Chapter 14

“I let you live last night because it was late, but what are you doing with that man, Salima?”

I’d just gone into the kitchen to make me some coffee, and here my mama went starting. She barely said good morning! When she didn’t say anything last night, I took it as she was gonna mind the rest of her business. I thought wrong.

“Mommy—”

“Don’t Mommy me.”

I sighed as I poured my cup of coffee. I waited until I was done mixing in the creamer and sugar before I addressed her. When I turned around, she was looking at me, waiting for an answer.

“He’s just a friend, Ma. A friend and my boss.”

“The way he was all up on you said otherwise.”

“He… likes me.”

“Do you like him?”

“I don’t know. He gets on my nerves, Mama. He’s arrogant, he doesn’t understand no, and he does whatever he wants. But at the same time, I kinda like it. Like he isn’t pushy, but he knows I’m as attracted to him as he is to me and he plays off that all the time.”

She eyed me suspiciously. “Have you two… you know?”

“Mama! I can’t talk about that with you!”

“Girl please! I know you ain’t no virgin. Cut the bullshit.”

“I haven’t slept with him.”

“But you want to.”

“Mama.”

“Salima.”

“I mean… I wouldn’t mind knowing what it’s like. You know what it’s like to have needs, Ma.”

She scoffed. “Don’t remind me that I’m experiencing a drought.”

I laughed out loud. My father had been gone for about seven years now and she’d been single since. At least, to my knowledge, she had been.

“You don’t have to be in a drought, Mama.”

“Chile, the way my heart is set up, I might die if I climbed on top of some man.”

“Don’t say that. You’re gonna be around for a long time. You have to be. What am I gonna do without you and Daddy?”

“When it’s my time to go, it’s just my time to go. You’ll be okay, baby.”

I hated when she talked like that. Her health issues over the last year or so worried me to no end. At one point, it felt like she was accepting her impending death and that I just couldn’t do that.

“I’ll never be okay without you,” I stated.

“You will. I raised you right and you’re a smart girl. Smart enough not to get caught up with a Dillinger. I know about those people. I don’t want you caught up in that lifestyle. I know you’re grown and ultimately, you’re gonna do what you want to do. I’m not saying they’re bad people, but they do questionable things.”

She was right about that. I still hadn’t told her about Deuce’s involvement in Aura getting shut down. Of course, she’d seen the news after it happened. When she asked me where I was when it all went down, I told her I’d been rushed out along with the patrons and I knew nothing. I mean, I couldn’t tell her I’d been detained and taken in for questioning.

I wasn’t sure if she bought it, but she didn’t bring it up again. She’d been worried when I got the job at the Elixir Lounge. She tried to talk me out of it. She couldn’t understand why I liked working in that environment. Many people didn’t know it, but I dreamed of opening my own louge.

It would be an event space, however; something that could be rented out for special occasions. I felt like I was gaining valuable experience. Before my mom got sick, I was in school to earn my degree in hospitality. I’d been enrolled in an online program and for a while, I’d been doing so good. When she got sick, I had to let it go too. Eventually, once I stacked my money, I’d pick it back up.

“How do you know of his father?” I asked changing the subject.

She sighed. “There’s a lot you don’t know about your father, Salima.”

My eyes widened. What did she mean? I knew my father very well.

“What are you talking about?”

“Long before you were born, your father used to deal heavily with the Dillingers.”

“What do you mean?”

“Blake Dillinger… your boss’s uncle, was a longtime friend of his. Your father used to be his right hand.”

“Wait… Daddy sold drugs!”

“Up until two years before you were born. Your father wanted to get married and have kids and I told him that changed everything. I would happily marry him and give him children if he changed his life. I refused to live in fear of him being killed and leaving me to raise our family alone.”

“And he willingly chose you?”

“He did. Blake didn’t like that. There was this whole big blow up between them that ruined their friendship. He let your father go and spared his life only because your father had saved his ass on more than one occasion. They didn’t speak again. When they saw each other in the street, it was like neither existed.”

She paused and took a long sip of her coffee. I couldn’t believe she was telling me this. My father… Iman Navarro, the loveable giant who worked in car sales my entire life, used to run with drug dealers?

“Mommy… I don’t understand. If Daddy was linked with the Dillingers, why are we struggling?”

