The Best Part of Me

by A'zayler

  “You a nasty bitch.” Goody laughed with her nose turned up.

  Yummy sat back upright. “So! Y’all ain’t see that li’l fat stomach he had? Y’all know I love me a fat nigga. Then gon’ have the nerve to keep smiling at me with that gold in his mouth. Honey, I’ma have a baby by him.”

  “Eternity, really? Like you’re for real right now?”

  Yummy looked at Forever with her eyes bucked while nodding her head. “Hell yeah, I’m for real. We’ll have some pretty li’l fat kids. Both of us healthy. They gon’ be lit.”

  The girls were all laughing when Messiah and his little friend walked back into the living room. Their laughter stopped when their attention focused on the girl. She was pretty, but Messiah could definitely do better. He’d done better.

  “It’s about time y’all calmed y’all wild asses down.”

  Yummy kissed Goody’s cheek sloppily. “You know how we do.”

  “Well, don’t do it no more,” Messiah told them sternly.

  “Messiah, you are not our daddy,” Goody said with a smile.

  “And you most definitely don’t want to be talking about what people should and shouldn’t be doing, being that you and your young friend have been in my sister’s room sexing each other like y’all pay rent here.”

  Messiah grinned at Forever’s smart mouth while the girl looked away in embarrassment.

  “Tell him, sis.”

  Messiah’s eyes went to Goody, and his smile grew.

  “Y’all get out my business. I’ll be back. I’m about to go hoop with Kayson.” He and his date proceeded to walk away but were stopped by Forever’s words.

  “I don’t see how you can still be friends with that nigga after how he did your little sister.”

  Messiah looked at Goody, and she gave him a small shrug. She didn’t care either way because everybody was grown and could do what they wanted. Messiah and Kayson had been best friends for years, so she didn’t expect him to just cut him off on her behalf, especially when they were just alike. Messiah had cheated on his long-time girlfriend his first month in Canada, and she’d left his ass the same way Goody had left Kayson.

  “It’s fine, Messiah, go ahead before Forever lights you up. You know she’s been waiting.”

  Goody and Yummy snickered while Forever’s straight face never wavered. She had a reputation for being overbearing at the wrong times, so whenever she got into one of her moods, they tried to ease out of it the best they could.

  “Aight, I’ll holla at y’all. Goody, I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”

  Goody nodded, and they left. Forever stood there, staring at the closed door in disbelief.

  “He’s so tacky.” She took her seat. “He really needs to grow up. Messiah is too old to still be pillow hopping.”

  “He’s not that old, Forever. Still very young, actually. He’s just having fun. Let him live.” Goody stood to her feet and grabbed her ringing phone.

  She answered as soon as she saw Marcellus’ name. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be on no dumb stuff about their dinner, because that had been personal. Involving their business relationship was a one-way ticket to his dismissal, but knowing Marcellus, he wouldn’t be on that.

  “Money Mars, what’s good?” She put him on speakerphone while stretching her arms.

  “I got something for you. You up to it?” The bass in his voice commanded the room.

  Goody’s smile grew. “You know I am. Where’s it going to be?”

  “A little spot in uptown. It’s a bar, but it’s their grand opening, and there’s supposed to be some good people there, so come with it.”

  Goody jumped up and down excitedly. “I’m ready. What time?”

  “Showtime is at ten, so try to get there earlier. I’ll be there at eight.”

  “Can I come?” Forever yelled.

  “Who was that?” Marcellus’ calm voice spoke. “Forever or Yummy?”

  Yummy grinned and walked up to the phone.

  “Nigga, what you know about calling me Yummy? That name is reserved for my people only, and you don’t know me like that,” she joked.

  Marcellus’ light laughter was expected because that was all he really did. He wouldn’t talk for nothing in the world, but he’d laugh with the quickness.

  “I thought I was your people. Damn.”

  “You are, man. You my boy. I’m just fucking with you, but that was Rabbit, not me. I was coming anyway whether y’all said I could or not.” She walked away, laughing.

