FOURTEEN
“WE DIDN’T GET HERE ON ACCIDENT... DON’T MAKE ME brING OUT THEM RACKS AGAIN.” DRAKE
Nina ignored Peaches’ call because she knew that she was going to ask her for the third time where the hell was she at.
Summer in the city was a hot one and the heat was scorching.
Nina had only told her she was pulling up the last three times she inquired about her whereabouts.
Between making love to Jio this morning, finishing up work, and being sleep-deprived, she couldn’t make it out of the house on time to save her life today.
Roberto whipped into the parking lot and Nina spotted Peaches pacing the sidewalk with a smoothie in one hand and her phone in the other.
“There this late hoe go!” she yelled loud enough for two other customers who were about to walk into the braid shop to turn around and wonder who was the hoe that was late.
“Girl, come on!” She hollered through the window.
She had some nerve and Peaches didn’t hesitate to share her two cents as soon as she climbed into the truck. “I could’ve got my feet done and a whole set of new lashes as long as I been waiting on you.”
Nina apologized, “Time wasn’t on my side today. I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.”
“Like G, you offered to scoop ME! I didn’t call your phone trying to make plans.”
She gave her a look that begged for sympathy. “I’m sorry, seriously.”
Peaches folded her arms. “Hmm hmm, I want something good to eat and a lot to drink!” she let her know.
“Your wish is my command. We can eat wherever you want.”
“I thought you had reservations already, LIAR!”
Damn, she was guilty again.
She’d been busy. Work was kicking her ass left and right. A girls’ day was needed with one of her closest and funniest friends.
“Alright, alright… I forgot to lock the resy in, but no worries. It’s early in the day. We can still get something good to eat, even if we have to sit at the bar,” she said casually.
“Look at you, I know the real reason why you was late.”
Nina glanced down at her ensemble. She didn’t dress up today, so she didn’t have a clue as to what exactly Peaches was referring to.
“I have on linen pants and one of Jio’s t-shirts,” she commented on her attire.
She literally threw on the first thing that she laid eyes on.
Paired with a jean jacket, strappy sandals, and a Gucci scarf tied around her edges, she looked presentable, and that’s all that mattered.
Nina had to dress up every day of the week so when the weekend came, if it wasn’t business-related, she preferred to be as comfortable as possible.
“Oh baby, it don’t have nothing to do with your clothes, but you look cute and you smell good.”
Nina pulled her glasses down. “Spit it out.”
She looked the other way with her nose stuck in the air. “Nah…nah, I’ll let you tell me on your own.”
“I don’t have nothing to tell you,” Nina said to her.
“So we not going out to eat to celebrate?”
She pulled her glasses down. “Celebrate what exactly?”
Peaches leaned in until they were almost nose to nose. “Bitch, you glowing!”
Nina rolled her eyes. “It’s too early for your foolishness.”
“You got nice skin and all, but that’s not the reason.”
Peaches looked her up and down again before dramatically placing a hand over her heart.
“That right there...”
She pointed toward Nina's face.
“Is premium dick glow!” she continued.
Nina slapped her arm so hard the strawberry pineapple smoothie nearly flew out of Peaches’ hand.
“Girl!”
“What?” Peaches hollered between laughs.
“You are crazy!”
“If I’m lying, I’m flying.”
She joked, “Roberto, we can drop her off at home!”
Peaches cackled loudly. “Not without my Tomahawk!” She was starving and ready to eat.
They laughed and sang along to whatever Roberto played up until they made it to lunch.
Nina’s fingers were crossed that they weren’t packed and the food Gods were on her side.
They were able to be seated upon arrival.
“So...” Peaches began.
Nina looked over the menu, not paying her much mind.
“What’s up?”
Peaches stared. “Nina…” She hated when she acted clueless.
“What?”
“Girlllll!”
Realization crossed Nina’s face. “Oh, Jio!”
She searched for the right words. “We’re doing good. I’m happy.”
“Is it different or the same?” she questioned.
“Different but in a super healthy reciprocated way.”
Peaches leaned back in her chair. “Now that’s a word I never thought I’d hear connected to Jio.”
Nina laughed. “I didn’t either.”
“So what changed?”
“I think the time apart was good for us. We both needed to see things without the other person blocking the view. He knows what he wants, and I know what I have to make time for.”
Peaches was a trusted friend and she knew Jio, so she could always talk to her with ease and without worrying about whether she was being judged or not.
