KeyShawn McCoy (eBook)

CHAPTER 1

OCTOBER 2016

hat you doing after the bar tonight, Shawn? It’s supposed to be a lit time at the after-hour. Y’all should slide through,” Shaneef said.

“I don’t know. A little bit of this, a little bit of that,” I said pointing from side to side with my wine glass. I was at the bar with my homegirl Yonay, my cousin Flipp, and my on-again-off-again lover named Neef.

We came to Flipp’s spot all the time. It hadn’t been all four of us since we were in middle school. It started off as Uncle T’s bar from back in the day that he ran with my daddy. Daddy sold his half because he didn’t want to deal with Uncle T anymore. It was the only one of his bars I would go to because they had the best wings. Everybody wanted to be where I was so we kicked it at Flipp’s. It was my cousins bar once he turned twenty-one. He loved it and I always felt at home, so every time I had a free night, I made my way.

“Whatever you’re doing, just make sure it ain’t my cousin aiight?” Flipp said giving Neef the side eye.

“I can’t promise nothing man, have you seen her?” Neef said winking at me.

“Y’all so cute,” Yonay smiled.

I can just remember, it was a warm fall night. I mean I was sweating so bad. It could’ve been the shots we took at Yonay house, added to the wine I was downing. That’s really one distinct thing I can remember. It was just so hot.

Anyway, all four of us were sitting at the bar eating hot wings and talking shit. It was just like old times. Flipp was always trying to get me to hook them up and it wasn’t going to happen.

My daughter Ameenah was away for the school year in Maryland. She stayed with my great aunt and during the summers and other breaks she would come back to the city. It was similar to boarding school but Ameenah loved it. Plus, she liked coming home to brag to her friends and cousins about everything she got to do at her “big fancy school” in Maryland. I would go crazy some days without her but Granddaddy said it was for the best and how I turned out just fine. Having my friends and favorite cousin around helped ease my mind.

“So, what’s up with your homegirl, man? She still wit that lame nigga or what?” He whispered passing me the L.

“Why you got her smoking, man?” Shaneef asked. He was my on-again-off-again love and hated when I smoked. I didn’t care. Fuck what Neef cheating ass had to say.

I took a long drag, blew it out in his direction and said, “I mean the least I can do is smoke some bud…sfff…while I chill with the homies,” I laughed blowing out my second puff. Of-course Flipp laughed and gave my knee a squeeze.

“Damn lil’ mama. I get locked down and you and slim thick over here was promoting ya business with y’all nappy weaves,” Flipp said getting louder, “ayo Neef, bro, I get out in year. Dog, it was a fucking year and KeyShawn fucking the city up with these parties and shit. And, and, Shawn, haha, you back with this nigga Shaneef. I should whoop ya ass for kissing on my baby cousin, pussy.” Flipp said smacking Neef in his forehead. He was so on and it was making him act like his old goofy self. I was loving it.

“First of all—it took me longer than a year so stop gassing me. And second of all my head was not nappy,” I snapped.

“I’m just saying you grown up. Which lets me know my boo Yonay is prolly a real freak now,” Flipp said in a lower tone rubbing his hands together. He started making kissing sounds at Yonay to which she rolled her eyes.

“I am a freak but you’ll never know what it’s like,” Yonay moaned giving me a toast.

“To a fuck boy free Fall,” I said making Neef and Flipp flag us off. They started talking football and something about the Eagles and personnel and then I tuned them out.

“Oh, shit. Look who here. Ain’t that the jawn Maya? Damn, what Brett old work doing here? I don’t never see her in here. It must be a full moon.” Flipp mused.

“Man, she came through once or twice when you was locked up. She haven’t been here in a while though. Ever since Brett dumped her whore ass for the short jawn Simone, she been fucking with the guys.” Neef said which grabbed my attention.

“Oh, so you clocking bitches,” I grinned.

“Anyway, you might as well slide her way,” Neef insisted.

“Nah that’s how you get lined up. I learned my lesson from getting my dick sucked by his brother bitch, Tina. I am good. Yo, Shawn, ya pops almost whooped my ass when he found out I was fucking her.” Flipp chuckled.

“I tried to warn you about them bitches, Cuz,” I smiled. “You didn’t want to listen to me. Daddy really was about to beat you the fuck up when she ran down the steps. Yo, I could not stop laughing.”

