Free End of the Line by Treasure Hernandez

J-Rite said, blowing out weed smoke.
    “Well, you know what you gotta do then.”
    “Yeah, I’m gonna tell her I’m good for right now, and if she can’t deal with that, fuck her! She ain’t gonna fuck up my money. I might hit her back when we finish doing what we do and give her the bad news.”
    They went over to the kitchen and started handling their business. J-Rite was glad that she didn’t have to show Raven how to cook dope. All her babies’ daddies were drug dealers, so that trait was passed down.
    “You know, girl, I think I’ma get a house up here for me, the kids, and Granny. Detroit getting more ruthless and rotten as the days go by.”
    “Yeah, that’s what’s up. I mean, I ain’t gonna lie, I miss the city and can’t wait to get back home.”
    “Yeah, and to Mike Mike?” Raven quizzed, giving her girl the side eye.
    J-Rite knew Raven was trying to peep her out and laughed. “Naw, fool, not him. I mean, I ain’t mad at his dumb ass no more for having no real hustle in him; some niggas is straight lame like that, and he one of ’em. Besides, Mike Mike ain’t trying to step up and be no real man I need him to be. He just wanna play that damn game, smoke weed, and pop them pills he takes for depression. I’m tight on all that.”
    “Oh yeah,” Raven sarcastically replied with a smirk.
    “Yeah, girl, I need a real damn man; not a boy.”
    Raven slowly shook the Pyrex and grinned. “Oh, you mean like ole boy Dino you said you met the other day?”
    J-Rite didn’t verbally respond. She just played off the question and kept it moving.
    After what seemed like forever, they were done cooking. J-Rite called Leesa to tell her what they’d hooked up while Raven, who had the munchies, made a run, pulling up in the parking lot of KFC located only a few blocks away from J-Rite’s apartment. “Damn, this bitch packed in the inside,” she mumbled getting out of the car. Waiting what seemed like an eternity, it was finally her turn. Raven stepped to the counter and placed her order. Heading out the door, a short stocky guy held the door open.
    “Hey, you,” the man spoke in a flirtatious manner.
    “Oh, hey,” Raven responded.
    ” My name is Benji, and yours?”
    “I’m Raven, nice to meet you.” She licked her lips while holding her bag of chicken in one hand and her soda in the other.
    Raven thought Benji was really something to look at. He was light skinned with green eyes, had long hair, and a baby face. He looked no older than twenty-one.
    “How old are you?” she blatantly asked, blushing.
    “I’m twenty-two. Why? I’m too old for you?”
    “Yeah, right. Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll call you.”
    “Oh, we gonna play that game?”
    “Play what game? I’m gonna call you; seriously,” Raven exclaimed.
    Not trying to act brand new, Raven knew exactly what Benji was talking about. Women would get a guy’s number, and then would never call them. It wasn’t only a thing that a woman did to men. Men also did it from time to time. As Benji stood looking at Raven, he was hoping that she wasn’t going to play him like that, because he really wanted to get at her. Not just because of her looks and body, but he felt a certain way as he stood there with her. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something about her that made him want to get to know her better.
    “Look, if you give me yo’ number I will call you. I’m too grown to play games, so let me get that number so I can go handle my business,” she said, leaning on one leg.
    “All right, ma, I hear you. Let me see yo’ phone.” She handed him the phone, and he put his number in it, then handed it back. “The ball is in your court.” He walked inside the restaurant, leaving her to enjoy her meal and the rest of her night.

CHAPTER TEN
    J-Rite was serving a few customers when her cell rang. Glancing down at the caller ID, it read Private . She was going to ignore it, but her curiosity got