Page 6 of It’s The Dawg In Him For Me

“Nylah…girl… are you okay?” she asked softly.

I laughed again, not knowing if it was a real laugh or a nervous one.

“I am good, to be real with you. I am glad that he is gone.”

She nodded. “I didn’t want to say it, but I am glad he is gone for you. You been working here and school, whole time that nigga couldn’t even sell any weed to pay a bill. I am glad you let him go.”

“Yeah, then the nigga had the nerve to cheat.”

Denise looked at me as if she was going to pass out.

“Get you a new nigga—a better nigga.”

I nodded. “That is the plan. Whenever I have the time.”

We went on with our morning routine, making sure the store was straight while having a few customers in and out. It was too busy, which was good for me. It gave me time to make sure I had vendors lined up for my next event, and I was trying to do some schoolwork when I looked up to check the store. I saw a woman off to the side looking at some dresses, but she looked defeated shortly after.

I watched her for a few more minutes before I went over and asked if she needed help. She exhaled.

“Is it that obvious?”

I gave a slight laugh. “Baby, yes. What are you looking for?”

She laughed. “I am looking for something special. My husband's birthday is in a few weeks, so I have time to find the right thing, but we have been having issues, and I just want to find the perfect dress.”

I could tell it meant a lot to her. She had a little tear in her eye.

“No problem, we are here to help. Come on.”

I took her to our seating area and asked her a few questions about what she liked. What colors she felt good in. I asked everything I could to find the right dress for her. Even Denise helped. We pulled a few things off the rack that she liked, but it wasn’t hittin’ the way she wanted it to.

I was damn near defeated myself when Denise said, “Why don’t you make her a dress, Ny?”

The lady's head snapped in my direction.

“You a designer?”

I shook my head. “Yes—well, no, I am in school for design, but⁠—”

“She can do it. She be making dresses for me,” Denise said, cutting me off. “Her designs will be hanging in here soon.”

I looked at Denise like she was setting me up, and she just smiled.

“I have to get to my hair appointment, but can you fit me?”

“Ummm…sure,” I said, still a lil’ in shock.

I took the lady off to the side and got her measurements, and she quickly explained to me what she was looking for.

“Okay, I’ll get on it. I might have to have you come in a few times for a fitting,” I explained.

She nodded as she headed toward the door. “That's cool, my name is Mariah.” She took my pen outta my hand and wrote her number on the clipboard. “Just let me know when to come, and I’ll be here.”

She walked outta the store with the smile on her face that I wanted her to leave with, then I turned to Denise.

“Girl, I got enough shit on my plate. Why would you do that?”

“Because your designs are fire! And now that Kyron is gone, you have the time and the space to expand.”