Peaches nodded. “Yep, and no matter what, protect each other at all costs.” She had a front row seat to their lights being dimmed after they broke up, so she was super happy that they’d taken their time to reconnect.
She hadn’t seen much of Nina since she popped up at the club a few months ago.
However, she saw Jio on a weekly basis because he loved the strip club.
She never brought Nina up if he didn’t. Peaches was a better listener than counselor when it came to being Jio’s friend.
He was tight-lipped about Nina to everyone though.
It was an unspoken rule to not speak on her name.
Peaches teased her, “Look at you smiling again.”
“Girl, I can’t help it,” she said unashamedly.
“You in love-love.”
Nina opened her mouth to deny it before realizing how ridiculous that would sound.
She’d been in love with Jio since the first day they met. But what felt different was how she now felt safe to enjoy loving him without limitations.
“I'm happy,” she admitted instead.
Peaches reached over and squeezed her hand. “I can tell.”
The conversation drifted toward easier things like the latest club gossip.
Nina didn’t pretend to remember any of the girls’ names or faces that Peaches worked with, but she always enjoyed the stories.
Her friend was the best storyteller. She told her that one of the dancers was currently fucking a well-known NBA player who was married.
Nina was shocked at the name, she laughed until tears gathered in the corners of her eyes at the other updates in her life.
She’d forgotten how funny Peaches naturally was.
“How’s your friend doing? The one you brought to the club that night and she gave me a lap dance.”
“Danyelle,” she answered.
Nina smiled instantly. “I talked to her not too long ago. We’re going to do dinner soon.”
“She was cool. Tell her I said hey.”
“I will. She did a sabbatical but she’s back now.”
“What’s that?” Peaches was always learning new shit whenever she hung with Nina Marcelle.
They spent the next hour or so planning a trip that would hopefully serve as a shortened version of a sabbatical since they both couldn’t afford to miss weeks away from getting to the money. After their table was cleared for dessert, Nina reached into her purse.
“I almost forgot.”
“What girl?”
“I have something for you!” she said excitedly, before pulling out a small black box tied with a teal green ribbon.
Peaches frowned. “What’s in it?”
“Open it and see!”
“No, thank you.” She didn’t want whatever it contained.
Nina’s face frowned. “What you mean no?”
“I know what that box is. Hell, I knew about the box before I even knew you existed.”
The Marcelle watch was a very expensive piece. Whenever a man came through the strip club with one of those on, she knew she was going to have a good money-making night.
“Okay and?” Nina was confused.
Peaches folded her arms. “That’s not for me.”
“Yes, it is.” Nina slid the box across the table.
The steakhouse suddenly felt quieter as she slowly untied the ribbon before opening the lid.
Inside rested a rose gold Marcelle & Co.
timepiece. Diamond markers with the signature Mother-Of-Pearl face.
Peaches knew that it cost more than anything she’d ever owned just by looking at how the diamonds danced when she held it up.
“Shit girl, why you get me this?” She couldn’t accept the watch, even though it was a gift, it was way too expensive.
She put the watch back in its place and shut the box and pushed it away from her. “I can’t wear this.”
“Yes, you can.”
Peaches lowered her head. “No one has never─”
Nina interjected, “You’ve shown up for me more times than you know.”
Peaches swallowed hard. “I don’t be doing nothing but getting you drunk and shit.”
“That’s not true, and on the few times that we did get lit, it was rightfully deserved! You’re my friend and I love you. Now put the damn watch on.”
The words lingered between them as she observed the watch.
Nobody had ever bought her a gift off the strength of them being appreciative of who she was as a person.
Nina was a different girl and she was thankful for their friendship.
Men bought gifts because they wanted pussy.
She couldn’t be convinced otherwise. Customers tipped because they enjoyed the fantasy.
Friends rarely thought of her first and she spent so much of her life pouring into everybody else and making sure folks were straight all the time that the gift took her by surprise.
“You trying to make me cry in public?”
Nina smiled. “Maybe.”
Peaches wrapped her arms around Nina and hugged her so tight without caring what it looked like to other people.
“I love you, girl.”
Peaches quickly wiped beneath her eyes. “I love you too.”
“Now can you please try your watch on please?”
It took Peaches no time to place it on her wrist.
She sniffled dramatically. “I’m officially who these hoes think I am!” She couldn’t wait to pop her shit the next time she hit the pole.