Hustlin' by L. Divine Read Free Book Online Page B

asks, turning her already sky-high nose up at a glowing Mickey. I’m glad she said it and not me, even if we are both thinking the same thing. “You already live with ten other people.”
    â€œNigel’s going to work that part out. My job is to decorate our home, and that’s just what I’m doing, starting with the nursery. Kinda like your job is to hate and, by the way, you are excellent at it. Whoever haters like you report to should give your ass a raise.” Mickey glares at Nellie, who looks like she wants to slap our girl across the face. But Nellie hasn’t completely lost her mind.
    â€œYeah Nellie, what’s up with you? Nigel ain’t mad so why are you still tripping?” I ask, looking at Nigel from our spot in the middle of the bleachers. He runs across the field, turns counterclockwise and throws the ball downfield to his teammate, who catches the perfect pass.
    Mickey stands up and cheers for Nigel, who promptly blows her a kiss before running back up the field. Misty and the rest of the South Central black crew took up the bottom bleachers, which is where Mickey prefers to sit and watch her boo play. I don’t know if it’s because she can see him better, or because she’s farther away from the top of the stadium where her man tends to park when he comes looking for her. Either way, she’s pissed about them sitting in our seats and decides to make her way down to say something.
    â€œWhat’s up, Mickey,” KJ says, glaring at her through his Gucci shades. They’re probably a gift from one of his college girls. He keeps at least one chick on the side no matter who he’s dating at school.
    â€œWhat’s up is y’all are in our seats. You know this is where we chill.” Mickey looks down on the crew, focusing on Misty.
    â€œYeah, I guess with your baby bump starting to show it’s getting difficult to walk up the stairs, huh,” Misty says, making Shae, Tony, and KJ and his boys laugh. But Mickey’s not amused in the least. The last thing she wanted was Misty to get wind of her pregnancy, but Mickey might as well consider it news already spread.
    â€œYeah, my baby belly is making me a bit winded,” Mickey says, rubbing her tiny bump. “But I guess it’s difficult for you having to walk up the bleachers and clap at the same time.” I knew Mickey was going to go there. I feel bad Misty contracted gonorrhea—another gift from one of KJ’s broads that he decided to share with her—but I tried to tell Misty about KJ. Messing with him is like playing with fire, and she got burned, literally.
    â€œShut up, Mickey,” Misty says, embarrassed. I know KJ was her first, and if she has anything to say about it he’ll be her only. “If it means that much to you, take it.” Misty gets up from her seat, ready to let Mickey take it, but Mickey’s not done clowning my nemesis quite yet.
    â€œYou don’t have any Lysol wipes or something you could use to disinfect the area after you get up? You should really think about carrying some sanitizer in your purse at the very least.”
    Now Mickey’s gone too far. Even I feel bad for Misty, and from the looks of it, so does Nellie.
    â€œMickey, why do you think you can go around airing everyone else’s dirty laundry except for your own? You’re not so clean yourself,” Nellie says, shocking us all.
    â€œOh, now this is good,” Del says, turning completely around in his spot to witness the scene. “Nellie defending Misty against Mickey. Did hell freeze over or something?” KJ laughs and so does everyone else in their crew, excluding Misty, who looks like she doesn’t know what to say.
    â€œIt is cold nigga. Maybe we should check the weather,” C Money says, adding his two cents.
    â€œC Money and Del, don’t y’all have something better to do?” I say, walking down to join my girl, who