Page 11 of Sugar Baby
“Yeah,” he mumbled casually, unimpressed.
We sat across from each other, which felt weirdly intimate. This wasn’t a date, but for some reason, that’s what it felt like. Needing to get the hell away from this man, I immediately went into professional mode as I pulled my iPad out to keep track of our plans. We did end up having a couple of drinks, and by the time our night was over, we’d gotten everything planned for his gala.
I’d forgotten about him asking me if I smoked until he handed me a blunt as we left the bar. I accepted it as we headed toward the closest bench. We sat down, lit up, and started rotating.
“You smoke with everyone that owes you money?” I asked.
“Nah. Just you,” he confessed.
“Why’s that?”
Our eyes locked briefly before mine went back to the ocean. “Still tryna figure that out, Suge.”
For the next hour, no other words were exchanged. He continued to smoke but I didn’t. His shit was potent, so it didn’t take me long to get to my limit. We sat on that bench, lost in the rippling waves and light from the moon. Backs pressed against it, his arm was wrapped around my shoulders. By the time our night was over, I didn’t want to leave him.
Though I assured him I was okay, Cash insisted on following me home. I drove the speed limit for safe measure, though I was usually a little speed demon. To my surprise, Cash waited until I pulled my car into the driveway before pulling off. There was a slight part of me that thought he’d try to come in, but when I thought about it, he’d done nothing to suggest he wanted to have sex with me. I honestly didn’t know what he wanted from me or why we’d spent that extra time together . . . but I enjoyed it.
Chapter
Six
CASH
Another Week Later
My hand ran down my face. I was bored with this street shit. The fast money, exciting lifestyle, and power and fear used to fuel me in my twenties. Now at thirty, the shit was getting played out. With me doing this since I was thirteen, I felt like I’d put enough time into this shit. Unlike a lot of men, this wasn’t supposed to be a forever thing for me. I started moving weight with one specific goal, and that was to take care of me and my mama. Now, I had more than enough money to take care of us for the rest of our lives and never have to work another day again.
The fact that my trucking and food distribution companies were doing as well as they were also made me want to get out the streets. I was tired of the duality of my life. I wastired of the days I would help people by day and end lives by night. Rhakeem had gotten down to the bottom of the situation with Bun and his money man, and I wasn’t even in the mood to beat Leo’s ass. That’s how I knew I was over this shit, because I loved the chance to knock a nigga’s teeth out his fucking mouth—literally.
Checking the time on my watch, I realized it was a little after seven. I’d put a camera up at Sugar’s house to keep an eye on her and Tyreek. She was in the heart of the hood, and though I loved she was comfortable there, I didn’t want anyone knowing she was attached to me to put a target on her head. People may not have come at me directly, but there had been several times over the years where they went after people that were attached to me to try and weaken me. For whatever reason, I didn’t want Sugar to be added to that list.
Though I didn’t use the camera to invade her privacy, I did make sure she made it home every night and that no one ever pulled up on her with bad intentions. Every night she made it home around seven, so I smiled at the sight of her car pulling into her garage. There was something, or somethings, about her that drew me to her. She had my interest, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that yet. Until her cousin’s debt was paid, nothing would come of it though. That I knew for sure.
Once I saw the garage close, I exited the app and considered calling or texting her. It would have been nice talking to her adorable ass after this bullshit with Leo, but I felt like I’d already blurred lines chilling with her a week ago. Still wasn’t sure why I did that shit. I mean, I knew why I did it, but I didn’t know why I allowed myself to. She wasn’t the first thick, beautiful woman I’d encountered, and I was sure she wouldn’t be the last. So what was itabout her that had me doing things I normally would avoid?
Two Weeks Later
It wasthe night before the gala, and I’d come through to make sure things were in order. A lot of the decorations were already staged, and Sugar had the kitchen on lock. She had it smelling good as fuck and she was only prepping everything for tomorrow.
Tyreek was like her little shadow, and I found that amusing. It appeared he felt safest with her, and that made me respect her more. She taught him things he seemed to be genuinely interested in before they’d crack jokes here and there. They talked about him going to college which he didn’t seem to want to do, but hearing him mention having a 4.0 GPA impressed me.
I didn’t want to make it clear I was listening to their conversation, but I said, “A lot of intelligent people find the idea of college boring because it isn’t challenging enough.”
“That’s what I said,” Sugar replied, grating the last of the cheese she’d use tomorrow for her macaroni and cheese. “I don’t want to pressure him into going to college, but my aunt made me promise to talk to him about it.”
“If you don’t go the traditional route, what’s your plan?”
Tyreek looked at me with wide eyes, as if he wasn’t expecting me to ask or care.
“I don’t really have one yet. I was just going to go to Atlanta and work wherever while I figured it out.”
“Some kids take a gap year between high schooland college to figure out what they want to do and where. Have you considered that? That would at least get your folks off your back while you figure out your next move.”
“Nah, I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. Maybe I’ll do something like that. Thanks, Cash.”
He took off his glove and gave me dap. Sugar told him not to worry about washing his hands or gloving back up since they were practically done. Tyreek had already put the marinated meat in the refrigerator. After she wrapped the cheese, he put that in the refrigerator as well, then they cleaned up, and we got ready to head out. I walked her to her car, and since I didn’t want her to leave right away, I stood in front of her door so she couldn’t get in.
Chuckling, she looked up at me with those pretty ass eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest, which made her already perky breasts sit up even more. Licking my lips, I slowly forced my eyes to lift and return to hers.
