Itâs probably for the best. How can I get out of here now? Let me call Mickey. But before I can dial her number, the commotion outside gets louder. I have to see whatâs going on.
âWhat are yâall doing here together?â Tasha says to a stunned Nigel and Mickey, who are walking up the front porch as we are all headed out. Aw, hell, no. Itâs about to be on, and I still have oil on my hands. I canât get my earrings off like this. I need to think fast. I donât feel like being in a fight with these tipsy broads right now. It wouldnât be fair. And if I ever do whip Trishâs ass, I want her to know it was an even win.
âMickey, girl, thank you for picking me up,â I say, even though Mickey looks like sheâs ready to throw down. Nigelâs got my girl sprung. I know her manâs getting suspicious. âThey need to get started on the session. Youâre just in time,â I say, passing up Rah, Trish and Tasha to grab Mickeyâs arm and head back down the driveway. âRah, Iâll get my twenty dollars next time. Peace, Nigel,â I say, leading us toward the car. Everyoneâs shell-shocked at how Iâm handling the tense situation. But I just donât have time for all this. Iâd rather be at home getting some work done if the sessionâs not going to be productive. And Mickeyâs the one whoâll have to get me there.
âJayd, what are you doing?â Mickey whispers, walking quickly beside me toward the pink Regal parked next to the curb. âWe can take those skanks.â
âThatâs not the point,â I say, opening the passengerâs door and getting in. âThis isnât our battle.â I look over my shoulder at the scene through her tinted windows. Everyoneâs going back inside except for Rah, who turns around and catches my eye. As we pull off, he mouths âcall meâ and looks regretful as he turns around to go back inside and deal with his drama.
âWhat the hell are you talking about?â Mickey says, instinctively turning her car toward Compton. Noticing her arm glistening, she takes a napkin out of her armrest to wipe it off. âAnd whatâs that on your hands?â
âCoconut oil. Iâm sorry I got it on your arm, but you can rub it in like lotion. It wonât hurt you,â I say, laughing at her silly self.
âI already have some on, and itâs making my skin tingle,â she says, now looking for another napkin in her pink fur-covered glove compartment. Her man had her classic Regal hooked up earlier this year for her sixteenth birthday. âI wonât ask what you and Rah were using it for,â she says, taking the crumpled napkins and frantically wiping her skin.
âShut up. I have a man and a date tomorrow. Iâm not trying to get too caught up with Rah, unlike you and Nigel, who donât seem to care that you each have significant others.â
âWell, I think you need to think more about that plan,â Mickey says, completely ignoring my moral warning. âRah seems to really dig you, Jayd. And heâs much finer than Jeremy.â
âGirl, can you please just take me back to my momâs and stop trying to lure me over to the dark side?â Whereâs Nellieâs uptight ass when I need her? âI need to study,â I say, choosing to ignore the phone calls and text messages coming in from Rah. Mickeyâs phone is ringing, too. I guess the chicken heads have now left the building and itâs safe to return. But this little queenâs done for the night. I want info from Jeremy, and I need rest to be as sweet as itâs going to require for me to get it.
âWhat? You donât want to go back?â she says, immediately turning the car back around.
âNo. I have a lot of work to do, and Iâm tired from working all day. Besides, whatâs to stop Tasha and Trish from coming back?
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