Page 4 of Pills and Potions: Snoh

“We’re looking into this partnership with Rated X. Their starting an adult coloring book. It has quite the visuals.” Farrah pulled out a few copies of the inside content and handed them to London. She brought them over to me and I couldn’t lie, they were pretty graphic.

I looked up and chuckled. “What’s taking so long to bag them?” I could see myself relaxing and bringing a few visuals to life.

“It’s a small company so they’re worried about losing money,” she replied.

“You slacking on me? What happened to the Farrah that didn’t take no for an answer? Get her back and seal that deal. Make it worth their while.”

“Yes sir,” she said smiling.

“Is there anything else? This new quarter I want the same energy but more deals. Let’s make it happen,” I said pleased with what was thrown at me so far.

“Speak now or forever hold your peace,” London chimed.

“We good, Boss Lady. Can us regular folk get back to work now?” Phil jested.

“As long as you know who’s in charge,” she threw back followed by a wink. That small gesture stirred the jealousy pot within me. I didn’t like her joking with other men in front of me.

Everyone filed out as I remained seated. Once it was just me and London in the room, my mouth ran before I could gain control of it. “Don’t do that again, London.”

“Do what, Snoh?” she asked with a gentle, yet confused expression.

“Nothing. See if my next appointment is here and ready, please and thank you.” I almost wrote a check I knew she wouldn’t let me cash.

“Are you sure? Did I do something to offend you?”

“Nah, I tripped out for a second. My appointment if you don’t mind.” I quickly reeled my emotions back in.

“Yes sir.” She hesitantly backed out of the room, and I released a deep sigh. My feelings for this woman were going to put me in a position I couldn’t get myself out of.

&

“I can go in and grab you some snacks, Snoh. It’s not a big deal.”

“I appreciate it but, I need some fresh air. Sit tight for me. I’ll be in and out.” I stepped out the car, aggravated. She didn’t do anything but cater to me the way she always did but the physicality was starting to fuck with me.

As a man, I was far from ugly. I looked exactly like my mama but had my daddy’s masculine features.

I was a good height and had a muscular build.

Having many women throw themselves at me daily was normal but not having London even budge in a nigga’s direction was mentally exhausting.

I yearned for that woman, and she played as if she didn’t have a clue.

Once I walked inside Easton’s grocery store, I headed for the deli section and grabbed a Core water off the shelf.

I twisted it open and damn near downed the whole bottle.

I was bothered by her presence and so many sexual thoughts ran through a nigga’s head like a freight train.

Keeping my hands and other fuckin’ body parts to myself…

yeah, that shit was getting harder and harder to do by the day.

“Snoh? Snoh, is that you?”

An unfamiliar voice was calling out to me, and I was uninterested. However, I needed a distraction from London. I lowkey felt like I was starting to go crazy the way she made me behave.

Turning around, I looked into the face of someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Adrisdia was an old friend I went to school with.

We grew up in The Shores together. Her grandfather was a damn Golden Shore legend.

So many stories floated around about that nigga we legit thought he was some kind of wizard or something growing up. He had us fooled as kids for real.

Her style was different from other girls, and I was lowkey a weirdo back then, too. She embraced her Gothic side and never looked back. She rocked the hell out her locs, too. She never gave a fuck about what people thought about her back then, so I just knew she maintained that persona.

“Dris? What the hell you doing round these parts?” I opened my arms requesting a hug and she gave me a quick one. I never felt anything for her physically. The connection had always been platonic.

“I work at Cuban Whiskey. I was just grabbing something to snack on before I started my shift. I been seeing you do your thing. Ink Impressions, huh? You always said you wanted to help others get their talent out there. Congrats.”

“’Preciate it. I’m doing what I can. How you been? How’s Old Man Nelson? He still kicking?” I knew how she felt about her grandfather. He was her everything.

“I’m good as always and my grandfather ain’t going nowhere. He’s still… fixing problems,” she said trying to find the right words to describe him.

“Shit, all the rumors that went around back then. I could use one of his potions right about now,” I jested.

“Then go see him. He’s in the same spot. Behind the Blue Store in the alley, but I’m curious. What’s going so wrong in your life that my grandfather is needed?”

“I was being sarcastic but shit, you making me feel like he really got a potion for me.”

“He might. Again, what’s going wrong in your perfect little world, Snoh?”

I was never a ladies’ man. There were just women that wanted me, and the energy was never returned. I didn’t fuck off the way everybody thought I did and I damn sure didn’t play with they feelings just to bed them. I was about my business and focused. London was my only distraction from it all.

“There’s this girl I been after for years and for some reason she won’t look my way.”

“Snoh, you know you can’t make someone like you in return. Maybe she just isn’t interested. Have you ever thought that those good looks might not be good enough?” she voiced with a sly smirk.

I chuckled and nodded. The thing was, I had thought about that but today was different. It was like she was finally giving into a nigga but holding back at the same time. I was only wanting a lil’ push over the hump. The chase was becoming draining.

“We both know that’s not the case. It got to be something else.”

“Go to my grandfather and tell him exactly what you told me. He should have something in the cut for you. It sounds like you just need something simple,” she suggested.

“You keep saying that. So what? The rumors were true? Old Man Nelson really is some kind of Harry Potter ass nigga?”

“ Hoodoo ass nigga is the correct term. His pills and potions will make Harry’s four eyed ass look like a fuckin’ amateur. Nah, but for real. Go and tell him I sent you. He’s up in age but he should remember you. I mean, you were my only real friend back then.”

“Nah, I was the only one that bought you food when I did myself, so you clung to me like a shadow. I was used back then.” She hit me in the arm and laughed it off.

“I did not use you. I just figured if you were paying why stop you,” she threw back. “Look, I got to go but visit The Shores and get right. I’ll see you when I see you.” It was never a bye with her. She didn’t want it to feel like a last time.

I paid for my water and headed back to the car. Old Man Nelson would get a visit from me sooner than later.