32
Robin
I was in my bedroom, standing in front of a full-length mirror primping in a Baby Phat strapless jean jumpsuit with red pumps and a wide matching belt. I looked delicious. It was the type of outfit I would have picked out for myself if I had seen it at the mall. Only I didn't buy it. Halo had.
A delivery man had appeared at my door with a box for me to sign for. As soon as I looked inside I saw the outfit and a card that read,
Look forward to seeing you tonight.
The gift had made me nauseated because that was the type of shit Halo did after he got done whupping my ass. He'd buy me something like it was supposed to make things all better. At first I was tempted to take a pair of scissors to the outfit, but then thought better. Halo would expect me to have it on, and tonight I didn't need any drama. I was supposed to meet him at the Hard Shell, a seafood restaurant located in historic Shockoe Slip, at eight, and I needed him smiling and the drinks flowing if I wanted to get any information out of him.
Thank goodness Monica was able to watch Kyle for me. I didn't feel right asking Trey to babysit while I was stepping out with another man. Not that it was
really
a date. I was just anxious to get the evening over so that I could slide over to Trey's. I'd called him earlier and told him I had cramps and was going to lie down and I would give him a call later. It was the first time I ever felt guilty about lying to a guy, which was how I knew I cared a lot about him. I wasn't sure if he would understand, so it was easier just to not tell him what I was doing. I tried to tell myself I was doing it for Kyle so I could get my life back, but I knew it was more than that. I just wasn't ready yet to admit it.
I slipped on a pair of diamond drop earrings and tossed my keys, money, and ID in a small clutch and was heading to the kitchen when I heard my doorbell ring. When I saw who was on the other side, I was ready to scream. It had to be a mirage. But even after I yanked open the door, he was still standing there in black jeans and a white button-down shirt.
“What are you doing here?”
Grinning, Halo stepped into my town house as if he had every right to be there, glancing around, admiring my place. I'd done everything in my power to keep him from finding out where I lived. “Halo, I asked you a question ... what are you doing here?”
“You know I like to pick my women up.”
I had to apply pressure to my temple to keep from screaming. “But I thought we agreed to meet at the restaurant.”
“And I decided to come and get you instead. Relax.” He walked around the room admiring the décor and the African-American art I had on my walls.
“You got a nice place here.”
“Thank you.” I watched him strutting around the room like he owned the place. Touching this and that, being nosy. “How'd you know where I lived?”
He glanced over his shoulder and laughed. “Believe me ... it wasn't that hard. You've known me long enough to know nothing gets past me.”
Yeah, that's what I was afraid of.
I didn't know why I felt violated having him in my private space, but suddenly I was anxious to get out of there. “I'm ready if you are.” I grabbed my purse off the couch and headed toward the door, only Halo wasn't following me.
“What's the rush? How about showing me around first?”
I hesitated because the last thing I wanted was for Halo to see where I slept at night, yet if I didn't show him around Halo would know something was up and I couldn't risk that. Damn, the games we have to play.
I did a big sweep of my arms like I was a game show host. “Well, this is the living room.”
Grinning, he looked around the room, admiring the décor again like he hadn't just been checking it out a few minutes ago.
“The kitchen is in here.” I started toward the next room and signaled for him to follow, but what he said next almost made me break the heel of my pump.
“Since when do you have a kid?”
My eyes zeroed in on the action figures lying on the floor beside my couch, and I cursed under my breath. In my haste, I had forgotten all about Kyle's toys. “Oh ... uh, I've been ... uh ... babysitting for a friend while she's looking for day care.” Nodding, he seemed to accept my explanation, and I sighed with relief.
He followed me into the kitchen, stopped, turned, and looked at me, admiring my outfit. “You look sexy, but then you always do.” Halo reached out an arm and pulled me against him so fast I barely had a chance to breathe before he pressed his lips down against mine.
It took everything I had to remain still when what I wanted to do was kick him in the nuts. But what I realized while we were kissing was that I felt nothing for him anymore. No more coochie purring and nipples getting hard. I couldn't believe it, but my body had finally caught up with my brain. I had Trey to thank for that. The whole time Halo was kissing me, I pretended it was Trey.
When I felt his fingers squeeze my breast, I decided I had done more than enough to make this shit seem believable and pushed him away. I stood there breathing hard and glaring at Halo. He was trying to keep a straight face but I could tell he was fighting a grin.
Bastard
. He loved making me feel uncomfortable. It was his way of keeping the upper hand.
“Robin?”
“Yes.” I didn't mean for it to, but my voice shook just a little.
He winked. “Relax. All I wanna do is have a good time tonight. We straight?”
I shrugged and tried to act like it was no big deal. I hurried through the tour and when we reached my room, I watched him lick his lips as he stared down at my comfortable bed. If he thought the evening was going to end with my legs in the air, he was sadly mistaken. It ain't that kind of party. I wasn't lying earlier when I said I had cramps. At least when I told him I was on my period, I wouldn't be lying. Trust me ... Halo ain't no vampire.
As soon as we returned to the living room, I moved toward the door. “I'm starving. Can we go now?” I was so relieved when he followed me. Hanging out at my place was not even an option. I had locked the door and we were on our way out to his SUV when I spotted Trey coming across the lawn.
What the hell?
Halo turned and was the first to greet my guest. “Well, well ... we meet again.”
Trey stormed up the sidewalk and looked from him to me, looking clearly confused. “Robin, what the fuck's going on?”
“Homeboy, what it look like? I'm taking my girl out.” I desperately wanted to knock that cocky grin off Halo's face.
