by Anna Black
“Well, I’m trying to, but work has kept me busy a lot, but now I have a reason to scale back.”
“Oh, you do, huh, and what is that?”
“I met this thick ass sista that I plan to make more time for.”
“Really, what if she is too busy for you?”
“I got something that can persuade her.”
She giggled. “Do you? May I ask what it is?”
“She will soon find out,” I said and then stopped for a red light. I glanced over at her, and she had a little smirk on her face. She was so damn shy, and I was dying to open her up and get her real loose. She looked at me, and then the light changed, so I hit the gas.
“So where are you taking me?”
“To Passions. I wanted to take you to my place, but since you have to go home for your dog, I guess we could go out for a couple more drinks, and then I can take you back to your car.”
“I have another idea,” she said.
“I’m all ears,” I grinned. I wanted to hear what she wanted to do.
“How about we pick up my car and just go to my place. I mean Passions is cool, but we’ve been there dozens of times. I just kinda wanna spend some more one on one time with you. I mean the girls or Gabby might be there, and it’s cool hanging with them, but us alone is rare.”
“Baby, you don’t have to convince me, okay? It is all good. I’m down with going to your place and one on one time sounds good to me.”
“Great,” she smiled.
We drove to Chasity’s salon, and I waited for her to get into her car. I let down my window. “Hey, babe, I got to make a quick stop. Text me your address.”
“Okay, I will.”
I sat there and waited until she drove off, but she didn’t move until after I got the text. I flashed my lights and then she left. I looked at the address and was very familiar with the area where she lived in Avalon Park, so I put my SUV in gear and headed to the store. I had no intentions of hitting it that night, but I needed condoms just in case. I remember she said she wanted to finish her second glass of wine, so I grabbed her a couple of bottles, one red and one white, then grabbed a bottle of Apple Crown for myself. I didn’t grab a chaser because I could drink that flavor on the rocks if I had to because it was just that damn smooth. I paid, jumped into my truck and then I got a call from one of my workers, but I hit ignore. I knew my manager Rolley was on call that night because I specifically said not to call me unless the matters were extreme. As soon as I put my shift in gear, I got a text.
Premo – THERE WAS A SHOOTING AT THE POOL HALL ON 73RD SILKY GOT A BULLET IN THE CHEST @ MERCY
I blinked a couple of times to be sure I read the message right. “Fuck!” I yelled and then replied.
ON MY WAY!
I pulled out and raced to the hospital. I was greeted by three other employees that worked at that location, and Silky’s family. His wife was distraught as I figured she would be. I held her and assured her that things would be fine, even though I had no damn clue as to what was going on. I calmed her down enough to be able to talk to my other staff members. Silky was still in surgery, so all hope wasn’t lost. I walked outside with Premo and Roc as they told me the details. They had already talked to a couple of police at the scene, but since it was a personal attack on Silky, the officers assured them that there would be an investigation.
We filed back inside, and it seemed like an eternity before the doctor came out to talk to us. Silky had made it, but it was still touch and go, and I hoped he’d pull through. Silky was an old friend, and reformed felon that had been out two-plus years and as far as I knew, was now on the straight and narrow. His wife had just had their first kid, and he had been a great employee, so I wondered why he had been into beef with anyone. I saved all of my questions because I knew no one but Silky could answer them. By the time I left the hospital and made it back to my loft, it was after two a.m., and I remembered my baby. In all the commotion and the shooting business, I didn’t make it, and I let work distract me so much that I hadn’t even texted her. I felt like shit, and I dialed her. I knew it was late, but I had to explain. When she didn’t answer I hoped it was only because she was asleep, so I texted, BABY I’M SO SORRY & I’LL MAKE IT UP TO U, with a sad face and heart emoji. It was too much to explain by text, so the next morning I’d get up and go by her place, I thought to myself. I then fell asleep on my sofa, waiting to see if she would text back.
