Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1) (6 page)

“
Well, I’m not one of those easy chicks. I’d rather wait,” I told him. I was still standing up.

He reached out and pulled me back down to him. It was as if he wasn’t trying to take no for an answer. Duke roughly put his mouth on top of mine again and forced his tongue into my mouth. This time it didn’t taste as good as the first time. I felt as if he was trying to choke me. I started squirming and then I forcefully pushed him. I couldn’t move his muscular body, but he eventually got the picture and stopped holding me down. I stood up again. Between the effects of the champagne and my heavy breathing from trying to get Duke off me, I felt a little dizzy. I staggered away from him.

“
Beautiful, I’m sorry. I’m just feeling you so much,” he explained. I softened when he said that.

“
I just don’t want to do it right now, Duke. Please understand,” I said. I wanted him to respect me. He could say whatever he wanted to say, if I had let him fuck me so soon he wouldn’t want to make me his wifey. I was trying to be somebody’s wife, not go through another quick, slam-bam-thank you ma’am relationship.

Duke was quiet. He looked like he was disappointed. I wanted to rush over to him and beg him to understand but I stood my ground instead. I was almost sure he probably had women all over Virginia, but I wanted to win him over. I wanted to be with him for the long haul if it was meant to be. If I had given in to him that early, I knew that would be the kiss of death for my chances at being his number one.

“
Duke, are you ok?” I asked as I picked up my purse.

“
I’m good. I will take you home as soon as my head clears a little bit,” he said flatly. I could tell he was really disappointed by the situation.

“
It’s all good. I can take a cab home. I have to go anyway. Diamond doesn’t have her keys and I need to let her in the house,” I lied. I needed to get the heck out of there as fast as possible before I gave in to him. I wanted him but I had to stand pat. To give in would be the end of my dream.

Surprisingly, Duke didn’t argue with me. Instead, he was good enough to call me a cab. He tried to give me money for the cab, but since I was the one who insisted on taking a cab, I refused his money. He grabbed my purse and pushed the money inside. I was glad. Truth be told, from where Duke lived to where I lived was going to be expensive and I had only brought forty dollars with me.

When the cab arrived, I told Duke good night. He didn’t try to kiss me or anything. I hung my head and walked to the cab.

I looked back at Duke when the cab pulled out of his driveway. He was still watching me, which told me although he was disappointed that I didn’t give it up, he was probably impressed with the fact that he would have to work hard to get me.

I wanted to be a lady of class for him.

Cheaper to Keep Her Unique

Chapter 5—Some People Hate

I dialed Diamond’s phone as soon as I got in the cab.

Diamond finally answered her damn phone. “What’s up? Where the hell you been at?” I yelled into the receiver, causing the cab driver to look at me funny. I frowned at his ass and continued with my conversation. Diamond gave me some lame ass excuse about she was at the club, then she went here and there. The bottom line after all the bullshit was that she was caught up with Brian because he had gotten out of the hospital.

“
Well, I forgive you this time. But don’t do that shit again! You had me fucking worried like hell,” I chastised. Diamond promised not to disappear like that. Then she asked me for all of the details about me and Duke.

“
Diamond, you don’t understand how much I am feeling this nigga,” I told her. I could tell by the screeching in the phone that Diamond was excited for me. She made me smile.

I told her all about the spa, lunch, shopping, the dress and all of it. She told me she had seen the Saks bags. Then I told her about what had just happened with Duke. “Girl, I feel so guilty not giving him some after all the shit he did for me these last two days,” I said sadly.

“
Don’t you feel guilty girl. He can wait and the longer you make him wait, the more respect he gon’ have for that ass,” Diamond told me sternly.

“
You think so?” I questioned, sounding unsure. I was usually the one giving her advice and now I was so sprung over Duke the tables had turned.

“
Yes! Nini, listen to ya girl. If I were you, I would make him wait two more fucking dates. If a nigga really wants you, he will wait,” Diamond told me. I was listening to her and I loved her for making me feel better. But after seeing Duke sit back on his couch with a hard dick and an attitude, I didn’t know how much longer I could make him wait for the pussy before he would just move on to the next one. Duke was powerful and had money, which meant he could have any bitch anywhere.

Diamond and I spoke for almost my entire ride home. She promised me she would be in the house when I got there and we would continue our conversation.

I paid the cab driver and climbed the stairs to my apartment. As soon as I got near the door, I heard a loud commotion coming from inside. I couldn’t get my key out fast enough. That’s when I heard Diamond screaming. With my hands shaking, I finally got the key in the door and pushed the door open. I heard another loud scream coming from Diamond’s bedroom and then a bunch of thumping and banging.

“
What the fuck!” I gasped. I kicked off my pumps and ran to Diamond’s door. It was locked. “Diamond! Diamond, open the door!” I screamed banging on the door. She screamed again, this time I heard her pleading for Brian to stop.

“
This muthafucka!” I screamed, banging my body up against the door. That shit didn’t budge. I started kicking the door frantically and screaming. Finally, the door banged open. I saw Brian choking Diamond and then he slapped her across her face.

“
Bitch, you stole my fucking drugs!” he barked and hit her again.

I raced into the room and jumped right on Brian’s back. “Get off her you fucking bitch ass nigga!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Brian let go of Diamond and tried to get me off his back. Diamond was on the floor gasping for air. “Get the fuck off me, you ugly bitch!” Brian said to me, as he spun around trying to get me off of him. I dug my nails into his neck and slid off him. I then punched and kicked him. He tried to grab my wrists but I was too fast for his ass. He swung on me but miss. My dress was all the way up over my hips but I didn’t even care. I was gonna fuck Brian up for putting his hands on my best friend. I was finally sick of his shit.

