Page 7 of Not A Homie, Lover Or Friend
She laughed. “I’m grown.”
“Yeah, a’ight.”
I didn’t know the dynamic of what she and Monfua started, but I’m sure that with time, I would find out. All I knew was that nigga better tread lightly because me being nice would only last for so long before I smoked his ass if he moved wrong.
LAKIA
We pulled up to Freak Gods. This was my first time visiting my brother’s business. I knew Foe was making moves, but seeing this shit was like, damn, my baby bro was really doing it. Before, I never cared how he made his money because he had always been on time about making sure things were good for our family. My only concern had been that he didn’t get caught doing what he was doing. Then he met Chevy’s fine ass, and he had made way for Myles, keeping him out of the street or at least from what I knew.
However, him having something to call his own was dope. A part of me envied him because he was able to navigate through his trying time and still make something of himself. There was something I needed to share with him, but with the whole marriage thing, I knew it wouldn’t be the right time. How was I going to explain to my brother that I had gotten kicked out of school for messing with a professor? That all the money he had given me for the last two years wasn’t going to the school, yet it kept me and that man stable.
I thought when Kirk and I started messing with each other, it would be a forever thing, but it turned out to be the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. It cost me my education, and now I am hoping TSU would accept me. I had saved up some money, which would last me for a semester, but I knew I couldn’t rely on Foe to keep covering me, so I would have to find a job while in school.
When Kirk called me the other day, I was somewhat happy. I wanted him to be jealous, that it was so easy for him to do me the way he did, after all I had done for him. To know anotherman married me and he couldn’t, but now that it was all said and done, I didn’t know how I felt.
Meanwhile, my brother thought I was staying with Monfua, and Monfua thought I was staying with my brother, all the while I was staying in a fucking hotel, thinking Kirk would beg me to come back.
Every time I went down memory lane and all the shit I needed to talk to Foe about, I felt sick. I tried to push it to the back of my mind and focus on the night with my brother until I could muster up the courage to speak my truth.
The line wrapped around the building as people waited to get in. Foe walked up, dapping up the security as we stepped into the overly packed club. I tried to follow behind him when I felt someone grab my wrist and pull me back. When I glanced up, it was one of the bouncers. His big frame gave him the look of a linebacker. His lip curled up, “You got a man?”
He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t my type. I stood on my tippy toes as I leaned forward, but before I could say anything, Foe’s hand slid down between us. “Nigga she’s married. Beast, don’t make me beat yo ass.”
He threw his hands up and backed away toward the entrance. My head snapped Foe’s way. “Fuck did you do that for?”
Foe shrugged. “Shit, you can’t be out here committing adultery.”
I snarled at him as he laughed. I knew this whole marriage thing was a mistake, but I knew I would need Monfua as my backup just in case things went wrong with my brother. I didn’t think anything about him messing with other women because what he and I did wasn’t that serious, at least to me. Yes, the man was fine, fine as hell, and from the little that I knew, he was sweet, but I knew nothing about him, and to know I had his last name was pretty fucking insane. His wanting to make it workwas a surprise, considering none of it was supposed to be taken seriously.
All I wanted to do when I came to Toussaint was to see my brother, have a little fun, and transfer to a new school, beginning to build a new life after realizing Kirk wasn’t going to bite. Instead, I was met with my brother living with a woman, the chaos the crew had brewed up, and one fine ass biker friend with whom I somehow got entangled with.
As I walked further into the club, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The orange light beamed on the stage. The music was so loud that it could be felt beyond the hall walls, vibrating through my body. When I realized it was a strip club, I laughed because this nigga always had a thing for them. It made me think about Asia. I wanted to ask Foe what happened to her, but Ma told me it was a touchy subject because the two used to date. From Asia to Harvey, that was a stretch, but I tried to mind my business.
The DJ got on the mic, announcing the next dancer. My eyes searched around for my brother, but he had disappeared within the crowd. The lights began to flash as the next dancer was coming onto the stage. I began to move closer when I saw Monfua and his friends at a table in the corner.
I couldn’t lie, he looked good as his hair was in cornrows, his tattoos were exposed, and that smile was beaming. I pulled my eyes away only for a second before they darted back to the corner to see that a stripper was dancing all over him.Bitch!I knew I shouldn’t have been even a tinge bit jealous, but something in me was. I didn’t think I would feel anything seeing Monfua with someone, but now I felt like I was about to eat my fucking words.
FLEX
The orange light flashed over the stage as the DJ announced me. A full house meant more money and brought me closer to my goal of opening my own studio. I strutted out onto the stage floor. I grabbed the pole, swinging my body around, spreading my legs wide, and clicking my stilettos together. My body moved in sync with every beat of the music.
This shit was like art. The more you did it, the more you could express your creativity freely in your own way. I let go of the pole and stood in front of the stage as I bounced up and down, raising my hands to hype up the crowd. My body swayed like a snake before I turned and got lost in the music.
Bounce, bounce.
Step kick, step kick.
Bounce, bounce.
I gripped the pole, climbing my way up. Both hands held the pole as I spun, shaking my legs and ass in the air. I landed right on my feet with a smooth bounce. My head leaned forward before I looked over my shoulder at the crowd to see them going wild. I swiveled again and saw a fine ass nigga staring at me while he pulled on his blunt.
I ran my hand down my body as I caught his gaze. My legs parted slightly as I shook my thighs, letting my ass wiggle wildly. I wanted to get closer to him, so I did.Bounce, bounce.
Step kick, step kick.
Bounce, bounce.
His shoulder-length locs, medium brown skin, and a hint of roughness caught my attention. I made my way toward him as he blew out smoke and watched me. I squatted in front of him, patted my pussy, and winked at him. He nodded slowly as he and some girl snapped the band on the stack of money in their hands and tossed it at me. It was stuff like this that made dancing all worth it. When my set was finally over, I rushed to the back to change so I could catch up with the nigga who stood in front of the stage watching me. I had never seen him in the club before, but I knew what a nigga with money looked like. Once I changed clothes, I made my way to the club’s floor when I was met by the girl who had thrown all that money on the stage. When I was able to catch a full glimpse of her, I realized she was the girl from the studio. She must have thought the same thing. “I’ve seen you before. I didn’t know you were a dancer. You were the shit!” she squealed.
