4. Khalif
The day after my date with Tahli, I was off.
While my daughter was in school, I caught up on my rest, then woke up, cleaned the house, and did laundry.
When I picked Sierra up from school, I took her to get food, and then I took her to the park.
Gina texted me begging to be able to come get her, so I let her meet us at the park.
Even though it had been a busy day, my thoughts managed to land on Tahli numerous times throughout the day.
Shorty was something serious. I didn’t want to do too much too soon, but if she was down to come over, then I wouldn’t mind a repeat of the night before.
I didn’t wake up every day excited to go to work, but I didn’t hate my job either.
I liked to think that I was making a difference in the world.
My job was a very important one and no one could tell me different but sometimes, a nigga had to work like a Hebrew slave, and that was what I didn’t like.
Over the next few days, I’d be spending more time at work than at home.
That was the reminder that I needed to go ahead and hit Tahli up rather than putting it off.
When she answered, I could tell she was in the car.
“Hey. You busy?”
“No. I’m actually on my way to the beach.”
“The beach?”
“Yeah. I want to sit on the beach and watch the sun set. It’s something I do at least once a month. I just zone out, take in the beauty that God created, and let my mind roam and rest at the same time.”
“You got something on your mind?” I inquired.
“Yes and no. Nothing serious. Kind of just trying to figure out a plan. I want out of my mother’s house, but I still don’t have a full-time job, and I don’t want to depend on social media because you can be on today and off tomorrow.”
“I feel you on that, but there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of it while you are on.”
“Yeah. That’s why I want to make a plan. What are you up to?”
“I was at the park with my daughter, but her mother came and got her. I’m about to head home.”
“You should join me.”
“I don’t want to intrude. Sounds like you want some peace.”
“You gonna come disturb my peace?”
“Nah. I’d never do that.”
“Come on then.”
“Bet. Drop your location when you get there, so I can find you.”
“Okay.”
It had been a minute since I had really felt a chick, but I was feeling Tahli.
I was feeling her like a muhfucka. It was still very early, but she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.
She didn’t come off as ratchet and the type that would neglect her responsibilities to run the streets and be an irresponsible adult.
I didn’t knock her for living with her mother.
Shit, it was hard out here. I also commended her for working on her own goals and not being like every other pretty woman and busting it open for the highest bidder.
Tahli was definitely bad enough to have some of the men getting money in Diamond Cove.
She had the perfect look for the wifey of an athlete, rapper, dope boy, or scammer.
She liked me though. Or she was a good pretender. It would be a minute before I introduced her to Sierra, but I could see myself talking Tahli serious for real.
She pinned her location and shared it with me so once I arrived, finding her wasn’t an issue.
I spotted Tahli with a fire engine red wig on sitting on a large blanket.
Despite the fact that I was walking on sand, she must have felt me approaching because I knew damn well she didn’t hear me.
Tahli turned around, and the sun made her squint.
She smiled at me, and my dick instantly went into brick mode.
She was rocking the hell out of that red hair.
Actually, Tahli rocked the hell out of any hair.
I bet shorty would look good with a bald head.
“Hi,” she smiled like she was genuinely happy to see me.
“Stand up,” I demanded softly.
Tahli complied, and I pulled her into a tight hug. I’d just seen her the day before, but I wanted to feel on her. Inhale her scent. Be all up on her. As I hugged her, I couldn’t help placing my face in the crook of her neck and kissing her flesh.
“How was your day?” she asked as we sat down on the blanket.
“Busy but productive. Days off go by so fast.”
“They definitely do.”
“How was your day?”
“It was good. I can’t complain.”
My eyes roamed over Tahli’s pretty brown legs and traveled all the way down to her neon green toes. She had pretty feet. Pretty skin, a pretty face, shorty had a pretty everything. Grabbing each of her legs, I placed her feet in my lap and began to rub the left one.
“That’s what got something started last night. That foot rub,” She leaned over so our arms were touching.
“And I’m trying to start something today,” I replied making her giggle.
“You real mannish.”
Tahli and I fell into a comfortable silence. Peaceful was the perfect way to describe at. We didn’t pay any attention to the things going on around us. We simply sat and watched the sun set. The silence wasn’t awkward. Finally, Tahli turned to face me with another soft smile.
