“Girl, I’ll be there. I’m supposed to be staying at Siah’s house tonight, but I’m trying to figure out a way to get out of it. He’s not trying to hear it, though.”
“Damn, Nonie, why you gotta go all the way out there? Tell him to stay at your spot. You already can't get your ass up in the morning, and I don't wanna be stuck with Archer’s creepy ass all by myself.”
I shuddered a little and shook it off. Archer was an old school player. You could tell he used to be something back in the day, but he was almost fifty and his old ass liked to get too friendly with his hands. The first time we met, he kept rubbing my arm, my back and licking his damn lips when he looked at me. It was creepy as hell, and I damn sure wasn't about to be alone with him. Everybody knew that Archer liked his women young. Hell, his wife was thirty, and she was considered old. Archer was known for kicking it with the twenty plus one, crowd, but this twenty-four year old kitty was off limits to him.
Nonie laughed, which made me frown. “Girl, I’ll be there so Archer’s creepy ass won't try to pin you up against a wall and sample your goodies.”
“That shit isn't funny, hoe. You know he be looking at me all strange. He don't fuck with you because of Siah, but I guess he thinks I’m fair game.” I shuddered again.
“You want me to tell Siah to handle him for you? He can put a bug in his ear that you’re off limits too. Hell, Kizz, just tell him that Jock said stay the fuck back and he will.”
“Man, no, I’m not using Jock’s name for shit. He’ll read into that and swear I want him.”
“Umm, hoe, you do. Were you not just damn near crying in my office about being in love with two men, one of which was Jock?”
I sucked my teeth but then laughed. “Nope, don't know what you’re talking about. Just make sure you’re there, Nonie. I mean it.”
“Hoe, I said I’ll be there, damn.”
After I collected all my dirty clothes, I dumped them in my hamper and fell back on my bed, looking around my room. The bags full of stuff that Red bought me caught my eye and I smiled.
“Red went shopping for me while he was gone. You should see all the shit he brought back.”
“I’ll come check it out, but you got that man hitting up malls while you screwing somebody else. You're foul, Kiz.” I could hear the smile in Nonie’s voice so I knew she was playing, but she was right. I felt like shit too.
“Did you really have to go there?” I snapped.
“You know I’m just playing, boo. Don't get all emotional, but if it bothers you that much, then do something about it.”
“I will, just not right now. But anyway, what are you and Siah doing tonight?”
“About to drive to New York. I know he was just trying to plan something that he knew I wouldn't say no to.”
I laughed. “Girl, please. You would have said yes if he offered you a trip to McDonald's drive through, so stop fronting. But since he’s doing it big, hit up the plaza and put a dent in his pockets. You know he don't mind anyway.”
“I don't need to put a dent in his pockets, Kizz. It's not about his money, and you of all people should know that.”
I could tell I struck a nerve. Me and Nonie were different with things like that. I guess it came from being raised different. Nonie had her family weren't rich, but they were good. Her mom was a nurse and her dad was an engineer, so she always had shit. They taught her to work hard and have her own.
Me, on the other hand, I was raised by a mother, whose main goal was to take men for as much as she could get, and when his well ran dry, you moved onto another who was overflowing. I learned to be the same way. How could I not, when my mom was constantly preaching that men needed to pay for the privileges that we offered?
The kitty came with a price. My mom had no love for men, only what they could offer. That was my way of thinking until I met Red. I fell for him and fell hard. He would do any and everything for me, and all he wanted in return was my heart, but old habits were hard to break. There was a part of me that still functioned off the get as much as you can philosophy. I hated it, but it was sort of embedded in my DNA.
“I know that, Nonie, but I’m just saying. If he's buying, which clearly he will be, then have some fun, boo. Let Siah take care of you for once. You know how he is. He lives for that shit. He loves to spoil his boo,” I said with a big as grin, hoping to lighten the mood.
It was true. Siah couldn't get his act together, but he treated Nonie like a queen in all other aspects of her life. She would never want for a damn thing as long as he was around, even though her stubborn ass fought him tooth and nail.