"I have no idea what to get Sammy for her birthday sis. I wanna spoil her" Kelis pouted.

"You know she likes that earthy, spiritual, Erykah Badu shit. I'm getting her some crystals and some sage. She loves charm bracelets too. Sammy isn't really hard to please."

"I'm over here looking at gucci bags online, and all this girl wants is some spiritual healing shit" Kelis said as I laughed.

"She'll definitely prefer some sage over a gucci bag. Sammy doesn't play when it comes to her spirituality. She's all about good energy and shit. She used to come sage my apartment every morning before she got busy with her new business."

"I love to see it. That's why I feel all happy and energetic when I'm around her" Kelis said.

"Exactly, her good energy rubs off on us."

My phone started ringing, so I opened my purse to grab it. I was surprised to see East's name. He's never called me before, so I was low key confused.

"Hey East" I answered with a confused tone.

"Wassup Gen, I ain't mean to call you out the blue and shit. I was just tryna see what type of shit Sammy likes. I don't wanna show up to her party empty handed" East said.

His deep voice instantly sent chills up my spine. I love a nigga with a deep voice.

"You still there?" East asked.

"Oh, um yeah. I'm still here. She likes charm bracelets and spiritual healing stuff. If you're feeling a little generous, she likes blue sapphires too."

"I don't wanna outdo my boy Zander, so I'll stick with the more simpler gifts" East said as I laughed.

"She'll appreciate it either way."

"Aight, 'preciate you Gen. I'll see you tomorrow" East said.

"Okay bye" I said before hanging up.

"Mhmmmm" Kelis mumbled as she looked me up and down.

I rolled my eyes, "he was just calling to see what Sammy likes."

"You better give that man some puss in Miami" Kelis said.

I laughed, "here you go."

"You only live once sis" Kelis said as she shrugged.

"We're just friends. Why is that so hard for everybody to believe?"

"I can definitely sense the chemistry between you two. It's only a matter of time before y'all get together" Kelis said.

I rolled my eyes then waved her off.

"Wassup with you and Kareem? Let me get all up in your koolaid."

Kelis laughed, "that's my lil boo or whatever. We have an understanding. It's only been a month since we met, so I'm not in a rush to get into a relationship with him."

I nodded, "I get that."

Kelis and I shopped around for a few hours until we were able to find a few gifts for Sapphire.

🌴

"Everything looks great. Tomorrow is gonna be a movie."

"Definitely! I'm glad we chose this club" Kelis said.

We decided to throw a surprise dinner party for Sammy. There will be an after party at one of the hottest clubs in Miami. Everything is custom decorated with Sammy's face on it. Kelis and I definitely had to show out for our girl.

"I told you ladies to trust me. I never disappoint when it comes to parties. We make visions come to life" Charlie, the club owner said.

"We never doubted you. When I seen your work on Instagram, I knew you didn't play around" Kelis said.

"Period" I said as I did the city girls hand gesture.

We talked with the club owner for a few more minutes before heading back to our hotel.

"Look who's chilling on the block. I ain't seen you in a minute nigga" Maniac said as he dapped me up.

Maniac is an associate of mine. We used to work together back when I was selling drugs. He's always been a cool ass nigga, but we've never been close.

I chuckled, "I'm always outside."

"Since when? Today?" Maniac asked as everybody laughed.

I waved him off then finished rolling my blunt.

I can admit that I'm never outside like I used to be. I'm getting too old to be chilling on the block, but it's fun to do it occasionally.

"Man, I found this bad ass bitch on Instagram. Brownskin, tattoos, tall, and did I mention that she's bad as hell? She got a kid, but I'm ready to be step daddy just to get some of that pussy. I heard single mom pussy be hitting different" Maniac said.

"Let me see" Zander said.

Zander and Kareem looked at Maniac's phone then back up at me.

I knitted my eyebrows, "fuck y'all looking at?"

"It's Gen" Kareem said as him and Zander laughed.

I shook my head, "what does that have to do with me?"

"Y'all know her? She a hoe or something?" Maniac asked.

"Nah, far from it. That's the homie."

"Give her my number then. Hook ya boy up" Maniac said.

Kareem and Zander started snickering. They swear I got something going on with Gen.

"Do I look like a matchmaker to you? You a grown ass man."

I'm not the type of nigga that passes numbers on and shit.

"I'll just slide in her dm's then. Fuck it" Maniac said as he shrugged.

I ignored him then lit my blunt, knowing that Gen wouldn't give his corny ass the time of day.

Marissa: Where you been? I miss you 🥺

I ignored the text message then locked my phone. I get messages like that on a daily from different women. I'm not really a relationship type of guy, at least not right now. Most of these women get fucked once or twice then I never hit them up again. So when they say they miss me, I know it's not really ME that they miss.

"Where are you going?" Lola asked as she walked into my bedroom.

"Out of town for an event" I said.

"No invite? Wow East" Lola said.

"It's not my event. I can't just invite people."

Lola rolled her eyes, "can you cashapp me some money? I'm short on rent this month."

"How you short on rent? What happened to being big bank Lola?" I asked as I smirked.

Lola smacked her lips, "nevermind East."

I chuckled, "I'm just fucking with you. How much you need?"

"Six hundred" Lola said.

I've never had a problem with giving Lola money. Like I said before, I got love for Lola. That's the homie before anything else.

"I got you."

"Thank you East. I really appreciate you for constantly looking out for me" Lola said as she smiled.

I nodded then continued to pack.

"Don't do too much at that little event either" Lola said.

I knitted my eyebrows, "are you my mother or something now? Chill out."

"If you show out then I'm most definitely showing out" Lola said.

"You're single and I'm single."

"That's the thing, I don't wanna be single East. I've been down with you for YEARS! What do I get in return? Oh, I get treated like a random hoe" Lola said.

"A random hoe? I treat you like a random hoe?"

"YES! You act like you don't care about me" Lola pouted.

"I just gave you six hundred dollars to help you pay your rent. I keep you dripped out in designer. I've taken you out of the country with me. I even let you sleep in my house. I don't care though? Fuck out my face Lola. If I didn't care then you wouldn't be in my presence right now."

"Am I not good enough for you or something? What more do I need to do to prove that I'm the one for you?" Lola asked.

"NOTHING! BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER BE THAT!"

By the look on Lola's face I could tell that I hurt her feelings. I didn't really feel bad though. Lola is constantly pressing me about a relationship, but I don't want that with her. I get irritated when somebody constantly puts pressure on me about some shit that I don't wanna do.

"That's how you feel East? After all these years? All the times I've held you down? All the times I've covered for you and let you hide drugs and money at my house? This is what I get in return?" Lola asked as she wiped her tears away.

"We had an understanding Lola. You knew what it was with me."

"I didn't know this was how you truly felt. I know now though. You're not worth my time anymore" Lola said before she stormed out of my room.

I wasn't tripping off that shit. Lola does this all the time. She'll be back, and if not? There's plenty more fish in the sea.

_____________________________________