Always a Mistress, page 1
Always a Mistress
India Cooper
Copyright © 2023 India Cooper
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-0881-9546-8
Title: Always a Mistress
Author: India Cooper
Digital distribution | 2023
Paperback | 2023
This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, places, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination, and are not to be construed as real.
Dedication
Donnell, I pray you find solace in your time. If not, I pray you find laughter, growth, and calmness!
But mostly. laughter and joy reading this world I created just so you can escape them walls. We doing this time together.
Don't ever feel alone or unloved because you are immensely loved and always thought about. So, I dedicate this book to you.
We here with you until they “Free Us.”
Chan, I know you don’t think I forgot about you. Thank you for everything but mostly for being my CousinSister. Here are your flowers…
Contents
Always a Mistress
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
Chapter One
The Man
It was a scorching summer day, a typical day in the hood. Typically, I do not come and hang in the hood, but I am fresh out of a situation, and I just wanted to be around some love. I hit my hg Kat’s phone to see what the move was. She told me pull up around her way which is a section of West Baltimore she referred to it was “round the way.”
I stopped and grabbed some grass from my local weed dealer then stopped at the gas station. As I was pulling into the gas station my eyes met with a fine ass man with brownskin jet black hair and we just starred at each other for a few minutes. I dropped my head in a bashful manner and smiled at him. He said nothing and smiled back. I walked into the gas station because I knew I would need snacks after we smoked and have our vent session, so I like to come prepared. I felt like someone was burning a hole in the back of my head and I look up and it is the same fine ass man. He smiles and waves then walk out. That is always my luck with dating males. They are always scared to approach me and that gets them nowhere with me. I am an alpha female, my energy demands attention so I need a man who can let me feel vulnerable to summit and so far, no luck. I got my snacks and Kat’s fruit cause that bitch forever on a diet and make my way down the street to her aunt house.
I pulled up to the block and its packed outside. Kat’s brother and sister-in-law run a concession stand and sell drinks and it attracts people, just another sweltering day in the hood. I park and get out my car. I look up and I see the same black Infiniti coupe that I saw at the gas station but not the fine owner. I finally see Kat and her sister Tiffany, and I walk over. Funny story I met Kat through Tiff, and we have all been cool since. They are like night and day but they BOTH LOVE FOOD! I mean like a foodie loves food and they are loyal, so it is always a good vibe when I come out. We start to roll our blunts and get a session started. We talk about all things Kat has not been dating seriously since she lost the love of her life, and I just recently went through the same situation, so we bonded even closer over that. But we decided that this summer we will have some fun and live a little.
We have small talk about hood drama and then our love lives come up. We all are out here just single, bored, and clearly in need of some good “cutty” but for now we just complain about how nigga’s aint shit. Kat has a theory that there is no such thing as a single person. She believes everyone has someone and you just have to get in where you fit in. Me myself I am a hopeless romantic, so I want to see the good in everyone and love-on everyone. I have a genuine connection with, I do not care who was before me. I am nicer than her in this way. Her defense mechanism has saved her a lot of heartbreak so maybe I should take some advice.
Just as I was about to give my opinion on how trifling men are, I see him. We made eye contact again. I am a sucker for eye contact like it is just something about a person’s eye’s that just get me every time. They say the eyes are the windows to a person’s soul and all I could think is how he looks with his glasses off. I wanted to see more. I wave and smirk. Completely oblivious to the fact that people are outside and watching us. Before I could get out the trance that his stare had me in.
Tiff says, “No friend, – he’s drama and you are not his type trust me.”
I look at Kat who interjects, “That’s Kevin, we call him Kloxx. He is a good guy; he just likes hood rats and that comes with drama.”
I could not even lie, I was intrigued. I always trust my gut and my gut tells me this is a person I need to get to know. We may even become good friends but for now I wanted to know more about Mr. Black Infiniti. I gave Kat a look and she instantly replied; Bitch I know you and him you’re like a female him and he deserves a you. Outside of him being a nigga he is a sweetheart he just has females around him lowering the stock value. I really did not care who he had around me, I made my mind up in that instant that I wanted to get to know him. I asked them what his Instagram page was and to my surprise he has been following me, I added him to my close friends and set the bait. I want him to come on to me I need to know a man wants me plus -I like aggression. He instantly starts liking my post and commenting on them. Good he is interested was all I could think. He was going to be mines he just did not know it yet.
