Back in the Hood

by Treasure Hernandez

  Halleigh laughed as Malek laid her down gently on the money-littered floor.

  “We can go wherever you like, Halleigh. Just pick a place and we’re out.”

  “I really just want to get out of Flint. That’s all I’ve ever wanted from day one,” Halleigh confessed. “Our history here ain’t all that great. I just want to go somewhere and start over. Maybe even go back to school or something. I don’t really even have to be far from here. Let’s go to Detroit or Saginaw, just anywhere but here.”

  Saginaw and Detroit were just as ruthless and hood as Flint, but the way Halleigh spoke of them, one would have thought she was talking about going to Paris.

  “I don’t know, Hal. That’s just a different hood, same shit. I wanna take you to the Bahamas or something, so we can live like rich niggas do.”

  Halleigh laughed at Malek’s crass outlook on the world. “I don’t care about being in the hood, Malek. I just don’t want to be in Flint. At least in Saginaw no one will know us. We’ll be regular just like everybody else. And since you wanna see how rich niggas live, you can take me on a vacation. We’ll go to an island in the Caribbean.”

  Malek kissed Halleigh gently and replied, “Okay, ma, whatever you want. You handle the passports and everything. The money will be in the safe. You know the combination. My money is your money. Take care of everything and make arrangements for us to leave Flint when we get back from our vacation. Deal?”

  Halleigh smiled. “Deal.” She couldn’t believe it was happening, that she was finally getting out of Flint once and for all. And, God willing, she was never coming back.

  Halleigh handled all of the details regarding their trip and their permanent relocation after their return. She had decided that they would move to Saginaw, a small city about a half-hour north of Flint. She decided against Detroit because, in her days as a Manolo Mami, many of her clients had been ballers from the D, and she didn’t want to run into anyone who might remember her from her former occupation. She was trying to let her past go and focus on the present, and at the rate she had been turning tricks for Manolo, she knew if she and Malek moved to Detroit, she would inevitably run into someone she used to do business with.

  She was also excited about her pregnancy. She was healing well from her gunshot wound. Fortunately for her, it was only a flesh wound, and although the bullet had been the greatest pain she ever felt, it hadn’t hit any major arteries or organs. The doctors told her that ordinarily she wouldn’t have been in the hospital for more than a week, but with her pregnancy and all, they didn’t want to take any chances. She was very grateful to be alive, and she thanked God for the safety of her baby as well.

  She booked an all-inclusive trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands and filled out expedited paperwork for passports for herself and Malek. They were scheduled to leave in two weeks, which gave her more than enough time to secure a place to live in Saginaw and move most of their things from their home in Flint. She didn’t want to rush into purchasing another home, so she decided to lease a condominium and wait for their home in Flint to be sold first.

  She didn’t see Malek much in the two weeks prior to their trip, since she was always on the go, taking care of their trip, and he was always asleep, catching up on years of missed sleep from hustling. She didn’t mind him taking time to rest. She figured his mind and body needed it after the non-stop hustle he’d been on ever since blowing his NBA shot. Malek had chosen a hard path all because of his love for her, and she appreciated him for it.

  A part of her felt guilty because she knew, had it not been for her, Malek would never have committed that robbery. He’d be living out his dreams in the NBA. For that sacrifice, she promised herself that she would always make him happy. That was one of the reasons why she had decided to forgive him. That, and the fact that he was her soul mate and had proven himself time and time again to her. She didn’t care how corny it sounded. The child in her stomach linked them together for a lifetime. She was beginning to realize that their relationship was bigger than the two of them. They were now a family.

  Halleigh made it her personal mission in life to be there for Malek the way he’d always been there for her. As she thought about how much she loved him, she began to grow more and more excited about their vacation to the Turks and Caicos. She had been fantasizing about going to the burgeoning tourist location ever since she’d learned of LisaRaye marrying the island’s premier. Fuck the Bahamas. If a black person owned the island, that’s where she wanted to be.

