Prologue

Three years Ago

Aya

Song rec. Drake "Nice For What

It was 11pm Thanksgiving night and here I was still in Uncle Rich’s basement. He really had it set up down here. The room was thick with the smell of Woods and Don. The music was loud as hell. Muh fukas yelling at the game while everybody else was having they own conversation like they could actually hear each other.

You know how you respond to a muh fucka knowing damn well you ain’t hear a word they said?

Yeah. I was watching a whole lot of that going on.

This was typical Uncle Rich’s house energy.

“Aye pass me that Don Bub.”

“Hey I’ma be outside chilling with a friend when we make it back to my house,” I told Liah, checking my phone for the third time.

“Cool, guess I’ma have Enzo tonight,” Liah said, taking a sip of her drink, setting it down with just enough force for me to peep.

Enzo was only a month.

He gon be sleep when we get home.

Liah always did this.

Holding in her feelings, then would let them out when it was convenient for her.

I was no better. As soon as she pissed me off, I was putting everything on the floor.

“Yup,” I said, still in my phone waiting for Fine Shit to reply.

She shuffled the cards, letting them hit the table with intention.

“Y’all good?” Uncle Rich said, handing Tracy another edible.

Every time we in the basement, here he go tryna get somebody higher than they already are.

“Yeah. We good,” I said. Tracey gave me this look.

I know you on go.

I thought, giving her a small nod.

FINE SHIT: Okay cool. Just let me know when you’re headed home and I’ll head over that way.

Fine Shit finally replied to my message.

I’d been ready to go.

But just cause she was fine didn’t mean I was gon have her thinking I’ma rush home to her.

I stayed in the basement just a while longer then made my way around the room saying my goodbyes.

“Ight Bub, you coming home tonight?” I asked my lil brother who was rolling another wood.

“Nahh. I got this lil shit that want me to stay the night.”

“Lol ight,” I said, heading back over to Liah.

“I’m ready,” I told her, then headed upstairs to Nana’s room to grab Enzo.

When I walked in the room, they were both knocked.

Nana couldn’t hang no more.

Man, I missed her telling me her stories.

I gently picked Enzo up, kissing his forehead.

If he only knew how much he had healed me already. I loved this little boy whole life.

When I made it out to the car, Liah got out and grabbed the car seat, strapping him in. I stood there lost in a thought as she opened my door.

Okay.

So you can rub on me while we playing spades.

Take me out for breakfast.

But when I ask for a relationship,

You don’t want it.

I don’t get you.

Pride really be a mf.

I looked at her before getting in.

I immediately put my headphones on. I could still hear her music underneath mine.

That’s the only way she knew how to tell me how she felt.

ME: Otw home.

FINE SHIT: Cool. What’s the address?

-Address sent

The ride home was quiet.

I looked at Liah and I got lost in my thoughts a bit.

Why do you act this way?

Will this shit ever change?

I hope shit go smooth with fine shit.

My nerves got the best of me.

What if the conversations don’t flow how they do when we text or when we on the phone?

What if she thinks I’m catfish?

What if she catfish the fuck?

FINE SHIT: 5 mins away.

ME: Okay. I just pulled off. Let me get my son settled then I’ll be out.

ME: It’s a gravel driveway.

FINE SHIT: Lol jus found it.

FINE SHIT: I passed it like 3 times.

It was always hard for anybody to find my apartment.

ME: Lol I just pulled in. Let me get him settled and I’ll be out

FINE SHIT: Ight cool. Take your time.

When we made it into the house, I grabbed Enzo who was sleep in his carseat and took him to his room, placing him in his crib.

I tucked him in the Winnie the Pooh blanket I just had to get him, then headed down the hall to my room to freshen up.

Liah was in the bed with her head down in her phone looking like she just lost her best friend.

“You good?” I said, pretending to care.

I really didn’t.

Honestly.

This night was about me.

I just wanted one fun night.

“Yeah.”

“Have fun,” she said dryly.

And will.

I thought to myself as I grabbed my Hennessy bottle and headed out the house.

Fine Shit wasn’t from Oakwood, so I tried to make it down the driveway quick while not trying to look thirsty. Thank God she didn’t have to park in front of the tore up couch that’s been sitting out here a week too long.

All my nerves rushed to the surface as I knocked on her window and she unlocked her car door.

I slid in the passenger seat and couldn’t help but bite my lip.

Fiinnee

Shiit

God!

You knew what you was doing when you made her, I thought, taking her in.

“Hey Deuce,” I said nervously.

“Hey,” she said, cocking her head to the side with this slight smirk.

