Free Kiss Me on the Inside by Janice Burkett Page B

or anytime soon. She made the biggest mistake when she ran into Johnny and invited him to her condo to chitchat, trying to find out how deep his pocket was. She found out that his wife ran off with his friend and emptied his bank account, leaving him penniless. Ever since that day he popped up whenever he felt like. He had no fashion sense, as if his wife took that, too. Keisha found ways to use him to her advantage. She turned him into her errand boy. He was always trying to impress her, but poor Johnny—emphasis on the word poor—he didn’t stand a chance. Johnny was like a song you hated but when it came on you listened to it because you weren’t close enough to the player to skip it. He liked to talk a lot about everything and anything. To someone who didn’t know him, they would think he lived a great life once upon a time. Every other day it was a different story why he was broke. His most famous one of all was that he was one of the people who got caught in the Bernie Madoff scheme.
    â€œI was just on my way out to run some errands.” Keisha politely took the roses from Johnny.
    â€œI’ll take you wherever your heart desires.”
    She wouldn’t be caught dead in that old, beat-up car. “No, thank you. Today is a busy day for me but thanks for the flowers. I’ll put these in some water before they wither.” She walked away from the door. She couldn’t cope with his stories today.
    She entered the kitchen and tossed the roses on the table. She opened the cabinet and reached up to get a crystal vase that she had previously gotten from Johnny. Johnny crept up behind her, grabbing her around the waist. The vase fell out of her hand, hitting the floor and smashing into little pieces, just like her disheveled life.
    â€œYou almost gave me a heart attack!”
    â€œThat’s not what I want to attack.”
    â€œIf it weren’t for your cheap cologne, I wouldn’t know it was you. You are definitely wearing out your welcome.”
    Johnny wore a big smile on his face as he picked up the pieces of broken glass from the floor. She handed him the broom, disgusted by Johnny’s presence. She took the roses and tossed them into the trash.
    â€œI brought you roses and you throw them into the garbage!” Johnny spoke with rage in his voice.
    â€œWould you rather I toss you in there instead?”
    â€œWhen are you going to give me the chance to treat you like a lady so you can have my babies?” he pled desperately.
    She had a sickened look on her face as she thought, I really need to put Johnny in his place. He is my errand boy, my go-fetch boy. He walks into my house as if he is somebody. I’ll knock him back to wherever the hell he came from if he don’t leave me alone. Picture me having his babies, some filthy rug rats. The thought makes me want to puke.
    â€œYou need to leave my apartment right now because your cheap cologne is stinking up the room. Not to mention you have no money and it’s making me nauseous. Don’t you have anything else to do with your time? Time is like money; go spend it wisely.”
    He released the broom from his hand and it fell to the floor. He walked out of the kitchen with his feelings hurt. He got to the front door and Nikki was there with her keys in her hand. Johnny pushed past her, almost knocking her down.
    â€œWhat a joke. Before I marry a man without any money I’ll commit myself to the psycho ward.” Keisha swept the broken pieces of glass into the dust pan. “Right now this devil needs to wear Prada and he certainly can’t afford it.”
    Keisha was all about money and vanity. Nothing else mattered to her. Her motto for life was like the 50 Cent album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, but the only difference was she didn’t want to work for it. Her beauty was a blessing from God and she insisted to use it to her advantage.

Chapter 8
    â€œI’m making a run to the