Page 84 of The Ninth

Once she started grinding her pussy towards them, they made it rain directly on it. She rubbed it up and down as the bills coated her lower body.

“I’ma fuck her tonight, watch!” the guy at the bar said, sitting back down.

I looked at him as I got back to it. He definitely had money and probably thought he seemed mysterious because he didn’t rush the stage like everyone else. The girls danced to three more songs all together, and niggas stayed glued to the stage, never running out of a hundred dollar bill. He looked good, smelled good, and seemed to be Cassie’s type.

The girls came to the bar with their money. The three of them talked, laughed, and hugged. Cassie seemed happier than she was around the time of my aunt and uncle’s death date. The last time the club was private only, we were all together. Now I’m looking from the outside in. At least she’s happy after what I said.

“Hey!”

I turned and seen Pink sitting on the far side of the bar and out of view like always. I smiled softly, walking to her and making her favorite drink. She didn’t say anything but watched me intensely.

“Why aren’t you celebrating with your girls? There’s money on the floooo tonight!”

I shrugged, “I’m just not in the mood.”

“Did y’all fall out?”

“A little. Let me know if you need something else.”

She grabbed my arm, stopping me from walking away. I stood there awkwardly as she yapped on and on. The music was loud as hell and bodies were everywhere. The same blinged out nigga that said he was fucking Cassie tonight was talking in her ear. She had a blank face, staring forward and not responding. The girls cracked up laughing.

Sighing, I drug my feet away from Pink mid-sentence.

The next day

How hard I was panting reminded me that I promised to start working out once in Chicago. In the back of my mind, I was cussing myself the fuck out! The wind blew my curls behind me. My chest burned. Cheeks and neck hot.

I finally got to the shop, throwing the door open and running in. Beatrice and the customer she was helping looked at me like I was crazy. I swear he almost pulled a gun out on me. Duke tattoos in his office and a separate room. My feet didn’t stop until I ran inside the second room, tripping over the doorframe. Duke almost looked like he was going to pull a gun out on me too.

“Hi, guys. I’m so sorry I’m late! But I’m glad Duke was able to get you started.”

“No problem, girl!” the woman smiled. Duke was tattooing her arm while she scrolled on the phone.

“Why don’t you just chill out. I’ll finish this one.”

Her and I both glanced at Duke. “Uh, okay.”

I sat in the chair, pulling my hair up and taking deep breaths. The last time I was with Duke, I promised I wouldn’t be late anymore. Being alone after The Ninth almost every other night, I was just smoking and drinking so much. Ubering to the apartment and getting there the same time as the girls who drove. Getting so fucked up was fucking with my attendance, and I could tell Duke felt disrespected.

The lights were dim with a spotlight on her arm. Even through the low lighting, I could feel his eyes on me. I decide to lay back in the chair, staring at the ceiling while listening to the low R&B and the buzz of the gun. A sweet smell like brown sugar was in the air. The shop was a comfortable temperature. Not cold or hot, but just right. I love it here. I can’t do anything to fuck it up...

CRASH!

Suddenly, I felt like I was falling on my fucking face. I reached out, grabbing anything which happened to be the lamp. It hit the wall, causing a picture frame to fall and break. Embarrassed, I looked at the both of them. She was surprised. Duke furious. I hopped up, dropping to the floor and picking up glass with my bare hands.

“I’m so sorry! I’m just clumsy as fuck.”

“Leave it.”

“No! I’ll—”

“Devyn. Leave it. Excuse us...”

I rose slowly, turning around and facing him. His deep brown eyes rapidly searched my face. Instantly, insecurity flushed over me. What is he looking for? What did he find?

He slid the gloves off his hands before grabbing my things. I took that as my sign to walk out of the room and into his office.

One thing that led to me having perfect grades and drawing the best I could was disappointment. I hated disappointing my parents. I felt terrified to see it on Duke’s face.