Page 14 of Suleem and Yahzi (D-Ville Projects #1)

Yahzi

The next morning I woke up with my head pounding.

Tequila was not my friend. I groaned, knowing my bladder was full but too cozy under the covers to want to leave them.

When my alarm went off moments later ,I knew I didn’t have a choice.

The reminder that I was supposed to get my hair braided slapped me in the face.

I was seconds from changing my mind but then I remembered getting fucked very thoroughly in the shower last night and how my hair was a damn mess. I groaned and threw the covers back, lifted my phone to shut off my alarm, and made my way to the bathroom to get ready.

Twenty minutes later I was dressed in leggings and an oversized V-neck tee I knotted at my hip.

I paired my fit with Chucks. Suleem wasn’t in bed so I assumed he left early for the shop but was surprised to see him standing at the entrance to the balcony with only one side of the folding glass doors open.

He had a phone pressed to his ear and was dressed in a white tee and black sweats, black socks, and Kameron Tyler slides. His back was to me so I couldn’t see what he was doing but I smelled what he was smoking before I crossed the room and hugged him from behind.

Suleem lifted his arm and pulled me around his body and into his chest before he dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “Why you up so early?”

“Nah nigga not you, the fuck? I’m talking to my girl.

Let me hit you back. Aight, bet.” He ended the call and dropped the phone into his pocket, pulled from the blunt, then pushed the smoke through his lips.

The scent of what he was smoking blended with the sweet woodsy aroma of his cologne and brought a smile to my face.

“Where am I taking you?”

“You don’t have to take me anywhere. I have an appointment to get my hair braided. I’m gonna be there for like three hours. I can drive myself.”

He shook his head and blessed me with those hooded lids when his gaze was on my face. “I’ll take you. I’m chillin’ today and was gonna kick it with you. Who’s doing your hair?”

“Why? You worried about me sitting in the chair of some woman you fucked around with?”

He smiled sexily. “Nah, because even if that was the case, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to fuck your shit up. I just wanna know so I can figure out what my day looks like. I’ll find something to get into around that way while you’re getting your shit tight.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“For three hours?”

He nodded lazily. “I’m not trying to be driving all over the city, and if I come back to the crib, you’ll be hitting my line as soon as I sit my ass down talking about bring you a soda and a honeybun. You aren’t about to burn up all my gas today.”

I smiled so damn big then rolled my eyes. “I was gonna stop on the way and get what I needed.”

He chuckled and pulled from the blunt pinched between his fingers. “It’s cool, I got you. You ready now?”

I nodded and lifted onto my toes to kiss him.

I tried to make it quick but he moved his hand down my back and palmed my ass, holding me to him while he blew smoke in my mouth then followed that up with his tongue exploring mine.

He ashed what was left of his blunt in the glass dish filled with sand sitting on the table next to him.

I folded the glass doors back in place while he went to the room to get his keys and wallet.

It was crazy to me how different this building was now compared to before they remodeled everything. Suleem’s space was wide open with glass walls, exposed brick, and heated natural wood floors stained to make them look black and match the hardware and accents in the kitchen and bathroom.

He had matte black appliances—stove, refrigerator, and oven—which replaced the cheap old school white joints that the property managers purchased in bulk years ago.

These units were beautiful. Although the rest of the building wasn’t as nice, they were definitely upgraded from the basic, cheap layouts they used to be.

We left the building and as soon as we stepped off the elevator into the lobby a group of kids barreled through the entryway. He frowned and stepped in their way.

“The fuck y’all running for? What I tell you 'bout that?”

“We need to get to Miss Chandra’s before she close the store. She ’bout to get married.”

“It’s too damn early for y’all to be banging on her door. Here…” He reached in his pocket, removed a fold of cash, and handed each of them ten dollars. “Go to the corner store and stay yall’s bad asses out the street.”

“Can I have two tens?” The one little girl with them looked up at him and smiled sweetly, forcing one from me.

“Yo’ ass is hustling niggas already?” He kneeled down. “Come here.”

She walked to him and he looked her in the eyes.

“Don’t ever ask a man for stuff. Real men take care of the women in their lives.

You should never have to ask for anything.

That’s your brother, right?” Suleem jerked his head and motioned to one of the little boys and she nodded.

