Ariel glanced up and greeted Fancy with a smile. “Not sure. Probably awhile, church has been pretty intense lately.”
“Yeah lots of murmurs of heavy shit going down around here these days.” Fancy shook her head. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mayhem this riled up.”
“How long have you been here, Fancy?” Ariel said.
“Shit, feels like forever, but five years.”
Ariel opened her mouth to ask why and closed it, not wanting to offend.
“You’re wondering why, right?” Fancy arched a delicate eyebrow.
“No. Well, kind of. I mean you’re gorgeous, and funny, and smart.”
Fancy laughed. “With a rap sheet as long as my arm, nowhere to go, and no one who gives a shit. The streets are mean, baby girl. Being here with Mayhem gives me more cushion than you could imagine. I’d rather give it up by choice to people I know and genuinely like for the most part than be forced, or controlled by some heavy-handed pimp. There are not a lot of options out there for a girl like me. This suits my purposes just fine.”
“H-have you ever had to do any of that?” Ariel whispered.
“I’m not ashamed of surviving. I did what I needed to, but that’s over. I found a way out I can live with.” Fancy shuddered and looked into the space above Ariel’s shoulder, clearly back in a dark time in her life.
“Do you want to be an old lady?” Ariel said.
“Maybe someday with the right guy, but I hold no grand illusions. I’ve been with most of the people here. It’s a harsh truth for a possessive man to swallow, and trust me most of the men here are damn possessive.”
“I’m sure plenty of them think you’re worth it,” Ariel said, reaching out to grab her friend’s hand.
“You’re a sweetheart, you know that?” Fancy said.
Ariel rolled her eyes. “I don’t know about that, considering they used to call me Harpy behind my back before I gained the name Ariel.”
Fancy smiled. “You’ve changed a lot since then.”
“I’m trying. Fearing for your life has a way of making all the other petty issues seem real small and ridiculous.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Fancy said.
“Yo, Fance, come here,” Casanova called.
“Duty calls. I’ll come back in a bit to keep you company,” Fancy said as she stood from the stool and sashayed her way over to the attractive blond. Fancy made the phrase poetry in motion come to mind. She had a rhythmic way of moving her body that made Ariel wonder if she’d ever been a stripper.
Summer returned, rubbing her ass. “Some of them get so handsy when they drink,” she said shaking her head.
“They’ll be in church soon, right?”
“Yeah,” Summer took a seat beside her. “It’s been busy for a weekday with the meeting. Usually everyone’s off doing their own thing. A lot of them work legitimate jobs during the day, which makes shit pretty boring around here for me.”
“How do you pass the time?” Ariel said.
“Cleaning, shooting the shit with the girls or running errands. I’m the one who keeps the kitchen stocked, and sometimes they need help in one of the shops. I can do secretarial type of things too.”
Ariel took in her words, and the wheels in her mind began to spin. These girls deserved to be happy. Maybe she could help them along a little. She bit her bottom lip. Hawk didn’t like questions, but she could work in some inquiries about her girlfriends.
“You look like you’re plotting. New twist for your story?” said a familiar voice behind her.
Ariel glanced up and grinned. “Juliette!” She jumped from the stool and hugged her friend tight. “I feel like I never get to see you.”
“I know. I miss you too. Being without my voice of reason right now is tough with Joey on a hormone rampage, and Evonne being…new Evonne.” Juliette shook her head and Ariel snickered.
“That entertaining?”