Chapter 8 #2
“I ain’t saying you stole from me,” he clarified. “But I ain’t ignoring the fact that my money and my product are missing, and you shouldn’t either. Check that shit.”
Tish rubbed her forehead, irritated to the max. Deep down, she knew Maino had been moving funny lately. The late nights, random mood swings, asking for money every other day like it grew on trees. She just didn’t want to believe he’d be dumb enough to jeopardize her situation over a high.
“I’ll talk to him,” she finally said.
“And what else?”
Tish rolled her eyes. “And get you your money.” That was the only option because the pills were long gone.
Heavy nodded once and stood up. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
“Wait,” she said, moving between his legs and pressing her hand to his chest to make him sit back down. “Why you leaving?”
Smirking, he got somewhat relaxed as she turned on her persona.
Tish placed both hands on his shoulders before slowly turning around, giving him a full view of the silver rhinestones between her ass cheeks.
The purple lights bouncing around the room made the oil on her body shimmer every time she moved.
She rolled her hips slowly at first, teasing him more than anything.
Tish always knew how to perform without making it feel forced.
That was part of what made men throw money at her so easily. She sold attention better than sex.
Heavy leaned back against the booth, with one arm stretched across the top while he watched her with an amused look on his face.
“I ain’t come for a dance, love.”
Tish glanced over her shoulder with a grin. “Yeah, well. You gon’ get one. It’s on the house.”
“I know it is,” Heavy said, cockily, smacking her ass.
She playfully rolled her eyes before grinding against him.
With her ass in his lap, Tish basked in the smell and feel of him.
Not often was she given the pleasure, so she took advantage of it when she could.
Knowing what she liked, Heavy massaged her breasts in both hands, squeezing her pierced nipples.
“Mmm. I want to feel you inside me again,” Tish moaned, feeling his semi-erection beneath her. She’d been having withdrawals for days now.
Heavy knew she wished he’d pull his dick out, but she wasn’t running shit. “Nah. I’m good.”
“But why?” she whined, twirling her hips. “I know you need some pussy.”
She clasped her hand around one of his wrists, lowering his hand between her spread legs.
“Tish,” he sternly said.
“What?” she innocently asked, though her smile said otherwise.
Heavy shook his head as she continued moving against him. Heavy felt the heat radiating from her pussy, and had this been another time, he would’ve fucked her senseless before sending her home, but that hunger between them that used to be there wasn’t the same anymore. At least not on his end.
Comfort, sure—familiarity, too—but somewhere along the way, they’d shifted into something entirely different. Tish felt it, too. Long before now, but she was trying to hold onto whatever Heavy was trying to take away.
Still, she leaned her head back against his shoulder to whisper in his ear. “You know I would never do anything to disrespect you. I love you too much.”
Heavy’s expression softened for a brief second as he exhaled. “I know you do.” And he did. That’s why he came himself, instead of sending someone else. That’s why he was sitting there now instead of immediately cutting her off and moving on. He had love for her, too, but love didn’t outweigh trust.
The song began fading into another, and Tish finally pulled back with a sigh. “Okay. I guess I gave you enough free entertainment.”
Heavy smirked, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a thick knot of money, then handed it to her. She owed him, but he’d never shortchange her at work. He wasn’t that much of an asshole.
Grinning, Tish accepted it. “Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“I wish you’d give me more of your time, the way you freely give me money.”
That’s all she wanted from him, but she never got it.
Tish didn’t know what it was, but recently, she felt like she was pulling teeth for Heavy to come see her without having to bring it up first. It was draining, and she was trying not to nag him, but deep down she knew what it was, or what it wasn’t anymore.
“One of them I can’t get back, so I use it wisely,” Heavy stated.
Tish heard everything he wasn’t saying loud and clear. Heavy headed toward the door before she could stop him again.
“Get that shit in check with your brother,” he reminded her. “I don’t wanna get involved, but I will.”
Tish nodded this time without arguing. “I got it.”
Heavy lingered for a second longer, eyes moving over her one last time before he opened the door. “Be safe in here,” he said.
The concern in his voice instantly softened her. “I will.”
He left the room, leaving Tish standing there with money in her hand and the painful realization that even though Heavy still cared about her, his heart would never belong to her, nor would he. Not in the way she wanted him to.
