"Yeah, and so did everybody else on the block," I added, making everyone bust out laughing again.
We fell into an easy rhythm after that, counting money, talking shit, swapping stories. This was the part of the game I actually enjoyed. Not the hustling itself, but these moments with the niggas I had grown up with.
"Aye man, check this nigga Trigg out," Doobie said suddenly. "Mr. Responsible with his little notebook and shit."
I stuck up my middle finger without looking up from the ledger I was updating. "Somebody gotta keep track of this shit. Lord knows y'all pussy ass niggas can't count past twenty."
"Ohhhhh!" BooMan hollered. "He got you with that one right there dumb ass nigga!"
"Whatever, man," Doobie laughed. "We can't all be good at math and shit." He added making us all crack up laughing.
We'd just finished counting the last stack when we heard a car pull up outside, engine rumbling loud enough to catch our attention. Rah got up first, moving to the window that overlooked the street.
"Bout time," he muttered, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Who that?" BooMan asked, trying to look past him.
"My lil shorty," Rah answered, already heading for the door. "Be right back."
Doobie raised his eyebrows at me. "He got a new bitch huh? I ain't heard about this one."
I shrugged, getting up to peek out the window myself, curious about who had Rah moving so quick. This nigga loved him a new bitch.
And that's when I saw shorty step out of a black Jeep Cherokee, one long caramel leg at a time, like she was doing that shit in slow motion. She had on some high-waisted jeans that hugged every curve, a white crop top that showed just enough stomach to make a nigga stare, some red bottoms, and black motorcycle jacket. Her hair were in braids that was pulled upin a high ponytail, highlighting her cheekbones that were sharp enough to cut glass.
But it was her face that had frozen me at the window. Perfect skin the color of honey, full lips painted deep red, and eyes that even from a distance looked mysterious. She had the kind of beauty that didn't need filters or makeup. Shorty was fine as fuck, and I couldn’t help but to notice it.
"Damn," I whispered, not even realizing I said it out loud until Doobie laughed beside me.
"I know, right? Shorty bad as hell."
We watched as Rah approached her, that cocky walk he always had around females. She smiled when she saw him, her whole face lit it up like Christmas and my stomach tightened in a way I wasn't expecting.
Rah reached her and pulled her into a kiss that she returned, her arms wrapping around his neck for a moment before they separated. They talked for a minute, her expression animated as she gestured with her hands. Rah nodded several times, laughing at whatever she was saying.
I couldn't look away. Something about her, the way she carried herself, the confidence in her stance, the shit had me locked in.
"You good, bro?" BooMan asked, nudging my shoulder.
I stepped back from the window, realizing I'd been staring too hard. "Yeah, just wondering who shorty is. Rah ain't mentioned being serious with nobody."
"You know how that nigga is," Doobie said, returning to the table.
"Probably just another shorty he's smashing."
But something told me she wasn't just another bitch he was smashing. The way Rah looked at her was different. I’ve known this nigga since forever, and I ain’t never seen him look at a female like that.
A few minutes later, we heard the Jeep start up again and pull away. Rah came back inside with a stupid ass grin plastered on his face.
"What's good?" he asked, noticing us all looking at him. "The fuck y'all staring at?"
"Nothing, lover boy," Doobie teased. "Just wondering when you was gonna tell us about your situation."
Rah tried to play it cool, grabbing his beer from the table. "Ain't no situation. Just handling business."
"Business, huh?" BooMan smirked. "What kind of business you handling with shorty in the Jeep?"
"The kind that's none of yo’ bidness," Rah shot back, but he was still smiling.
"Who is she? I ain’t never seen her ass before," Rah glanced at me, something flickering in his eyes for just a second before it disappeared. "Her name's Mya. I met her at Jada's shop about a month ago."