9. Jackpot
JACKPOT
KASH
Awife. I’d been living for the past few days as a wife…
oh, a fuckin’ mother to be. I came back to Magnolia Valley for D-Row’s reality escape experience, not to be tied down all the way around the board.
This man told me several times over I had but so many times to come in and break his heart before he did the unthinkable.
I didn’t think me leaving was causing him so much pain.
In my eyes, we agreed to never be anything more than unofficial lovers. It worked until it didn’t, I guess.
He was tired of my shit.
Waltzing into the living room, I began to clean up. Lately Declan had been pulling late nights, and I didn’t fault him ‘cause he still came home between reasonable hours. However, he was drained as hell. That was written all over his face.
I started throwing papers in his brief case when I came across a blueprint and a notebook to the right of it.
Slowly picking it up, I realized these were the new floor plans for Ross Savings I refused to lose another.
Heading back to the bedroom, Declan was stepping out in his tailored suit.
This man was too damn fine, and he knew it.
From his muscular frame to his chiseled features to his height, this man was sculpted like a god.
He strolled over, kissed my forehead, both cheeks, then my lips.
This had become a daily routine for him.
“You’re leaving already? You just got here,” I whined tugging on his blazer.
“Baby, if you want a nigga home on time today, you got to unhand me,” he said chuckling.
Since I gave this man what he wanted, it was me that had become extra clingy.
It could’ve been the extra hormones floating around or the fact that he made me feel safe no matter the time of day.
Declan really did have it going the fuck on.
My love for him grew from his patience and dedication to me.
He loved me regardless of how often I left him.
“I’m sure lunch is longer than ten minutes. Ain’t you the boss? Why you rushing back instead of spending time with me?”
“I got all that for you when I get off. I’m late for this meeting right now though, Ma. A nigga only came home to take a shit. I think it was them tacos you made last night finally running through me,” he jested.
Slapping his shoulder, he winced as if he was really in pain. I giggled as he grabbed me by the side of my neck and brought me into him. That quick peck he normally gave me before dipping out was replaced with a soft and sensual kiss. My entire body felt like it was on fire from a simple gesture.
A gentle moan escaped, and he broke the connection right then and there. “Man, hell nah. You a dangerous muthafucka and you know it. I’ll be home on time, Ma. Keep the pussy wet and the walls tight,” he voiced as he stepped around me.
I couldn’t do shit but let him have it. He grabbed up his briefcase leaving the plans to the bank and his notebook behind.
I didn’t budge until I felt like he was good and gone.
I rushed to the bedroom and snatched up the first pair of shorts and sleeveless shirt I came across.
I was dressed within twenty minutes. Forest Hill Memorial was no more than fifteen minutes away from the condo, so I was making good timing.
Once I had my bob flowing like the wind, I touched up on my makeup, hit my neck with a few sprays of Versace, then headed for the living room.
The plans were folded and placed into a folder while his journal was tucked underneath it.
The keys to my bike were in the key dish, so I grabbed those and continued right on out the door.
Pregnant or not, I was more excited about taking a drive than anything.
I didn’t have D-Row hovering over me telling me what I could and couldn’t do.
The breeze hit different when you were one with the wind.
Me and Green Goblin had a special relationship going on.
Not once did she drop me off in a ditch, hit another driver, or give out on me. GG was my favorite getaway.
I made my way to the parking deck moments later. Climbing on my bike, I cranked baby girl up and was on my way. I bobbed and weaved through traffic like a pro as usual. The girls would beat me to the gravesite, but I wasn’t too far behind.
Ten minutes later, I pulled into the cemetery spotting my sisters and their bikes immediately. With a smile on my face, I parked next to them. Both Dice and Rebel were laughing so I figured it was a good time to let them in on a few things. Rose had no choice but to listen.
Walking over, I gave them both hugs before gently placing my hand on Rose’s tombstone.
You’re missed just as much as you’re loved, sis’.
“Rebel look at her hand and tell me if I’m tripping or not,” Dice said pointing out my diamond ring.
“Trust me, I saw it. D-Row must be handling business. Correct me if I’m wrong though, but ain’t she scared of commitment?” Rebel teased.
“Let’s be clear, I’m very much still scared. However, I would rather be scared with D than with someone else. Plus, that nigga popped my cherry. I wasn’t gon’ love nobody but him,” I explained.
The girls nodded in agreeance but then Dice damn near tackled me with another hug. I knew if no one else would be happy for ya girl, she would. We might’ve fussed and fought, but this heffa was my ace boon coon. I giggled at her response to our conversation and hugged her back.
“This what I don’t miss. Y’all too mushy for me,” Rebel chimed. She walked over to my bike and pulled out the file I had tucked. “What’s this, Kash?”
“That’s what I wanted to tell y’all about.
Bitch, don’t you know D-Row and them Saints plan on robbing them white muthafuckas blind.
The renovations to Ross Savings & Loans ain’t even supposed to be in his possession.
Him as the bank manager gives him a fuckin’ advantage while they’re moving the vault.
Look in the journal at his game plan. Y’all think I got this planning shit down to a T, D mapped that shit out brick by brick and it’s fuckin’ brilliant! ”
Rebel began to look over the plans and smiled from how well it was put together. “Damn, this shit is brilliant, sis’.”
