Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Fumi
Last night was exactly what I needed. I poured a glass of wine, turned off the lights, lit a few candles, curled up on the couch, and started reading You Left My Heart on E by BeBe Dior.
Baby…I love it. I’m not quite finished, but it’s giving exactly what it’s supposed to give. I am Summer… and Summer is me.
See, yesterday wasn’t about hiding from anything associated with Hood.
It was about resetting. BeBe Dior’s book, lowkey, breathed life back into me.
I needed the reset because I’m not about to let Hood and his hoes ruin my summer.
I worked too damn hard to get here, and I refuse to let that nigga have this much power over me.
It ain’t fucking happening. I ain’t tiptoeing around no nigga. Business as usual, I’m back outside. Matter of fact, I’m still mad I stayed in the house last night. The city was turnt. Bleau Genes was a fucking movie. I wish I had slid through, but tonight it’s up, and it’s stuck.
My phone rang damn near all evening with people begging me to come outside, and I should’ve. Edgewood ain’t that big. I’m bound to run into Hood sooner or later. Somebody’s feelings are gonna get hurt… It just won’t be mine this time.
I ain’t sparing no nigga in 2026, and I damn sure ain’t letting no hoe press me over a nigga I’m not with. I had to check my own damn self. I wasn’t about to start moving scared.
Then my phone rang—Nuri. I answered on the first ring.
“Yo…”
“Fumi, you up?”
“Yep.”
“Bitch… you been on Facebook?”
“Nah.”
“I deactivated my page, why?”
Nuri sucked her teeth. “Girl… Adrienne’s lame-ass throwing shots.”
I frowned. “Bitch, at who?”
“You.”
I laughed. “Girl, that bitch doesn’t want none, I promise you. I saw her yesterday, and she still ain’t said shit. So now she wanna be a keyboard killer? Hoe, please.”
“And you seen her yesterday?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“She came to the shop.”
There was complete silence as I waited for her response, the kind that makes your stomach tighten. Then Nuri finally spoke… “Bitch… why you ain’t fucking call me?”
“Because I wasn’t feeding the drama.”
“What happened?”
I filled Nuri in on everything—Adrienne requesting me, then me sending her right back to the website. I left nothing out. When I finished, Nuri let out a long whistle.
“Fumi… you should’ve checked that hoe.”
“Nuri…” I laughed. “I didn’t wanna take it there. If we’d been anywhere but my job…”
“Fuck that job.”
I shrugged. “It probably would’ve gone a whole different way, but I ain’t about to have people say we out here tussling over Hood.”
I smiled to myself. I got too many niggas checking for me to be fighting over one I don’t even want.
Silence.
Then Nuri burst out laughing.
“That’s the Fumi I know.”
“Thank ya. So, what’s the move tonight? You stepping out, or you playing house with Cash?”
“Bitch, I’m stepping out.”
I laughed. “About fucking time.”
“I’ll play house later,” she laughed. “So, Bleau Gene’s is having an all-white party tonight. I’m definitely in that bitch. Especially since Adrienne wants to be goofy.”
“Girl, fuck Adrienne.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m finna be too fine tonight to entertain that girl. Whatever issue she has, she needs to take it up with someone else.”
“I feel you.” Nuri laughed. “So, what time are we pulling up?”
“Probably around nine. My last appointment ends at five, so that’ll give me enough time to go home, shower, and get cute.”
“Bet.”
“I’ll come scoop you.”
We wrapped up our conversation. Yep…We were officially back outside. A few seconds later, my phone buzzed. A smile spread across my face the moment I saw the name on the screen.
Cohen: Good morning, beautiful. When can I see you again?
Me: Good morning. Soon.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Cohen: Soon ain’t on my calendar.
I laughed.
Cohen: Put a date and a time on it.
Cohen: I feel like you’re hiding me now that it’s summertime.
Me: Chill.
Cohen: I’m trying to chill… with you.
Damn…He was smooth.
Me: I’m stepping out tonight.
Cohen: Where?
Me: Bleau Gene’s.
He replied before I could even lock my phone.
Cohen: Pack a bag.
I bit my lip.
Me: I’ll think about it.
The truth was, I already knew I wasn’t going home alone. I just hadn’t decided who deserved my time. And one thing about me: a nigga wasn’t getting easy access anymore.
Damn, Cohen is fine as fuck. I shouldn’t have responded to his text message because now I can’t stop thinking about him.
Pack a bag.
Yeah, he’s already choosing. I like Cohen, and I could honestly see myself being with him one day—just… not this summer. Catch me in the winter, my boy. There are way too many fine-ass niggas outside for me to be leaving the club with one man.
The last thing I want is for people to think I’m off the market when I’ve just started having fun. We’ll see where this thing with Cohen goes, but for now… I’m outside.
I was already dressed for work, thank God! Now I’m ready to start my day, since it turned out to be a short one anyway.
Ihad to reschedule my last appointment after the entire block lost power. Georgia Power sent an alert saying the estimated restoration time wasn’t until eight o’clock that night. To make matters worse, the salon’s generator decided it didn’t want to cooperate.
