Chapter 6 #2
“Oh wow. I’m sorry to hear that. What are they going to do about it?”
“The doctor prescribed me some medication and suggested physical therapy. I haven’t started the medication yet. I’d rather smoke and drink my pain away.”
“And you know that’s not healthy right?”
“Yes, ma’am. I know.”
I took my slide off my foot and tossed it at him. Laughing, he moved out of the way just in time. “You really gotta get out of here with the old jokes,” I snapped. I wasn’t sure why I was bothered by him calling me old. Shit, I had called him a baby.
“Alright my bad. Dang, I just told you I have an illness, and you’re abusing a nigga.”
Gritting my teeth together, I just stared at him.
“No more old jokes.” He held his hands up in surrender while the blunt dangled from his lips.
Clearly, his recent diagnosis was bothering him. Maybe along with other things. I knew he had an open case that he was going back and forth to court for. I didn’t know much about Huncho, but it was obvious that he was fighting some demons, and I hoped he wouldn’t let them win.
“What kind of work do you do for Hymn?” I asked.
“I help him renovate houses that he bought to flip. He has a small crew of like three that does the things I don’t know how to do, but they’re cool about showing me the things I don’t know.
I can manicure the fuck out of a lawn. I can also rip up carpet, lay tile, paint, replace window frames and the actual window, pressure wash homes, all that good shit. ”
The way he described his job had my yoni aching with desire.
I was officially sick. He was a man’s man that knew how to use his hands.
That was refreshing. Too many of these new niggas only cared about being fly.
They wouldn’t get dirty if you paid them, and that was so, ugh to me. He’s still a kid.
“That’s dope,” I bobbed my head. “Not only that you can do it but that you enjoy doing it. I pray that it takes you far if you decide to stick with it.”
“Thanks.” Huncho finished his blunt and opened the box of cookies.
Since he had indulged, his eyes didn’t even look like they were open they were so low.
He was moving in slow motion as well, but he didn’t appear to be slurring his words anymore unless I was missing it.
He was coherent enough to hold a conversation and make sense, but I still wasn’t sure he needed to be driving.
“Oh my God,” he marveled as he chewed with his eyes closed. “This shit right here, nigga.”
All I could do was giggle. “Thank you. You want something to drink?”
“Yeah, let me get a bottle of water, please.”
I stood to go get a bottle of water from the kitchen.
After I passed it to him, I went back to scrolling on my phone.
I became lost in a YouTube video and before I knew it, Huncho was snoring.
Chuckling, I went back in my office and went back to work.
An hour later, I heard my front door open.
When I walked into the living room, Huncho and the cookies were gone but there was a one-hundred-dollar bill on the coffee table.
The next day, as I sat across from a guy named, Donnell, I was slowly becoming annoyed.
We were supposed to be having a business meeting, and the lust in his eyes was beginning to creep me the hell out.
I hated when I tried to put money in a man’s pocket by doing business with him, and he turned everything weird and creepy.
I had been ignoring his slick comments for the past ten minutes, but it was becoming harder to do. My skin was literally crawling.
“So, if I do four videos a month maybe even five, you’ll keep it at a set rate? Like a bundle deal? Does the length of the video factor in?”
“As long as there isn’t too big of a difference, say for instance three of the videos are thirty minutes, no more than thirty-five, and the fourth one is an hour and a half. No cap though. If you let me take you out on a date, I’d give you a discount.”
Calmly, I picked my coffee up and gave him a fake smile. “You have a good day, Donnell. I’ll find someone else to provide my editing services.”
His face dropped. “Wait, what do you mean? What did I say wrong?”
“What did you say wrong?” I repeated with a frown.
“Bro, everything out of your mouth has been lowkey slick or sexual. I came here to discuss business. If you were professional and about your business, you’d be focused on that.
Instead, you’re trying to exchange services for pussy, and I don’t get down like that.
I’m going to find someone more professional. Thanks for the coffee.” I stood up.
“It’s not even that serious. Muhfuckas can’t even take a compliment,” he eyed me with disdain. “Bitches want to be so fake stuck up bougie.”
“Bitch?” my brows hiked. “Fake bougie? Nah. That’s never been me.” Removing the lid from my coffee cup, I tossed the warm liquid in his face. “Better be glad it wasn’t scalding, bitch.”
I sauntered out of the coffee shop with a scowl on my face.
Despite my reservations, I was going to listen to London and start a YouTube channel for baking.
However, I baked two to three times a week, but I refused to upload that many videos.
I wanted multiple streams of income, but I also wanted something for me that was relaxing and more of a hobby than a job.