“He’s gonna make sure you good. Isn’t that right, lil man? ”

I watched her brother frown for a minute then he nodded. “She can have my money.”

“That’s what’s up. You see that, pretty?” She smiled and took the ten her brother extended her way. Suleem tapped her chin and stood before he removed two more tens and handed them to her brother.

“This for me?”

“Yeah, you was ready to look out for your sister. I respect that. Go get what you want but don’t spend all that shit today.”

“Thank you.” He beamed, shoving the bills into his pocket.

The rest of them started asking for more and Suleem shook his head. “Nah, y’all ain’t about to hustle me, say thank you or I’m taking my money back.”

They all sang thank you as they ran toward the entrance talking about what they were going to buy.

“And stop fucking running,” Suleem yelled, shaking his head.

“You’re cute, that was sweet.”

He smiled lazily, giving me low eyes. “I’m cute ’cause I’m trying not to get hustled by them kids?”

“No, you’re cute because you’re dropping knowledge so she doesn’t grow up hustling men.”

“She’s still gonna do that shit though.” He grinned and I shrugged.

“She might but she also could remember what you said and want better for herself when she’s old enough to understand what you just told her.”

He dropped his arm around my shoulders and tucked me at his side before he kissed my temple. We walked out the back entrance to the building and he hit the locks on his Jeep and opened my door before he got in on the other side.

I rode shotgun next to my man, scrolling through my phone while he bobbed his head, rapping Krist’s song “Banger” word for word.

When we made it to the shop, at a business park near Highland Park Recreational Center, he exited first to let me out and walked me to the door.

I was prepared to tell him I’d call when I was ready but he opened the door and followed me in.

At eight, three of the five stations were already full and four other women were seated on the pink vinyl sofas placed in an L to form a waiting area.

“Who you seeing?”

“Miesha.”

“Ay, who is Miesha?” I cringed when he yelled that shit, getting everyone’s attention.

Every set of eyes in the building moved to Suleem then slowly over to me.

I could see them trying to figure out what the hell he was doing in there which made me relax some because this was obviously very out of character.

He wasn’t bringing women to the salon on the regular…

“She’s in the back, Bank. You want me to get her for you?” one of the women said, looking him over slowly with her eyes lingering too long.

“Don’t call me that shit,” he said rudely, then pointed to one of the other women. “Ay, go get Miesha.”

She paused mid braid of the section of hair she was working on and hurried her ass to the back.

I rolled my eyes at how these women clearly would do whatever he said.

A few minutes later she returned with a curvy, short, chocolate woman with a pretty round face and goddess locs that looked identical to the ones his aunt had. Hers were red while Mae’s were black.

“You want me?” She frowned at Suleem and he nodded.

“She’s getting braids, how much?”

“I’m booked…”

“I didn’t ask you that. I asked you how much.” I could tell from his tone he was already annoyed so I stepped in because I wanted my damn hair done.

“I have an appointment.”

“You’re Yahzi?”

“Yes.”

“My bad, girl.” She smiled then looked at Suleem. “One eighty.”

He nodded and removed cash from his pocket and handed it to her. “That’s three, don’t fuck her shit up.”

“Nigga I know what I’m doing.” She rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t ask you that either. I just said don’t fuck her shit up.” He dropped his hand to my waist and brought my body flush to his. As soon as his mouth was on mine, his hand moved to my ass which he palmed and squeezed.

“Hit me if you need anything. I’m ’bout to go pull up on my boy.” He slapped my ass then was out the door but walked back in a few seconds later. “And don’t be asking her no stupid fucking questions. Mind ya business.”

I groaned internally when Miesha laughed and pointed to her station. “Don’t trip. Everybody knows he’s extra as hell. You need a wash before I get started?”

I shook my head. “No, I washed it last night but you may have to blow dry it. I think the center is still wet. I just crashed and didn’t do anything to it. Is that extra?”

“Mhm, I bet you did.” She grinned at me in the mirror. “No, it’s not extra. We don’t do all the boutique shit around here. Well, Shaunie does, but that’s why her chair stays empty.”

“Bitch, fuck you,” a woman who was sitting in the waiting area said, grinning but keeping her eyes on her phone.

“Fuck me but your ass is sitting over there while your station is empty, waiting and wishing for some clients while I’m getting money.”

“Again, bitch, fuck you. I have three clients today.”