Ghetto Love Bird

Roman

R o m a n

I stood on the balcony, staring out into the town.

My watch beeped, indicating that it was now two o'clock, Honey still laid asleep on the bed.

Right now, I was distraught.

When I saw her outside of the party, practically staring me down, I knew there was something about her.

As cliche as it may sound, all the other woman just stared at me as if I was the biggest ATM they've ever seen, and maybe Honey thought I was too, but the coins she'd be collecting wasn't front using me. When I found out that she was practically a prostitute, I was shocked.

She was beautiful, her body was amazing, and I couldn't tell much about her personality just from last night but I don't believe that she's a bad person.

I wanted to get to know her better last night, but now? Honey's mine.

Last night & this morning left me in a daze, I had never had s*x so good, and making love? That was my first tome doing it.

I felt something. When I looked into her eyes, when she kissed me, when she touched me. s**t, I should've just gave her my kid foreal when she didn't get up from my d*ck.

Honey didn't know it yet, but her days of all that s*x for money nonsense, was over. Whatever she needed, I got her, whatever she wanted, she got it. She was mine now, and let anybody tell me otherwise I would never hesitate to put a bullet between their eyes.

"s**t!" She screamed from inside, and I walked back in to find her scrambling for her stuff. Her eyes widen when she notices me, and then she scowls.

"Well, good morning sunshine,"

"Why wouldn't you wake me up?!" She yells.

"You looked tired, I figured I'd let you rest." I shrug and she continues to stare at me, her eyes wide.

"I can't believe this," she laughs humorlessly, continuing to grab her stuff.

She pauses for a moment, staring at the wall, a hand on her hip.

"Roman I am a prostitute," she snaps, and I clench my jaw. I didn't like that she referred to herself as that, even if it was indeed what she was.

"I can't spend nights, and mornings and afternoons! I have a child!"

We both froze at her revelation. She looks up at me, but I was already staring at her, shocked. I tried to regain my facial composure so that she wouldn't think that I was freaked out.

She lets out a loud sigh before shaking her head and pulling her dress back on.

"Pay me," she stretches her finger out, her bag in her other hand and I reach into my pant pocket on the floor to grab three bands. I drop it in her hands and she stares at them for a moment, then back at me. She shuts her hands tightly, then leaves, slamming the door behind her.

I stand there, limp as I stare at the door.

A child?

#

H o n e y

I hated n*ggas.

This was the first and definitely the last time that I was breaking my rules for any of them, no matter how fine or rich they were.

I climbed up my apartments stairs and used my keys to get in. I knew my mother would be there, scowling at me, and the last thing I needed, was that.

I pushed open the door, and Soraya immediately came running into my arms.

"Aw baby," I coo and she giggles.

"I woke u-up this morning mommy, and you weren't there." Her words were still a bit shaky, but she knew how to say a lot of stuff. She even held conversations as long as she understood.

Soraya was the love of me life. She was intelligent and beautiful and every time I saw her she reminded me why I was living.

"Go on, tell the poor child where you've been." The old hag spat from the kitchen, wiping up the clean dishes and I ignore her. I shut the door behind me, locking it. Soraya and I get into her bedroom.

"Where did you go, mommy?"

"I was working, love." I tell her, and that's all she needed to know for now.

"Have you eaten?"

"Grammy made me oats." She wrinkled her nose adorably, and I chuckled, knowing that she hates oats.

"Okay, how about mommy takes a shower and then we go to McDonald's."

"Yes!" She stands, shoving both hands towards the sky and spinning. I laugh, grabbing her tablet to play CocoMelon for her. As soon as she hears the sound, she's in her own world. I sneak away, shutting her door to escape into mine.

"I am not your personal babysitter, Trenaé."

I fold my arms, eyeing the wrinkles that coated her face, the loss of color in her lip, and then the grey that was increasing in her hair.

"It looks like you could use a little self care mother, don't worry, the month is almost over, and your allowance will be given to you soon." I tell, her forcing a fake smile.

"Or did you forget about our deal?"

"I will call CPS,"

"Go ahead," I step closer to her, my voice filled with venom, "and you'll end up right where you were, back with daddy, oh wait, you have no idea who my daddy is, do you? Then you'll be out in the streets, where they'll chew you up and spit you out like vomit."

She lets out an appalled breath before averting her eyes.

"You best not bite the hand that feeds you, mother. You may just never get fed again." She lifts her head to scowl at me, and I return the glare. She practically stomps back to her room and I let out a loud sigh before disappearing in mine.

#

"She did not say that," Tera says, eyes wide and I roll mine.

