Unlucky You

Chapter 12

TWELVE

Saniya.

For the past four days I had done my best to keep my mind focused on anything that would keep my thoughts distracted and occupied, and not on him , but failed miserably. I accepted three jobs but each one was a temporary fix. Once I packed up my camera and was heading home, I was lost in my thoughts again.

One man and one very unforgettable night consumed my thoughts to the point of obsession. Each one of those nights ended with me sitting at The Pit nursing a glass of rum I had no intention of drinking, while I watched the door ,hoping the next person who entered would be Grand.

Never happened and now I was on day four of trying to be distracted but this time I decided to stop pretending that I didn’t want answers he refused to give and I had no business wanting.

It was just after midnight and I was supposed to be editing photos from my last job at Massage Elements. They were updating the site and needed new photos. When she showed me the previous ones, I completely understood why she wanted a do over. The photographs captured the space in a way that offered very little insight on how beautiful the décor truly was. I would be earning the money they were paying me because she was going to lose her mind when I handed over my images.

If I could focus long enough to get them edited.

Instead of tackling the task, I found myself typing the name Grand Sinclair into my search field. It took me a minute to find what I needed but after a few clicks I found a link to an article on WDFT News 11 which had me leaning in closer to the screen as I devoured the words, cataloging certain ones that stuck with me.

Aleah Johnson.

Young mother.

Deadly reaction to Rohypnol.

Grand Sinclair. Boyfriend. Child’s father.

Charged with third degree involuntary manslaughter.

“You killed a man for drugging your girlfriend,” I whispered.

Reading the article brought so many things into perspective. He didn’t want to discuss his past with me because his past was about losing someone he loved. He could have easily explained all of this but he truly didn’t care that I thought he was just another man who killed senselessly. His actions were justified in his mind and that was all that mattered. Damn sure not my opinion of him.

I was seconds from doing another search when a call showed up on my MacBook, interrupting the thought. I answered and leaned back in my chair after lifting my tumbler of wine.

“Are you up?”

“I answered…”

“You always answer for me, even if you’re not up, smart ass.” I grinned at the amusement in Sameena’s tone.

“Because I’m a good sister.”

“And I’m not.”

“Mediocre at best and that score may change pending what you’re about to beg for.”

She burst out laughing and I smiled while gulping wine. “Girl fuck you. I’m not begging. I actually come bearing gifts.”

“Gifts you say. Do tell.”

“Nope, I changed my mind. You don’t respect or value me.”

“Meen, your specialty is receiving not giving.”

“I bought you breakfast a few days ago.”

“Babe, I paid. You offered to buy me breakfast but conveniently had to take a call and said you would meet me outside right before the bill came.”

“It was work.”

“Girl, what do you want? I’m busy.”

“I have certificates to Massage Elements. I was going to see if you wanted to?—”

“Yes…”

“Damn, hoe, that was fast. You could have at least let me try to sell it.”

“I don’t need you to sell it. I was just there two days ago. Their prices are insanity but the place is beautiful.” I frowned. “Wait, speaking of, do you really have certificates or is this going to be another invite where you conveniently get a call when it’s time to swipe a card?”

“Yes, hoe, I have certificates. Two, five hundred dollars each. You really think very little of me.”

I remained quiet and she quickly stated, “Okay, you have a point. I feel your silent judgment, but in my defense, I’m struggling out here in these streets. You make a lot more money than I do.”

“By choice. You have an entire degree that you refuse to use.”

“In business economics and only because our parents threatened to take my car if I didn’t go to college. I loved that damn car.”

“A car you no longer have but the degree is still very much valid, Meen.”

“Please don’t remind me of the horrific mistake in financial judgment I made. I just paid my car note today.”

I smiled and rolled my eyes. Our parents had gifted both of us cars as graduation gifts. That was Sameena’s first taste of the luxurious life. It spiraled into a proclivity for wanting high-end things, no matter the cost.

My sister had been dead set on getting a BMW. I was more practical. I asked for a Kia SUV Sportage. Her BMW, as pretty as it may have been, was not practical. Our father agreed to purchase any vehicle we wanted within reason. However, the one rule he stood on was that we had to work enough to handle the maintenance of our cars. He did his best to talk Sameena into something more economical, but she refused. He was a man of his word, so a deal was a deal. She was given a midnight blue BMW and although it was only a 2 series, the lowest end of the spectrum, my sister quickly learned she couldn’t afford the upkeep. Our father refused to foot the bill which meant she went without proper care and burned out the engine.

She just recently purchased a new car, an Audi, which now carried a seven hundred dollar car payment while I happily drove my Kia, which I upgraded last year and was able to get a great trade value from the one my father purchased years ago.

