Boyfriend Season Read Online Free PDF Page A

Auntie—”
    â€œDang!” J.R.’s homeboy laughed. “You got dressed in the dark, shawty?”
    J.R. waved his boy’s comment away. “Nah! Don’t worry, shawty. It’s all good. Maybelline didn’t take her medication again?” he asked, flashing her with a smile. “I know. I can tell. Ain’t ya fault. So what’s up later?”
    Dynasty looked at him, then reared back her head a little. How did he know about Aunt Maybelline’s condition? She hadn’t told him. She shook her head. She was going to hang Rufus when she caught him.
    â€œSo . . . s’up later?” he repeated, speeding up his speech until what’s up turned into one word, s’up .
    Dynasty snapped out of her daze and stared. J.R. was cute at night, but he was finer in the daytime. Definitely out of her league. He was a come-up for her. Wife beater, saggy shorts, and a pair of brand-new white tennis shoes, were only outdone by the fresh braids he had hanging down his back. For a millisecond she felt a tinge of jealousy wondering whose legs he’d sat between to get his cornrows tightened. They weren’t like that last night.
    â€œI’m outside like this ’cause my aunt sent me on a wild mission to get her some cigarettes and beer.” She shook her head. “They’re not gonna let me buy that at the store.”
    J.R. waved his hand. “Ain’t nuthin’ to it, shawty. I can get that for ya.”
    Dynasty’s eyes stretched into saucers. “Really?”
    He nodded. “What’s my name, shawty?”
    â€œJ.R.”
    â€œNaw. My name?”
    â€œJust Right,” she sang, admiring him.
    â€œThat’s right. I’m just right about mine, and you mine, right? I mean after last night . . . can’t be no other way.” He nodded while he spoke and moved his hands a thousand miles an hour.
    Dynasty grinned. She didn’t know what else to do. She officially had a boyfriend. Just Right. Me and Just Right. She couldn’t wait for Rufus to see them together so he wouldn’t tease her anymore. She wouldn’t need to threaten him with her brother who wasn’t ever coming home anymore, and he’d finally believe that someone besides him was interested in her. Yes, he’d stop. Just Right had a reputation, too. Suddenly, something in her clicked that she didn’t like.
    â€œWhat do you mean by ‘after last night’? What happened last night?”
    J.R. smiled. “Come on, Dynasty. I don’t put my business out there.”
    â€œOkay!” His boy held his fist up to his mouth and coughed the word into his hand. “ ’Ey. Just Right. We godda go. Now! P-Down’s pulling in too.”
    Just Right looked past Dynasty, then back at her. “Give me the money and meet me at the store. By the time you get there, I’ll be walking out with your stuff. A’ight?”
    Dynasty saw P-Down pull up on the left, then turned and saw a group of pretty girls walking up behind her. Pretty girls who dressed nice. Pretty girls who dressed nice and had banging bodies.
    â€œWhy can’t I just go with you?” she asked, wondering if he’d lied on her like Rufus said. His boy seemed to know something she didn’t.
    â€œYou don’t wanna ride with P-Down. The car may be a lil hot or something. You know?”
    She nodded and handed him the money, appreciating his help. She knew Aunt Maybelline was serious about putting her out if she didn’t come home with the goods. I have a boyfriend . A real boyfriend who helps me , she thought as she slid out of the project, made a right, and proceeded to the corner store happier than she’d been in a long time.
    Leaning against the barred window, she looked toward the street, waiting for J.R. and his boys to show, wondering how she’d beat them there. She was sure she’d been at the store at least ten minutes. The heat on her face