Chapter 3

NYLA

I hang up the phone shaking my head, a little annoyed that Tracie woke me up, but also amused that she was on a date with a stripper. “Wow, my girls.” I look at the clock. It’s almost 1 a.m., and I am now wide awake.

“Might as well get some work done.” I pull out a case that’s been weighing heavy on my mind – one involving a 10-year-old girl whose mom keeps failing her court-appointed drug tests.  

I’mma a diva, I’mma a diva, I’mma a diva, now, now, now diva is a female version of a hustler, of a hustler, of a of a hustler… “Shoot, where’s my cell?”

I must have dozed off working on my case. I toss a few books and files and finally find my phone buried under a pile of papers, scrambling to stop Beyonce’s diva declaration. “Hello?”

“Hey mama,” says Lynda. “You called?”

“Uh huh, don’t ‘hey mama’ me. I know where you been,” I say. It’s now nine in the morning so I know she spent the night with that man.

“Damn, Tracie told you already?” asks Lynda.  “She could have at least waited a day to tell on a girl!” Lynda and Tracie were really close, almost like sisters, getting into trouble together and then coming to me for help to get them out of it.  

“Ok, so before you yell at me, I was careful and I promise not to do it again … unless he calls, then all bets are off,” Lynda says laughing.

I can’t help but to giggle a little myself. She is only 21, and in my opinion, has been way too wrapped up in old what’s-his-name anyway. This is the kind of thing that girls do in college. Better she get it out now before she’s living in the real world, dealing with real consequences.

“So, what happened?” I ask.

“Well,” starts Lynda, “We went to his place and watched videos of some of his past shows and talked about his performance and how he chooses his music and costumes. It’s a lot more to it than throwing on a g-string you know.”

My girl is trippin’! I laugh and shake my head. “Wow, you are really dissecting this whole take your clothes off for money thing?” I say. “So you just stayed up all night watching old stripper videos?”

Lynda sighs. I can tell she’s getting impatient with me and is going to try to rush me off the phone to call Tracie –– her enabler.

“Ok, mom,” she whines. “We were watching videos and one thing lead to another and well…Tracie went out with one too!” She laughs before continuing. “Oh hell, it was hot and you know what they say about getting over a guy by getting under a new one!”

I look at my phone with disbelief. What am I going to do with her? “Ok, I’m not going to judge and I do understand you wanting to have a little fun to help you get over your ex. But, do you really think sleeping with a stripper is the answer? I mean he’s probably been with hundreds of women. Why in the world would you want to add yourself to that list?”

“No judgment, huh?” says Lynda. “Nyla, you really do need to loosen up a bit. It’s not that deep – just a little fun and games. You should come with us to the club next week and find you one of your own!”

Lynda laughs, knowing full well I am not down for that. “Next week? Why are you going back?”

“Well, I want to see Killer, I mean Dylan, again, and I think Tracie will need to get more info from Punisher on the tat she is designing for him. I’ll have to double check with her, but I’m sure we’ll be going on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Come on Nyla, take a break from the J-O-B stress and have a drink while partaking in some lovely scenery!”

As Lynda is steadily trying to convince me to go to The Clove, I’m distracted by my blinking work phone. It’s a text message from my boss asking me to call her as soon as possible.

“Lynda, I have to go. Stella is calling and I think it’s about this case I’m working on.”

“Oh ok girl, but you just proved my point. All you do is work! Promise me you’ll hang with Tracie and me next week. It’s more about us three getting together than it is about the venue anyway,” pleads Lynda.

As much as I hate to admit it, she is right about me being very wrapped up in my job. But it is important to me and when you’re dealing with the lives of children, you have to be as involved as possible. However, I know she won’t give up until I agree to go.

“Fine, I’ll go if Tracie agrees to it. But trust me, I will not be taking anyone home!”

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*Photography by GMO Photographer, Billy Montgomery.