Chapter 4
FOUR
Diamond.
I’d finally gotten all of my babies down for a nap, so I was able to take a breather. Sitting at my desk, I grabbed my phone to check my notifications. Kabria had taken her ass out again Saturday, despite being hungover from the night before, and was still paying for it.
She picked up on the first ring, sounding like she was half dead.
“Are you out of bed, Kabria?”
“Absolutely not,” she scoffed. “I have one eye open, using my index finger, only to reply to these emails.”
Since she was hungover, she opted to work from home, but it didn’t sound like she was doing much working.
Laughing, I replied, “I told you not to go out last night, bestie.”
“Bitch, it was work related.”
“It was not, Kabria.” I giggled. “You are a mess.”
While we were in Heat the other night, she exchanged numbers with Hulk, a rapper from the city, and he’d invited her out to his show. He was a very successful and attractive man, so I couldn’t blame her, but I knew I couldn’t go out again and make it to work today.
“I might have to represent him later, so yes it was.”
“I hope you didn’t sleep with him knowing that you’ll be representing their label.”
“I’m a lady, Diamond.”
“I—”
“And ladies don’t kiss and tell.”
“Kabria!” I cackled then quickly quieted down so I didn’t wake the kids. “I cannot with you.”
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can’t miss out on those.”
“You are horrible. How was it?”
“Magical.” She groaned. “He may be on the heavier side, but he knows exactly what to do with all of that weight and the third leg he’s carrying around with him.”
“You’re a mess,” I smiled while shaking my head. “Did you at least use protection? I know you were drunk…”
“Yes ma’am. I don’t know who else he’s sleeping with, and we both know I am not going to be anyone’s mother. I will always give rich auntie vibes.”
“Okay!” I giggled. “I can’t argue with that.”
I loved children, which was why I worked directly with them, but I had no desire to have my own until I was good and married. Kabria never wanted to have kids because she wanted to travel when she wanted and only have to worry about herself and whatever man she decided to settle down with.
“Has Loco hit you up yet?”
“Yes,” I rolled my eyes playfully and smiled. “Before the sun even came up the very next morning after giving him my Pikz handle.”
“What did he say?”
“Asked for my address to send breakfast.”
“And I hope you sent it to him.”
“Of course I didn’t.” I chuckled. “I don’t care who he is. He was not getting my address.”
“Diamond…”
“You know me, Kabria. Don’t even waste your breath.”
“I know, but you’re going to have to give someone else a chance eventually.”
“I know, and I will. It just won’t be with a man who I know will take me above, beneath, and through the damn wringer.” I giggled. “He’s fine and all, but I’ll pass.”
Calling Makhai fine was an understatement actually.
The man was a god. His chocolate skin was littered with tattoos.
He had waves circling his head that could make you seasick if you looked for too long and I could have passed out when he smiled.
He had the straightest and whitest teeth that I’d seen.
When I’d see him on T.V. or the internet, he always had his grill in, but at Heat, it was just his pearly whites.
He dressed nice and smelled wonderful too.
Then the way he had me clenching my thighs together when I heard his voice; he was just a recipe for heartbreak and disaster.
“He’s single, so he acts accordingly. He may be different in a relationship.”
“Maybe, but we won’t be finding out from an experience with me.” I chuckled.
“So, you didn’t let him buy you breakfast?”
“Of course I did. I gave him my cash app.”
“See, I’m raising you right.”
We talked a little more about Makhai and her night with Hulk before I had to go. The babies would be getting up soon, so I needed to prepare for activity time.
The day flew by after that. We did our activity then I let them go out and play for a while.
It was pretty out, so they got an extra twenty minutes before we went back inside for a light snack, cleanup time, then a movie.
By the time it went off, it was time to go.
I was happy that everyone’s parents were on time for pickup because I was exhausted and ready to go.
I stopped by Mr. Miyagi’s to get some Chinese food on my ride home.
I didn’t really like to drive to this part of town, but it was the best Chinese food in the city in my opinion.
After I placed my order, I took a seat in one of the booths and busied myself on my phone so I could ignore the niggas that couldn’t catch the hint that a bitch was uninterested.
When I got on Pikz, I saw that I had a few messages. They were all from Tristan, so I ignored them then went to check my other notifications. I smiled big when I saw Makhai had commented on one of my pictures.
