Free Falling for a Hustler: A Benton Harbor Love Story by Jerniqua K.

she had been on my mind since I ran into her at Applebee’s a few nights ago. Before I could stop myself, I was dialing her number.
    “Hello?” sexiness oozed from her voice, and she wasn't even trying.
    “How you doing today, beautiful?” I started my car and checked my surroundings before pulling out of the parking lot.
    “I can’t complain.”
    “You still fucking with that lame ass nigga you was with?”
    She giggled. “Chill out. It ain’t even what you think, love.”
    “You never answered my question.”
    “If that was your way of asking if I’m with him, then no. I’m single.”
    That shit was like music to a niggas ears. I mean it really didn't matter if she was taken or not because I wanted her ass and Brick always got what he wanted.
    “A'ight. I like the sound of that, ma.” My phone beeped, and I saw that Tyriq was coming through. I didn’t want to end the conversation with Lyric just yet, so he would just have to wait. “What you on tonight?”
    “Shit. I don’t have to work tonight, so I’ll probably get a bottle, some Chinese from Good Fortune, and kickback with Netflix.”
    “On a Friday night?”
    “Pretty much. Nigga this Benton Harbor you know it ain’t shit to do. That partying and club shit been played out to me.”
    “I see you on ya grown woman shit, ma. How about I take you out though?” The line went silent for a few seconds so I looked at my phone. The call was still connected. “You there?”
    “Uh yeah I’m here. What did you have in mind?”
    “Don’t worry about all that. Just be ready at nine. I’ll scoop you.”
    “How am I supposed to know how to dress if you don’t tell me where we’re going?” she pressed.
    It was my turn to laugh now. “Dress casual. No heels.”
    “Ok.”
    I spent a few more minutes making her laugh before we ended our call. Though I was pissed off about the way things went with Richard, I had to admit that just hearing Lyric’s voice made all that shit go away. I wasn't looking for love, but shorty was definitely someone I could use on my team. After I got on the highway and set the cruise control, I called Tyriq back.
    “What up Riq you hit me?”
    “Yo, you need to come get yo sister, for real. I swear to God, I’m so close to pushing her big ass over. She better be glad she carrying my muthafuckin daughter.” I laughed; those two were always into it over something stupid.
    “Shit, I can’t help you with that bro, I’m in the Chi.”
    “Word? The fuck you doin out there?”
    “I paid Rich bitch ass a lil visit. Nigga took my money and got little. Obviously he don’t know who he fucking with.”
    “You handle that?”
    “Nah, he got two weeks to make shit right.”
    “A'ight I see you.” He knew how I was with talking about shit like that over the phone. “Aye, you need to get up with Eden, bruh. She been trying to get up with you.”
    “Shit, I ain’t even trying to step to Eden right now.” I wouldn't be able to cop weed from her like I did before, and the shit was fucking with me. Even though I had about a seventy thousand, I still felt like a fuck nigga. I was out here making triple that, and now I had to start over. This shit was fuckin with a nigga heavy.
    “I don’t think it’s a request. More like a demand, my nigga.”
    I sighed into the phone. I was in a lose-lose situation. If I went, I would have to tell this chick that I basically had nothing, and would have to start off copping a quarter of what I used to grab. I really wasn't feeling that, cause I ain’t want her to think that I had fallen off. If I didn't go, I knew she wouldn't fuck with me again. Eden had a good heart, but her money came before anything. If I didn't show up, she wasn't making money, and that was bad for business.
    “Fuck it. Set that shit up and let me know the details.”
    “Bet. I–” Tyriq stopped mid-sentence. I heard scuffling in the background, and then I heard Mariah’s squeaky ass voice yelling. “Man Riah, gone