Eshon stood there with her arms across her chest, looking at Kip like he owed her an apology.
Kip barked, “Bitch, what the fuck is up wit’ you?”
“What’s up wit’ me? What the fuck is up wit’ you? Really, them two thots, Kip? Cindy and Judy? I know you weren’t about to fuck wit’ them.”
“And if I was?”
“Them some nasty hoes.”
“Yo, you ain’t my bitch anymore, so you need to stay the fuck out my business!”
“So you just gonna do me like that, like you ain’t never loved me? Like I didn’t do everything for your ass?”
“We ain’t together anymore, Eshon. You need to get that in your fuckin’ head!”
Eshon sucked her teeth and glowered. “So you rather go from classy like this”—She gestured toward her nice and well-dressed figure—“to them ashy and nasty bitches?”
Kip shook his head and sighed.
Eshon and Kip had fucked around for years, but Kip was tired of the drama and Eshon’s jealousy and petty ways. He liked being a single man and wanted to fuck who he wanted without Eshon hating on him. But she was having a hard time getting over him.
“Did you prank-call me last night?”
“What the fuck I look like, Eshon? Huh? I ain’t got time for games. I ain’t on no childish bullshit. I’m tryin’ to get money on these streets.”
“I’m just sayin’ Kip, somebody’s been calling me and hanging up.”
“Bitch, it ain’t me. Step off wit’ that drama.” Kip nudged her out of his way and proceeded toward the truck, leaving her there looking dejected.
She watched Kip walk toward Devon and Papa John, who were laughing. She marched off upset.
Papa John climbed out of the passenger seat, so Kip could ride shotgun.
Once inside, Kip barked, “Y’all are two stupid muthafuckas! Y’all smoking weed in public. I could see y’all asses a mile away puffing. What if I was five-O driving by? Huh? Y’all niggas tryin’ to get locked up before we do this shit tonight?”
“Yo, my bad, Kip, you right,” Devon said.
Papa John extinguished the weed. “I guess you ain’t smoking then.”
“Yo, Papa John, it ain’t no time for your jokes,” Kip told him.
“Yeah, you right.”
“Y’all ready to do this thing tonight?”
Devon answered, “Nigga, you know we ready.” He was itching to get this money. “We always ready.”
Papa John reached down in his seat and slyly handed Kip some new burners for the night’s task—Glock 19s. Everyone received new guns because their old ones had too many bodies on them.
Kip quickly inspected the Glock with the extended clip. It felt great in his hands. “Yeah, these are nice. I like ’em,” he said.
“I’m glad you do,” Papa John said.
“We good for the night? Is everything set straight?” Devon asked as he navigated the truck toward the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Kip replied, “Yeah, we gonna pick up the tickets right now. Shorty on point.”
“Cool.” Devon smiled, his yuck mouth showing in the rearview mirror.