“Your girl?” Trey stepped up to Halo and was all in his face. The two of them were staring each other down, and if I didn't do something soon there was no telling what was about to happen.
“T-Trey, what are you doing here?” I was nervous.
“I thought I would see how you were feeling.” There was no mistaking the heavy sarcasm in his voice.
“Trey ... I ...” I didn't know what to say. With Halo standing beside me there was no way I could tell him the truth. I had to find out who really killed Mannie. Despite everything that had gone down between Deena and me, she was still family, and family had to stick together because at the end of the day, all we really had was each other.
The two of them were in each other's face and I could tell they were seconds away from setting it off out here. Knowing Halo the way I did, he was strapped and I definitely didn't need any bullets flying.
“Trey ... I wish you had called first.” At this point, I didn't know what else I could possibly have said.
“Obviously,” he snarled and I didn't miss the hurt in his eyes. “I come over here to check on you only to find you stepping out with this cat?” Oh, he was angry. “What's really fucked up, Robin, is ... how you gonna go out with another muthafucka in the outfit I bought you?”
His words hit me so hard my jaw hit the concrete, and trust me, I felt the blow. I couldn't even answer him because I was in shock and lost my breath. I had just assumed the outfit was from Halo. It never occurred to me that maybe Trey had bought it.
Neither of us spoke for a long time. I stood there in the grass wondering what was going through his mind. “I'm sorry,” I said, like it was gonna soften the blow, but I think it only made matters worse.
Shaking his head, Trey stormed off, but instead of leaving, he sat in his SUV and watched as I climbed into the QX56 beside Halo. I hadn't expected it to hurt so much. As he pulled off, I started to wonder if my sister was really worth losing the best thing to happen in my life in a long time.
33
Robin
I was heading toward the dressing room when I heard the club manager calling my name. “Yo, Treasure. There's a bachelor party upstairs. Grab another chick and get yo ass up there.”
Cha-ching! I loved doing bachelor parties. I hurried through a cloud of cigarette smoke to my locker. Monica was slipping on her shoes. “You just getting here?”
She nodded. “My study group ran a little late.”
I stripped off my costume, then reached inside my locker and started wiping myself down. “You ever do a bachelor party?”
Monica gave me a nervous look, then shook her head. “No.”
“You wanna do one? It's big money. The house pays us as well as we get tips.”
She hesitated before finally saying, “Okay.”
“Just follow my lead. Everything goes ... short of fucking. If you feel uncomfortable, then just let me know and I'll handle them.”
“Will I ever get comfortable doing this shit?” She rolled her eyes and made me smile.
“Depends on how long you plan on investing in this career.” She frowned, and I knew if Monica could afford it, she would quit tomorrow. As long as it wasn't tonight. Right now I needed her to help me make it a big moneymaking night. “Put on something pink. We're on in ten minutes.”
Nodding, she rose and moved to her locker. As nervous as she looked, I wouldn't be surprised if she came back to change her mind. She was definitely not cut out for stripping. What she didn't realize was the customer could tell when a dancer's heart was in it, and that affected the bottom line. Unlike her, I knew how to turn that shit off and on and played the role.
I was putting glitter on my ass when Honey came around the corner grinning like a damn full. “Girrrl, money's in the house. You should have seen them fine muthafuckas that went up to the VIP lounge. Money, money, money,
money
!”
“You stupid.” I sprayed my body with a tropical scent and grabbed a slinky pink dress while she flopped down on the bench in a white nightie.
“What you getting ready to do?”
“I'm doing the bachelor party.”
“Hell yeah! I knew they chose you. Give me five minutes and I'll be ready.” Before I could open my mouth, she jumped up and was heading to her locker when Deja came around the corner dressed in a bad two-piece outfit held together only by two slipknots on the sides.
“I'm all ready.”
Honey looked from her to me with her hand on her hip.
“Honey ... Deja's doing the party with me.”
“What?” she said with attitude. “Whassup with that shit? We
always
do the parties together. We're supposed to be two peas in a pod, so how the hell you gonna change up the game?” Damn, I knew she would be mad, but I never thought she'd be that mad.
“Girl, quit tripping! Deja never did one, so I asked her. Besides, I'm doing that party with you for Lil D if they ever decide when they're gonna let his ass out. Damn! Quit being so fucking money hungry.” Her eyes lit up the way I knew they would since I was finally confirming doing that coming-home party for Lil D. Nobody was sure when he was being released since the date had already been changed twice. Although I'd rather not do the party, I really didn't have much of a choice. After that fiasco with Trey last Sunday, I had to follow through before I changed my mind.
I still hadn't been able to forget the hurt on Trey's face when he watched me pull off with Halo. I wanted so badly to tell him to stop the damn vehicle and let me out. But I couldn't until I found out what Halo knew about Mannie's murder.
Usually I loved me some crab legs, but I had lost my appetite and all through dinner I kept thinking about Trey and how in the hell I was going to explain this mess. One thing about Trey, I couldn't treat him like one of my sponsors because he definitely wasn't listening to no okeydoke. I was just gonna have to keep it real. But that's hard to do when someone won't talk to you. Ever since that night he'd been blowing me off.
“Robin, unless it's about Kyle, I don't wanna hear shit you gotta say,” was all he said before the phone went dead. Damn, how was I supposed to know he liked me to keep it cute and had bought that outfit for me?
“Treasure ... Carl said you need to get yo ass upstairs ASAP!”
As soon as I heard Sunshine's loud ass, I exhaled a deep breath and got back in character. I'd figure out what to do with Trey later.
I quickly slipped into a new pair of white platform shoes, then slammed my locker and my eyes landed on Deja. “C'mon, girl. It's show time.”