A few seconds pass and Tiff’s best friend Shy walked over, she informs us that Sweetie which is what we will not refer to him as from here on out has some drama that is about to go down. He has a main bitch and a side bitch. The side bitch was a younger girl with nothing really going for her in life and she apparently has been provoking the main bitch. Who was now in route to smack her. I see the passenger door of Sweetie’s car open, and a female appears. This must be the side chick. She is pretty with a nice shape nothing to major. Suddenly we hear all of this commotion. I see another female pull up, hop out the car and walk over to the side chick and pluck her, and they begin to fight. Smh, multiple females this man is messy! I have not even been around for an hour, and he has females outside fighting. I love a man who can lead and keep order in his life including multiple women if his bag allows it. This was the first red flag, but me being a glutton for punishment I still wanted to get to know him. The females start fighting and he just sits there and does nothing. He finally gets in his car and pulls off. This was a messy shit show and here I am still intrigued smh.
This was a bit much; I told the girls I’d hit their phone set up my next lash appointment with Kat then left.
Chapter Two
Love Battles
It had been a few weeks since I went outside and saw that lover’s quarrel. I had been soft flirting with Sweetie over Instagram, but he still had yet to boss up and come at me correctly. I was curious. I spoke to Kat about him again and she vouched for him, so I decided to give him a chance. I searched for his page on IG and left my phone number in his DM.
He replied instantly, “Yessss,” was all he said.
I asked him why he didn’t just ask for my number. The message said “seen” and my phone instantly started ringing. It was a facetime call from an unknown number. It was him; this man is really handsome. I was stuck for a brief moment taking in all his features. He didn’t have his glasses on, and I wasn’t staring at him from across a parking lot and I must say this man is fine. He has nice, beautiful skin, some big full lips (that’s the creep in me) and his eyes, they were a soft brownish orange hue -alluring like I could get lost in them. He smiled the biggest genuine smile and I just melted.
“Hi…” softly, was all I could say.
“Hello miss…”
“So, you were just going to keep liking my post and not say anything?”
“I didn’t know ya situation, plus when I asked about you a few years ago they informed me that you fucked two of my man’s so I couldn’t touch you.”
I was utterly shocked that this came out this man’s mouth. For one, I know exactly what he is referring to and exactly who started that rumor. But it’s no way in hell that man looked at me and though the people he heard touched me had any chance of getting close to me.
Angrily I reply, “Sir, none of your friends have touched me. That rumor started and cleared up in the same day. You could have asked them, and they would have told you no one from around there has touched me.”
“Awwwwwww man, for real that’s crazy,” he replied, drawing out the word aww like he was an innocent child.
“Yes, very crazy as I haven’t been outside around here in over two years. Sounds like a long time to crush on someone and n
“You right but we are here now. Plus, I don’t like rejection.”
“Well since we are being honest, I told Kat I wanted you as well. Then I saw all the drama you had circulating around you, and it turned me off somewhat…”
“I apologize over that; I have no control over anyone’s actions over me, but I’m Kevin and I would like to get to know you.”
“I’m Yasmine…”
We did exactly that, we sat on the phone for close to three hours that night. We discovered we have so much in common. We like the same weird shows, this man actually likes all my shows, and I had some I told him about. We also like the same music but most importantly we both felt unseen and were people pleasers. I learned this about myself a while back and it was intriguing to see a man go through the same things and be vulnerable about it. The whole conversation made me feel like yes, I could get used to this man. He was so calm and sweet. I see why Kat said he as a gentleman. I got all those vibes from him and now I want more. I loved the way this man looked at me as if he could see right through me, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up just yet. The whole conversation I was transfixed on this man and being the people pleaser that I am I just wanted to come in his world and make it all better. I told him I could see why Kat though he deserved him a me.
There were some red flags though in talking he explained the fight and that the girl who pulled up was his ex-gf who he really loves or loved. He used the word in the past tense but spoke about her like she still had his heart. It was all over his face. He admitted to doing her wrong and how she got sick when he was ready to leave and be single, but he stayed. He then explained his young chick basically tried to run her away, but she was not his girl just beneficial and fun. Which seemed like a lie, because for the life of me I couldn’t see a man letting his side get out of hand like that. Bad for business!
I told him I heard of his drama even when I used to come outside years ago it was just a different chick. I told him he has a type, this man replied yea you. I said, “No, you like children who can’t control their temper or emotions. They also have nothing to lose, and they are out in the streets fighting like some low-class citizens and that’s the drama I didn’t need.”
He explained that he was single and dating. Yes, he deal with the young chick, but she knows her place he also explained that she was bisexual as I had just informed him, I was. We were discussing the movie “Supafly,” and I was explaining that the main character had two women. They sound like his two bitches, he laughed and said that the life he wants. This was intriguing to me, but we clearly do not have the same type, physically yes but mentally NO!
