Page 9 of Terrez and Shalene (D-Ville Projects #4)

Terrez

Flicking through the channels of my big screen, I puffed on the blunt and came to a stop once I landed on ESPN.

Today was one of those days I didn’t have much to do.

Even when I left tonight to check on my spots, I’d only be stopping by two of them.

I’d slowed down stopping by every night.

D-Man had shit going smooth, and so far, nothing had been out of the ordinary.

Honestly, outside of the situation Little had going on, there wasn’t too much I was worried about.

I’d been trying to keep my mind off Shalene’s ass, but hadn’t been successful.

I understood where she was coming from, not wanting to be affiliated with a gang member, but I wanted her to know it wasn’t like that.

Kassir and Suleem didn’t play when it came to the reputation of DP.

All that goofy shit other gangs were out here doing wasn’t how we operated.

It was a brotherhood over here. I had half a mind to say fuck my pursuit of Shalene, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away.

Even if I wasn’t a gang banger, I was for sure a drug dealer and I knew she wouldn’t take it well.

The only thing giving me hope was knowing I was truly trying to step away from this shit.

I’d always be part of DP, but not on the street side of shit.

My phone buzzing pulled me from my thoughts.

Setting the blunt in the ashtray, I answered when I saw Amber’s name flash across my screen.

“Yooo.”

“Hey, you. I haven’t talked to you in a while. What you been up to?”

Amber had been a constant for the past year or so.

She was a fuck buddy, but every now and then I’d hang out with her outside of the bedroom.

Unlike a lot of women, Amber could actually hold a conversation.

Her body was out of this world and she rocked the fuck out of that pixie haircut.

Her facial features were soft and her head game was unmatched.

Even with all of that being the case, she wasn’t the woman for me.

Amber had her own motion, but she was only attracted to my lifestyle.

I’d never confirmed my occupation, but she already knew.

I was a big time drug dealer and the fast money was what she was attracted to.

“Shit, just workin’. What’s up with you?”

“Nothing much. I’m off tonight and tomorrow, so I was calling to see if you wanted to come over. I’m cooking your favorite,” she said sexily.

That was another thing that kept my Black ass going back. Amber was in the gym just as much as I was but could cook like someone’s great auntie. When the day came for me to really cut her off, I’d miss the hell out of her sweet potato pie.

“Oh yeah? What time it’s gon’ be done?”

“The oxtail has been on for about four hours now. The mac and cheese is just about done as well. The only thing I need to do is put the cabbage on, but that doesn’t take long.”

“Aight. I’m about to be on my way.”

“You gon’ spend the night?”

“You know I don’t spend nights nowhere, Amber. We can chill and shit until you get tired, but I’m out once your head hits the pillow.”

“But why? You’ve been over here plenty of times to feel safe. My complex is gated and I’m not dealing with anyone else.”

“Amber, why I gotta keep havin’ this conversation with you? I explained myself before and I’m not repeating the shit. You know what, I’m gon’ stay at home?—”

“No. I’m already cooking so just come over,” she countered.

“Aight. I’ll call you when I’m at the gate.”

When I ended the call, I debated if I should really stay my ass at home.

I had no energy to argue, but I also wanted some good ass food followed by some good ass pussy.

After securing my gun on my hip, I turned the TV off and grabbed my keys.

When I left, I looked toward Shalene’s apartment but there was no sign of her coming out.

As I got on the elevator and walked through the building and parking lot, I hoped I’d run into her.

She didn’t even have to say anything to me.

I just wanted to lay eyes on her since it had been a couple of days.

The whole way to Amber’s home, different scenarios played in my head about how our next conversation would go.

Once I pulled up to the gate, it was opened before I could even reach for my phone. Amber was standing at the end of her driveway when I pulled up, confusing the hell out of me.

“Can you take me to the store real quick? I ran out of seasoning and need it for the cabbage,” she explained.

Since I wasn’t a complete asshole, I didn’t mind doing minor things like this, especially since she was cooking for a nigga. As always, Amber was looking right in the gray one piece she had on. Her titties were showing just enough to still be considered appropriate and that ass was assing.

“Come on.”

Thankfully, the car ride was less than ten minutes. The weed I smoked before leaving the house had set in and I was hungry as fuck.

