I Ain't No 50/50 Type Of Chick

25. Cali

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CALI

U nknown number: I could’ve ate yo’ pussy real slow hanging off the bed with yo’ head on the floor, but I’m guessing you asleep.

“What the fuck?” I muttered groggily, squinting at the bright screen of my phone as I tried to make sense of the text that had come in overnight. That was the second message from that unfamiliar number, and I was fed up with their little texting games. Clearly, they were seeking my attention, so I decided it was time to respond. With a hint of annoyance, I typed back my reply.

Me: Who the fuck is this, and how did you get my number?

I tossed my phone aside and started my day. First, I dragged myself out of bed, feeling the effects of sleep still clinging to me. I made a quick trip to the bathroom to relieve my bladder. After that, I peeked into the twins' room to check on them. They were still peacefully sleeping, their small bodies nestled under their colorful blankets, and I smiled at the sight. Next, I made my way to check on Jai. She had decided to stay over after her date with Savvy. Surprisingly, she was still knocked out, so I let her be. When I returned to my room, I checked my phone, curious if I had received a response from the mysterious number. Sure enough, a new message had appeared. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever this person had to say.

Unknown number: I hate arguing through text. Let’s argue in person so we can fuck afterward.

Me: Okay, since it’s obvious that you want to play, let’s play a game. Send me some money, and I’ll say thank you.

Moments later, my Cash App alerted me that I had received one thousand dollars from an unknown account.

What the fuck? This person knows my Cash App information.

As I sat there, confusion filled my mind, and the first name that popped into my mind as a potential culprit was Draco. And I only thought of him because the unknown texts didn’t start pouring in until shortly after our last encounter. So, the idea that he was responsible for the texts didn’t seem too far-fetched. Yet, as I pondered the situation, I quickly recalled that I had never actually given him my number. That realization made the mystery even more perplexing.

Who else could possibly have access to my phone or know how to send those texts? My mind raced through the faces of people I knew, trying to pinpoint anyone who might have a motive or the means to pull off such a stunt.

Thinking of Draco, he kind of sounded like my mama that day we talked when he mentioned me being with a no-good ass nigga, only his words didn't carry the harshness and coldness that my mama's often did. Instead, Draco seemed genuinely concerned and was trying to guide me, offering a different perspective on my situation that I hadn’t considered before. I have to admit, I truly appreciated him for that. It allowed me to step back and see my circumstances through another man’s eyes, which helped me reevaluate what I was dealing with when it came to Jayceon.

Draco could’ve said what he did on some hating or jealous shit, but I knew a real nigga when I saw one, and Draco was definitely one of them. However, when I considered having someone like him in my life, it was clear to me that he would be more of a momentary distraction rather than a lasting partner. The idea of committing to him for the long haul felt entirely out of the question. Draco exuded a kind of energy that screamed toxicity and danger. He embodied everything I knew I needed to avoid, especially with children around. I couldn't envision a future where I could fall in love with someone whose very presence felt like a risk.

It wasn't just his personality that raised red flags for me; there was an unsettling compatibility between us. We shared certain traits that could easily lead to more conflict than harmony. I needed stability and calmness in my life. Yet, I imagined our interactions devolving into constant arguments and heated exchanges, with neither of us willing to back down. The thought of that kind of daily struggle was exhausting, and I just wasn't on that type of time anymore. I had called myself retired from beating on niggas.

Me: Thank you, my mystery stalker.

I sent to the unknown number.

Unknown number: There is more where that came from.

I shook my head, then focused on a bigger matter at hand. I looked over at the other side of the bed and noticed that Jayceon never came home the night before. If I had to guess, he was laid up with another bitch, but he’d never admit to that. Jayceon would swear he fell asleep over one of his homeboy’s houses. Since he was my boyfriend, and I cared about him somewhat, I decided to call to check on him. Of course, the two times I did call, his phone went to voicemail.

“This is why I hate dating hood niggas! You don’t know if their phone is dead or they’re dead!” I grumbled after calling him three times.

Believing he would eventually show up, I pushed aside any concern about his whereabouts. After reading an uplifting scripture from the Bible, I eased into a light yoga session, feeling my body slowly awaken and energize. Afterward, I headed to the kitchen to start breakfast. Normally, Jai would have been excited to lend a hand in the kitchen, but I sensed her exhaustion from the previous night, so I decided to let her sleep a little longer.

