Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Fumi
Sheesh... I’ve been counting down the days until summer for months. I’ve been getting fit and fine as fuck, and I feel good, but I can’t stand this damn humidity. It’s already seeping through the blinds as the morning sun peeks through my windows, reminding me to get my ass up and turn the AC down.
Ugh.
To make matters worse, the MARTA train has been rumbling along the tracks nearby every damn morning, sending a slight vibration through my apartment. It’s getting annoying as fuck. It might be time to move.
I’ve been rocking my leg back and forth for the last few minutes because I have to pee, but I’m too damn lazy to get out of bed. I didn’t get home until late last night. Baby, when I say a time was fucking had, I low-key still have a hangover.
One perk of living in Edgewood is the nightlife.
The city doesn’t really come alive until the sun goes down.
After that, it’s up, and it’s stuck. Last night, we laughed, bullshitted, sipped some of the finest wine the city had to offer, and chased it with a couple of lemon drops to make sure the night ended on the right note.
I didn’t crawl into bed until almost two o’clock this morning, so waking up before eight should be considered a crime. My phone had been ringing for the past five minutes. The only person bold enough to call me this early was Nuri.
Nuri probably didn’t even want shit.
“Yeah...”
I rolled my eyes and glanced at my iPhone 17 Pro Max.
7:30 a.m.
Really, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Nuri was being removed from my favorites today. She knew I fully intended to lie in bed until at least 7:45, then drag myself up for work.
I was awake, but I wasn’t fully up.
“Fumi...” Nuri practically screamed through the speaker. “I heard that nigga was home.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear. It was far too damn early for all that.
“What nigga?”
I knew exactly who she meant. Last night, before I finally fell asleep, I opened Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Every timeline looked the same.
Welcome Home, Hood.
I started unfollowing people quickly. I ain’t really trying to get into what’s going on with him. I already knew he was supposed to be released this month. Tieranee gave me a heads-up a few weeks ago when we ran into each other at Whole Foods.
Even then, the news hit harder than I wanted to admit. The fucked-up part: I still loved pieces of Hood. That was the problem. We couldn’t be together, and now that he was back in Edgewood, I planned to make damn sure our paths never crossed.
“Bitch, act like you fucking know.”
I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me.
“Girl, I’m oblivious. Who are you talking about?”
“So, you really ain’t heard that Hood is home?”
“Nope,” I smirked. “I don’t give a fuck about him being home.”
“Mm-hmm, you really saying that with a straight face?”
“Nuri, I don’t think I was stuttering. Last time I checked, before we broke up, Hood’s dick was too damn friendly for me. Let’s be clear: before he went behind that wall, I said fuck him. I wasn’t about to hold down a cheating-ass nigga in jail. What the fuck do I look like?... Respectfully.”
“Mm... that’s not what happened.”
“Yes, it is. Girl, the basic-ass hoes Hood was entertaining couldn’t wait to let me know they were still fucking with him, even behind bars. Hell, they were making trips to the county jail just to sit across the table from him.”
Hood was the last nigga I wanted to see.
If he’s home, I planned on steering clear of him. I’m good.
“Fumi, how do you think this summer is going to play out now that Hood’s back home?”
“What are you saying?”
“Why are you acting so damn slow?”
“I’m not acting slow.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m not. I’m saying Hood can do him, and I’mma do me.”
“Mm-hmm...”
“I’m serious. Let’s be clear—the nigga never stopped doing him before he went in. I don’t expect shit from Hood, so I hope he ain’t expecting shit from me. I don’t need no nigga raining on my parade this summer. He’ll fuck around and get his feelings hurt.”
“Despite all the little bullshit, he was a good nigga.”
“My life is peaceful now. I ain’t checking for Hood, and he can do whatever the fuck he wants. I don’t have time to argue with any of the hoes he’s dealing with. I ain’t on that.”
“I was with Cash last week, and he said Hood was trying to get your phone number.”
Of course she was.
I should’ve known Nuri was back dealing with Cash. He came home before Hood, so it made sense that she hadn’t been going out with us lately.
Yeah, Nuri’s playing house again.
The whole crew was back home now. Guap got out a few weeks before Hood and Cash. I even saw him around the hood, but he walked right past me as if we had never met.
“I hope you didn’t give him my number.”
“I didn’t.”
“I changed my number for a reason. I don’t want Hood contacting me.”
Nuri laughed. “I know better.”
“Just checking.”
“So, you really think Hood is gonna let you roam around this city all summer without him?”
