Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Side Chicks

by N'Dia Rae

  “That nigga needs his ass whooped for doing that to you. I’m sorry you lost your scholarship. I can help you with that,” he said.

  “How? There is no way I can take money from you.”

  “Not from me. I don’t know you like that,” he laughed.

  “Then how can you help me?” I asked.

  “Mocha Hut has a scholarship fund. For some reason, no one applied this year and we have a lot of money to give away. Fill out the application as soon as possible so that it looks legit. I’ll get my board to approve it and can cut you a check at least two days after we get the app. Cool?”

  My eyes lit up like fireworks. This man was amazing and this was only our first date. He didn’t even know me but he cared about my education unlike Chad, who sabotaged it.

  And I didn’t feel bad about taking that money since it was for scholarships anyway. I was still earning it off my own merits.

  “Thank you so much!” I gushed.

  “You’re welcome, shorty. I like to support black women getting their education. Don’t ever let a nigga get in the way of your success. No nigga is worth it.”

  His advice was heartwarming and well received. For the rest of the dinner, we talked about everything. From our hopes and dreams to our childhoods.

  The conversation didn’t end there. Eventually, we walked down to the water and sat at the ledge. We dangled our feet over the edge while we talked even more. I told him about my mother, which also pissed him off. I explained to him what had just happened with Nova and my tuition.

  “Damn bitch is wild! I can’t believe you turned out so well after being raised by her,” he barked.

  “It’s a wonder how me and my sister aren’t both crazy.”

  “She’s supposed to look out for you. And here she is choosing some dick over her daughters. How she gon’ give a washed up football player your tuition money? That simp should have had some cash saved from his NFL days. I hate bum ass niggas.”

  “It’s so frustrating,” I fussed.

  “It’s cool. You got the Mocha Hut scholarship.” He smiled, making me feel better about my mother. However, Nova and I still needed to talk to her.

  After the date, he dropped me off without trying to come in. I loved that he didn’t try to get some ass but it made me want him even more.

  “I can’t wait ‘til I see you again,” I confessed when we reached my door.

  “I’ll make it happen. And don’t forget to apply for the scholarship,” he said before planting a light kiss on my lips. My body shivered all over as I watched him swagger away. It wasn’t until he reached his car that I opened my door and got in.

  12

  Tyriq

  “ W here are you heading ?” Nova asked me when I walked down the stairs and grabbed my keys off of the mantel.

  “It’s Gwap’s birthday. I’m heading to celebrate with him at the casino out in Arundel Mills.”

  As soon as I responded, I could see her mood shift. Her posture turned threatening while her brow wrinkled.

  “Do you have to go? Can you stay with me tonight?” she asked.

  “Babe, I haven’t gone anywhere since we found out about your father. I just need a night out, alone. Can I have that?” I stepped closer to her and caressed her cheek.

  “Whatever, Ty. It’s funny that when I need you the most, you disappear.”

  “Nova, that’s bullshit. I’ve gone to work and came straight home to you every day this week. How can you say that I’m not here for you? I’ve been nothing but here for you!” I barked.

  “Fuck you! Just get the hell out!” she yelled before stomping back up the stairs. Without fighting back, I dipped out. I needed a break from the drama.

  While I sped over to the casino, I blasted Desiinger’s “Timmy Turner” to clear my head. Nova was my heart. I loved her more than anything in this world, but this shit with her family was becoming cumbersome. Since we’ve been together there has been nothing but craziness between her and her trifling mother.

  And after listening to her complain about her mother for a week straight, I needed to get out of the house. I don’t even understand how she can talk about the same thing over and over again.

  I parked in the garage at the casino, and headed into the building to meet up with Gwap. He was one of my homies that I grew up with in the Gardens. That nigga was still one of Chop’s hit men. The man wasn’t that smart, but what he lacked in brains, he more than made up for in tyranny.

