Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.
No part of this chronicle may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.
FEBRUARY 3, 2020
HOME – 4:10 p.m.
“Shit!”
I ran to the bathroom. “What’s wrong, Sway? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay! My first day going to work and I get my fucking period!”
“Anything I can do? I mean… There’s… Do you need me to get anything for you?”
“I have everything.”
“What can I do?”
She exited. “Nothing, I’m just nervous, I guess.” Sway moved about, rushing frantically. “Can I use your suitcase? The one with the wheels?” She removed it from under the bed.
“Sure, anything you need.”
“I didn’t even think about what I was going to bring my shit in.” She unzipped and opened the flap. “Can I put my make-up in here. I won’t mess it up.”
“Sway… Stop…”
“I can’t stop right now. We’re going to be late.”
“No, we’re not. We have plenty of time. Everything is going to be okay. Just relax.”
“You’re right…”
“We have gas in the car. We have plenty of time to get there. And guess what? You’re going to be the sexiest girl at the club, and you’re going to kill it.”
A smile broke from the corner of her mouth. “You always know the right things to say, don’t you?” Sway stood. “Okay, let’s do this!”
BIG JOHN’S GENTLEMAN’S CLUB
PARKING LOT – 4:46 p.m.
“It’s like getting dropped off on my first day of school.”
“Don’t start crying on me.”
Sway laughed. “I’m not, silly.”
“You have your phone? It’s charged?”
She held it in her hand, showing me. “Ninety-nine percent.”
“Before I leave, I’m going to wait around a while to make sure everything is okay.”
“You’re coming in?”
“No. I’ll just wait out here… Maybe drive around a bit. Close… Text me when you’re settled in, and I’ll go on home and wait for you tonight.”
“I’ve already downloaded the Lyft app.”
“Oh, well… take my card number…” She began typing it into her memo. “And this is the PIN in case you need that too.”
“Okay.”
After a deep kiss, I watched as she walked away, towing the suitcase behind her. I was nervous, jealous. My emotions were scattered in every direction.
I knew then that I’d never be able to be who I was again. I was always going to be worried about her. She had no idea of how much I was in love with her and how far I would go to protect her. I liked the feeling.
After about five minutes, Sway texted me saying that she was okay and that Demi had come through. She also said that it was true that the manager was very laid back. I drove away.
I received a second text about thirty minutes later. Sway said that she’d opened her own Lyft account and would call for her ride, and that I was to go and have a good time. She also told me to calm down, that everything is going to be okay, and to just relax. She followed it with a wink emoji. Her sarcasm brought a smile to my face.
LONGHORN ICEHOUSE PARKING LOT – 6:45 p.m.
Solo’s little red Benz pulled up next to me. Her eyes searched my cabin.
“Can I sit for a minute and talk?”
“Sure.” I reached over and popped open the passenger door.
“About that… I want to apologize, Andre. It was all a big misunderstanding. I was just joking with her and she got defensive. I know she was protecting you… And that’s what she’s supposed to do.”
“That’s over with, Solo. We good.”
“I just want you to know that I would never go there like that. I was trying to put you on, not tear you down. I would never try to pull your girl.”
“It’s all good.” She handed me five twenties for a sack. “This is going to be it for a while.”
“What? The coke?”
“Yeah…”
“Are you fucking serious? You’re not going to do business with me anymore because of…”
“It’s got nothing to do with any of that. It’s just hot right now. My people are taking a break.”
“How long will that be?”
“A couple months.”
“Alright, Andre. Man, I thought we were better than that.”
“Solo, I’m not lying to you. If that were true and I didn’t want to fuck with you, why would I be here? What sense would that make?”
“True… A couple months… What are you going to do for that long?”
“I’ll be alright.”
“Are you sure? You’d make a sweet pimp if you ever decided to. With that girl you got… She’s so pretty. I’d bring you five bands for a choosing fee if I thought you’d have me.”
“What about Lee?”
“He knows the game.”
“I’ll have to think on that one, Solo.”
“You think long, you think wrong.”
“You sound just like those pimps.” I received a text. It was Dan.
Solo looked to my phone. “Business?”
“Yeah, I’m down to two hundreds and he’s wanting one. When I tell him this shit, he’ll no doubt want both of them.”
“I’ll take another one. He doesn’t know yet, right?”
“Nope, not yet.”
“Here’s an extra twenty on top.”
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you. I’m going to have to keep these for me and pace myself.” Solo stared with a grin. “You know, I’ve never looked at you before I saw you with Sway. You’re such a gentleman and are all about your business; I guess I never paid attention.”
Solo stepped out, closing the door. She leaned in. “Like I said, if you ever decide to start pimping, let me know. I’ll choose you.”
Creole Gaudet
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