On some real shit, the whole month’s been one big-ass blur to me. It seems like the days and weeks flew right past me. I mean like, damn…where the hell did the summer go? It’s all good, though. It’s already the first week of October. Before you know it, we’ll be celebratin’ Obama’s victory ’cause he’s really ’bout to bring it straight to them crackers’ heads, for real. Watch what I tell ya. Anyway, I’m chillin’ at my spot gettin’ ready to tear into this bangin’-ass Philadelphia burger—a thick angus burger topped wit’ provolone cheese, grilled onions and hot peppers—and sweet potato fries I picked up at Bobby’s Burger Palace when my cell rings. I glance at the screen. It’s a 770 area code. I lower the sound to the stereo.
“Yo,” I answer.
“Hello, Alley Cat?”
“Yeah, who’s this?” I ask, tryna figure out the voice.
“It’s Kanika.”
“Who?”
“Kanika,” she repeats, chucklin’. “You forgot who I am that quick. You called me a couple of months ago, and left a message. We were on the same flight to Atlanta.”
“Oh yeah,” I reply, surprised to hear from her.
My stomach growls. As bad as I wanna fuck this burger up, I don’t wanna start smackin’ up in her ear ’cause this shit right here calls for usin’ two hands, then gettin’ down ’n dirty. I dip a few fries into some honey mustard sauce, then shove ’em into my mouth, chewin’.
“Sorry for not calling you sooner. The minute I got back, I had to hit the ground running. It’s been nonstop.”
“It’s all good, baby,” I say, swallowin’, then takin’ a sip of grape juice. “Yo, sorry ’bout that. You caught me in the middle of gettin’ ready to eat.”
“Oh, don’t let me disrupt your meal. I can call you back later.”
“Nah, you good. So what’s good wit’ you?”
“Nothing much; just working a lot. This is actually the first time in weeks I’ve had a real moment to sit and chill. So I figured now would be a good time to finally return your call.”
“I can dig it. I thought I was gonna haveta ring all the doorbells in Stone Mountain to get at ya sexy-ass.”
She laughs. “Annnnywaaay, before this conversation goes any further, please let the record state that I will not be added to your little fan club list.”
“Dig, you don’t have to be. I got a special spot reserved ’specially for you, pretty baby—real talk.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“No doubt. So, dig, baby, you gotta man?”
“No, not at the moment,” she answers. “What about you?”
“Hell muthafuckin’ no, I ain’t got no man,” I snap, laughin’. “I
She laughs wit’ me. “You’re a mess. I wasn’t asking if
“‘Then again’ nuthin’. I’m strictly ’bout the clit ’n tits attached to a beautiful chick wit’ a sweet, wet kitty. So, to answer ya question, I’m solo, baby, but I got a buncha friends.”
“Mmmph. I bet you do.”
I get up from the sofa and go upstairs to my bedroom. I remove my T-shirt and boxers, then stand in the mirror, flexin’ my chest muscles. I pull at my dick and make a note to hit the gym—after I get some pussy today.
“Mmmmm. So, tell me, Mr. Single Man with a Bunch of Friends, what is your belief about relationships and monogamy?”
“Not hardly,” she replies, laughin’. “I’m asking to see where your head is, that’s all.”
“Are you smoking?”
“Yeah,” I answer, blowin’ a cloud of smoke out. “Why, you gotta problem wit’ that?”
“Depends on what you’re smoking,” she says.