  He would take anyone out at anytime for the right price. I was a little nervous hanging out with him considering me and Chop’s beef, but I doubt that Chop would kill me. Whether I get my company to back off of the condos in the Gardens or not, I could still be valuable to Chop. And Gwap and I are best friends. Before he would kill me, that nigga would give me a heads up and possibly a head start to get out of town.

  “Wsup nigga!” Gwap shouted when I entered the VIP area. He was surrounded by a horde of gorgeous model-looking bitches. It was like a candy store for grown ass men.

  “What’s good!” I dapped him up.

  “Shit. Get you something to drink. We got everything back here. Henny, Ace of Spades, Cuervo, nigga you name it!” Gwap looked lit. His words were slurred while his eyes sat low. I’m surprised he even recognized me. He was nursing a bottle of champagne and I’m sure that wasn’t his first drink.

  I walked away from him to take him up on his offer. As I made my way through the crowd to the private bar, I made sure to look out for Chop, but he was nowhere in sight. It surprised me that he wouldn’t be at Gwap’s birthday party, but that’s probably because he had some work to do.

  “What can I get for you?” the sexy bartender asked me when I approached.

  “Remy on ice,” I replied, sizing her up. Her skin was a creamy caramel hue, complimented with a pair of slanted eyes, a button nose, and a pair of kissable lips She wasn’t wearing a ton of make-up like every other woman in that party, which made her stand out. And from what I could see her body was banging.

  “Sure thing,” she sweetly replied, while pouring the drink and sliding it over.

  I whipped out a couple of twenties to tip her because she was that damn fine. She was actually the baddest bitch in the party. It was crazy that she was working rather than sitting at Gwap’s side with the rest of his harem.

  “What are you doing? The drinks are on the house.” The look of surprise in her eyes was adorable. I chuckled at her response.

  “Relax, it’s a tip.”

  “Thank you!”

  “No, thank you. What’s your name?” I couldn’t fight it.

  “Aoki. What’s yours?” she asked back.

  “That’s a different name. What’s the origin?” I asked, without giving her my name.

  “It’s Japanese. It’s my mother’s maiden name.”

  “Well it’s very beautiful, much like yourself. Why your man let you work this late, especially at this type of place?” I pried while sipping the Remy.

  “If I had a man, I would hope that he wouldn’t let me work this late.”

  “If you were my woman, you def wouldn’t have to.” What the fuck was I doing? There was only one way this was going to end up. I was going to get her number and eventually we would fuck. That was my pattern. It was a crazy ass pattern that I needed to break.

  Things weren’t going that great with my wife. And I really needed to end shit with Kinasha. Some new pussy would be nice but I should just be focusing on my wife and my career. But Aoki was fine as hell.

  “Sounds nice, but I know how you men are,” she rebutted.

  “And how are we?”

  “Full of shit. For one, you’re wearing your wedding ring. For two, you never even told me your name.”

  Embarrassed, I looked down at my ring and shook my head. Welp, there goes my chance at new pussy. I shrugged it off.

  “I’m not full of shit. If you were mine, you wouldn’t be out here this late. Just like my wife isn’t.” I smirked before I w
alked away with my drink in hand.

  “Wait! I didn’t say a wife was a deal breaker. I just don’t like liars,” I heard her say from behind.

  Intrigued, I walked back to the bar. It wasn’t every day a man hears that his wife is no big deal.

  “Liars get on my nerves. But I liked how you didn’t bullshit me when I pointed out your ring. So again I ask, what is your name?” She leaned in closer, allowing me to get a whiff of her Dior perfume.

  “Tyriq,” I replied.

  “Here’s my number.” She wrote it down on a napkin before sliding it across to me.

  I slipped it in my pocket.

  “Go have fun at your friend’s birthday party. We’ll talk later.” She winked.

  “I look forward to it.”

  I returned back to the party, where Gwap was pouring a bottle of champagne on some chick. I couldn’t help but laugh. This nigga was wild.