“I have a car payment too.”

“You also have a hundred gazillion mile warranty. I have one hundred gazillion dollar oil changes.”

“Don’t be mad at me. Blame yourself. You picked that expensive ass car. It’s pretty as hell but not worth the headache.”

“My baby is not pretty. She’s sexy .”

“And attached to gazillion dollar oil changes.”

“Mind your business,” she said through a smile. “What day do you want to go?”

“Does Friday morning work for you? I’m trying to get a facial so my skin is popping for my date Friday night.”

“Yeah that’s cool. I don’t have anything else lined up this week.”

“Okay, booski. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I was about to hang up when I remembered what tomorrow was.

“Hey, are you coming tomorrow?”

“Shit, that’s the main reason I called. I can’t. I have to be at work early. Tell Dad I’ll be there next time. I promise.”

When the call ended, my search on Grand was in view again. I worked the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to decide whether to keep digging or if I had enough details. It only took me a few seconds before my hand was on the mouse and my finger lowered to open the next link. Even before I knew his story, or rather the one I was piecing together, I’d felt a connection to this man and his life. Knowing what he suffered only made me more curious.

The next morning I rolled out of bed at six, showered, dressed, and was in my car armed with a backpack that held my custom ball and shoes—a gift from the old man—headed to Pin Pals to meet my father. No one in their right mind wanted to be at a bowling alley at eight in the morning but this was important to the old man so I made an effort to show up once a month at whatever time he set for our meetup. It was always at random times because our schedules were all so scattered.

This month the agreed upon time was eight and I hated that Sameena wouldn’t be here because our father looked forward to it. He was an amazing father. Present, understanding, and caring, but as with most daughters, relationships shifted according to growing pains. When my sister and I hit puberty, we shifted closer to our mother, which hurt his soul. We didn’t know how much until he randomly dragged us out of bed one morning and announced that he was teaching us how to bowl. My sister and I were not happy until our mother explained that this was his way of finding a place in our lives.

Since then, once a month, this had been our ritual. He took us to Pin Pals, gave us lessons on bowling, and in the process got caught up with our lives. We learned a lot from him and about him and he learned a lot about us. We damn sure didn’t learn to bowl because he was terrible at it but truly made up for his lack of athleticism by being an amazing father who did everything in his power to prove that to his daughters.

His smile was what greeted me as soon as I walked in. He was waiting near the counter dressed in old jeans and a button up, sleeves rolled to his elbows and a trucker hat pulled down low on his head with all thirty-two on display.

He opened his arms and I stepped right into a hug which felt like home. “I missed you, kiddo.”

“You just saw me a couple weeks ago.” I smiled into his chest and threw my head back to see his face.

“Am I not allowed to miss you?”

“You are.” He kissed my forehead and let me go, glancing at the door. “Your sister on her way?”

I shook my head. “It’s just us this time. She’s not coming.”

“Why not?”

“Work.”

“Hmm.” He nodded but I sensed the disappointment.

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, life happens. I’ll take that for you.” He motioned to my backpack. I slipped my arms from the straps and let him take possession, instantly feeling lighter without the eight-pound ball weighing me down. There was no point in arguing. My father was old school—carrying bags, opening doors, and pulling out chairs. It was who he was and it set the standard for the type of man I should have wanted in my life. My sister and I were hardheaded. We always desired the opposite of the man who raised us.

“We’ve got the lane for three hours. Come on.”

“Only three?” I teased, slowly moving my eyes around the vacant building. The place was empty aside from the people who worked there.

“Yes, three. Figured you would be over me by then, smart ass.”

“You been talking to Meen? I’m pretty sure she called me the same thing last night. Or this morning rather. It was after midnight when she called.”

We settled into our lane and he placed my bag next to me. I immediately began tugging at the zipper so I could get my bowling shoes on.

“Everything okay? That’s kinda late.”

“She’s fine. You can relax.”

He nodded and unzipped his bag which was already waiting on the bench across from me. “I’m a parent. It’s my job to worry.”

“True.”

I changed into my shoes and prepared to kick my father’s ass while filling him in on everything he’d missed since the last time I saw him. We bowled three games, all of which I won. To this day I didn’t understand why he selected bowling as our activity. In the ten years we’d been doing this, I didn’t think he’d ever bowled a score over eighty. When he attempted to teach Sameena and me how to bowl, we picked up the few details he researched online but couldn’t execute.

We quickly surpassed his capabilities, which we constantly gave him shit about. Regardless, the time we spent together was the importance of our outing. As much as I loathed rolling out of bed at the butt crack of dawn to be here, I enjoyed spending this time with him.

