A Pimp In Pumps (19 page)

              “You sure you wanna do that ma?” Serg asked while we had dinner at the Sun Dial Restaurant.

              The panoramic view of the city’s skyline was spectacular, but I wasn’t paying it any mind. Honestly, I didn’t even have an appetite.

              “Yeah, I mean, I thought adding to your stock was always a good business plan. Why are you questioning me?” I took a sip of water and tried to get rid of the lump in my throat.

              “Because you’re my woman and every decision that you make is my business. So far you’ve been successful because you’re under the radar. If you take on Cuba it’s gonna change the game ma. I’m always down to protect you, but this shit can start a war you might not be ready for. Is this one bitch worth it? You always said that you wasn’t gonna steal a hoe from another pimp, ‘cause that’s trouble. Now look at you.” The disappointment in his eyes spoke volumes.

              “So, you don’t think Caramel is worth it?”

              He shook his head. “Nah, I don’t, but I know you gon’ do what the fuck you wanna do.”

              He was right, because I was still going to meet her on Saturday.

              “Well, at least you know that.”

              Serg shook his head as he cut into his filet mignon. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do wit’ you. Your skull is so thick ma. It’s like…you’re such a fuckin’ nigga.”

              I laughed. “Well, my father always wanted a boy.”

              He smiled sexily at me. “Shit, but you all woman baby.”

              That made me blush.

*  *  *

              Waking up in Serg’s arms was always the highlight of my day, but when I thought of Cherie, it changed everything.

              I could still remember my conversation with her from two years ago. We were on the way to our ten-year class reunion when I tried to tell her about me and Serg. We had both agreed that it was time. Before I could even get it out, she said something to me that I didn’t expect.

              “Girl, I was talkin’ to Bells the other day and she told me that she used to have a crush on Serg.” She laughed. “I was like bitch bye. My brother is off limit to my friends.”

              “So you’d be mad if one your friends were with Serg?”

              She looked over at me. “Shit, I ain’t got that many friends bitch.” The look on her face was suspicious.

              I laughed it off. “I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout me.”

              “I know. Serg looks at you like a little sister anyway. He sees all of ya’ll like that.”

              Shit, I was far from a little sister to that nigga, but obviously I couldn’t let her know.

              She continued. “Honestly, that would be a conflict of interest. If one of ya’ll got wit’ my brother it would ruin our friendship.”

              Damn, that had crushed me and I ended up telling Serg all about it later that night. He agreed that it was best to hold off for a while, but who would think we could keep it a secret for two damn years? That shit was getting harder and harder by the minute. Especially being that Cherie was so adamant about getting me married off too.

*  *  *

              “Damn, you lookin’ scrumptious as hell in that dress,” Serg said as I stood in front of him. “It’s gonna be hard for me to keep my hands off you.”

              “You’re lookin’ damn good too. I just wish we could go together.”

              We would be leaving to go to the reception in separate cars, but I didn’t want to. If only we could walk in hand in hand to congratulate my best friend and her new husband. Due to her ill feelings about one of her friends being with her brother, that shit was more than complicated.

              Serg held me in his arms. “We’ll tell her soon. No matter what, we got each other. Even if she trips for a lil’ while she’ll get over it. You two have been close too long for her to hold a grudge. Believe me. I know my sister.”

              “Shit, I know her too. She’s not so easy to forgive. Not only will she be mad about us bein’ together, but she’s gonna be even more mad when she realizes that we’ve been keepin’ it a secret for two years.”

              “Don’t worry. Cherie loves you and she loves me. She’ll come around. We’ll just wait ‘til she gets back from her honeymoon. Then we’ll tell her. I know it’s weighin’ heavy on you and I don’t like seein’ you stressed out.” He kissed my lips with his arms wrapped around my waist. “My purpose is to relieve your stress ma. Not add to it.”

              “You don’t add to my stress Serg. Believe me, you’re not the problem here. It’s just…a lot.”

              The thought of not finding Kamal and Jordan was bothering me too. He wouldn’t give me a divorce and it was time to end that chapter of my life. After so many years, ending their lives wasn’t so important anymore. I just wanted to be able to marry the marry the man I loved.

              He pulled me into his chest and the heat from his body seemed to make me relax. As I melted into his solid frame, I felt like he’d make everything okay.

              “I love you Sasha.”

              I exhaled. “I love you too Serg.”

              He glanced at his Rolex. “Okay baby, we gon’ be late. I’ll leave first. It won’t look right if we get there at the same time.”

              With a nod, I walked him to the door and blew him a kiss as he got in his car. I watched him drive off and waited about ten minutes to lock up and leave. All I wanted to do was get back home and make love to the man of my dreams.

Chapter 13

              “I’d like to propose a toast.” I stood up and a hush came over the guests.

              As I held my glass of champagne up everybody’s eyes were on me. I noticed that Serg was smiling at me in admiration. Anybody who was paying attention could’ve clearly seen the love in his eyes, but nobody was thinking about that. It was Cherie’s moment.

