Chapter 9
START OVER
Pretti sat in front of the courthouse with tears falling from her eyes.
The system wasted no time sentencing Dexten, and she felt like her world was crushed.
He was all she knew. Now she had to live without him for three years.
She kept telling herself it wasn't that long, but she knew it would be a lonely three years.
She no longer had a job, and when word got around to other barbers, they didn't want to hire her. She knew her money was going to run out soon, so she immediately got a job at McDonald’s.
She had three more months of school, and then she would have her cosmetology license.
She figured she could take her license and start over in Arizona.
It was cheap and still on the West Coast, so that was her next move until Dexz came home.
As she stood waiting for the lawyer, Milo finally walked up to her. She was so thankful for him because they wanted to give Dexten eight years, and he was able to buy the judge down to three years, plus a couple of years on parole since it was his first offense.
“Hey, Pretti. I'm so sorry this has you so upset, but that was the lowest they would go,” Milo expressed sincerely.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad he didn't get the eight years. I guess I can manage on my own for three years. That time will teach me to be more independent than I am.”
“Well, I was able to get a letter for you from Mr. Kingsley. I hope this helps you figure out what you want to do while he is locked up.” He passed her a folded yellow piece of paper.
“Thank you,” she said as she gazed at the paper. She unfolded it and read it. Seeing Dexz’s handwriting was soothing as she ran her finger across his words.
Dear Pretti,
I'm so sorry this is all happening. But I always knew this day would come, so I secured that for us.
I haven't communicated with you over the phone when I call because these lines are recorded, and I don't want nobody comin’ to the crib and searchin’ while you're there alone. So, I had to send this letter through Milo. I know you probably were wondering what was going to happen now that you’re by yourself, but I got you.
You have to move to New York, though. When I'm released, I'm coming to Harlem and never going back to Cali.
I have seventy grand stashed in my closet.
You have to pull up the carpet and find the loose wood.
It's all under the floor. Then I want you to pack all your clothes and take a one-way flight to New York.
I plugged you with my best friend there.
I'll put his number at the end of the letter; he already has yours. His name is Lunden, and he’s cool peeps.
He will take care of you and get you on your feet.
He got you a spot, and he's going to take you to find a shop to open.
Don't worry about the money for your crib or salon.
Just focus on running your business and getting to this legal money for us.
I love you, and I trust you with my life, so I know you will use my money wisely with the shop.
Get the fuck outta Cali and live your dreams. Remember when we first became friends, I told you I'd invest in your dreams?
Well, I'm doing it, so don't focus on me being locked up…
focus on you. I'll be in touch. And remember, I love you, and when I get out, we will pick up where we left off when we went to dinner. I'ma think about you every day, love…
Your Best Friend,
Dexz
Tears fell onto the paper, making it hard for her to read. Dexz had never said he loved her, and she didn't know what he meant by picking up where they left off. She was never going to stop being his friend because he was locked up. The letter said so much that she didn't know where to start.
“Are you okay, Ms. Phoenix? Do you need a ride home?” Milo asked kindly.
She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. “Yes, I'm sorry. I do need a ride home. Thanks.”
Milo took her home, and she immediately started doing what Dexz told her to do for survival.
$$$$
Pretti sat on the edge of Dexten’s bed, staring at his letter again.
Teardrops had stained the paper, smearing the ink.
She was so happy he had a plan for her because the one she had on her own was disappointing.
She always wanted to go to New York, and now she was going to live there and open her own barbershop.
She was pleased Dexten had set up an apartment for her, so all she had to do was call his best friend in New York and book her flight.
She stood up and walked over to his closet.
Opening it, she got on her knees and started pulling up the carpet.
When she ripped it up, she saw the loose piece of wood.
She pulled up the board and found stacks of money.
She pulled it from the floor and put the wood and carpet back in place.
She decided she would book her flight and deposit the money first thing in the morning.
But first, she had to call Lunden. She didn't even know Dexz had a best friend in New York.
He had never spoken about him, but she knew he didn't like talking about his past life.
Too many memories of his mother and father.
She walked to her room and dialed the number that was in the letter. After a few rings, she looked at the time. It was nine in the evening, so she knew it was midnight on the East Coast. She was just about to hang up when Lunden answered the phone.
“Yo, baby love. My bad, it took me a minute to answer. I was standing outside my car, and my phone was in my driver's seat. I've been waiting for you to hit me up, though.”
Lunden was smirking slightly on the other end of the phone. Dexz had shown him pictures of her before. He thought she was beautiful, so finally speaking to her had him feeling good to match a voice to the face, and her soft voice definitely matched. It was sweet and a bit bellowed.
“It's okay. I just thought I was calling too late. I just needed to process all that happened today before I called. They gave him three years,” she stated bitterly.
“Well, you don't have nothing to worry about. You're in good hands. That nigga gon’ be okay in jail. I’ma keep his books fat so he don’t starve.
Those three years gon’ fly by fast, and our best friend is going to be home because I know that was your boy too.
So, book your flight and call me back. I have everything settled for you, ma. ”
She sighed. “Okay, I'll call you tomorrow around noon. I'm so excited; I've been dying to leave California and start over.”
“Well, now is your time, but I have to go. I can't wait to see you, Pretti.” He dismissed their call.
Pretti could hardly sleep thinking about her move. She knew everything in her life was about to change for the better, so she didn't have a second thought about Dexten’s plan or his best friend in New York. She knew Dexz cared about her and would never put her in harm's way.
She woke up the next morning and went straight to the bank when they opened.
After the bank, she went home, booked her flight for the following Monday, and then went to her school for paperwork.
She knew she could find a school and finish in New York since she only had a couple of months left.
She decided to use her last week to pack everything she wanted to take and get rid of everything she couldn’t.
Therefore, she sold all the furniture in the house.
That week, she had finally gotten a phone call from Dexz.
He told her to sell all his clothes and truck, and he would replace everything when he got out.
Once she cleared out her apartment, it was finally the day for her to fly out.
The week had gone by so fast, but she was feeling accomplished.
She walked through her apartment one more time, soaking in memories of her and Dexten.
She was going to miss her first apartment and Cali, but she knew this move was best for her.
She took an Uber to the airport and made it just in time for her flight.
“Goodbye, California,” she uttered as she sat on her flight on her way to New York.