Chapter 9 Suki
His Benz slid into Eris’s driveway. My car sat still with dew on its windows. The streets were quiet. City’s loud bass broke through the peace surrounding us.
“You aiight?” City asked.
“I’m always good.”
He nodded, eyes low and glassy from both the liquor and weed.
His dreads hung over his face and shoulders, shielding me from seeing him fully.
City was 6’1”, caramel complexion with amber colored eyes.
That’s how he got me the first time. They’re always red from smoking.
His lips were plump and behind those slugged out teeth was a tongue so lethal that it made me think about him even after ghosting me.
Tattoos covered his body from what I remember. Straight thug appeal.
“We gon’ tell them that we know each other already?” he asked.
“For what?”
“’Cause I already test drove that pussy. We ain’t new to this shit, Suki.”
“Boy, bye. We fucked a few times and then we ghosted each other, remember? That was so long ago, I don’t even remember what the dick is like. So, hey, how you? I’m Suki.” I held out my hand for him to shake.
“You know what this dick like, though. Don’t act like you wasn’t out here with a flashlight in the daytime checking for a nigga.”
“Boy, bye. The dick was good, but I’ve had better.” I rolled my eyes.
City and I met over a year ago and we fucked on the first night and a few times after that.
No shame in my game. Neither of us wanted anything serious.
I had my men and of course he had his bitches.
City and I were the same people, different genders.
Or so I thought until we stopped all communication.
Pulling up to Chevron, when I got out the car, everybody greeted me. Some tried to get my attention, but I paid them no mind. They knew I didn’t play that.
“Who that?” I heard from the crowd.
I ignored it, going into the store.
I grabbed something light to put on my stomach for this drive home. When I put my items on the counter, a long-tatted arm reached around me.
“It’s on me, bruh,” the thick voice said above me.
I knew he wasn’t shit.
“Thank you.”
“Ain’t shit. Where you going this time of night?”
“Where I’m going,” I retorted.
“Aye, can y’all do this shit out the way? Folks got shit to do,” someone said behind us and before I could react, City hit the man in his shit easily.
The people in line barely reacted. Neither did I. Can’t let them see you sweat.
“Damn,” was all I said, grabbing my bag and leaving the store.
The whole parking lot was inside the window looking. City paid the people no attention who were trying to get his attention. I popped open my bag of Funyuns.
“You trying to talk to a nigga with that stankin’ ass breath and shit?”
“I wasn’t talkin’ to you to begin with. You can get the fuck out my face.”
He paused. I was thinking he was about to do me like the man in the store, so I quickly put my hand on my purse because he had me fucked up.
His eyes quickly went to my purse then he laughed.
“You good with ya fine ass, Suki.”
“Okay, so you know me, but I don’t know you.”
“You gotta be a lame bitch if you don’t know City, baby.”
“You wanna see how lame I am?”
He nodded slowly, rubbing his hands together.
“I don’t do all this talking shit. I might be trying to fuck with you. You gon’ give a nigga ya number or some shit?”
“I got a man,” I lied befor hopping in the car, cranking up and leaving his ass right there.
“Nah, I meant to hit you up but when I got jammed, them fuck niggas fucked my phone up. Didn’t know ya number. I knew you had moved on because the streets talked about you and that nigga Sacks.”
Sacks was a rapper around our way. I should’ve stayed clear of him, but I like them thugged out ass men.
He’s another no-good ass one. We were toxic, like the kind I wanted to be.
He was out here embarrassing me, but at least I cried in a Range and not a Honda.
However, one time was one too many for me.
He got locked up and I was out there like a receding hairline.
City and I saw each other a year later. We didn’t speak at a block party even though he had a bitch on his arm. Not that I was on him, but it’s easier to miss what you didn’t have. City’s not the kind of nigga you fall in love with.
“That’s in the past. No harm, no foul,” I told him.
“Don’t nobody know nothing,” he explained.
“And that’s why I can’t fuck with you now.”
He titled his head in confusion.
“Why?”
“Nothing. Anyways, I don’t wanna play my girl like that.”
“I mean, but it ain’t a lie though. We still strangers.”
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.
“I still remember how them walls grip, Suki.” He paused. “But if that’s what you’re on, we can start this shit back over for the culture.”
“I’m doing my girl a favor, that’s it.”
He gripped his dick through his pants. It was a big piece to, but like I said… subpar.
“Come do me a favor and bounce on it.”
I was such a hoe because my knees got weak, and my pussy throbbed like he’d said the magic words. It was the liquor. Let me get away from him before something happens.
“Boy, bye.”
I got out the car, rushing to Eris’ door to let myself in, but I wasn’t walking fast because I heard his car door close. Nothing was working. My hands fumbled, keys were deep down in my damn purse. And why the hell was the world spinning suddenly?
“You tried running from the dick before, you see how many times you came back for it?” he said in my ear. Breath brisking against my earlobe.
“Tonight’s a fresh start. I’m not fucking you.”
“Says who?”
“Me, and you know I put that on everything. So, if you’re trying to get to know me again, start fresh. My girl hooked us up and I’m gon’ do right by her.”
He leaned back with an expression I couldn’t read.
“Dead ass.”
“You’ll get the pussy on my time.”
He ran his hand down his face with a drag.
“Fuck, man, that shit gon’ be hard.”
“Night, City.”
I walked inside, closed the door and let out the craziest exhale, not believing what I did. Shit, that’s new even for me. City was spared tonight because Lord knows this liquor had me leaking and ready.