Page 8 of Nothing Like Your Ex

Stretched across her bed in a lux short set from SleepOva, with her hair wrapped in a silk scarf and bonnet, she sipped on her semi-sweet red wine while watching an episode of Pour Minds. Kwinn was cackling at something Lex P said when her best friend’s name popped up on her screen. She answered her FaceTime call and grinned.

“Hello,” Kwinn sang.

Saiko smiled, climbing into the driver’s seat of her BMW X6 M. “Hey, girl. What you doing?”

“Nothing. Just laying down.”

“By yourself?”

Kwinn laughed. “Um, yes. Why you sound surprised?”

“Thought that man would’ve been back by now.”

Hell, so did Kwinn, but clearly, he had better places to be.

“You and me both, but whatever. Where you coming from?” Kwinn asked, not interested in talking about Jabari.

“From dropping these snacks and stuff off to Danny for the vending machines,” Saiko answered. “He was supposed to get them yesterday on my off day.”

Three years ago, they went in half on a new business venture, and it’d been well worth it. Investing in vending machines had been lucrative, providing semi-passive income. Kwinn and Saiko were hands-on for the first year but eventually hired a few people to take over for them. Restocking inventory, fixing jammed coils, and handling the physical labor didn’t require their presence.

With machines in seven high-traffic locations, they simply collected the cash each week and went on about their day. This week was Saiko’s turn to make the store run to Sam’s Club for their biggest location. Her younger, scheming, scamming-ass cousin, Emori, had come up on some food stamps, and Saiko was the first person she called.

“I know you can’t wait to get home.” Kwinn giggled, already knowing how Danny had probably yapped her ear off.

Saiko’s eyes bucked. “Girl.” She sighed. “Not to mention, work whooped my behind. I’m so glad I’m off until Monday. I’ma show my ass at this concert tomorrow.”

As a certified registered nurse anesthetist, Saiko’s life was serious three days a week. Sometimes she couldn’t believe she was a responsible adult, walking into a hospital and putting people to sleep for a living. She did more on the job, but that was the gist of her title.

“I forgot all about it. Who you going with again?” Kwinn asked, sipping her wine.

“You.”

“Me? How that happen?” Kwinn laughed.

“Because my coworker decided not to go, and Endie said you have to come.”

Kwinn couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that wasn’t what Saiko’s older sister had said. As the best friend of one of the rappers coming in town, Endie had all access to whatever, wherever he was at. So it was only right that she brought the girls along. Kwinn had no intention of going, but clearly, those plans had changed.

“I’m sure Endie didn’t say that, but okay.” Kwinn chuckled. “Who’s performing again?”

“Like you know who most of these niggas are anyway.” Saiko laughed.

Playfully, Kwinn rolled her eyes. “I know a few rap niggas, actually.”

“Oop,” Saiko quipped, giggling. “My bad, who you know, girl?”

Before Kwinn could tell her the names, an incoming call from Jabari came through. She’d called him on her way home, and he was just now calling back hours later. Kwinn had the right mind to ignore him, but she didn’t.

“Hold on. Jabari is calling me.”

“Girl, bye. How I’ma hold on?” Saiko questioned rhetorically.

Snickering, Kwinn told her she’d call her tomorrow and answered his call.

“Hello?”

“What’s up, baby. You called me?”