Chapter Sixteen #3
Tyler stared at the text from Logic while chewing on her lip.
He had sent it over an hour ago and she was still struggling to reply.
Logic was cool as fuck and she enjoyed being around him, but Tyler couldn’t help but think she was digging herself into a deeper hole.
The world was just starting to forget about her, and she knew if she popped up with Logic, the rumors would start all over again.
“Just do it,” she mumbled, hyping herself up to text him back.
Haha I guess you’re not only a rapper, but a comedian too.
313-446-9612
Damn, thank God I didn’t need a ride or something. When I make you mine, you better text back in three seconds.
Blushing at his text, Tyler sent him the rolling eye emoji.
313-446-9612
Where you at? Let me come scoop you.
Tyler read the text and smiled before replying.
Scoop me and take me where?
313-446-9612
My crib.
“Aht aht, see, this is why I don’t hire people I know.” Shane snapped his fingers. “No texting on the job.”
“Shut up.” Tyler tossed a bundle of hair at him. “The fact that you got me in this hot ass warehouse packing hair is crazy. I agreed to be a silent investor, not a worker.”
A few years ago, when Shane expressed to Tyler that he wanted to open a warehouse in the city where he could treat the hair, bundle it himself, and package it, she was all for it.
All of the paperwork went under Shane’s name, and Tyler didn’t tell Dexter or Carla about her investment.
Shane didn’t want their hands or names anywhere near his business.
He kept Tyler’s profits in an account under his name, and now that everything hit the fan, Tyler was happy they handled things the way they did.
When Shane reminded her that she still had a stash, Tyler wanted to kiss his face.
“Bitch, you unemployed, and unless you want to be frying chicken at KFC, then I'd keep wrapping and stuffing.”
“It ain’t like you paying me.”
“Sure not.” Shane twisted his lips. “That’s what best friends are for, plus you owe me for the Spoons and Swoons incident.”
“Blame Aria for that shit. I still can’t walk past a tree without wanting to knock the leaves off of it.”
“Just slow.” Shane shook his head. “Who you texting anyway?”
“Logic.”
“Ooook, yes Thugger. Have my girl all distracted and shit. Aria told me yall were in the corner at his people house all night and she saw yall kissing.”
“First of all, Aria is a lie. I wasn’t kissing him, he was kissing my neck,” she corrected with a big grin.
“Did you stop him?” Shane tooted his lips.
“Nope.” Tyler gawked. “I liked it.”
Just the thought of his lips on her skin caused Tyler to close her eyes. Dexter kissed her, but his lips felt nothing like Logic’s. Logic’s lips were warm, his tongue was soft, and the way his fingers massaged her lower back had her ready to drop her panties in someone else’s bathroom.
“Oh bitch, not you grinning like you’re in middle school.”
“I feel like I'm in middle school. This nigga giving me butterflies and I'm not used to this.”
“Dexter never gave you butterflies?”
“No, or maybe I was too high to feel them.”
“Well, damn bitch, that’s sad.” Shane frowned.
“It’s the truth. It took me almost a year to fall for Dexter, and it was only because he was all in my face all the time. I’m stupid too because Bobbi was all on his jock back then. She made sure we were at every show, in every club, and wherever else he was.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“Nope.”
“Carla?”
“Nope, and I don’t care to. They ruined my life, and I have nothing to say to them.”
“You know…” Shane put the package of hair down and hopped up on the table. “And before you fly off the handle, I want you to hear me out.”
“Oh god, you about to piss me off.”
“Probably, and I don’t care.” He pinched her cheek. “You can’t whoop me, so I'm going to say what I want.”
“Just say it.” Tyler swatted his hand out of her face.
“I think this was a blessing in disguise. Now, don’t get me wrong, the way it happened was so fucked up, but I’m kinda glad it did.
You were always high, crashing out, clubbing, and acting a plum fool.
Friend, you know I love you, but you were going down a bad road, and I’m a shitty friend because I watched it happen, and I ignored it.
I thought it was fine because that’s how you grieved, and you can’t tell someone how to grieve.
You were dealt a fucked up hand, but things got outta control.
I didn’t speak up when I was supposed to-
“Shan-
“Let me finish.” Shane touched her shoulder.
“I’m sorry because, as your best friend, it’s my job to hold you accountable for your mistakes, not facilitate your bullshit, and that’s what I did.
That’s what I’ve been doing. I talk my shit, but I didn’t step in to make sure you were safe.
So from now on, I’m on your ass. No more pills and you can chill with the heavy drinking.
People are dying from overdosing and I’ll be damned if I’m styling a wig for your funeral.
“You’d do my wig?” Tyler asked, touching her chest.
“Duh. I can’t let you get buried in a hat.”
“I hate you,” she giggled.
“All bullshit aside, I think this is a fresh start and I hope and pray you take advantage of it. Fuck Dexter, Carla, and Bobbi loose coochie having ass. Whatever they made off you won’t last long and you’re going to be blessed with ten times more when you let go.
Live your best fucking life and forget them leeches.
All they did was suck up your energy and drain the life out of you.
Fuck them! I’m not saying jump in a relationship with Logic, then again that nigga a lil pushy so you might end up in one even if you’re not ready. ”
“First, I’d like to say that I don’t blame you. You already know that can’t nobody tell me what to do.”
“Oh, you finally admit that you’re hardheaded.”
“I prefer strong-willed,” Tyler snickered. “But seriously, I know that I've been living reckless, and you’re right, I needed a fresh start. I love you and I’m grateful you’ve been by my side all these years. You’re my best friend and I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“I know.” Shane patted his eyes dry. “Wait, say that again so I can show Aria who is really number one.”
“Yall are both number one,” Tyler tittered.
“Aht aht, get yo choosin’ ass on. Matter fact, get your ass up and finish packaging these orders before I fire you.”
“You have a whole roster of employees, why am I here again?”
“'Cause I’m not paying them hoes overtime, the fuck,” Shane gawked.
Tyler laughed before looking at her vibrating phone.
“He’s calling.”
“Then answer it.”
“I caaannn’t,” Tyler sighed. “I cannot be all out in the streets with that man. The blogs are going to have a field day with me being out with another man.”
“Girl, fuck the blogs and the hogs who write the articles. You are grown and been living your life for other people way too long. Answer the phone for that fine ass man and let him lick on you.”
“I didn’t say nothing about licking.”
“I know, I did. Let him beat on the cookie box a few times, no commitment.”
“Logic,” Tyler answered before the voicemail could pick up the call.
“Tyler,” he countered.
“Thugger,” Shane cooed. “Tell him I said hi bitch.”
“Shane said hi,” she snickered.
“Tell him I said what up,” Logic spoke. “But what’s up with you? Why are you taking so long to text me back?”
“Because I’m still trying to figure out if talking to you is a good idea.”
“It is. Can I come get you?”
“Yea, she not doing shit no way.” Shane sucked his teeth.
“Nigga, don’t be trying to give me away.” Tyler swatted at him.
“You’ll be in good hands, and I’ll have you back before your ankle bracelet starts beeping,” Logic jested.
“It doesn’t beep, asshole.”
“Oh, my bad. I’ve never hung with a criminal before.”
“Shut up,” Tyler giggled. “I’m Downriver but give me an hour to go shower and put some clothes on.”
“Drop the location when you're ready, baby girl.”
“Ok, bye Logic.”
“Bye Tyler.”
“Bye Thugger,” Shane purred as Tyler ended the call.