Page 37 of The Ninth

Devyn’s POV

All night I kept my phone under the bar. The idea was if I didn’t look at my screen, Duke would text me faster. I was drunk as fuck, tired, and wanted nothing more than to talk with him while smelling him. His company hit like drugs last time, and this liquor got me wanting a fix.

Kenzie watched me check my phone and my shoulders slump forward. Cassie was drunk as hell on the floor behind the bar, counting money like she was sober. Tati had her head to the floor, rubbing her ass all over Kenzie as Molly Love by Tink played. I sat my phone down, wiping the last of the bar off.

“I don’t know who’s text you’re waiting for Devyn, but I’m sick of him not reaching out to my friend. We finna get you a new nigga!” Kenzie smiled.

Tati popped up, “Ooooo, what about Pooh?!”

“FUCK NO!” Cassie yelled extremely loud. It was just the workers in here now, “How about.......Man-Man! K3’s brother!”

“NOOOO! YOU KNOW I WANT HIM!” Tati cried.

Cassie cackled, “Girl, please! K3 would die before that happened.”

“Big Dot!” Kenzie offered.

“Nah, Hawk!” Tati nodded.

“Ooooo, Big Bankz!” Kenzie pointed.

“How about Fet Fet?!” Tati asked.

“Y’ALL!” I interrupted them. “I don’t want no nigga with no hood ass nickname. Cassie, you want me with K3’s brother but his name Man-Man?! Who the fuck is Big Dot!”

They all cackled.

“Kenzie, are you just naming niggas you’ve fucked?!” Cassie asked.

Kenzie shrugged, “Duh. Why would I let her go in blind when I can just lead her to the gold.”

I ducked my head and shook it as they laughed.

“What about Pall B!” Tati slurred.

“Mmm. That ain’t bad. Pall B is his first name and last initial?” I asked.

She frowned, “Nah....it stands for pallbearer.”

“AHHHHHHHH!” Cassie screeched as she laughed. Kenzie fell over onto the bar, giggling crazy.

Cassie now had the money beautifully separated and bundled up. She paid me out, gave Kenzie a stack, Tati a stack, Liv and the security guard. They all had a ridiculous amount. Clearly we worked two different jobs tonight.

“You Devyn?” someone asked behind me.

I turned, nervous at someone using my first name. When I looked, it was a fine ass brown nigga. Low cut curls on his head, slim, pretty ass teeth, veins popping out his arms. He looked both nice and scary at the same time. The smell of him just gave rich. He was sitting at the far end of the bar. No telling how long he’s been there.

“Uh, yeah. I’m Devyn.”

“Nice to meet you. You look better off FaceTime.”

“You’re—”

“BENNNNNN!” Tati, Cassie, and Kenzie yelled at the same time.

Cassie grabbed his hand, “Bennnnnnnnnn! Stop running from me!”

He laughed, “C, you play too much, woadie. I been here all night hearing about you beating hoes and I seen you rob a nigga with my own eyes.”