Crackhead II: A Novel (16 page)

“A’ight, homie,” Slim said, pounding fists with Dink. He walked toward the table with his group.

T.J. looked at Dink and Laci and walked away; however, he made a mental note in the back of his mind to find out what this surprise was. He had a surprise of his own as well.

“You’re awfully comfortable with Simone, Dink,” Laci said after an uncomfortable moment of silence. “Abnormal Psych, huh? Why didn’t you tell me you had a class with her up front?”

“It’s no big deal, Laci. When I told you that you needed to let go of your past, you made it perfectly clear that you wanted nothing to do with her, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”

“Oh really,” Laci said.

“She’s cool, Laci, you just gotta get to know her.”

Laci was about to speak, but their food arrived and she was starving. Besides, she didn’t have too much more to say.

AFTER A COUPLE
of hours of solid sleep, Dink and Laci headed downtown to experience the sights and sounds of Boston. It was a beautiful Saturday morning for a tour—slightly cool, but the radiant sun took the briskness out of the air. The sky was blue, with sparse white clouds. A perfect October day.

The two went on a guided tour of the Freedom Trail. Laci enjoyed the history lesson given by their tour guide, who performed as Abigail Adams. At each site they stopped, Dink listened attentively as the guide gave them a brief history of the destination. The Boston Common, King’s Chapel, the Old State House, and the Boston Massacre Site were places that Dink had heard about but never thought he’d see in his life.

They also visited the Paul Revere House. Dink only knew of Paul Revere as the cat who ran through the town on his horse, yelling, “The Redcoats are coming!” But after visiting his home and learning of his plight, Dink now understood why this was in history books—his journey made him a legend, a true G.

Their last tour was Boston Harbor’s Constitution Cruise. They saw the Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument, as well as other historical sites.

Afterward, the two dined at a quiet café, then Dink drove them home. It was now six o’clock in the evening and Laci was curious to see what would happen next.

“Go ahead and start getting ready for the party,” she urged sarcastically, hoping Dink would have changed his mind. “I’m sure Simone is waiting for you.” She threw her purse on the
couch, kicked her shoes off, and retreated to the bedroom to change her clothes.

Dink looked at the clock, then back at Laci. “Babe, it’s too early to go to anybody’s party. I ain’t no square,” he laughed.

“Oh, sorry,” Laci retorted. She returned wearing a pair of gray sweat pants and a white tee. Dink noticed that when she walked past him, her ass jiggled a little bit and her pants were riding up her crack, which meant she had no underwear on. She also wore no bra and her nipples stood at attention. Laci picked up Dink’s jacket off the back of the couch and searched his pockets. Once she’d found the lighter, she lit the delicate paper that surrounded the herb that she held in her hand.

“What the hell are you doing, Laci?” Dink shouted as he grabbed at her wrists, but Laci pulled back, avoiding his grip. She knew he would be pissed.

“What? This right here?” Laci waved the joint in front of her face. “It’s no big deal . . . Isn’t that what you told me earlier at the bonfire?” Without thinking, Laci deeply pulled on the bud. “Here,” she suppressed a cough, “want some?” She held the joint out to Dink. Laci hadn’t forgotten that laced weed was the beginning of her problem but right now, she didn’t care. She was pissed and trying to make a point.

Dink was getting angry because Laci had become defiant over the past couple of weeks, but this was taking it too far.

“What’s really going on with you, Laci?” Dink asked as he sat her down on the couch.

“What do you mean what’s going on with me? Nothing.” Laci was pissed that he was still trying to go to the party instead of staying in with her. “Look, just say what’s on your mind.”

“Look, I know you consider those girls your friends, but
damn, every time you come home, it’s something different. Either you smell like you been drinkin’ or smokin’ weed but now, it’s both. And now you got this shit right here.” He held up the joint in his hand.

She hadn’t wanted to tell him that she’d been hitting the weed again because she knew that he would get upset, but today, she didn’t give a fuck.

“So what if I have? It’s only weed.” Laci took a defensive stance and continued. “I’m not that same impressionable girl from a few months ago. Besides, I’m surprised that you even noticed or care.” The bud had burned out, and Laci fired up the lighter that was in her hand and took another toke. “You want some?”

