Jynx.
I woke up feeling relieved in so many ways. The comfort of the bed, the sexual frustration gone, everything felt so new. For the first time in a long time I woke up to the smell of edible breakfast. Karina surprisingly still had all of my old stuff in the guest bedroom.
The smell was making my stomach growl and I just couldn't take it. I got up to brush my teeth and left out the room with just pajama pants on. "Oh I'm sorry." Karina stopped in the hallway after running straight into my chest. "It's fine, Good morning."
"Good morning. I just made breakfast if you're hungry."
"Thank you."
"Yeah... but about last night, did you talk to G?"
"Oh yeah, after you came for the millionth time, you fell asleep and I carried you upstairs to put you in bed. Then he came in and saw me in the kitchen, but I told him you were helping a family friend."
"Oh god I feel so bad, I cheated on him and completely forgot about him in the moment. Im such a terrible person, and a cheater—"
"Karina you're not a terrible person, it was both of our fault. I won't come on to you again, it was just... I missed you and—" I didn't get the chance to finish what I wanted to say because I was pulled into a kiss. I would be a fool if I didn't kiss her back.
"Okay maybe now you're considered a terrible person."
"Whatever."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Aren't you always asking me something?"
"I see you got jokes but yeah I was just curious what you did with all the money?"
"I still have most of it, I barely touched it."
"Why?"
"I don't know, I just didn't. I felt like it belonged to you. You can have it all."
"No, I don't need all of it just some so I can get on my feet again."
"Please don't go back to making bad choices Lexis. I don't want to go-"
"No no, I'm not. I did my time the right way but I never got a chance to explain everything to you."
"Yeah you don't have to—"
"I want to. You know I was the biggest king pin in the city. I already had money but there was a reason for robbing that bank. It was to throw the police off and collect the dope that was in the safety deposit boxes that was stolen from me. I had to go get it and trust me I didn't want to drag you into my fucked up lifestyle. You should've left for a few days but you're too hardheaded to listen to anyone..."
***
"Something came up, pack your stuff you gotta leave the city for a few days." I paced around the room collecting the last of my things. How the fuck did everything go downhill so quickly? "No I'm not leaving you alone when you can get hurt or anything could happen!" Karina yelled to me with her eyes filled with tears. I hated to see her cry but I was just trying to protect her the best way I knew how. "I'm coming with you and I don't care what you say about it!"
"K, you cannot come with me to rob a bank! I don't want you to get wrapped up it my trouble. I told you I will be fine, just go. I'll come back for you once everything is cool."
"No! Why are you doing this?"
"There's no time to explain baby, please just go. Drive to your mom's."
"No. How do I know if I'll see you again."
"To be honest with you, I don't even know if I'll make it out of this situation but I need you to listen to me."
"I can't just let you go Lexis!"
"What do you want me to do K? Huh? Let you help a know felon rob a bank? I care about you way too much."
"Fine. What happened to us having a future together? What happened to you quitting?"
"You know how this life goes K, you knew before we even got together. I told you things would come up. Baby, I still want a life with you and if I could quit right this second with no problems, I would. I'd do anything for you, I promise this won't happen again if I make it."
"What if I'm really get pregnant?"
"We talked about this already. We planned for this. I want a family with you, but I wouldn't have done that last night if I knew I was gon' get into some trouble."
"I'm going with you."
"No. Now is not the time to be hardheaded."
"I'm going with you and that's final."
"Fine K, but if we get into something don't you dare blame me."
I could see her roll her eyes and walk out of our bedroom. I honestly expect the worse from this, even though Mawly had everything set and ready. I needed a plan, just in case.
I pulled out some paper and wrote a letter along with a set of instructions.
"Where are you going?" She stopped me at the front door before I could get out. "I'm just checking the mail." It wasn't typical of her to not suspect something but she turned and walked away.
Of course because I'm me, I had to get a glimpse of her ass. I've always been a fan of a petite woman, with a lil' booty. That girl gon' get herself in trouble walkin round' here in them shorts.
I shook the thought from my mind and proceeded out the door making sure she ain't see me grab her car keys. When I got outside I slipped the letter into her cup holder and pulled out my phone to make a private call.
"Yo."
"Leek, I need a huge favor man you owe me."
"I'm listening."
"I'm leaving at 7:00. Stop by my crib and get the envelope in the plant by my front door. I need you to take that envelope to the address I'm going to send you. On your way there pick up some hair dye from that Sally's store 4 blocks away, and get a dark brown. At the store, a guy is going to meet you and give you a small wallet. Take all that shit to the address. Put the envelope in the mailbox, The dye on the counter, and the wallet in a white Gucci purse in the master bedroom closet. At least once a week I want you to drop by that house and make sure the girl there, is alright. Can you handle that?"
"Yeah boss I got it. You good?"
"What's my name?"
I could hear him sigh on the other end of the phone. "Jynx."
"Exactly." I hung up the phone and dialed another one of my homeboy's numbers.
"Talk to me."
"Yo."
"Jynx? What you need?"
"Yeah, I need to buy a new one from you."
"For who?"
"Her name is Karina Moriah Stavi."
"Does the name Monica Thomas work for you?"
"Yeah that's fine. How much?"
"Usually it would be half, but since you did a few favors for me I'll let you slide for free."
"Thanks Butter, when you finished with everything I need you to take it to the Sally's near our old hood. A nigga named Leek should be there to get it from you."
"Woah there big guy, you got gas money?"
"Butter stop fuckin' around, this shit is serious this time."
"Alright man fine. Consider it done."
"Aight."
I heard the front door open and hung up the phone. "Lexis, what are you still doing outside?"
"I'm okay babe, I just needed some air. Come here." I pulled her into my chest and she looked up at me. "I love you Lex."
"I love you too K. You ready for this?"
"When it comes to you, I'm ready for anything." She kissed my forehead, lips, cheek, neck...
"Maybe I need to put this act right on you one more time since you wanna keep kissing on me."
"Well let's go. You never know, this could be the last time."