Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
They all chuckled at that.
“Admitting you’re not perfect and always a work in progress to me is key,” India explained. They all nodded in agreement. “I’ve lied to men before, often to avoid an argument.” She rolled her eyes and shrugged. “It was usually the age-old question of: Do you have any male friends, do you still talk to your ex-boyfriends? Yeah, I do from time to time and refuse to be told by someone what I can and cannot do, especially when they haven’t put a ring on it. I’ve never cheated, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the opportunity came about, and some of those opportunities were quite tempting.”
“Truth. If we’re being honest, we can all admit to that.” Azure placed her cigar back down in the ashtray. “The bottom line is this: Get in where you fit in. Widen your options. I know we talkin’ about we all want a tall, handsome Black king, but let’s be realistic. The numbers aren’t in our favor. They’re either already married, incarcerated, addicted to something, gay, on the brink of death health wise, or they’re on this red pill bullshit.”
“GIRL! Don’t even get me started on that mess! High value men!” Fatima screamed, looking angry as hell. “Most of the guys shoutin’ they’re high value men got twin bald spots yet call us hair hat hooligans. When they were younger they was the dude nobody wanted, and now they’re bitter but still think they’re owed pussy. They’ve done no self-work. No reflection. No internal growth. They hate their Black mamas and tell us Becky is treating them better. Bye then, mothafucka. Go on to Becky. Be my guest. I’m glad to let her have to deal with these fools’ issues!”
“I know that’s right.” India laughed. “But now the Beckys are finding out what we already knew. They won’t do right.”
“Right! There’s some good Black men out there, but they are like a needle in a haystack ’cause times have changed. Men these days don’t want to be men anymore. Older Black women I talk to don’t seem to understand this because they’re not out trying to find a man like us. They don’t understand the shit we’re dealing with. I was just telling my mama that these guys want to be the woman in the relationship, rest in their femininity and have US take care of THEM. With me being an attorney, some of them are intimidated or think they can live off me. To that, I say, ‘Fuck you, you extra short, Buddha gut, saggy butt, tiny dick, stankin’ breath, broke ass, degenerate nigga. Me and my vibrator and my ten cats will be just fine. Fuck outta here!”
They were all cackling.
“Girl… They walkin’ around here like they’re Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, or Kofi Siriboe…” India snatched her joint and waved it around, “…don’t even make fifty grand a year and got five kids from four baby mamas, telling us what we should and shouldn’t be doing to keep the likes of them. A lot of ’em have been at the health department a few dozen times over some flamin’ hot Cheeto dick! Won’t even rap that shit up. I was dating one guy that had an STI they ain’t even named yet.”
“You’re lying!” Azure burst out laughing.
“I wish I was! We went and got tested, and they said they’d seen it before, but it was so new and rare, there was no name for it yet. Mothafuckas out here creating new diseases and got the nerve to demand for their woman to be obedient, and a 10! How you gonna be an asshole and create new venereal diseases at the same time? The nerve! Make it make sense!”
“Exactly!”
They were really on a roll now.
“I want to be married,” Azure stated after taking a deep breath. She looked at her reflection in the water, and her eyes grew misty. “I’m in love with a man I would definitely marry, and I haven’t had that happen in my life too often. I want to get married one damn time,” She held up her finger, “and that’s no shade to you, Fatima.”
“I know. None taken.” Her friend smiled at her.
“I just don’t have the patience or desire to keep doing this shit over and over again. Love is hard for me. Once I give it to someone, I can’t keep repeating the process.”
“I don’t think I’m ever getting married again, y’all.” Fatima yawned and shook her head. “I’d rather just make dick appointments and live my life drama free. It’s peaceful.”
Azure nodded in understanding.
“I want to be married, too,” India stated, holding on to her half-empty glass of red wine. “There are very few men I’ve met who I would even consider letting get to second base, let alone discuss long term commitments with. When I find a viable candidate, I’m vetting the fuck out of him, while understanding his red flags will exist. Just like you said, Azure. It is up to me to decide which ones are deal-breakers, which ones he acknowledges, and which ones I can turn a blind eye to.”