Chapter 2

Breeze and his business partner/ best friend Latrell were counting up money in his house while listening to NWA.

"You know Igloo and them been asking for more product. They wondering why you taking so long and how come you haven't been showing your face in so long." Latrell said wrapping up a stack and putting in a pile.

"I'll handle Igloo, I don't know why he loves running his mouth while he is still on my paycheque." He said biting on the stick in his mouth.

"Anyway forget him, my little sister is having a birthday party and momma wants you to come over."

"Oh word, how old is Lil Melanie turning anyway." He leaned back in his chair after finishing wrapping the cash.

"Man she turning 13, I soon gotta run all them little niggas away from her. Man, I remember when she was still tryna beg me to play dress up with her."

They laughed as they began to pack the cash in the suitcase.

——-

"So was he fine?"

"Is he tall?"

"How'd he look?"

"Damn, can I answer one question before the next pile up?"

"Well, you better answer these questions fast girl 'cause we curious."

"For real Des, you can't just a drop a bomb saying you spoke to some guy as if it was nothing."

"It is nothing!"

"That's a lie, because if it was nothing you wouldn't have bothered saying anything to us now would you?"

"Mhmm, I second what Keisha said."

"And I third what Maya said.

"You guys are impossible, matter fact get out my damn house."

"Uh uh, not her trying to kick us out 'cause she mad."

"Honestly, you acting like we slapped your mother or something."

"Now, that was a horrible example and you know it, Cleo.

"Anyway switching to a different topic, my little cousin is having her 13th birthday and I want you guys to come."

"What time is the party?"

"4 pm, but you know black people timing everyone might as well start showing up around 6 o'clock."

"Ok no problem, I'll be there and I'll make sure to bring a gift."

"You better, my cousin don't play that. She may like you but she will definitely cuss you out."

The ladies laughed continuing their gossip.

2 weeks later

"Your ass is late, just like all the rest of the black people in here." Cleo opened the door rolling her eyes at her friend.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I know. I was just struggling to wrap up her gift." She walked in holding the large gift as they headed towards the kitchen

"Girl, it's 5:30. Since when the hell does it take 1hr and 3o minutes to wrap up a damn gift D?"

"I said I'm sorry, but look I'm here now what do you need me to do."

"Well, I can't be fully mad at you. You are the only one out of all the other heifers that actually came slightly on time anyway. Help me peel some of these greens. Dinner is almost ready anyway."

Desiree was about to respond before she was cut off by someone entering the kitchen.

"Cleo, I hope that Mac and cheese is ready a-." "Ooh Desiree, I'm so happy to see you. Ooh baby look at you, you look absolutely stunning. We are trying to get the food served. I'm beginning to get tired of all these men whining and crying." A middle-aged black woman said.

"Good afternoon Mrs Vernon, and thank you so much for the compliment. I'm tryna stay fly like you."

"Thank you, baby, anyway we gotta get these drinks and food out before we have a zombie apocalypse outside."

"I don't know Mrs Vernon, I might end up turning into one of those zombies the way this food is smelling so good. Grr." Desiree teased acting like a zombie.

"Girl you're so crazy, anyway let's get these out for my baby's birthday."

The woman laughed and agreed as they made their way out of the kitchen and headed to the garden where the music was blasting loud and everybody seemed to be having a good time.

"DESICAKES!!!"

"MELIPOO."

The girls ran to each other as Melanie bear-hugged her favourite person.

"Happy birthday gorgeous," Desiree said tickling her mini-me.

"Thank you, did you bring me a gift." Melanie cheesed sticking her hands out to collect it.

"Look at your stingy self, yes I got you a gift it's where your other presents are." She laughed.

Without saying bye Melanie sprinted over to her momma wanting to open the gifts.

"There you are girl, we've been looking for you."

Desiree turned around to see all her friends now gathered together.

"Oh hey, when did you guys get here?" She walked over to her friends.

"Just now, anyway Cleo needs our help to bring in the cake and the other gifts from her cousin's car," Keisha said as the girls made their way to the front door.

"This clown is never on time," Cleo said checking her phone. She was more of a perfectionist and she didn't like it when people didn't respect her schedule nor did they respect her time. It irked her and would make her have an attitude.

"Cleo ain't that him right there," Shonda said pointing to a Range Rover.

"Yeah, that's him." Desiree walked over to the car window and you could hear her cussing out her cousin for being late and not knowing when to stop playing around.

"Alright Cleo damn, I said I was sorry." "Sorry, ain't gonna fix nothing if your ass keeps doing the same stupid shit Latrell." She mushed his head through the window.

Just then the other side of the car door opened and Desiree saw another figure come out heading towards to the trunk opening it up.

The figure looked familiar to her but she wasn't sure where she had seen them from. Just then her eyes widened as her breath hitched when the figure made eye contact with her.

"That's him," Desiree whispered looking straight at him.

"Who?" Shonda said looking at her friend puzzled.

"The guy I was telling you about, the one from the grocery store." She broke contact first meeting the eyes of her friend.