Petals.

Part 7

Cash sat on the patio of her new apartment in Bartlett breaking down the pineapple scented Kush. She hadn't spoken to Tino since the day she left yet he made it his job to leave voicemails every few days. Some were about how much he missed and needed her. Others were about how she was going to regret her actions someday. Jai and Vixen were the only two who knew where Cash move to so she wasn't worried about Tino popping up. She did have to switch out her Pontiac for a Chevy Malibu because she was running into Angel in traffic. He never say her but she seen those dreads miles away. She was taking no chances at having her location blow. When the streets found out she was single, she was hound dogged by the same men who wouldn't dare look her in her eyes because she was Tino's bitch. Cash didn't conversate with any men unless it was about money. The poor guys that attempted were left with a bruised ego by the time she strutted away from them in her stilettos. True, she missed Tino like crazy, every morning she found herself rolling over almost expecting Tino's body to be right there. Cash missed their deep conversations, daily hood adventures they went on, him whispering sweet spanish in her ear when they made passionate love, running her fingers through his jet black curls, and most of all his companionship. But regardless of what they had in the past at the end of the day he betrayed her trust and that was something she wouldn't accept. The funny thing was, Cash wouldn't have care if he fucked off, that's what niggas do. But he looked her dead in the eyes and told her a lie, to her that was the ultimate disrespect. For now she focused on school, her arriving god daughter and gettin money. When she left Tino she left the hoes alone to, she went back to the basics boostin clothes, shoes and purses. She wasn't making nearly as much boostin as she did sellin ass but it was enough to feed and take care of herself. Tino's number popped up again for the 7th time that day, after months of ignoring him she finally answered. "What Valentino" she answered nonchalantly.

"Baby" he said, not sure if he was really hearing her sweet voice.

"What Valentino" she asked again, after all the 10 minute voicemails and essay long texts he as now at a lost for words.

"Uh, can we talk"

"We're doing that now, next question"

"Mamacita a nigga been you mane. A nigga feel dead on the inside without yo"

"Yeah" she interrupted," the same feeling you gave me when i seen you on top of that bitch"

"Cashmere, I sold that broad my dick, you the only one who get it for free. You know these bitches a dime a dozen but you Mami, you're in a league of you own." Cash lit up her kush blunt listening to his sob story "Cash I've lost stupid weightsince you been gone"

"So what, you want Jennifer Hudson to come sing you her weight loss anthem" Tino sighed, Cash was really living up to the cutthroat image she maintained. BY now he thought she'd of calmed down and wanted to talk but she was the complete opposite.

"Baby what can I do to fix this" he pleaded

"Leaving me alone would be nice"

"You don't mean that Cashmere, mane stop being so hard on me. You dont understand what you doin to a nigga, stop bullshittin and come back at home"

"I am at home, and i dont understand? Nicca you dont understand what you've done to me. My trust was fragile and you practically dropped it out of a 30 story window and think you can fix the shattered pieces. You can use whatever lie or excuse you want, when it's all said and done I cant and wont have the same love for you as i once had" She could hear Tino's

heart breaking over the phone as he sat in silence, she thought he hung up until she heard him sniffing. "Cashmere Destinee Morrison" he spoke slowly trying not to make it obvious he was crying" I love you girl , I could talk your ear off and give you a 1000 reasons why I love you but ima just say those 3 words and if you loved me you'd say it back, at least giving me hope it's still a chance for us". Her heart ached for her man but at the same time the coldness of it was saying do otherwise.