because I was thinking. I knew what I was possibly getting myself into by entertaining him, but for some reason that did nothing to deter me.
Stepping out of the shower, I began brushing my teeth while staring into the mirror. My grandmother and cousin Matikah were asleep when I walked through, and I was sure they were up by now. I did not feel like explaining myself, but unless I planned to move out right this very second, I would have to.
After flossing and rinsing, I darted to my bedroom and closed the door. I’d spotted Matikah on the couch fully dressed, so she must’ve showered while I was in the other bathroom. Once I put on my bra and panties, I smoothed lotion all over my body, and then put on some jean shorts, a crop top, and some sandals. Twisting my long thick hair up into a bun on my head, I walked out into the living room. Once Matikah and I made eye contact, we smiled at one another.
I sat down on the couch next to her, but before she could speak, my grandmother walked out from her room, tying her robe belt.
“Well look at what the cat dragged in. Please tell me you weren’t with Gang.”
“No, Ma, I was with someone else, but nothing happened.” I put my hands up in mock surrender, making Matikah snap her neck to look at me.
“Who were you with?” my grandma furrowed her brows.
“This guy named Tarenz.”
“TQ,” Matikah jumped in, causing my grandmother to buck her eyes and fold her arms. I didn’t say TQ because my grandmother knew who that was.
“Kimberlyn, be careful; he’s not your typical corner boy or gangsta, that’s a real life thug right there,” my grandma shook her head. “He’s nothing to play with. Neither was Gang but they’re very different. Isn’t he in a Russian mafia or something?”
“No Ma, and there is no need to worry, you know me.”
“I do. Are you guys hungry? I’m gonna make waffles and oatmeal.”
“Yes,” Matikah and I responded in unison.
Matikah watched my grandmother until she disappeared into the kitchen, and then looked at me.
“Nothing happened?” she raised a brow.
“No Matikah, we kissed and got real close to doing it, but I stopped him.”
“And he didn’t threaten to shoot you?” she chuckled.
“Nope, I told him he needed to take me out first. I wouldn’t feel right just losing my shit on some one-night stand. I’m too old for that. I’ve been holding onto it for this long.”
“I get it. Well, what did he say to the date? Fuck no?”
“No bitch,” I laughed. “He said he would, tonight. But who knows, he’s probably fucking some other bitch right now. He was supposed to take me to breakfast, but something came up supposedly.”
“Why supposedly? You do realize who he is, right Kimberlyn? Something coming up isn’t odd for him, he’s a busy man.”
I felt stupid all of sudden. I hoped he hadn’t changed his mind about taking me out since I’d been rude to him.
“I guess I was just paranoid.”
“So are you gonna let him, tonight?”
“I want to, because I really want to have sex with him. But then I don’t want to because I don’t wanna regret it.”
“Just see how you feel by the end of the date.”
“I will. I saw you talking to his brother,” I nudged her and bit my lip.
“Yeah, he’s cute. I gave him my number, but I don’t know, he has a bad reputation.”
“What Quinton doesn’t have a bad reputation, Matikah? People think too much; sometimes you just have to live your life.”
“Where the fuck did you get that from? TQ?” she asked as we laughed together. “Yeah, he must’ve been really trying to get into your pants.”
We ate breakfast in the kitchen and then went to sit down on the porch. The sun was really shining, and it was so beautiful out. The warmth of the air on my exposed skin made me smile as I watched people come up and down the sidewalk. I could never see myself living anywhere other than Boston. I may move out of Roxbury, but Boston—never.
“Hey,” Goldie
Stepping out of the shower, I began brushing my teeth while staring into the mirror. My grandmother and cousin Matikah were asleep when I walked through, and I was sure they were up by now. I did not feel like explaining myself, but unless I planned to move out right this very second, I would have to.
After flossing and rinsing, I darted to my bedroom and closed the door. I’d spotted Matikah on the couch fully dressed, so she must’ve showered while I was in the other bathroom. Once I put on my bra and panties, I smoothed lotion all over my body, and then put on some jean shorts, a crop top, and some sandals. Twisting my long thick hair up into a bun on my head, I walked out into the living room. Once Matikah and I made eye contact, we smiled at one another.
I sat down on the couch next to her, but before she could speak, my grandmother walked out from her room, tying her robe belt.
“Well look at what the cat dragged in. Please tell me you weren’t with Gang.”
“No, Ma, I was with someone else, but nothing happened.” I put my hands up in mock surrender, making Matikah snap her neck to look at me.
“Who were you with?” my grandma furrowed her brows.
“This guy named Tarenz.”
“TQ,” Matikah jumped in, causing my grandmother to buck her eyes and fold her arms. I didn’t say TQ because my grandmother knew who that was.
“Kimberlyn, be careful; he’s not your typical corner boy or gangsta, that’s a real life thug right there,” my grandma shook her head. “He’s nothing to play with. Neither was Gang but they’re very different. Isn’t he in a Russian mafia or something?”
“No Ma, and there is no need to worry, you know me.”
“I do. Are you guys hungry? I’m gonna make waffles and oatmeal.”
“Yes,” Matikah and I responded in unison.
Matikah watched my grandmother until she disappeared into the kitchen, and then looked at me.
“Nothing happened?” she raised a brow.
“No Matikah, we kissed and got real close to doing it, but I stopped him.”
“And he didn’t threaten to shoot you?” she chuckled.
“Nope, I told him he needed to take me out first. I wouldn’t feel right just losing my shit on some one-night stand. I’m too old for that. I’ve been holding onto it for this long.”
“I get it. Well, what did he say to the date? Fuck no?”
“No bitch,” I laughed. “He said he would, tonight. But who knows, he’s probably fucking some other bitch right now. He was supposed to take me to breakfast, but something came up supposedly.”
“Why supposedly? You do realize who he is, right Kimberlyn? Something coming up isn’t odd for him, he’s a busy man.”
I felt stupid all of sudden. I hoped he hadn’t changed his mind about taking me out since I’d been rude to him.
“I guess I was just paranoid.”
“So are you gonna let him, tonight?”
“I want to, because I really want to have sex with him. But then I don’t want to because I don’t wanna regret it.”
“Just see how you feel by the end of the date.”
“I will. I saw you talking to his brother,” I nudged her and bit my lip.
“Yeah, he’s cute. I gave him my number, but I don’t know, he has a bad reputation.”
“What Quinton doesn’t have a bad reputation, Matikah? People think too much; sometimes you just have to live your life.”
“Where the fuck did you get that from? TQ?” she asked as we laughed together. “Yeah, he must’ve been really trying to get into your pants.”
We ate breakfast in the kitchen and then went to sit down on the porch. The sun was really shining, and it was so beautiful out. The warmth of the air on my exposed skin made me smile as I watched people come up and down the sidewalk. I could never see myself living anywhere other than Boston. I may move out of Roxbury, but Boston—never.
“Hey,” Goldie
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