Continuing with the lie about running errands for my grandma wasn't hard because so many times she'd taken up my whole day sending me everywhere because she only has one leg due to diabetes.
"Who you texting over there? You're the one I saw at the tournament the other day who has a bitch, right?"
"Yeah, I am, and why does it concern you?"
"It doesn't, I just don't understand females like you."
"Like me? What is like me?"
"Fine as shit, but giving up that pussy to another woman. It's tragic to see."
"No, what's tragic is getting dogged out by niggas like you. I'm sure your ass is a certified heartbreaker Crew."
"Nah, not a heart breaker, I'm a heart stopper."
A grim, wide smile spread across his face and showed every single pretty white tooth in his mouth. I've noticed today that both him and Hov have smiles like celebrities, but they didn't look like big fake ass veneers.
"You play all day, don't you, Crew?"
"All fucking day."
He looked at me in my eyes for about six seconds before his phone rang and he smacked his lips.
"This muthafucka, Hello!"
He yelled into the phone, and whoever was on the other end probably had a broken eardrum from his volume alone. He sat up on the couch and rolled his eyes like he wanted to fight whoever was on the other end of the phone.
"Why the fuck are you calling me again when I told you I'm not available to talk right now. Your ass don't listen for shit bruh. That's why you in the position you in now!"
He hung up the phone on whoever that was and leaned back on the couch.
"Dang, who was that?"
"A problem hoe. What's new?"
"So, you are all in my relationship when yours don't sound too good from what I just heard."
"Nah, what you just heard wasn't a relationship. It was a toxic ass bond that I have with a bitch who doesn't have boundaries."
"Baby mama?"
"Nah, she should've been, because she's aborted enough babies to have a three-on-three basketball game with our fetuses."
"Six abortions!"
My eyes enlarged, and Crew found my reaction funny.
"Yeah, she kind of a serial killer ass bitch. But I'm done making babies with her ass. I hope she find what she need in another nigga because I'm not the one. I keep trying to tell her that."
"You're saying that, but you're still answering. An accepted call always means there is hope. I don't care what anyone says."
I stood up from the couch and walked over to the floor to ceiling windows down the right side of the living room. There were white sheer curtains lined across perfectly with that pleated look that I loved to see on TikTok. I did a lot of house hunting and home décor shopping online way before Emoney got allthat bread. Window shopping is my favorite pastime, and I have officially taken it to the internet. I have a full cart for every store you can think of.
I looked out the window at the traffic forming at one of the stoplights below. It was mesmerizing to watch the way stoplights and intersections work from up here. For some reason, watching from this view was therapeutic.
I know Emoney, and I wouldn't be able to afford anything like this for a long time, but I at least wanted somewhere that had hints of luxury. Castle Hill has been good to me my whole life, from when I stayed with my mama until Emoney and I got our own spot over there. But now, I'm ready to move out, and up. To think, I'm standing in Hov's penthouse right now with Crew of all people on the couch behind me. My life is changing right before my eyes, and in the richest, most satisfying way possible.
"Yo, what is your friend's name that's in there with my boy?"
