Now, he understood that social media was a scam because nowhere on there had she ever mentioned a daughter or eventhat punk ass Charles had died. Since Iskyiah had reappeared in his life, he planned on learning every little thing about her. The new her. The grown her. He had done the same thing when they were kids. What could be so hard about it now that they were grown?
Something told him he was being dumb and that being grown would, in fact, complicate things. She had clearly been through a few things, losing her bitch ass baby daddy, having a child, and raising the girl on her own.
Wait, what if she ain’t been raising her alone? What if she got a man?
Fuck that. That nigga would have to move all the way around. To Taiwan, in fact. That seemed like a good distance away from what washis. Iskyiah Nathans had always been his. His best friend. His first love. His only love. When it came to her, he was not ashamed to admit he was greedy as hell.
With a sigh, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed the one person he knew who could give him some direction. After tapping the contact, he listened to the phone ringing in his ear while he looked around the room again. In front of him was a fireplace. He pictured him and Iskyiah wrapped up in some blankets—naked—while he played in her sweet ass pussy with his pointer finger as his thumb caressed her silky clit. His lips suctioned around her nipple?—
“What, Mo? You’re supposed to be on vacation.” Teyanna finally answered the phone with irritation filling her voice.
Moolah snapped out of his daydreaming and frowned. “Fuck wrong wit’ you? That nigga do somethin’?”
Teyanna chuckled. “Why you always so on go? You claim to love my husband but always ready to kick his ass.”
That was true. Teyanna got married a few years back, and her husband was a nigga Moolah actually considered a good friend. Teyanna had met Julien in college. She went for her associatesdegree to appease her parents. Moolah got his high school diploma and then his associates degree in prison. By the time he got out, Teyanna had already fallen in love with that nigga, and Moolah wasn’t impressed. Julien was a square ass nigga, but the longer he hung around, the more Moolah realized Julien wasn’t no punk bitch. A square, yeah, but the nigga had heart, and he never let Moolah bully him. Moolah respected it, and over the years, they formed a brotherly bond, but that didn’t mean Julien couldn’t get got if he fucked with Teyanna in any way.
“You gon’ tell me what’s goin’ on or not, Tey?” he asked impatiently.
She sighed loudly in his ear. “Nothing’s wrong. I just didn’t think I would be hearing from you for the next day or so. You out in Cali, ain’t you?”
Ignoring her question, he asked, “It’s a problem I’m callin’ you or somethin’?”
“Boy, no. I ain’t say that. What the hell do you want, Moolah?”
Moolah ran a hand down his face. “I ain’t even plan to call yo’ nappy headed ass, but you won’t believe who I ran into.”
“Who?” Teyanna’s voice perked up. If she was nothing else, she was nosy as hell.
“Iskyiah.”
A long pause tested Moolah’s patience as he waited for her to say something. Just when he was about to spazz, she spoke.
“Iskyiah Nathans?”
“Man, Tey, you know any other Iskyiah?”
“Don’t snap at me, shit. I’m just . . . shocked.”
Iskyiah wasn’t really someone he spoke about over the years. While they were in high school, Teyanna kept an eye on Iskyiah, but they never really hung out after Moolah left. Iskyiah had asked Teyanna on more than one occasion about Moolah backthen, but she’d been sworn to secrecy. Her loyalty would always lie with Moolah.
When Moolah finally came home, he talked about reconnecting with Iskyiah nonstop, but when it became clear she wanted nothing to do with him, he kept all his thoughts of her private. Still, he knew he hadn’t fooled Teyanna. She would bring Iskyiah up from time to time, mainly when she badgered him about settling down.
“Iskyiah can’t be the only woman you ever love, Mo. She’s from the past. It’s time you left her there,”she’d say.
Moolah never paid her any mind when she went on those tangents. He understood that she was just looking out for him, but nobody seemed to understand that Iskyiah was it for him. If he couldn’t have her, he didn’t want anyone. He dated women here and there, but nothing ever lasted more than six months. Whatever voodoo Iskyiah had, it never loosened its grip on him, so Teyanna would understand better than anyone why this was such a big deal for him.
“She already tryna run from me. I need your help.”
Teyanna snickered. “Iskyiah mothafuckin’ Nathans. That’s wild. You aren’t about to let up on her, are you?”
“You know I’m not.”
Teyanna sighed. “Alright, look, Mo. You can’t just force it, okay? I know you’re used to bullying your way through life, but women don’t like that shit. If you’re really trying to romance her, you need to treat her nicely.”
“I always treat Sky nice.” Moolah frowned.
“Duh, dummy. What I mean is treat her like a lady. Romance her. Do some nice shit for her. Take her on a date and get to know her again. And don’t rush the shit.”