“You don’t believe in taking it easy on your old man, do you?”

I grinned and shoved my shoes into my backpack, zipping it closed before I gave him my attention.

“Would you rather I let you beat me?”

His smile matched mine. “No but one less strike wouldn’t kill you.”

“I’ll consider that next time.” I leaned back, watching while he packed his shoes and bowling ball away. “But for the record, you raised us to believe in true effort, not the everybody gets a trophy mentality.”

“After the way you just handed me my ass, I’m regretting my superior parenting skills.”

“You weren’t that bad.”

He frowned and my smile expanded. “Okay you were terrible. Six gutter balls is a bit excessive.”

He laughed lightly then switched gears. “You did good work with the City Arts Project.”

I arched a brow. “How do you know that was me?”

“I’ve been studying your work since the first time you picked up a camera, sweetheart. I know.”

My father was my biggest supporter. I had no clue how he kept up with all my assignments. There were so many times I would receive a random text with a link to an article, project, or website that housed my photos along with a congratulations, good job, or just random emojis.

“I know, still have no clue how you always find me.”

“You prioritize things and people that are important to you.” He winked and I grinned, nodding. “Speaking of, anyone new in your life? Possibly someone I might approve of.”

I feigned shock and placed my hand over my heart. “You mean to tell me you don’t absolutely love every guy I’ve ever introduced you to?”

He deadpanned and quickly shook his head. “Your mother tells me it’s a rebellious stage but I’m starting to believe you and your sister are doing everything in your power to send me to an early grave.”

I busted out laughing at the sincerity of his words. He genuinely believed we were intentionally challenging him with our choice in men. “I promise that’s not the case.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“I’ll get it right one day.”

“ Soon , I hope.”

“ Ehhh …” I cringed.

“I won’t be here forever, Saniya. It would do my heart some good to know that you and your sister have someone worthy of your hearts. Love is a beautiful thing, sweetheart. To have one person who stands by your side with no expectations or preconceived notions is a feeling unparalleled by anything you could ever possibly imagine. I want you and your sister to experience what your mother and I have. It would also be great not to worry so much about the two of you.”

“But you only want us to have that type of relationship with a man you approve of.”

He quickly shook his head. “I don’t have to approve of him, Saniya. I only have to approve of the way he loves you. Regardless of what package he comes in, if he loves you the way you deserve to be loved, shows up for you, then that’s good enough for me. I don’t hate the men you find yourself involved with. My discord is with how they treat you. If someone loves you properly, the rest doesn’t matter.”

He stood and lifted his bowling bag, reaching for mine. “Come on. Let’s head out. This old man has taken up enough of your time today.”

I nodded and stood but hugged him before he had a chance to lift my bag. “Thank you for that.”

“For what?”

“Reminding me that you’re the best father ever.”

He kissed my forehead. “At least I’m winning in the parenting department because I suck with this bowling thing. Maybe it’s time to switch things up.”

I grinned and looped my arm through his after he lifted my bag and moved the strap over his shoulder so we could leave.

“Maybe I can offer you a few pointers.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Right, the student becomes the teacher. No thanks, sweetheart. I don’t believe my pride can handle too many more blows like that.”

As we left Pin Pals, my mind drifted to Grand. I hated how much I was thinking about someone who likely hadn’t given me a second thought since I left his apartment. What I hated even more was that I wanted him to think about me. After I was safely in my car and waving at my father while he watched me navigate out of the parking lot, I decided to stop worrying about things I couldn’t change. With tired eyes, I was on my way home to grab a nap and lounge around my apartment for the rest of the day.

I spent a lazy afternoon bingeing shows I missed during the week and indulging in more junk food than should have been consumed in one sitting. My day was incredibly nonproductive. So much so that by eight, when I received a call from Joe offering money for a few exclusive shots of Yara, I declined. She was an artist in high demand and on every blog and media outlet you could think of. A few more shots wouldn’t make or break her current fandom.

When I told him I wasn’t working today and he all but begged, offering me double, explaining why he wanted the shots, I agreed. It was rumored that Yara was creeping with a mystery guy. I was a bit surprised that he reached out after our disagreement about Grand. Then again, I was good, discreet, and people liked me. Even if I caught the unsuspecting in the act, I never sold pictures that would ruin or tarnish their names, which made me respected above all others who were in the same lane.

Yara had been paying dues for years but just recently began receiving the type of traction which had her in the spotlight. An upcoming tour and having names like Loco attached to her project thrust her into a new stratosphere. The way her mother had such a tight grasp on her career, it made sense that she was creeping in the shadows with a mystery guy and selected Hef’s Palace as her meet up spot.