As I neared the end of cooking, I heard the shuffling of footsteps, and Jai appeared in the kitchen, still groggy and charmingly disheveled.

“Good morning, boo,” Jai said with a yawn as she made her way to the coffee maker.

I leaned casually against the counter, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. “A good morning it should be for you,” I replied, gently teasing her.

Despite the late hour of her return, she couldn’t contain her excitement and began to enthusiastically recount all the juicy details about her date with Savvy.

“Where is Jayceon?” she asked, glancing around the kitchen with curiosity.

I turned my attention back to the grits.

“Girl, that nigga didn’t come home! He’s probably in some hoe’s face! I’m damn sure not worried about him, though.” I faced her again. “But tell me why somebody texted me again from that unknown number.”

“Oh, Lord! What did they say this time?” she replied, her eyes widening with a mix of concern and amusement.

Instead of voicing my frustrations, I pulled up the messages on my phone, swiping through the screen before handing it over to Jai. Her laughter erupted as she read the messages.

“Cali, are you absolutely sure you haven’t given your number to anyone recently?”

“A nigga? Hell no!”

“Well, maybe it’s a woman, then. Or… who knows? You might just have yourself a real-life stalker, boo!”

“Whoever they are must either have money to blow or don’t mind spending it. But, hey, if they want to keep stalking me and sending me money, please keep at it!”

For the next hour, we settled at the table, enjoying our meal with the twins while having small talk. Since the unfortunate mishap with Jai’s car, I had taken it upon myself to drive her wherever she needed to go, or I’d let her get my car if I was working. It was never a problem. If the roles were reversed, I knew without a doubt she’d drop everything to help me in a heartbeat.

Once we finished our meal and dressed the twins, we loaded up in my car, and I drove them to Jai's house so she could watch them for me until my appointment was over. I had a client booked for that afternoon, and while Sundays were my designated rest days, that particular appointment had slipped through the cracks before I could block off the day.

Ding Dong!

When my doorbell rang, I instinctively assumed it was my client. Without taking the time to peek out the window or inquire who was at the door, I swung it open. However, as soon as I saw who was standing there, I felt an urge to slam the door shut again.

“Draco!” I blurted out, my voice filled with surprise and irritation. I quickly glanced past him, trying to catch a glimpse of his vehicle. Instead of parking outside of my gate like most clients, he had opted for the driveway—Jayceon’s designated parking spot.

“Good morning, beautiful!” Draco greeted me as if his visit was expected. “And damn, baby, you’re fine, baby. I mean, you’re fine, but you’re finer than a muthafucka with your hair done.” He smiled.

“Draco, what the hell are you doing at my house? And how did you even know where I lived?!” I demanded to know.

“Your wet pussy didn’t alert you of my arrival? I told you, whenever I’m near, she’d be soaking. So, is she?” he asked, overlooking my questions.

My kitty was wet alright, but it was from the sight of his fine ass, and he was obviously high. Some niggas look so good when they’re high. I wanted to tell Draco, “Lick me next, nigga.”

I brushed off those lewd thoughts and returned to the serious matter at hand.

“Draco, I’m going to ask you one more time, what are you doing here?”

He stepped a little closer, invading my personal space, and gently tilted my chin up with his fingers.

“Well, I’m here to see you, obviously. Ms. Cali, you fucked up when you allowed me a glimpse into your world the other day. Ever since, I haven't been able to get you off my mind.”

“Look, Draco, I don’t know what kind of obsession you have developed! I mean, I’d probably stalk me, too, but that’s neither here nor there right now. You need to leave! I have a client coming!”

He chuckled. “Oh, you mean Janiyah Watkins?”

My eyes widened in shock, unable to hide my surprise.

“How… how do you know that?” I stammered.

“Hi, Cali. I’m Janiyah Watkins,” he introduced himself, extending his hand as if everything was perfectly normal.

“What?! Nigga, did you really book an appointment under a false name just to get my address?!” My voice rose in disbelief, and disbelief gave way to anger.

Every one of my clients received a text message with my address the day before their appointments, which meant that was likely how he had tracked me down.

“The lengths a man will go to when he’s in love. Aight, I won’t say that I’m in love, but shit, you’re definitely making it harder for the next woman,” he replied, leaving me uncertain whether to laugh or be alarmed.

“Okay, at this point, you’re crazy! Yep! You’re crazy! But you’re also fuckin’ with my money and wasting my time doing stupid ass shit like this! Get the fuck away from my house, Draco, and somehow, I need you to forget where I stay!”

