Rent Money

by Natavia

  “Me, too,” I replied.

  I looked at my Audemars Piguet watch and it was almost one o’clock in the morning. Mayor announced he was cool with leaving because he tossed all the money he had on him.

  “You gave all the strippers your bread?” Leray asked him.

  “Yeah, I did. Y’all niggas just cheap,” Mayor slurred.

  “Aight, Governor. I’ll see you again,” the bouncer at the door said to me on my way out. We used to be regulars, so everyone knew us. But that was the last time they were going to see me because I was done with it. I saw enough ass and titties throughout my life.

  “Where we going now? It’s still early,” Mayor said. He still wanted to party, but I wanted to grab some food then go in.

  “Let’s slide through the casino so we can get some pizza,” Leray said.

  “Cool wit’ me. That’s where the prostitutes be at,” Mayor said.

  “The fuck is you talkin’ about? You the same nigga that be hollerin’ about not kickin’ money out to broads and that’s all you have been doin, bruh,” I replied.

  “That’s cause I’on know them bitches,” he said.

  I hit the unlock button to my cocaine white Ghost Wraith. It was the kind of whip I drove occasionally. I wasn’t the flashy type but every now then, I’ll pull out my expensive pieces and drive nicer whips. While I was getting inside, Rochelle came out the club.

  “Governor, wait up,” she called out.

  “Pull off on her,” Mayor said from the back seat and Leray chuckled.

  “Can we talk?” she asked.

  “I’m in the middle of sumthin, shorty.”

  “It’s important. It’ll only take a second,” she said.

  I got out the driver’s seat and closed the door.

  “What’s good?”

  “I miss you so much. I know I haven’t been supportive lately, but can we try again?” she asked.

  “Fuck no. You out here on some hoe shit, and besides, this was goin’ to happen sooner or later. I’m coolin’ over here, Chelle, and maybe you should, too. I’ll see you around in the neighborhood.”

  “Why are you treatin’ me like this? Is this all because I didn’t want that stupid job?” she asked.

  “Naw, it’s not that. You just ain’t tryna work for nothing, period. That whole ‘I’m gonna sit in the house and collect Governor’s money’ attitude is not cool. I’m not a slave! You think I like grindin’ from sun up to sun down just to give it to a broad who don’t have faith in anything positive that I do? I could’ve smutted you, but I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. We can still be cool though.”

  “You ain’t start actin’ like this until that bitch Essa moved into the building. You know it’s a rumor goin’ around that y’all fuckin,” she said.

  “Sinna probably started that shit. And I don’t respond to rumors. Believe what you hear if you want to, Chelle. It’s your right, shorty. But what I can tell you is that this conversation is dead,” I replied. I got into my whip and she took off her heel.

  “Pull off!” Mayor said. I put the car in drive and sped off. Rochelle was trying to scratch my whip with her heel.

  “Yo, I’m surprised you ain’t been left that,” Leray said as I turned the corner.

  “Shid, who you tellin.”

  “That’s cause he bangin’ the secretary,” Mayor chuckled.

  “Nooooooo! Come on, son. You doin’ what?” Leray asked.

  “It ain’t like that,” I replied.

  “Yo, stop lyin. You straight pussy-whipped already. This nigga bought Starbucks the other day. I ain’t never see this fool buy that shit before,” Mayor said.

  “Did he have cool whip on top with the caramel drizzle?” Leray clowned with Mayor.

  “And the pumpkin spice powder, my nigga,” Mayor replied.

  “Y’all clownin’ me in my whip though?” I smirked.

  “Naw, on the real, if her pussy is like her co— Never mind I’m trippin,” Mayor said.

  “You always trippin’,” Leray said in between taking long drags from his vapor pen.

  There was a crowd in front of the casino. Clubs were starting to let out and the casino was like an after-hours spot. Essa texted my phone telling me she was waiting by the door with her cousins. I stepped out, so the valet driver could get in the driver’s seat. All kinds of females were out.

  “Damn, it’s hard bein’ a married man,” Leray said when a thick red bone walked past him.

  “I’ll fuck her for you, damn,” Mayor said, eyeing her backside. Shorty was thick, but the face piercings took away from her looks. When I walked inside, Essa was standing by the doors. Shorty was too bad! Seeing her outside of work and the neighborhood was a different vibe. She was wearing stretch jeans, a low-cut top with a jean jacket. She was also wearing nude pumps and honestly, I wanted to fuck her right there with just her heels on. It was my first time seeing her dressed in club attire. Her hair was in a curly fro that framed her face and the make-up on her face wasn’t too loud. She walked over to me and those hips of hers sexily swayed side-to-side. The way she strutted gave me a semi erection.

  “What nigga you tryna catch?” I asked when she hugged me. She was a little tipsy and giggly.

  “You,” she replied.

  Her cousin, Tinka along with another woman walked over to us. Her cousin Kitty rolled her eyes and stood by the door. Essa’s cousins could pass for her sisters. They also had the same shape. The only difference was their attitudes, they were louder than Essa.