“Nuri, Hood, and I haven’t been together in years. He can’t tell me what I can or can’t do. I’m not clocking his every move, and I’m damn sure not rearranging my life just because he’s home.”
I smiled to myself. “Besides, Hood won’t even see me this summer.”
“You sure about that?”
“I promise you he won’t.”
After we hung up, I finally dragged myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
Cheers to summer and steering clear of my past.
Fuck Hood.
The moment I stepped out of the shower, I deactivated every one of my social media pages.
I knew Hood better than he knew himself. I wasn’t about to let his fine ass slither back into my life. I’m cool. I stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash over me. I needed a real cleanse—Dove Vanilla Body Wash, lavender Dr. Bronner’s soap, and EOS Cashmere lotion to top it off.
Baby, if nothing else, I was gonna smell expensive all damn day. My first client didn’t come in until ten o’clock, so I had time. After finishing my skincare routine and brushing my teeth, I grabbed my phone.
Facebook. Deactivate.
Instagram. Deactivate.
Snapchat. Deactivate.
Threads. Deactivate.
I wasn’t fucking around. I got paid to post content, and every one of my pages was public. The last thing I needed was Hood lurking around my profile, figuring out where I was, then popping up like he still had access to me.
Absolutely not.
I wasn’t leading this nigga to the well. Edgewood wasn’t that big. Sooner or later, we’d cross paths. But if I had anything to do with it... it damn sure wouldn’t be today. Or tomorrow.
I checked the weather before walking over to my closet.
Comfort won. I pulled out a gray Nike two-piece set and paired it with my Wolf Grey 5s. The plan had been sandals all summer.
That was... Before Hood came home.
Now?
His hoes might be a little stressed and pressed. And just in case one of them decided to get beside herself over a nigga I hadn’t dealt with in over six years... I’d be dressed to put my foot on a bitch’s neck. Comfortably.
It takes me about an hour to get dressed. It’s so damn hot outside that I can’t even bring myself to wear makeup. Yeah, ain’t no way I’m finna have shit slide down my face.
On my way to work, I stopped by the coffee shop a few doors down and grabbed my usual order. An iced butter cookie latte with caramel, three pumps of vanilla, extra cold foam, and a slice of avocado toast.
Breakfast fit for a queen.
I’d been working at Kissed by Keena for the past three years. It’s one of the hottest salons in the city, and business has been booming. I built a solid clientele, and on a good day, I could clear $750, maybe $1000.00 if I’m really hustling.
Not bad for doing something I loved. When I got to the shop, I still had about thirty minutes before my first appointment, so I sat down, enjoyed my breakfast, and set up my station.
Thirty minutes later, my client arrived for a fishtail ponytail.
I started by taking her to the shampoo bowl.
One thing about me is that I wash every client’s hair myself.
No one can convince me their scalp is cleaner than mine.
While I was conditioning her hair, I heard the front door open. I didn’t bother looking up.
My next appointment wasn’t until noon. A few minutes later, Amia, our receptionist, approached.
“Ms. Fumi, do you think you can squeeze in a walk-in within the next hour? She wants her sew-in washed, tightened, and styled.”
I shook my head. “I doubt it, but who is it?”
Amia motioned toward the front. I glanced up.
Adrienne.
Bitch... Please.
Out of every salon in Atlanta... She chose this one?
Nah.
Discernment. Every single fucking time. I wiped my hands, walked toward the front, and stopped Amia before she could say another word.
“Hey,” I said quietly. “Normally, I don’t turn down money, but I’m booked. Let someone else take her.”
“Okay, Ms. Fumi.”
Amia turned to walk away.
“Oh, one more thing.” Amia looked back at me. “Did she request me?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Tell that hoe I don’t take walk-ins.”
I turned back toward my station. “If she wants me, she can book through the website like everyone else.”
That was my boundary.
I’m professional, respectful, but I’m firm.
Adrienne and I had already exchanged enough words over the years. Adrienne wanted that nigga so bad… I gave that nigga to her… And every other bitch who wanted him. I wasn’t interested in taking him back or entertaining anyone connected to him. It must be trouble in paradise.
It’s too damn early for games. Ain’t no way Hood just came home, and Adrienne’s first stop is my salon, asking for me.
Bitch, please. Why not go back to whoever did her hair the first time?
I’m glad I kept it cute. She’ll fuck around and get her feelings hurt.
If she keeps pressing, she’ll fuck around and get her ass beat.
I don’t know what she wants with me, but one thing’s for sure—I ain’t checking for Hood.
The last thing I need is to turn this salon upside down over a nigga I haven’t dealt with in years.