Chapter 18

By the time Chantal pulls her Jeep into her driveway, Max and Phor are already closing the doors to their own cars. I roll my eyes mentally at being the only one left to resort to Uber. I hop down from Chantal's Jeep after putting my phone on silent. Since I sent word to meet up at Chantal's place through our group message, Max and Phor have been texting nonstop. Granted, I haven't said more than two words in the group message for months now. So, I'm not allowing myself to get as aggravated by the consistent vibrating of my phone as I usually would. All in all, I know my girls just miss me.

"Is that my favorite bitch in all of Candyland?" Max says.

I roll my eyes playfully before grabbing her into a hug. Max stands a few inches above me in her white Air-Force 1s. I have to pluck strands of her red wig out of my mouth when she finally lets me go. I don't have much time to recover from the grip she had on me 'cause Phora is there next in her satin fitted dress and silver heels. Her hair is done up in a half-up, half-up down style, with loose curls hanging down her back.

After Phor is done telling me how much I've missed and how much she's missed me, Max starts to chastise me for playing them to the left. I listen and smile empathetically while they ramble on, but little did they know that this wasn't a social call. By the way they're both dressed in all white, with Max in biker shorts and a cropped tank, I feel the need to let them know.

"I hear y'all. I really do and I promise to be a better friend. But, I told y'all in the GM that I called y'all over here to talk," I say.

I look them both up and down, "So why are y'all dressed up?"

Max and Phor take a look at their outfits like they didn't know what they chose to put on this morning. Then, they give each other a once-over.

"First of all, I don't know why this hoe wearing all white after labor day. But I'm hosting an all white party at Club Luxe tonight. We should all go!" Phora exclaims.

Max rolls her eyes at Phor, then looks at me, "I just got off work and this the only thing I had in my car unless you wanted me to show up in my dance clothes."

I can hear the attitude dripping from every word as she talks. I'm not sure if it's directed towards me or Phor but I decide to let it go anyway. Maybe I was trippin'. I haven't hung around them since before Jonah died so the chances that I was mistaking Max's personality as attitude was highly likely.

I didn't even notice Chantal standing next to me until she starts swinging her car keys.

"Can we go inside?" She asks us.

If I thought Max had an attitude, I know for certain that Chantal really does have one. I've known Chantal since 5th grade, so I know all of her faces pretty well. The irritated look she now wore was a mix between her being tired and hot. I couldn't blame her though. One look at her fit and I can tell that she had no intention of leaving the house until I called. If that's not bad enough, she's the only one of us wearing olive green cargo pants and a tan long-sleeved jacket. I mean, I'm wearing black shorts and a black and orange flannel with my 1s but my shorts are pretty high so I'm not as hot as she must be.

Chantal takes the lead to her porch. Like me, Chantal grew up in the hood. When my daddy touched enough money he moved us straight out of there and into Eastover. Chantal's mom was struggling trying to raise her and her little sister, Lori, on her own while trying to finish school. It took them some time but eventually her mom moved them into a better neighborhood too. Our house was more on the bigger side of things but drug dealing can open a lot of doors for you. I know Section-8 helped her mom out a lot and they were grateful but I'm hoping because of that, Chantal will be open to my offer.

We all file into her front door.

"Ma, I'm home!"

I make an effort to break away from our single-filed line to go see her mother. Lori's on the living room sofa when I head towards the kitchen.

"Hey, Candy," She calls.

I give her a quick hug since she didn't bother to look up from her iPad when I approached. There was something about YouTube these 11-year-olds couldn't get enough of. I didn't understand it but maybe that was 'cause my time for innocence was long gone.

I follow the smell of cooking meat that trails back to the kitchen. Ms. Trina doesn't hear me sneak up on her 'cause Maury is blasting on channel Nola38.

"Hey, Ma," I say.

My eyes widen as she almost drops the pot of meat she's carrying.

"Baby, you scared me! You know how I get when I'm watching my shows!" Ms. Trina says.