5
Gracie
I got into my car with a huge smile on my face. Finally, I was taking someone to my place. Correction: finally, I was having someone that I was super attracted to over to my place. I had dated, had guys over a few times, but no one I was feeling or really into. Men from my church have entertained me a time or two, but none of them made me feel like Malice, and not one of them turn me on like Malice did. I was so attracted to him, and I never wanted anyone to kiss me or please me as bad as I craved Malice. I had to figure out how I was going to keep his eye on me. I know he said I was beautiful, and he loved everything about my full-figured body, but a part of me was still very insecure, and I hoped I’d be someone he’d want a relationship with, not just to stick his dick into.
I had met men in the past that tried all of that flattery mumbo jumbo on me and told me soothing things to my ears, but Gloria Jean told me a very long time ago that if a man can’t entertain you in public, you should never entertain him in private. Now, the men that I didn’t care much for would take me anywhere I wanted to go, but the men who I would consider or even liked, never, not even once, asked me out. Never once had they tried to see me in a public place, and they would only ask could they come over or if I could come to their place. Those, I didn’t even give the time of day because I was not a dumb fat bitch like I’d been called on a couple of occasions after I didn’t fall for no good ass brothers’ games. It was funny how I was a fat bitch after I shut them down, confirming what my mother had taught me about lame-ass brothers.
I looked over at Malice’s truck. He let down his window, so I cranked my engine and let down mine. “Hey, babe, I got to make a quick stop. Text me your address.”
“Okay, I will,” I said and then pulled out my phone. I sent him my address and then looked towards his SUV. He flashed his lights, and then I pulled away and headed out of the parking lot. I turned on my music, and gospel poured out my speakers, but I was in no mood to listen to that type of music. I turned it straight to The Heat on my XM. I was in a sexy mood, a romantic mood, and I couldn’t wait to have that man next to my skin again. Even if Malice wasn’t my forever-ever, he was the only one I desired right now, and I felt like he was that one person that I could be myself with. He made me feel beautiful and not just because he said it. He showed it in how he handled me. No, we hadn’t been out much, but he was never ashamed to dance with me, sit close to me or hold my hand in public, so that meant something. I sang along with Rhianna’s song, Love on The Brain.
This was how I was feeling. Malice had me so high, I would do anything just to have him and win his heart. After a few more of listening to my favorites, I pulled into my driveway. I got out and hurried inside because I wanted to take Bistro out and get back in to put on something more comfortable. I needed to remove my waist trainer and bra that made my twins sit up nice and high, so I could breathe. I quickly came out of my confining undergarments and went into my master bathroom. I did a coochie check, and I was good, but I swiped with a couple of my feminine wipes to be safe.
I put on a maxi dress with no panties, but kept my bra on, just to give my twins a bit of lift. My hair and make-up were still gorgeous, but I freshened up my breath with some Scope and then applied some gloss. I hurried to light some candles, turn on my Glade warmers and then I went to Pandora and put on Ledisi’s station and peeped out of my window. I wondered where he had to stop and what on earth was keeping him. I begin to get nervous and anxious, so I went for my wine and poured a glass. After ten more minutes passed, I grabbed my phone, and there was no
thing from him.
My first mind was to text and ask where he was, but I quickly put my phone down. He was a grown-ass man, and if something had changed, he should have been reaching out to me, not the other way around. I finished my glass, and then I poured a half glass more. By the time I was done, still no Malice. I went to peep out of my window again, and then at my clock. It was close to one a.m., so I snatched away my earrings and blew out all the candles, and then turned off my warmers. I called it a night and went into my bathroom and then cleaned the beautiful make-up from my face. I then got my paddle brush and brushed through my dropped curls. I parted my hair down the center and the then into fours and took out my oversized soft bendy rollers and rolled my ends, then put my nightcap on. I took off my clothes and then got into bed. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep. A while after I fell into a deep sleep, my phone woke me with an alert from him;
My Bear - BABY I’M SO SORRY & I’LL MAKE IT UP TO U, with a sad face and a heart emoji. I read it and tossed my phone. How dare he text me after he stopped off at one of his women’s houses and then remembered to say something to me after he got whatever he wanted from her that he didn’t want from me? I sighed, turned over, and readjusted my pillow. I wished he hadn’t disturbed my sleep with that damn text, because now that I knew I was still on his mind, it made me somewhat happy, and I smiled a little.
