Page 22 of Certified Sin

“Well, if he’s so bad, why are you still friends with him?” she inquired, and sometimes I asked myself that same question.

“Where we’re from in Miami, real friends are hard to come by,” I explained. I had four niggas I was close with in my life. Sadly, Sin is the only one still alive and well. “We were seniors at Miami Norland just walking home from campus when somebody sprayed the sidewalk with bullets.”

“Oh my god!” Ronnie covered her mouth with her hands.

“I almost took one to the chest, until Sin jumped in front of me and took it.” I scooped rice on my spoon, putting it in my mouth.

It took Ronnie a minute to reply. “He did that for you?”

I nodded.

“We lost another brother, Dre, that same day. Sin was lucky he made it after surgery.” I felt guilty when it first happened, before I found out how it really went down.

“So, you feel like you owe him?” I drank the rest of the soda.

“Nah, I paid him back for that a long time ago.”

I sat back in the chair, studying her. “Why you with him?”

She looked taken aback. “What kind of question is that?”

“A serious one.” I know when a muthafucka was avoiding the subject, but I won’t let Ronnie get off that easily. I need to know where her head is. “I saw how he treated you in the studio. You can’t think that shit is okay, Ms. Lady.”

“He wanted me to stay with him.” She shrugged her shoulders, staring down at her hands.

“Why?” I rubbed my chin.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Why did he want you to stay?” I clarified.

“He likes my company.” I couldn’t help it when I laughed out loud.

“Damn, baby. He’s got you so far gone that you don’t even know what to do with yourself.” With a smile still on my face, I cleaned up the rest of the food.

“I didn’t stay here just for you to insult me, Reese.” Ronnie rolled her eyes. My eyebrows raised to my hairline. She wanna jump froggy with me but let Sin’s ass run all over her.

“If I’m insulting you, what was Sin doing when he told you to miss work just to sit in the studio to watch him rap. That shit wasn’t insulting to you?” I chuckled under my breath, standing up from the table.

Leaning down to her ear, I whispered. “If it were me, I wouldn’t stand in front to block you. I’ll stand behind you, because it ain’t nothing more satisfying than seeing my girl shine.”

With that, I walked away, leaving Ronnie to think about what I said. The crush I had on her ass is gone, especially after what I just witnessed. It doesn’t mean I can’t shoot her a little knowledge. At least she knows now how a real man operated.

Chapter 16

Ronnie

“So,you got told off by Reese Rhymes yesterday?” Monae sat across from me at Starbucks talking shit. I met up with her on my break to make up for the dinner I missed.

“I wouldn’t say, told off. I’ll just say,” I huffed, thinking it over. “He read me my rights, bitch.”

She laughed, high fiving me over the table. I still can’t believe what he said. When Reese mentioned standing behind me, it got my panties wet. I guess I’ve been wrong about who I thought he was this whole time.

“So, if his best friend is telling you he’s no good, shouldn’t you break up with him?” She sipped her coffee. I know I should, I’m just not ready to admit my dad was right.

“The thought of running back to my dad and telling him he was right...” My voice trailed off.

“Trust me, boo. I know. You got to put them big girl pants on, though. Tell him you’re sorry,” she explained.