Page 5 of Another Constant

Harlem:You got it back?

In actuality I didn’t even ask for her funds back from Maurice. I beat his ass and chalked it up as I would pay her. He didn’t have a job nor any ambition, so I knew for a fact he didn’t have the twenty-five hundred dollars to give her back.

Me:Zelle or Cash App?

Harlem:How did you get it?

I laughed aloud at her obvious curiosity. Then, instead of texting her back, I opted to call her. I wasn’t with all that texting shit. She answered on the first ring.

“How do you want your money back, Harlem?” I asked.

“Uh… I don’t know. I didn’t think you’d be able to even get it back. You can Zelle it to my phone number.”

I laughed, because obviously she didn’t know who I was. That shit was cute. “Why are you up so late?” I found myself asking as soon as she sucked her teeth.

“I have six puppies, their mother, and another pregnant dog right now. Gotta keep the hours of the puppies. What’s your excuse?”

“I ain’t got one.”

“Oh.”

“How much would one of those dogs run me for?” I asked out of the blue, realizing I didn’t want to get off the phone with her.

“Depends on which one you want. All of them have an amazing pedigree because they’re my dogs. But some people don’t think about that. They only go off color genes. Are you even looking for a dog?”

“Probably. Shit, probably not. Your customer service gotta be better than this, lil mama.”

She laughed. “You just randomly asked me about a dog at ten or eleven at night. Anyways, what kind of dog are you interested in? What is your color preference?”

Of course I laughed at how fast she switched that shit up. “I’on know. Gimme a gray one and don’t try to run my pockets either.” I warned.The fuck was I about to buy a dog for? I didn’t need no fucking dog.

“Depends. You want straight blue or blue merle? Probably even a lavender tri.”

“Yo, what? I just said gray.”

She giggled. “Check your messages.”

I put the phone on speaker and checked the message from her. She’d sent me a link to a website. On it were the different colors of bulldogs. It was extensive.

“So, again. Blue or lilac? Maybe even a blue merle.”

“Nah, that merle shit looks demonic. Either the lilac or the blue works for me.”Was I actually out here about to buy a fucking dog just for some conversation?

She laughed. “It’s just a picture. If you saw it in person, you’d feel differently. I promise. Drop by the shop and I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“The shop?” I was confused by her mention.

“I have a pet store. I breed, so the dogs are there when I am. I sell pet accessories and treats there.”

I found myself nodding as I responded. “That’s dope.”

“Thank you.”

We spoke for a little longer, her giving me the address to her shop and telling me when she’d be there. I guess I was buying a dog, knowing damn well I had never even liked them. Not since my auntie’s poodle bit my ankle as a kid. I kicked his ass halfway across the garden for that too. Safe to say he never opened his mouth near me again. As a matter of fact Scruffy never came near me again.He learned quickly.

Chapter2

Harlem Bleu

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