Ethan Whitmore #2
“Um, it’s…it’s a…oh my god, I’m sorry.” She laughed. “You have me so speechless right now.”
“My bad.” I chuckled. “That shit good though. I fuck with it.”
The sound of her phone chiming interrupted our moment.
Her entire demeanor changed as she read a text on her screen.
She played it off smoothly, but I knew whoever texted her, must’ve been someone she didn’t want to talk to.
Then, it dawned on me. I had never asked her if she was in a relationship.
I had never heard her mention anything about her daughter's father. Shit, I haven’t even noticed a ring on her finger.
“You good?” I asked.
“Yea, I’m fine.” She gave a half smile.
“I wanna ask you something. It never crossed my mind until now.”
“Okay…” she waited for me to continue.
“Do you have a man?”
“Um…it’s complicated.” She looked away.
“That’s not really answering my question, though.” I used my finger to turn her face back to focus on me.
“Yeah, but like I said, it’s complicated.” Her voice was low.
I watched as she began placing her lunch containers back into her lunch bag. She then tossed it in the back seat and grabbed her work bag.
“I think it’s time I go back inside.”
I sensed how uncomfortable she became, so I wasn’t about to hold her up. I nodded my head and we both got out of the car. We were silent the whole way up the elevator. The moment we stepped off and she was getting ready to go her separate way, I caught her hand.
“I appreciate that sample. I hope you really do consider restarting your business.” I winked, then walked away.
Honestly, I enjoyed our little moment together.
When I glanced at the time, I figured I had about another two hours to stick around before heading out.
I shot a text to both Duke and Ace, to let them know we needed to meet up to discuss business.
I’d been holding on to this shit for long enough.
There was no need to prolong it any further.
As soon as the last meeting ended, I was out that muthafucka. I came home and took a quick shower before changing my clothes. By the time I finished rolling my blunt, my dawgs were standing on my porch, knocking on the door.
“What’s up, bruh?” Duke came in first.
“What’s good, nigga?” Ace came in second.
“Shit, what’s good with y’all?” I lit my blunt.
“About to get into some pussy as soon as I leave here. So, what’s up?” Ace rubbed his hands together.
I took a few pulls and blew out smoke from my nose before responding.
“I don’t know if y’all heard or not, but I’ve been connecting with my long lost family members.”
“Some of Kat’s people?” Duke questioned.
“Nah, the dude she was fuckin when she created me.”
“Oh, shit. What's up with him?”
“He’s dead.” I took another puff. “That’s why I needed y'all to come through ,so we could chop some shit up.”
“If the nigga dead, what we gotta chop up? You tryin’ to make some shit shake?” Ace rubbed his hands together.
“No, fool. Surprisingly, he left me some shit in his will, and I’m planning to flip it and go legit.
“Word?” Duke raised his eyebrow.
“Shit, that’s what’s up.” Ace nodded.
“What he leave you?” Duke folded his arms with curiosity.
“Man…” I rubbed my face. “He left his entire banking company to me. I’m the new CEO of that shit.”
“Nigga, what!” Ace shouted.
Duke didn’t say a word.
“Right. I was thinking we could use this opportunity to clean our money too.”
“So, what you’re saying is you’re ready to retire from the streets?” Duke asked.
“Hell yea, ain't you?”
“To do what?” he questioned.
“Nigga, you act like the sky aint the limit,” Ace chimed in. “We get our money clean, we can do whatever the fuck we want.”
I nodded in agreement. I knew Ace would see my vision.
Duke, on the other hand, was too invested in the drug game and felt that was the only way to live and get money.
If he wanted to continue, and move forward with that journey, I would still support him no matter what.
However, my mind was made up, and it was time for me to start my journey on a new route. Bruh was quiet for several seconds.
“Alright, I’m down.” He agreed, and we slapped hands.
“So, that’s it?” Ace checked his phone.
I knew his ass was eager to get up outta there because whenever pussy was on the line, he acted like a crack head.
“Yea, that’s all.” I shrugged. “I have a lot of shit going on when it comes to this new position. I’m letting yall know right now, I’m going to be laying low for a while.”
“You good man, handle your business.” Duke dapped me up.
“Yea, we got this. But uh, good talk, I’m out. I’ll holla at y’all niggas tomorrow!” Ace dipped.
Duke stayed behind to chill, and we continued to chop shit up.
I even told him about Ava. I’d had my share of dating black girls.
Well, I wouldn’t say I dated them—more like fuckin’ them and moving along.
Anyway, I could tell she wasn’t like the girls from around my way.
The more I watched her at work, and the more we talked on the phone, the more interested I became in getting to know her on a personal level.
We’d been to lunch three times so far, and I enjoyed our one-on-one time.
It was something about the softness of her voice and her smile that made my dick jump and my heart pump a little faster.
She didn’t give me a straight forward answer when I asked if she had a man.
There was no ring on her finger, so I wasn’t concerned about whatever complicated situation she was referring to.
I wanted her. I wanted her so bad I could damn near taste it.
But, of course, I had been trying to keep shit professional.
I wasn’t sure how long that would last, because sexually, I was a whole other person.
And that muthafucka had been dying to come out to play.
If I played my cards right, I just might let him.
I was starting to see certain qualities in Ms. Ava that let me know she was the perfect match for my boy.
“Daddy, how come you don’t have a girlfriend?” Zoie asked out of the blue.
We were chillin’ and eating tacos I ordered from the Mexican restaurant not too far from my crib. This girl was always coming out of the blue and asking random ass questions that caught me off guard.
“Why are you asking me that, Zo? You think I need a girlfriend?”
She giggled, then shrugged her little shoulders.
“I don’t know. Mommy has a boyfriend.”
“She does?” I lifted my eyebrow.