then the dam releases. “We just talked. And she’s pretty. She said she thought I was pretty. Though I didn’t drink a lot , I did have liquid courage. Rina said she’d always thought about kissing me, so I let her. And I kissed her back. And then, well, one thing led to another, I guess.”
Pulling her to me, I remove her tank and skirt. We have other things we still need to get through, but for now, I want the heavy shit to be put aside. I want my heart to not feel like it’s about to be crushed.
“Tell me all about it,” I say to her as I take an erect nipple into my mouth. The mood once more at ease, I say, “I want every last detail.” I’m not going to make it down to fight my second round tonight. And fuck if I care to lose tonight.
NINE
Sitting on the sidewalk, I watch Silas and Toby duke it out. They’ve been going at it for nearly half an hour at this point and no one looks ready to fall. Then again, I guess I can see why. Toby thinks Silas fucked his woman. Silas is trying to defend his word that he didn’t.
These two only needed one to see the other talking to the girl and their shit lead to this fight. Initially, Toby wasn’t supposed to fight tonight, his name not selected, but when it comes to personal issues, vendettas, grudges and arguments, this group understands sometimes you just gotta air shit out.
So here it goes. A battle of these two arguing and boxing to solve their issues.
Whoever wins this fight takes me on. That was supposed to be the plan from before they started squabbling like children. But with the way it’s taking so fucking long to end, it’s starting to look like it’ll have to be postponed till tomorrow. Cause there ain’t no way I’m fighting someone who isn’t up to par. When I win, people know I won. Not that it was handed to me by a tired opponent. But if the fight is postponed; shit. That’s the last thing I want. Too many fights in one day could be costly. I definitely don’t want to be seen as the tired opponent.
“For fuck’s sake, Silas didn’t fuck Deenie. Ain’t nobody but you wanna fuck that bitch,” Stretch calls to Toby. He's not wrong. Deenie is drama personified and no one knows why Toby puts up with her.
“Fuck you, Stretch,” calls Toby and it’s enough of a distraction for Silas to throw the winning punch. As Toby hits the ground, he's cussing everyone out, blaming everyone for his loss. Stretch just laughs like it’s the funniest shit he's ever seen. I don’t. First, he shoulda channeled that anger and used it to win. Like Celia made me admit, that's what I do. And it works. There’s nothing better like beating the shit out of someone who thinks they got a shot with your girl.
But I also don't laugh because I feel her coming. And I'm not the only one who notices. “Celia, baby. You are looking mighty fine.” All eyes are on her, the guys and the girls gathered. “You finally come to let me have you all to myself for good?” Stretch asks still laughing.
I tense. My whole body locks down in anger and irritation and worse, jealousy. It doesn't matter that I know she's telling the truth about not being with any of these assholes. My head had heard it for so long, it's still trying to catch up to the lie. But then I hear her raspy voice. “You wish, lover boy,” Celia begins, her tone mocking, and for the first time toward the guys, not entirely kind. “We both know you never had me once. And it ain’t ever gonna happen.” She drops gracefully down to the sidewalk beside me. She's in skin tight jeans and K Swiss sneakers. Her top is one of my old t-shirts cut to hang off her shoulder. She did this on purpose. My clothes, sitting next to me, outright rejecting Stretch when she's never done so before.
We both know they heard us fucking the other night. We both know I can stake my claim on her all I want. I can mark her, which I did on the inside of her thigh near her pussy, on the sensitive skin under both
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