Chapter 12 #10
Not wanting to argue about my live seeing us, I scooped up the greens on my fork while he sectioned off my hair and used the wide-tooth comb that Tuscany had brought out.
I didn’t dare look at the comments; I knew it was a party in them.
Tunan shifted his gaze from my hair to my face while finishing the rest of the food I fed him from the same fork I’d just used.
It was just the noise of the hood in the distance, the crunch of the food, chewing, and my racing heart.
Somehow, we were in our own little world, not caring that hundreds—maybe thousands—of people were watching us.
His steady gaze looked into mine with silent expectation.
Tunan didn’t have to do much; in fact, he didn’t have to do anything at all.
He was undoubtedly that guy. He wasn’t dripping in designer clothes, nor did he have jewelry worth seven figures, yet my heart couldn’t help but race while in his embrace.
“Thank you, my baby. Shit too fye. Now, turn ’round so I can comb out your hair.” He nodded toward the phone.
Holding in my groan, I peered at the screen.
The comments were coming through so fast that all of the words looked like they were running together.
Scrolling up, I attempted to see if I’d missed any comments from important figures, like a brand or fellow content creator.
I’d had comments from my favorite female celebrities in the past, and I always tried to catch them so they’d know I appreciated their support.
When I couldn’t spot any in the sea of comments, I scrolled back down to the most recent ones.
I laughed at the number of people going crazy about Tunan and me.
Tunan began sectioning my hair, and he hadn’t lied when he said Tuscany had them taking her braids out because he was combing from the roots. His touch was so gentle that it almost felt euphoric. I had to hold my composure, though, because we weren’t alone.
Okay! Y’all so fucking sexy!
That nigga so damn fine, Lord! I see what you do for others, Big G!!
Glow you deserve this!
Yasss bitch!
Oh, Glow in there. She had the whole family taking her braids down. That’s having her way for real!
Oh bitch you holding the fuck out! What the helly?????! I’ll blow your phone up and fuck up your live right now!
The last comment was from Mocha, and it caused me to bark out a laugh. “Mochaaaaa! I’ll call you!”
I knew I had some explaining to do, but they’d have to wait until I got back home.
I didn’t even know how to explain what was occurring and was already trying to figure out what I was going to say, and what I wasn’t.
Everyone had secrets, so maybe I was being petty, but I felt compelled to hold Tunan close to my chest.
BlaykeNoU: Ohhh see you should have took us to Memphis with you! I need a YN that’s in touch with his feminine side.
“I got you next time, Blayke.” I winked.
Oh so she is in Memphis!
I know my people from anywhere! Glow in my cityyyy!
You gotta go to Dixie Queen. It ain’t shit fancy but the best late night wings, especially on some drunk shit.
“Big tyme! You home, baby?”
Straggling up the yard was a man who couldn’t be much older than my little sister. He was clearly under the influence, of something and with the way he could barely hold his eyes open, my bet was on weed.
“Yeah, yeahhh,” Tunan replied.
He was done with my hair, so he tapped my thigh for me to stand. Once I let him up, I sat back in the seat that now felt cold with the absence of his body. I was toggling from the phone to the interaction in front of me. Tunan slapped hands with the guy who also gave him a welcome home speech.
“Baby on live and shit,” Tunan informed him.
The guy, whose swagger reminded me much of Tunan’s with his jean shorts, chain hanging from them, Jordan 1s, and a graphic tee, pulled his pants up his waist and grinned. “Okay den! What you on… Facebook live?”
Picking up the phone up, I turned it so that he could see. “No, TikTok.”
“TikTok… I shol’ been tryna get my shit poppin’. Damn.” His brows drew together. “It’s five thousand people on dis hoe. God damn! Aye, what’s up with it? Aye, dis hoe live!”
He placed his fist to his mouth in excitement, and asked me, “How da fuck you get dis bih jumpin’ like dis?”
He hadn’t turned away from the live, so before I could respond, he was reading the comments out loud. ‘“Brickhouse99 Damn Memphis just got all the fine niggas. What’s yo name?’ I would tell you my name, but I’d have to cut dese bitches off first.”
“Shit, last I checked… you had a lil’ junt you was tryna wife up.” Tunan set the comb on the windowsill before leaning against the railing.
“Aye, foo! ’Bout that. So you know yesterday was my G-day?”
“Nah, I didn’t know. Happy birthday, my nigga.”
“’Preciate that, foo. Anyway, I’m in da shower, you know… gettin’ my shit cleaned up so I can murk dem folks ass in da Balencies. I hear dis bih on da phone with her slaw-ass sister, talmbout she ’bout to turn up cuz it’s ha nigga birfday.”
“Ain’t she white?”
He held his arms out in front of him, but at an angle where his hands were facing the ground.
“Ex-muhfuckin’-zactly. Bih white as my teeth and pull dat bullshit.
I hopped out dat shower so fucking fast, I damn near broke my back.
I pop my head ina room like, who a fuckin’ nigga?
Mane, stop playin’ wit me before I make you touch ‘er wall in dis bitch. She apologized and shit, but soon as I got back in da shower, I hear her call up her nigga, making plans wit’ him and shit. ”
“On yo’ b-day, G?”
“On…my…fuckin…day!” He slapped his chest with each word.
Since he was the source of entertainment, I flipped the camera back around.
“I wanted to knock them danglin’ ass blonde hairs off her fuckin’ head.
I stamp dat! I let da bitch make it tho’ cuz I’m still on papers.
