Page 20 of Fraudulent Beauty

“I could arrest you just for having this.”

“Okay, Khalif, if you want to arrest me do that,” she snapped. Her voice was laced with attitude, but I was upset too.

Tahli was cool as fuck. I liked her, and I was hoping we’d remain on good terms, so I could introduce her to Sierra. I wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t trying to be connected to a criminal. I worked too hard to become a police officer. It wasn’t the highest paying job, but until I was ready to find something else, it would do. I didn’t even respond to Tahli’s comments with words. I sat back and stared out of the window as she drove to the dealership. A lot of people might feel I was overreacting if I asked their opinion, but I was the one on the force. If Tahli was known as my girlfriend or someone that I was close to and she got arrested, there would be talk. People would wonder if I knew about it and turned a blind eye to it. Plus, she worked at a damn bank. If her ass got caught being involved with identify theft and financial fraud, she could kiss that job goodbye.

I wanted to tell her that, but something told me she already knew, and she obviously didn’t care. The tension in the car was thick enough to be cut with a knife. When both of us were pissed, the drive seemed to take way longer than it did the first time. When she arrived at the dealership, I got out of the car without saying anything, Maybe I needed to go to therapy and get evaluated. My attraction to women with questionable characters seemed to be a pattern.

The door wasn’t even closed good before Tahli was speeding off. Where the fuck were the nice, wholesome women at that didn’t commit crimes?

I was living in Sheniah’s house, so having an attitude with her felt awkward, but she had to be the one to tell Nook my business. I was smart enough to know that Nook probably knew some of my business. Couples pillow talked. Some just talked more than others, but I didn’t want Nook or anyone else knowing that I had done illegal shit. Clearly, he wasn’t thinking about me when he ran his mouth to Khalif. That nigga didn’t ask any questions, he just went straight to spazzing, and that was off the strength of what Nook’s lame ass said?

I had just started looking for apartments when I got a notification from one of my social media platforms. My mouth literally fell open when I saw that my upcoming payout was for $4,19.34. That was surreal to me. I wasn’t going to keep being afraid to apply. Depending on others for a place to live wasn’t how I wanted to spend my life. It was for the birds.

I had just finished scheduling a tour with a leasing agent, but I kept looking in case I didn’t like or get approved for that apartment. I needed two bedrooms because all the wigs that I had took up space. The second room could be my guest bedroom. I saw some really nice two-bedroom apartments for less than $2,000 a month. If I got approved for one of them, I could pay the first months’ rent and deposit with my entire check from social media. That was enough to put me in a much better mood.

While I was responding to emails, Sheniah entered the room with a smile on her face. “Hey boo. I was online earlier, and I saw the video you posted last night already has like 12,000 views. You going up, friend.”

I didn’t have a fake bone in my body. Sheniah was going to know that something was bothering me, so I knew I might as well go ahead and confront her about it. I didn’t hate her. If she pillow talked and told my business, I’d be pissed for a few days, but I wouldn’t stop being her friend over it.

“Nook told Khalif that I was a scammer. Any idea where he got that information from?”

Sheniah’s jaw muscles clenched. “Wow,” she shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe he did that.” Sheniah looked at me with pleading eyes. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t just telling your business. It was like the fifth time you’d cracked a card, and I was scared for you. I didn’t tell his stupid ass that for him to tell anyone else. If you hate me, I understand. Khalif is cool, but he is a police officer. Nook would have never known if I didn’t tell him.”

Hearing her confess made me a little angrier, but even then, I couldn’t pretend like I hated her. Sheniah was like my sister. I didn’t get mad at her often, but when I did, it would only last a day or two.

“It’s fine,” I mumbled. It really wasn’t, but I’d get over it.

“What did Khalif say? I can talk to him about it. I’m so sorry, friend.”

Pushing out a sigh, I shook my head. “He didn’t say anything about it until earlier when he found a fake license in my car. I told him I could explain, and he basically said he already knew what it was because Nook told him. I won’t lie. I did scam recently, but I don’t plan on doing it anymore. He just flew off the handle like I personally stole from him.”

“Khalif has never cared about Nook smoking weed. When he’s not in uniform, I’m trying to figure out when he became so self-righteous. I never judged you, Tahli. Right hand to God, I just didn’t want you to get in trouble.”

“I get it, Sheniah,” I mumbled. “It really doesn’t even matter. I did what I did, and if Khalif doesn’t want to date me, I’m not going to cry about it. Fuck it.”

I was putting up a brave front, but I did feel bad. I liked Khalif. I liked him a lot, but I wasn’t about to apologize to him because I committed fraud in the past. If he didn’t want to date me because of that, then so be it. I wasn’t even sure why I still had the ID in my possession. It was a dummy move, but I still hadn’t gotten rid of it.

“But Tahli. He is a really good catch. Maybe he was caught off guard. I think once he cools down, he’ll see that he overreacted.”

“He didn’t overreact. He told me exactly how he feels. If he introduces me to his daughter or enters a relationship with me, and I get arrested for fraud, he’s right. It won’t be a good look.”

“But you don’t do it anymore, right?”

I didn’t have any plans of doing it again, but who really knew if I’d get desperate enough to do it again?

“It’s fine, Sheniah. I’m not running Khalif down to explain anything to him. I’m not begging no nigga. It was fun while it lasted.”

She stood there with a forlorn look on her face, and I was just ready to be alone. I was used to being single. Leaving Khalif alone wouldn’t make my life feel too much different than it had felt for years. I knew when I found out he was a cop that we might not be compatible. I would have rather him found out on his own than for Nook’s bitch ass to reveal it. He was the main one trying to hook us up then had the nerve to get mad at Sheniah and snitch. He was the true definition of a fuck nigga.

Sheniah looked so sad, my anger toward her melted. She was on the verge of tears. “You better not start crying,” I warned. “I know you’re not the type to tell people’s business, so if you told him out of genuine concern, I’m not mad at you. There’s no need to be angry with Khalif either. He’s just doing his job.”

“I’m about to cook. You want to come in the kitchen and drink wine with me?”

Standing up, I grabbed my laptop to take to the kitchen with me. “Yes, let’s have some wine because you look like you’re about to cry. I’m the one that lost a nigga. What are you crying for?” I jested.

“Tahli, I’m about to call him.”

“No, you’re not. It’s fine. Just stop talking about him, please.”