Love & Other Drugs

Chapter 1: The Flashback

Walking along the street Keri could hear the group of guys across the street hollering at her. At first she tried to ignore them, walking on the farthest side of the street and watching her feet, she hoped they would just leave her alone. Focus , she thought to herself, just focus on anything but them.

Out the corner of her eye she could see one of the hustlers headed her way. Sighing she turned to face him.

"Is there something I can help you with?", keri said.

The guy just smirked. He stood about 6'3 ,dark complexion, a fresh fade, & pretty white teeth.

"You from around here ma?" the guy asked, slightly amused.

"That's really none of your business, now is it ?" Keri said while rolling her eyes and neck.

It was obvious she was scared but had to try to play the hoodlum role.

"Im Jamari, can you at least give me your number after all that attitude?" , he joked.

Apparently she wasn't as amused , turning away from him , she continued walking .

She didn't get too far before she was stopped by the hoodrats of the neighborhood. All she wanted to so was get home. Maybe taking another route wasn't the brightest idea. Circling her, the hoodrats fired off questions at her like bullets. "Where you from hoe?" "Anybody know this broad?" "Hoe think she cute don't she ?" Was all she heard coming from the different girls.

It was nothing new to Keri to deal with a few haters. She had the perfect shape with a gorgeous heart shaped face. Always keeping her hair, nails, and wardrobe perfect was a must. She refused to leave the house without looking flawless, which made her the perfect target for the neighborhood thots.

What the hoodrats didn't know was that Keri was raised in the hood. It was nothing to her to slap a hoe. So when the girls approached her, she was ready for whatever. Mean mugging and all, she began to take out her earrings. Just before she could throw a punch, Jamari grabbed her. Looking at him as if he'd lost his mind, Keri swung on him but he was too fast. Holding her completely still , faces inches apart , they faced off.

"Yall needa back up off shorty", Jamari said to the hoodrats.

He had bass in his voice as if he ruled the hood. Maybe he did, because the girls mugged & began to slowly walk away.

"See what happens when you stick with me ma?" ,Jamari asked while smirking. "So about that number , you got one or what?".

Keri began to contemplate it. He did just help her from being apart of WW3. But then again she didn't know this nigga from anywhere.

"How i know you not some crazy ass killer or something, huh?", asked Keri.

"Maybe i am, maybe im not , that number would definitely help you find out though ", jamari replied.

He was cute as hell, Keri thought to herself. But so was the last abusive hustler she dated. She figured it couldn't hurt to give him a chance. Just looking at him made her weak in the knees. It was obvious the brotha kept himself up, hustler or not. He had to be the finest thang she had seen since her breakup.

"Gimme your phone boy,dang!", Keri hollered.

Trying her best to sound annoyed so he wouldn't see how much she wanted to take him home with her right then. He smiled & licked his lips, looking quite accomplished, he handed over his iPhone.

Keri began typing in her number. Next she pulled up the camera to take a quick selfie for her contact photo.

"Dang ma, we not even datin and you already fillin my shxt with ya selfies, huh?" , Jamari joked.

"Gotta make sure you don't confuse me with some other hoe baby boy," keri smirked.

From that day forward, it was on. Keri & Jamari were inseparable. It was like they were joined at the hip. You never saw one without the other unless Jamari was on the block & that was rare because he never wanted to leave his baby.

Seeing that Keri had trust issues, Jamari tried his hardest to make her feel comfortable. He was a complete gentleman... to her at least. In the streets he was still the ruthless drug lord. J-man they called him. Not wanting Keri to know that side of his life, he kept his work private. Its not like she cared anyways since he spent money on her as if it grew on trees.

Everything was perfect between them. She was wifey. Months had gone by & Keri was late for her period. Not sure if Jamari was ready for fatherhood, she was scared to express her suspicions to him. She decided to wait a while & see how things between them would go as time went on.

Authors POV: FAST FORWARD A YEAR IN CHAPTER 2