IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES Book 2

Chapter 45

“It seem like she trust and support you. Just from the little interaction we had. She talked about you a lot.” He looked behind the washer machine he was working on.

“Yeah man.” I sighed. “But it’s like, ever since we met she’s always helping me fix my shit. Saving me. And I just get tired of always having to ask her to help me.”

“I see where you coming from bruh, but you in a relationship. She supposed to help you.”

“Well I tried to do it on my own this time and the shit got me expelled.”

“Like they didn’t know the lady lied?” He moved some chords around.

“I don’t know. When I walked in and saw it was a room full of niggas who didn’t look like me, that’s when I knew I lost. Nigga out the hood. Got it out the mud. They don’t respect that.”

“For real, for real.” He took a screw driver out his tool box.

“You gotta go home at some point tho bruh.”

“I know and I’m dreading that shit.” I scratched my head.

“She probably scared out her mind, wondering where you are?”

“Fuck. I ain’t even think about that.” I sighed and shook my head. “This entire day has just been fucked up man. I just wanna go under a rock, hide and not come out.”

“I wish I knew what to tell you bruh. I don’t even know.” He unscrewed something.

“It’s cool. It’s my own fault.” I finished cleaning up the mess.

He stopped and looked at me for a minute. “You wanna work? Buy you sometime until you tell her. That way she won’t get suspicious you just being in the house?”

I thought about that for a second. It did sound like a good plan.

“Working doing what?”

“My nigga Camp, he a manager at the movie theater. If I call him up he can get you a job collecting tickets or doing concessions. I know it may seem beneath you, you being educated and all, but it’s the least I can do to help. On top of that, I saw how you fixed that sink in your bathroom so you can’t do what I do.” He chuckled a little.

“Yeah you right.” I gave a half smile. “Nah man, whatever. I ain’t complaining. I got a daughter so making extra money won’t hurt.”

“I’m sorry that had to happen to you bro. Your girl a lawyer right?”

“Yeah.”

“She any good?”

“What the fu…what you mean is my girl good? Hell yeah, she one of the best.”

“Just cause she a lawyer don’t mean she good.”

“Nigga, chill with that. My woman was one of the top lawyers in Georgia.”

“Why you didn’t ask her to help you then?”

“Like I told you not wanting to be a burden, and then she not licensed up here so she couldn’t help me if she tried.”

“Oh.” He shook his head understanding. “Well I’mma call him tomorrow, then I’ll hit you up.”

“Aight, cool.” I finished cleaning up and threw the paper towels away.

I washed my hands in the sink and put the cleaning materials back in the closet.

“What’s your name again?” I asked him.

“Dominic.”

“I’m Aug.”

He stood up.

“I appreciate this man.”  I dapped him up.

“No problem bruh. What’s your number?” He pulled out his phone.

“404-256-4545.”

“Aight. You keep your head up.” He said putting my number in his phone.

We dapped one more time, I thanked him, then left out.

**********

I found all my belongings on the front seat of my car, which I left unlocked. What the hell was I thinking?

I got them and made the slow walk to the apartment. I opened the door and saw Amber who had been crying, laid up in Stacy’s lap.

“Nigga where the hell were you?” Stacy sat Amber up and went over to me.

“Stac move man. I ain’t on that shit right na’.”

“You smell like throw up. Yuck.” She held her nose.

“We were worried about your dumbass you know that. Amb kept calling you. Then called us to saying she hadn’t seen you since this morning. Travis is in the car right now looking for you. I gave him a list of places to look. You better not have been with no bitch.”

“Stac move man.” I proceeded to take off my dress shirt.

Stacy called Travis to tell him they had found me.

“Where were you baby?” Amber wiped her eyes and looked at me.

I sat on the couch next to her.

“I wanted to surprise you that’s why I didn’t tell your earlier. But I did go on a job interview and I got the job.”

“Really?” She smiled.

I smiled. “Yeah.”

“Where at?”

“A dentist office uptown. He wanted to take me out for drinks afterward. We ended up getting pissy drunk, that’s why I look a mess.” I laughed.

“I’m so proud of you baby.” She clapped excitedly. “What I tell you?”

“You did tell me. I thank you for always believing in me.” I pecked her lips.

Stacy looked at me with a face I knew too well. She didn’t believe me. Not even a little bit. I tried to ignore her evil stares she was throwing my way.

“I got my job too baby.”

“Forreal?”

“Yeah. I think its going to be really good. I get a chance to help people in a major way.” Amb was so happy. Her face lit up.

“I’m proud of you.” I moved her hair out her face.

“I’ll run you a shower okay?” Amb kissed my forehead, then went in the room.

“You are a fucking liar.” Stac said real quiet, but stern enough in my ear.

“Get out my fuckin face.” I pushed her away and stood up.

“You fucking around on Amb?”

“Yeah and my side bitch pussy good too.” I took off my pants.

“I don’t know what you up to, but whatever it is,  I have lost all respect for you.”

“I don’t live for your fucking respect.”

She gave me an angry look, her chest rapidly moving up and down. I knew she wanted to hit me, but instead she just shook her head.

“All Amber does for you. You disgust me.” She left out the apartment and slammed the door.

“What’s wrong with her?” Amber came in the doorway.

“Don’t know and don’t care.” I took off my beater.

“Well your shower is ready.” She took my dirty clothes.

“Take one with me.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and bent down and kissed her neck. “Let’s celebrate. Fertilize some of them old ass eggs.”

She sucked her teeth and I laughed.

“Just for that no.” She tried to push me off. 

I pulled her closer into me.

I don’t know how long I can pull this off, but I’mma try for as long as possible.