“Your father… he wasn’t as smart with his money back then. He wanted to live the flashy lifestyle. You know they say you always know when a person who never had money gets money. That was your father. When he started making an honest living, he saw just how hard it was to go back to living modestly. He never complained, though. He kept a roof over our heads, food on our table and clothes on our back.”

I was still stuck on my father being a former drug dealer. The Iman Navarro I knew and loved was a stand-up guy. The man she was telling me about now… I didn’t know him.

“When your father got sick, and bills were killing us, he reached out to Blake for help. He knew he was going to die, and he didn’t want to leave me with a mountain of medical bills. I remember being so angry with him for reaching out to that man because I knew his help would come with a price that I wasn’t willing to pay. He came by your father’s hospital room with a duffle bag full of money, and I wouldn’t accept it.”

“Ma… that could have been a blessing.”

“I didn’t want that held over my head, Salima. What if he decided he wanted more than just a payment? He could have asked for me. Hell, he could have asked for you. You were barely eighteen at the time.” She shook her head. “I was afraid. “But… he didn’t want anything. He went behind my back and paid your father’s medical bills in full after his death. He never mentioned what your father owed him.”

She sighed heavily and looked down at the cup of coffee in her hand. I could tell she was slightly embarrassed.

“It was my medical bills that put us in a hole. I went through everything your father left and when that wasn’t enough, I had to take out a home equity loan to get by. I didn’t have a choice. I’m sorry, Salima. I know you gave up your independence to come back home and help me. You gave up a life and privacy. I’m gonna get us out of this one day. I promise.”

She kissed my cheek, then went around the kitchen island to put her coffee mug in the sink. My eyes followed her down the hall until she disappeared into her room. She had guilt over me helping her, but I wasn’t worried about it. As long as I had a job, I could make a way. She was my mother. If I had to struggle for a little bit to make sure she was straight, I’d just have to eat that.

“ W ait… so Uncle Iman was running the streets at one point?” Shar asked.

We were sitting in her living room, watching reruns of Game of Thrones for the umpteenth time. I had to tell her about last night and this morning. I couldn’t sit on information like that and not shared it with her.

“Apparently so, girl. You think you know the people who raised you.”

“You know my mama is always talking about how they had a life before us, girl. I guess that’s what she meant. Hell, for all I know, my daddy could have been caught up in some shit too. You know how much of a thug that man is.”

Uncle Paul was a hood nigga, born and bred. He had a mouth full of gold. He was covered in tattoos and always walked around in a beater, basketball shorts, and socks with sandals. He was a total nutcase, but he spoiled Shar and my Aunt Cecily. It made sense why she was attracted Maceo.

“So…” she said, pouring us up another shot. “What are you gonna do about Deuce? I mean, you and that man already have this toxic shit going on. You gon’ see it through?”

“Our… relationship isn’t toxic. He just gets on my nerves. He thinks he can tell me what he’s going to do, and I’m just supposed to go along with it. I’m not doing that.”

“You kind of already are, sis.”

I scoffed. “I am not!”

“But you are. He’s low key your man.”

“Bullshit.”

“He makes sure you get to work. He got that raggedy ass car fixed. And he’s giving you money on top of having to pay you for your actual job, bitch. If that ain’t enough, he fired somebody who tried you. Sounds like he’s your nigga to me.”

I rolled my eyes. “All that doesn’t make him my man.”

“Then you letting him kiss and touch all on you does.”

I waved her off. “I’m just horny and my self-control is horrible right now.”

“The take the dick already, shit.”

She picked up her phone and started tapping away on it. A sly smile spread across her face.

“Who are you texting?” I asked.

“Maceo.”

“Wait, when did y’all exchange numbers?”

“Girl, he got it from his sister. I’m not mad at it, though. I love a man who knows what he wants. Besides, you and Deuce are taking too long to get it together. Y’all are terrible wingmen. How are you my bestie, but you won’t help me get my man? Just triflin’, chile.”

“Sharina, shut the fuck up!” I threw a pillow at her.

She laughed as it hit her in the face. “Don’t abuse me cause I’m telling the truth.”

I rolled my eyes. “So, when are you gonna see him?”

“He’s already been here girl. Nigga pulled up on me and ate my pussy til a bitch damn near blacked out. He’s coming over tonight after dinner with his family.”

“You slut.”

“Nah, I’m about to make him a slut. Once I hit him with that ‘Why you sitting all the way over there’ line , he’s mine. Alexa, play Slut Him Out by baby Tate.”

“Now playing Slut Him Out by Baby Tate.”

