Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
I chuckled.
Still, excitement hit his voice. “Blue, can I pick Anna up and dance with her a little bit?”
“Absolutely not. I cleaned her before everything else. She's still drying.”
“Your boy is trying to take Anna out on a date. Don't you cock block me too.”
“She's drying.”
“Damn.” Maxwell sucked his teeth and headed over to the opened balcony doors. “You're going to let me borrow that shit one day?”
“Or I'll get you one for your birthday.”
“Alright, Blue.” He flashed that signature smile that I was sure made most women drop their panties. When I first met him, I almost did. The next day, many of the women in Harlem Crew told me about his reputation. He loved to have sex. Once he did, then he moved on to the next woman.
Still, Maxwell watched me with that gorgeous smile. “You love Papi. Don't you?”
Rolling my eyes, I pulled out the cleaning rod and placed it in the dirty pile.
“Just admit it, Blue.” Maxwell licked his lips.
“You are a good big brother.”
“I see how you did that.” Maxwell smoked more of his joint. “By the way, my birthday is tomorrow.”
I paused from cleaning and looked at him. “Is your birthday really tomorrow?”
“In my mind.”
Shaking my head, I grabbed the bore brush. “You're not dancing with Anna.”
“I never took you to be a cock blocker too.”
I dipped the bore brush in cleaning solution. “What was the second reason you came?”
“Damn, Blue. Why are you rushing me?” He blew smoke in the direction of the balcony. “Since you brought it up, the second reason I came was that. . .I'm trying to be a better Max.”
“Alright.” I began scrubbing Mary's barrel with the bore brush.
“So, I came in here to apologize for bullying David and you.” Maxwell held up his hand. “Granted, my barging in was necessary. However, I don't want to put you two in a bad place with Kazimir and Em again. So, I plan to talk to them about it. I can't have you two getting in trouble or anything.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Maxwell.”
“But, next time. . .” He took a hit from his joint. “Don't let my ass get by. You need to be on your job.”
“The French were pointing guns at us.”
“No excuses, Blue.”
“As far as I know, I am not supposed to shoot the French.”
“Yeah. Don't shoot them. They're cool.”
I quirked my brows. “You think the French are cool now?”
“I fuck with them.”
“What changed?”
“A lot.” Maxwell moved the joint from his lips. “Anyway, do you accept my apology. With all these guns around here, I'm not trying to get on your bad side.”
“I accept your apology.” I scrubbed some more. “Is that why you brought me those beautiful blue roses?”
“Naw, baby.” Chuckling, he took a hit of his joint. “I don't buy flowers for chicks I don't fuck.”
I stopped scrubbing. “But you brought the vase of blue roses in here.”
“I sure did.”
“Then, who are those roses from?”
“I'm staying out of that.” Maxwell put the joint out on the bottom of his shoe.
“What do you mean you are staying out of it?”
“It wouldn't be a good idea if I stuck my nose in this shit. Could be a crime of passion thing.”
“What?”
“Look, Blue. Since you're kind of a little sis to me.” Maxwell tucked the joint in his back pocket. “All I will say is that the vase of roses were at your door, waiting for you to spot and pick them up this morning.”
“They were at my door?” I put the barrel and brush down, wiped my hands with a towel, and headed to the roses. “But, who sent them? Did the person leave a—”
“No card.”
I quirked my brows. “You checked?”
“Of course.” Max shrugged. “Not that I needed to check. I know who they're from, but I bet you have no idea who sent this. Do you?”
“Well. . .maybe. . .”
“You don't know.” He smirked.
“I have some guesses.”
“Listen, Blue. The word of the day for you is this. . .”
I widened my eyes.
He held up one finger. “Management.”
“Management?”
“That's the word. Learn it. Know it. Live it.”
“What does management have to do with who sent the roses?”
“Manage these motherfuckers like you're getting a check.” Maxwell pointed that finger at me. “Because, trust me when I tell you this, your life will depend on it.”
“Manage who?”
“Keep your hoes in line, Blue.”
“I don't have hoes.”
“Are you trying to play me?” He leaned his head to the side. “Or you really don't know?”
“I mean I have some. . .ideas of who could have sent them, but I don't have hoes.”
“Naw. I've been gone for a minute, but I'm already hearing shit. Lots of whispering.” Maxwell headed off.
“Wait.”
Maxwell opened the door, stood in the doorway, and turned around. “What?”
“Help me.”
“Your lists of love interests is building, sweetie. My best advice is management with a capital M.”