  Goody watched her walk down the hallway, probably preparing to leave so she could go get ready for the night. Yummy was one of the only people that Goody had ever met who needed hours to get dressed.

  “Forever?”

  “Yes, sir?” she yelled from her place on the sofa. “You letting me come?”

  Marcellus’ laughter returned, this time a little flirtier. Goody looked stunned as her eyes went from her phone to her sister. There was something in that laugh that said words his mouth hadn’t.

  “Of course.”

  “Good. I’ll see you there then.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  “Oh, y’all tripping now. I’ll call you when I’m on my way, Marcellus. Let me start getting ready.”

  They hung up, and Goody looked at Forever with her eyebrows raised. “You like him, don’t you?”

  “Marcellus? Girl, no. I don’t even know the man. He’s nice, though. We have good conversations.” Forever stood from the sofa. “I think he’s hiding something, though. He’s too big to walk as light as he does, then he never talks. You remember what Mama said about the quiet ones.”

  “We sisters for real because I thought the same thing.”

  Forever smiled. “He’s sweet in his own way, though, but we’re not talking about that right now. What you about to do with this hair?”

  Goody ran her hand through her black sew in. “I’m about to take it out and put on my blue wig. I got this cute little outfit that’ll hit hard with that blue.”

  For the next few hours, the girls laughed, talked, and prepared for Goody’s show. When they finally got there, the flashing lights and the large red ropes at the front played on their anticipation.

  “You better kill it, best friend. It’s a lot of people up in here tonight.” Yummy rubbed Goody’s shoulders from the backseat.

  “Come on, Yums, I got this in the bag,” Goody’s music played loudly as she rapped along to Megan Thee Stallion’s Freak Nasty. That was one of her favorite songs and rappers to listen to whenever she was preparing to perform.

  The energy Goody got from female rappers was unlike anything else, and Megan had a bunch of it. Between her and Tokyo Jetz, Goody could count on inspiration like no other. They were both so young and raw. Goody looked up to them in so many ways. They made her feel like she was up next, and that was on grandma’s grave. The world would know Slim Goody before the year was out.

  Doing as Marcellus had told her, Goody parked in her reserved space near the front, and a security guard was waiting to escort them in. Before getting out, they all drank from the heavy bottle of Dusse twice before wiping their mouths and exiting the vehicle. All three of the girls put together still wouldn’t have been his size. He covered them from all directions, and Goody was thankful for it.

  “You’re so big and strong.” Yummy looped her arm through the man’s muscular arm. “You got a girlfriend?”

  All Goody and Forever could do was shake their head at their cousin. She had absolutely no chill, and much like security was doing right then, men always fell for it. Goody smiled; they should. Her cousin was bad as hell. Thick and pretty with killer personality and style. Any nigga would be lucky to have her look their way. The two-piece orange outfit she wore was made for her. It was spandex shorts with a bra that circled her neck. Her big, wavy, black wig framed her face and showed her pretty features and jewelry at the same time.

  The one-piece black bodysuit Forever wore was skintight and fit the flatness of
her stomach and the small fat around her thighs like magic. Her long hair was straight with her bangs combed close to her eyes. Heels completed both of their outfits. Forever’s were so tall she looked like a runway model. Her small body and long limbs paired with the classy way she walked always made her look like she was a snooty rich girl floating above everybody else.

  “Y’all some sexy ass females.” Goody cheesed at them.

  Both girls looked at her with smiles. Forever grabbed her hand and held it, while Yummy tooted her lips up and danced seductively as they walked. When the security guard grabbed her stomach to keep her from moving, Yummy bent over and started dancing on the man. Not even realizing, he was only trying to stop them from bumping into the people headed their way.

  “Get it, bitch,” Goody amped her up while she danced.

  “Ah, ah, ah.” Yummy stuck her tongue out while she danced.

  A bright flash caught their attention. When they looked up, Forever had her phone out recording Yummy. She was smiling and moving smoothly to the music as well.

  “Y’all, my cousin acts up wherever she goes. Get it, Yummy!” Forever yelled while still recording.

