AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh!” I giggled awkwardly again. “No. I’m fine. I actually need to run.”
Her surveilling eyes wouldn’t leave me. “Okay.” She chortled, but wouldn’t move.
“Okay.” My faux beam widened. “This is awkward.”
Her eyes blossomed and mouth formed anO. She then placed her palm over her forehead. “Maldición!” she whispered, cursing herself then shook her head. “Juggy told me about you.”
“Okay…”
“He said you were popular…a dancer onTikTok?”
I nodded. “Amongst other platforms.”Including my own studio, Juggy. Ugh!
“He said you were an entrepreneur, too. In building like him and Jas with your own company.”
“Yeah.”
“He said Jas is crazy about you. I knew when I had to clean up the candles and rose petals.” She grinned coyly. “Jas don’t have women over. Not like that.” Her head shook softly.
I didn’t know what to say to that. Perhaps I understood with all of Jas’ unrealistic dating expectations. But the way this woman regarded me felt there was more she perceived.
“That Juggy is a talker, huhn?” Because what else could I say?
Consuela smiled with a closed mouth and meeting brows. “He didn’t say how beautiful you were. He said pretty, but…you know how Juggy talks. Jas neither. They never said how gorgeous you are.” Her eyes fell as she nodded.
That felt sincere. And based on the features of Jas’ dating contestants, I could see why she may have been taken aback.
My hand went to my dry, naked face. Not having used my daily moisturizer, I was sure I looked a sight. That aside, it felt amazing receiving a compliment from a stunning woman herself. An unexpected beam lit my face. “With the type of few days I’ve had, I think I needed that. Thanks, Consuela.”
She bowed at the neck. “Have a great day, Shi-Shi.”
“Thanks.” I nodded then continued to the front door.
I wiped my mouth, chewing as Danny Lew approached our table. His nose was a cranberry shade and I watched as he rubbed it and sniffled on the way. Peeping my attention going over his head, Jug turned and laughed.
“Yooooo, DL! You on time?” When Danny’s response was just the rolling of the eyes, Jug laughed again. “Yeah. I’ll be mad at my moms naming me DL, too. You down low ass nigga. Where ya fat belly friend today?”
Meeting us at a pizzeria today, Danny was alone. I didn’t have time to figure out why. When he stopped at the table, I tossed my chin to Jug. He wiped his hands then pulled out the envelope with a check written to Danny Lew from my LLC. I was following our plan since the first day we agreed on me being on the backend ofJust Homesacquisition process as a partner instead ofRizzo’s Custom Homesbeing included. It was, ironically, similar to how I acquiredRizzo’s Custom Homes & Developerson paper. The difference was with Paulie Rizzo, my payments were only paper because the company itself was his debt to me. We worked it all out to appear legit. My legal team was the best.
“Yeah,” Danny took the envelope and placed it in the inside pocket of his jacket. His eyes were red and he kept sniffling his runny nose. “well, this shit may be happening sooner than planned.”
“How do you mean?” I asked before taking another bite of my pizza.
“I just came from the rehab facility, visiting my old man. He fell last week in the shower…broke his hip. There’s no way he can finish up the proposals. He’s crazy medicated…on the heavy shit. I’ve gotta step up.”
Oh, damn.
My first and dominant thought was compassion. I’d be sure to include Dan Lewinski in my prayers for healing over the next few months.
Still, the words shooting uninspired from my mouth were, “Then that means you’ve got work to do. Don’t it?”
“But you’s smart for droppin’ that dead weight ridin’ with you, though.” Jug taunted. “You need dogs around you, not pussies. And stay the fuck outta pops’ pill stash. Cop ya own, my nigga.”
“Oh, fuck you, bro!” Danny grunted, trying to keep his voice low. “You know, you didn’t have to shove that gun in Bobby’s mouth. He had to wait until the swelling went down and is still waiting to have his teeth replaced.”
Jug laughed at him again. “Fuck you think I was pose’d to do? Let y’all pussies think it’s okay to take my man’s money and not hold up your side of the deal? You know what we call that where we come from? Sucka suckin’. Sin ain’t no sucka and ain’t suckin’ shit off you, bitch.”
My phone chirped as Danny Lew used his sleeve to swipe his nose.