“No, I don’t want any, and where you get it from anyway?” He grabbed her wrist, trying to get the joint out of her hand. “As a matter of fact, why do you think I don’t care?” Dink threw a bunch of questions at her. This was not the Laci he knew and loved.

“In there,” she pointed toward their bedroom, “but wait a minute, you didn’t seem to have a problem when Simone offered it to you, but you don’t want it when I offer it to you?” Laci jerked her wrist back.

Dink stopped in his tracks. “Ahh . . . so that’s what all the attitude is about, huh? Simone.”

Dink realized that Laci was jealous. Under normal circumstances, or with anyone else, he would have put a bitch in her place, but this was Laci and not just any girl. He loved her and had promised he would take care of her.

“Baby, come here.” Dink reached out, took the joint out of Laci’s grasp, and gently pulled her toward him. “You don’t have anything to worry about. And this shit right here,” he waved the joint around, “ain’t even called for.” He kissed her on her forehead
and held her tightly. “I love
you
, and no other woman could take your place.” Laci turned her head away from him to keep her tears from falling, but Dink took her chin in his fingers to make her look at him. Tiny tears escaped from her brown eyes. “In the time we’ve been together, have I ever lied to you? Have I given you a reason not to trust me? It’s you, Laci . . . all about you. Things I do are for you, because I love you.”

Laci looked at Dink and searched his face for sincerity. She saw, once again, the hustler from the South Bronx whom she’d fallen in love with. The man who gave up a life of familiarity for a life of uncertainty, all for her.

“I’m sorry, Dink,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Yes, I do trust you, but I just look at Simone and I see Crystal. I know you loved her.”

“You’re right, but I fell out of love with her the minute I saw you. I had love for her but nothing like what I have for you.” When it all came down to it, Dink saw Crystal as not being much different from the rest of her crew. She was okay to look at when dressed up, but she wasn’t wifey material. Laci was.

“Then to remember how she played you—”

“What you mean how she played me?” Dink questioned.

“She would talk about stuff she did and tell us stories about it.”

“What kind of stories?” He was certain that Crystal didn’t run her mouth about shit she wasn’t supposed to, but he had to ask just to make sure.

“About other dudes, Dink.”

He remained quiet. Dink never thought that Crystal would step out on him because he was holding it down. He knew he didn’t fuck her as often as she liked, but he took care of home and home included her pussy, or so he thought. Now the shit was out
in the open, confirming the rumors he had heard of her messing around.

Laci was eager to tell Dink what she could remember because she thought that, just maybe, this would work in her favor with Simone.

“What else did she say?” he questioned.

“Um . . .” Laci dug back into her memory, “something about a nigga with deep pockets was worth his weight, but a nigga with a deep stroke was priceless.”

“Umpf,” Dink huffed. He was glad shit went down with Crystal the way it did. If it hadn’t he would have had to go back to the South Bronx and handle her himself. He was throwing bricks to keep her in a lifestyle better than she was accustomed and she’d played him.

“Dink, you may think I don’t have a valid reason for my ill feelings toward Crystal, um, I mean Simone, but to me, it’s too close to home. Here you have a class with her, y’all are hanging out more, and then I overhear you talking about the Bronx. What else would I think? Crystal’s there and I just wonder, if she wanted you back, what would happen with us.” Dink’s eyebrows raised, but then he remembered that he’d never told her that Crystal was dead. Laci paused momentarily. “Can you understand how I feel?”

“I can see how you could feel a little uncomfortable, baby, but Simone and I are just cool, and getting back with Crystal, nah, that ain’t happen,” Dink said confidently.

“You don’t know that, Dink.”

“Yes I do.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because, I just know,” he said abruptly. “Look, baby, stop with the questions. There are just some things you don’t need
to know, and the less you know, the better off you’ll be.” Dink knew that eventually his sudden disappearance would be questioned and he didn’t need Laci getting caught up in it.

Dink had been keeping tabs with Smurf, and the streets were still abuzz about Crystal’s death and how Dink just burned out and disappeared. Most at first thought he was taking it hard, staying in hiding until the funeral, but even at the small graveside burial, Dink was nowhere to be found and people began speculating.