I laugh as I help her carry the pot to the strainer in the sink. I grab a kitchen towel to help tilt the big pot over the sink so the juice can be strained from whatever she's making. Once we're done, I see the strainer is filled to the top with pickle-tips.

"What you making?" I ask.

"White beans with pickled-tips. I don't know why I made so much since you know Telly don't eat this. I thought she was going buy something to eat but then she come back with you," Ms. Trina says.

Finally, she sits her oven-mitts on the counter and stares at me.

"Look at you, my baby."

I smile a little under her eye. It doesn't last long 'cause I know the sympathies are sure to follow.

"How you doing baby? I couldn't make it to the funeral cause you know they have us nurses working crazy hours. But Telly went and she said she saw how much it hurt you to lose that precious baby."

For the second time today, I'm staring at my shoes 'cause I don't know what to say. Jonah is always on my mind so I didn't really need an extra reminder. But I try not to take Ms. Trina's condolences too hard. I've known this woman for what feels like all my life, so I know she only means well.

I guess she can tell by my shift in body language that she's said the wrong thing. She cleans her mess easily though.

"Well anyway, I'm glad to see you coming around again. Chantal gone need you since she been hanging round these messy hoes."

She comes closer to whisper it to me. I laugh at the disgusted look covering her face. Honestly, if it was anybody else talking down on my friends, I would've let them have it. I'm not letting Ms. Trina slide because she's older, I'm letting her slide 'cause she's Ms. Trina. You can either love her or hate her. Considering the fact that I'm the only one out of our crew to come speak to her, I'm guessing Max and Phor have grown to hate her.

"They not as bad as you think, Ms. Trina," I laugh.

"Mhmm. A mother knows, Candyce. A mother always knows."

I don't want to antagonize her dislike for them anymore so I give her a quick kiss. After she makes me promise to take some food home, I climb the steps to Chantal's room.

When I push open the door, all three girls stop their conversation abruptly. I look around at the three of them. Call it paranoia but I can't shake the feeling that they were talking about me. So me being me, I decide to ask.

"We was just asking Chantal if she knew why you called us over here," Max says.

"You couldn't wait for me to tell you myself?" I say.

"Right 'cause I told them I don't know nothing," Chantal says.

Max twists her neck towards her, "And I told you we don't believe you."

Chantal lays in her bed without clapping back at Max and what I now know for sure is an attitude.

Now, I'm starting to see what my absence from the group has done. Somehow, Max has taken lead as Head Bitch In Charge and Chantal's chill persona is no match for Max's aggression at times. I'm curious as to what role Phor plays in all of this.

"And what was you saying about it Phor?" I say with my arms across my chest.

"Girl, you know I barely be paying attention. I do wanna know why you called us here though," She says.

So, she playing dumb. Good to know.

"Well?" Max asks.

"Well, nobody making you stay here. If you can't be patient and listen, then what I'm boutta say don't really apply to you," I snap back.

Max and I stare at each other in silence. I didn't really need to use any of them but if I was gonna eat, I'd rather it be with my team. But what I'm not gonna do is force-feed nobody. If Max wanted to step, she could. I even hold Chantal's door open for her so she can carry on.

"Alright, y'all chill. Candy, come inside and close the door. Just tell us what's up," Chantal says.

I raise my eyebrows at Max. We're not discussing shit until she climbs down from the high horse she rode in on. She rolls her eyes at me and dismisses me with her hand. But, she doesn't get up from the bed either. So, I push the door closed and take a seat on Chantal's vanity stool.

"I wanna start by saying I miss y'all."

Max scoffs at the end of the bed. Chantal gently kicks her with her foot.

"We missed you too," Chantal says, giving Max a look.

"Mhm," Max goes.

I feel my leg start to shake but I remind myself to calm down. At the very least, I have to finish what I'm saying. Mostly 'cause I got them all here and they're clearly tweaking to know what I want so I roll my eyes at Max and keep going.

"Anyways, I been going through a lot of shit with my family since Jonah died. I don't know if y'all know but Ace left town," I say.