  Feeling just as good as her girls, Goody bent over next to Yummy and danced right along with her. When she looked up, the security guard was smiling and shaking his head while gripping Yummy’s waist. She was working that nigga, and he was obviously enjoying it.

  “Why did I know it was y’all?” Marcellus’ voice broke Goody’s dance break.

  She stood up, smiling and dancing in his face. “Us doing what?”

  He looked at the three of them with a sly smile. “A few of the men from another group just told us it was some baddies in the hallway cutting up, and that we needed to come see.” Marcellus rubbed his chin with one of his hands stuck in the pocket of his dress pants. “I knew it was y’all.”

  Forever, obviously feeling her sexy self, walked over to Marcellus and moved cutely in his face. Being his height in her heels, they looked perfect together. As if her showing interest in him wasn’t enough to set her sister and cousin off, when she turned around and started dancing on him, Goody and Yummy both screamed.

  “Go off, sis!” Goody yelled.

  “Show out, bitchhhh.” Yummy slapped Forever’s butt as she moved it against Marcellus.

  The look on his face was priceless. Goody couldn’t erase the smile on her face for nothing in the world. It felt so good to be with her girls, especially Forever. She hadn’t been to any shows due to her living so far, but judging by her current behavior, her spirit was on a thousand just like Goody’s and Yummy’s.

  “Marcellus, you look like you in love, my nigga.” Goody wrapped her arm around his neck just as Forever stood up and stepped away from him.

  Marcellus grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. “Shit, I am, come here.” He pulled Forever to him and kissed her mouth.

  Goody and Yummy’s eyes bucked out of the sockets as they watched in amazement. Yummy was hitting Goody’s arm and pointing as if she couldn’t see it for herself. Goody’s hand covered her open mouth the moment Forever wrapped her arms around Marcellus’ neck and deepened their kiss.

  “Bitch, they been starving for that shit. Look how hard they kissing,” Yummy whispered in Goody’s ear.

  “You ain’t lying. She better fuck his fine ass.”

  “Hell yeah, I would. I’d be on that dick all night just to make sure it didn’t go nowhere before I was ready for it.”

  Goody nodded. “It doesn’t look like she’s letting up, so shid, ain’t no telling. Her tongue has to be down his throat at this point.”

  Still cool as he always was, Marcellus had one hand in his pocket while the other held Forever’s back, pulling her to him. Both of her arms were around his neck, and one of her hands lovingly caressed the back of his head.

  Yummy was still smiling. “They trying to fall in love in the club, ain’t it?”

  “I’m just trying to see can they breathe,” Goody responded to Yummy just as Forever pulled out of the kiss and rubbed her hand down the side of Marcellus’ face.

  “Damn, what you on?” Marcellus asked her, still holding her body in his extra-large hand. “Whatever it is, stay on it.”

  “I’m on you if you keep acting all sexy like this.”

  Yummy pushed Goody toward Forever. “Get Rabbit’s ass. She’s drunk and gon’ be biting our heads off in the morning for letting her do this.”

  Goody burst out laughing and grabbed her sister from Marcellus. “That’s enough, you two, I got stuff to do.”

  Marcellus smiled sexily while rubbing his bottom lip. He gave Forever the once over before diverting his gaze to Goody. They shared a smile before he turned and walked down the hallway with the girls and the security guard following. The room they stepped into was decorated nicely with plush furniture and a spread of food.

  Yummy and Forever wasted no time grabbing the bottles of water that were at the end of the table in a small metal cooler. Goody, on the other hand, needed to get ready to perform. Her energy was already at an all-time high, but she still liked to get her own vibe going before stepping in front of people.

  “Big Time! You ready?” Marcellus greeted her.

  “Always.”

  Marcellus winked. “Let me go make sure everything is ready for you. I’ll be back.”

  Goody nodded and walked toward the back of the room where a mirror spread from one wall to the next. The room was filled with different men and a sprinkle of women, but she saw no one but herself. The tight silver dress she wore hugged her small frame, exposing her skin with an array of cuts from her thigh to her underarms.

