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“Fuck Bubbles. I’m gone let her suffer in brokeness and misery for a while. She gone miss all that shit.” Key started laughing, but I was serious.

“Nigga, is you going to get your bitch or not?”

“Fuck you!” My words were now slurring, and this nigga thought everything was funny.

“I’m just trying to understand the plan.”

“The plan… the plan is I’m done with her ass until I’m not done.”

“And Peanut?”

“That nigga was dead the minute I decided she was my bitch. Now I just need a reason she will accept it. Find me one!”

“Say less.” Key knew I was drunk, but he also knew I was serious. Taking my shoes off, I laid down on the couch. “I know you sad and lonely, but you not about to lay in my lap.” Key stood up to give me room. He went to the closet and threw me a blanket. “Get you some rest. I’ll get on that first thing in the morning.” I closed my eyes, and knowing what I was about to do gave me relief. If Bubbles thought she could just walk away from me, she hadn’t been paying attention. Peanut had what I wanted, and I was coming to collect.

EVERYBODY PAYS TAX!

Simone “Bubbles” Stanton

A bitch only been home one day and already trying to find a reason to leave again. I just needed to be alone. Somewhere I could lay down, pull the covers over my head, and be miserable without somebody asking me what was wrong every five minutes. I was homesick. Which was some crazy shit to be when I was sitting in my own house. Lil ass, dumb ass house. I missed the mansion. Laid up in the theatre watching a movie, only to go to the bedroom and do the same. Late night dips in the pool that turned into fuck sessions. Enough space to be away from Anton if I wanted to, but I never did.

Anton. I missed him the most. Our routines, our talks, even us trying to make Lovii pick who she loved more. I didn’t have to worry about hitting licks, how I was going to make my next dollar, or even what I wanted to eat. Everything there was just… it was just better. Easier. Even when he would leave me alone, I still felt comfortable. I was missing him like crazy, and this nigga didn’t give a fuck at all.

Aight. That’s what he said when I told him I was leaving. Not baby, don’t go. He didn’t ask what about us? Hell, not even you sure that’s what you wanna do? This mufucka said aight like I told him I was going to the store to grab some snacks. I know it sounded crazy, but I expected him to stop me. I wanted him to tell my ass to get the fuck back in the car before he dragged me back. Instead, he pulled off and didn’t look back. Now, here I was back where I was supposed to be, but wishing I was where I belonged.

“Bubbles.” I closed my eyes. Jesus fucking Christ. This nigga act like he can’t catch a hint. “Bubbles, you heard me?”

“Yes, Peanut.”

“What I just say?” I looked over at him, and he had this dumb ass look on his face. It looked like he’d been waiting on an answer for a while.

“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t hear you. I must have drifted off. What did you say?”

“Damn! You just ignoring me, huh?” This nigga.

“No, Peanut. I’m tired.”

“You been tired since I got home. I know it’s been a minute, but damn. You acting like you ain’t happy to see me.”

“Of course I’m happy you’re home.” That was the truth. I was glad he got out of jail. He didn’t deserve to be in there, but two things could be right at the same time. I wanted him out of there, but I’m also hurt because I’m no longer with Anton. Grabbing my hand, he leaned down and kissed it. He pulled me closer, and I let him. I didn’t have the energy to explain why I didn’t want him touching me.

“I still can’t believe I’m home. I thought them niggas was gone have me sitting in there for a minute. They kept saying the police couldn’t show up, so they had to continue it. Finally, the judge said if they couldn’t show up, then they had to let me go.” I wondered why he had to sit in there on that dumb ass charge. The system was always trying to do the most.

“You would think you shot at them the way they were trying to keep you in there.” He rubbed my stomach, and it took everything in me not to push his hand away.

“I didn’t give a fuck about all of that. I was more worried about you.” That had me look over toward him.

“Why?” I said nervously. Did he know I was out here living my best life while he was locked up because of me?

“All that shit with the trap. I ain’t know what them niggas was going to do if they couldn’t get they money. I couldn’t believe you actually pulled that shit off. Now that I’m not in there and we can talk freely, how the hell did you get us out of that?”

“Peanut, I don’t want to talk about that.” I wouldn’t have minded telling him if it didn’t require me to think about Anton. The kidnapping and him paying the debt would be hard to explain anyway. All that would do is open up more questions.

“I’m just asking, Bubbles. You used to tell me everything dealing with the licks. Now, you’re acting like it’s a problem for me to know. Why?”

“BECAUSE IT DON’T MATTER!” I didn’t mean to yell, but I was already struggling trying to get Anton out of my thoughts, and this nigga was putting them back in.

“I guess,” he said, hurt. Feeling bad, I tried to soften it up.