Knee Deep in the Game by Boston George

be nice,” Pop countered smoothly.
    â€œMaybe,” Melissa said as she turned and headed to her building, throwing a little bit of extra switch on her walk.
    â€œDamn, shorty thicker than a Snickers bar son,” one of the thugs said, unconcerned about how his words would affect the woman walking in the building.
    â€œDamn, her ass is fat,” his drunk partner cut in. “You wanna do something strange for some change?” The two thugs laughed loudly, not caring about the feelings of the woman who they spoke of.
    â€œWhy don’t y’all get a fuckin’ life? Melissa said angrily as she entered the building. So happy that the elevator was right there, she just pressed her floor repeatedly until the door finally closed and took her upstairs.
    Once Pop was sure that Melissa had made it inside the building, he quickly hopped out his car and headed in the next building.
    Pop was in love with two women. He knew it was wrong, but what was he supposed to do? He had feelings for both women. Nika was a down-ass chick who was down for him despite where he came from and Melissa was the chick that he had dreamed of bagging. She was a necessity for every hood nigga. She was the showpiece and the bad bitch that he needed on his arm. She symbolized his arrival. He had a special place in his heart for both ladies. He hoped he never had to choose.

Chapter Eight
    â€œFresh, why don’t you put a smile on that handsome face of yours?” Amanda said, trying to cheer her man up.
    â€œI ain’t got a fuckin’ thing to be smiling about right now,” he said, pausing for a moment, “and I’m damn sure not happy to be sitting up in this fuckin’ hospital.”
    â€œFresh, all you doing is thinking about all the negative shit, why don’t you start thinking about the positive shit?”
    â€œThere ain’t a damn thing positive about lying up in a hospital bed,” he growled.
    Fresh was about to continue but held onto the rest of his words when he saw the nurse come in carrying a whole bunch of flowers and balloons.
    â€œI’m sorry if I disturbed you,” the nurse said, placing the flowers and balloons on the table in the corner of the room. “Can I get you anything before I go?” she asked innocently.
    â€œNo, thank you, I’m fine, Fresh answered, knowing he was in big trouble.
    As soon as the nurse stepped out of the room Amanda was all over him. “Who the fuck is sending you flowers and shit?” she asked with fire in her voice.
    â€œHow the fuck would I know?” Fresh said, already knowing shit was about to hit the fan.
    â€œYou don’t know? Okay, why don’t we just find out,” Amanda growled, snatching the card out of the flowers.
    â€œI’m sorry I couldn’t make it, baby, Amanda said, making sure she dragged out the words before she finished reading the card. “ I hope you get well soon, love Vanessa .”
    â€œWho the fuck is Vanessa?” she asked, placing the card inches away from Fresh’s face so he could get a good look at it.
    Fresh didn’t answer, instead, he just shook his head no. “I don’t know who that is.”
    â€œNow you just going to play stupid, right?” Amanda asked as fire blazed in her eyes and a frog caught in her throat.
    â€œYo, I don’t know who the fuck that is. What you want me to do?” Fresh said, lying with a straight face.
    â€œFuckin’ liar! I look stupid to you, mu’fucka?” Amanda asked, trying to fight back the tears. “Trust and believe ain’t no bitch sending you no flowers and balloons out the blue—that bitch is sending you shit for a reason.”
    â€œI told you I don’t know who the fuck that is,” Fresh answered, quickly getting an attitude.
    â€œBullshit, Fresh! Con quien estas hablando ?” Amanda went off in Spanish, demanding to know who Fresh was talking to as she placed her hands on