“You can drop me off at the front. I’m running in and running right back out,” Amber stated.

“I need to go in myself, so I’ll park.”

Remembering I needed to grab a few household items, I found a park.

While Amber grabbed what she needed, I went in another direction to retrieve everything I needed.

The sound of a little girl singing caused me to look in that direction.

The little girl had to be around three years old.

She had a book in her hand and little legs were swinging back and forth like no one’s business.

It wasn’t until I saw her mother that my heart skipped a beat.

The woman I couldn’t get off my mind stood only a few feet from me in a pair of all black scrubs.

Her curls were pulled up in a high ponytail and her face was bare.

Perfect was what this woman was. Not being able to help myself, I walked toward her.

“Hey, neighbor.”

“Hey, Terrez.”

“Hi. Who are you?” her little girl asked.

“I’m a friend of your mother’s. Is that okay with you?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“Okay, good. My name is Terrez.”

“My name is Amayah,” her little self said.

“It’s good to meet you, princess.” Focusing my attention back on Shalene, I asked, “How you been, Shalene? I texted you a few times yesterday, but you never responded.”

Just as she was about to respond, Amber’s ass came up and stood next to me. The look on Shalene’s face made me wanna say fuck the night I had planned with Amber, but I had to remember Shalene was the one who cut me off.

“Amber, I’ll meet you at the checkout line,” I said, hoping she’d leave.

She did, but not before giving me an angry glare I didn’t give a shit about. Amber wasn’t my woman and I wasn’t about to act like she was.

“I’ll see you around, Terrez.”

“Hold up. I was still talkin’ to you.”

“Well, it looks like you have more important business to tend to.”

“Why you say it like that? You’re the one that said you couldn’t fu… mess with me. I tried to plead my case and you shut me down like you already had your mind made up about it.”

“I don’t wanna do this in front of my daughter.”

“We’re just having a conversation. I respect you enough to not act a fool in front of the princess,” I stated and threw a wink at Amayah.

“I’ll call or text you later.”

“What’s later?”

“Anytime between now and whenever,” she responded smartly.

“Nah. I need to know what time. That way I’m well within my rights to hold you accountable.”

Shalene laughed, but I was dead ass serious. If a person told me they were gonna do something, I expected them to follow through. Of course I was giving her a hard time because I wanted to, but a part of me was serious.

“I’ll text you around nine. After I put Amayah in the bed.”

“Aight. I’ll be expecting to hear from you. Here,” I said as I dug in my pockets.

Taking two crisp hundreds out, I extended my hand to Shalene, but she stared at me like I had shit on my hand.

“I have money, Terrez.”

“I have money as well. Now that we got that out the way, take this money and pay for the groceries.”

With an eye roll, Shalene folded the money and stuck it in the pocket of her purse.

“I’ll catch you later, princess. Shalene, I’ll be waiting on that text, sweetheart.”

I turned to walk away and found Amber standing in the shortest line.

I knew she probably felt some type of way, but again, she wasn’t my girl.

I had a certain level of respect for all women, but that was all I was willing to give.

If a woman wasn’t my mother or someone I was interested in, they’d be getting standard treatment.

The whole drive back to Amber’s place, the two of us were silent.

Even now, with me finishing my second helping of food, she still hadn’t said much.

I wasn’t pressed for sex, but I was hoping she’d lose her attitude so we could get back to the evening we’d planned.

“Who was she?” Amber questioned lowly.

“Why? What’s it to you?”

“What do you mean what’s it to me? You’ve had me in the friend zone for over a year now. You’ve never looked at me the way you looked at her. Like what do you even see in her? She has a whole kid and she’s on the bigger side.”

“Yo, you can say how you feel but keep that shit respectful. Secondly, I never once told you I had a problem dating women with kids.”

“My point is, she doesn’t have shit on me. I’m in the gym every day and I have no kids. You know how many niggas would love to date me?”

“So let them, Amber. I never once told you to stop your life to fuck with me. I’ve never even given you hope that this shit would turn into more than what we’re doin’ now.

From what I recall, the deal was for you to tell me if you were getting serious with someone and I’d fall back.

Same thing for me. If I ever got into something serious, I’d let you know.

And one last thing before I bounce…everything ain’t gotta be superficial.