“My Lord if he is the right one, please let him show me. I will not chase a man, play games, or do tricks to get one. I have no respect for foolery. I want him, and I’ll do whatever it takes to have him respectfully, but I won’t compete. I am better than that,” I prayed as I gave that affirmation to myself.
I’d wait a lifetime for the right man, and if that meant waiting a long time, I’d do it and not force or chase. Malice was right. I am beautiful, and I have to stop hiding in the background and get my shit together. I had to gain some type of confidence, or I’d be alone for the rest of my life. My mind was made up. The next day I’d rally up the girls and burn a hole in my credit cards. I had to find the inner sexy me and walk in her sexy shoes.
“Whatever, Malice,” I said and then punched my pillow. “You thought about me after your little rendezvous with whomever, so it’s whatever. I’ll continue to be alone before I chase a man. Your loss,” I declared, and I then drifted back to sleep with thoughts of that man on my mind.
6
Malice
I got up bright and early even though my body said, “get your ass back in the bed.” I drug myself to the shower. I looked at my reflection and wondered what my brothers would think if I shaved my beard, and then I quickly laughed at that shit. My beard was beautiful, and there was no way I’d shave it because it had grown into the perfect fit for my face. I was a six-foot-five machine, and I had to admit that looking like my father and brothers wasn’t a curse or a bad thing, because Samson and Delilah had given birth to some handsome men. My mother, plump and pretty, was like the image I had growing up of the standard of beauty, so it was no guessing or wondering why I was instantly attracted to Grace’s thick and juicy ass.
Yes, the fat gut and all was a plus for me, and the words of my father stuck out. “All that cushion makes a man more satisfied. I had many of women before your momma, but yo’ momma? That thick, sweetness had me chasing and begging, son. Women like your mother are rare, and if you find one, I guarantee you that you will never stray.”
Now, I wasn’t a sick kid lusting over my mother, but that standard of beauty and body structure like hers was plastered in my brain. When I laid eyes on Grace, I was like fuck, there she is. That was the vision of love that I always pictured for myself.
I mean, Grace is just simply beautiful. Her smooth skin, those cat ass sexy eyes, and just that innocent demeanor about her let me know that I could mold her into the woman I need for me, and I’d let her mold me into all she needed in a man. I brushed my teeth, gargled, and proceeded with my regular morning routine.
Once I was out the door and, in my car, I realized it wasn’t even nine a.m., so grocery store flowers would have to work. I went to the first Jewel’s I came across in route to her place. I ran in, grabbed the largest bouquet that they had, paid, and hurried back to my car. As soon as I was back on the road, my phone rang. I looked at the dash, and it was Premo.
“Yo,” I answered.
“Yo boss, good morning. I was giving you a buzz to let you know that Silky pulled through. The doctors said that they will most likely have him in a regular room by noon after they run a few tests.”
“That is great to hear. Send my best to his wife. I will be by later on this afternoon. I have some things to handle this morning,” I said as I weaved in and out of morning traffic.
“Will do boss, but I wanted to share something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I got a good look at the nigga who shot Silky.”
“Did you tell the cops?”
“Hell no! And risk being next?” he expressed. I knew all too well where he was coming from.
“Hey, no worries, man. Let’s see what Silky has to say when he is conscious,” I suggested.
“Cool, boss, I will see you later.”
