Tears of a Hustler PT 1 by Silk White

just never had a candle lit dinner before,” she said honestly. “Well there’s a first time for everything,” Ali whispered softly as he pulled out Nancy’s chair her.
    As the couple sat down looking over the menu, Big Mel sat close by keeping an eye out for anybody or anything that looked suspicious. “So I take it you don’t get out much,” Ali asked looking over the menu. “Not really,” Nancy answered quickly as the waiter approached the table. “Are ya’ll ready to order,” he asked. “Yeah, I’ll have the lobster dinner,” Nancy answered. Handing the waiter back the menu, then winked at Ali. “I’ll have the same thing,” Ali added handing the waiter back the menu. “Oh and can you bring me a bottle of champagne, and some water for the lady.” “Coming right up,” the waiter said politely as he headed back around the corner.
    Once the waiter was out of ear shot Ali continued with his conversation. “So why is it that a pretty lady like yourself don’t go out much?” “Well I’m going to be honest with you, my last boy friend was very abusive.” “I’m sorry.” “What are sorry for? Its not your fault that he’s an ass hole.” “I meant to say I feel sorry for him. If I ever catch that faggot,” Ali said with a chill in his voice.
    Nancy was happy when she saw the waiter approaching the table. She hated talking about her past, every time she did, all of the hurtful things Dave did to her came back to haunt her. “Before we eat, I would like to make a toast,” Ali said filling his glass with champagne. “To us and our future, the past is the past,” he said raising his glass. “I will definitely drink to that,” Nancy said as she grabbed her glass of water and held it up in the air. “To us and our future,” she said as the two glasses clinked. Once dinner was over, Ali pulled out Nancy’s chair like the perfect gentleman, and escorted her back to the vehicle. For the entire ride home the couple didn’t say a single word to each other, instead Nancy curled up in Ali’s arms as the two listened to Alicia Keys humming softly through the speakers.
    “Ya’ll lovebirds wake the fuck up. We got some company,” Big Mel yelled over his shoulder as he noticed the cop car lights flashing in the rearview mirror. “Damn these mutha fuckas ain’t got nothing better to do,” Ali huffed sitting his glass of champagne down. “Yo pull this mutha fucka over.” Seconds later two red neck officers came strolling to the vehicle shining their flashlights inside the vehicle.
    “What seems to be the problem officer,” Big Mel asked uninterested. “License and registrations shit head,” the officer barked shining the bright light in the big man’s eyes. Big Mel slowly reached for his wallet, and removed his license and the card Detective Nelson gave him in case him or Ali ever got pulled over or arrested. “Here you go officer,” Big Mel said placing the card on top of his license.
    The officer studied the card for about thirty seconds before he spoke. “Where did you get this card from?” “Detective Nelson,” Big Mel answered quickly.
    Three minutes later the officer returned to the driver side window, and handed Big Mel back his license, and the card. “Sorry for wasting your time. You enjoy the rest of your night,” the officer said tipping his hat. “No problem officer,” Big Mel replied as he pulled back out into traffic.
    “I can’t stand those racist muthafuckas,” Ali huffed in a tone of disgust as Big Mel pulled up in front of Nancy’s building. As Ali walked Nancy to her building, all of the local thugs and drug dealers who stood in front greeted Ali with a head nod. “You know those guys?” “No, but I’m sure they know me,” Ali replied as the two stepped on the elevator.
    “I really had a nice time tonight,” Nancy said as she and Ali walked down the narrow hallway heading towards her apartment. “Well I hope this won’t be the last time we get to be