His phone was going off the entire time we were talking on facetime, and he wasn’t answering any of the calls. This made me smile cause we were really vibing. It was almost 3 am and I had to get up for work in two hours at 5 am. I told him I would call him tomorrow and he looked like a sad kid who got their favorite toy taken away. The sad part is I didn’t want to hang up either, but I literally had to be at work in three hours. I guess we were both lost in each other’s trance. I told him that I would come outside tomorrow and that we could finish our discussion then. Before we hung up. I also informed him that I would make a list of movies for us to watch as a movie date and that I would cook for him.
We hung up the phone and I instantly opened the note pad on my iPad and started creating a spreadsheet with a list of movies that he hadn’t seen yet along with the website they were being streamed on. I sent him a copy of the notes which would allow him to make changes and see when I make changes. He replied as soon as I sent the message and we texted for another hour, and I finally went to sleep. I knew I would pay for this in an hour when I had to get up and start getting ready, but I did not care. It has been a minute since someone gave me an intriguing conversation and butterflies all at the same time. I wanted more of this man.
Chapter Three
Instant Connections
Not a lot of people know this about me, but I am bisexual. The thought of having a partner from both sexes was a captivating objective for me. I wanted it to be real, not just about sex. That never works though, someone is always the favorite, or someone is jealous for no reason. I watched the movie Superfly again the other day and the main Character Priest had two women. They were all in a relationship, but both knew their place, they both loved each other, and they loved him. It was no favoritism and that was goals to me. Ever since he told me his side piece likes women too, I couldn’t stop thinking of what fun we could have.
So, I took out my phone and texted him.
“Wyd, way,” asking for his location.
He sent his location as a response to that message. I though back to our conversation the previous night and he was explaining that he hated being asked wyd back-to-back. I listened but he couldn’t have been referring to me because I will never nag a man or babysit a man. My self-esteem would never let me. I informed him that I was not coming right there, I wanted to keep us between us until we figured out what we were doing. I am not here for this man’s ego. If I pull up in front of his friends or workers and they see him with multiple women in compliance that just elevates his street status. But me I’m so analytical to brag on me you got to earn those rights.
I sent him my location and he replied back.
“Omw, just got ta drop my son mother off to work,” in his hood lingo. I could imagine the words leaving his lips. I had the biggest smile on my face. I was only up the street from where he sent me his location from but still come to me sir! I waited for a good 20 minutes, and it was like he could feel me thinking of him. My phone rung and its him.
“You hungry? She’s getting some Chinese food before I take her to work that’s the holdup.”
I instantly reply, maybe a little too fast, “Sure.”
“Don’t go anywhere I’ll be right there.”
Another fifteen minutes pass and I see some headlights coming from the bottom of the block. My best friend Trini is outside with me and so is her boyfriend. Their siting on the porch in the cut and I was sitting in my car. I fixed my hair, put on a fresh coat of lipstick and a few pumps of perfume. I had no clue why I was so nervous about a car convo. Although car conversations are the best. I get out my car as soon as he gets to the back of it. I opened the door and got in his car and he’s smiling that smile again. I open the car door and get in. this man smells so good I was speechless for a moment.
“Hi handsome,” was all that left my mouth.
Sweetie looked over at me still smiling and said in the raspiest deep voice ever, “Wassup bout time I got you alone.”
“You can have me alone anytime you want, you’re the busy one with people in rotation!”
He reaches into the backseat and grabs our food. I am no longer hungry by the time he gets to me. I had some Kobe’s carryout that I had my best friend warm up for me and I ate it while I was waiting. He hands me the food smiling hard like a big ass kid. Before he places the food in my hand, he looks at me and smiles but more like blushes and says, “You really pretty as hell.”
I blush, take the food and reply, “You want me feed this to you, don’t you?”
He smiles again a big ass smile and shakes his head really fast like a big ass kid. I couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind spoiling you.”
I take the spork and scoop up some rice, I blow it to make sure it’s not too hot, then I feed him some. He’s smiling like a big ass kid. I love this man’s energy. He asked me did I have any plans for the rest of the night. I informed him that I did not. He pulled off and pulled back around his way. This man damn sure wasn’t trying to hide me -so why was I so paranoid?
I hate people in my business and his ass came with messy embarrassing drama. We sat in the car for some time we talked, I fed him, and we were just vibing. A few people came up to his car. The way he spoke to them was if he was the boss. I didn’t care about any of that I just wanted to get to know him without the drama that came with a street nigga.
His phone rang and he stated that he had to make a stop. He handed me his phone and told me control the radio. I handed it right back and informed him that I do not touch people’s phones. He was so carless in this matter. Any other bitch would have taken the phone waited for him to get out and then go through it. I am not them by far. I don’t go looking for mess cause I always find it. I’m in a soft era where I just want to be calm and accept all that’s coming to me. Looking for more things to stress over isn’t on that list. He takes the phone back and plays Gunna and Chloe song “You and Me” -how fitting!
