Free The Hustler's Daughter {DC Bookdiva Publications} by Pinky Dior

Back’ ceremony.
    Mercedes
and the crew walked in. Chino sat with his eyes on her as soon as she entered.
He walked towards her; Mercedes began panicking inside. She didn’t know if she
should walk away with her friends as if she didn’t see him coming, or to stay
and talk to him.
    “Hey,
how you doin Ma?” Chino greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
    “I’m
fine and you?” Mercedes smiled internally feeling his warm lip on her face.
    “I’m
aight, just chilling you know.” Chino nodded his head, “What’s your name?”
    “My
name’s Mercedes.” He extended his arm and shook her hand as he stared into her
eyes. “Mercedes Carter…what’s your name?” She already had the scoop on him, but
she didn’t want him to think he had her open, or that she was already stalking
him.
    “My
real name is Chanito, but my peoples call me Chino.”
     Mercedes
stood there and didn’t know what to say. His swag was on point, and she swore
she was already falling in love. His voice was deep, but was soft and sexy.
When he spoke, his New York accent became more prominent and she admired it.
She looked over to her girls and spied them being nosey trying to overhear her
conversation. Candice waved to her. Mercedes chuckled.
       “So,
where are you from Ma?” He asked.
    “I
was born in Cuba, but raised out here; I live in Long Island now.”
    “Oh
word, why did you come to Queens for school?”
    “My
pops was trying to send me away to a private school and I didn’t want to go. I
wanted to come here.” Mercedes replied and was rudely interrupted by India. She
walked over and stood between the two of them, blocking Mercedes vision of
Chino.
    “Why
you all up in her face?” India barked as she looked back and rolled her eyes at
Mercedes.
    “I
told you about that shit India, you’re not my fucking girl.” Chino barked back.
Mercedes didn’t have time for the girl drama. She walked off, went over to her
friends, and watched from a distance as the two of them argued.
    “What
happened?” Candy had to know.
    “Hating
ass bitch came over trying to cock block.” Mercedes waved her hand in the air.
    “Yeah
he’s definitely feeling you, and that bitch trying to get in the way.” Candy
added for effect. 
    The
day in the gym quickly flew by and the girls were making their way outside.
Mercedes saw Chino in her peripheral sitting down and leaning forward with his
hands folded. He looked like he was pissed. She and her friends bypassed Chino
and India and made their way into the hallway. When Mercedes walked outside,
Mr. Gates greeted them all. The girls all called their mothers and informed
them where they would be staying with a friend for the weekend. Shateeya and
Chamari had never been in a limo before and were having the times of their
lives. Candy had experienced a limo ride a few times, so she wasn’t as gassed
as the other two. They rode in the car and bumped the hottest music. When they
go to the Carter home, Mercedes introduced her mother to her friends. She
couldn’t wait until tomorrow; they had a big day ahead of them.
    The
following morning the girls woke up to the pleasant aroma of breakfast cooking
in the kitchen. They made their way downstairs and sat around the large table
located in the dining room. Claudia prepared a variety of food, French toast,
scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages and sweet biscuits. Everyone was grubbing
like they hadn’t eaten in days. After they finished eating, Mercedes led the
girls back upstairs to her bedroom.
    She
opened her closet and let the girls pick out an outfit. She had more than
enough to share and wanted everyone to match her style. She watched as they
were all amped, fighting over who got what. There were plenty of fashionable
selections, enough for all of them.
    Mercedes
felt bad because Chamari was the only one who felt left out; she couldn’t fit
any of her clothes. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a Juicy
Couture bag and gave it to Chamari.