Chantal sits up in her bed, "Wait what? Like left for good or?"

"Calm down, girl. Your Man Crush Monday will be back soon. He just needed some time alone after we lost Jonah."

"I heard the cops came there looking for Ace."

My eyes turn to Phor. Her eyes are wide with curiosity. I know three and a half months is a lot of time for rumors to get around. I knew from Reese that the streets were talking but Phor ain't connected enough to find this information out on her own. I glance at Max and the cryptic smile on her face confirms what I already knew.

So, I look at Max when I answer Phor's question.

"You can't believe everything you hear. Y'all know how bitches love to talk."

"So when is he coming back?" Chantal says.

Out of everybody, she's the only one that feels genuinely worried. It makes sense though. I never knew Max or Phor to care about anything other than partying and making money. They drifted towards Chantal and I in high school 'cause we didn't mind being ourselves when everybody tried to tell us to calm it down. Even though I knew what they cared about most, I never knew them to be haters.

It's interesting what a little distance will reveal about a "friend".

"I don't know. I been giving him some space. I figure he'd reach out when he ready. But, while he's gone, his men are working like nothing happened. They under direct orders from his right hand man so everybody eating but us. Now that Ace's hand is out of the pot, his family gotta get it how we live. So, I'm deciding to step up and get to a bag to make sure my family don't drown while Ace is gone. That's where y'all come in at."

"I don't get it," Phor says.

"Basically I wanna' start selling shit and I need y'all to help me. I don't strip no more so Max can help by asking clients for private dances. In the back, you ask them if they wanna have a little fun. They say yes, you pull out a baggie and make him pay for it. That's $75 right there."

"But what nigga is gonna pay for cocaine?" Max asks.

"Pink Fantasy bring in all types of people. You'd be surprised what a rapper or football player would be willing to do with the lights off. Especially if they get to snort it off yo body. Yo job would be to make it sexy. If niggas ain't going for coke, try to sell the only bitches they'll be loyal to: Molly, Ecstasy or a Perc 30."

"Niggas do love them some Percocets," Max laughs.

"What about me?" Phor asks.

"Well you host clubs so your job would be to scout the private sections looking for big spenders. Make it slick. If they ask for bottle service, carry it over yourself. Sweet talk 'em. And hoes ain't off limits. Bitches always looking to be down so do whatever you comfortable doing to make them wanna do it too."

"Me?" Chantal asks.

All of my confidence falters staring at my best friend. She wasn't like us in a lot of ways. She never turned to strip clubs or the party scene to make money. She hustled two jobs to help her mom out. She could get wild but only if we were there to bring it out of her. A part of me feels the need to protect her from this. Then, I think of Simon trying to make a name for himself and Mama too depressed to look out for Paryis.

My family was getting smaller by the minute. With every death I've endured, Chantal has been there rooting for me every step of the way. Even when I lost Jonah, she was there when Ace couldn't. In a split second, I decide family shouldn't be limited to blood relatives. I think it's about time I appreciate the friends I have before it's too late. Looking at Chantal, I open myself up to the possibility that family could also be a potna or close friend. As long as they're willing to stand by my side when everything goes to shit, I'm gonna do whatever is in my power to protect them.

"I didn't really see a role for you in all of this, Chantal. You got a lot going for you with your jobs so I don't really see a need for you to do this," I say.

Chantal shrugs her shoulders, "Fine by me."

I let out air I didn't realize I was holding. I was nervous she was gonna fight me on it but I should have known better. Chantal didn't want any parts of this world just like I didn't.

"So what you gon be doing while we out hustling?" Max asks.

"I'm giving you a seat at the table. Ain't that enough?"

...

Chantal gives me a ride home when the meeting is over. We don't say much the entire ride as Jhené Aiko floods the car's stereo. I'm grateful for the peaceful ride. As she pulls into my driveway, I recognize a familiar grey Audi parked across the street.

I load my arms with the four plates of food Ms. Trina forced me to take. I wave bye to Chantal as I jump onto the grass. Before I could close the door with my elbow, she stops me.

