Free Still Wifey Material by Kiki Swinson

so I knew she was lying. And at that very moment I started to call her ass out and tell her that I knew she was lying. But then I figured, what would be the fucking use? She wanted to play like she was on top of the world, so I just let her live in her fantasy world and remained quiet.
    “Did he grab you around the neck or make any subtle movements like he wanted you to do it?” Carmen inquired.
    “No.”
    “Well, did he give some head?” Carmen continued.
    Nikki burst into laughter. “No!”
    “Well, did you even try to position your body to see if he would do it?” Rachael jumped in.
    Nikki laughed harder. “No, I didn’t. All we did was kiss each other and make love.”
    “So, what did y’all do this morning? Did he cook you breakfast?” Rachael continued.
    “No, he didn’t cook me breakfast, but we drove out to University Boulevard and had brunch in the Village.”
    “So, do you like him?” Carmen asked.
    “Yeah, he’s cool.”
    “Do you see y’all getting serious?” she pressed.
    “I’m not sure, but if the timing is right, I’d take a shot at it.”
    “When are you going to see him again?” Rachael asked.
    “He didn’t say, but I’m sure it’ll be sometime this week.”
    Nikki continued to run her mouth about her relationship predictions with Bintu. I had a few predictions of my own, especially now that I knew she fucked him on their first date. As far as I was concerned, she could hang it up. He was not going to want to settle down with her. Now she could try and fool herself to believe otherwise, but the truth would be revealed, and it was going to be sooner than she thought. I just hoped that the stunt she pulled last night with Bintu didn’t have an effect on how Fatu saw me. I would hate for him to judge me based on the dumb shit Nikki did. But if he did, and tried to play me, then I’d personally rip his fucking head off and tell him where the fuck to go.
    After forty minutes of detailed information about how Bintu gave her a wet ass, Nikki finally shut the hell up and started working. Over the next two hours we only said about five words to each other, which was fine with me. Nikki had a chip on her shoulder, and until she got it off, our relationship would remain strained.
    I took a break around one pm after I put my last client for the day under the hair dryer. I called Fatu to tell him that I would be available to meet him for a late lunch around three.
    “Why so late?” he asked.
    “Because I have to wait for my client’s hair to dry, so Nikki can braid it, and then I can sew in the weave.”
    “And that takes two whole hours?”
    “Almost.”
    “OK. Well when you’re done, would you meet me at this restaurant called the Aquarium?”
    “Where is that?”
    “It’s downtown on Bagby Street.”
    “I’m not sure where that is, but don’t worry because all I have to do is punch it into my GPS system, and my car will take me straight there.”
    “Sounds good. I guess I’ll see you there.”
    “Hey, Fatu, wait!” I yelled before he hung up.
    “What’s the matter?”
    “I just wanted to know if I had to wear anything formal.”
    “Oh, no! It’s just a seafood restaurant. Come as you are.”
    “OK,” I said and hung up.
    After I finished my last client, I told everyone that I’d see them later. Rachael’s nosey ass wanted to know where I was going, so I told her that I was meeting Fatu for lunch at the Aquarium. She and Carmen both started harping on about how nice that place was, and how much I would love it. Nikki didn’t say a word and I was glad. Knowing her, she would’ve said something negative, and I was truly not in the mood for that. Carmen and Rachael wished me well and told me to enjoy myself.
    “I will,” I assured them, and then left to meet my date.

Big-Time Hater
(Nikki Speaks)
    K ira always found a way to rub shit in my face, but I refused to let her get to me. She knew she didn’t have to broadcast where Fatu was taking her, and I would