Page 18 of Sugar Baby
“Nah. That was never the end game for me.”
“So what will you do when you retire? Just focus on your legal businesses or start something else?”
His head tilted as he got a bit more comfortable in his seat. “I haven’t decided yet. I want to travel and see more of the world. It don’t mean shit to have all this money without being able to do anything with it because I’m tied to one place. My businesses practically run themselves because of the teams I have in place, but I got too much integrity to just . . . let somebody control what has my name on it.”
“I understand. I’m the same way. I know I could trust my team and Aunt Terry to do their own events while I just chill and collect money, but I can’t do that.”
Our conversation shifted to our likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests. He loved music, working out, boxing, and sports. I loved that he considered spending time with his mother as a hobby he loved. I shared with him that I loved working out, dancing, reading, and making bracelets. I often gave them away at churches, schools, and hospitals, and he suggested I give him some of my next batch to give to women and little girls at his next food drive.
As was often the case when we were together, time passed much too fast. We made our way out of the speakeasy and went to the beach. To that bench. There, we smoked and continued to talk and get to know each other. After a while, silence found us, and it was just as pleasant and enjoyable. I rested my head on his shoulder and Cash entangled his fingers with mine.
A group of what looked like twenty-somethings started a bon fire, and I didn’t expect Cash to join them. They started playing a Memphis rapper playlist that gained his attention and fired up a grill. I should have known food would make this man’s feet move. We joined them and they were hyped over being with a living urban legend. Cash was cool with them taking pictures of and with him, but he made it clear they could not post him until after we left.
He did a late night grocery order and had Rhakeem and two other men bring more weed and gummies, and it turned into a little party. I liked the spontaneity of this careful and calculated man. If this was the kind of random day that made up the lot of his life, I was looking forward to enjoying it with him.
Chapter
Ten
CASH
It was nearing the end of March, and I’d spent my day making sure we had a successful and profitable first quarter at the food distribution warehouse. I hadn’t seen my Sugar Baby in a few days, and I was actually missing her presence. She mentioned her desire to try and redirect her cousins’ path, so I decided to invite him to check out the weed farm today. As much as I stressed to him I’d taken this path out of necessity and planned to retire, I wasn’t sure if that did anything to sway him away from the streets.
He did share with me he was considering working at a dispensary, which I told him would be a good look. Tyreek was concerned about the pay and if it would be worth his time. I took that as an opportunity to pick his brain about what else he liked and what he was good at. If he was that concerned about money, maybe starting his own business would be best.
I was impressed by the time I dropped him back off athome. He knew three other languages, really was a straight A student, and loved to learn. He could cook thanks to his mom and cousin and was strategic enough to win the bets he participated in. I wouldn’t take him to the casino, but I did have an idea for a potential business endeavor that might be a good fit for the both of us. Before I brought it up to him, I wanted to do my research though.
“Aye,” I called when he opened the door. “I got an idea for a business I’ll let you take the reins with. In order for that to happen, you’ll have to graduate without getting into any more trouble. Can you do that?”
This lil nigga looked toward the sky, as if he really needed to contemplate his answer.
“What kind of trouble?Alltrouble?”
That made me release a bark of laughter as I shook my head. “Yeah, lil nigga. All trouble.” The perplexed expression on his face was both amusing and alarming. “Why isn’t that an easy choice for you?”
Tyreek shrugged and avoided my eyes. “I mean, I’m not going to intentionally do anything to get in trouble.”
It didn’t take much for me to read between the lines. “What? You got friends who will?” His head bobbed once. “I’m all for being loyal, but at the end of the day, you gotta be most loyal to yourself. To your respect and reputation. To your future. The choices you make today will shape the man you are tomorrow. If them youngins going down a path that don’t align with who you’re trying to be and what you tryna do, you need new friends.” I gripped the back of his neck and forced him to look me in my eyes. “And it ain’t a damn thing wrong with standing alone. Do you understand me?”
“I do.”
As I released him, I nodded. “Aight, bet. Stay the course, and I’ll have something for you the day you graduate.”
“Thanks, Cash.” He got out the car then extended his fist for me to dap. “Uh, you and my cousin . . . Baby, that’s my big sister. Keep her safe, aight? I know I can’t fight you, but I’ll try if anything happens to her. I’m fast and that might save me from your power. I ain’t too proud to not run around the ring.”
“Boy, get away from my car,” I said as I laughed. “Ain’t nobody gon’ hurt Sugar Baby. I give you my word.”
Tyreek smiled as he tapped the top of my car. “Aight, bet.”
There was something about Tyreek that reminded me of myself, but I could tell he was associating with the wrong crowd. In situations like that, there was nothing you could say to make a person walk away. They wouldn’t until they were ready. Hopefully he’d get to that point without something bad having to happen.
I put in my phone calendar to set up a meeting with Tristan. I wanted him and his team to look into my idea before I presented it to Tyreek. If his brain worked the way I believed it did, I’d let him create a sports app for people to bet on. It would bring in hella profit and give him something positive to focus on perfecting with time.
When I was done, I headed toward the barbershop so Rhakeem could line me up before going to see Suge. Three days was too much time spent away from my lil pussy cat.
Chapter
Eleven
