Page 10 of They Call Me Dom

She winked at me. “I got you, handsome.”

She walked to the side and grabbed a small clear cup of what looked like raspberry cheesecake. Dom grabbed a plastic spoon from her box. She opened the cup then dug the spoon inside.

“Open up,” she commanded.

I hesitated but did as she directed. Dom fed me the bite-sized treat, and it was delicious. I swallowed then looked at her.

“That’s the best damn cheesecake I’ve ever had. Damn. Throw like three of them in my order.” Dom laughed at me. “How much is my total?”

“Twenty-five dollars even,” she replied, placing a custom made, pink, zebra-striped bag in front of me.

I handed her a fifty-dollar bill.

“Keep the change as a tip. Thanks for my treats, Dom.”

“No. Thank you, Sur. I hope you enjoy, but hold on for a second.”

She leaned over her table and used her thumb to wipe the treat residue from the corner of my mouth. We gazed into each other’s eyes. Dom was a vision of beauty and had this weird way of making me feel so comfortable around her. I wanted to see her again. There was something in her that I wanted to continue to get to know.

“Enjoy your Sunday, Surtain, and it was a pleasure meeting you.”

“The pleasure was all mine, Dom. Take care, beautiful.”

I winked at her and walked away with my mind and spirit calm yet excited.

4

Domaneek “Dom"

If I could walk barefoot to my house, I would. My feet barked like a damn Rottweiler. I worked two shifts at Lucid’s today. Another server called off, and I wanted to stack up three months of rent for when Briya left. I could cover my rent alone, but I didn’t want to be bombarded with bills immediately in her absence. She and I still weren’t talking. That bothered me because I looked at her like my sister.

I didn’t like the space we were in. We’d never been in this type of rut before. It was all because of Zay’s weird and dirty ass. He’d brought nothing but problems and dysfunction to our lives, but I’d be the bigger person and go to her. I genuinely cared about her and refused to let him ruin our ten-plus-years friendship. My heavy arms turned the wheel of my car into my parking lot, and I parked in my reserved spot. Briya hadn’t been here this past weekend as well as a few days out of this week. Hopefully, she was here because we needed to talk to clear the air.

Tiredly, I grabbed my bag and climbed out of my car. I always surveyed my surroundings before I took a step. My eyes scanned the parking lot, and I didn’t see anything unusual. I walked intomy building and onto the elevator. I released a big yawn as the elevator carried me to my floor. I’d slept like a baby since Zay hadn’t been over in days. However, a weird feeling washed over me. The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. I stepped off with that uneasy feeling following me. I noticed a fidgeting man in front of my apartment door. He spoke to someone animatedly. What the hell? I removed my gun from my bag as I made it to the front door.

My eyes widened at the sight of Zay in my apartment, selling baggies to the dope fiend that stood outside my place.

“What the fuck are you doing here? I told you never to come back. Not only are you here, but you’re selling drugs out my shit!” I shouted. I aimed my gun at the fiend. “Get the fuck away from my house before I shoot yo’ dirty ass!”

He snatched his drugs from Zay and hauled ass away.

“Aye! Come back here with my money, muthafucka!” Zay hollered. However, the fiend was gone with the wind.

“Ain’t no come back. You get yo’ ass out of my house. I’m not gon’ say it another damn time.”

Briya raced to the door with a confused expression. “What happened now?”

“Yo’ nigga was just selling drugs out of my house. I been told you I didn’t want him here. Since you failed to listen, I want you and that nigga out my shit now!” I screamed, pushing past them. I tossed my shit on the floor and looked at them.

“Dom, please! I don’t have anywhere else to go,” Briya cried.

“I no longer give a damn. You should’ve thought about that before you let that nothing ass nigga fuck up the only shelter you had. Get yo’ shit and go!”

“Fuck you, bitch!” Zay countered.

“Yo’ dirty ass wish. Now get the hell on!” I shot back.

“Dom, please!”

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