The song started playing, and she got up and started twerking her ass while she rapped the lyrics. I shook my head as I watched her. That was my bestie, always lit. When she’d had her fun, she reclaimed her seat and threw back her shot.

“I say you should get you a nice hotel room for the night, invite Deuce over, and fuck his brains out.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I’m not doing that. I’m still a little on the fence about him. For now, I can deal with my rose and vibrator getting the job done.”

She shook her head. “You have fun with that. Plastic will never compare to the real thing, boo.”

“Don’t remind me.”

I couldn’t believe I was out here acting like I had morals after letting that man go as far as he had with me. Maybe I was a little scared of the dick. I felt like once I let him have me, both of us were gonna be out of pocket. I may have wanted good dick, but I didn’t need the side of toxicity.

The sound of my phone ringing broke my thoughts. I looked down to see Deuce calling me.

“Speak of the devil,” I mumbled, showing the screen to Shar.

She laughed as I swiped the answer button.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come outside.”

“Whatchu mean come outside?”

“I wanna see you. Bring your pretty ass outside.”

“Deu—”

The line went silent. I pulled the phone from my ear and saw that he’d hung up.

“Go on and take your ass outside,” Shar said, giggling and shooing me.

I rolled my eyes and stood from the couch. I tucked my phone into my bra and stuck my foot into my favorite fuzzy slides.

“I’ll be back.”

“Mmm hmm. Don’t be out there being nasty in front of my building. This ain’t that type of establishment.”

“Fuck you, Shar.”

Her cackling echoed in my ears as I left the apartment. About two minutes later, I was walking off the elevator and out the front door. Deuce stood in front of his car with his arms crossed. When his eyes landed on me, he smirked. He pushed off from the car as I neared him.

“Hey, baby,” he spoke, reaching for me.

His arm snaked around my waist, and he pulled me into his chest.

I peered up at him. “Baby?”

“You got a problem with me calling you baby? I’m not finna keep playing with you, Salima. I want you.”

“And what makes you think I want you?”

“I don’t think it, I know it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why are you here?”

“Because you owe me something.”

“Nigga, what do I owe you?”

“A kiss. Yo’ mama fine ass was being a real hater last night.”

I laughed out loud. “Awww Deucy!” I sang, pinching his cheek. “You want a kiss?”

“Stop that shit,” he said firmly as he held me away from him. He scoffed. “Deucy. The fuck is that?”

“It’s a pet name.”

“Do I look like a dog to you?”

I continued to laugh as his frown deepened. He tried his hardest not to smile. I slid my arms around his waist and peered up at him with a smile.

“Ask me nicely.”

He kissed his teeth. “I did ask nicely.”

“No. You told me I owed you something. Ask me for a kiss like a regular nigga, and maybe I’ll oblige you.”

“You get on my nerves, woman.”

“And you get on mine. So. what’s it gonna be?”

He hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat.

“Can I have a kiss… please?”

I giggled. “Now was that so hard? Come here.”

Cupping his face, I pulled his head to mine and kissed him softly. His arms came around me and he pulled me close. Our lips parted and our tongues collided. His hands slid down my back to grope my ass. The T-shirt dress I wore started to rise up, and I had to hold it in place. He gave my ass a hard slap, causing me to moan into his mouth.

“Yaaassss friend!” I heard the screaming from the eighth floor where Shar lived. “That’s my fucking girl!”

Her extra ass made me break our kiss, and we both broke into laughter. I looked back to see her standing on the balcony.

Deuce shook his head. “Yo’, she’s wild as hell.”

I nodded as I shooed her back inside. “That’s my best friend. I love her to death.”

“I can tell she loves you, too.” He cupped my chin and turned me to face him. “I have to head out. My grandmother likes us to be on time for dinner and I don’t want no shit with that woman.”

“You really came all the way over here to kiss me?”

“I told you your mama was being a hater.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, sir.”

“I’ma see you tomorrow.”

“You can ask to see me tomorrow.”

He kissed his teeth. “Can I see you tomorrow, Salima?”

“I’ll think about it.” I stood on my toes and kissed his lips before he had a chance to protest. “Drive safe.”

I turned and sashayed my way back into the building. I could feel his eyes on my ass. When I looked back, he was staring at me, stroking his beard with a smirk on his face. Maybe I’d give in to his request tomorrow. It was my day off and I didn’t have anything else to do. Maybe I’d find some trouble to get into with him.