I was just about to close the door when he reached out and stopped me with a hand. His expression was sincere, almost desperate, for a nigga who was giving off big dick energy with a side of toxic.

“Cali, listen, I’m sorry, aight? I promise I’m not here to waste your time.”

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my irritation.

“Then what do you want, Draco?” I questioned, my tone a mix of curiosity and lingering annoyance.

“I want to get to know yo’ pretty ass a little better, but I really need my shit done,” he answered, twirling his dreads that were in desperate need of a good wash and retwist. “I’m paying if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Draco, I’ve already told you that I don’t style men’s hair,” I firmly said, crossing my arms. “Even if I were to make an exception for you, paying me would be non-negotiable. In fact, I’d charge you double for the stunt you just pulled!”

Draco, undeterred, dug into his pocket and retrieved a thick wad of cash, letting it spill into his palm.

“Come on, let’s bump that up to triple. Hell, why not make it quadruple? How does three thousand dollars sound to you?”

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Three thousand dollars? Just for me to twist your hair?”

“Yeah. I’m good for it… as you can see,” he confidently replied, exuberantly fanning the cash out in front of me.

I contemplated his offer, but I struggled to come to a decision because I knew Jayceon would probably have a fit if he came to the house and saw me doing a nigga’s hair. However, it wasn’t every day or hell, any day, that I’d come across someone wanting to give me that amount for a retwist or any hairstyle.

“You cool with being average, or you gon’ get this money?” Draco asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I sighed deeply. “Come in! Don’t make me regret doing this!”

Draco flashed that trademark smirk of his as he stepped into my home.

“I feel special. You know, you doing this is basically you saying fuck your nigga and all that shit he was saying about you doing niggas’ hair.”

“Nah, me doing this is saying I have bills piling up and kids who depend on me. And if an opportunity like this presents itself, I have to seize it,” I quipped as I closed the door, hoping to clearly set the boundaries.

Draco smiled mischievously, casting a glance around the small, cozy interior.

“So, this must be your workspace where you pamper your clients?”

“Yes. Oh, before we go any further, you need to go and move your car. Since there are only two parking spaces, my clients park outside the gate. I’m sure you got the memo with your appointment notice.”

“I did, but that shit doesn’t apply to me, baby. I’m a top-tier client, which means I have special privileges. Parking in the driveway is one of them. Besides, I plan to be here more often soon, so you might as well get used to it. And as a top-tier client, I have another request. I’d prefer you do my hair in a different area of the house. The bedroom would be ideal, but I suppose we can settle for the living room.

I took a step back, absolutely stunned. “Nigga, you have completely lost your mind!”

“Yeah, probably because of you,” Draco replied, his tone teasing yet sincere as if he were trying to share a deeper sentiment beneath the playful banter.

“Draco, that’s not happening!” I exclaimed, my voice charged with determination as I stood my ground.

A sly grin spread across his face. “If I pay more, will you make it happen?” he proposed, pulling out another thick stack of bills.

I couldn’t suppress the soft, incredulous chuckle that escaped my lips. He certainly wasn’t playing fair—his charm and boldness were disarming.

“Five thousand dollars…. an offer you can’t refuse,” he continued, his voice smooth and persuasive, curling around my thoughts like smoke. “Well, you can refuse, but honestly, why would you? I just want my hair done, that’s all. No strings attached.”

I scrutinized him, my brow furrowing with skepticism. Draco’s offer was enticing, each bill representing a range of possibilities—bills I could pay, a weekend getaway I could indulge in, or maybe even a shopping spree. Yet, beneath that charming exterior, I could sense that Draco had something more in mind than just a hair appointment.

I nibbled on my bottom lip in contemplation.

“Going once… going twice,” he teased, his voice a playful lilt.

“ Sold to Cali Love,” I declared, the words spilling from my mouth as I snatched the money from his hands in a rush of excitement.

He chuckled.

“Let me put this money away before you decide to change your mind. I’ll be right back… and stay put!”

“I ain’t going nowhere, baby,” he replied, flashing a charming smile.

When I returned, I found Draco lounging comfortably in my living room, as if he belonged there, making it clear that was only the beginning of our unconventional arrangement.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay in the other room?”

“And didn’t I tell you that I was a hard-headed ass nigga?” he countered. “You also just said stay put, not stay in the other room, so I took it as you meant not to leave the house. You gotta be more specific next time, baby.”

