Page 23 of Still Yours

“Yes, I’m for real. I’ve always focused on getting money, going to school, and being Dexz’s best friend. I’ve never dated anyone in my life. I’ve always thought I would be alone until somebody swept me off my feet.”

“Damn, so that nigga never really fucked you?”

“Nope, I kissed him when we were fifteen, and that was it.”

“Damn… well, consider yourself taken. You’re my girl now.” He grabbed her hand and cuffed it into his.

“I can’t have sex with you. I’m not ready, and I just met you.”

“You can trust me, ma. We don’t have to have sex, but I want you to be my girl. You’re safe with me like you were with Dexz. That’s why he sent you here. We can start as friends from here and move up at your pace. Okay?” He smiled and gazed into her eyes, hoping she would say yes.

“I think you’re cute, but having a boyfriend is a big step. We can date, but I don’t know about a boyfriend just yet.” She gazed at him with puppy dog eyes, hoping he understood.

Lunden was beaming. “I can work with that because I’ma claim you anyway. I’m about to take you on your first date right now. I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier; I just get impatient. Let’s go celebrate your win.”

“This won’t be my first date, but I’m not tripping about you being irritated because I know I am picky. It used to get on Dexz’s nerves too. Speaking of him, you think he gon’ be mad that you’re trying to date me?” She gazed at him innocently, remembering what Dexz had told her in the letter.

When he got out, he wanted to finish where they left off, but she wasn’t even sure if that meant anything.

“That nigga gon’ get out and find him a hoodrat. He ain’t gon’ trip off us. If anything, he gon’ be happy. My nigga ain’t no hater,” Lunden tried to assure her.

She sighed. “Well, let me fix that line. Oh yeah, tell your cousin she’s hired if she brings me some clients so I can make some money before I open.”

“A’ight, say less…”

Lunden sat down and let Pretti fix his hair. Impressed, he made sure that from that day forward, she would be his barber.

Chapter 12

LUST’S MISTAKE

Pretti stood at her station, smiling as her client, Lolo, made her laugh with the story he was telling her. It had been a year since her shop had opened, and she already had an overwhelming number of loyal clients.

Every day, they came in and told her what was going on in their lives, as if she were their therapist. She didn’t just give good haircuts; she listened well, too. All the men thought she was innocent and loved her California accent. So, they confided in her the best way they could. She didn't mind either because they always left her with a big tip.

“That bitch had the nerve to come to my party and try to fight my girl like she was my main bitch. My wife beat her ass, but now I'm in the doghouse. I ain't messing with no more hoes,” Lolo protested as Pretti lined up the back of his neck.

“That’s crazy, Lolo. I hope you’ve learned your lesson because you come in here every week with the same damn stories about your wife putting you in the doghouse because of another woman.” She picked up her mirror and handed it to Lolo. He checked out his crispy line and smiled brightly as he nodded his head.

“Your skills are fire, yo.” Lolo stood up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of bills.

“Thank you, Lolo.”

He then handed her two hundred-dollar bills. His cut was only sixty, but he always gave her more.

“I only give you that much every week because I enjoy coming in here and getting a cut from your fine ass. Plus, I know you out here trying to be an independent lady, and I support that. I’ll see you in two weeks.” He winked and walked off.

Pretti smiled and slid the money into her tips wallet. It was only four in the evening, and she had made two thousand dollars. Not only was she cutting hair, but she was also braiding too.

“You always letting these niggas flirt with you,” Lunden walked up and said softly near her ear.

Pretti turned around and faced him with her nose turned up. “I can’t control the way these dudes talk to me, and he wasn’t flirting. Lolo is cool, you know that. He’s your boy.”

“Yeah, you say that about all these niggas. You supposed to be my girl, and you make yourself available for all these niggas that come through here, yo.”

She sighed.

For the last year, she and Lunden had gotten serious. They had gotten so close, and she liked their relationship, but she thought he was possessive. He hated the way men looked at her, so he was always on the scene when she was working.