- 1pm the next day
Erin

"E" I felt something hit my head, waking me up

"What?"I groaned, sitting up

"What you doing sneaking in at seven in the a.m.?" Melanie hit me again with the pillow

"Mel, can we talk later? I'm tired." I batted my eyes, closing them again

"You left this apartment at 9 in the evening yesterday. What you was out doing 'til 7 in the morning? Didn't you see me calling you? I was worried."

I dozed off, too tired to answer

She nudged me "Erin Amari Daniels, you better answer me."

"I went to the poetry bar." I said with my eyes still closed

"Stop playing with me. The poetry bar closed at 11. So ma'am, I'ma need an explanation and fast."

"I was with a friend."

"You ain't got no friends, cause of Derrick's triflin' ass! Was it Derrick? I swear if you staying in this house and dealing with that boy again-" she put her fingers on her temples

"It wasn't him, Mel. I'm smarter than that." I rolled my eyes

"Yeah, okay. You've done it plenty times before. Now you are staying in my apartment, I have one rule and that's that you tell me the whole truth, because I know how stupid you get when it comes to Derrick. Are you lying to me?"

I can see she isn't going to let me sleep.

"It was Chris. Happy? Damn! Now can a bitch get some sleep?" I roughly adjusted the covers, turning my back towards her

She makes me so mad when she belittles me like that. She sounds just like our damn parents.

"Oooo. You fucked him, didn't you?" She snatched the covers off, sitting on the bed

"Mellll!" I whined

My body was tired. I literally have no energy, but in the best way possible.

"Nope, wake up. First off, did you use protection?"

"Of course." I rolled my eyes, she's so damn nosy

"How did this happen? You was just giving him cold shoulda'."

"I don't kiss and tell, sis."

"Come on, tell meee"

I sucked my teeth "He was at the poetry bar, we had a few drinks, went back to his condo. The end."

"Yo' ass wore out from it too. Look at you" she snickered "Are those hickeys?"

I quickly sat up, grabbing my phone. I went to my camera, examining my neck. He left a trail from my neck down to my breast.

"You nastyyyy."

"Shut up." I tossed my phone at her

"So when y'all going to see each other again?"

"We're not." I played with the ends of the blanket

"Mhm."

"We're not." I repeated "It was a one time thing. I was drunk, he was drunk."

"Yeah, ok. You want something to eat? Need to gain that energy back." She joked, getting up "Good dick must run in their blood." I heard her say as she closed the door

I chuckled to myself before dozing off again.

*

"Alright thank you, see you Wednesday." I said to the building owner before ending the call

I'm off today so I figured I could look around at some buildings for lease so I could start on my photography studio.

Two loud knocks snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked through the peephole, sighing with aggravation.

"Go away Derrick." I rested my hand on the knob.

"E, please. I just wanna' talk. I won't try to get you to come with me, any of that. Please baby, come on."

I pursued my lips, opening the door.

"Yo' sister here?"

"No, she'll be back soon though, so what do you want?" I crossed my arms across my chest preparing to hear his bullshit

Chris

"Thank you, you have a good day." I hung up the phone, grinning

The opening for Third Eye is going to be amazing for business.

"Somebody's in a good mood." Yas walked in my office

"So many 'muhfuckas coming to 'dis opening. It's crazy." I propped my elbows on my desk

"Yeah, but you got a different glow about you." She examined me from afar

"A glow, really?" I chuckled

"Mhm...you got some pussy didn't you?" She looked me up and down

"Man, get outta' hea'." I fanned her off, grinning

"Nigga can't even hide it." She laughed "Oh her shit must've been heavenly. She gave you some pussè."

"Most definitely did."

"I seen her befo'?"

"Nah."

"Mm-mm-mm." She shook her head, folding her arms

"Stop playin'. I'm 'bout to go hoop wit' Mario. Everything good here?"

"Yeah. I'll send you a picture when the furniture comes in."