  While I chatted up some of my other homeboys, I received a text message from Kinasha, begging me to come over. I told her no but she kept threatening to tell HR. I had to do something about her. And I had to do it quick.

  13

  Nova

  A bottle and a half of Reisling coursed through my veins. I sat on my chaise lounge chair in our bedroom while wearing nothing but a robe. I was drunk, angry, and sad. I knew that there was something was going on with my husband but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

  It was 3:00 am and he still wasn’t home. He had left about 11:00 pm but as a married man that is way too late to be staying out. It was inconsiderate of him to leave me like this, especially since he knew what was going on with me. That nigga had to be cheating. Why else would he be coming home late and being so mean to me?

  Despite my wrath, my eyelids became heavy and I started to drift to sleep. But I was awoken when I heard our alarm sound and the front door open. He was probably betting on me being knocked out which is why he came home so late.

  But I perked up when I heard his heavy footsteps climb the stairs.

  “Who is she?” I asked as soon as he stepped his foot inside the room.

  “Not this shit again. Take your ass to bed,” he snapped as he walked further into the room. The lights were off and I all I could see was his shadowy figure moving about.

  He reeked of liquor and cigar smoke. The stench turned my stomach upside down.

  “Don’t think you’re getting in my bed smelling like that. You need to take a shower or sleep in another room,” I threatened.

  “What the fuck is your problem. It’s after three in the morning. Why are you still up picking a fight?!” He had the audacity to question me.

  “Because you are fooling around. So who is she?!” I jumped from the chair and raced to where he stood. He flipped on the lights, blinding us both. When my eyes finally adjusted, I looked into his. They were bloodshot and pulsing with anger.

  “I don’t know what the fuck you are going through, but you need to calm your ass down. I’m not cheating on you. I work hard, damn it! I work to make sure you can have whatever the fuck you want. I don’t have time to run around with random bitches. I’m doing all of this for you.”

  “You’re a damn liar! Let me see your fuckin’ phone!” I thrashed.

  “Here!” He handed it over with ease.

  “Go through it so you can see that you are crazy. I work hard and the one night that I went out to party, you accuse me of cheating. All you want me to do is work and lay up under you!” he shouted while I scrolled his phone. I went through pictures, text messages, and phone calls. I even searched to see if there were hidden apps that help you cheat. There was nothing. My anger began to descend into shame and embarrassment. I had fussed him out and accused him of the unthinkable. When the truth is, he had been there for me.

  Tears filled my eyes as I hung my head in shame before handing the phone back over.

  “That’s what the fuck I thought,” he sneered before tossing his phone on the dresser.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized as a lump formed in my throat. It was hard to speak over it and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t swallow it.

  “You should be. You’ve been acting like a bitch and I’ve been there for you. I gave you a necklace I could barely afford. I take you to nice places. If you didn’t want to work, you know I would take care of you. I’m grinding to get this promotion so that I can be in a better place to have a baby. But all you fucking do is nag me! Bitches would kill to have a nigga like me!” he ranted, making me feel even worse.

  “I know baby. I’m so sorry. It’s just this shit with my mother and meeting my father has made me feel crazy. You are a good man, Ty, and I need to do better at showing you that I appreciate you.” I moved closer to him, and caressed his arm. Out of fury, he jerked his body away from me.

  “Don’t fuckin’ touch me. I’m sleeping in the guestroom tonight.” He turned and walked away but I stopped him by pulling at his hand.

  “What the fuck do you want now?!” he asked, looking exhausted.

  I bit down on my bottom lip and dropped to my knees. I knew what I needed to do. It was rare that I gave him head but it was necessary tonight.

  “You don’t have to do this. I know we’re both tired,” he protested but I wasn’t having it. I undid his belt and jeans, sliding them down to the ground.

  Without hesitation, I slid his dick in my mouth. I could feel the tension leaving his body as I wrapped my lips around his shaft. I bobbed my head back and forth, as I made slurping sounds.