Hef’s was a chill vibe, with exclusive VIP sections but also carried a very strict policy about paparazzi. The exclusive parking and entrance made it damn near impossible for anyone to see people coming and going. Any media that wasn’t approved to be on site faced legal repercussions. Capturing Yara and her mystery guy on camera would gain a lot of traction which was why Joe was willing to pay me to get the shots. As much as I would have preferred to stay lounged on my sofa for the rest of the night, I showered, dressed in something that would fit Hef’s dress code—fitted black jeans, a sheer tank top and lace bra, a black leather jacket—and was out of my apartment an hour later.

As soon as I arrived at Hef’s, I once again regretted accepting the job. The general parking lot was full which wasn’t all that surprising. I had to park across the street in the alternate lot which I didn’t consider when selecting heeled leather boots. By the time I made it to the door and surveyed the cluster of people lining the building, I decided to try my hand at fast talking my way inside. Instead of taking my rightful place in line like the others, I headed straight for the gatekeeper. A six foot plus, three-hundred-pound guy who looked like he hadn’t smiled in decades.

He didn’t disappoint when I stepped in front of him. He barely spared me a glance before turning his focus back to the next person waiting. “Line’s back there.”

I flashed a smile. “You are correct, but the entrance is right here. I’d much rather prefer going in now over waiting in that line.”

He turned his eyes on me, doing a quick sweep. Approval flickered in his eyes but my purposefully planned attire and seductive smile didn’t win me any favor. The guy didn’t budge and instead motioned to the next group of women. “So would they. Wait your turn or don’t get in. Choice is yours.”

Shit, shit, shit…

I tugged my glossed lip between my teeth and glanced at the line, doing a quick round of mental math. There was no way in hell I would stand out here for an hour just to go in and do ten minutes’ worth of work.

“Or I could slide right on in there since I’m already up here. No harm, no foul.”

He grunted, turned away from me, and moved to the two women impatiently waiting on us to wrap up the conversation. One of them rolled her eyes and extended two twenties to pay the cover charge.

I was seconds from addressing her when I felt someone move behind me and an arm draped around my waist. My body went into defensive mode until he spoke and I recognized the voice—my ex, Neshawn. I hadn’t thought about him since the night he was arrested for having an illegal firearm which he pulled on a guy at a club. He ended up in handcuffs and I ended up in an Uber heading home because we had arrived together.

“Been gone for a year and I see ain’t shit changed. You’re still out here trying to hustle your way into places you don’t belong.”

I grinned and relaxed, tilting my head back. “Who says I don’t belong?”

He smirked and motioned toward the line. “Everybody you’re trying to cut in front of.”

I felt a kiss on my neck before the presence of his body detached from me. He grabbed my hand and tugged me into his side. “Come on./ I’ll get you in but you have to have a drink with me.”

I paused, slipping my hand from his. “A drink?”

He exposed a dimpled smile. The same dimpled smile that in the past had me handing over pussy to a man whose sole purpose in life was to fuck women and smoke.

“Just a drink, Saniya. You’re not fucking with me like that anymore. I know what it is.”

His mouth was saying one thing but the lustful look in his eyes accompanied by the way they devoured my body contradicted his claim. Regardless, he said he could get me in which meant I didn’t have to wait in that damn line so I accepted the offer.

Of a drink.

“Fine, but I mean it, just a drink.”

That dimple surfaced again and his tongue glided over his bottom lip. He extended a hand to me this time, waiting for me to accept. “Yeah man, just a drink. You have my word.”

I slipped my palm against his and followed him through the door. The bouncer acknowledged Neshawn with a toss of his chin. Once we were inside, I did a quick scan of the building. I had been here a handful of times but was always impressed each time.

The main floor was a contrast of crowded yet intimate. People were clustered everywhere but also personally grouped to create their own experience. The sleek black floors shimmered under the dim lighting, creating a shadowy effect near the walls lined with hunter green panels. A soft illumination of smoked glass concealed LED strips.

Multiple bars were strategically placed around the room like the one where we were standing. Each had a polished black marble countertop lined with silver and glowed from the same LED strips on the walls. Hef had invested a lot in making the place aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

Clusters of plush seating in varying shades of green and low silver tables encircled the spaces that outlined the bar and dance floor on the first level, creating cozy nooks for conversation without obstructing the flow of the room.

I people watched and Neshawn ordered drinks I noticed he didn’t pay for. While he held a conversation with the bartender, I watched him make my drink. I never put anything past anyone.

After we both had our drinks, he turned his back to the bar, looking out over the crowd while I turned sideways on the stool next to where he stood.

