All the wind left my body when he said that. The fuck did he mean he wanted me to pretend to be his girl? Was he fucking for real? Nah, he can’t be.
“Excuse me? You want me to pretend to be your girl so the press can get off your back?” I had to laugh to keep from bashing this nigga’s head into the steering wheel.
“I mean, yeah.” He shrugged.
The laughter that emitted from my soul was unbearable. This couldn’t be for real.
“Wait, let me get this straight,” I said between laughing. “You want me to be your pretend girlfriend so that you look like this upstanding man on and off the field, yet I’m the one that’s actually being played? Nigga, please be so for real,” I simpered.
“Listen, we’ll both get something out of this. These muthafuckas can get off my back and I know you need the money, so it’s not like you’re in a position to turn me down.” When he said that, I squinted my eyes in his direction because how in the hell did he know what I needed.
“What did you just say? How do you know what I need?” I asked with my voice laced with plenty of attitude.
“I heard you and your girl talking about your tuition and shit. You do me this solid and I can take care of that shit for you,” he stated, like I was just supposed to be overjoyed.
Instead of responding, I got out of his truck, making sure to slam the door before I trekked to my car. That nigga had a nerve to think he could use my situation to take advantage of me. Fuck him and his image.
***
I couldn’t even focus on clinicals today. My mind was too occupied with that bullshit ass proposition presented to me. I guess he was used to these money hungry hoes, but that wasn’t me. I didn’t give one fuck about his image.
I called Janae on the way home and told her to come straight to my house when she got off. I needed to tell her about this shit because I had to tell somebody and I knew she wouldn’t tell anyone.
As soon as I got home, I showered and got comfortable. I went to the kitchen to fix us something to eat while I had a drink. By the time I had the steak alfredo done, she was walking in looking straight like the salon.
“You could’ve gone home and got the salon off of you,” I said when I saw her.
“Bitch, you said come straight here and straight here I came... hair and all,” she explained as she took her smock off and hung it on the back of the stool. “What’s wrong, though? You sounded pissed on the phone.”
While I plated our food and fixed drinks, I ran down everything that Titan told me. I explained it the way he did and what he said as his selling point. By the time I was done, I had run through the entire ordeal, and my best friend was looking at me like I had just burst into flames.
“Are you going to say something or look at me like I’m melting?” I frowned.
“I wanted to make sure it was nothing else you had to say before I called you a dumb bitch.” She frowned.
“Excuse you?” I fired back.
“You’re excused, bitch... you’re dumb as fuck too,” she spat. I was about to curse her ass out, but she put her hand up to stop me. “I’on wanna hear it. This man has already been tipping you out the ass. He clearly likes you, playboy or not, and now he’s offering to pay your tuition so you can graduate, and all you haveto do is pretend to be his girlfriend? Hoe are you dumb?” She spat. She had a look of disgust on her face and had she not been my best friend, I would’ve smashed her head into the countertop by now.
“So, you want me to hoe my way out of school?” I asked for clarity.
“No, I want you to be smart enough to take an opportunity when it presents itself,” she clarified. “This man didn’t say you didn’t have to do anything but pretend, and you do that every time you’re at work. I’m pretty sure it won’t go beyond that unless the two of you want it to. For now, I say you do what you gotta do to get this money so you can graduate. If that means living in the land of make believe for a while, then do that shit. You’ve done worse for less.” She shrugged, ending her statement.
I had to admit that she was right, but I didn’t want to admit right away.
“You don’t have to say shit because I know I’m right. Hell, I’ll do the shit... for free, but he didn’t ask me... he asked you, so what you gone do, Cady? Barbecue or mildew?” I rolled my eyes at her country ass before letting my thoughts get the best of me. I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to do this, especially if I got the money to pay my tuition. I’d have to get that shit upfront though because I would hate to have to break the world’s best wide receiver’s leg for fucking over on me.
“Ugh, why did I call you?” I whined.
“Because I’m your best bitch and you know I’m gone give it to you straight. Shit like this don’t happen every day... this ain’t no urban fiction fairy tale. Opportunities like this don’t fall into your lap... I suggest you take that man up on his offer and seal the deal with some good dick.” She stuck her tongue out after her last statement, and I couldn’t do shit but laugh. This is why she was my best friend.
“Since you put it that way... I guess it makes sense. I was fully prepared to beat that big nigga’s ass,” I laughed.
“And I would’ve helped you if I thought he was on some bullshit. This man has been on you for weeks, so you know he’s feeling you.”
“Yeah, and every bitch he comes in contact with,” I countered.
“That man is young, single, rich and fucking fine. Nobody cares when these broke niggas do it,” she refuted before stuffing her mouth with more pasta.
