by Jade Jones
Her giant tattooed ass cheeks jiggled as she walked up to the stage. It was all natural, no preservatives.
Fetty Wap’s club anthem poured through the subwoofers. Twenty minutes ago, she was depressed but now she had the upbeat energy of a hyperactive child. All eyes were on Juicy as she mounted the stage and grabbed the 15-foot pole.
I'm like, yeah, she's fine…
Wonder when she'll be mine…
She walk past, I press rewind…
To see that ass one more time…
And I got this sewed up…
Juicy bounced, gyrated, and popped to the rhythm until a flurry of bills rained down on her. She really got the crowd’s attention by shimmying to the top and flipping upside down. Thanks to her incredible arm strength, she was able to twerk with her ass to the ceiling.
A money shower came shortly after. Juicy slid down into a complete split before riding the stage. While doing her thing, she noticed a tall, cute, chubby light-skinned guy walk in the club. He had a full beard and a boss-like presence that emanated from him.
The moment he strutted inside the strip club all the dancers flocked to him. Every female knew who he was except Juicy. Every piece of jewelry he wore shined superfluously. His style was unique.
Damn, why these bitches so hype though, she wondered. Initially, she thought he was a famous producer or upcoming rapper. He certainly had the body language and self-assurance of one.
A beige crochet Kufi was situated on top of his head. He wore a black Middle Eastern tunic, Balmain jeans, and $500 red suede loafers. Juicy wasn’t quite sure what his nationality was. The fact that he left her curious meant she was obviously interested.
Apparently, he felt her staring, because his eyes shifted to the stage. He looked at her with an ambiguous smile and she immediately felt butterflies.
Juicy turned her attention away from him to focus on her crowd of admirers. There was a group or seven or so men huddled around the stage, fanning bills. I don’t know why Cam said she hated stripping down here. It’s mothafucking money in the South. That bitch is tripping, she thought.
Juicy was making her ass bounce to the bass when her admirer walked up with a knot. He threw a fat stack of singles on stage, outshining every fella that tipped her.
She winked at him. He smiled, and then swaggered off to the bar to get a drink.
Juicy cleaned up during her turn, and when she descended, men were eagerly at her neck. They either wanted her number or to talk her ear off about nothing. She bypassed all of them to thank the man who really had her attention.
The bitches had finally given him some breathing room, and he was now solo at the bar, sipping a Red Bull. When Juicy reached him, she awarded him a hug that he gladly accepted. He gave her booty a gentle squeeze while doing so. He wanted to make sure that mothafucka wasn’t hard like half the bitches walking around. He liked a soft ass. Not that pumped up, steroidal shit.
“Damn. You put all ya groupies on hold for me? Gotta nigga feelin’ flattered now and shit.” There was a hint of humor in his tone. His eyes twinkled with amusement.
“You know I had to come and thank you for showing me love,” she said.
Juicy tried her best not to stare too hard. He was even sexier up close in person. His emerald green eyes captivated her. He had bushy brows that almost kissed, but a beautiful texture of hair. She could tell from his plush beard and the part of his head that wasn’t covered by the Kufi.
A shimmery diamond grill coated his fronts, the Rolex on his wrist sparkled brightly, and he smelled of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. Everything about him screamed money, and yet he was low-key at the same time. From his swag, to his demeanor, to his looks, he was all the way on point. His ass was too damn fine.
Damn, I see why the hoes going crazy, Juicy said to herself.
“Aye, you got it,” he told her.
She didn’t know it but he’d been an admirer of hers for a couple years now. He saw her movement on IG, and knew she was a legend in the stripper game.
“Can I freshen up and dance for you?” Juicy offered.
He hesitated a little. “Shit, I’on really be on all that when I come through. I’mma have to pass this time, lil’ mama.”
Juicy gave him a quelling look. “Why not?” she asked.
She was cute and all, but he didn’t feel like it was necessary to explain his reasoning. So instead he pointed to a group of nearby overzealous young guys waving ones. “Them the mufuckin’ tricks right there,” he said. “Go give ‘em hell.”
