“Damn, life good, huh?”
“I’m not wealthy or rich, but I’m living, and the most important thing is that I ain’t starving. I got a little pension.”
“Well, that’s nice. I see you travel a lot on your page. What else do you do in your free time?”
“Nothing heavy. Just chill out, watch sports, the normal shit.”
“So, are you married?”
“Nah,” he quickly said. “Not at all.”
“No old lady?” she questioned.
“Nah.”
“Why not?”
He was quiet for a while. “Just got too many demons and shit.”
“Meaning?”
“Just demons that I don’t discuss, that’s it,” he said firmly, with an expression that let her know not to even think of asking or trying to pry to get it out of him.
She took heed. “I think we all have demons riding our backs in one way or another.”
He was quiet for a few minutes, and when she finally gave up on him responding, he said, “You right about that, li’l sis. You right about that.”
So that made it clear that he wasn’t interested in trying to date her, and that was fine with her. He was an old head, in his mid-thirties, and it would probably be a blessing if she could ever get him to drop his guard so she could pick his brains. If all else failed, she was just blessed that, for whatever his reason was, he was in her life and that she had him to bail her out of jail. She was grateful to him that she wasn’t still sitting in jail, being expedited back to Virginia to face the music for the one thing that sent her to Miami in the first place.
As he pulled in front of her hotel, he said, “Look, I know I’m a weird kinda guy.”
You don’t say, she thought.
“And it’s a lot of things about me that you don’t know and probably won’t ever know, but know that I’m a good guy. I will never steer you wrong. Anything that you need to know, call me, and if I don’t know somebody, I will ask around for you. No more hasty moves, okay?” He smiled at her but seriously meant every word he said.
Bianca smiled back, said thank you, and hopped out of the car. She looked up at the sky and prayed. I don’t know why you sent this guy to my Instagram, but thank you, Lord. You sure do know how to put the right people in my life at the right time.
Soon after Viper dropped her off, Black called her to let her know that everything was okay. Bianca started to feel so blessed to have two good friends in her life.
Black couldn’t resist. He asked her the same exact question that she had asked herself. “No judging, but how in the hell you let a trick-ass stripper ho get you out of your character like that?”
“Look, I’m not playing with these people out here. Off the break, I’m not cutting corners, because the bitch deserved it! Bottom line, the bitch is a snitch bitch, and—”
Black cut her off. “Say no more, baby.”
“It’s a long story, and I will tell you about it when I see you.”
“Look, if you do, cool. If not, that’s cool too. Whatever it is, from what I can tell, you had good reason.”
“Look, I came here for a new beginning, and I know I’m going to get something big going here. I don’t know what, but what I do know is that this whole new chapter, new life, is about living on my terms and not taking no shots or bullshit from nobody. I’m coming to understand that when you are the new girl, whether it’s at a school, in a city, or whatever, you gotta teach these people the lesson that you ain’t to be fucked with.”
“Well, I bet she won’t do it again,” he said.
“I bet she won’t either.”
The two fell into laughter.
“And you, I can’t believe you jumped in the fight.”
“Told you I had you.”
“But, nigga, you ain’t have to get locked up for me,” Bianca said to Black, but in a sick way, she loved that he had. No one had ever really gone out of their way and risked anything for her. Her relationship with Caesar was so uneventful. Their love was pure and exactly what she needed to feed her need to be loved; however, seeing that someone really had her back gave her another feeling. She felt like part of a family—something she hadn’t felt since she was gang raped then blamed for the pregnancy by her mother. Now she knew what unconditional support felt like. Her own mother hadn’t even given her that. Her mother had given her love and support with conditions. As long as Bianca made good grades and made her mother look good, Ella gave her love. Once Bianca got pregnant, her mother withdrew her love and approval.
“Shiiiiit, I wasn’t going to let you get locked up by yourself. I couldn’t leave you alone. Come on, now. You already know that wasn’t gon’ happen.”
“I didn’t know, but I appreciate it. I appreciate you more than you could ever know!” She really did, because no one had ever done what he did for her.
“So, what you up to?” she asked.
“Going to be out hugging the block all night.”
“Why?” Bianca worried.
“’Cause I gotta get this money so you can pay dude back, plus the money for your room.”
“No, I’m going to do that.”
“Naw, I told you I was, and I am,” Black insisted.
“No, I’m going to go out tomorrow and try to make things happen.”
“Not a good idea. You can’t risk getting arrested.”
“Well, let me worry about that.”
“Don’t argue with me,” Black said. “Look, I got work. Just gotta dump it. That’s all.”
“No cash in the stash?” Bianca boldly asked.
“Naw, I told you I ain’t rich. I’m just