“Shot?” I said, knowing damn well I brought this bottle out here for me.

“Nahh. I gotta drive home.”

“But you go ahead,” she said, staring me down.

“Coo.”

She ain’t have to tell me twice.

I took the top off the bottle and poured a shot in my cup then took it back slow, not wanting to look too nervous. After I took the shot, it was like the conversation just flowed.

“So how you liking the new job?” I asked.

“Man, I actually love it. My team cool, my manager cool. It’s just weird cause everything new.”

“That’s good though. Better than hating that shit already.”

She laughed. “Exactly. What about you? You said work been crazy.”

“Girl, I had patients all damn day. I had one clinic this morning then another one this afternoon.”

“Damn. You gotta drive between them?”

“Nah, same clinic. Just different providers.”

“Ohhhh.” She nodded like it finally clicked. “Okay, that make more sense.”

I laughed.

It wasn’t even what we were talking about. It was how easy it was to talk to her. One conversation kept turning into another and neither one of us had to force it.

We were laughing about nothing when I remembered she said she was gonna show me something that she was keeping from me when we linked.

“Okay so what’s this ‘Top secret’ project that you was gonna tell me?” I said jokingly.

“Aaaaahhhh. I was kinda hoping you would forget,” Fine Shit said, laughing slightly nervous.

“Lol no. I remember everything,” I said as she stared at me lustfully.

Girl I will fuck yo whole life up. I thought to myself.

“So what is it?”

I said, snapping her out of it.

“What are you working on?” I said, trying to pull it out of her.

“Ugh you aren’t gonna let it go are you?” she said, laughing nervously.

“Nope.” After she realized I was gonna stand ten toes, she finally gave in and told me she was a rapper and she works on music from time to time.

God.

Why?

Not this again.

I thought to myself while trying to stay interested in the conversation.

“Really.”

“Show me something,” I said, tryna figure out a way to get out this damn car.

Aya why do you do this to yourself?

“For real you wanna hear something?” she said, almost too excited.

Damn.

Why is it always the fine ones? I thought, having a toddler fit in my mind.

Like God.

You playing right?

I mean she not hood but…

Damn!

I thought, stomping my feet in my head again.

I’m not tryna support no rap career. Especially one that’s not going nowhere.

“Yeah,” I said, praying for the moment this was over.

She played an instrumental on her phone and waited for the beat to drop. When she started, my heart fell to my stomach cause I was gonna be honest and I didn’t know what to expect.

Okay…

The instrumental was fire…

That beat drop…

Heat.

Wait…

Whaaaat???

Okay she’s good.

Nah, hold on.

This girl is actually good! Like wtf.

I mean she still has some work to do, but I really didn’t expect this.

Her fine ass got me wanting to mix business with pleasure and go to school for music management.

“Damn! You’re good,” I said when she finished, completely tuned in now.

“You think so,” she said with this flirty smirk on her face.

“I know so. I love music and always felt like I had an ear for it. Kinda want to be a music manager.”

“Fr? That’s dope shawty,” she said.

I paused and looked around for a second.

Is this the same person?

We spoke for a while longer before I decided to call it a night. It was going on 4 in the morning and Enzo would be ready for some milk soon.

I wanted to at least take a cat nap before he was up ready for my breast.

“I had a lot of fun. We should do this again sometime,” I said, not really wanting to end the night.

“For sure. You’re a really dope person,” she said, staring at me like she wanted to devour me right there.

“Lol thanks. You are too.”

I took my time observing her.

What’s that look? I thought to myself.

Before I could even react, she grabbed my chin and pulled me towards her kissing me softly.

I’ve never allowed someone to touch my chin.

“See you… Hey, did that guy from Popeyes ever bother you again?” she said like she didn’t just kiss my soul.

I just stared. Confused for a second.

Why does she even remember that?

“Huh?”

“No. I actually think he got fired. Fucking asshole.”

“Cool. See you sweets.”

“See you,” I said, getting out the car too flustered to even think.

God.

Save her for me.

When I got in the house, Liah was in the bed with Enzo on her chest. She had a stocky build with breasts like pillows, so Enzo would fall asleep almost instantly when he laid on them.

Shit, honestly I did too.

She heard that I was in the room and got up to take Enzo to his nursery. I changed my clothes and got into bed.

When she got back in the bed, she immediately pulled me close, tugging my hair and kissing me on my neck.

“I love you,” she said.

I just stared at the ceiling.

I couldn’t help but think about Fine Shit’s sly smirk as my finger unintentionally found its way to my lip.

I ain’t say shit.

Damn that kiss.

…

The way my…

Girl do not moan

…