With it already pushing ninety degrees outside, Keena made the executive decision to close the shop early. Fine by me. I cleaned my station, packed up my supplies, and called Nuri, but she didn’t answer. I’d catch her in a minute. I ain’t gon’ lie…
I was already feeling myself. My phone had been blowing up all day.
It had to be something in the damn air. I was trying my hardest not to act funny about the weather, but shit…
It’s hot. I’m hot. I’m off work early, and tonight I feel like showing my ass.
I’m choosing these niggas—it ain’t the other way around.
I shot Nuri a quick text.
Me- Aye, let’s go fuck up the mall real quick.
She responded almost immediately.
Nuri- Ain’t you at work?
Me-Power outage. They shut the whole shop down.
Nuri- Let’s do it. Pull up. I’m at the crib.
Me-Say less. I’m on my way.
Nuri- Hurry up, Fumi. Don’t take all day. We can play in traffic while it’s still early.
I laughed, slid my phone into my Goyard bag, locked up the salon, and headed to my car.
About twenty minutes later, I pulled up outside Nuri’s spot. While I waited for her, I checked my email and glanced at my banking app.
Business had been good this week. A few minutes later, Nuri bounced out of the house and slid into the passenger seat. I pulled away from the curb and headed toward Phipps Plaza.
“I saw a member of your team earlier.”
I glanced over at Nuri. “Who?”
“Givenchy.”
“Oh yeah?”
“He asked about you.”
I smirked. “He called me earlier.”
“Did you answer?”
“Nope.” Nuri burst out laughing.
“Aye, you know these niggas gon’ be outside at Bleau Gene’s tonight.”
“I know. That’s exactly why I ain’t answering anyone’s calls.”
Nuri shook her head. “Tonight, low-key, finna be a movie.”
“I already know. I’ve been trying to decide what to wear.”
“Me too, bitch.” I grinned.
“I’m showing skin, hoe.”
“Me too.”
“I’m thinking about wearing a white two-piece short set, and my shorts have to be fitted. I’m passing on a dress. I’ll probably pair it with my gold Giuseppe Zanotti sandals.”
Nuri smiled. “Ooh… that sounds cute.”
I laughed. “Aye… I’m fucking some shit up tonight—the club and, most definitely, a few niggas’ minds.”
Nuri raised her hand, and I slapped it. “Cheers… to the all-white party.”
Man, traffic was heavy as fuck. It seemed like everybody and their momma were headed to Buckhead. We probably should’ve gone to Lenox, but I’d pass.
Twenty minutes later, we finally made it to Phipps Plaza. The parking lot was ridiculous. I cruised for a few minutes before finally finding a decent spot. I backed in, grabbed my Goyard bag, locked the Benz, and looked over at Nuri.
“You ready?”
“Always.”
Our first stop was Nordstrom. I was popping out tonight, and if I was being honest, I planned to spoil myself.
“Fumi,” Nuri laughed, “why do we always end up at Nordstrom at Phipps?”
I shrugged. “Because Carmani works here, I want her to pick out some fly-ass shit for me.”
“True.”
The moment we walked through the doors, we spotted Carmani leaning against the counter, looking bored as hell. Nuri bumped into her shoulder on purpose. Carmani turned around, wearing the meanest mug imaginable, ready to cuss somebody’s ass out.
The second she saw us, her face softened.
“Nuri…” she laughed. “You play too damn much.”
“I know, hoe.”
“So, what y’all doing out here?”
“We need fits for the all-white party at Bleau Gene’s tonight.”
Carmani folded her arms. “Oh… so y’all hoes are going without inviting me?”
I laughed. “Girl, quit playing. You’re rolling with us.”
“Say less.” Carmani clapped her hands together. “So…” She looked us both up and down. “What are we wearing?”
“I ain’t figured it out yet.” I shrugged. “I know I want something fly.”
Carmani pointed at herself. “Well… lucky for you, your personal stylist is on the clock.”
Nuri grinned. “Oh, I want you to pick me out some shit too.”
Carmani rolled her eyes. “Oh… so y’all just using me to shit on bitches tonight?”
“Pretty much.”
Carmani laughed. “Bet. Let’s get to work.” She started flipping through racks of clothes, then looked back at us. “The mall has been crazy all day. Everybody is talking about this party.”
“We know.”
The three of us slapped hands before Carmani disappeared into the women’s department.
Fashion was her thing. She’d gone to school for design, and it showed. If I ever hit big for real… I’d invest in my best friend’s boutique before I bought anything else.
Carmani held up a white two-piece set. “So, Fumi, what are you thinking?”
“I was leaning toward fitted white shorts with a matching top.”
She nodded. “Cute but basic as hell… but cute.”
I laughed. “So, fix it.”
Carmani held up a floral-print clutch. “Oh, I got you. We need accessories.” She then held up another pair of heels. “For these, we need gold jewelry.” She smiled. “Now we’re talking.”