  “You met my cousin Tinka already and this is her friend, Baby Head Poo,” Essa said. Leray chuckled at Baby Head Poo’s name but I already knew her from around the way. Shorty was always getting into something.

  “How you gonna introduce me to these fine-ass niggas like that?” Baby Head Poo asked Essa. Shorty was a funny sight, her wig was a little too big for her head, giving her the Elvis Presley style. The sideburns to the wig was by her neck. It was the funniest shit I’d seen in a while.

  “I mean, what else you want me to call you? That’s your name around the way,” Essa laughed.

  “And what’s your name? I like them a little older,” Tinka said and grabbed Leray by his arm and he almost tripped.

  “Damn, you fine. I can eat your dick from the back,” Tinka said to him and stuck her tongue out.

  “Tinka! The man has on a wedding ring,” Essa said.

  “Bitch, and? I have a weddin’ ring, too. Call my phone and you’ll hear my future weddin’ song playin’,” Tinka said.

  “Not that type of weddin’ ring, shorty. I’m married to a woman. I have a wife,” Leray said and pulled away from her.

  “Come over here, Kitty!” Baby Head Poo called out, but she was talking to a dude. My brother was grilling the dude talking to Kitty and I pulled him to the side.

  “Yo, you got beef wit’ that nigga over there?” I asked. Despite Mayor being a shit starter, he was still my little brother and it was my duty to protect him.

  “Naw, I’m good. I’ll be upstairs at the poker table,” he said and walked off.

  “Did we do sumthin?” Essa asked when I walked back over.

  “Naw, he’s goin’ to gamble,” I replied.

  We headed towards Piezetta’s Pizza Kitchen. I told the girls to sit down while me and Leray got the pizza.

  “Yo, is Tinka single?” Leray asked me.

  “Nigga, what? Nooo, don’t even think about it.”

  “I’m dead ass serious, bruh. I mean she can keep all that extra stuff to herself though. I’m not bendin’ over to get my dick sucked bottom line but I’ll definitely slide through once. I never been with a big girl before, fam, but damn she got a lot of ass and titties,” he said.

  “Stop hittin’ the pen. You trippin’.”

  “Shid, it doesn’t matter. My wife hasn’t given me any in four months. I’m tired of beatin’ my dick off in the shower. I bet my sixteen-year-old son probably get more pussy than me,” Leray stressed. I didn’t know how t
o respond to him, so I let him vent while we stood in line.

  “Yo, I was lookin’ up to you, fam, and now you’re tellin’ me marriage ain’t everything?” I asked him, and he chuckled.

  “Listen, we got married for the wrong reasons. But marriage with love will have a better outcome. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve never cheated before, and I might just be talkin’ shit cause I need some, but don’t let this get to you, fam. I’m just tryna vent to my homeboy,” he said.

  “No doubt,” I replied.

  We took the pizzas to the table where the girls were sitting. Baby Head Poo pulled ranch dressing out of her purse and I told her to pass it down. It’s been a minute since I’ve been around hood girls. I got older and started fucking with bougie broads. Tinka was sitting next to Leray and whispering in his ear.

  “Did you tell him about Barbie, yet?” Baby Head Poo asked Tinka.

  “Yeah, Tinka. Tell him about Barbie,” Kitty said.

  “You got kids?” Leray asked Tinka.

  “Naw, she ain’t got kids but she damn sure got a porcupine. Let me show you a picture of it,” Baby Head Poo said. She showed Leray the phone and he scooted away from Tinka.

  “Bitch, you just jealous with that baggy-ass lace front on your head. Lace all the way down there by your chin like velvet,” Tinka said to Baby Head Poo.

  “It’s veil Tinka not velvet,” Essa said.

  “These hoes about to fight,” Kitty replied.

  While they were arguing, Essa put my hand in her panties underneath the table then pulled out her phone and texted me, telling me to make her cum. I’ve done a lot of things but being out in the open with it made it more interesting. Essa’s pussy was soaking wet. My middle finger plucked at her clit then slid down her slit to enter. Her walls pulled me in.

  “Ummmm, this pizza is good,” she moaned while chewing, but shorty knew why it was good.

  “Let me taste some of your pizza,” Kitty said, and Essa passed her piece. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder to pull her close to make it seem like I was showing her something in my phone. My tongue grazed her ear, but I played it off like I was chuckling at something. I sped up the pace, stroking her walls. It was a water fountain in her panties. Her breathing deepened, and I kissed the side of her neck. It only took a minute before she exploded on my fingers. She grabbed her phone after I pulled my fingers out of her panties and texted my phone. The messaged read…

  Don’t waste it.

  She was referring to the glaze on my fingers. I picked up the pizza, smearing her essence on my slice before taking a bite out of it. We were playing a dangerous game because neither one of us wanted a relationship but the way we were vibing was going to lead to something else. But I wasn’t sure if we were ready for it.

