“You want me to beat her up?” She stood before me, doing that little wiggle women do as she pulled up her jeans. “I’m a straight shooter too! Point that hoe out, and I’ll make her bleed today.”
Looking at this girl and how serious she was, I couldn’t help but throw my head back and roar in laughter. My side started hurting as I tried to stop myself from laughing so hard. Seeing she had yet to crack a smile made the shit even funnier—shorty was deadass ready to beat somebody’s ass.
“Whew! Shit, girl,” I said as I calmed down. Standing, I draped my arm over her shoulder and pulled her to me for a quick hug. “You were right… I haven’t laughed like that in a while. I needed that, and I appreciate the offer, but I’m good.Time has taught me to see people for who they are. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Well, I hope time shows you that I’m not like that.” Once again, her arms found mine as we continued to make our way through the park. I’d already figured out that Noemi didn’t care about personal space, or at least she didn’t care about mine. I knew she didn’t have bad intentions, so I was rolling with it.
“We’re going to be good friends, Jordan,” she continued, smiling at me so brightly that it dimmed the sun. “You need a little joy in your life, and it doesn’t get any better than me.”
“I come to your city,and you think taking me out in the middle of a musty-ass swamp with alligators was going to fly with me? You done lost your goddamn mind!”
Bent over in laughter, I listened to Jordan fuss as he drove us through downtown Miami. After spending time with him in Milly Grove, we kept in touch as I’d hoped. After months of texting and FaceTime calls, he finally came to visit. Skip was avery stubborn man who was set in his ways. He was guarded for some reason, and although I didn’t push the subject, I always did my best to show him that he didn’t have to be that way with me.
“I thought it would be nice if I showed you something pertaining to the culture.”
“You could have taken me to a damn Canes football game, Noemi!” he shouted as he glanced from the road to me. He told me regardless of whether he was visiting or not, he wasn’t trusting me to drive him around. "Ain’t no way you thought I was going to Lake Placid.”
Listening to him mumbled how I had life fucked up, I couldn’t help but take him in. Jordan was so handsome with his low cut, lean build, and the plethora of tattoos adorning his exposed limbs. There was hardly ever a time he wasn’t dressed in all black and today was no different. Dripping in Prada from head to toe, everything about him screamed boss. From the way his diamonds hit the light to the way he leaned as he whipped my car through the busy streets—whoever was crazy enough to let a man like this slip through the cracks must be losing at life.
“Can I ask you a question?” I sat sideways and stared at him as we approached a gaming center. I couldn’t help but giggle because he hates being around a lot of people, but I knew he was doing it for me. “Have you ever thought about getting into a relationship? You’re a good man, and you deserve a good woman.”
“You trying to be my girl, Mimi?” He smirked as he pulled into the lot and parked. “Sounds to me that you are.”
“You wish.” I rolled my eyes and punched his shoulder. “A man that refuses to watch The Originals is not the man for me. Not to mention… your taste in fun is horrible.”
“So you’re saying I’m boring?” He turned and raised a brow. “Let a nigga know.”
“Yes.” I giggled at his hurt expression. “Skip, your idea of fun is sitting home on a Friday night with a box of Church’s chicken while you clean your guns, watching SportsCenter. You need to find a good woman, some kids, and a puppy.”
Mugging me, he got quiet. Jordan is a good man, and he deserves all of those things. I hate that he went through whatever happened in his past, but I wanted him to move on and let love find him.
“First off, I eat Popeyes.”
“Jordan—”
“Secondly, I’m good on the rest of it. Look, Mi… I appreciate you looking out for a nigga and wanting to see me happy. Love just ain’t for me. I’m a good nigga, but I will murder the next bitch that plays with my feelings.” He took my hand in his and gave it a strong squeeze. “I’m good on that. I just want to run my businesses, get some pussy here and there, and see my people happy.”
“Friend, what about you and your happiness?” I asked, giving him a small smile. “I heard you, but you deserve all of that too. Promise me that when you meet somebody who proves that they’re worthy of your love and trust, you’ll be open to the possibility of happiness…”
He stared at me before running his hand down his face and sighing deeply. “Aight, man… you got it. If it will make you shut up, I promise. You gotta promise me the same, though. Every nigga ain’t out to get you, and there’s a nigga somewhere that don’t care about your money or your brothers. A real one will go toe to toe with Zoo and the Witch.” He smirked as he tweaked my chin. “When it’s real, nothing will matter to him but you and the love he has for you. The same way you want that shit for me, I want it for you. We got a deal or what?”
Looking at his outreached hand, I pondered on what he said. I wanted real love so badly, but I was scared I’d set myself up for failure by falling for the wrong man. I want my man to love and want me for me—not because of who I’m attached to. At the same time, I had to be open if I wanted to receive it, and I knew that much was true.
“Hello pot, I’m kettle…” I smirked and placed my hand in his. He snatched it back and kissed his teeth. “Seriously, you have a deal. Now, come on! It’s time to put belt to ass.”
Walking into the arcade, I laughed as I glanced over at Skip. My friend looked like a fish out of water as he glared at everyone, yelling at sports on television, playing the arcade games, or just sitting around drinking and vibing.
“Will you please get your hand off your waist and relax?” I giggled as I dragged him over to a card dispenser to get us tokens. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught him mugging me. “We could always reschedule the gator ride. The swamp comes alive at night.”
Placing me in a headlock, I laughed uncontrollably as he dragged me around the arcade. Once we made it over to an idle basketball game, he snatched the card from me to start.
“I’m about to light your ass up in here.” He chuckled as he slapped the buttons, causing the baskets to adjust in each of our lanes and the balls to fall. “You ready?”
“They don’t call me Noemi Curry for nothing,” I smirked as I grabbed the first ball. “It’s about to be lights out for you, buddy.”
“Who the fuck calls you that?” He frowned as he dribbled the ball a few times. “It’s been months, and I ain’t never?—”
“Gametime, scrub!”