              “Cherie, you’re like my sister and we’ve been through thick and thin together. Thank you so much for always being there for me. Loyalty is rare these days, but know that just like you’ve always had my back, I’ve got yours. I love you bestie and I hope you and Leon have the most blissful and loving marriage anybody can ask for. Blessings to you.” I lifted my glass and everybody cheered.

              “Thank you,” she mouthed.

              Leon’s best friend stood up next with his glass in the air.

              “To my boy Leon and his beautiful wife. This is to many years of love and happiness. Enjoy the simple things and embellish in what you both have been so fortunate to find. If only I was so lucky.” He winked and everybody laughed.

              Mr. Best Friend was fine, but he wasn’t as fine as my man. Cherie looked at me and then stood up.

              “I’d like to thank everybody for coming, but I’d especially like to thank my best friend for putting all of this together. Isn’t it spectacular?”

              Everybody agreed with cheers and applause. I couldn’t help but smile.

              She continued. “I mean, well, since my man’s best friend is single and my best friend is single, this may be the start of something.”

              Everybody laughed, but me and Serg didn’t. His face was in a scowl and if anybody was paying attention they’d put two and two together, but nobody had a clue.

              Cherie continued going on with it.

              “Randall…Isn’t she gorgeous?”

              “Yes,” he said bashfully.

              “Well, that’s my gorgeous best friend Sasha. Sasha, this handsome man is Randall. Why don’t ya’ll get to know each other and…”

              “Nah, it won’t be none of that sis,” Serg said as he stood up. “I got something to say.”

              Cherie gave him a funny look. “None of that? What…?”

              “Let me finish.” He cleared his throat and made his way over to me.

              When he put his arm around my waist possessively, her facial expression changed.

              “I…well…” Serg scanned the room and his eyes settled on his parents. “Mom, dad…Cherie.” His eyes were on his sister. “I’m in love with Sasha. I have been for a long time. We’re together, and I can’t keep it a secret any longer. We been a couple for two years. So, no, it won’t be none of that Cherie. Like I said.”

              Cherie gave me a look I’d never seen before. “So, you been with my brother all this time and you kept it from me?”

              “Cherie, it wasn’t like that. I wanted to tell you, but I knew how you felt about…”

              “Fuck that!” She yelled making her way over to me with her drink in her hand.

              When she tossed it in my face I wasn’t ready. That shit stung my eyes.

              Serg grabbed Cherie. “What the hell is wrong wit’ you yo’!”

I wiped my face with a napkin.

“You had to fuck my best friend Serg? Fuck both of ya’ll!”

              She stormed off and her groom followed her.

              As much as I wanted to try to talk to her, I knew that she wouldn’t try to hear me out. It was best for me to leave and I knew it. As I stood up, Serg did too and all eyes were on us. He followed me out of the venue.

              “Wherever you goin’ I’m goin’,” he said behind me.

              I shook my head. “That’s your sister Serg. Go do what’s right.”

              He grabbed me and turned me around to face him. “Lovin’ you is right baby. Now, c’mon.”

*  *  *

              Later that night I was still in my feelings. I knew that I had fucked up by not telling Cherie about us, but damn it wasn’t serious enough for her to end our friendship. She wouldn’t talk to me, but she called Serg to rub in the fact that she wasn’t fucking with me anymore. She and Leon were leaving for their honeymoon in the morning.

              “Don’t worry babe,” Serg said soothingly as he rubbed my feet. “When she gets back I’ll talk to her. It’s just fresh right now. That’s all.”

              He wanted to take me out somewhere, but I wasn’t in the mood to leave the house. All I wanted to do was sit in front of the big screen TV and watch Netflix while I feed my face. He’d gone to get all of my favorite movie snacks. There was microwave popcorn, peanut M&Ms, Raisinets and orange soda.

              “If it wasn’t for you and the fact that your whole family was around on her wedding day, I would’ve whooped her ass for throwing that drink in my face.” As pissed as I was, I was more hurt than anything else.

              Serg kissed my cheek. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

              “You’re already doin’ it.” I exhaled and held on to him as tears formed in my eyes again.

              Losing Cherie was not what I wanted. Why couldn’t I have her and Serg? Why couldn’t she just be happy for us? She kept telling me that she wanted me to happy, but I guess not with her brother. All I could do was hope that she’d come around. Shit, I didn’t even want to spend any money and that was normally what I did when I felt fucked up about something. At that moment nothing material mattered. I just wanted my best friend to forgive me.

*  *  *

              It was back to business the next day and I was meeting Caramel at a spot in Lithonia, GA called Dudley’s. It was a hole in the wall bar/grill that an older crowd mostly frequented. Caramel chose it because she knew that her pimp Cuba wouldn’t be there. It was one of the few spots that he didn’t frequent.

              “He said he got too much swag to be up in that joint,” she had told me.

              “Okay, well that’s perfect. I’ll see you there at 7.”

              I sat there and sipped on a watermelon martini while I waited for her. Serg was sitting at the bar watching the scene. His over protective ass had to be there just in case. He said now that I was a millionaire, I needed to be protected. A lot of people were not really aware of what my line of business was, but that didn’t matter. If you appeared to have possessions that others wanted, it made you a target.