Page 6 of Vaughn & Cori (D-Ville Projects #7)
Vaughn
After walking Cori to her front door, I resist the urge to stop through the one place outside of D-Ville I consider home.
The place that’s solely mine to reflect on all of my wins and losses.
But it just doesn’t feel right reflecting on how my date went there.
My date with Cori was definitely a win and just different in a good way.
Even after she came out of her mouth about Jay’s potential earnings and I lowkey tried to sabotage the shit.
Instead of opting for the traditional dinner and movie, I purposely chose some unconventional, low budget shit, expecting her to tap out by the time we left The Diner, but she embraced it and enhanced the experience just by being there.
When I pull into my usual parking space outside of my mom’s spot, I turn the car off as Petey comes into view and slaps the hood of my truck, trying to get my attention like I didn’t already see his ass standing there.
The way he looks, I almost back my shit up and pull forward right over his ass, because I know he’s about to be on some bullshit.
But just like every other day, I resist the urge for violence.
“What’s up?” I ask, getting out as he comes to the driver’s side of the truck.
“Ain’t shit, getting ready to see if Jay’s ready to celebrate his announcement,” he says, pulling out a wad of cash. “And give you the money I owe you.”
I look down at the money in his hand, wondering what’s the catch, because Petey’s never this straightforward or responsive to requests.
The Petey I know wouldn’t have shown up to run me my money so soon after I spazzed on his ass.
He would have kept it pushing until I completely forgot about it, like I’d done the first time, or waited until I came back with threats.
As I stare at the money in his hand, trying to figure out what his angle is, he holds it up high, damn near pushing it in my face.
“It’s all here. You’re going to need it too, fucking around with that reporter chick from Brunswick.
” He smiles and I don’t know what my face does as I play his words back, not bothering to acknowledge them with an answer.
This is the Petey I recognize… this nigga had my money all along and is now pulling it out to comment about a situation that ain’t got shit to do with him.
The crazy part is I just left Cori’s house and he’s already pulled money together to meet me here to talk about her.
I don’t respond to shit he said about Cori.
At least not verbally, but physically I adjust my stance and look him dead in the eyes, ignoring how much they remind me of Toya’s.
Her honey brown eyes were one of her most striking features and his are so similar that it makes it hard to not think about her lively, warm gaze that shifted to a cold, distant stare when she took her last breath.
Where Toya’s eyes always held that warmth, Petey’s could change between the two distinctions at the flip of a switch, often giving away his intentions toward a person.
And that’s what them shits are doing now as he keeps coming out of his mouth about Cori.
“She bad, but you gotta use some discernment with bitches like that, otherwise you’ll end up in a bad situation.”
I don’t know exactly what he’s getting at, but the way he says the words sets off alarm bells in my head. Outside of Toya passing, Petey’s never given a damn about anything. So, the fact that he’s showing interest in who I’m dating is… concerning.
“What do you mean bad situation?” I ask with my head tilted to the side like it’ll bring more clarity because how I’m understanding his words now are more like a threat.
“You know how these bitches be out here, man. Add her being a reporter to that…?” He lets his statement trail off and shrugs like I’m supposed to just guess the rest.
“Nah nigga, I don’t know,” I say, daring him to say the rest, but he diverts instead.
“I know toward the end Toya was cool with you moving on and all, but this bitch showing up as soon as Jay makes a name for himself ain’t it.”
I have to laugh to keep from knocking his ass out because he never cared about his sister, her wishes, or shit she said while she was alive. After her death, however, he spiraled. Shit, I did too. The only difference is I didn’t spaz out over dumb shit and use losing her as the excuse.
“You ain’t ever listen to shit Toya had to say while she was alive. So why are you so concerned now, P?” I ask and he laughs it off.
“My bad… I’m just looking out. I know you ain’t been out in these dating streets in a minute.” He holds up his hands in mock surrender, wearing a smirk that makes the gesture feel fake as hell, then changes the subject. “I’mma just mind my business and holla at Jay though.”
He turns and walks toward the building before I can even respond, so I lock up my truck and follow him, walking slower than necessary because I already know how my mom is gonna trip when she sees him at her door.
By the time I make it to the apartment, he’s already inside and my mom is still standing with the door open.
“Hey, Ma,” I say as she gives me a knowing look before I step inside.
“Hey, do you know where Jay is?” she asks, closing the door behind me then going to the kitchen to lean against the island with her arms crossed and her eyes on me, looking like she’s in for the night with her housecoat on and her hair pinned for church in the morning.
“Nah, I thought he was here,” I say, noting the annoyed look on her face when she cuts her eyes to Petey as I pull out my phone to text Jay. “What time did he say he would meet you here?” I ask curiously.
“He didn’t. I had time, so I decided to slide through and pick him up,” Petey says, confirming my earlier suspicions that he was just here to press me about a damn date.
When Jay hits me back that Petey ain’t even contacted him…
that further confirms my suspicions. But instead of calling his ass out, I just play it off.
“You know Jay ain’t staying still for too long on a Saturday. The only place you might get lucky is at the park. Even then, you’re still gonna have to call and make sure he’s around for you to pop up.”
Petey looks toward the kitchen then back at me, nodding.
“I see. I’mma head out and hit him up later then,” he says, slowly walking to the door, stopping before he opens it to leave. “I’ll see you around, V. You too, Ms. Barbara.”
As soon as he leaves and the door shuts, my mom mumbles something under her breath then turns to me.
“What was that about?” she asks, finally going to sit down on the couch.
“He says he was here for Jay, but Jay just said he ain’t heard from that nigga since the announcement at the school.
Then he pulled out the money that he owed me.
” I take out the knot of cash and drop it into the empty candy dish on the coffee table in front of my mom so she can take whatever she wants before Jay tries to come for the rest. “Damn near pushed it in my face, saying I’m going to need it. ”
My mom’s head jerks back in disgust.
“Need it for what?”
“This lady I’m seeing,” I say honestly.
“That’s what this really is about,” she says, tapping the table while nodding in understanding. “Somehow he done got wind of you on this date and he feels some type of way about it.”
“But why though?” I ask. I figured that much out myself, but the shit doesn’t make any sense. “Toya’s been gone for five years.”
Every time I talk out loud about my late wife, all the emotions I usually keep bottled up inside come out in some form or fashion. Today, the emotions have me pacing the room as she tries to explain her point.
“Please, Vaughn. You know that boy is a little touched, somewhat vindictive, and a lot jealous. He ain’t worried about protecting his sister’s memory, and if he is, you aren’t doing anything wrong.
You loved and honored her while she was here…
treated her real good. And I know you still love her, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop living.
” My mom says all the things I told myself today when I found myself wanting more.
More information about Cori and more of her smart ass mouth.
So much more that I still feel bad entertaining the shit.
“Do hear what I’m saying, Vaughn?” my mom asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Nah, what did you say?”
She shakes her head, annoyed that she has to repeat herself because I got lost in thought for a moment.
“I said she loved you just as hard as you loved her and I know for a fact that she wouldn’t want you out here living alone for fear of forming an actual connection with someone.”
Instead of responding I nod in agreement.
I don’t have to guess if that’s what Toya wanted because before she passed she’d told me the same thing in so many words.
I just never felt the need to abide by the shit and the only reason I’m choosing a different path than I originally planned is because Cori fell in the way.