Torn (36 page)

"I guess." She curled up her lip.

"Mo ... you mean to tell me y'all was together nine and half years and you ain't give that man no head?" Mina asked in disbelief.

"Not for real. I ain't want his dirty-ass dick in my mouth."

"But you'll take it in yo' pussy though?" she shot sarcastically.

"Look-a-here, hoe, Quan was good in bed but he didn't rile me up like that. I mean, the only way he could make me cum was by stimulating my clit."

"Oh my God. Y'all were doomed from the start. Let me tell you something. If you wanna cum, you gon' have to either learn how to do it yourself, tell that muthafucka what you like, or find a nigga with that Chocolate Cocaine kind of dick that'll make you cum three or four times and on top of that put yo' ass to sleep," Delicious schooled her.

"I feel you. I just wasn't gon' do all that shit with Quan when I knew he was out there doing it with other women. But trust and believe when I find me a new boo it's on and poppin'."

"Okaaay!" He snapped his fingers in an circle.

"Now ... are you going to Dreams with me or not?" Mo asked Mina.

"I wish I could but I have to be at the shop early, too. I got to do inventory." She poked out her bottom lip.

"Looks like I'm rollin' solo then," Mo replied, scrolling through her cell phone for missed calls.

"Girl, put that phone up. Quan ain't gon' call you," Delicious joked.

"Ain't nobody even thinkin' about him."

"Yeah right, you dying for that nigga to call."

"Noooo I'm not. That nigga is so two months ago."

"I hope so, 'cause it so good to see you happy for once," Mina pointed out.

"It feels good to be happy for once. I mean, I ain't gon' front, sometimes I miss him. And the nights have been lonely but I'm finally gettin' used to the idea of us being over."

"Mo, it's only natural for you to miss Quan. Y'all were together damn near ten years. I just hate that you lost nine and half years of your life dealing wit his trifling ass."

"I know. I just don't wanna miss him, though. I wanna hate him. I wanna dislike him, but for some reason I can't."

"Girl look ... one day you gon' look up and be like what the fuck was I thinkin'. Why was I sooo twisted over that corny-ass nigga? I'm tellin' you. We've all been there," Delicious assured. "Remember when I was sprung over Dominic? That nigga had me faking sick and missing work just to spend time wit him. Now look, I can't stand his ass. You'll get over it, girl."

"Right, and plus, there are so many niggas out there checkin' for you, Mo. You get the opportunity to pick and choose who you want to spend your time with. You better enjoy this time in your life. 'Cause soon you'll be married with two kids just like me." Mina rubbed her hand.

"That I highly doubt. You know I can't have kids." Mo sighed with her head down.

"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you just weren't supposed to have kids with Quan?" "No," Mo replied truthfully.

"Alright, so stop saying that. When it's the right time and God feels as if you're ready, he'll give you the baby you want."

"Right. One day you're gonna meet your husband and he's going to be everything you need and everything you never thought you wanted," Delicious added with a smile. After laughing and talking with her friends for almost three hours, Mo headed over to Club Dreams. As soon as she stepped foot in the club, niggas were on her. They couldn't take their eyes off of the cocoa-skinned cutie. Mo wasn't thinking about none of them though. She had a job to do, and plus she wasn't looking for a man. A boyfriend was the last thing on her mind.

After hitting up the bartender for an Absolut and cranber-ry cosmopolitan, Mo stood in the center of the room and watched as a couple of Dipset wannabes performed on stage.

She could only shake her head and laugh. There was no way in hell they were getting signed. Mo's main objective was to find someone with originality. Finished with her first drink, she headed back over to the bar and ordered a Sprite. Mo was in her own world as she made her way back through the club.

She didn't even notice that she'd walked past an old friend.

"Ay!" she heard a familiar voice say.

Mo looked over to her right and spotted Boss and his pot'nahs posted up. With one hand in his pocket and his left leg propped up on the wall, he motioned her over. As usual, his boyish good looks caused her mouth to contort into a smile.

"Gimme some." He held his free hand out.

"Give you some what?" She sauntered over to him.

"Some of this." He pulled her into him, leaned forward and kissed her neck. Chills ran up Mo's spine as she closed her eyes and felt his tongue lightly slide up her neck and up to her earlobe. After getting what he wanted, Boss stood up straight and gazed upon her face with a seductive look in his eyes.

"Damn, well hi to you, too." She tried to steady her breath.

Mo could tell he was high. Both his eyes were glossed over and at half-mast, giving him the sleepy-eye look.

"I just had to get that out the way right quick, but on the real I do want some of your soda." Boss took it and wrapped his lips around her straw.

"So you just gon' molest my neck and take my drink? I don't know where your mouth been. You might have cooties or something."

"I might." He grinned.

"Whateva, nigga, I ain't New-New and you for damn sure ain't Rashad."

"Oh, you got jokes."

"Nah, but for real, what you doing here?"

"Waiting on you."

"Will you stop playin'?"

"My mans and them are performing tonight. I came out to support."

"That's cool."

"I like the lil' look you got going on." He tugged on her dress. "You straight stylin' on 'em, ma, but you know I'm mad at you, right?"

"Why?"

"'Cause you ain't ask me permission to come to the club lookin' all sexy and shit?" He gave her a crooked grin, admiring her outfit.

"I know you ain't talkin'. Look at you. Yo' ass stay fly," she replied, telling the God honest truth.

A blue Yankee fitted cap covered his eyes, while a fitted thermal hugged his pecks. A studded belt and biker chain held up his baggy Monarchy jeans. To complete the outfit, he wore a platinum chain, rubber band on his wrist and a pair of Marc Jacobs high top sneakers. As usual, his hair, mustache and chin hair was freshly cut and precisely lined. The dude could most definitely get it. He was so fine it wasn't even funny.