“I know that. But my question is, why you steal my shit, Sol?”
Declan’s voice caused all of us to jump and release a small yelp. Nobody heard him pull up and the sad part is, it was broad daylight, one of us should’ve seen him pull up.
“Oh, don’t get quiet now.”
The sternness in his voice, the stone look he possessed, and the steam that radiated off his body let me know he was more than pissed. I gave a rough smile, and he didn’t move an inch. I gathered the files from Rebel and extended them in Declan’s direction. He refused to take them from me.
“We need this just as much as y’all do, D,” I finally spoke.
“Come on, bro’. As much as you and yo’ folk come across shit, you can let us have this one,” Dice added.
“Since when you felt the need to steal from me, Ma?” he asked looking directly at me.
I was speechless, I couldn’t lie.
“Baby, I wasn’t stealing. This set up is exactly up our alley. It can take us out the game and have us set for life,” I bargained.
Nodding, he stepped into my personal space saying, “I will die for y’all, and you know that, but stealing from me…
This won’t be taken from me, Solenne. You think I cooked that shit up to help y’all?
I’m on the same type of timing. This gon’ sit me and mine down for good.
If y’all want in, I’ll remap shit, but this is mine. You hear me?”
“Aye D-Row, we ain’t even ‘bout to fight you on that. From the numbers you got jotted down on this paper, all I’m asking is to be put on. Write me in this muthafucka somewhere,” Rebel stated with a light chuckle.
“I got you sis. And I’ll do the same for everybody else but I’m not bullshitting, Sol.
You not taking this from me. I became the bank manager for this dumbass job for this specific reason.
I been had intel of a renovation coming and now it’s finally getting approved.
I ain’t coming up off it,” he reiterated.
His gaze didn’t waver from my being once. Wherever I moved, so did he. He was deadass serious ‘bout this shit. I had to apologize and take what I could get.
“I’m sorry baby. I wasn’t so much as trying to steal it but when I saw the master plan, that shit was just too good to pass up on. Yes, me and the girls would like to be added to the script if you don’t mind. We need this just as much as you do.”
“What you need it for, huh? Everything I bring home, you got access to. What the fuck do you need it for?” he shouted.
I jumped once more as tears formed. This pregnancy made me overly emotional as well. Him yelling at me hurt my lil’ feelings. I couldn’t hold you.
“Aight D. Give her a break. She was just trying to look out for us the same way you look out for yours. If you gon’ let us be a part of this, then drop it, take her home and fuck her already.
All that rah-rah shit is aggy as fuck,” Dice said waving him off with attitude.
She played about a lot of shit but not her sisters.
“Yeah D, drop it, take me home, and fuck me. Wait, how you know where I was once again? How you know I had yo’ shit?” I questioned.
“I needed them plans so I went home to grab them. When I noticed both you and it was no longer there, I checked yo’ lo.
And no, I’m not ‘bout to take yo’ ass home to do shit.
Stop stealing from me,” he said snatching up the files and journal.
He walked off and me and the girls surprisingly held our laughter back until he was gone.
“Bitchhhhhh!” Dice yelled as she threw her head back erupting with laughter.
“I ain’t never seen bro’ that mad. He was fuming,” Rebel chuckled shaking her head.
“He’ll be aight. He can never stay mad at us anyway,” I said rolling my eyes.
Dice and Rebel exchanged questionable looks before turning their attention back to me. I realized I slipped up and acknowledged my unborn.
“Shit. I spoke too much. Fine, since we’re all here, I might as well let it out. Declan knocked a bitch up, married me, and told me to sit my pretty ass down somewhere. Congrats to me!” I shouted in sarcasm.
The girl’s hands flew to their mouth as their eyes grew as big as saucers.
They were just as shocked as I was when my husband let a bitch in on the secret.
I wasn’t gon’ hide anything from them. They were my support system and believe it or not, they had my fuckin’ back.
Hopefully, they would extend that love to my child.
“D-Row is a fool. He setting you down for real. I’m proud of you, sis’. I mean, you glowing right now so sit yo’ ass down. It seems like big bro’ ain’t fuckin’ around this time. Be a wife, a mother, and all that other good shit. The date on that paper was years out. We got time.”
I was surprised to hear her calm and cool with it all. Usually, she had no care in the world for the shit me and Dice had going on.
“I guess, I need to call more often then. Congrats baby boo,” Dice chimed in.
“Thanks, y’all. You hear that, Rose? You ‘bout to be an auntie. Who would’ve thought, right? God, I hate you’re not here to witness this shit.” I placed my hand on her tombstone and cried softly. She said I would be the first to find love, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t.
“Yeah, sis’ would’ve been more than happy for you. Don’t sweat it though. She gon’ make sure we get to where we need to be. She guiding this sisterhood fa sho’,” Rebel voiced. It was exactly what we needed to here. What I needed to hear.
“Aight, all this emotional shit is overwhelming as fuck. We going to drink for my girl birthday or what?” I inquired.
“Strictly virgin daiquiris for you, pregnant ass,” Dice threw at me.
Laughing, I let them have it and went to enjoy a moment with my sisters.
I knew this was something that wouldn’t last for more than a few hours.
It was nice to have them here for Rose, but life wasn’t granting me more than this.
At least not right now. We were still grieving, and I could tell this was all they had to offer me.