  Malek was all she needed, and just the fact that they would be off in some exotic place, secluded from everything else in the world, made her smile. She couldn’t wait to have her man all to herself.

  A sexy smile graced her lips as she hit a U-turn in the middle of the street. I’ve got to hit up Vickie’s Secret because on this trip, I’m going to show Malek exactly how much I love him—all day and all night.

  Chapter Seven

  Halleigh shook her head and giggled while listening to Malek snore. They had been on the plane for five hours, and Malek had been knocked out since he first sat down. Halleigh, on the other hand, was too geeked to sleep. She could already see the crystal-clear ocean water and sandy-white beaches. She could hardly contain her excitement as she gripped Malek’s hand tightly and did everything in her power to wake him up without getting him upset.

  She coughed loudly, but he didn’t stir, which only irritated her. She turned on his overhead reading light, hoping it would shine in his face and cause him to awaken. Again, no response. She knew she was being selfish, but she needed someone to talk to. She sighed loudly and removed her hand from his to lean against the window.

  The feeling of Halleigh pulling away from him finally made Malek open his eyes. Holding on to her hand had comforted him and put his mind at ease enough for him to close his eyes. As soon as he felt his connection to her cease, he instantly awoke.

  “What’s good, ma? How long we been in the air?” he asked as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

  “Five hours, and you’ve been sleeping the whole time,” Halleigh said with an eye roll.

  Malek laughed and replied, “I felt you trying to wake me up, with your big-head ass.”

  Halleigh smiled and punched his arm gently. “Shut up. I was bored. Our vacation started the moment we arrived at the airport, not when we land.”

  “Okay, okay, you big baby. I’m all yours for the rest of the trip, and I’ll make sure you have a good time.” Malek leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Meet me in the bathroom in a couple minutes so I can really show you that our vacation has officially started.”

  Halleigh gave Malek a mischievous grin and nodded her head as she watched him get up and make his way down the narrow aisle to the bathroom in the back of the plane. A normal chick might have been nervous, but Halleigh lived for moments like this. She loved sex—not tricking and sex with random men, but sex with Malek. Since the first time he touched her, she had become addicted to him, and he could get it whenever, wherever.

  She waited for just a couple of minutes and looked around the aircraft discreetly to make sure no one was watching her. After she was comfortable that no one was focused on her, she got up with her purse in hand and walked to the bathroom. When she got there, she could see where Malek had left the door just barely open for her. She quickly snuck inside and closed the door behind her. She slid the lock, causing the occupied light come on in the cabin of the plane.

  There Malek stood, pants down, and a huge smile on his face.

  “You are so bad,” she whispered to him.

  Not in the mood for words, Malek turned her around and kissed her hungrily while his hands grabbed her behind. He pressed his groin against hers to show her how hard he was. He felt like he was getting ready to burst through the fabric of his Nike sweats. His hands moved quickly and with expertise as he unbuttoned her skintight jeans. He knew she didn’t have on panties. She never wore them, which only aroused him more. He lifted her up and put her
on the tiny sink.

  “Malek, this sink is going to break.” Her protest was soon followed by a moan, as her man cupped her breasts.

  “Shh,” he whispered. He got down on his knees, spread her thighs, and dove into her wet pussy. He knew oral sex was her weakness.

  Halleigh’s head fell back in pleasure, and she closed her eyes as soon as Malek’s tongue hit her pulsating clit. She began to grind her hips slowly, making love to his face.

  “Ooh shit, Malek,” she moaned. “Yes, daddy, eat this pussy.”

  Malek took orders very well and devoured her as he began to stroke himself into pleasure.

  “Malek, I’m cumming,” she whispered.

  “I know,” he replied as he continued to feast.

  Halleigh trembled as her love came down. Malek arose then sat on the toilet, his dick sticking straight in the air. Halleigh hopped off the sink and rode Malek backwards. She would never allow herself to orgasm without pleasing him as well. She grinded her ass into his groin, and within two minutes, Malek was cumming inside of her.

