8. Partners #2
“Who? You ‘bout to fuck up my day and say Karima, ain’t you?”
I snickered. “Nah, nigga. And that’s your last warning about my lady.”
“Aight,” he let out, unfazed. “Who is it though?
“Shorty from the club, Key.”
“Ohhh, so she into that stalking shit. Okay, cool. At least you bringing somebody willing to lose witchu.”
“Fuck outta here.” I laughed. “She gon’ make sure we leave with the bread and bragging rights.”
“I hear you. I don’t believe you no more than you believe yourself, but I hear you.”
“Yeah, aight. She bringing her cousin too.”
“Her cousin?”
“Now niggas is parakeets.” I chuckled. “Yeah, her cousin.”
“If it ain’t female, then ain’t no entry. It’s gon’ be too many niggas out here as it is.”
“Yeah, it’s a female.”
“Copy. She single?”
“Yeah. And her blood type is O negative. Nigga, I don’t fuckin’ know. Ask when she get there.”
“Nah. I gotta see if she fine first. I ain’t got too much kick it if she ain’t.”
I laughed louder. “Nigga, get off my phone. You dead wrong.”
“Shit, I ain’t dead wrong. I’m honest.”
I shook my head and checked the mirror, making sure my line up was crisp and my fit was on point. In an Off White tee with matching shorts and a pair of Off White sneakers, I was dressed the part for today’s festivities.
“Let me do this last walk through of the tables to make sure we all good.”
“Aight. You need me to bring anything?”
“Yeah… big bills.”
He ended the call, and I smirked.
“That cocky shit gon’ be the reason he lose,” I said out loud as I headed out the door.
I didn’t hold my breath for parking in Harlem but lucked up finding a spot just outside of the park.
Harlem was livelier than normal today, and I could hear the music as soon as I turned onto the block.
While the spades tournament was on one side of the park, Mav made sure to accommodate the kids that usually occupied the area.
I could see a couple bounce houses from the street and kids lined up at the ice cream truck parked right in front of the park.
Parking my car, I took out my phone and sent a text to Key to get her eta.
Me: Fine Ass, where you at?
Key: Walking up the block. You there?
Me: Yeah. Just parked. Why you walking?
Key: ‘Cause I don’t fly on the weekends. Lmao.
I chuckled, shaking my head.
Me: Ya smart ass mouth. I’ll meet you at the entrance where the ice cream truck is parked.
Key: Okay.
I went to slide my phone into my pocket when it rang. It was Karima calling on FaceTime. We hadn’t spoken since the night I dropped her off. I knew she was still in her feelings about it, so I gave her some time to come around. Sliding the phone symbol across the screen, I connected the call.
“Hey, babe,” she greeted, smiling big.
“Wassup, baby? You look like you in a good mood,” I pointed out. “What you up to?”
“I am. I’m out shopping with Ju.” She held up a few designer shopping bags to the camera.
“Oh, yeah, that’ll definitely put a smile on your face. Where’s Ju?”
“She just walked into Foot Locker. I wanted to call you in private real quick.”
“You in the mall, bae.” I chuckled.
“I know. I meant without Ju around. I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I ruined dinner and dessert.”
My mind temporarily went back to me eating Key’s pussy in the backseat when she mentioned dessert. I almost licked my lips, but that shit would’ve been wild, and Karima would’ve picked up on it instantly. Refocusing, I continued listening.
“You always move with me and Ju in mind, and I know it won’t be any different, no matter who you add to our lives. So, I’m going to continue focusing on what I bring to the table that keeps this relationship strong. You won’t have no more issues out of me.”
A text notification popped up on the screen from Key just as I went to respond.
Key: In front. And I got too much swag to be waiting on a nigga, so come on.
PAUSE IT, FINE GWORL. IT’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT KNOWING YOU DAT GWORL. LIKE THERE’S GIRLS THEN THERE’S ME & YOU, & THE GWORLS THAT GET IT, GET IT. PLEASE CONTINUE.
Smiling inwardly, I swiped up and opened the car door.
“I appreciate that, bae. All good,” I said simply.
Her smile widened. “Okay. Where are you? Sounds like a vibe.”
“Walking over to the park. Mav’s spades tournament is today.”
“Oh. Why you ain’t invite us? I can play.”
I flashed a look that said we both knew that was a lie, making her laugh.
“Okay, okay, I can’t. But I can still cheer you on.”
Stepping out of my car, I thought about my response briefly before giving her the okay to pull up.
“Okay. Soon as we leave here, I’m gonna go change and head that way.”
“Aight, cool. Text me if y’all have a problem finding parking.”
“I will. See you soon, baby. Love you,” she sang.
“Love you too.”
I reached Kyiris as she was talking to a woman I assumed was her cousin. I remembered her face from the club.
“You over here talkin’ shit ‘bout me, fine ass girl?” I asked, stopping in front of her and towering over her.
She nodded. “Sure was. I told my cousin that you had one more minute before I had to make her my partner. Amil, this is Mehki. Mehki, this is Amil.” She introduced me to her cousin, who shot me a friendly smile as we shook hands.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“Likewise.”
“You look good,” I complimented. She was dressed down in a Kith short set.
The bottoms appeared shorter than what they really were due to her ass eating them up in the back. She gave me a half hug that I accepted, and I kissed the top of her head. Today, she had her hair pulled back in a tight low bun. It was cute.
“Let’s head inside. Everything should be set up. We just gotta find the board to see who we playing first.”
The second we reached the steps to walk up, I could see Mav jogging down with his phone to his ear. I knew he was pissed by the look on his face.
“What happened?” I asked, purposely stopping just behind Key.
“This nigga, Unc, went out last night and got drunk. I called his ass earlier this morning, told him take something and sleep off the hangover. Now, his ass ain’t even answering the damn phone.”
I laughed.
“Shit ain’t funny,” he scolded.
“You right. It’s hilarious. All that hot shit you was talkin’. Niggas don’t give a fuck about you not having a partner, boy. Make somethin’ shake and get on them tables.”
“Milz can play,” Kyiris said, pointing to her cousin, who cocked her head to the side like she didn’t appreciate being volunteered.
“Umm, excuse me,” her cousin spoke, “don’t be tryna partner me with the nigga who can’t keep track of his last partner.”
Mav turned in her direction with his brows drawn tight. “Pardon me, shorty, but I’m standing right here.”
She pulled her shades up, resting them on her head. “I can see you,” she replied.
I watched their brief interaction, smiling inwardly, seeing that talking fly ran in their family.
“Damn, you ain’t tryna be a nigga ram in the bush, beautiful? The name’s Maverick, by the way. Everybody calls me Mav.”
His reply was the opposite of what I expected it to be. Key and I looked back and forth between the two, wondering what Amil’s next move would be.
“Amil,” she spoke again. “Everybody calls me Amil, and I’m no ram.”
He smirked, walking up so that he was in front of her. “How ‘bout you be my saving grace then?”
“Oop,” Kyiris let slip out, and I chuckled behind her.
That pulled a smile from Amil. “If we lose…”
“We don’t lose,” he cut her off and grabbed her by the hand. “We gotta get away from these two. I can’t let that mentality rub off on you.” He gently pulled her away from us, and she went willingly.
Wrapping my hand around Key’s waist, I spoke into her ear. “C’mon, partner. Let’s get this money.”