Free Thugs And The Women Who Love Them by Wahida Clark

They all burst out laughing while giving each other pounds.

Chapter 13
    O nce Marvin started buying her little presents, Kyra couldn’t keep her mind off him. He’d show up with the gifts—a blouse, earrings, whatever he found that he thought would look good on his little girlfriend, as he still called her. And of course, he still kept her supplied with weed. Even though she was a little scared by their age difference, his attention was thrilling. And it was making her lose interest in everything about Ty.
    Sex with Ty had become even more boring. He would lay on top of her, humping away like it was the best sex anyone had ever had. Kyra would lie perfectly still and let him do him. She hardly even faked any noises for him anymore. She was too busy daydreaming about Marvin and what gift he might bring her next. Ty had no idea anything had changed.
    One hot summer day, Kyra was going to see Roz. They had planned to go to Jaz’s, who was having a party for her cousin Keesha. Kyra was taking the shortcut through the Roger Gardens projects when Marvin spotted her.
    â€œHey, Kyra!”
    She turned around, stopped and waved. Marvin was looking fine, as usual. He looked like he had just come from the barbershop and he had on all white. A white Nike shirt, white Nike shorts, white Nike socks and white Nike sneakers.
    â€œWhat’s up?” She licked her lips.
    â€œWhere you going?” he asked.
    â€œTo see my homegirl. Where you going, dressed all fly?”
    â€œTo find you.”
    â€œWhy are you trying to find me?” Her heart was fluttering.
    â€œI want us to be twins today.”
    â€œAnd how is that?”
    â€œI got you the same outfit I got on.”
    â€œWhere is it?” she asked, trying to hide her excitement.
    â€œAt the crib. If you ain’t scared you can walk over there with me.”
    â€œI ain’t scared of you.”
    â€œWell, come on, then.”
    They walked in silence for the two blocks to Marvin’s apartment. Kyra couldn’t believe that she was alone with the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. She couldn’t wait to get her new outfit.
    Marvin lived on the second floor. When he put the key in the door, Kyra heard a dog bark.
    â€œYou got a dog?”
    â€œIt’s just a terrier. He’s cool.”
    â€œWell, I hope he don’t try to bite me.” She folded her arms.
    â€œHe will if I tell him to.”
    â€œWell, I’m not giving him that chance. I’ll catch you some other time.” She turned to walk away.
    â€œI’m only playin’.” Marvin laughed as he grabbed Kyra’s arm. “You know I ain’t gonna let nothing happen to my baby girl.”
    â€œDon’t be playing with me like that.”
    As soon as he opened the door, Marvin grabbed the little terrier and took him in the back. Kyra looked around the living room. She liked what she saw. He had burgundy carpet, burgundy leather furniture, a big screen TV and a phat sound system. She was impressed by a large, sparkling clean fish tank, until she got closer and saw how ugly the fish were.
    She walked into the kitchen. It was tiny, but cute and clean. Marvin came in and went to the refrigerator. He was carrying a Foot Locker shopping bag.
    â€œYou want a soda or somethin’?” he asked as he handed her the shopping bag.
    â€œNo, I’m straight. I want to see what’s in the bag.” She was already opening it, taking everything out. “Hell, yeah! These are all that!” She was shouting like a kid at Christmastime.
    â€œGo in the bathroom and try everything on.”
    She grabbed everything and ran into the bathroom. When she came out, she was grinning and spinning around.
    â€œHow did you know my size?”
    â€œThis ain’t my first time buying you somethin’. How quickly we forget!”
    â€œMmm-hmm.” She bent over to fix the Nike socks to fall right above the Nike tennis