“Uncle Spade really got in his bag about that shit. Man, I’m tryna see things the way Unc and my Pops is seeing it. Yo,” he whispered, “my Pops said we about to split the city down the fucking middle with these niggas. He got connects in high places. I’m talking Beijing, Mexico City and some other shit I can’t even pronounce. He tryna say fuck the drug shit and let’s make some real paper. He got guns and ammo. And tonight? Tonight, we call for a peace treaty with the King’s. They better be coming straight up or it’s gonna get real,” Flipp grinned.

“Wait what?” I said sobering up some. I never even knew they were selling drugs. I thought my uncles were into real estate. And why the fuck was anyone associated with them people coming here?

“Oh shit…oh shit my bad KeyShawn. You ain’t hear that. Damn, I can’t be fucking with them pills man.” Flipp said realizing what he just said.

“Damn bro, you on like that? The fuck was in ya cup?” Neef said shaking his head in disbelief.

“Shit, a little bit of this, a little bit of that,” he chuckled making me start laughing.

“Nah, seriously,” he continued. “Ain’t nothing but my regular shit in my cup. I tried this pill called Peak. Supposed to be the best high you can experience. So far I am the highest I have ever been.” he laughed again.

“Oh, so we popping pills now?” I said putting my glass down.

“Oh, stop baby girl. I’m alright. Gotta make sure my product is right. Ain’t nothing, aiight?” he said grabbing my knee again. “Now, back to Yonay. Why she stop—matter of fact let me ask myself. Aye, Yonay? Why you ain’t never give me the chance?” Flipp said turning to a Yonay who was avoiding eye contact.

“Look it don’t matter, ard?” she said nibbling on her wings.

“It does though. What happened. I’m dead up?” he pressed.

“Cause…want the truth? Here it is. You started fucking with Tina and I said I’m cool. You don’t have no boundaries when it comes to these bitches. Everybody gets a chance,” she said looking like the hurt came back. They were almost a match made in heaven but Flipp just couldn’t chill off the hoes.

“Yo, I was not fucking with Tina. And besides—”

“Negro, please. Everybody knows you was booed up with Tina when your new business partner was locked up, fuck outta here. Ain’t no secret so stop fronting. That was ya boo,” I laughed in a slight slur. I didn’t realize how on I was by this point.

“Ard, sounding like Mom-Mom and shit. ‘Negro, please,’ haha! Gotta get you out of Granddaddy house more often. Nah, I did fuck with Tina ass. I really did. But that nigga Brandon over there beating her ass. I ain’t about to save no hoe that don’t want to be saved you feel me?” Flipp said dapping Neef up.

“But, Nay? What’s up with us?” he grinned. That made her smile and flag him off.

As the night went on, Flipp and the jawn Maya kept making eye contact with each other. Knowing my cousin, it was only a matter of time before he made his way to the back with her.

“Ard, bro. I’m about to make my way to the back with ol’ girl. Holla when them niggas show up,” Flipp said getting up. I could appreciate a nice ass and sis was caking. Brett always knew how to pick them, that’s for sure. I honestly think that’s why my cousins hated him so much. He was just different from his brother. He wasn’t my type. I liked them chocolate like my daddy. I couldn’t lie though, he had a swagger to him that no woman in her right mind could shake. Between me and you? My cousins just weren’t built like that. As you can see with Flipp—they weren’t ladies’ men.

“Nah bro. You just never learn. Leave that girl alone. She’s trouble, dog.” Neef said.

“Who’s trouble?” Yonay asked.

“But she fine, dog,” Flipp laughed.

“Who’s fine?” Yonay questioned getting more comfortable in her seat. The breeze from the back door was flowing through the cramped spot and that bud we had copped from our Aunt Tah was crazy. She always had us trying out her boyfriend product. He wasn’t one of us but he was cool so we called him Uncle Tah. He hated us but it was like a love hate thing. We just couldn’t help but to give him a hard time, ha. He had the best tree out though, so he was alright with me.

“Come on, bro. You know I ain’t trying to wife that bitch. I’m just trying to get my dick sucked. Stick it to them nigga’s one more time before I let bygones be bygones,” Flipp laughed. Him and a hesitant Maya made their way to the back.

I want to say about an hour went by and Maya came back out front looking like she applied a fresh face and just got her hair done.

“Sucking dick,” me and Yonay laughed in...