Chapter 4 #2
My left brow hiked. I had never second guessed myself so much with the opposite sex as I was with Apricot. I didn’t want to come off as rude or disrespectful, but it sounded like she was saying she wanted to be friends with benefits.
“I am single, and you can never go wrong with being friends.”
“Are you the typical playboy, dope boy that doesn’t do relationships?”
With a laugh and shake of my head, I sat up and grabbed a blunt off my nightstand. “You have stereotypes for days. Playboy and dope boy? That’s what you think of me?”
“I mean, I can’t say that you’re a dope boy, so let me scratch that. I don’t know anything about what you do.”
I simpered as I grabbed my lighter. I hustled under one of the most notorious kingpins in the city.
I didn’t like talking about anything illegal over the phone, and it seemed that Apricot had remembered one of the golden rules from her father.
She knew I worked for him, but she acted clueless over the phone just like she was supposed to.
“I’ll just say that you’re young, handsome, and single. It has to be by choice. Unless you’re a cheater or an abuser or something and women always leave you.”
“Shorty, you can be an author the way you paint pictures.” I took a deep pull from the blunt.
“After me and my son’s mom parted ways, I was focused on me.
On stacking my bread, being an active father, and perfecting my craft when it came to boxing.
I love boxing, and I even give lessons. I wasn’t against relationships, but they weren’t at the forefront of my mind either.
I think when you meet the right one, you’ll know. And I haven’t met the right one.”
“What happened with you and Ace’s mother?”
“Nothing major. I didn’t cheat, and I damn sure didn’t put my hands on her. We were young, and we grew apart. She’s married now, and we have a great coparenting relationship.”
“I love that.” Apricot sounded a little sad. “I get in my feelings sometimes, because I want that for my daughter. She wasn’t planned or expected, but I couldn’t terminate the pregnancy. Now, I just worry that she’ll grow up with daddy issues, and I don’t want that for her.”
“I’m not sure how many male role models she has, but I know she has at least one that will paint the streets red about her. Plus, she’s still young. You have time to meet someone that can have a positive impact on her life.”
“Yeah, you’re very different from most guys,” she chuckled.
I held weed smoke in my lungs for a bit before pushing it out. “How so? More stereotypes?”
“No,” Apricot giggled. “Dating with a child isn’t easy.
I already feel guilty about working so much and spending time away from her, so I have to be very mindful about being away from her.
On top of that, there are so many immature men out here.
The mindset of some of these guys my age is so trash.
They want to club every weekend, barely have credit scores over 400, no bank account, not a primary health care doctor in sight. Just some funky bullshit.”
I almost choked on weed smoke from laughing so hard. “Damn that’s tough. I will step in a club or lounge once in a while, but it’s not an every weekend thing. My credit score is definitely over seven hundred, and I had a physical two months ago.”
“See, like I said. Different.” There was a slight pause. “I assume you heard about Kiwi’s father.”
I was still being mindful of what was said over the phone. “I heard some talking, but I’m not big on gossip. You can’t believe everything you hear. What happened with you and him though?”
“I saw him a few times in passing starting from when I was thirteen. I never paid him too much attention, but when I saw him in the club, I recognized him. He offered me drinks, and I accepted because I was only nineteen and couldn’t buy my own drink.
Then, he passed me a blunt, and after two tokes I noticed it tasted funny, and I gave it back.
Whatever was in the weed, or the liquor, or both messed me up.
I slept until three pm the next day, and I don’t remember having sex with him.
I even took a plan B pill but three weeks later, I missed my period. ”
“That’s fucked up. Especially since he was a grown ass man in his twenties. And he knew Devin was your pops? That nigga was either bold as hell or had a death wish.”
“Yeah and even as disgusted as I was with him, I never wanted any harm to come to him. I’m a softie at heart. That’s the main reason, I don’t deal too much with my father. I love him, but all that comes with his life can be a bit much.”
“I definitely get that kind of vibe from you. That’s why I felt like I was tripping when it seemed like you were flirting with me.”
“It’s been way too long since I had fun with a mature man that I was attracted to. I’d love to get married one day and have more kids but until then, I can have fun. I’m still human, and it’s been a hell of a long dry spell.”
“Got damn, you just sat there and told me all you want from me is dick. I feel violated.”
Apricot giggled then kissed her teeth. “Whatever.”
“What is your schedule looking like on Sunday? I have my son Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday morning, he’s going to church with my mom. We can do brunch, or we can do something later in the evening.”
“Brunch is fine. Kiwi and I are going to the movies at six.”
“Bet. I’ll let you go for the night. It was nice talking to you. Just decide where you want to eat brunch at and text me the location. I’ll pick you up Sunday at noon.”
“Okay. It was nice talking to you too. Goodnight.”
I was with whatever Ms. Apricot was with. I just hoped she knew what she was getting herself into.