended up being gone way longer than a few minutes, when Lucky heard the zip and click of the electronic key card unlocking the door it was a little after 9 pm. Both Ty and Keema came bursting through the door with someone on their heels. They were laughing and screaming as they tried to force the door closed while Jah tried to push it open. They successfully slammed the door closed while cracking up laughing. “Keema you betta not come ya black ass out here wit that shit on, if you do I’ma fuck you up!” Jah yelled from the other side of the door. Lucky looked at the door with alarm, hearing the seriousness in his voice. Keema caught the spooked look on Lucky’s face and started laughing even harder. “Luck chill, he all talk he ain’t gon do shit. I was fuckin with him, and told him I was wearing a g-string bikini to the party. Then that fool jumped up and said he was gon put his foot in my ass and Ty’s too. Yo we hauled ass,” Keema explained while leaning over trying to catch her breath. Despite the fact that Keema was winded she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Keema was gone, and everyone knew it just by looking at her. That man had her glowing from the inside out. Ty was standing next to Keema with her head down and both her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath as well. “Did you lock the door?” Keema asked. “Hell no, I thought you did,” Ty spat. Suddenly, the door came crashing in and Jah ran in with a ice bucket and started hailing ice cubes at Keema and Ty “I gotta cool y’all hot asses down up in this bitch!” Keema and Ty went stumbling over each other laughing, trying to get away. They ran into one of the bedrooms laughing, screaming and ducking at the same time. The bedroom door slammed violently right in Jah’s face, this time they remembered to lock it. He stood at the door with a mischievous grin on his face before trying the knob. When he couldn’t get in he kicked the door lightly with his foot sending Ty and Keema screaming like Freddy Krueger himself was outside the door. “Y’all betta not bring y’all hot asses out here for like an hour or so. Or I’ma embarrass y’all, I promise,” he threatened through a laugh. He spun around and noticed Lucky standing off to the side smiling nervously. Jah froze for a second, just to admirer her. Lucky was beautiful, real talk. A slow smile crept on his face showing off them damn grillz full of diamonds and gold he sometimes wore on the bottom row of his mouth. Jah clasped his hands together in a prayer position rubbing them together while bobbing his head at the same time. “Yeah birthday boy gonna be too happy to see you tonite. You looking dead right Lucky,” Jah said before winking and swagging off with his 7 jeans hanging off the back of his ass. Why he even had a Louis Vuitton belt on was beyond Lucky. Lucky looked at him and started laughing, that man was something sexy and thuggish as hell. She could see why Keem was so gone.