Juicy grimaced. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Yup…” He never bothered introducing himself, and Juicy walked off somewhat irritated.
She didn’t expect his reaction at all. It was almost like he was pushing her on someone else since he didn’t want to be bothered. His cocky ass lightweight got under her skin by rubbing her the wrong way. She wasn’t used to men turning her away.
Damn, I’m happy we ain’t hit it off. No way in hell I’d ever fuck with an arrogant ass nigga like that. Juicy told herself that, but she had no idea the future held a different set of cards.
15
It was sunset when Magyc strolled in he and Roxie’s apartment. His ass was MIA for two whole days, and had the nerve to come and try to love up on her. She was in the kitchen cooking when her man stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
His firm body pressed against hers. Magyc hit the gym on the regular and it definitely showed in his physique. Roxie felt his erection push against the cleft of her booty. The sight of her in nothing but pajama shorts and a lace camisole had him harder than a bitch. Half her ass was hanging out the bottom of the shorts.
“Damn, girl. You been walkin’ ‘round the house in this shit all day?” he breathed in her ear. “Gotdamn…You was waitin’ for me to drop this dick in you, huh?” Magyc tried to kiss her neck, but she turned away.
“You really think you gon’ get some pussy after going AWOL?”
“AWOL? Man, I been out my bustin’ ass, handlin’ business. If I’m always here then I’m broke. You love this lifestyle, don’t you?”
“Don’t hit me with that bullshit. You don’t be out handling business and you know it.”
“Girl, stop cuttin’ up and lemme shove. You know you need some dick. That’s why yo’ ass actin’ crazy now.”
“No, I’m acting crazy ‘cuz I got a nigga that pretends he don’t see his phone ringing when I call.”
Magyc squeezed on her ass while rubbing his dick against her. “I told you I be hustlin’, girl. Stop givin’ me grief, yo’.”
“Move, Magyc. I ain’t really in the mood.”
Frustrated that she wasn’t turned on, he finally backed off irritably. “Man, yo’ ass ain’t never in the mothafuckin’ mood. Few weeks ago you was on yo’ period. Couple days ago you ain’t wanna fuck ‘cuz we ain’t have no jimmy. Now you ain’t in the damn mood.” He shook his head. “You got more fuckin’ excuses than a bitch on prom night.”
Roxie turned around so fast that specks of hot grease flew off the spatula she was holding and onto his shirt. He felt a few tiny drops burn his face, but luckily none got in his eyes.
In the face of extreme pain, Magyc remained collected. He prided himself on his absolute calm, because truthfully, he wanted to fuck her up.
“And have you ever asked yourself why?!” she yelled.
“Why what? Why you makin’ me strap up all of a sudden? You used to let me smack out raw all the time. What changed?”
“What changed? Are you seriously asking me that? You’ve changed! How could you not see it?” she asked him. “You are not the same man I fell in love with! I feel like I don’t even know you anymore.”
“Damn… So you don’t even know me now?” He seemed genuinely disappointed to hear that.
“That’s right. I don’t know you and I don’t trust you,” she said with validation.
His eyes widened in disbelief. “Wooowwwww! You don’t trust me? Ho
w the fuck could you not trust me?” he asked, loftily.
“Because I don’t!” she yelled, defiantly. “I don’t trust you with my body. I don’t trust you with my heart. I don’t even trust you with my life.”
“Man, you talkin’ crazy right fuckin’ now. Where all this shit even comin’ from?”
“Nigga, it’s coming from months of pent up frustration!” she yelled. “You haven’t done any of the things you promised me! You haven’t changed! You haven’t stopped fucking around!” Tears snaked down her cheeks as she confronted him. He was finally dealing with the consequences of a woman who had bottled up her emotions for far too long. “What happened to all that shit you said about getting married? Huh? What happened to you promising me you’d be a better man?”
Magyc was ruefully silent.
Roxie ran her tongue along her inner cheek while shaking her head. “Funny. You got so much shit to say when you’re making empty promises. Now all of a sudden the cat got your fucking tongue.”
