Page 25 of Trading Places

“Oh…” she says, checking her phone.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. Daddy ain’t with it.”

She nods and giggles. She chugs my wine. “It’s fine. I don’t even like event planning. It’s stressful as fuck.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s good. I understand.”

I hug her. “Thanks, boo. I didn’t think you’d understand.”

Kye blows out a breath. “Girl, I was just trying to see what you were doing. So, how long you been fucking Drey?”

I laugh at her and toss my hand. “Sis, be for real. Drey isn’t my type.”

“Girl, you was about to bite my head off when I was all over him at the party. Tell me… did he let you?” she asks, insinuating something.

“Drey doesn’t look at me like that. Plus, Daddy would kill him. C’mon now.”

She narrows her eyes and stares at me. “He must have turned you down. Cause I know you very well.”

“Chile, he don’t want me.”

“A blind man can see he’s all about you.”

“Nah, we just smoke together. That’s it.”

“You ain’t never got horny smoking with him?”

I shake my head. “Hell nah. We smoke and talk business. Nothing more or less.”

Kye jumps and goes into a fighting stance. She chops the air. “I gotta go, my girlfriend is waiting. She’s about to put me through the mattress.”

“Girlfriend? The girl you was tonguing down at the party?”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s my side piece.”

“Have fun!” I say.

“Girl, if I don’t text you tomorrow, call 911.”

“Why?” I gasp.

“I be dying and going to hell on her strap.”

I laugh at her. “Not hell, girl. Why not heaven?”

“Dick that good can’t be heavenly.”

“You a trip, girl.” I reach into my purse and hand her the money.

“Good looking out, sis,” she says, taking the money. She tucks it in her bra.

She definitely handled it better than I expected.

* * *

I get home and kick off my shoes. It’s so quiet in here, and damn it’s still weird being by myself. Anthony is out of town and somewhere in California. It’s not like we’ve been seeing each other much anyway. I turn on the television and lie on my couch.