Page 74 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“Talk to that damn man, Stevie,” she answered the phone.

“Hi Skyler… how are you?”

She laughed. “I’m sorry… I thought you were calling because you were mad at him.”

“I heard he called you… which is funny because I wouldn’t think he would call you… my silent treatment must have messed with him.”

“He likes you, Stevie. No man, especiallythatone, is going to care that the woman that willingly put stolen money into her account isn’t talking to him.”

“I guess you’re right… I like him, too.”

“Enough to marry him?”

“I have to marry him.”

I could hear keys tapping in the background. “You don’t have to do anything, and he wouldn’t make you. Menace cares about you, so he would let you go before forcing you down the aisle.”

“What if I want to see where this goes… he took me on a date.”

“To the cemetery… don’t know who is crazier, him for taking you, or you for sounding like it was exciting.”

“It was exciting to me. I was scared at first, but it was sweet in a Menace kind of way.” I took a breath. “Skyler, he ate me out last nig?—”

“Stevie, Jesus! Hold on.” I could hear something moving in the background, and then she came back onto the line. “I hadyou on speaker and I’m in the office today… anyway, Stevieeeee you got some action… tell me everything.”

I ran everything down to her while I wiped and then left the water closet. “I’m scared, though.”

“Of what?”

“I saw what he’s working with… I might die, Skyler. How do you… never mind.”

Skyler laughed. “Girl, I’m over here a newly virgin since I stopped fucking with Keyshawn. I will say, don’t overthink it. I remember my first time; I had a damn panic attack because I was scared. Just allow him to lead the way because he’s more experienced and don’t be afraid to tell him that something hurts or is uncomfortable.”

“Okay… got it.”

“Be sure this is what you want to do, Stevie. Don’t feel like you have to, and a man like Menace would never rush you. He’s a nutcase, but he’s a real nigga, too… and being that all I’m surrounded by is big dawgs, I know how they move.”

“Time for you to go get your big dawg back, Skyler.”

She sighed. “I don’t know… enough about me. I love you, Stevie, and let’s do lunch or something this week. Feel like all I have been doing is working and need a little release.”

I smiled. “Sounds good. I love you.”

After ending the call, I brushed my teeth and washed my face before going back out into the room. Menace was laying in the bed with his phone on his chest staring at the high ass ceiling. How this was someone’s room was beyond me.

My sisters want to meet you, Wonder.”

“I want to meet them, too… how about I plan a brunch or something for us to get to know each other?”

“You know I pay people to do that.” He looked at his wrist, forgetting that he didn’t have his watch on.

“Be honest… when’s the last time you slept in like this?”

He put his phone on the night table and looked over at me. “Can’t remember.”

“Do you feel like you about to die because you didn’t get up and work out?”

“Yeah.”

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