Part 40 (2/2)

But I'm not giving up on that yet.

”I was just hoping maybe you had a little something in your pocket.”

I run my knee up over his bulging groin.”Something besides that, I mean, and something to take me down.”

His turn to a.s.sess my eyes, looking for lies. What he finds is a junkie.

He shakes his head. Don't got no bonita, baby. But I could maybe get some.

That's the crystal talking. He wants to get off, not an easy thing, high on meth.

I hate doing guys on meth. Takes too long. But hey, this was my deal.

We Agree on a Time To meet, and a corner three blocks from my apartment, just in case Lorenzo can't score. Not having some crazed meth fiend thinking he's getting laid with nothing coming back the other way. After Mr. Omaha, it was days before I'd let a john come through my door.

Bryn was patient. For maybe one day.

After that he was all, Get over it already.

Odds are you'll meet up with a creep once in a while. You had your once.

He promised to check in more often, to keep a better eye on me. But it hasn't happened that way. Ginger has showed more concern, and I don't even know her.

She knocks on my door at least every other day. Just making sure you're still breathing, she says.

Doesn't come in very often.

But that's okay. Not like we're best friends or anything. Girls in the business don't really have friends. Our lives are all about acquaintances.

I'm Supposed to Meet My latest acquaintance soon. Don't know if I can make it three blocks without a little help. Please, Lorenzo, score! I'm getting so low. It's only been a few hours since my last visit with the Lady, but I'm shaking like it was yesterday. Just a small fix for now. If Lorenzo doesn't come through, maybe Bryn will show. I only know I've got to stop the knotting in my belly.

Ah! Better. Have to go while my brain can still tell my feet to walk. Three blocks.

Lorenzo! Right on time. Fine quality in a dealer, right? s.e.xy. Look s.e.xy.

Forget the schoolgirl part. This guy isn't shopping for innocence. ”Hey, doll.

Find what I'm looking for?” He smiles, takes my hand, slides it down into his pocket. Not one bag. Two. And, farther down, something else.

No problem. It's part of the deal.

My guy says dis stuff is pretty good.

You wanna pay for one and f.u.c.k for one, or what? We start to walk.

I have a little cash stashed. Don't tell Bryn about my ”extra” deals. A little extra cash for a little extra service.

”Sounds good.” Meth or no meth, though, we have to go quick. I'm on Bryn's clock already. ”Before we start, show me the stuff.” He does. It isn't white or even brown. ”What's this?”

You never seen black tar? Baby, it's the best. Believe me, those boys in Mexico know their s.h.i.+t. Now come over here. Take a taste of this.

I've heard of black tar Mexican.

Never tried it, but guess I'm gonna.

Ol' Lorenzo gets a ride around the world.

Doesn't take as long as I thought.

By the Time He Leaves The Lady is singing a siren song to me. Might as well try the black, see if Lorenzo's acquaintances.h.i.+p is worthy of long-term cultivation.

Two bags stashed, might as well take a real rocket ride. I cook a ma.s.sive spoon. Don't even bother to look for a vein more concealed than on my arm.

Five. Four. Three ... Whoos.h.!.+

Incredible. Lorenzo, I love you, baby.

Rus.h.!.+ Waves of pleasure flood my brain.

It's a regular cerebral o.r.g.a.s.m.

Wait. No. Too much. Down I go.

And oh, the noise. The noise inside my head. Pounding. Blowing.

Exploding like a hurricane.

Close my eyes against the wind.

Spinning in my brain. Air. Need air.

Suck it in. Thick. Can't breathe it in.

d.a.m.n stinking carpet. Again. Slow.

Slow. Slow. Heart. Beats. Slow.

Wind. Spins. Inside my head.

Don't like this. Bad wind. Hurricane.

Slow. Sleep. Slow. Sleep ...

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