The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy by JaQuavis Coleman Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled and rushed to the birthday girl. “Happy birthday, K !” She hugged her cousin tight and rocked back and forth.
    “I’m glad you came. Now it’s time for this party to pop off!” Khia reached over into the bucket of ice and grabbed a bottle of Moët.
    Nautica, scared of what might happen to her if Zion found out she snuck out to the party against his wishes, walked to the back of the club with Khia. She didn’t want him to put her out on her behind. Though Nautica was a hustler’s hustler, her instincts to fend for herself and get money had partially had fallen off since she’d been with Zion. She’d become so comfortable with him giving her money, she didn’t have any money saved up to fall back on.
    Nautica and Khia sat down at the back table. The party was getting interesting, and had a good vibe, as people took to the dance floor, but Nautica had a slight headache from the ecstasy pills she’d taken earlier, one of its side effects, and had planned on staying just for an hour or so, to show her face, and then return home. He’s going to Detroit tonight anyway, she thought . He won’t get back until at least four in the morning.
    “So how’s everything going with you and Zion?”
    “I can’t complain. He treats me good and gets me whatever I want,” Nautica said without enthusiasm. “What more can I ask for?” She’d been with Zion for the past three months and gradually began to find out how possessive he was. She didn’t want to talk about him anymore, because it only reminded her of how much she was beginning to not like him.
    “Shit ain’t the same at Red’s without you. You know ol’ girl that worked at the front cash register?” Khia asked, referring to the girl they had worked with at Red’s Chicken Shack.
    Nautica nodded. “Yeah. That pale chick, right?”
    “Yeah, that dumb bitch. Do you know I tried to put her on the lick we used to do, but that bitch couldn’t get it right. TaQuan caught her ass redhanded stuffing that shit in her bra. The bitch was too slow. You know how we used to do.”
    “Fifteen seconds and out,” they both said in unison as they slapped each other’s hands and burst into laughter. They both had been schemers since they were young and they knew each other like the back of their own hands. They hustled niggas, jobs, and whatever could be hustled together. It was evident that they were two peas in a pod.
    “Damn, I miss you, girl,” Khia said as she looked at her best friend and cousin.
    “I miss you too girl.” Nautica saw that Khia was getting misty-eyed, so she shifted the conversation. “Where is my nigga, Quaye?” Nautica asked as she took off her coat.
    “Oh, he’s up there in the DJ booth.” Khia pointed to the corner of the room.
    Nautica looked over and saw Quaye talking to the DJ.
    Moments later Musiq Soulchild’s “Teach Me” filled the airwaves, and Khia immediately closed her eyes, put her hands up, and began snapping to the rhythm, swaying back and forth. “Girl, you know this my song.” She stood up.
    Nautica and Khia watched as Quaye made it over to them. Quaye smiled when he saw Nautica and kissed her on the check. “Hey, sis!” He always called her his sister. They weren’t real siblings, though, but had been tight since high school. Actually Nautica was the one that hooked him up with Khia.
    “Hey, big bro!” Nautica said as she hugged him.
    Quaye looked over at Khia and smiled. He looked at her with pure admiration and was deeply in love. He extended his hands so that he could dance with her. “Come on, baby,” he said, giving her bedroom eyes. “This is your song.” He had requested that particular song for Khia.
    “Quaye, these heels are killing me. Nautica, take this dance for me.” Khia nudged her cousin. Nautica was the only girl she would let Quaye dance with without feeling any jealousy.
    Nautica laughed and stood up. “Come on, bro. Don’t be stepping on my toes and shit. You know yo’ ass got two