Page 6 of Stand on That

“It’s definitely time for me to get my own spot. I do want to have fun this summer, but I’m serious about saving. I think I’ll be ready to start looking in the next two or three months. Everybody starts wanting to get braids in the summer before going on vacation.”

“Keep fucking with me, and you can save your money and mine too.”

I twisted my body slightly in the seat, so I could get a real good look at him. “You are fine don’t get me wrong. Like real fine. But does it bother you that a lot of women more than likely want you because of what you have?”

“Hell nah it doesn’t bother me. They can want whatever they desire. Doesn’t mean they’re going to get it. At the end of the day, I don’t give anybody shit that I don’t want to. I’ll give a bum on the street fifty dollars. That shit ain’t nothing. A female thinking she finessed me ‘cus I gave her fifty or a hundred dollars is some lame shit. But I’ll let her think she ran my pockets if it makes her feel good. I can’t take a chick serious that thinks a few hunnid is running a nigga’s pockets. If I buy houses and cars and shit, she can brag. Is that why you like me? For my money?” he glanced over at me.

“Hell no. There’s a chance that I won’t get to spend any of your money because the first time I get into some shit behind one of your hoes or I just don’t want to deal I’m not,” I held my head high and spoke with confidence.

“Can’t be mad at that.”

“You never tell me where we’re going.”

“Just ride. Get the weed and cigar out of the glove compartment and roll up.”

I did as he requested. When it came to rolling, I was good enough for myself, but I was a little nervous that Darius would clown my rolling skills. I had only been smoking for two years, and I didn’t roll for the first six or so months after I started smoking. I always got someone to do it for me.

“You want something?” Darius’ tone broke my concentration as my head lifted, and I realized that he’d stopped at a convenience store.

“Um a Cran-grape juice and some plain potato chips. Preferably Ruffles.”

I went back to concentrating on rolling up. When I was done, I inspected my work and felt that I had done pretty good. Darius got back in the car with a plastic bag full of goodies. When he looked over, he inspected the blunt and gave a head nod. “Aight you know a lil’ something. Light it up.”

Darius and I smoked while he drove through the streets of Diamond Cove. The first stop he made was at a house. When he pulled up in the driveway, a cute guy with long locs approached the car. Darius rolled the window down, and the guy gave him a pound. He then passed Darius a wad of money. Darius reached into the backseat and grabbed a black bookbag. After he passed it to the man, they slapped palms and Darius pulled off.

I was high as hell and in a zone as he rode around and made a few plays. I saw him get passed bankroll after bankroll. Finally, he stopped at a burger joint and got us food. My high ass was famished. By the time he pulled into the parking lot of some townhouses, I was done eating. When he killed the engine, I looked over at him.

“We getting out or just you?”

“We’re getting out. Come on. This my crib. Nobody lives here but me.” I was still high, so the butterflies weren’t quite fluttering, but I still wasn’t one hundred percent confident. I had never been lame or corny, but I couldn’t be certain that I could compete with the women that Darius dealt with. He didn’t strike me as one of those old ass dope boys that targeted young girls. He liked grown women. And yes, I was grown, but I wasn’t as experienced as he was. I’d never lived on my own. The only bills I had were a car payment, car insurance, and cell phone.

Darius unlocked the door and punched in a code for the alarm system. I followed him inside and when he flipped the light switch, I was very impressed. His home was clean and had black leather couches like most male bachelor pads. I liked it though. This shit felt grown up. It made me feel like a kid for still living at home with my parents even though I was only twenty, and they weren’t rushing me to get out.

There was a huge television in the room with a glass coffee table and a bookcase tucked in the corner. For me, the gag was that the bookcase was actually filled with books. “You read?” I glanced from him to the bookcase.

“Yeah, I read,” he chuckled. “I don’t have time to read as much as I want, but I do most days. Even if it’s only a few pages.”

“What do you like to read?”

“I’ll read some fiction. I like Game of Thrones. But I’ve read everything from the Ethiopian Bible to books about Buddhism, and Medusa.” Once again, I was impressed. “What time you have to be home?” he stepped out of his sneakers.

I didn’t want to sound like a kid, but I didn’t want to hear my parents’ mouth either. They knew at my age, I wasn’t having sleepovers at my friends’ houses. Even if they didn’t think I was a virgin, some things were still awkward. They knew I smoked weed, but I didn’t want them to know I was spending the night with a man. Especially one that they hadn’t met.

“I don’t necessarily have a curfew. I just try to make it home before the sun rises.”

“Bet. I’m about to take a shower. Make yourself at home.”

Even though I was alone once he walked out of the room, I still bit my bottom lip to keep a smile from breaking through. He hadn’t even spent any money on me for real. Nor had we had sex, and I was so smitten it was sickening. I knew having sex with that man was going to mess my head all the way up. But I still wanted to do it.

Twenty minutes later, Darius was back in the room dressed in nothing but basketball shorts and socks. The ink covering his chest was begging me to look at it, but the slight muscles in his arms and the hardness of his stomach had me thinking inappropriate thoughts. The smell of soap wafting off his body almost had my mouth watering. The man was so sexy it should have been a crime.

“Come here.” His tone was barely audible, yet his voice was so deep. I had never been so turned on in my life.

I scooted closer to him, and he leaned over to speak directly into my ear. “You gon’ go to Antigua with me for real? I’ll give you the money tonight to book our flights.”

“Yeah, I’m serious.”

When Darius gently bit my earlobe, my eyes closed as I bit my bottom lip. He moved over to my lips and snaked his tongue into my mouth. I had kissed plenty, but kissing Darius made my head spin. It could have been the weed, but I was almost certain that it was him. When he pulled me onto his lap, I didn’t resist at all. We kissed for what felt like forever. The entire time our tongues were intertwined, he palmed my butt cheeks. I could feel his hard bulge beneath me, and it had me anxious to feel it and nervous at the same time.