Page 5 of The Ninth

I came in a long sleeve UofL sweatshirt, leggings, and red converse. I came out the room in a thrifted, cropped Bebe shirt, short jean shorts, and white Air Forces. She looked over at me from her phone and smiled.

“Ugh, I loved Bebe! Your body is way too raw for me. C’mon, girl.”

Raw?

I followed her quietly and obediently. My mind was running quickly trying to make sense of everything. She has all of this but doesn’t even maintain it? Her boyfriend of all people does? Where the hell does she work that she thinks I will be able to work too? Is she really going to leave the house in this outfit?

The entire time, she stayed locked on her phone. Over her shoulder, I could see she was in a group chat with two other people. One of them sent an address. She said she’s on the way. The thought of meeting anyone else right now made me nauseous.

“So, usually we could call the cahh through valet because there’s two keys to each, but I left my make-up bag in the other one. Therefore, we gotta trek our thick asses to the parking garage and I’m already irruhtated.”

“Two to each?”

She didn’t answer as our feet sounded off in the garage. Her tiny steps were moving quickly as she typed on her phone. My big steps were just trying to keep up while also not stepping on the back of her heels. I couldn’t even help the way my mouth dropped open as I seen the two cars sitting side by side, both assigned to her apartment.

The first was an AMG GLE 53 that was matte black with pink insides. She fished the make-up bag out before putting it and the two duffle bags in the trunk of the next one. That one was a charcoal gray BMW X6 with red insides. As we got in and she turned it on, the car spoke softly to her,

Good afternoon, Cassandra! it said sweetly. She put that hoe in drive and tore out of the space as if we were in a damn Honda Civic!

“Cassandra, these cars are beautiful. When did you get both?!”

“Just call me Cassie, sista. The one in the garage, my boyfriend bought me. I damn near totaled that one and then got this one as a....temporary gift until it got fixed. I’m scared to drive the other again, I can’t even lie to ya! If I totaled that hoe, my man would tear my ass up!”

“So, he bought both?”

“DAMN, BITCH! YOU WEARING A WIRE? DID HE SEND YOU?!” I looked down, embarrassed. She caught on quickly and tapped my leg while laughing. “I’m just fucking with you. He didn’t buy me this one. This another gift from another person. You can have it when I’m done.”

“I couldn’t possibly drive something this nice!”

She took her sunglasses down, sliding them on with her face screwed up. “Why not?”

Before I could think of a response, she blasted the music and dropped the windows.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into? Her offer seemed so sweet and innocent. It also seemed too good to be true, and I’m learning it was. What am I going to do if a man comes barging in to collect on his investment? What the hell is she doing to be awarded these luxuries? Selling coota-cat?! Cassandra is gorgeous, but I would be shocked if her face got her all of this.

INCOMING CALL FROM....FREE PAPA

“AHHHHHHH! THIS MY NIGGA RIGHT HERE!” she yelled excitedly.

She took the phone off the Bluetooth but left it on speaker. She cleared her throat, calming herself down while answering.

Automated Voice: This is a collect call from—CASSANDRA’S HUSBAND!

A deep voice yelled. Is...is this nigga in THEE BIG HOUSE?!

Cassie: Baby...

Her bubbly mood was gone as quickly as it came. She instantly got choked up, voice tight and eyes rimmed with water. The deep, velvety voice on the call chuckled.

Inmate: Crybaby! Don’t be sad, Cassie. You know it breaks my heart every single time you cry. Daddy isn’t in here forever, Crybaby. You know that, right? Huh, baby?

She nodded softly as we came to a stop. I looked and we were...at Planned Parenthood? He continued as if he could hear her nod.

Inmate: Daddy gon be home, Crybaby. I’ma hold you in my arms. Look into them pretty eyes. Shake my head when you laugh that loud ass cackle of yours.

On queue she started cracking up. He laughed softly.

Inmate: When I come home, you’re my main priority. I love you, Cassandra. I wanna know how your day is going. I don’t wanna hear my gorgeous ass wife cry, Crybaby. I’ma come home and make that fucking pussy cry—