“How long you been home?”

“Couple weeks.”

“You look good.”

“I was only inside for a minute. Light work. Not much has changed.” He brushed a hand over his freshly-cut waves.

“Still irresponsible and arrogant as hell. So no, not much has changed.”

He laughed lightly. “Those are my best qualities. The ones that granted me access to your pussy, Tee.”

I rolled my eyes and his smile expanded. “Am I lying?”

No, he wasn’t but I would never admit that. His ego was already inflated.

“You walked right past security and didn’t pay for our drinks…” I tipped my glass toward him. “I’m assuming you know the owner.”

Neshawn smirked and nodded. “Yeah, Hef is my people.”

“What kind of people?”

“He’s family. The cousin I was telling you about.”

“Wait, Hef is your cousin, that cousin.”

The one he was pushing bricks with but never identified.

“Is he doing both or just this now?”

Neshawn stared at me for a minute as if trying to decide whether or not to answer the question. I could have been asking for the wrong reasons. In the time we were involved, the majority of our relationship was spent during late nights and early mornings in my bed or his. I didn’t ask a lot of questions about what he had going on and neither did he. We both acquired surface details. He sold drugs and was into some other stuff. I was a photographer. He kept that life away from me so what he was into didn’t matter as long as he played his role and I played mine.

“He’s legit now.”

I nodded and sipped my drink before I asked, “Are you?”

He grinned and leaned in close to my ear. “My answer is yes if that’s what you need it to be.”

I laughed and pushed him away. “I don’t need shit from you, Nes. Our time expired.”

“That’s what I thought. So whose life are you here to disrupt?”

“What do you mean?”

“The only time you do shit like this is when you’re working or your sister drags you out the house. Meen isn’t with you.”

He was right. Clubs were more Sameena’s thing than mine. I was impressed that he remembered. “There’s a singer here. Up there actually.” I pointed above our heads where VIP was located. Since you know the owner, you think you can get me access.”

His dimple surfaced and deepened. “I can get you anywhere in here you want to be, but it’s going to cost you a little more of your time.”

I nodded and lifted my drink, taking a sip. “I’ll give you that, but I’m not sleeping with you.”

“I said your time not your body, Saniya.” His smile expanded. “But if I can have both, I won’t turn it down.”

“Just my time,” I clarified.

He chuckled, nodding. We finished our drinks then he took hold of my hand again. “Let’s go.”

We moved from the bar, stopping at a glass elevator not far from us. He removed a card from his pocket and waved it in front of the access pad, ushering me inside when the doors opened. Once we reached the second floor, we stepped off and Neshawn left me to talk to the woman guarding the entrance.

She began scanning the screen of the electronic device clutched in her hand and I turned, taking in the bottom floor from where I was stationed above, catching sight of a familiar face that caught my eye. I would recognize him and that cocky ass stride anywhere. He moved through the crowd along with his cousin Tali. They were heading toward the same elevator we had just exited. I was so caught up watching Grand that I hadn’t noticed Neshawn was beside me again.

“You know him?”

“No,” I lied.

Not sure why but it rolled off my tongue with ease. That could have been due in part to Grand not giving a damn about knowing me after what happened. I frowned, turning my eyes in Neshawn’s direction, and he smirked, shaking his head.

“I don’t care who you’re fucking, Saniya. You aren’t mine. You weren’t even mine when we were fucking, but that’s not the kind of trouble you want to get mixed up with. He did time for killing a man.”

I fought hard to keep my expression neutral. I was a little thrown that Neshawn knew Grand. That was a little too close to home.

“You know him?”

“Not personally but I know the guy he killed.”

“Oh, well it doesn’t matter. I don’t know?—”

My words were cut off the minute the elevator doors opened and Grand stepped off. His eyes landed on me, moved to Neshawn, and his expression hardened. I watched the two men enter the VIP section until Neshawn’s voice reminded me I wasn’t alone.

“Based on the way that muthafucker just grilled the fuck out of me, you more than know him, Tee. Be careful, aight. He used to be into some shit and it’s worse than anything I have my hands in. Come on. I got us a section in the back across from your girl. You should be able to get your pictures, then hopefully you’ll get the fuck up out of here. You might not be mine but I’m still a man. And if I have to air this bitch out behind you, I will do it.”

I smiled and rolled my eyes but fully believed he would. “That won’t be necessary.”

He draped his arm over my shoulder and walked us into VIP. We bypassed the section where Grand ended up but I didn’t bother turning my head in his direction. However ,I didn’t have to. I felt the blaze of his stare and it didn’t have a damn thing to do with how we’d left things the other night.