Read Online Pretty Girls in the Vip (9781617730283) by Daaimah S. Poole - Free Book Online Page B

the cops.”
    â€œAnd say what, Courtney? You sound so stupid right now.”
    â€œYo, I had no idea he was crazy like that,” Courtney said.
    I looked over at Courtney’s face and knew that I was so tired of doing this bum bitch shit. Getting robbed and shot at by the dudes we were just fucking with. Sometimes Courtney was my best friend, my sister, and other times she was the dumbest bitch I knew. I didn’t want to yell at her, but I couldn’t hold back.
    â€œCourtney, this was some real stupid shit.”
    â€œOkay, so you act like I knew this was going to happen.”
    â€œI’m not saying that.” I knew Courtney was about to flip it back on me. She fucked up, but somehow it was about to be my fault.
    It always started with, “Bitch, you ain’t better than me.” She was going to say that I was nothing because I let my daughter go to live with her father’s family. If I was a real woman I would hold it down like she was doing with her daughter. She always brings up unrelated shit when we arguing.
    Aunt Rhonda says we are water and oil and we will never be able to get along fully. Sometimes I think she is jealous that Ayana never met her grandparents and my baby lives with hers.
    â€œDon’t try to act like this is my fault, Shanice. As soon as you saw him near my bag you should have said something.”
    â€œI did. I woke you up.”
    â€œWell, you should have been more on point. All I know is, you don’t have to act like you better than anyone. You not better than me or smarter than me. Yeah, it’s my bad I fucked up, but you did, too.”
    I could argue with Courtney, but she would never get it, and all I cared about was getting home into the shower and into my bed.

C HAPTER 7
    Zakiya
    â€œH appy birthday, Aunt Kiya,” my nephews yelled as they both ran downstairs with a white notebook paper homemade card sealed with tape.
    â€œOpen it. Open it,” they both yelled.
    â€œOkay.” I sat at the kitchen table and opened the card and about three dollars in dimes, nickels, and pennies fell out. On the front of the card there was a drawing of me and them and a greeting that was written in sloppy cursive handwriting that read H APPY B IRTHDAY W ORLD’S B EST A UNT .
    â€œThis is so nice. Wow, I’m so lucky.”
    â€œWe gave you that money for your birthday to buy a new computer,” Miles said.
    â€œThat’s so sweet. Give me a hug,” I said as I extended my arms out wide enough to hug them both.
    My sister, Lisa, interrupted our lovefest and told the boys to grab their jackets and book bags and head out to the car, so they wouldn’t be late for school.
    â€œSo now that you’re legal, what are you doing today?” she asked as she put her jacket on.
    â€œNothing special. Just going to the library to type my paper and then to class and that’s it.”
    â€œWell, maybe we can go to Applebee’s or something tonight. Hopefully my overtime is on this check.”
    â€œYeah, I have to work, so don’t worry about it.”
    â€œWell, when you get off, let’s do something.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Â 
    It was my birthday, but it didn’t feel like it. I hadn’t really celebrated my birthday since before my mom killed herself when I was twelve. A lot of things just didn’t matter anymore once she was gone.
    Â 
    I grabbed a birthday vanilla frosted donut with sprinkles from Dunkin’ Donuts and a large orange juice. That was my birthday breakfast before I went and typed up my English paper. My phone was at the bottom of my bag and it started ringing.
    Once I finally grabbed it, I was surprised to see Jabril’s name on the screen. “Hey, Jabril,” I said as I walked out of Dunkin’ Donuts.
    â€œI just wanted to call you and say happy birthday. What are you doing?”
    â€œAbout to go to the library so I can type my paper. My computer is