“
You no good piece of shit,” I charged at him again. This time Diamond jumped in the way. She was crying hysterically.

“
Lynise! Stop! Don’t hit him no more!” Diamond cried out. That shit stopped me dead in my tracks. I looked at Diamond like she was fucking smoking crack.

“
Oh, you protecting this bitch ass nigga after he was in here trying to kill you?” I hollered at her, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“
It’s my fault Lynise. Just stay out of it,” Diamond said firmly. Her words were like a slap in my face. I couldn’t understand what this bitch could possibly see in this nigga, especially now that he was beating her ass.

“
You are a stupid ass if you stay with his bitch nigga and let him beat on you Diamond!” I tried screaming wisdom in her dense mind. “You’re right, it ain’t none of my fucking business, just don’t call me when this no good ass bum tries to kill your ass again!”

“
Just get out! Everybody ain’t like the rich nigga you fucking with! You better not forget where you came from!” Diamond screamed back in response.

I couldn’t believe her words. She sounded like a jealous enemy instead of my best friend. I was shut down. I pulled my dress down and backed out of her room. “Let that nigga kill you then,” I said out of anger. I knew I didn’t mean it, but I was fucking seething mad.

Diamond slammed the door in my face and left me standing outside of her room. I was devastated by her treatment. From then on, I started living for Lynise. I took on a fuck it attitude. Diamond would just have to make her own way. She was right . . . there weren’t many men out there like Duke and I was going to make sure I kept him.

Cheaper To Keep Her Unique

Chapter 6—Streets Are Talking

I had a lot of shit on my mind the next day after the dust up with Diamond and Brian.

To top it off, I had not heard from Duke. He hadn't answered my calls all day. I was starting to feel like I had messed up a good thing just because I didn’t give him some ass. I decided to call Neeko and beg him to let me come to the Magic City to work. I hadn't shown up in the two days that I went out with Duke. Yeah, I had to admit that I got a bit carried away thinking he was going to take care of me and I didn’t need to work. In any case, Neeko was glad to let me come in to work because he said mad customers had been complaining about weak drinks while I wasn’t there. I was glad to hear that my boss appreciated the way I worked.

I was so excited that I left the house without knocking on Diamond’s door to ask her if she wanted to ride with me. Now that Brian was around she was probably going to be missing work anyway. When I got to the club, shit looked slow. It was late and there was only about half of the regular customers there. I slid behind the bar and prepared myself to work. When I got settled in I looked out into the crowd and noticed J-Rock, a dude I had grown up with and kicked it with off and on for years. He was bopping over to the bar. I smiled and he smiled back.

“
What’s up shawty?” J-Rock said with his southern drawl.

“
Ain’t shit but this work,” I replied.

“
I hear you, I hear you,” he said.

“
What can I get you tonight?” I asked. Shit, I needed to mix something and get some tips in my jar.

“
Lemme just get a shot of that Henn dog. You know my usual, why you playing?”

“
You’re right, I forgot for a minute,” I chuckled. I got him his Hennessey and he took it back in a flash.

“
Lemme get another one shawty. A nigga gotta get his mind right up in this camp tonight,” he told me. I did as he asked. Another little swig of Hennessey was in front of J-Rock with the quickness.

He ordered two more drinks and we talked. It was kind of slow at the bar so I could give him my attention. J-Rock started telling me all his business once he had a few drinks. All his baby mama drama and about how niggas in the streets were snitching on each other. I just listened. He was my entertainment and he was keeping my mind off my double drama—Duke and Diamond. I didn’t mind J-Rock’s stories at all. He was definitely a welcomed relief.

J-Rock’s and my conversation was interrupted when a tall, dark skinned dude walked into the Magic City
.
I had never seen the man before and he was ugly as hell. The guy started waving to get J-Rock’s attention. “Um . . . that dude is calling you,” I told J-Rock who had his back turned to the club’s door.

J-Rock turned around slowly and it seemed like he immediately recognized the guy. “Lynise, it was sweet talking to you ma. I gotta go holla at this cat,” J-Rock told me as he placed two twenty dollar bills on the bar.

I smiled at him. “Go handle yours boo,” I said, picking up the tip with the quickness.

J-Rock walked over to the guy, gave him a pound and they headed straight for the men’s bathroom. That was kind of strange to me, but I put the thought out of my mind and focused back in on trying to make more drinks and in turn make more tips. Normally, my attention would be elsewhere but the night was slow and my attention span was keen to my surroundings.

Not even five minutes after J-Rock and the hideous stranger disappeared into the bathroom I heard a loud crashing sound coming from the front door. “What the hell?” I huffed and before I could even react I heard what no club owner wants to hear, “Police! Everybody on the ground now! Police! Get the fuck down!”

I put my hands up in the air in response to the cops’ loud demands. It was the Virginia state police narcotics squad. They had their guns drawn and were grabbing people throwing them to the floor. I moved slowly from behind the bar with my hands in the air so they would know I didn’t have a weapon of any kind.

“
Everybody in the middle of the floor on your stomachs now!” one of the narcotics cops yelled.

I could hear Neeko yelling, “What the fuck is going on? Why the fuck ya’ll up in my place? We ain’t done shit!” The cops threw his ass down on the floor too. Neeko, all the strippers, whether they were naked or had on clothes, all of the customers and me were lying on the floor. I saw four of the cops going towards the men’s bathroom and I immediately thought about J-Rock. He was so cool I wished I could have warned him. But I couldn’t and it was too late.

They busted down the bathroom door. “The drugs are right in here!” one of the cops yelled with his nine millimeter in hand.