  Kitty

  W ho would’ve thought I was going to run into Mayor after hanging out with my cousins for the first time in a while. Hours beforehand, Essa and Tinka called me on three-way. Essa apologized for being distant, but I wasn’t mad that she wasn’t talking to us. Me and Tinka always dragged her in some mess and quite frankly I was tired of it. Me and Tinka had to grow up and accept the fact that Essa was different than us. Hours later, I was at a casino watching everyone around me have the time of their lives. Essa and Governor were sitting at the bar drinking and talking. Tinka, Baby Head Poo and Leray were gambling and I was just sitting at a small table watching everyone. I was miserable on the inside and torn between deciding to keep my baby or not. When I found out about the pregnancy I was eight weeks. I couldn’t imagine Mayor being a father because he was a horrible person. Baby Head Poo brought me over a drink.

  “What is wrong witchu? Girl, you betta snatch one of these fine-ass niggas up in here,” she said.

  “I’m not tryna deal with anyone. I’m just chillin’ and happy to be out the house,” I replied. Baby Head Poo was talking to me about something, but I tuned her out as I watched Mayor come down the stairs with a bitch—a ratchet one at that. The hoe he was with eyelashes were hanging off and her make-up weighed about fifty pounds. We looked at each other for a long time before I broke our stare. I was becoming emotional. How could I love someone who didn’t love me? I told Baby Head Poo I was coming back before I grabbed my purse and walked away. The black ruffled one-piece I was wearing was snug and rubbed against my thighs. My breasts were getting heavier and I was feeling bloated. I was wearing cheetah print heels and so desperately wanted to kick them off and walk barefoot. There were only a few girls in the bathroom when I walked in. I used the bathroom, washed my hands then refreshed my lip gloss. When I left back out, someone grabbed my arm. I turned, and it was Mayor.

  “People are watchin’ us,” I gritted.

  “Who was that nigga, Kitty? You fuckin’ now, huh? Got your hair done all nice and your nails, too. You ain’t look good for me,” he said.

  “I always look good single.”

  Mayor tightened the grip around my arm and snatched me into the corner. I almost lost my footing and fell but he caught me.

  “Why you doin’ this, huh? You want me to be jealous, don’t you? You’ve been my bitch for a whole year and suddenly you’re movin’ on? Who is the nigga, Kitty? Be real with me,” he said.

  “I want you to go back over there to the hoe you were talkin’ to and leave me alone.”

  “Let’s go home,” he said.

  “Go home? Nigga, where in the fuck is home for us?” I asked.

  “At my crib. You wanted to move in, right? Mannn, come on, Kitty, damn. I’m sorry, bruh. I have issues and I was out here doin’ fuck-nigga shit, but I miss you. What you want me to beg you or sumthin?” he asked. I couldn’t respond so I walked away instead. Mayor wasn’t sorry for anything. I told the girls I was ready to leave. Tinka and Baby Head Poo grabbed their purses.

  “Essa, are you comin’?” I asked.

  “Naw, she’s straight,” Governor said and Essa blushed.

  “We came together, we leave together,” I replied.

  “Me and her came together, too, ain’t that right shorty?” he asked while she was sitting on his lap.

  “Yeah, we did,” Essa giggled.

  These fools are nasty!

  “I’m safe, Kitty. Me and him are always together, trust me. I’m not drunk, and I’ll call you in an hour because we’re leavin’ as soon as Leray finishes his game,” she said.

  “Call me soon, Essa,” I said and kissed her cheek.

  We headed out the casino and to the garage. My father helped me buy a car, so I could make it to work on time without waiting for him. I was driving a 2015 pink Cadillac with eyelashes on the headlights. A lot of people thought I worked for Mary Kay, but I bought it from someone who used to. The inside of my car had leopard print seats. I hit the unlock button and Baby Head Poo opened the door to the passenger’s seat.

  “Bitch, sit in the back. We’ll get pulled over if you ride in the front seat again. Hey, Kitty, remember we got pulled over in Cooley’s car last year? The police saw Baby Head Poo’s beetle juice head and thought she was a child ridin’ in the front,” Tinka said.

  “Why you always gotta talk about my head? I still got more sense than you,” Baby Head Poo replied.

  “Over there lookin’ like a five-year-old playin’ dress-up in grandma’s wig. Hoe, if you don’t take that gorilla’s ass off your head!” Tinka said. Baby Head Poo threw her purse at Tinka. They argued a lot, but they were like sisters, so I stayed out of it unless it got physical. Someone said my name while I was getting into my car. Not too many people called me by my government name.

  “Abreesha!” they said again. When I looked, it was Ian and he was standing with two black men and a white man. Ian was dressed in regular clothes: jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and Timbs. He actually looked younger than he did when he wore his police uniform.

  I swear you run into everybody at casinos. I’m never comin’ back up here again.

  “Girl, pull off,” Baby Head Poo said while fixing her wig.

  “Why? Be
cause he’s not a hood nigga?”

  “Duh, the fuck,” she said and rolled her eyes.

  Tinka was already sleeping with her head against the window which was a good thing because she would’ve scared off Ian. I told Baby Head Poo to shut the hell up when Ian got close enough to my car.

  “How are y’all doin’?” Ian asked.

  “I’m good and yourself?”

  “How about you, Rakiesha? Are you stayin’ out of trouble?” Ian asked Baby Head Poo and she rolled her eyes.