Falling for a Hustler: A Benton Harbor Love Story by Jerniqua K. Page A

up the stairs.”
    I walked in the house and went straight to his room. I tapped on his door and waited for a response, but I got nothing. I opened the door and saw him lying in the bed sleep. Quietly, I took my shoes off and placed my purse on his dresser. I climbed on top of him and began kissing all over his face. He stirred a bit, before finally waking up.
    “Aw shit, Des. How long you been here bae?”
    “I just got here.”
    He looked at the time on his phone. “What you doing here so late. It’s after midnight.”
    “I have something for you.”
    “What you got for me?”
    I grabbed my purse and pulled out the money. He thumbed through it and looked at me again.
    “Where the fuck you get this shit from?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “This morning you ain’t have no money, and now you handing me five hundred?” he grabbed my arm a little too roughly for my liking. “Where you get it from?”
    “I went out.”
    “Went out?”
    “With Yandy, damn! Why you tripping?”
    “What the hell you doing hitting licks with that bitch for? Niggas is real deal after this bitch, and she ain’t doing shit but making yo dumb ass a target.”
    “Fuck you, Dom. Call me when you get off this dumb shit.”
    “Did you fuck the nigga, Des?”
    “What kind of shit is that? Of course I didn’t, Dom. I would never do no shit like that to you.”
     
    That night, he made indescribable love to me. The shit was so good I had slipped up and let him come inside of me. I knew I was wrong for even thinking about an abortion, but I didn't know what else to do. I was barely taking care of myself; how the hell was I gonna take care of a baby too? My phone buzzed on the table beside me.
     
    KITA: You still goin to Aj’s with me tonight bitch?
     
    I looked at the text and smiled. I forgot my girl Kita was trying to go out tonight. I was gon’ stand her up and spend time with Dom, but since he was acting all brand new and shit, I decided to go have some fun. I sent her a text back telling her to pick me up in thirty minutes. Without saying anything to Dominic, I walked out of his room. He called my name a few times, but I ignored him as I walked out the door.
    Thank God I wasn’t showing yet. I had bought this cute ass black dress a few weeks ago, and I wanted to wear it before it was too late. When I got home, I pulled it out along with a pair of Lyric’s pink heels. After laying everything on my bed, I took a quick shower and got myself together. I put a few curls in my hair and applied lipstick, and I was ready to go. I always hated walking down stairs with heels on, so I waited until I was by the door to put them on. A car horn sounded off, and I knew that it was no one but Kita.
    “Damn bitch! You ain’t just have that ass a week ago,” she said all loud and ghetto like.
    “Whateva Kita!”
    When we made it to the club, Kita went straight to the bar. She wasn’t old enough to be drinking, but her fake ID said differently.
    “You want me to grab you something?”
    “Orange juice and a bottle of water.” She looked at me funny. “I told Dom I wouldn’t drink tonight.” She rolled her eyes and walked off.
    “Excuse me,”
    When I looked up and saw Calvin looking at me, I almost pissed on myself.
    “Yes?”
    “Um, I know this is going to sound crazy but...I was robbed a few months ago. I don’t remember all the details, but I do know that you’re the last person I remember seeing that night.”
    “I’m sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else. I just moved here two weeks ago with my girlfriend,” I said, nodding toward the bar at Kita.
    He looked at me for a moment, and I started to grow nervous. He was piecing the shit together! I had to get rid of his ass before I gave myself away.
    “I don’t want my girlfriend coming over here getting the wrong idea. She’s not the nicest when she’s upset.”
    Calvin stared at me a moment longer before he finally got the hint and walked away. When Kita came back with