Page 146 of Grace

I was fucking out of breath, watching her eyes blow the hell up and her mouth stretch wide as fuck. Shi-Shi ain’t say shit at first, still chewing on that shit.

Tears started to race down her face. “I didn’t know.”

“Nah. You ain’t. The nigga wanted to tell you he could come with you and ya girl’s toRed’s Islandnow without asking the white man permission. It’s a lot of shit you ‘on’t know ‘cause I ‘on’t think you can handle shit.”

“Telling me about no longer being on parole and being able to vacation with me freely isn’t that big of a deal, Juggy. Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Yeah, but since that nigga told you ‘bout the charges he beat, you only been wantin’ a part of him, not the whole package. That’s fucked up, Shi-Shi.”

“Murder is a big fucking deal, Juggy! Sorry if that’s too hard for me to understand as a law-abiding citizen. The guy I’m fucking in love with haskilledpeople. I’m a whole human. Forgive me!”

“Yeah, Shi?” I was over this shit. Done. “And he a whole ass new human being. Wanna know how? ‘Cause the old Sin ain’t give a fuck about about—pardon me—no bitch enough to run down on a nigga in a club. And please believe if we still had the old Sin back, that tropical ass nigga back there woulda likely spent the night at the hospital, healing up some shit that woulda left his ass permanently scarred.” I shook my head. “But instead of that bullshit, y’all need to decide if this shit’s worth it.”

She sucked in a breath. “What does that mean, Juggy?”

“I mean: shit or get off the fuckin’ pot. You go back to the soft niggas you used to and let him find his dry ass church girl. At least, y’all match with ya speed and don’t leave this nigga looking like…a normal nigga: fuckin’ heartbroken and weak. The nigga ain’t even smart enough to have more than one in rotation.” I laughed. “Bitches be throwin’ that shit at a nigga every day, but he prefers stayin’ low. Couldn’t be me. And it couldn’t be me trippin’ like y’all do all the time. Just end the madness and go ya way and let him find something that work for him.”

She grabbed her nose like I punched her. “That’s, by far, the worst thing you’ve ever said to me, Juggy! I thought we were friends!” Shi-Shi was crying.

“You trippin’ ‘bout the mention of y’all fuckin’ with other people, Shi-Shi? That’s got you buggin’ right now? For real?” She ain’t answer. Matter of fact, Shi-Shi was acting like something I expected from her homegirl, Becky. This was what I meant. Shi wasn’t cut out to be with a nigga as real as Sin. “Look, man, Shi-Shi.” I took a breath, trying to find the words. “I ain’t mean no disrespect, actually got mad love for you. You know that. If I had it my way, y’all niggas’ll be together without this drama. But I’mma always keep it one thousand.”

“You think I’m going to let him go? You’re fucking insane! I can’t!” She wouldn’t stop crying.

Nodding, understanding she was far gone in her feelings, I turned for the steering wheel. “I’mma get you home, Shi-Shi.”

“You sure you’re okay?” I asked, shading in my eyebrows in the mirror at the vanity.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Noelle’s voice was so small over the phone. The girl sounded her age, a rarity.

“Are you sure? Where’s your mother?”

“Out in New York with Aunt Brenda.”

I rolled my eyes in the mirror, feeling like I could choke my father for what he’d done to her. Again.

I sighed, “Okay, noodle head. I’ve got to get out of here.”

“You should’ve taken me with you. Father’s Day weekends are for fathers.”

Yeah. Attending ones, though…

“I know.” I brushed a shimmery bronzer onto my cheeks.Asshole!“But remember, this trip is adults only. We’re trying to hit the club tonight.” Finally.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Noelle’s words were spiritless. “I doubt if they even card down there. People think we’re close in age when we tell them we’re sisters.”

I laughed. “If you say so. Again, I’ve got to go. The girls are probably downstairs taking shots without me. We leave tomorrow afternoon. If you want, you canUberit to my place or have your aunt, Brenda, drop you off. Ines is there. Just let her know first. I can take you to school on Tuesday.”

“Or we can play hooky from life together.”

“Noelle…”

“Awww, c’mon! Shit’s boring anyway. I can’t wait to be grown.”

“You’ll get there soon enough.” I rolled my eyes then admired my shadow work when my eyes focused in the mirror again.

“Speaking of which, the dude, Jas.” I stiffened on the bench. “You think I can have his number? I can use a friend: my big sis is vacationing inRed’s Island.”

Before I could respond, heavy thuds from his footsteps sounded as he neared me. With just a towel caping his hard hips, ass, and thighs, Jas sauntered straight up to the sink, next to the vanity, to brush his teeth. It was ten at night, and we’d spent much of the afternoon and evening making love. Jas gave me more limb-contorting orgasms with his mouth than my body could take.

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