I ended the call and then slowed down to change lanes. I was behind someone who obviously didn’t have any damn place to be that morning. A few short moments later, I was making my exit. When I got to her place, I was disappointed to see her car wasn’t in her driveway, then I checked my GPS, just to make sure the house numbers were correct. I pulled into the driveway anyway and then turned off my ignition. I got out and went to ring her bell. I stood there for a few seconds, and all I heard was her dog barking. I knew not to be snooping and looking through windows because for one, I didn’t want to scare her and get shot if she had a gun, nor did I need a nosey neighbor calling the law on me. I started to leave the flowers on her porch, but it was December and too cold. I pulled my phone from my back pocket.
Me – WHERE R U BABE I’M AT UR CRIB
After I stood there for a few moments, I didn’t get a response. I wasn’t sure if she was at work or what, but I headed back to my SUV. I was disappointed that she didn’t reply, but I figured she thought I stood her up the night before, so I’d give her time to get back at me.
7
Gabby
My doorbell rang, and I cringed because I was trying to sleep since I had been up all night with my baby girl. She was cranky as hell for some reason, and after talking to Gloria Jean, she explained how little Chasity Gianna could have gas. I was new at motherhood, so my next question was what was I to do for her gas. Gloria Jean said they now made drops for that and I should send Gabriel to the store, so I did. He went and got the Mylicon drops, and thirty minutes after I gave them to her, she was farting like an adult, but there were no more tears. Being a new mother was challenging and hard, but I wasn’t defeated, and I’d never throw in the towel. I was enjoying it, and I hated that we had to hire a nanny, because not going back to work and teaching wasn’t going to happen.
“Lord who is at my door this early,” I cried and sat up. My husband was gone, but I knew he had an early day because, with Desire and Passions, he had his hands full. He still ran his old spots that I urged him to get rid of, but they still generated a lot of revenue, so Gutta wasn’t trying to hear me. I grabbed my phone and looked at the camera. It was my sister. “Gracie, this early sis?” I said into the mic.
“Yes, and it’s urgent, so let me in,” she shot. I pressed the button to open the door and watched her walk in. I let out a deep breath and did an adult sleep-deprived tantrum and then got up. I dragged my tired body to my master bathroom and pissed. I washed my hands, brushed my teeth, and then picked up my brush to brush my wild curls. I then immediately tossed it back onto the vanity. It was Gracie, so it was whatever. I walked through my bedroom, out the door, and headed downstairs to find my sister pacing in my family room.
“Sis, are you for real? Your niece has been gassy all damn night, and Gutta sleeps through her cries. I j
ust closed my eyes, so please tell me why so early?”
“I need a make-over,” she shot at me, getting right to the point.
I flopped down on the sofa. “Gracie, please. You are gorgeous, and it’s too early. I can’t right now.”
“Gabrielle Marie Jackson, I have never asked you for anything extra or to aid me because of heartbreak, vandalism or helping me to sort through my home because a bitch named Trina decided to roll in like a tornado. I’ve done any and all you’ve asked me to do as a sister, and it is my turn. All I’m asking you to do is go shopping with me and help me to transform into a BBW, not just a big girl with no style. You and Gemma always get attention. Y’all always attract men, and when we are out, men flock to y’all. I’m not an ugly woman Gab, and I just want my outside to match my inside, so I need your help,” she begged.
I opened my mouth to say I was too tired, but my words were, “Let me call my nanny and see if she can look after Gianna.”
“Thank you, sis,” Grace said with a smile, and I stood.
“And I am a Wilkerson, now,” I reminded her and then I dragged my tired ass up to my master and called my nanny. When she agreed to come to sit with my baby girl, I went to shower. I had no idea what was going on with Grace, but I’d hope to find out on our outing.
We made it to the mall, and I yawned. I was exhausted, but for once, I wanted to be there for whatever Grace needed because she was right. She never asked for much. We went into the first plus-sized store and began to browse. I started to pull items that I thought were cute, and then I quickly moved closer to my sister.
“Did something happen last night with Malice?” I quizzed.
“No, why would you think that?”
“I don’t know sis. Maybe because you were always content with yourself and your look, but now we are the first ones in the mall with you pulling clothes that you’d normally not wear.”
