The cost of vengeance - [31]

Jealousy?

Get a grip on yourself, Jada.

Chapter Fifteen

Nina Thomas

Leon went back to Jacksonville and I lied and told him that I was right behind him. I had packed up all of the stuff that I was going to take with me, and was going to have it shipped to Leon’s house. At first, my excuse was that I still had five keys that I needed to sell before I left. It wasn’t like I needed the money; I had over a quarter of a million dollars saved; I was just being a greedy bitch. Leon ended that when he said that he would buy them back for what I paid. Then my excuse became that I had to spend some time with my girls before I left.

Since it was going to be my last night in the city, I met Teena and Shay at Jimmy’s. We planned to get sloppy drunk that night. They were both surprised when I told them that I was done with the game and was moving to Jacksonville. After she got over the shock, Shay seemed to be happy for me, but not Teena. She wasn’t tryin’ to hear it. “What you mean you done, bitch? You can’t quit,” she said.

“Why not? We need to get out before the game turns on us,” I said.

“Nina’s right, Teena. We had some fun, made some money, and y’all killed somebody,” she added softly. “Now it’s time to let that shit go.”

“Okay, just tell me why you think you need to get out?” Teena asked.

“It’s gettin’ hot. And on top of that, we moved the majority of our product through Kenyatta.”

“We can find somebody else to run a spot for us,” Teena said.

“And where are we gonna get product from? I asked.

“Leon ain’t the only mutha fucka that got product. Just because that nigga wanna run scared, that don’t mean we need to quit.”

“He ain’t running scared, Teena. He’s just looking out for me, that’s all,” I said and Teena rolled her eyes. “He just made me see that I don’t have to live the way I’m living.”

“How you livin’ that’s so bad? ’Cause from where I’m sittin’, you livin’ pretty large.”

“You think so?” I asked and thought about all the things I told myself. “Well let’s talk about how I’m livin’ large like you say. I’m drivin’ an old Honda Civic and I lived in a small, one-bedroom apartment in a rundown building.”

“What you talkin’ ’bout, Nina? Your crib is laid.”

“True, but I don’t let nobody in there but y’all, ’cause I don’t have any other friends.”

“What other friends you need but us?” Teena asked.

“She’s got you there, Nina. Friends are overrated,” Shay added and we drank to that.

“I cut out all that shopping for clothes I used to do, mainly because I didn’t wear half of them anyway, because I don’t go anywhere. The only time I leave the apartment is to go to Jacksonville to get product, or when somebody calls talking about real money. I don’t have a man.”

“They are definitely overrated,” Shay said and laughed. “Believe me, I got one.”

“But you got one, Shay.” I looked at Teena. “And so do you.”

“Yeah, but that nigga ain’t good for nothin’ but some dick,” Teena said.

“My point is still the same. This is not the way I planned to live my life.”

“So, what are we supposed to do?”

“Just because I’m done, don’t mean y’all gotta get out. I’m just doing what’s right for me. Like you said, you can get product from somebody else and find somebody to run a spot for you,” I said.

“No, Nina,” Shay said. “If you’re done, I am too. Besides, Gary’s been on me to give it up. He said we can move to a better house and live comfortable on what he makes at the dealership.”

“So, not only are you out, you gonna escape to the burbs?”

“I gotta think about my kids, Teena. Gary wants them to go to better schools,” Shay said.

“What about me?” Teena asked.

“What about you?” Shay asked.

“I ain’t got no man to move out to the suburbs with and I ain’t got no school degree. What the fuck am I gonna do? You selfish bitches thought about that shit?”

“Why don’t you come with me, Teena?”

“And do what?”

“I know this woman that owns a boutique and she’s thinking about retiring. When I got there, I was gonna talk to her about buying her out. You and I could be partners,” I said, thinking that it would be great to have one of my best friends down there with me.

“I’d be bored to death sittin’ around a store all fuckin’ day. No thanks.”

“Well the offer is out there,” I said.

“Being bored is better than the alternative,” Shay said.

“What’s the alternative?” Teena asked.

“In jail or dead,” Shay said.

The debate, which wasn’t really a debate, raged on as we tried to convince Teena that there was life after drug dealing. Eventually, I just went home and went to bed. I was going to miss them.

We agreed that we would meet that night at Jimmy’s, and me and Teena were sitting there having a drink waiting for Shay to get there, when Jay came to the table and sat down at the table next to me. “What’s up, ladies. I know this is a private party, but I just wanted to come by and say good-bye to you, Nina. I’m gonna miss you,” Jay said and hugged me.

“Thank you, Jay. I’m gonna miss you too.”

“That’s all I wanted,” Jay said and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I’m gonna go on and get outta here.” He started to get up. “Oh, yeah, y’all know the cops is lookin’ for Bryce, right?”