Chapter 1 #3
“She’ll be here soon, and I’m looking forward to it.
It’s been too long since I just... unleashed.
I need to get away, and honestly? You’re talking about Grandpa Viktor, but if I’m honest, I’m a lil intrigued to see her cousin Mikhail that Pyper ass can’t stand…
she makes him sound like a bad boy and a time. ”
“Haha, your ass is so unhinged, Connie. Shit, by the end of the vacation, your ass is going to have fucked the whole family,” I snort out a laugh.
“Respectfully, I just want some dick.” She winks
“Period.” I agree, sipping on my drink, chasing down my food.
“But enough about my hot girl winter. How’s your man? How’s the boo-thang?” she asks, and that warm, stupid glow hits my cheeks immediately.
“Honestly, Connie?”
“Lay it on me, Mel.” She grins, swirling her drink.
“Friend, I’m so happy. Sye is literally the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Now that’s what the fuck I like to hear!”
“Haha, I’m so serious that man is so… ugh, perfect, and don’t get me started on how insatiable he is. He’s always ready to go for me in every way. I’ve never felt so desired in my life.”
“Ugh, praise God!” Connie raises her hand.
“Amen, and he keeps me on my toes, friend,” I continue, getting caught up in the thought of him.
“He’s funny when he needs to be, serious when I need to vent, and just plain adorable like a little puppy dog.
Sometimes he’s a completely different person with multiple personalities, but I love all the little puppy dogs in my man,” I tell her, and she sighs, staring at her drink lovingly.
“See, that’s exactly what I want for myself.”
“You’ll find yours,” I assure her.
“From your lips to God’s ears.” We wrap up and walk out just as a big, black Audi pulls up.
I wave at Pyper in the back seat and watch Connie hop in before they speed off.
“On the cool though. I see you bitch! Thick as fuck, fine as hell, and money long clearly… but frennnn.” She looks me up and down, making me pause.
“What?”
“Now you know I love you, right?”
“Yeah I know. What’s up?”
“What the hell is going on with your hair?” She raises a brow, and my jaw drops as I touch my wig.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Girl, don’t fucking play with me. You know damn well what the hell is wrong with it…” She shakes her head, and I pull out my phone, peeking at it.
“Friend, you’re taking soft life, hard wig way too seriously. Make sure you take your ass to the salon when you leave here.”
“But I just went to the salon…”
“Nah, a Black salon. If you don’t smell burnt hair and not sitting in somebody kitchen while they eating take out and talking loud as hell on the phone with they baby daddy, you not getting your hair done right.”
“But…”
“But nothing, Mel… you got to take that shit off,” she chuckles, and I sag.
“Damn, is it that bad?”
“Friend…” she pauses, staring at my hair, making me grow self-conscious.
“Fine, bitch, stop gawking at me! I’ll take your advice then.” I set my phone down, listening to her because one thing Connie will do is tell it like it is. She’s the most honest, yet genuine and sweet friend I have.
“Good, because when I get back I’ma check. Now come on, so I can fly to get my back broke in.”
I throw my head back laughing as the waiter comes up.
“Is there anything I can get you ladies?”
“No, thank you. May I please get the check?” Connie asks in her most professional voice.
“Absolutely. Will this be split o—”
“It will be together, thank you.” She smiles politely, pulls out her bank card, and I wait for him to leave before turning to her.
“Girl, I could have gotten the bill.”
“No, I got you. I’m paying it forward.” She beams, and we continue our conversation until the waiter comes back to get her to sign, and then I walk her outside, where I see Pyper waiting for her and wave goodbye.
“You both enjoy your trip.”
“See you in two weeks.” They wave, and I go over to the car where my personal driver opens the door.
“Where to, Mel? Home?” Lionel asks after I get in. I almost say yes until I catch my reflection in the window and cringe, jumping back, scaring my own damn self. Damn, wig blindness is a real damn thing.
“No, take me to the nearest Black hair salon.”
“The nearest Black hair salon?” He pauses, turning to look at me, frowning, and I groan when he looks at my wig and nods.
“I got you, Mel. Say less, but let me make a call first.” He turns around, and my mouth drops open because I’ve never heard Lionel speak like that before. But I stay quiet as I see him pull out his phone. “Siri, call Reighn.”
Calling Reighn.
We sit there while the phone rings an—
“Yeah,” a deep, smooth voice says over the phone, and it shocks me.
“Aye Reighn… I have my boss here with me, and she wants to get her hair done.”