"A'ight thanks, see you." I grabbed my equipment and left

After I got in my car, I looked at the notebook in the seat beside me. Erin and I were so stuck on each other this morning, she forgot her poetry book. Lucky for me, she was in route to the basketball court so I might as well drop it off to shordy right now.
Shit, might even try to squeeze in a lil' quickie.

*

I walked up to the door, hearing yelling from the outside.

"Get out Derrick!" I heard Erin's voice "My sister's on the way home and you know-"

"You been fuckin' round on me?" I heard a loud slap "I'ma give you some more bruises to go wit' them hickeys!"

I banged on the door, wanting to help. I heard some shuffling before it opened.

She hid her face behind the door. "Hey" she said quietly

"Wassup." I greeted, trying to look inside the house "You left 'dis in my car." I handed her the book

"Oh thanks. I was looking for this." She smiled, taking it

When she reached out, I saw a handprint on her arm.

"You mind if I use the bathroom? I got a long drive." I lied

"Uhm-"

"Thanks" I gently pushed my way in

When I came all the way in, I saw a bruise on her face.

Some dude was standing beside the couch, mugging me and breathing heavy. "Who you, bruh?"

"'Dat really ain't none of your concern."

"Nigga I said who you!?" He furrowed his eyebrows

"Derrick stop-"

"Shut up, Erin!" He hollered at her "Oh this must be the nigga you let fuck"

"Yo, you needa' chill." I said

"This my bitch, I can talk to her however the fuck I want. Understand?" He pointed his finger in my face

"Back up bruh." I poked the inside of my jaw with my tongue, getting annoyed

"Nah, nigga. You fucked my girl?" He moved in closer

I came in because Erin seemed like she needed help, but this a respect thing now. This nigga don't got no manners.

"Ok." She stepped between us "Chris, I can show you to the restroom if you-"

"You can't show him nowhere!" He roughly grabbed her arm

That was enough for me. I pushed him, making his back hit the wall. He gathered his footing, charging at me. I sent two punches to his jaw, making him stumble.

"You needa' get the fuck on!" I said, preparing to punch again

"Bitch ass...bitch ass nigga!" He charged again

This time I grabbed him by the arm, slamming his head into the door. The movement in the living room made the pictures on the wall fall. I opened the front door and pushed him on the ground out front.

"I said get da' fuck on!" I slammed the door

It was a quick silence between Erin and I as she began picking up the pictures, I helped.

"Thank you."

"No problem...So how long you and dude been together?"

"He's not my dude." She chuckled "He's...we're...it's a lot to explain." She said before going into the kitchen

I followed "Obviously." I watched as she grabbed an ice pack, putting a towel around it

She placed it on her cheek, leaning against the counter. I stood beside her, examining the red bruise forming on her face.

"You probably think I'm all complicated now." She chuckled

"Not at all" I stated honestly "A complicated situation? Hell yeah. But any real man knows how to uncomplicate things." I stared into her eyes

Something about her is so hypnotizing, she pulls me in without even trying.

"Why you looking at me like that?"

"Come hea'." I cupped her chin and slowly guided her face towards mine

I started giving her small pecks but it quickly turned into us sharing a deep kiss.
Things began to get a little heated until we heard the front door close.

"Why did I just see Derrick- Oh." Melanie stopped in her tracks "Don't let me interrupt." She put up a finger like she was asking to be excused in church while quickly walking to her bedroom

"She a trip." I chuckled as I began walking to the door. "You should give me your number, I feel like I only talk to you by chance." I pulled out my phone

We done had sex and everything and I still don't got her number. I could tell she was holding back from me, probably because of her situation. But I don't give a damn bout him. Clearly his ass don't know his place.

She pursed her lips "You think you so smooth, don't you?"

"Like butta', baby." I smirked, handing over my phone

"Mhm." She tried to hide her grin as she put her number in

When she handed my phone back, I pulled her to me, pecking her lips a few times. "See you."

"See you."

-Carlisha ❤️