  I’ll be the first to admit, sucking dick isn’t my forte. But I will do whatever it takes to make it up to my man. If he liked it, I was going to learn to love it. I tried my best to deep throat him but choked.

  That didn’t stop me. I continued to please my man, sucking and licking all over his dick. He placed his hand to the back of my head and before I knew it, he came in my mouth. I squeezed my eyes tight as I swallowed his essence. After his eruption, he wandered to the bathroom and crawled into the bed where I met him. We slept in peace for the first night in a long time.

  14

  Aoki

  N iggas are easy . All I had to do was smile at that nigga Tyriq and he fell into my trap with ease. This is why I will never get married or settle down with one nigga. They all cheat. And his dumbass wife is sitting at home somewhere, thinking he is faithful. Dumbass.

  Skye and I sat in Chanel’s Nail salon, getting our manis and pedis. We both had dates tonight. Mine was with Tyriq, hers was with that man she met at the club. He was sexy but Skye was stupid for dating him just because she liked him. She needed to see what she could get out of that nigga before he cheats on her or reveals he has a girlfriend or wife.

  “Where are you and Quan going tonight?” I asked while the nail technician exfoliated her feet.

  “Not sure. He’s into surprising me. I can’t fake. I love it!”

  “Sounds like that nigga is controlling.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “You’ve been on multiple dates with him and he never lets you choose where you want to go. Sounds like he is trying to make sure you don’t end up anywhere his wife or girlfriend will be,” I instigated.

  “Are you serious right now? Do you always have to be so negative? All men are not the same!” she yelled.

  “Calm down, bitch. Why are you getting so loud in here? It’s embarrassing.” I giggled.

  “I’m tired of your shit. You are a miserable bitch,” she snapped. Just as she went off on me, her toes were done. She jetted out of the chair and went under the heat lamp. I could see her texting someone ferociously. Why the hell was she so upset? She was the one who was more than likely getting played. And she needed to calm the fuck down since I was her ride.

  I simply smirked and continued getting my nails and toes done. By the time I sat under the heat lamps, she was getting up and heading to the front to pay. Where the hell was she rushing to?

  After she paid she stepped outside but didn’t come back
in. Once my nails were dry, I called her but she sent me to voicemail. This bitch had lost her mind. I decided to text her.

  Me: Where are you?

  Skye: My man came and picked me up. I don’t need to be around your negative energy anymore. Have a good life.

  Me: You petty bitch! Don’t call me crying when you get played!

  I blocked her number and shoved my phone in the bottom of my purse. Skye was naïve as fuck and it was just a matter of time before it caught up to her again. And I do care about her as a friend, but fuck it. Bitches come and go.

  I paid for my nails, and hopped in my fly ride. I went back home to prepare for my date with Tyriq.

  Chop was paying me to fuck with him and screw up his life. Chop wasn’t sure how to completely go about it so for now, I was just supposed to get him addicted to my pussy. Apparently Tyriq is a dog and has a weakness for pretty women. My job wasn’t going to be that hard. I just needed Chop to hurry up and figure out what he was going to do.

  I planned on fucking Tyriq tonight. I needed him to be into me quickly. There was no point in taking it slow. I wasn’t trying to be wifed. Three dates and 90 day rules are for dumb bitches who want titles. Little do they know, the nigga fuckin’ someone else if he’s not getting it in with them.

  Once I was dressed in a silk black romper that stopped at the knee, exposing my sexy calves, I slid my feet into a pair of silver Loubous. Those $800 shoes were courtesy of ADA Xavier. I sort of miss his ass. He would give me whatever I wanted, whenever.

  While I waited to leave my house to meet Tyriq, my cell phone buzzed. It was Xavier. Speak of the devil.

  He texted me.

  Xavier: Where have you been? I need to see you.

  Me: It’s over. I don’t want to be with a man who is married.

  Xavier: I’ll leave her for you. I miss you. I love you Aoki.