Page 21 of Certified Sin

“Aye, let them through.” I tapped his shoulder.He stepped to the side. All of them tried to come forward at once, and I had to hold my hand up to stop them.

“I’mma speak to all y’all, one at a time, though.” They nodded their heads excitedly.

I went over to the one closest to me.

“What’s yo’ name, beautiful?” I greeted all of them the same way. I took a picture and signed a body part. Before I knew it, more people came over.

By the time I got through everybody, my hands were cramped up from signing so much. Somebody let me skip them in the line, so I quickly ordered, then went to stand somewhere else to wait.

“Excuse me, Mr. Rhymes. Can I get your autograph?” I heard from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I smiled when I saw it was Ronnie.

“Hell yeah, Ms. Lady. Where you want it at? Here?” I pointed to her titties and her mouth snapped shut as she tried not to laugh.

“What about here?” I touched her forehead before she reached up to slap my hand away.

“You play too much.” She looked around.

“How long you been here?” I crossed my arms.

“Long enough. Sorry I didn’t get in line to take a picture. Bad hair day.” She touched her edges, smiling at me.

“Nah, you perfect.” The grin disappeared from her face at my statement as if she’d never got a compliment before.

“Oh! Thank you.” She shuffled from one foot to the other, and I heard my name being called for my order.

“You wanna sit with me for a minute while I eat?” She glanced off, and I licked my lips. I don’t know why I'm so nervous. “No pressure if you got somewhere to be.”

“No, no.” She shook her head. “That’ll be nice.”

I asked the security guard to get my food while I went to wash my hands. When I came back out, Ronnie was still in the same spot.

Leading her to a far table in the back, I pulled out her chair. She threw me a small smile as she sat down. A few people were standing around with their phones out, no doubt taking a picture of us. I frowned.

“You already ate?” She looked up, startled.

“Huh? Oh yeah. I’ve been here for a while. I wanted to eat something before I went home. What you doing here this late?” She folded her arms on the table. The server put my food down in front of me.

“My sister is pregnant. She wanted oxtails, so I thought I might as well get something while I’m here too. I gotta get to the studio soon.”

“With Sin?” she asked apprehensively, and our eyes locked together.

“Yeah, Ms. Lady, with Sin,” I answered, and silence filled the space between us. “Y’all good?”

I don’t like getting in Sin’s business, but the light I saw in her eyes the first time we met ain’t there no more. That means his ass is doing what Sin always does — fucking shit up.

“Yeah, he’s a good dude.” I laughed out loud because I know a lie when I hear one.

“What’s so funny?” she asked with a frown.

“I’ve known Sin since middle school, and that ain’t the word I’d use to describe him.” I shrugged, digging into my curry chicken.

“Maybe you don’t know him that well.” Ronnie retorted harshly, and I knew him better than any muthafucka around here, including himself.

“Nah, ma. Maybe you don’t know him,” I whispered, sipping my soda.

She huffed out a breath, and leaped from the chair, but I grabbed her arm before she could get far. “Alright, alright. That came out wrong. Sit back down, Ronnie.”

I tilted my head toward the chair, and she cut her eyes at me, but plopped her ass down in the seat.