"Thanks, ma." He kissed her cheek. "That was sweet. But where yo' girls at? You here by yourself?"

"Yeah, I had to check out some groups for my job."

"What? You finally doing A&R work?"

"Yeah, for Bigg Entertainment." Mo cheesed happily.

"That's what's up. Doing big things I see. I'm proud of you, shorty."

"Thanks. Who knows, your boys might get signed."

"Hold up." He pushed her back, ignoring her comment.

"Where yo' ring at? Don't tell me you finally left that nigga alone?"

"Actually I did. I had to tell his ass
to the left, to the left
!" Mo sang, doing her hand like Beyonce.

"Oh word? Well can I go too, right?"

"Maybe."

"I will but that's kinda fucked up, shorty."

"What?"

"You ain't even get at ya boy. My feelings kinda hurt."

"I just needed some time to myself, you know."

"I feel you, mama, no need to explain. You look happy though," he responded, delighted just to see her again.

"I am."

"That's all that matters. Since you're a free woman, we should get together and kick it one day."

"That sounds cool, but to be honest wit you, I'm not really lookin' to date anybody right now, Boss."

"Who said anything about a date? Don't get ahead of yourself, ma. I'm just tryin' to kick it wit you. That's all." Mo's face was cracked to a million pieces but somehow she held it together and replied, "I mean as long as we understand each other, then it's all good." Mo stood in her bathroom mirror admiring her features as she put the finishing touches on her hair and makeup. As she gazed at herself, she noticed that she no longer looked stressed and preoccupied. Her eyes weren't withdrawn and filled with sorrow. The natural radiation that once beamed from her face had returned to its rightful place, causing her skin to glow like the sun. She laughed more and kept a smile on her face.

Mo's friendship with Boss had a lot to do with her new-found happiness. She truly enjoyed his company and cherished the kinship they shared. Almost three weeks had passed since the night at the club and the two had been together ever since. Every day they were doing something new and different. One day it was bowling, the next day it was a play at The Muny or Black Repertory Theater.

Boss was a straight up thug, but he didn't mind expanding his horizons. Mo loved that about him. He was the type of dude that didn't let his surroundings define who he was. Even though he kicked it in the hood on an everyday basis, he didn't have that ghetto, hoodboy mentality about him. That day in particular, they were meeting up for dessert at a little cafe down the street from her loft. Satisfied with the way she looked, Mo grabbed her keys, creme clutch purse and headed out the door.

Once outside her building, she took a minute to bask in the warm spring air. It was a glorious Sunday afternoon.

There wasn't a cloud in sight. The joyful sound of birds chirp-ing and the rays from the sun above made Mo feel alive. For once she had a sense of purpose in the world.

For some reason, whenever she was around Boss, her stomach filled with butterflies and she became clumsy and nervous. They were just friends, but somehow his presence had some kind of strange effect on her. His smile alone made her feel as if she was floating through the sky on a natural high.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Mo strutted down the street confidently, bypassing people of different race, creed and color. Washington Avenue was always filled with people. You could go shopping, hit up a club or bar, and have a gourmet meal all in the same vicinity. As she walked, Mo tousled her hair some, giving it extra volume.

Loose curls rested on her shoulders, securely pushed back by a pink silk headband. Soft shades of light pink eye shadow lit up her eyes while cocoa-colored blush brightened her cheeks. Her favorite Chanel lip gloss moistened her lips, giving them a radiant shine. That day she was simply dressed in a pink spaghetti-strapped camisole, creme high waist hoop skirt, and creme ballet slippers. Bronze body butter high-lighted her coffee-colored skin.

Approaching the cafe's window, Mo looked inside and spotted Boss sitting alone at a table by the wall. He didn't even notice her watching him. He was too busy text messaging on his BlackBerry. Getting his attention by tapping on the window, she happily waved her hand and smiled. Once inside, she gave the Chinese symbol for respect which rested on the left side of his neck a peck and said, "Sorry I'm late."

"It's nothing, ma. You good, but I could've came up to your crib and waited on you."

"Nah, you know I had to make my grand entrance." She took a seat across from him.

"You crazy, ma," he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Did you order yet? 'Cause that strawberry cheesecake over there lookin' mighty good." "Nah, I was waiting for you, but we can get that."

"Good, 'cause I've been dying for something sweet all day."

"You want something to drink?" Boss got up.

"I cup of chamomile tea, please." At the counter, Boss ordered a huge slice of strawberry cheesecake, a cup of tea for Mo and a glass of water for himself. Mo couldn't help but admire his muscular physique from behind. Boss' shoulders were broad and his clothes always seemed to hang off him just right. Daydreaming, Mo wondered what it would feel like if he did pull her hair and hit it from the back hard. She could almost feel his dick entering her wet slit and the tingling sensation in between her thighs escalate with each stroke.

"Here you go, ma." He handed Mo her drink, bringing her back to reality.

"Tha-thank you," she stuttered, crossing her legs tight.

"What's wrong wit you? What you stuttering for?"

"Nothing, I'm just a little cold," she lied.

"Here, take the first bite?" Boss cut off a piece of cheesecake with his fork and placed it up to her lips.

With her chin rested in the palm of her hands, Mo leaned over and opened her mouth wide only for him to play her and put the cheesecake in his mouth.

"I thought the first piece was mine?"

"I got you next go around." He laughed, unaware that a little cream was on the corner of his lip.

"Boy, you better gimme some."

"Give you some what?"

"Some of this." Mo took her index finger, wiped the cream off his lip and placed it into her mouth.

"Don't be tryin' to use my line."

"Boy, please." She grinned, using her fork to get her own piece of cheesecake. "Umm, this is sooo good." She closed her eyes, relishing the taste.