I shook my head.

“This yo’ nigga?” he asked, holding up a picture of me and Jayceon when we first got together.

“Yes, that’s him.”

Draco chuckled, shaking his head. “Small world.”

“You must know him or something?”

“Something like that. I just can’t believe that’s the nigga you call your man.”

“I gotta boyfriend, not a man . I gotta man when a man got me. That nigga is just a bum I picked up off the street that I’m allowing to stay here.”

“That explains why you’re letting him stay here rent-free.”

I cut my eyes at him.

Draco held his hands up in a playful surrender. “Just a lil’ jokey joke.” His gaze quickly shifted to a framed photo on the wall, where the twins were newborns.

“Your babies, I take it?” he asked.

“Yes, but they’re much older than that now. They’re two years old,” I replied, a hint of pride warming my tone as I thought of their energetic little personalities.

“They’re precious.”

“Thank you,” I responded, grateful for his compliment. “But we really should get started. I can do your hair out here, but I’ll need to wash it in the other room,” I explained, gesturing toward the adjacent space where I usually performed my hair services.

“Cool,” he replied.

After about twenty minutes of washing, conditioning, and prepping his hair, we made our way back to the living room.

“You can take a seat here,” I said, pointing to the chair I had pulled forward, positioning it directly in front of me.

“Nah, I think I’d feel more comfortable sitting on the floor, right between your legs,” he replied, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Nigga, what?!”

“Cali, I done already told you that I’m a top-tier client who happens to have certain wants for this appointment. So, instead of sitting in a chair, I want to sit on your floor, in front of the TV, eating snacks and shit, between your legs, with you wearing something a little more comfortable, like… a gown.”

I chuckled. “Draco, I’m sorry to ruin the ‘fantasy’ appointment that you had lined up in that head of yours, but none of that is going to happen.”

Draco stepped to me. “For the right price, I’m sure we can make anything happen today.”

Draco had a bookbag with him that I never bothered to question the contents. As he casually unzipped it halfway, I caught a glimpse of what was inside—a substantial amount of cash, neatly bundled and tempting.

“I just intended to blow it today,” he continued, his tone shifting slightly as he focused on me. “But now, I want to do a good deed and give it to you.”

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued.

“A good deed that seemingly comes with a lot of demands on the other person's part. That’s definitely a first,” I replied, injecting a bit of sass into my words, eager to match his bravado.

He chuckled, clearly amused. “Yeah. But knowing what I do about you, I’m certain you won’t consider my request unless I’m talking more money.”

“As long as you know.”

“So, what’s it gonna be? All of this could be yours.”

“How much money are we actually talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rush of emotions swirling inside me.

“This is about fifteen thousand dollars.”

“Fifteen thousand dollars?!” I shrieked, my voice rising in disbelief.

“Okay! What do you want? Should I put on a two-piece pajama set, a Walmart gown, or some sexy lingerie? I even have a moo moo tucked away back there!”

Draco burst into laughter, clearly entertained by my dramatic response.

“I’m serious!”

And I truly was serious. That kind of money could’ve changed my life—transform it in ways he couldn’t possibly comprehend. In that moment, it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. I couldn’t care less what criticisms might come my way for accepting his offer—not even Jayceon’s. They weren’t living my reality, and if they were, I was certain they would react just as I did. It was a life-altering opportunity, and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers.

“I’m leaning toward the sexy lingerie, but we can save that for another time. Just put on one of those Walmart gowns… with no panties.”

I raised my brows.

“If you do that, all of this will be yours,” Draco coaxed as he patted the bag.

This nigga.

“That’s all I gotta do?”

“That’s all, baby. Well, maybe you can fix a nigga some lunch or something, and you most definitely gotta finish my damn head. I’ma have to take back all that money if this muthafucka don’t get did!”

I chuckled. “I got you on doing your hair.”

“I’m serious about you cooking me something, too. So, what’s on the menu today?”

“Spaghetti.”

Draco turned his nose up at the mention of spaghetti.

“Nah, I’ll pass on that shit. I don’t eat too many people’s spaghetti.”

“Nigga, you can eat my spaghetti. I’ve never wanted a nigga that bad! But I’ll be right back and stay in here this time.”

I went to the back and found the sexiest gown I owned. That was a day I wished Jayceon wouldn’t come home, but with my luck, I expected the worst to pop off, especially with Draco and his ridiculous yet persistent commands.