Page 17 of Stand on That

“zone of those men that knows he can’t be faithful, so he doesn’t commit. That’s cool. I respect that more than a cheater.”

“Yoooo I don’t get no kind of grace. That’s not the reason I’m single. If I’m going to be with one woman damn right, she has to make me feel like no other woman could compare. I have to be fully invested, and it won’t be because she’s pretty, thick, or someone that all the niggas want. I gotta look at shorty and feel like I’d kill any nigga that she let get close to her. Not on some egotistical shit but just on some I love her, and I can’t see her with anybody but me shit.”

“Ahh that was so sweet,” she gushed placing one hand over her heart.

“You playing,” I frowned making Vani giggle.

“No, I’m not. That was a very mature answer, and I can dig it.”

I stared at her because while I was describing my feelings it hit me that I pretty much felt that way about her. I’d never been possessive over any female that I had sex with but when I saw niggas in Vani’s face at the club, I didn’t like it. Things were still going good with us, and I would more than likely be ready to whoop ass if she dealt with another man. I was hesitant to express that because I didn’t want to make a mistake. Maybe I couldn’t be faithful. Maybe she would get comfortable once she was my girl and start nagging and turn into a totally different person.

“What if I said I felt like that about you?” I bit the bullet.

We maintained eye contact, and Vani didn’t respond right away. “I’d say you better make sure that’s how you really feel because I don’t have time for games.” Her tone was soft, but I could tell she meant business.

“I’m not trying to get my ass beat by you and Hailey,” I teased.

“Oh no,” she shook her head. “It won’t be just me and Hailey. Next time, Lo getting in on it too.”

I chuckled and leaned over. Placing a kiss on her lips, I peered into her eyes. “You ready to be the first girlfriend I’ve had since middle school?”

Again, Vani didn’t answer right away. Her eyes roamed over my face like she was searching for clues that I was for real. Half these chicks were slicker than men, so being with one woman shouldn’t be too hard. At least that was what I tried to tell myself.

“You better be sure, Darius because I don’t have time for bullshit.”

“I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t sure.”

Vani simply eyed me. She never gave me a verbal yes but in my head, what was understood didn’t have to be explained. Shorty was mine. Case closed.

“Dang, Vani. I mean I like him but already?” Lo asked as I placed a pair of folded leggings into a duffel bag.

I had been back from Antigua for two days. I hadn’t seen Darius because we both had to get back to the money. Before we left Antigua, however, we decided that I would move in with him. He gave me the money to pay booth rent in a salon to do braids because he didn’t want people coming to his house, and I respected that. I already knew my parents were going to talk shit, but I didn’t expect it from Lo. I picked up a shirt and gave her a pointed look.

“I’m there all the time anyway. What’s the point of running back and forth?”

“Because it is kind of soon. You and him don’t even really know each other for real. You’re still in the honeymoon phase, and I think it’s too soon for you to move in with him.”

“Girl,” I frowned at her. “Please tell me since when you started listening to or sounding like ma and dad. Everything they tell you goes in one ear and out the other.”

“Because I’m not repeating ma and dad. I’m telling you what I think.”

“Well, I didn’t really ask for opinions. I know what I want to do. Ma and daddy told me this isn’t a revolving door, and I get that. So, I’ll be stacking my bread. If me and Darius don’t work, I’ll just get my own place.”

Lo pushed out a sigh because she knew my mind was made up. Since I had been dealing with Darius, I had $6,000 in the bank from money that he gave me and money from braiding hair. I should have had double that, but I was going crazy in the mall and shopping online. Darius handed me money like it was nothing, and I spent money like it was nothing.

My parents noticed all my new expensive things and were giving me the side eye. I’m sure they thought Darius and I were doing a lot for a braider and a barber. They weren’t slow by far, but I think they were past the point of lectures. I was at the point in my life where they were probably going to do less talking and just let me fuck around and find out. It was cool though. I was ready to live life on my own terms. I didn’t want to keep sneaking shopping bags into the house and explaining every time Darius took me to a fancy steakhouse or out of the country. Yes, he sold drugs, but he was an adult, and so was I.

“Don’t move in with him and start acting brand new,” she mumbled like she really thought I would forget about her.

“Stop being dramatic,” I laughed. “I’m going to be around a lot. You can come keep me company any time. You can even come to the shop with me while I braid hair. I’ll throw you a few dollars to clean up the space for me or something. Girl, I’m still going to see you all the time. When you’re not busy with Tyriq.” I gave her a knowing smirk.

Just the mention of his name made her blush causing me to shake my head.

“You got it bad for that lil’ nappy headed boy.”

“I know you aren’t talking. Tyriq is cool, but I’m about to fall back a little. At first, I was making excuses for him because he’s a hood nigga. All he wants to do is smoke and chill. He never wants to go anywhere or do anything, and I was accepting that. But Darius is a street nigga, and he has you everywhere from fancy steakhouses to Antigua. I’m not letting a man do the bare minimum for me. And it’s not like Tyriq is broke,” she frowned.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Rushing over to Lo, I threw my arms around her and rocked our bodies from side to side.