“So, nigga? What you calling me for?”
“W-well, I wanted to take her to Dett house.”
“And?”
“I’m in her custom Audi… this bitch about a milli,” he states, and the line goes silent, and my heart pounds.
“I’ight, Stone over there. I’ll call and tell him to make sure nobody touch it.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Yeah.” The man named Reighn hangs up. Lionel turns the car, and I sink down into the seat, shaking. Damn, did he just call to make sure someone would watch my car so I don’t get robbed? Where the hell is he taking me?
“Thanks, Lionel,” I mumble.
“No problem, Mel. I got you.” He drives, and I scroll on my phone, seeing that Sye has messaged me twenty-something damn times, talking about how much he loves and misses me.
I chuckle before responding, telling him I’ll be out later than usual tonight and setting my phone back into my purse.
I fall asleep until I feel the car jerk to a stop, and I hear Lionel get out, and then my door opens.
Suddenly, the car is flooded by the sound of people laughing and loud music.
Getting out, I’m actually shook because this for damn sure doesn’t look like a hair salon.
“Where are we?” I question as people gather around my car, taking pictures.
“This my cousin Odette house. If you want to not look like that no more,” he pauses and points to my wig. “Then I promise you she’ll get you right, Mel.” He nods, and I snort a laugh, but I just stare at the house in front of me.
“And this is where she lives?”
“Yup.” He walks up to the door and bangs on the screen. “Aye, Dett! I got a client for you! Open the door!”
“Lionel, why the hell are you banging on my door like that?! You know Aspen here with Junior! You’re going to scare him, and he just fell asleep!
Shit!” a girl grumbles, muffing him upside the head after she opens the door, and when I get a good look, I see a beautiful Black girl who looks like JT from the City Girls.
“My bad, I’ll apologize to Penny, but it’s an emergency.”
“What kind of emergency has you beating on my got damn door like you done lost your fucking mind? You know I fight niggas,” she scowls, and I step back, knowing if she fight niggas then she fights bitches too, and I don’t want no smoke.
My knees too bad to be stomping bitches and this girl look like she got them Meg Thee Stallion knees. Nah, I’m good.
“I’m serious.”
“Ugh, fine, what the hell is it?” she mutters, and he points.
“That.” He points to me, and she turns slowly to me, flinching before she crosses herself.
“Damn!” She flinches like Kevin Hart. “I’ll let this shit slide since you wasn’t lying.
You,” the girl, or rather Dett, calls out to me like I didn’t just ride up in a whole ass Audi with a driver.
“You can come in. Oh, but take your shoes off, though, because my mama is going to be mad as hell if she sees shoe prints on her floor,” she grumbles, shutting the door behind her and going into the house, leaving me standing there looking at Lionel like “where the hell did you bring me?!”
We’re a long ass way from Beverly Hills, shit. This is the ghetto ghetto. Hell, I’m scared to leave my car out here.
“I-is it safe to go in there?” I ask him, not trying to judge, but shit…
“Oh yeah. Dett ’nem cool people. She not gon’ rob you or because I brought you.” He smiles, and I grab my purse like I’m some lil ol’ white lady.
“S-so you’re saying she would have robbed me if you hadn’t brought me here?” I croak, and he shrugs.
“Who, Dett? Oh, most definitely. She would have got you for everything you worth, but the others are cool, and like I said, since I brought you, she knows this business. She’s real professional.”
“She don’t look professional,” I snort, and he laughs.
“Believe it or not, Dett is the best of the best when it comes to doing hair and make-up. She’ll get you right,” he tells me and I sigh, remembering what Connie said. She looks at the door as soon as it bursts open again.
“Damn, you coming in or nah?” She curls her lips, rolling her eyes at me, and I can tell this girl is a troublemaker.
Someone who don’t give a fuck about authority and could give two shits about manners.
She really better check that before she talks like that to the wrong person and finds out.
Not saying it’s me or nothing. I might have money, but I don’t think I’m better than people.
However, for some reason, I can tell this girl will get more than she bargained for with that mouth and attitude of hers.
“I’m coming… but my car.” I point, and Lionel waves me off.
“These Reighn streets. Don’t nothin’ happen around here without his permission. You go on in.” He nods as a pretty boy with tattoos comes over to him and gives him dap. “What’s up, Stone?”
“Nothing much.” The guy looks me up and down then smacks his lips before turning away like I’m not worth his time or even a hello, then raises a brow at my car. “Damn, so this is the car Reighn said to watch. This one bad mother fucker.”