  Receiving double the pleasure, Halleigh felt another orgasm coming on, so she sped up the process by putting her fingers on her pussy and stimulating her clit into bliss. The rendezvous lasted only a few minutes, but it was some of the best sex they’d ever had.

  Malek wiped his face, rinsed his mouth with a travel-size mouthwash that Halleigh had in her purse, and then kissed her lips before exiting the bathroom. He ran straight into a flight attendant who was standing there with her arms folded and an accusatory expression on her face.

  “Excuse me, miss,” Malek said smoothly. “Do you have any Vernors and crackers for my sister, or anything that may settle her stomach? She’s pregnant and has been throwing up in this bathroom for the past fifteen minutes.”

  The flight attendant immediately wiped the angry look off her face and replaced it with a concerned one. “Oh, of course, sir. I was just going to knock to see if you needed any assistance. Only one passenger at a time is allowed in the bathroom, but under the circumstances, I understand.”

  Overhearing the conversation outside the door, Halleigh smiled at Malek’s wit and then leaned over the toilet as if she was going to heave. Before exiting the restroom, she sprayed two splashes of body spray to erase the smell of sex and then proceeded to her seat, her hand over her stomach.

  The flight attendant delivered the crackers and pop to Halleigh, who smiled graciously, still feigning nausea.

  Halleigh flashed Malek a devilish smile and leaned back in the comfortable first-class seat. All it took was some good sex to put her to sleep. She closed her eyes and invited the darkness that took her under as Malek gripped her hand.

  “I love you, Hal,” were the last words she heard Malek whisper into her ear.

  Chapter Eight

  The island was even more beautiful than either of them could have imagined. Coming up in a concrete jungle, neither of them ever thought they would see a place so grand. All they knew was what was presented to them growing up, which was death, destruction, and poverty. Everyone Halleigh knew was dead broke and robbing Peter to pay Paul. It was just a way of life for the folks of Flint, Michigan. It was a city of little hope, and according to many statistics, a dead city.

  This is how I’m supposed to live, Halleigh thought as she followed Malek into their resort. She looked around the luxurious place in awe, feeling like a kid in a candy store. “We’re a long way from the ghetto,” she said to Malek with a warm smile.

  “Yeah, we are. I ain’t never seen nothing like this,” Malek admitted, as he too seemed to be out of his element.

  As he looked around, he noticed some of the other patrons. Everything was so over-the-top—men wearing linen suits and women clad in designer swimsuits, not the trashy show-everything type of bikinis, either. These women could give Naomi, Tyra, and Giselle a run for their money.

  All of a sudden, Malek felt insecure in his own skin, as if he were underdressed. He’d wanted to see what it was like to be amongst the rich and the famous. Well, now he was experiencing it firsthand. Hopefully he’d soon adapt.

  The couple checked into their beachside villa where they were greeted by their personal concierge. When they finally settled in, they remained silent, still absorbing the entire experience.

  Malek finally broke the silence. “Damn, Hal! This is it, ma. We got a butler and everything.”

  Halleigh stuck up her nose haughtily. “You mean a concierge, good sir,” she said in a horrible British accent. She burst out laughing, and Malek hit her with one of the luxury pillows that decorated the bed. He tackled her onto the bed, and she grimaced in pain. “Ow, Malek! Wait a minute,” she said as she sat up and examined the scar from her gunshot wound.

  “I’m sorry, Hal. I’ma make it up to you.”

  Halleigh smiled and replied, “Look around us, Malek. You already have.” She leaned in toward him and kissed the back of his neck. “Now, let’s get out of this room and hit the beach.”

  Malek frowned. “Hal, we just got off a six-hour flight. Can’t we just get some rest tonight and start our day tomorrow? We’re here for an entire week.”

  “Malek, one thing I’ve learned by being out in the streets is that tomorrow may never come. I live my life for today.” She took his hand and placed it on her pregnant stomach. “We live for today.”