“Man, get the fuck outta here with that. I’m just not ‘bout to sit here and argue with you ‘bout some shit that ain’t true.”
Roxie propped her hands on her curvy hips. “So you haven’t been fucking around?” she challenged.
Magyc studied her in her moment of acrimony. She was a gorgeous girl with a cherubic face, doll-like doe eyes, wispy lashes, and pouty lips. Her skin was the color of melted cocoa. He absolutely loved dark-skinned women. Chocolate was his favorite flavor.
Roxie was perfect for him.
Damn. Then why do I keep fuckin’ up, Magyc asked himself.
He wanted to be faithful and treasure her like she deserved…but he’d damned if he didn’t fuck other hoes. A young, flashy nigga with paper, bitches threw pussy at him on the regular. He couldn’t help that he was constantly faced with temptation. Or so that was how he thought.
Instead of telling Roxie the truth, he stood right in her face and lied. “No I haven’t.”
She gave him a doubtful look. “So you been one-hundred percent faithful and devoted since I got out the hospital?”
“I don’t know how to be no other way.”
“See? That right there is why yo’ nose so gotdamn big. You lie too fuckin’ much.”
“How am I lying? Don’t pin some shit on me you can’t prove, bruh.” He preferred speculation to admitting his wrongs. If she didn’t have sufficient evidence then he would continue to plead the 5.
Roxie folded her arms and looked at him like he’d said something sideways. “A couple weeks ago the toilet was clogged up. You were out running the streets—doing only God knows what—so I had maintenance come take a look at it,” she said.
“And?”
“And there were condom wrappers backed up in the mothafucking pipes.”
Magyc hurried to a conclusion. “You actin’ like we don’t wear condoms now. I must’ve flushed ‘em by mistake.”
“They were Lifestyle! Not Trojans! I’ve never fucked with that cheap shit. That means you had another bitch in my house… Probably even more than one! Who knows? There ain’t never no fucking telling with your trifling ass.”
This was Roxie’s first time telling him about the condom incident. Just reliving it again made her want to slam the scorching hot frying pan on his head. Having another female in her house, in her bed was just flat out blasphemous. She should’ve left his ass then, but she didn’t.
It had gotten to the point where she was simply staying with him so that she wouldn’t be lonely. Roxie felt safe when he was around, although rare. He comforted her when she had night terrors about the day Jag attacked her. He was good with her daughter, Rain. But it just wasn’t enough. She needed commitment and she needed a man who wouldn’t disrespect her.
“Magyc…I…I can’t do this with you. I think we may need some time apart,” she finally said.
Magyc looked crushed by her words. He had actually never considered the possibility of her leaving him. Hearing her say that quickly made him retract. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not like this.
Magyc grabbed her waist and pulled her close. “C’mere, yo’. What’chu mean you can’t do this? What’chu sayin’?” he asked, calmly.
“I have to stop selling myself short. I deserve more.”
“You could never sell yourself short with a nigga like me.”
“Magyc, I—”
His only thought was to kiss her into silence. “I don’t wanna argue with you. I don’t wanna fight wit’chu. And I damn sho’ll don’t wanna lose you. On some real shit, you the best fuckin’ thing that’s ever happened to me.” He then blamed their tension on his absence. “I’mma do better. I’mma start spendin’ more time with you. I’m done fuckin’ off in the streets. From now on when I get through workin’ I’m comin’ straight home to you. You’re my first concern,” he stressed. “Nothin’ or nobody else. And I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that you couldn’t depend on me. You’re every fuckin’ thing to me, Rox. I never wanna make you feel that way.”
Lies fell from his lips, but there was unwavering love in his eyes. Roxie knew he was probably blowing smoke, but still allowed herself to believe him. Looking up at him with a sweet earnest expression, her heart melted. Roxie was a slave to his love. He had a death grip on her heart.
Magyc pulled Roxie closer to him and held her. He knew he had to treat her better if he didn’t want to lose her. It was rare that he found women like Roxie. She was a novelty. He couldn’t squander a good thing. The bond he and Roxie shared was incomparable. He would never find that nowhere else.
