Touch Me, Tease Me

T W E N T Y - S E V E N

~ Mercedes Third Person POV ~

Zaza applied some perfume and some lip gloss before leaving Mercedes car.

Mercedes started coughing.

Mercedes: That shit is strong, bro. I don't want my car smelling like you.

Zaza: Damn nigga, sorry.

Zaza got out the car. Mercedes sat down the block from a project building as he watched Zaza walk over to it. She went up to a group of guys. She turned around and did a 360 for them and they looked like they approved. He watched as she was able to pull one of them to the side. After a few minutes, she came back over and got in the car.

Mercedes: So?

Zaza: I want some Wendy's. Take me there.

Mercedes: What? You was supposed to-

Zaza: You want it or not?

Mercedes sucked his teeth and sighed.

Mercedes: The one by your house?

Zaza: Yup.

She put her seat belt on and Mercedes drove off.

~~~

They sat in the parking lot of Wendys as they ate.

Zaza: Wicked lives in the third ward with his girl and his son. They often have delivery women move their shit and the boys handle the other stuff. Wicked and some of his guys are apparently popping out to a party Saturday night. The nigga said he was going to text me where and what time.

Mercedes: You're a good informant, Za. Can't even lie to you.

Zaza: I know. When you got a fat ass and a slick mouth, men do whatever for it.

Mercedes: I see.

Zaza: You ain't mess with me for all that though. You was different. I fucked it up though, sorry about that.

Mercedes didn't say anything.

Zaza: How are you and the girl? Naomi was it? She's beautiful.

Mercedes: Nay, yeah. We're great actually. I asked her to be my girl few nights ago. She said yeah.

Zaza: She don't seem like any ole hood bitch, Cedes. She seems like she has a good head on her shoulders.

Mercedes: Yeah, she does actually.

Zaza: So don't fuck up her life. You can be a good man.

Mercedes: Yeah. I know...

Mercedes had a thought.

Mercedes: It's crazy to me how you're magically so cool with me moving on from you. Couple months ago you would've been on my ass about getting with me.

Zaza sighed.

Zaza: To be honest, it was just plain realization. You and I are in two completely different worlds but the same world at the same time. You've met someone more compatible for you than I am. We're better as friends anyhow. Naomi seems like a sweet girl.

Mercedes: Yeah, she is. Best girl ever.

Zaza chuckled.

Zaza: I bet.

Mercedes: I can't let Wicked get to her like that again. I wouldn't forgive myself.

Zaza: You're working to set shit straight. Not only for yourself and your girl but your people too. You're doing your best with the power you have.