  Malek was extremely tired, but he knew Halleigh was right. Tomorrow was promised to no man. He nodded his head and said, “A’ight, let’s live, ma.”

  Although most of the day was behind them, the couple enjoyed the rest of the evening together by taking a walk on the resort’s private beach. They took the time to pay attention to the sunset for the first time and actually relaxed for a change. They lay on the beach, close to the water, and let the tide wash in on their legs as they talked.

  They both felt brand-new, like they were in a whole other world. Flint bred a city of killers and shysters. Everyone who lived there seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and had a swagger unlike any other region. “Fuck those who aren’t like me and hate those who are” seemed to be the mentality of the entire city. With this attitude came misery, however, and it bred violence and anger.

  In their hometown, the couple was always looking over their shoulders and watching their backs; in fact, the whole city was paranoid. But on the Turks and Caicos Islands, they were able to let go of all that. There were no rules, and for the first time ever in their lives, they felt able to breathe. It was even better because they were able to experience it with each other.

  Malek caressed his woman, enjoying every single second that passed.

  “I’m sorry. I fucked up, Hal,” Malek said as he stared off. “We were supposed to be living like this a long time ago. You weren’t supposed to go through what you did.”

  Halleigh sat up and turned to look at him. “We should leave everything here on this island, Malek—all of our baggage and anger and sadness. I know I’ve built a lot of that shit up over the years. I’m ready to let it go. I have you now. I have our baby. What else is there? I want for nothing, Malek, and it’s not about the money. I just feel complete and safe. I have never been this secure in my life. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

  “And you never will, Hal.” Malek placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  That ended their conversation, but they said so much more with their bodies. They made love right there on the beach until it was too dark for either of them to see.

  Malek carried Halleigh up to their villa and watched her sleep. He wished his mother had lived long enough to really get to know Halleigh. She was the total opposite of what his mother had made her out to be—just another gold digger chick after his NBA money. Halleigh truly was the one person in his life who he would die for. She was his confidante above all else, and before he went to sleep, he sent a prayer up to God, thanking Him for bringing her to him.

  Halleigh and Malek slept well into the afternoon. The 1000 thread count linens fel
t like a personal masseuse and just would not let either of them wake up from their peaceful slumber. When they finally awakened, they were well rested and ready to tackle another day.

  “What do you want to do today, ma? It’s all on you,” Malek said as he removed his clothing and prepared to take a shower. He wrapped the plush white towel around his lean waist. He still had the body of a basketball player. Tall and toned, he was perfect in Halleigh’s eyes.

  “Glass-bottom boat,” Halleigh replied excitedly as she jumped out of the bed.

  Malek nodded his head. He wasn’t much of a water person, not that he knew many black folks from the hood who were, but he had promised Halleigh her heart’s desires while on this trip, and he wasn’t going to let her down. “Glass-bottom boat it is,” he said and then went into the bathroom to shower. He yelled, “Hal, get some money out of the lining of my suitcase. After you get ready and dressed, we’ll dip.”

  “Okay. And I’ll call the front desk to make sure we don’t need an appointment or anything. If we do, we can just grab a bite of something to eat first.”

  Halleigh headed over to Malek’s suitcase. She was surprised at the amount of money he had brought with him. He probably had $100,000 stashed in there. She took the money stacks out of the suitcase and put them in the villa safe, taking out a few thousand for the day. Then she locked the safe and proceeded to contact the front desk. She was relieved to find that they didn’t need an appointment, but the glass-bottom boat ride was on a first-come first-served basis. The front desk clerk informed her of the departure times.

  Halleigh rushed to get ready. She didn’t want to miss the next boat, which would be leaving in an hour.

  “Mind if I join you?” she asked after removing her clothes and creeping into the bathroom to join her man in the shower.

  “Do you really even have to ask?” Malek looked over at Halleigh’s naked body. “I thought for sure that you’d had enough last night.” He licked his lips. “But you know me . . . always ready to make things happen.” He reached out and helped Halleigh into the shower.