Page 10 of The Hood's Finest: Jersey & Mylani
“Yeah. Who was that?” I questioned, only because he ended it so abruptly.
“Business. Why didn’t you tell me that nigga was your baby daddy?”
“Because it’s none of your concern, that’s why. Why does it matter anyway?” I was curious about the difference it made to why I didn’t mention Jersey. Did this nigga wanna fuck me or him?
“Chill out. I just don’t like being sidetracked. He seems to be a lil’ off.”
“You let me worry about Jersey. I can handle him.” I ended the conversation because I didn’t like the direction it was headed. Jersey was off limits to anybody. Niggas or hoes. It didn’t matter.
***
I woke up the next morning and handled my hygiene before going to look for Tasha. I needed to talk to her about what Jersey said. I wasn’t about to let her ruin my shit, sister or not. I went into the kitchen and saw her at the stove cooking what I could assume was breakfast.
“Oh, you cooking today,” I observed as I rounded the island that separated the kitchen from the dining area.
“Shit, Shan! You scared me.” She gasped, placing her hand over her chest. “Yes. I decided to fix breakfast this morning. It’s enough for your guest. What you think Jersey gonna say when he finds out that you had another man over here? You know he thinks he’s the king of the world.” Tasha finished her comment with an eye roll.
“I’m not worried about that. What I am worried about, though, is him telling me that if you’re gonna be staying here, you need to pay bills.”
“What? How is it I have to pay bills when he already does?”
“He pays the bills for Jerz and me. He can’t foot the bill for you, too. So, you have to hurry up and fix things with Eric or find a place. I can’t jeopardize my son’s well-being like that.” I stood before Tasha, and she looked like she wanted to pounce on me at any moment. She could be mad all she wanted. I meant what I said.
“You mean ruin things for you. That’s real messed up, Shan. I guess you think he can continue to pay your bills all while you fuck another nigga.”
“What I do is none of your business. You heard what I said, and that’s it. You got thirty days to figure the shit out. After that, it’s all on you to do what it is that you have to do.” I walked out the kitchen, leaving Tasha’s ass right there. I hated to put my sister out, but it was her or me, and I was always gonna choose me.
7
Mylani
I really didn’t want to go to work tonight, but I had plans I had to push through. Jersey had been texting me since the night we exchanged numbers after he gave me a ride home. He’d been apologizing and asking for a chance to make it up to me, but I was cool on that. I didn’t like drama, but I didn’t see a problem with texting him. I grabbed my bag since my Uber was about to pull up. It was hard trying to save money when I had to pay for Ubers, but I did what I had to do. I walked down the hall to Trinity’s room and knocked before I made my way inside.
“Trin—what the fuck!” I covered my eyes because I didn’t want to make the situation more uncomfortable than it already was.
“Lani, let me explain,” Trinity pleaded.
“What’s there to explain, Trin? I came in here to tell you I was heading to work, and you in here riding this nigga’s dick like you’re a professional jockey.”
“My bad, Mylani. I ain’t wanna cause no heat Trinity’s way,” her boyfriend, Dantè, voiced, slipping into his pants.
“Boy, shut up talking to me, and hurry up and get out before our mama sees you. Trinity, you should know better than this, but I don’t have time to deal with this right now. I’ll talk to you when I get home. Dantè, if I catch you in my house again, I’ma beat your ass.” I left the room and ambled out the door to get in my Uber before it pulled off.
I got to the club in about twenty minutes, and it was already a lil’ crowd.
“Wassup, Passion,” one of the bouncers, Brim, greeted me as I walked up to the door.
“Hey, Brim. Fonzo.” I greeted both bouncers as I gained entrance to the club. Walking through the Swizz-filled club, I made my way toward the back where the dressing room was located. I walked in and went straight to my locker. I didn’t bother with these hoes, and I didn’t let these hoes bother me. A few were cool, but I kept it at that. While changing, Candy brought her hating ass in there, popping shit as usual.
“I hope that fine ass Jersey and his brothers come through tonight. He needs a real woman and not some crack baby.” She sniggered with the lil’ group of rancid hoes that she hung around. Slamming my locker to let that hoe know I heard her, I headed in her direction.
“You got something to say, Candy?” I approached her, fully prepared for whatever she was ready to do. I didn’t wanna be here, anyway.
“Oh, don’t think because you fucking that nigga now, you tough all of a sudden. I’ll beat your ass and still fuck your nigga.” I had to laugh at this dumb hoe before I rearranged her face. See, the problem was because I kept to myself, they thought I was scary. That was far from the truth. Ask ol’ girl from the other night.
“Candy, as much as I wanna entertain your dried up, infested ass, I can’t. I got ballers out here ready to blow their checkson my fine ass, while you’re reduced to dancing for the old grandaddies, taking their SSI checks.” Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I left the dressing room with my head held high. Growing up, I had to have tough skin. I wasn’t about to let a trashy ass hoe like Candy fuck with me.
I went to the bar and paid for my bottle for the night. I needed it to get through these thirsty ass niggas. I looked over and noticed the new girl. She looked scared out of her mind.