"Candy, we been friends since we were nine. I'm like your best friend, right?"

I nod my head.

"So why didn't you tell me Ace left? Or about you having to take care of your family alone? And why did you cut me out the deal with Max and Phor?"

Her questions weigh heavy on my conscious. I'm not sure what to tell her about her first two questions 'cause I don't know myself. So, I tell her what I do know.

"Chantal, I cut you out of the deal 'cause you're my best friend. I know I haven't done a good job of it in the past, but I'm making it my mission to protect those I love. You fall in the category 'cause we're family-- not 'cause we're friends."

I close the door before she could answer. I maneuver the plates in my hand while I attempt to find my keys in my purse. The door is pulled open as I search the contents of my bag.

Caesar stares behind me. I'm tempted to turn around until I hear Chantal's Jeep pull away.

"Who that?" Caesar asks.

I shove him out of the way to get into my house.

"What happened to minding the business that pays you?" I ask.

"First of all, I said stop minding another man's business. That don't apply to you."

I sit the food on the kitchen counter and Caesar follows me all the way there.

"Lemme find out you cheating on Reese. We beefin' right now but that's still my dawg. You know I'ma tell 'em," Caesar says.

I watch as he hungrily digs through the bag of food trying to see what I bought home. He lifts the aluminum foil on one of the plates and whistles.

"Damn. Lil homie gon be hurt to find out you fucking with a chef."

"Stop playing with me, Caesar. What you doing here anyway?" I ask.

I sit down in the kitchen chair while Caesar leans against the island.

"I came to start our apprenticeship but you wasn't here. Lil' mama ain't know where you was at so I stayed behind to make sure you got home safe."

"What makes you think I wasn't with Reese?" I ask.

"'Cause I know where Reese is at. Now it's time to find out where you was."

I sigh, "I did what you told me. I recruited a few girls to help me sell."

"Let me guess: simple bitch number one and simple bitch number two."

"Whatever, Caese. I'd rather do business with some bitches I trust than finding some hoes who might play me in the end," I say.

Caesar nods his head.

"It's yo hustle. I ain't gon' knock it."

"Good."

I start to bend down and unlace my shoes. Today feels extra long and it's only been a couple hours since I left the house. I've gotten so used to staying in bed all day that any time outside is too long.

"You might as well keep them on. We got somewhere to be," Caesar says.

I peer up at him with my hands still on my laces.

"Where we gotta go now?" I whine.

"I wanna show you something."

"Does it have to be right, right now?"

"Money don't wait for nobody, Candyce," Caesar says.

I watch him pick his keys up from the kitchen island and head towards the front door. I groan under my breath as I stuff my feet back inside my shoes. I meet him across the street at his passenger door. He hits the locks and I climb in next to him.

His car is as clean as I remembered. The carpets look freshly washed and a Black Ice air freshener hangs from his review mirror.

"So where we going?" I ask.

"Put ya seatbelt on and relax. I'll tell you when we get there. You can tell me all about the conversation with your new business partners while I drive."

So, I do. I tell him about Max and her attitude which of course he saw as a red flag. I kinda predicted he would say that but I felt the need to be honest with him anyway. If he was gonna be my only guide to success in the drug game, I wanted to hear his advice in full. It made no sense to lie to him 'cause if anything happens, he's the first person I planned on calling.

Caesar listens intently as I talk. Once I start explaining to him the business plans for both Max and Phor, he doesn't say anything. If he had any pointers to suggest, he kept them to himself.

When I was done, he nodded his head.

"I knew you was smart, Red," He said.

Then he reached over and turned the radio up. He spent the rest of the drive choosing songs from his Apple Music. I spent the ride shazaming all the songs and downloading them so I didn't have to give him the satisfaction of knowing he put me on.

After thirty minutes, we pull up to an apartment complex. There is a gate preventing us from driving all the way in. However, there's no security guard at the gate so I know whoever lives here can't be too rich. Caesar leans over to punch in the code. He raises his window back up and the gate slides open.