"Girl, I was thinking the exact same thing. She must have Alzheimer's or something because she knows damn well she doesn't live there for free." I throw one of Soraya's left over fries in my mouth, as she plays with Tera's son, Eastern.

I know right?

"Anyway, hoe," she grinned and I knew exactly what was coming, "what the hell happened last night,"

"You don't even wanna know, sis," I rub my forehead just thinking about it again. Who was I kidding? I was thinking about him all day.

"Nuh uh, I would love to know. How'd you snatch him up? Out of all that competition?

"Girl you know there is no competition when it comes to me okay," I purse my lips, eyes low as I try to contain a smile, "and my n*gga snatched me up, not the other way around."

"Periodt!" Tera laughs loudly, and I couldn't help but join her.

"Nah, but foreal, he approached me and some trick had already told him about what I do," I suck my teeth and she rolls her eyes, "mans didn't care though he said he would like to patronize,"

"Sister!" Tera's eyes widen, her mouth drops in disbelief, "he said that?"

"b***h, yes!" I sat back, holding in my grin, "anyway I texted you and he took me to one of those boujee hotels. You know I got my rules, right?"

"Uh huh,"

"He mad me break all of them."

"All?"

"We kissed, we made love, I spent the night, child I slept till two in the afternoon. I was so angry."

Tera was speechless.

She know how strict I was when it came to my rules, so I'm sure she was in shock now.

"The s*x must've been bomb," she takes a long sip from her drink.

"Girl," I shut my eyes, trying not to reminisce, "bomb just ain't the word. It was out of this world. It was . . . It was the type of s*x that brought you to your knees, that made you want to run, it was that 'I'm cumming daddy,' type of sex."

"I'm cumming daddy?" We both jump as Eastern repeats my words, my eyes widen and Tera screams, "where's daddy?"

"Oh hell no! Don't you ever say that again!" Tera yells.

"Tera," I smack her hand, "the boy most likely thinks that I was saying I'm coming."

Tera let's out a big sigh, a small giggle escaping her lips.

"You're right," she turns to Eastern, "sorry about that baby," she coos.

"Your daddy's not here, you know that." Eastern didn't care much for her words after that, he disappeared mid kiss when Soraya called him on the slides.

"We done with this conversation," I tell her before we both erupt in laughter. My laughter gets caught short though, as none other than Roman enters McDonald's, eyes searching the place until they land on me.

He looked good as usual, he hand wife beaters on with some Cotten basket ball shorts. Gucci slides danced on his feet.

"How you doing ladies?" Tera jumps again, her eyes bulging out of her sockets. I shut my eyes in embarrassment as she whistles.

"Whew Chile," she mutters, but we could both hear her. "I think my child calling me, let me . . . Let me leave before this man make me cheat on my man."

I snort loudly, before internally scolding myself.

She practically runs off towards the kids and Roman slides into her side of the booth. I sigh loudly, placing my hands on the table, and staring at him, annoyed.

"You ain't happy to see me?"

"I saw you a few hours ago," I retort quickly.

"I feel like we left on bad terms."

"Why would that matter?" I raise my eyebrow and he smirks.

"I'm tryna get to know you better."

"Oo," I chuckle, taking a ship of my hard ass sprite and I tilt my head, "Roman, don't get caught lacking."

He chuckles at my words, his shoulders rising and falling with every sound and I grin subconsciously.

"I'm being serious though, I'm sorry if I had you feeling any type of my. I ain't know you had a youngin."

I avert my eyes to Soraya, who was trying to hit Tera in with her Sandles for yelling at Eastern.

"That's your girl?" He asks, looking at her too, and I nod.

"That's wassup, she's beautiful."

"Thank you," I smile, returning my gaze to him and he looks back at me too.

"Just like her mama," I roll my eyes, but my smile betrayed me.

"Ahh," he points at my smile, "you know you like it, why deny it?"

"Roman, if you're here to apologize, you're forgiven," I tell him, trying to dismiss him but he just gets more comfortable, leaning back.

He looks into my eyes, and I immediately feel uncomfortable, I look away, shifting my attention to the cashiers.

I feel his hands coat mine, and tighten before I could pull away.

I look back at him, and for a second my breath is taken away.

"You should know how it is by now, Honey," his deep voice rumbles with every word, and bit my lip, controlling myself, "I don't know if you're even heard about me, but ask around. Whatever I want, I get. And right now, I want you."

"How many other bitches have you said that to?" I raise an eyebrow and he smirks.

"The same amount I've made love to, one." I'm speechless as he stands, and walks over to my side. He leans over to kiss my cheek, lingering over my ear.

"I found you, so imma be over on your side of town more often. I'll see you soon, mamas."

I'm left in internal chaos as he saunters out nonchalantly, climbing into his car and swerving out.