  The tall, clear heels she had on wrapped around her ankles and tied up the back of her calf. She’d put on her royal blue unit, and it was perfect for the dress like she’d known it would be. Her arms and neck were draped in flashy jewels while her makeup popped every good thing about her face off. She’d even gotten a polish change on her nails, so they were on point with everything else.

  “You look beautiful. Don’t sweat it,” a male voice told her.

  Goody looked at the sexy, dark-skinned man standing behind her. He was extra tall and extra fine. There was a long blunt hanging from his mouth, but he pulled it out to talk to her.

  “I see you still haven’t used my number.”

  Goody smiled and looked away. “I’m still thinking about it.”

  “Don’t think too long. Real hot shit, I already told you.” He winked and walked away. “Good luck out there, I know you finna’ kill it.”

  Goody smiled but shook it off. He was probably right about that hot shit. He’d probably have her hot and burning with something she couldn’t get rid of. Killa K was fine and would match her fly something serious, but she still wasn’t using his number. She’d seen first-hand how the hoes ran after him. True enough, he was laid back and barely acknowledged them, but they were still there. Plus, she was really about her paper at the moment, and Killa K wouldn’t ruin her image while she was still making it.

  “Goody,” Marcellus called her name from the door.

  When she turned to answer him, she had to swallow extra hard to make room for another breath. Jerrico was standing next to him, looking like a wet dream. Sexy ass. She looked him up and down, taking in his all-black attire. The black jeans, black shirt, and bright blue hat on his head made her mouth water. He didn’t look like he cooked all day. That nigga looked like he slung major bricks in the morning and slapped women around at night. Goody licked her lips and looked away after catching sight of all the gold he was draped in. His neck, ear, and wrists were lit.

  Chocolate men in gold jewelry made her wet. The fact that Jerrico was sweet with a big dick and long money only made him look that much better. He’d been taking in her appearance while she’d been salivating over him, but she won the stare down because he turned his head first.

  It made Goody feel small, but she had stuff to do, so she got herself together and walked toward
them. When she stopped in front of Marcellus, the smell of Jerrico’s cologne made her think of the night at his house. His entire house smelled like him, so naturally, her senses worked together, and her body awakened to his presence. Her girl must have known he was near too because she was going wild down there.

  Marcellus grabbed her hand. “Go wake ’em up.”

  Just like that, her spirits were raised. Marcellus was and had been more than a manager. He was her friend and her person. Outside of her girls, he was the only other person she talked to. He’d been there talking her out of her nerves before shows and cheering her on as she left the stage.

  Goody nodded and allowed him to pull her toward the hallway. When Jerrico stuck his hand out and palmed her stomach, stopping her stride, Goody looked over at him. Her slanted eyes shrinking a bit more.

  “It’s time for the world to know your name.” His lips to her neck followed his statement. “Fuck it up, P. I’ll be watching.” That time, he hugged her tightly.

  Goody died and came back to life in his arms. He felt so good. Damn. Why did he have to feel so good? With only one of her arms free, she wrapped it around his waist. He tightened his grip then. Goody’s eyes misted, and she hurried to push away.

  The last thing she needed was to let her emotions get the best of her. Jerrico was calm, even though he probably hadn’t liked her abrupt actions. Goody walked away without looking back. Jerrico was too much at once, and she didn’t need it right then.

  When she was at the entrance of the small stage, Marcellus hugged her again. “Do you.” He smiled and pushed her toward the waiting stage.

  Goody bowed her head and said a prayer. Just as she said Amen, the beat to her newest song dropped, and she walked out. As soon as she came on stage, she was blown away by the amount of love she got. Screams erupted while the lights from cellphones lit up the room.

  “Oh shit, y’all love me like that?” she asked once the deejay placed the mic in her hand.

  The crowd went wild with praises as the music kicked up a notch. Goody immediately went into performance mode, cussing niggas out and hyping women up the entire time. Her heart was on one hundred as she listened to people rap along with her. Song after song, she rapped by herself. The energy in the room made her want to keep going, so when she looked to the side of the stage and saw her people, she smiled.