"Aight let's talk business." I stretch. "So first, I think we should get the best editors for your books."
"Hmmm... I actually want to be in control of everything. An editor is a good option but I don't want that. I see us as a product. I want to use our story, everything we've ever been through to promote ourselves because that's what makes us special. We met online, talked for years without seeing each other, we managed to build a relationship from scratch and there we are now. That's enough of a storyline to build a whole thing up."
I smile. Marketing is her thing, I mean, she went to school for that. I see nobody good enough to talk about us and make money out of it.
"How do you see things ?"
"The internet. Social media, a good storytelling and a camera. That's how it starts."
"And ?"
"And you drop an album. Or a mixtape. Or whatever," She shurgs. "And we use your music in every video we post, everything. Propaganda that of shit, you know."
"You know." I imitate her voice.
"Randy... Can you focus a little bit ?" Wendy rolls her eyes playfully. "We still have a lot of things to talk about."
"My bad love. I'm listening."
My phone rings at the same time. I grab it to read this message sent by an unknown number.
Wassup man it's Zel. i been tryna see your new bitch!! her name wendy right ? happy for you bro you got yourself a beautiful black queen. hope she can help you stay outta trouble.
I feel my jaw clench. Fuck I knew it. I knew he just wanted to follow me. I sigh.
"What's going on ?"
"Nothing ma I just-"
Wendy snatches the phone out of my hand and reads the message. I expect her to get nervous. I remember one time when I got into an argument with one of my cousins. Wendy had to forward our messages and we were lowkey threatening each other. It was nothing serious but it got her anxious. She thought we were talking about killing each other for real. It wasn't. That's just how me and my cousins argue.
"That's interesting..."
"There's nothing to be worried about. He's just acting goofy."
"He's scared."
"Probably. But I don't wanna put energy-"
"Randy ?"
"Yes."
"We have to use it. It's a great opportunity."
"To do what ?"
"To tell the truth."
I smile nervously. I could do that. I could diss everybody, throw shots at Denzel and see how he decides to react. But that would be reckless of me to do such a thing now being with Wendy. She knows nothing about this life. People get killed for way less than a few bars on a disstrack.
"What do you mean by that ?" I just ask.
"Well first I'm obviously not talking about dropping Hit 'Em Up part 2. Like I said, tell the truth. You were trying to protect your girlfriend, a woman you had a lot of respect for, and she betrayed you. She associated herself with a snake friend and it cost you six years of your life. You did your time, got released, and now you're focusing on your music career because at the end of the day, you're THE man."
"You should write that song, you seem inspired enough."
Wendy chuckles, revealing her cute little dimples. She straddles me with a big smile on her face.
"The narrative is in my head. I already have your social media accounts set up. I'm writing the story of our lives, and you're the main character. The world will know us, love us, hate us... And it will make us rich."
I look through my girl's eyes. I love her so much. It's crazy that we met the way we met. It's even crazier when you realize she could have sent that first letter to thousands of other men. But it was me. She saw me.
"So what you're not gonna kiss me ?" She makes a face.
I slide my hands around her waist, feeling her pierced nipples on my chest. Wendy's cheeks slowly blush. I love when this happens.
"I could propose to you right now."
"Oh my God please don't, first I don't think you have a ring. Second I don't think it's the right moment. Third... I don't have a third reason but the two first are enough. I haven't met your parents, shit you haven't met mine... What if your mother doesn't like me ? What if-"
"Wen," I smile, "I was joking, I ain't gonna propose right now."
"That's not gonna make me stop overthinking because if you mention this, that means you've thought of it so that means you're actually considering it in the NEAR future. Randy, baby, you know how much I love you right ?"
"Yes baby I know."
"Fine. So don't get mad or something but getting married right now would bring so much anxiety in my life, I don't think I'd be able to-"
"It's fine Wen." I interrupt her. "I know how you want the proposal to be and I remember everything you said about the marriage. Don't think too much about it."
"Thank you." She takes a deep breath. "Because shit you said it out of-"
I don't let her keep on talking. I kiss her deeply. I slowly feel myself getting hard. If I listened to me and myself only, I would put a baby in her belly. Being around Wendy is enough to make me wanna be a dad.
We're still kissing each other when a phone rings.
"Is it yours ?" Wendy asks, putting kisses on my neck.
"Ion care, c'mere."
"Randy..." She moans. "I think it's your phone. Go check it."
I just keep on playing with my woman's lips, making my tongue dance in her mouth.
"Hmmm daddy..."
The door knocks.
"What the fuck ?" We say in unison.
"Who that ? Who that ?" Wendy repeats a few times while standing up.
She puts her top on quickly before walking to the door. I follow her, a bit suspicious as none of us expect anything. She opens the door and finds a little package in front of the apartment. I look both ways, making sure nobody's watching us.
"Don't take that shit."
"Why ? What is that ?"
"Ion know. Get back inside babe."
"Just leave it there."
"Nah I gotta know what's inside."
"What if it's a bomb ?"
I can't help but to chuckle. She's right, but the way she says it makes it funny. I wait for her to walk away tograb the package. I shake it, trying to know what's inside. I use a knife to scratch the tape.
There's an envelope and a twenty dollar bill. I open the envelope and find an invitation. Denzel is organizing his birthday's party in two weeks, and he wants me and my girl to be a part of it.