“What you thinking about over there?”
“You.” I answered while looking straight into her eyes.
Tahli’s lips twisted to the side, and she gave me a ‘yeah, okay,’ look.
“I’m serious,” I chuckled. “I’m thinking about how much I’m feeling you.”
Her smile turned bashful, and she shook her head lightly while looking straight ahead.
“That’s a problem?” I probed.
“No, it’s not a problem. I’m feeling you too and with the track record I have, that’s kind of scary, but I’m going to go with the flow.”
“I will never try to come across as perfect because I’m far from that, but I can also guarantee that I’m nothing like the niggas you met before me. I take pride in that.”
“I hear you.” Her tone wasn’t confrontational, and she didn’t say it like she thought I was running game.
“You hungry? Thirsty?”
“Your girl is a lil’ parched,” she chuckled.
Standing, I extended my hand for her to grab so I could pull her up.
When Tahli was on her feet, I took a second to just look at her.
I had seen pretty women before. Gina was pretty.
But there was something about Tahli that had me feeling like if she was the only woman I could ever be with again, I’d be cool with it.
Using the pad of my thumb, I wiped sweat from her nose.
“My mama said people that sweat on their nose are mean.”
“Tell your mama, she’s right.”
We laughed, and I grabbed her hand, so I could lead her to get something to drink. Back at my place, we took a shower together, and then I drank her.
I sipped my beer while Nook gave me the side eye. Patiently, I sat waiting for him to say something stupid. “You really going to that shit?” he finally asked.
With a frown, I looked at him like he was crazy. “Why wouldn’t I go? Don’t tell me you on some female shit. You want me to choose sides because you aren’t with Sheniah anymore?”
Nook kissed his teeth and poured more Rum into his glass. “You don’t have to choose shit. I’m just saying.”
It had been a month since Nook and Sheniah broke up. She was having a birthday dinner, and Tahli invited me to be her plus one.
“Sheniah has had plenty of stuff before, and Tahli was never pressed about bringing a date even when I was going to be there. I know this isn’t some couple shit. She probably just wanted you to come back and tell me,” he scoffed.
That comment got a snort out of me. “There it is. You’re jealous.” All I could do was shake my head.
I knew his happy to be a single man act was going to come to an end sooner or later.
Maybe Nook expected Sheniah to be giving him a hard time and begging him to come back.
The day I went by to get his things, she handed them over to me with no hesitation.
She wasn’t thinking about his ass, and he was worried that meant she had someone else.
“I’m not jealous of shit,” he replied. “If she found another nigga good for her. Probably one of those lames in her DM’s.”
I didn’t even respond. He was jealous, and I wasn’t feeding into it. He wanted to be single, and that he was. No need to pout and complain now.
“You and Tahli still hanging in there, huh?” he asked.
“Yeah. She’s cool people.”
“Hopefully, you won’t have to arrest her.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I wasn’t going to feed into that either. Maybe he was making a cop joke. Nook didn’t even need rebuttal from me to continue talking. He was in the mood to get some shit off his chest.
“She’s been known to crack a credit card or two.”
“What?” my brows furrowed, and my head whipped in his direction. That statement was one I couldn’t ignore. Knowing I’d taken the bait, Nook chuckled.
“Sheniah isn’t the type to pillow talk and tell her friends’ business, but we were together a long ass time. A few times, she mentioned to me that she was worried about Tahli using stolen credit cards and possibly going to jail.”
Though the information was shocking, I refused to let Nook see that it had any kind of effect on me. “Hopefully not,” I replied in a dry tone. “Just like I’ve never arrested you for smoking weed.”
Nook laughed. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.
I smoke weed in the comfort of my own home.
Not in yours or your vehicle. I know you’re a police officer, and I respect it.
I was just putting you up on game because if she gets caught scamming and you’re in deep with her, it may not be a good look for you is all I’m saying. ”
“And you didn’t know this a month ago?”
“I didn’t know you two were going to make a love connection.
Tahli isn’t dumb though. Maybe if she’s willing to date a cop it’s because she isn’t on bullshit anymore.
I can’t say whether she is or not. I know she moved back in with her mom because she was trying to save money.
Maybe she’s on the straight and narrow.”