“Let me make it up to you…right now,” he added. “Lemme take you out somewhere. Anywhere. You decide.”
Roxie started to remind him that she was cooking, but realized she’d unintentionally burnt the ground beef for the pasta. She was so caught up in the heat of the argument that she didn’t smell the smoke.
Magyc turned the stove off for her and took the spatula from her hand. “Gimme this and you go get dressed,” he said. He just wouldn’t accept her leaving him. He had to pull all the stops to make her stay. Roxie was the real deal, and Magyc knew it’d be tough finding another girl like her. Someone that put up with his shit and adored him endlessly despite his many flaws. No one in the world loved him more than Roxie.
At first, she was apprehensive about accepting his offer. After all, she was just trying to break up with his ass two minute ago. But, as always, Magyc lured her back in with false hopes and empty promises.
“Okay,” she murmured, hesitantly giving in.
Roxie turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist, and pulled her towards him. “You know I’d do anything to keep you happy, right?”
Her face was unreadable. “I hope so…”
Magyc lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “From here on out, I swear I’mma do better by you. Just watch. I’mma remind ya ass why you fell in love with a nigga in the first place.”
His statement relieved a small amount of doubt, but he had a bad habit of not keeping his word.
“Only time and actions will show and prove,” she said.
16
Magyc told Roxie to pick anywhere she wanted him to treat her. She had hundreds of choices, but she settled on a four-star oyster bar in the west end of Midtown.
When Magyc pulled his Lamborghini Roadster in front of The Optimist valet quickly rushed to get their doors. Roxie stepped out in a threaded blue Chanel blazer, a white $900 Alaïa skirt, and silver sparking Louboutin Pigalles. A white Chanel bag accentuated the outfit perfectly.
Roxie made sure to cover her scars with foundation prior to stepping out. Her confidence level just wasn’t the same now that she had them. And it didn’t help that Magyc cheated on her with strippers, video vixens, and models.
Deep down inside, Roxie felt like he wasn’t attracted to her anymore. Sometimes she wondered if he merely stuck around because he pitied her. She was a single mom who had recently survived a devastating attack. Maybe he
felt partly responsible for what Jag did, so he stayed out of obligation.
Magyc laid to rest her lack of faith when he took her hand and walked inside the restaurant. When she looked up at him he smiled, offering a warm sense of comfort.
Perhaps he really does want to change, Roxie convinced herself. Maybe there was promise for them after all. She prayed there was, because as much shit as she talked she didn’t want to be without him either.
It was extremely crowded that evening in the restaurant. There was even a waiting line just to eat inside. Luckily, they were seated quite promptly thanks to the generous tip Magyc slid the host.
He was dressed to the nines in a cream long sleeve crewneck sweater, fitted forest green cargo pants, and black Burberry military boots. His dreads were pulled back and secured with a rubber band. The Audemars watch on his wrist cost more than the average car. As always, he was fresher than a newborn baby.
Their outfits were in sync to some extent. People marveled at the fact that they were a cute couple. If only they knew of the bullshit they went through behind closed doors.
Roxie tried her best to put their problems behind her. Tonight was all about focusing on how they could make their relationship thrive.
The waitress that came and greeted them was a young, cheerful, pecan-colored chick with a bubble butt. Normally, Roxie never felt insecure when they were publicly out somewhere. Magyc usually did everything he could to make her feel certain of herself—but that was before the “incident”.
Roxie’s confidence level instantly shriveled up when he and the waitress started smiling flirtatiously at each other. She was supposed to be speaking to both of them as she recited her spill, but she couldn’t stop ogling Magyc.
This ratchet, fucked up weave-wearing, indentured ass servant is really ‘bout to bring the hood out of me, Roxie thought.
The girl was hardly even cute, but she doubted Magyc cared. She knew that he was an ass man.
When the big booty waitress sauntered off to get their drinks Roxie went in on him. “Damn. I was afraid if you stared any harder you might strain something.”