BigLocDawg: You like a different kind of pretty. Fr.
Since I was a nobody, the comment had likely gone unseen. Still, I hid it because I didn’t want anyone to see it later and make a big deal out of it. I then went to our message thread.
Golddiamondsss: Don’t comment on my pictures and have your harem attacking me.
When I saw him replying right away, I immediately started to hold my breath, and I hated myself for it. Makhai was trouble, but the kind that was hard to resist.
BigLocDawg: You deleted my shit?
Golddiamondsss: No, just hid it. I don’t want any trouble.
BigLocDawg: I’m the best kind of trouble to have.
BigLocDawg: I promise.
Golddiamondsss: I’m sure that’s true, but still, I don’t need it.
Instead of replying to the message, he started to call me on Pikz. I immediately started to panic, using the camera to check my face and hair. I was still pretty intact, but I had been working all day.
Saying fuck it and throwing caution to the wind, I answered. My heartbeat stuttered the moment that his handsome face appeared on the screen. He was unfairly sexy. It truly made me wonder who the hell his parents were and what they looked like.
“Why it take yo’ ass so long to answer?”
“I didn’t know I had to be in a hurry.” I playfully rolled my eyes and smiled.
“Definitely need some urgency when I’m banging that line.”
“What is it, Makhai? You could’ve just wrote me back.”
“I coulda, but I wanted to see yo’ pretty ass.”
I blushed even though I didn’t want to. I knew that he had enough women stroking his ego. He didn’t need to add me to that mix.
“Where you at?” He started to really focus on my background as if he’d be able to tell.
He wasn’t from A.C., so I doubted that he’d recognize anything the way a native would have.
“At this Chinese restaurant called Mr. Miyagi’s to get some food.”
“Shit gotta be in the hood with that cracked ass ceiling. Let me find out I got a lil’ hood baby on my hands.” He chuckled.
“I did grow up in the hood, Magnolia Trace to be exact, but I don’t live over here. I just came for food, dassit.”
I didn’t frequent this part of town because it reminded me of my past; what I lost and what I was still dealing with because of my sister.
“Where are you?” I asked, checking his background like he’d done me.
“My people’s spot.” He turned around to show me. “Lil’ card party at my Nan’s house.”
“Nigga, I ain’t ya nan,” I heard a woman shout. “And don’t be showing them hoes you talk to my damn house. If one of ‘em comes through here, it’s going to be a sad day for her ass. You better let her know!”
“Nan, chill,” he laughed. “This ain’t no hoe,” he said then looked at me. “You ain’t no hoe, are you?”
“No, nigga. I’m not. If they think every woman you talk to is, then you need to seriously switch up the company you keep.” I spat with a frown.
“That’s what I’m tryna do with you, but you playing hard to get and shit.” He grinned.
“I’m not playing hard to get. I am hard to get. You have too much going on, so we need to keep things as they are.”
“How you know what I got going on?”
“You woke up to buy me breakfast while that woman was probably still in bed.” I chuckled, shaking my head as I thought about it.
“On Lord I didn’t sleep with that bitch.” He fired back. “Bitch got some dick and the boot. I don’t do no overnight shit.”
“And you couldn’t possibly think that anything remotely close to that would fly for me.” I scoffed.
“Of course not.” He smiled and I clenched my thighs together. He was too damn handsome for his own good. “I know you got the kind of pussy that come with a spinnanight bag.”
“Bye nigga.” I snapped and ended the call. They were calling my number for my food anyway.
As I slid out of the booth, I got a notification. Of course it was Makhai.
BigLocDawg: Don’t hang up in my face like that no more Lord.
BigLocDawg: You fine and all, but I’ll still fuck you up ‘bout my respect.
I smirked before replying back.
Golddiamondsss: Learn how to differentiate when you’re talking to a hoe and a woman then because just like you don’t play about your respect, I don’t either. Have the day you deserve.
I locked my phone and pushed it into my purse before making my way to the counter to get my food.
I hurried out of the restaurant afterward, ignoring the men that were desperately trying to get my attention.
I locked my doors quickly once I was secure inside my car.
Placing my food and purse on the passenger’s seat, I pushed the button to bring my car to life then pulled off.