Better off?
That phrase clicked something in Laci’s head, then she thought back to what he had just told her,
things I do are for you, because I love you.
She tried to shake it off, but there was something about that comment that bothered her.

“Baby, come here.” He pulled her close to him again. “I got you, boo-boo, I got us.” This time, Dink kissed Laci, deeply. Her body reacted to his touch and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, not wanting to let him go. Their tongues danced in unison with each other as their bodies merged together as one. But within minutes, Laci broke her embrace.

“Go get ready for the party,” she told him as she removed his hands from around her waist, taking the joint out of his hand on the sly. “I’m gonna get ready for tonight.”

“What’s happening tonight?”

“You and I have been together for a while, Dink, and I do love you, very much. I want to take our relationship to the next level. I want us to make love tonight. I want you, Dink.” She smiled and kissed him again.

Realizing that was the surprise she had planned, Dink’s manhood began to swell.

“I want you too, baby, but I don’t have to go.” He ran his hands up and down her back. “I’d rather be here with you anyway.”

“Aw . . . thanks, baby, but seriously, I want you to go. I trust you, Dink.” She gave him a loving hug.

“Now it looks like you try’na get rid of me.”

“No, never. I just want everything to be perfect for tonight.”

“Baby, anything you do is perfect. You can never do anything wrong in my eyes,” Dink told her as he held her tightly. “Well . . . since you try’na get rid of me . . .”

“I’m not,” Laci interrupted in a high-pitched whine followed by a giggle.

“I’ma go ahead and shower, then head out to see if I can catch up with Slim before the party.”

Dink headed toward the bathroom. Laci heard the shower turn on, and then heard the sound of the water hitting Dink’s body. She went to the bedroom and pulled out her sexiest nightgown. She also had candles and a bottle of Chardonnay she had purchased earlier in the week that was already on their makeshift wet bar. She wanted to set the mood. Laci was ready to take their relationship to the next level. She and Dink had been together for two months and had never made love. There were plenty of times it could have gone there, but Dink said that it was important to him that they were together emotionally rather than physically first. He and Laci fell into a serious relationship very quickly, but he didn’t want their sexual relationship to move too fast. He respected her and he wanted their relationship to have a solid foundation.

Dink stepped out of the shower as Laci entered the bathroom. Although she had seen him naked before, something was different now. The beaded water on his smooth brown skin gave him a glow and outlined every taut muscle. She handed him a towel and allowed her eyes to take in his body. Looking at Dink’s muscular chest, strong arms, and rippled but thick stomach
made Laci’s pussy get wet and begin throbbing slightly. She crossed her legs and leaned up against the wall in order to curb the feeling she had.

He had well-toned legs and pretty feet—no corns, bunions, yellow toenails or foot fungus or funk, like most of the men who ran up in her back in the South Bronx. Laci’s eyes scanned over his dick. It was thick, a little darker than his skin color, and hung nicely between his legs.

A dick had never given Laci pleasure when she gave the only thing she had to feed her habit—her pussy. Her orgasmic cries came from the almighty glass dick that she sucked on, which was worth more to her than life itself.

The sexual urges that ran through her body while she looked at Dink let her know that tonight was definitely the night.

“Babe, you sure you don’t wanna go?” Dink asked Laci, drying off, not paying attention to how she was looking at him.

“I’d love to, but I really want to set the mood for tonight. I want everything to be right.”

Laci ran bathwater for herself after Dink left the bathroom. Even though she loved being around her man, she was going to take advantage of some much-needed solitude once Dink left for the party. About fifteen minutes later, he emerged from their bedroom.

“Whooo . . .” Laci whistled. “You lookin’ pretty fly there,” she beamed. She could see that even Dink’s style had changed from when he was in the Bronx. He would often stunt in a Sergio Tacchini sweat suit, a Polo shirt, and wore two gold rope chains with a Batman medallion around his neck, but now he stood before her looking like a black male supermodel. Dink wore a pair of dark denim Karl Kani jeans, a black large hoodie, and black high-topped Adidas sneakers. He even smelled like Obsession—Laci’s
favorite cologne. Laci knew her man was fine, but most of all she knew he loved her. After talking to him, her uncertainty about the strength of their relationship was gone and she knew that nothing could come between them.