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“This one ain’t bad, but they want three times the rent in income.” Out of nowhere, it hit me. When me and Peanut first got this apartment, he had a job. Now, neither of us worked, so looking on an app wasn’t going to work for us. We were gone have to drive around and get numbers off the for rent signs. I thought about calling Anton and killed that thought immediately. There was no way he would help me knowing it was going to benefit Peanut.

I knew I could always go back to his house, but I would be leaving Peanut out here fucked up. After last night in Anton’s truck, I almost did that anyway. He told me he loved me. I couldn’t sit with it, react to it, or even enjoy it. I had to go back upstairs and make up fifty eleven lies because Peanut wanted to know what Taffy wanted. That should have been our moment. Instead, I had to hear that shit on the sidewalk and hide my excitement the rest of the night. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him that I loved him too. I planned on trying to link with him later to let him know that, but I woke up to this shit.

“Bae, the only thing that makes sense is to do another lick, but I know you don’t want to do that. So, I really don’t know what to do in this situation.” He looked defeated, but that same thought had been lingering in the back of my mind, waiting to bust through.

“I’m not saying we can’t. Just know, it can’t be like last time. Too much went down with that, and I’m not going through that again.”

“Hell naw, we not!” Peanut agreed to that fast as hell.

“It has to be somewhere with enough money to make it worth it, but without somebody coming after us ready to take us out if we don’t return their shit.” Peanut just nodded. This was my process. I had to talk things out and then it would hit me. Just like now. “What about a gas station? They have safes. If we go to a good one, one that has constant traffic, we should be able to get a good amount.”

“That might work.” Was all he said. That’s how it normally went, which was why I never did the brainstorming with him. It was always me and my girl.

“I’m about to go holler at Taffy. I’ll let you know once I have everything figured out.”

“There go my baby.” Peanut was cheesing from ear to ear. I smiled back at him. I’m not going to lie, being back in the rush of it all had me excited.

“Shut up. I’ll be back.” Leaving out, I drove to Taffy’s. By the time I got there, I had gone through all of the scenarios. Getting out, I knocked on her door twice before letting myself in.

“Laffyyyyy Tafffyyyyy!” I screamed out.

“Girl, why are you yelling? I’m right here.” Hearing her voice come from the kitchen, I walked that way. She was eating a bowl of cereal, looking like a big ass kid.

“It’s almost four. Why you ain’t cook us lunch?”

“You better grab you a bowl. My bank account is saying I got ‘it’s magically delicious’ type of money in there.” I laughed nervously as I grabbed a bowl out of the cabinet. Hearing her say she was broke had me hopeful, but after last time, I wasn’t sure if she was going to be down.

“Funny you should say that.” I sat down at the table and started eating.

“What happened?” I passed her the notice and waited for her to read it.

“Bitch, you ain’t paid your rent?”

“I did. They just decided they didn’t want our asses there no more. Fat back asses.”

“How you know they back big?”

“I don’t know, but I just know.” We both fell out laughing.

“Well, you know you can always stay here, friend.” I looked at her with my eyebrows raised.

“With Peanut?”

“Now, bitch. You tried it. I wasn’t saying all of that.”

“Dang. You petty.” I wasn’t upset. I was just fucking with her. I could go to Juanita’s, but she wasn’t gone let him stay either. Getting help wasn’t the problem. They weren’t gone help me carry my baggage, though.

“You know I love you, but I ain’t running a shelter for grown niggas. You can have the couch, the bed, whatever. Peanut can come visit during normal business hours.”

“Bitch, what?” I laughed hard.

“Ten to six, but he’s gone need to call first.”

“I ain’t trying to stay with nobody anyway. I’m looking for another place, but I don’t want to go broke doing it. I got some money, but it’s going to get real short if I have to do all of that.”

“I’m with you when you right. After bills and shit, the money you gave me looking real anemic.”

“Me and Peanut was talking about hitting another lick.” I felt this was the best time to slide that in.