I wanted to go straight home, but I thought about the note my sister had left on my door.
I hated that I was burdened with her shit, but she was my sister, and I loved her, so unfortunately, I drove slowly, checking near the area where she told me she’d been staying.
I spotted a pair of legs coming from behind a dumpster in the alley she’d specified, so I put my car in park after bringing it to a stop, then got out to see if it was her.
“Gwen,” I leaned down to shake her when I confirmed that it was.
Her frail body was slumped into the dumpster next to her, and her matted hair was sticking to her face that was still beautiful to me, despite her being filthy from living on the streets.
She stirred at first then her eyes fluttered open. When she noticed me, she tried to get up quickly, but winced, immediately alarming me. I looked her over to make sure she wasn’t hurt. From what I could see, she looked fine, but it could’ve been internal.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she rasped, pushing my hand off of her. she stood slowly, holding onto the dumpster and wall for support. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you,” I answered, frowning as I looked her over. I hadn’t seen her in months, and I didn’t like what I saw. She was smaller than usual, weaker, and appeared to be in pain. “You don’t look good.”
“Did Clyde get my note to you?”
“Clyde?” I frowned. “Who is that?”
“My man,” she snapped. “Did he bring it to you?”
“There was a note on my door, yes, but you had someone else come to my house, Gwen? I’ve asked you several times not to tell people where I lived.”
Shit like that was why I didn’t even want her to know where I lived, but I clearly had a soft spot for her. She was my only living family, and big sister, so I wanted her to know if and when she was ready to leave the streets, she’d always have somewhere to go.
“I was in the hospital, Diamond, and I needed some money when I came home.”
“The hospital?” I repeated with my brows furrowed. “Why were you in the hospital?”
“Do you have some money on you?” she ignored me and asked, picking with her hair.
“Gwen,” I sighed.
“I need to eat and get… things for myself.”
“I have some food in the car,” I pointed behind me. I was hungry and really wanted my food at first, but now that I’d seen her and heard that she was in the hospital, I’d lost my appetite. “And I can take you to the store to get what you need.”
She scoffed and tried to move around me, but I quickly stepped in front of her.
“Gwen, please just come home with me.” I pleaded. “Let me get you cleaned up and maybe have you see a doctor.”
“Didn’t I just say that I just got out of the hospital?” she snapped. “I saw a doctor. I don’t need to go back. I need my medicine and I’ll be fine.”
I knew the medicine she was referring to wasn’t a prescription. She wanted money for drugs, that was evident and the usual. I was just tired of allowing her to spend my money on her habit and contributing to her decline.
“I don’t have any money, Gwen.” I let her know somberly.
“Then why’d you come here?” she roared then started to cry. “I need help, Diamond.”
“I know, Gwen, and I’m trying to help you.” I admitted through my own tears.
When I reached for her, she knocked my hands away.
“No. I don’t want the help you’re trying to give me. I just—you have loose change in your car?”
I looked at her in disbelief although I shouldn’t have. I was used to this shit with her. Not a step was missed. She’d be happy to see me, ask for money, get mad when I told her I couldn’t give it to her, then try to cry to get me to cave.
“No, Gwendolyn, I don’t.” I shook my head. “I’m going to go.”
I was defeated as I began to walk back toward my car. I didn’t know what to do about my sister or how to help her, and I was afraid that if I didn’t figure it out quickly, something would happen to her.
“Give me the food then,” she called out from behind me. I didn’t even bother to turn around and look at her. “You said you had something to eat in the car.”
Picking up my strides again, I used the key fob to unlock my door then got the bag from the seat before turning to hand it to her. She tore it open quickly, grabbing one of the wings and biting into it. It broke my heart to watch her eat as if it were her last meal.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” I asked and she shrugged. “I’ll come check so I can bring you something else to eat.”
She nodded, tossing the bone then grabbing another wing. “Try to have some money too.”
I didn’t bother to reply, I just shut the door then rounded the back of my car, sliding in the driver’s seat once I made it.
I gave my sister one final look before putting my car in gear and pulling away.
I wished that I could just move on and let her live her life, but unfortunately, I couldn’t, so I was going home with tears in my eyes and no appetite because of the way she decided to live her life.