Page 23 of All The Smoke
“That works. I’m not doing makeup since it’s a pool party.”
“As if you need it.”
“Hm, very true, bestie,” I agreed and giggled. “Let me hurry and shower and get right. I’ll call you when I’m leaving.”
“Okay and bring an outfit just in case. Love you, byeeee!” she sang before disconnecting the call.
I knew she was going to try that shit. That was exactly why I told her ass I was driving my own car. I would go to the party because I hadn’t been out in a while, even when I was with Jamal. He was jealous and territorial as fuck, so I stayed in. I hated the arguments that came with me wanting to go out. Healwaysdid too much.
I stripped out of my clothes as soon as I got to my bedroom, tossing my scrubs in the laundry basket by the door that I had there to remind me to do laundry. Walking in my bathroom, I started the shower then went to the sink to brush and floss my teeth. When I was done I got in the shower and washed, thinking about which swimsuit I was going to wear. I’d recently bought a few because Jamal and I always went to the beach during the summer. Since we clearly weren’t this year, I would wear one today.
Stepping out of the shower, I dried off then wrapped the towel around my body before heading into my walk-in closet located inside of the bathroom and rummaging through the bags I hadn’t unpacked. After finding what I was looking for, I headed back to my room, grabbing my Vy skincare products on the way.
I quickly moisturized my body and dressed while standing in front of my full body mirror. I smiled at myself in satisfaction as I took in the off white Chanel bikini I’d decided on. It had the logo on both of the breast covers and on the center of the bikini bottoms in a red, airbrushed design. It also came with a jacket-like cover up. It was super cute and comfortable, making me feel sexier than I had in weeks since the breakup.
In the mirror of my bathroom I got my hair together. I’d just gotten small cornrows a few days earlier so all I had to do was wrap them into two low buns and get my edges together. I was so thankful I’d chosen a braided style since we were going swimming. The last thing I wanted was to be bothered with my natural hair in water.
Once I was done dressing, I sprayed on my YSL perfume, tossing the travel-size one into my purse along with weed, cigars, and my Perfect Puffer, a trinket I used when I smoked my blunts because I didn’t want my lips to turn black. I texted Mo to let her know I was leaving.
On the commute to the location she’d sent me, a call from my mother came through so I quickly answered it on my dash.
“Hey, Mama.”
“You sound chipper and outside,” she said with a light giggle. “I expected you to be stuffing your face in the comfort of your living room.”
Laughing, I responded, “Mo is dragging me out. She got invited to a pool party and wanted me to come.”
“You have one of your guns with you?”
“Don’t leave home without one,” I answered truthfully. My parents taught me to shoot years ago and made sure I had plenty of guns in my home. There were two in my car that I never took out, one in the glove compartment and one tucked beside the driver’s seat. They taught me the importance of protecting myself at a very young age and didn’t play about it.
“Good. Have you been okay this week?” she asked. “I know we haven’t talked much since I wasn’t in town.”
My mother had been in Colombia for a week, visiting friends of theirs. I knew that translated to her handling business, but they were friends with the connect as well. I’d been over there plenty of times to vacation and spend time with their daughters that were my age too. Having parents like K-Dot and Ice had its perks because I had more stamps in my passport than the average person.
“Yes, just work and school. Trying to get this final thesis done.”
“But you’re going out?”
My parents didn’t play about my education at all. They were so disappointed in me when I dropped out. My mother cursed me out when I first told her and made little snide remarks about it all the time, but my father spoke his piece once and left it at that. His disdain hurt me a little more though because I was a true daddy’s girl. I was his pride and joy, so when I disappointed him or hurt him, that shattered me. Especially when he vocalized how much he was disappointed in me choosing a man over the best life for myself. I tried explaining how I felt to him, even comparing us to him and my mother, but he shut that down. He never cheated on my mother. He never allowed another woman to even think he was going to be with her in any way. He was all about his family and business, nothing outside of that.
The complete opposite of Jamal.
“I’m going to work on it tomorrow and Sunday when we’re on the way to see Daddy.”
“Neal is going to come get you tomorrow evening,” she said. “I’ve arranged an overnight stay with your father and he wants you to be there too.”
I nodded, kind of grateful we were going to do it like that. I could see him and spend time with him tomorrow evening and use all of the other time to get my work done. “Okay, that sounds fun.”
“It will be. Day agreed to come and prepare dinner for us tomorrow evening.”
“I don’t know if I want to be there for that.” I cringed.
“Why? You don’t want to have dinner with your parents.”
“Of course I do.” I chuckled. “You and Daddy just overdo it with the affection. I don’t want to throw my food up.”
“Oh, girl please.” She laughed. “Don’t hate on how my man loves on me.”