To keep some of the workload off myself, I posted and asked around for good editors.
Not having to edit my own videos would be a life saver, so it was a service I’d be willing to pay for.
Out of all the recommendations I got, two of them were black men, and I chose one of the men as a way to put money in a black man’s pocket. Clearly, I had picked the wrong one.
Men that made everything about sex were so cringe to me.
He could have gotten business out of the way and then expressed interest by asking me out on a date.
Making references about my body or sex two minutes into us meeting was lame as hell.
No, I didn’t want to see him on a regular basis, and I didn’t want to put money in his pocket either.
Since my meeting ended earlier than expected, I was going to arrive at the bridal shop early, but that was fine.
My sister’s wedding party was getting fitted for our dresses.
I still couldn’t believe my sissy was getting married and to a rich man at that.
I hated that every now and again I got nervous.
My sister was so happy. She was literally glowing.
She wasn’t a weak chick that couldn’t function without a man, and I watched her bounce back gracefully after Corey.
However, I still found myself praying that Hymn wasn’t a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and that he’d remain exactly how he was.
I wasn’t sure if she could take another heartbreak.
Plus, the triplets were very fond of Hymn.
Honestly, I think they were beginning to like him better than their own father because Corey was still inconsistent and selfish.
As much as Brion didn’t want to, she even told the girls they could invite him to their birthday party, but I doubted he’d even show up.
The music stopped playing, and I glanced over to see who was calling.
With a sigh, I groaned lowly. Ever since I stood Joey up, I had pretty much ghosted him.
This was the fourth time he’d called me, and I wished he’d get the hint.
Granted, maybe he was worried because during our last conversation, I told him I had strep throat but still.
Ugh, I disliked a man that couldn’t read the room.
I wasn’t interested. I tried to be, but I just wasn’t.
Brion and I arrived at the bridal shop at the same time, and I smiled. My sister was always punctual, and I was generally the opposite. She hopped out of her Escalade with a shocked expression on her face. “Is this my sister fifteen minutes early?”
“Girl, yes. I had a business meeting that was an absolute fail. The way most men think with their dicks should be studied. Trying to do business with one is enough to give me the ick.”
“I have something that will make you feel better. You ready for some good ole ghetto tea?”
“Always,” I lit up with anticipation.
“Soooo,” she sang with a devilish smirk. “According to Alisa, Imani and Corey had just got back good when some chick popped up claiming to be pregnant by him.”
“Shut up!” My eyes were wide as saucers.
“Yeap. Shorty said she got a tattoo that took three hours, and they drank and smoked the entire time. When he was done with the tattoo, they had sex in the shop, and she’s with child.
Imani went upside that head with a frying pan, and the police came when she was busting the windows out of his car, so they both went to jail. This is the second time.”
“Brion,” I put my hand over my mouth.
“A week after the incident, he popped up at her house, and she was having sex with some dude. Mind you, she’s supposed to give birth any day now.
Corey and the guy got to fighting, and Corey got his ass whooped.
His left eye is swollen shut, so he won’t get the girls because he doesn’t want them to see him like that. ”
I laughed so hard, tears ran down my cheeks. My stomach was hurting so bad, I was gasping for air, but I couldn’t stop laughing. I was still laughing when Alisa pulled up and parked beside Brion.
Finally, I was able to stop laughing. “That man is a sad case,” I wiped the tears away. “You left him, and his life literally went to shit. He has to feel so stupid.”
“Of course he does, and I don’t feel sorry for him. He deserves Imani. I hope they have a long happy life together.”
Alisa rolled her eyes at the mention of her cousin’s name.
“Please. She has some slow sucker willing to step up and take care of her and the baby. The one that closed Corey’s eye up.
I don’t know what he does, but apparently, he has a good job, and Imani is serious about kicking Corey to the curb.
She said his new baby mama can have him. ”
“It’s really sad that he’s out here making babies continuously, and he doesn’t even really provide for the girls.
He hasn’t so much as gotten them a pair of sneakers since I left him, but he has the nerve to try and get mad when Hymn buys them things.
This man actually said Hymn is trying to buy the girls.
I told his dumb ass it’s working too. He damn near started foaming at the mouth. ”
“Oh sister,” I shook my head. “I’m so glad you dodged that bullet. Please let’s go in here and try on these dresses, so I can relish in how pretty you look. I’m also going to post the pictures of you in the dresses you don’t choose since I know that bum stalks my page,” I grinned.
“So petty.” Brion linked her arm through mine. “I love it.”