Giselle "G" Rowe
Sunday, November 27 |  1:27 p.m.

-

"Ouch." I wince after another failed attempt to push my earring through my fourth used-to-be open pierced hole. "I knew I shoulda listened and kept earrings on 24/7." I sigh, deciding to just settle for two small diamond studs.

I can't be like Kirk and his three earrings.

I apply a layer of tinted lipgloss before standing up to check my reflection, shaking my wrists so that my bangles slide down my forearms.

"Giselle, we heading out for a quick second, oh!" My mother peeps her head in my room, smiling as she takes in my appearance. "Why you look like a Spanish mamí? The curls came out really good!"

"Thank you, ma." I laugh, ripping off the top layer of my lint roller. She winks and heads down the hallway. The front door opens and shuts a few shorts moments later.

She can close that door, but stay leaving my room door open.

I shake my head, answering the incoming FaceTime call after I gently shut it.

"Another reason why I'm bouta stop selling is cause erybody feel like the police na." Cree scoffs as soon as the call connects. "Ole one weed please, ass nigga. I'm sick!"

"What happened to hello? How are you?" Nadi laughs. She's lying down with the sheets tucked in her underarms to cover her bare chest. No doubt in Mack's bed.

"Ain't it." I chime in, setting the phone up and misting myself with my perfume.

"Oohhh where you going, G?" Nadi sings. "You look so good!"

Cree stops walking and brings the phone closer to her face to look at me. "I'm going through a crisis! We ain't got time for dress up!"

A bell dings as she enters a store, nodding her hello to the cashier. "I do like the dress though."

"Thank y'all. I don't know yet, only thing June said was he had a peace offering for me." I shrug, adjusting my boobs to sit better in the low cut dress. "And Cree, I'ma just pray harder that you get the office job, boo."

"Right 'cause they gotchu stressin'...bad."

"It's all good, I'm finna go get something to calm my nerves." A sly grin spreads across Cree's face as she brings her two fingers to her mouth before flicking her tongue through.

"Goodbye, y'all!" I chuckle lightly, ending the call and their laughter.

Maybe pussy really does make the world go 'round.

**********

Sunday, November 27 | 3:45 p.m.
Blissful Brushes - Art Studio

-

"Stroke deliberately yet, delicately as you decorate your canvas." The instructor announces, arms clasped behind her back. I chuckle into my glass, watching June's heavy handed application.

"You are not doing what she said."

He sucks his teeth, cutting his eyes to my work. "We really neck and neck."

"Oh please." I pick up my brush, dipping it into the pink puddle and laying it across my sunset.
"Not only is yours....messy, but you chose the harshest colors. It's very Halloween-ish."

June dips his brush in red and applies it over a streak of yellow. "Better than looking like Easter. Orange sunsets are where it's at."

"Whatever. Pink is prettier."

"You're the prettiest." June pauses to gaze into my eyes and I chuckle at his predictable line.

"Thank you, Rashad." I gently place my fingertips underneath his chin and press our lips together.

His face shines with my gloss as our fifth kiss of the day comes to an end and I sigh, rummaging in my purse to find the tube.

Once another coat is applied, I redirect my attention to my beautiful depiction of a pink sunset on the beach. Lots of muted yellows and purples show up as my background colors, helping the main one stand out even more.

"How'd everything go with ole girl? You feelin' better?"

"She was removed from the chat and we won't be speaking anymore. Y'all better not be speaking anymore either." I raise my eyebrow, not taking my eyes off my painting.

"Great. Can I get my privileges back? It was cold last night without you."

I roll my eyes, choosing to ignore his question.

A glob of red paint drips down June's canvas and he hurries to correct his mistake before it slides on the table. "Shit! It look like it's bleeding now."

He sucks his teeth and sighs heavily as he dips his brush in white. "Fuckin' up the vibe, man."

"I told you, pink sunsets are the best."

**********

Sunday, November 27 | 5:32 p.m.
Downtown

-

"These lips can't wait to taste your skin."

Miguel's voice blasts through the speakers, sounding like a personification of the blinding sunshine kissing my face. I lay my head back against the seat, my stomach full and my mind content, and close my eyes.

"Just let my love, let my love adorn you."

"Did you have fun today?" June's deep voice cuts through the music and the warmth of his hand resting on my thigh sends waves of excitement through my core.

"Yes." I smile.

"Oh, I'm not done yet." He exhales through his nose with a small chuckle, before turning the music up and singing off-key.

"You gotta know, baby. Oh, you gotta know, know that I adore you, yeah. Oh, and love ain't ever looked so good on ya."

I steal more than a few glances at him, admiring his profile as usual, just absorbing this moment filled with nothing but joy. The world needs more of this.

Especially my world.

We pull into an almost empty parking lot of an abandoned car wash. The only other vehicle here is a white delivery van with the engine running loudly.

"June." I call out, cautiously. "What's this?"

"I told you I had a peace offering for you, baby." He laughs lightly and hops out of the car.

Baby, huh?

The door to the truck flies open and a short man with olive toned skin and slick black hair greets him. "Aye, Junebug! Long time no see, my friend."

"Stefano! How ya been?" The two men slap hands and speak incoherently. I shift in my seat when their gazes land on me and June walks over to the passenger side less than a minute later.

"Why are we here?" I keep my voice down as Stefano lights a cigarette and leans against his truck.

"He the plug."

"Boy, I don't even smoke!" I whisper-yell, but June is unfazed, opening my door and ushering me out. I take his hand and get out with a sigh.

"Open up the trunk." He commands and the double doors open to reveal....fabric.

Bundles and bundles of fabric. Cotton, chiffon, silk, wool, denim, corduroy, velvet, satin, — it's all here in an array of different colors.

"What...how..." I take a step closer, my hands over my mouth in shock.

And here I was, thinking that this man gonna offer me weed or something worse...coke.

"Hello, signora. I am Stefano The Great!" I lay my hand flat in his outstretched palm and he kisses the back of my hand. "You will get to know me as the most exclusive distributor around here. I have things that haven't even hit the market yet. You're literally getting first dibs."

"This is your peace offering?" I whip my body around to face June giddily. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

This has pushed things forward for me in a tremendous way. Broadening my knowledge first hand as I'll know which fabric works best with which cut and I'll have more exclusive looks to offer.

I've already been speaking with different manufacturers to start up production and having this much fabric on hand will allow me to create even more amazing pieces with my own two hands to show them. There will be better custom orders, more unique experiments, and my own personal closet will benefit as well.

I'm one step closer to launching my website.

I grab June's head and kiss him noisily. "I — I don't know if I could repay you for this. I'm sure it was expensive and I don't have the connections that you have."

"Relax." He grins, grabbing my arms. "Ain't no repaying me because this was my attempt to make you feel better about everything that happened in your friendship and to show you that I never meant you any harm. I felt some static between us so I did somethin' about it."

"Right, but this is a lot. I'm extremely grateful, but...." My voice trails off, studying every inch of his face as does he, mine.

"Listen, Stefano is a busy man. I don't have time to watch you two face fuck in the parking lot." He laughs, flicking his cigarette butt onto the pavement. "Let's get going."

"Go get what you want out the back and then you can repay me all night long."

"I'm serious, Rashad."

"And what makes you think that I'm not?" He gently nudges me away. "I'm tryna stroke deliberately and decorate my canvas."

He mocks the instructor, laughing heartily before slapping my ass. "Now get going."

Sore jaws for a successful business and a fulfilled heart? Sounds fair to me.

-

~~~

Hmm, orange or pink?

My other story, "Indra's Heart" is complete! Go check it out for me.

See y'all next time!