The first thing Cyren noticed when she stepped into Mama Dot’s Pantry was the smell.
Not just of food, though that was heavy in the air, too. The delicious aroma of seasoned greens that’d been simmering low, baked chicken fresh out of the oven, and sweet potatoes made Cyren’s stomach rumble.
Besides the food, the smell was one of comfort.
Cyren didn’t know what it was, but every time she came to volunteer, a physical warmth enveloped her.
Her heart immediately felt lighter as she greeted the other volunteers who’d come out to serve the community.
The place wasn’t big, but it didn’t feel small either.
Tables were set up along one side of the room, lined with foil pans and serving trays.
Mama Dot had everything organized in a way that made the flow easy.
Volunteers moved about passing plates, refilling trays, and greeting people with friendly smiles.
Along the opposite wall were shelves stocked with canned goods, boxed meals, toiletries, and essentials people didn’t think about until they didn’t have them anymore.
At the back, a small whiteboard hung near the door with the day’s meals, and the times they were open was written in bright colors.
Cyren removed her coat and adjusted the apron tied around her waist as she stepped further inside.
Spotting a few familiar faces, she waved.
She’d been coming here for the last few weeks.
At first, she just dropped off donations, then decided to stay a little longer.
Now, she was trying to make it part of her weekend routine.
“Hey, baby,” Mama Dot’s voice gently called from behind the serving table.
Cyren smiled immediately, making her way over. “Hey, Mama Dot.”
Dorothy Ellison stood behind the table with her usual calm presence, her gray hair wrapped neatly in a scarf, and her soft brown eyes taking everything in at once without ever seeming overwhelmed. She moved a bit slower than everyone else, but somehow, nothing missed her.
“You’re right on time,” she said, passing Cyren a pair of gloves and giving her a hug. “I was about to get to work, but I need to be in the kitchen.”
“Short on volunteers today?” Cyren asked.
“Mhm. But that’s okay. We’re still going to work it out and have a good day. Ain’t that right?” she asked, smiling at a slim girl with a sleeping baby attached to the front of her. She didn’t look a day over sixteen.
She smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“I’ma go wash my hands and grab a hair net. I’ll be right back,” Cyren told her.
“I’ll be here.” Mama Dot let her know with a smile.
Cyren scurried off to the restroom towards the back to wash her hands and secure her hair in a net. When she returned, the line had grown some, so she put a pep in her step. Sliding on her gloves, she traded places with Mama Dot, grabbing the spoon for the rice just as the next person stepped up.
“Hi, Josh. How are you today?” Cyren asked the young boy.
Josh looked to be maybe eight or nine, standing with his hands tucked inside a hoodie with it pulled over his head.
He shrugged. “Coo’. Just hungry.”
“Well, we have plenty of food for you to eat. Would you like some green beans?”
Josh’s large brown eyes peeked into the pan, and he quickly nodded. “Yeah. They good?”
Cyren giggled. “Yes. If you try them, and you don’t like them, I’ll give you five bucks.”
“Bet!” His face lit up.
She added a little extra without making it noticeable, then handed him his plate. “Enjoy!”
“Tell your mama I said come see me,” Mama Dot added, sliding him a piece of cornbread wrapped in plastic. She’d forgotten to bring them out from the kitchen.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, already turning to go.
Cyren watched him for a second before moving on to the next person, falling into the rhythm she’d perfected over the weeks.
“His mama still hasn’t been back up here?” Cyren asked in a hushed tone.
“Nope, and I know what it is. She’s embarrassed, but there’s no need to be. I just wanna love on her and those babies. That’s it.”
Josh’s mama was pregnant again, adding one more to her crew of three. Josh was the oldest, and she’d just gotten back full custody of him three months ago. Mama Dot knew all of this, yet she didn’t feel right coming to face her. At least not yet.
“Hopefully, she comes around. You want me to take some plates around there when I leave?” Cyren asked.
“Oh no. That’s alright. I’ma have Mr. Joe take me around there so we can drop Josh off. That temperature is dropping, and it’s too cold for him to be walking.”
Nodding, Cyren couldn’t help but agree. November had made its presence known, bringing chillier winds than she was prepared for. Thankfully, Mama Dot had tons of hats, gloves, coats, and even some blankets for those in need.