Bitch ain’t ’bout ta send me back to fuckin’ jail. ”
Tunan shook his head while I couldn’t help but crack up at the story.
“Anyway, I’m Doom, Miss Lady. I’m fuckin’ up y’all vibe and shit wit’ my drama.”
I gave him a small wave. “Nice to meet you, Doom. I’m Glow.”
“Glow. Like Glorilla?”
“Umm, yeah…” I lied.
“Cap.” He twisted his lip. “But, I’ma let you rock. I’m too fuckin’ high.” He ran his hand down his waves.
Doom couldn’t be more than twenty years old. Even though he was cursing like a sailor and could barely stand up, he was handsome in a boyish, thuggish way.
“Aye, let me see dat live again.”
With my permission, he grabbed the phone. He squinted his eyes as he read the comments. ‘“Dom. Yo name Dom like, Dom like Dominican?’ Nawl, baby. My name Doom like, any muhfucka that try to go against me is doomed. Fuck kinda lame-ass name is Dom?”
“You ignat, bra,” Tunan sounded from beside him.
‘“BlaykeNoU How old are you? Uggh Glow for sure should have never left us.”’
“Don’t answer her, Doom. That’s my little sister.” I left off the part where Blayke was actually my little sister’s best friend because I didn’t feel like explaining all of that to him.
“I’m nineteen goin’ on ninety, baby. At least dat’s what my grannie say.”
He handed me back the phone, where the low battery alert flashed across the screen. Instead of charging my phone with the portable charger, I ended the live. When Tunan saw me stuffing my phone and equipment back in my purse, he spoke up. “You done?”
“Yeah. I was on the live long enough.”
“Dat hoe was jumpin’, but I’m glad you ended it. Now, lemme tell you what happened after I heard da bih makin’ plans with her nigga.”
“Doom, you talmbout her nigga? Last I checked… that girl was married.”
“Married, but ona young nigga dick bad. Mane, fuck dat fake-ass marriage. Da nigga can have that slaw ass hoe. So, listen… I told her I was straight and went out wit’ my niggas.
She was pissed, but she thought a nigga had let her ass off da hook.
WRONG!” He motioned his hand as if he was pulling a ski mask down his face.
“We kicked the fuckin’ doe in and made the whole house come clean.
You know she got two babies, the youngest was ona bottle, and I snatched that shit up too!
Fuck you talmbout. Gimme all dat shit! Her square-ass husband had all types of Rolexes and compurrters and shit. ”
Memphis people tended to add an “R” to the most random words. His pronunciation of computers was hilarious, and I didn’t even try to hide my giggles.
“Damn, you still got da watches? I’m bare as fuck out here.” Tunan held up his wrist.
“Mane, hell nawl! Me and my niggas busted that shit down. It was one for every one of us.” Doom showed his wrist, and sure enough, a gold Rolex sat there.
“Yeah, y’all did good, my boy,” Tunan praised the watch as he inspected it.
“I do got sum’n you can get doe.” Doom reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a stack of money.
A few twenties fell to the ground, but he didn’t stop digging.
He pulled out a blue velvet box, picked up his money, and handed the box to Tunan.
“I was on my way to da HH to see what I could get for dis. But if you want it, you can give me ten bands for it. P’s shiesty ass ’bout ain’t gone give me nun but selm (seven), and I know for a fact dat boy a fifty ball.
I can’t take it to the pawn shop ‘cuz I know dey white ass got insurance on it.”
Flipping the box open, a built-in light shone on the ring, and Tunan looked in the box before turning to Doom, who was still going on.
“Dat bih so icy, Tune. I got da paperwork back at da crib, but it’s a three carat H with VVS1. Dat’s basically excellent grade.”
Holding the ring out for me to see, Tunan asked, “You like it?”
A circular diamond sat in the middle of a thin silver band.
The ring was simple but beautiful. I’d always thought I’d want a cluster ring, but the solitaire setting was perfect and dainty.
The rock radiated under the porch lights, and I was dazzled by the size.
Chuckling, I looked at Doom. This boy had really robbed his sneaky link and her husband.
Did I like the three-carat diamond ring? I loved it, but this was a stolen damn ring! I looked from the ring back to Tunan, then back to the ring before shifting my eyes back to Tunan.
He snapped the box closed, shoved the box in my hand, and reached into his pocket. “Damn, Doom! You taxin’ the fuck outta a nigga.”
“Nigga, you gettin’ a steal. Plus, her and Snow ’bout da same size and shit. I know she can fit it.”
“Try it on, my baby,” Tunan encouraged as he counted out the money to pay Doom.
“Wait, her name is Snow?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Doom smiled. “Nah, dat’s just what I call her.”
Tunan handed him the money while I sat idle, staring at the ring.
“Yeah, dat bih got by, but she won’t get away. Aye, I’m ’bout to hit up the dice at the sto’. I’ll be back through here to give Ma a gift and get a plate.”
They slapped hands again.
“Bye, Miss Lady. Enjoy dat ring.”
Doom was gone like he’d never come, with only the ring as a reminder that he’d been here.
“You like it?” Tunan asked again, hovering over me as I opened the ring box.
“I mean… I like it, but what I’ma do with a ring, Tunan?”
“Shid! Whatchu mean? We getting married and shit, ain’t it?”
“Uhh—”
“You said you needed da paperwork, and I got dat. Let’s gone get dis shit outta the way.”
“When, Tunan?”
“Shid…” He licked his lips. “Tonight. I know a spot.”