"Dru broke that!" Cane said

"He did not! You've told that lie so many times, did you actually forget the truth?" I told him

"I did not break the table!"

"You did! You were doing the 'crank dat' on the table the leg broke and you and Tank put the leg back like nothing ever happened."

"Oh shit, that right and Dru fell on it later in front of Ma and he got the ass whuppin. Damn that was fuck up." He said shaking his head and I laughed

I was having a good time; I did miss him in my life. I let out a yawn

"You ready to go?" He asked

"Yeah, I'm tired." I said then we got up, Carl came over and Cane tried to hand him some money, but he refused

"Boy get out of there with that. You know it's on the house."

"Well think of it as a tip." He said then put the money in his hand, we said goodbye again as Cane put his arm around my shoulder as we left.

I directed him to my apartment, then he walked me upstairs

"How the fuck did you find this piece of shit place." He complained as we climbed the stairs to my floor

"Don't talk about my building, and it was all I could afford. I should've did more saving than shopping especially since you were the only one working."

"That was the deal, I handled the business so you could focus on school."

"Yeah, and then you went to jail."

"And you could've went home, hell you could've kept our apartment."

"Like I said I couldn't afford it."

"Ma would've help you and you know it."

"Well, I was ready to stand on my own two, and besides that place had too many bad memories anyway." I said as we reached my door

"You still strapped?"

"Yes, I'm not stupid."

"Well, you moved in this dump. So I don't know." He said and I scoffed

"And on that note, you have a good night." I said opening my door

"Wait Boogie I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Look give me your phone." He said and I looked at him

"Please?" He said with an eyeroll I sighed then unlocked it and handed it over I watched as he put his number in then texted himself

"Call me if you need me." He said then kissed my cheek and I walked inside

___________________________________________________________________-

I didn't have to work until later, so I was doing some cleaning, when I heard the front door open

"Yo." I heard Dru say

"Hey." I said from the bathroom as I finished moping the floor in there. I walked in the kitchen and washed my hands as he made himself comfortable on the couch

"I saw bitch ass Marcus." He said calling my dad by his first name

"So?"

"You know I wanted to beat that nigga ass."

"It's not the big of deal."

"Yes, it is and I'm serious Boog don't do that shit again because I'll kill him then the house would be yours."

"I'm pretty sure my uncle would have something to say about that."

"Please that bougie nigga ain't been around since your grandfather died. He don't care about that place."

"Can we stop talking about my award-winning family please."

"Let's talk about your date with Cane last night then,"

"Oh my God if that's why you came over you can leave." I said sitting across from him

"You didn't say it wasn't a date."

"It wasn't! he popped up on me while I was out with my girls. Then we went and got something to eat."

"The whole group?" He asked and I picked up the throw pillow and threw it at him

"We went to Carl's and ate."

"Carl's? ya'll normal date spot."

"It was not a date, you buggin."

"Naw you buggin, you know you still love Cane."

"And I'm still hurt also from Cane."

"He ain't been seeing anybody if you want to know."

"I can't for you to get a new nigga, so I can be all up in your business like this."

"Ohh so Cane is your nigga now?" He smiled, 

"I hate you." I said getting up and going into my room as he laughed at me

__________________________________________________________________________

Saturday night a 'Truth was jumping, and this new little black dress I got on was helping a lot in tips. I was almost at $400 and I've only been in V.I.P twice. I was working the bar coving a break

"I'll have a dirty martini." I turned to see Michael standing there I rolled my eyes and made his drink

"$13."

"Can we talk?"

"$13." I said and he gave me a twenty

"Keep the change." He spoke

"Lauren."

"You really need to stop showing up here, this is my job and it's starting to get kind of creepy." I said to him then went to my next customer as he kept his seat at the bar. I was relieved when the guy working the bar tonight came back, and I left him there, but I could still feel his eyes on me.

After my shift I walked out of the club looking for a cab,

"Lauren." I turned to see Michael walking up to me

"Oh my God, you just can't take a hint can you?" I said as I started walking, I went in my purse pulled out my phone while making sure the safety was off on my gun as he followed me

"The way we left things was bad,"

"Bad? I'm just a gold-digging hood rat remember?"

"I talked my mother about that, and she was wrong."

"I know that I'm glad you found out too, but this just ain't about your mother. You have an issue with keeping your hands to yourself." I spoke

"I said I was sorry."

"Yeah, and that's what my dad always said after he sobered up, but somehow it always happened again. So I'm done with you." I said then he stepped in front me

"Can you just stop and listen!" he yelled just as a familiar black ranger rover came to stop in front of us, and Cane was out before the car fully stopped

"Back the fuck up!" He snapped pushing Michael and grabbing my hand pulling me behind him

"Who the hell are you?" Michael snapped

"The grim reaper nigga, get in the car Boogie." He spoke

"Cane chill it ain't like that." I spoke

"Lauren who is this?" Michael asked

"Keep talking and you find out,"

"I'm talk to my girlfriend, not your ghetto ass." He said and before I could do anything Cane pulled his gun and put it to his head

"Stop!" I said pushing Cane back

"You fucking this nigga?" He asked looking at me

"No."

"Please she was just at my place last week, screaming my name." Michael said and Cane pushed me out of the way

"Say one more fucking thing and I'm splatter your shit right now."

"Cane stop, you are still on parole!" I said stepping in front on him again and I knew that look it never turned out well for the person on the other end

"Cane look at me, I don't need you back inside. Davis would not want you back inside, he want you here with me." I said and he looked at me and I watched at that look slowly went away but he was still angry

"Think of me and Davis, come on." I said putting my hand on his and he lowered the gun

"Come on let's go." I said trying to steer him to the car. He took a step back then he hit Michael with the butt of the gun. He cried out in pain as he hit the ground

"Let's go." He said then walked back to the car I looked at Michael then I followed Cane.