10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace (Caselli Family, #1)

by Jahquel J.

Here’s to having a nigga that hates his toothpaste being squeezed or food touching but will make a nigga bleed behind you.

It was in seventh grade that I met my best friend. Corleon D. Bruster walked into the school, another Black boy. He came in like he knew he was the shit, and he was smart, which made me feel better. I hated a stupid person, and the fact that he was another Black boy and smart piqued my interest.

Skyler, if anyone, showed me how it was to be cool when it came to a man. She had Corleon head over heels for her, and the man would give her the world if she asked. Not that she acted unbothered, she also didn’t jump at his every move.

“You remember that Skyler may be your freaky sister-wife, but I’m family… your soul mate, right?”

Jeffie pointed her finger into my chest. “Me and Skyler are not sleeping together, Maverick… I’ve told you that already. I have a loyalty to both of you,

“You need to make sure your cousin knows. I hate keeping things from her… that’s my sister-wife… not healthy for me to keep things from her and Core.”

“She and Core are broken up,” I reminded her.

“And I have plans on reuniting them… enough a...

Remember, your business includes me knowing and will break the trust me and Skyler have. She’s my best friend, and we don’t lie to each other.”

Skyler couldn’t get me out of my mess every time. She was a mother, and if she stopped being stubborn, she would have a family with Core.

No matter if Skyler wanted to admit it or not, she was slowly building something – a family – when it came to her, Core, Jeffie, and Estella. She just needed to stop being stubborn and realize it.

“How would this work?” she finally turned and was staring up at me. “Are we allowed to have relationships outside of this, you know, because this is fake. Do we continue to live together… I have so many questions.”

“Wonder, the minute you let another nigga touch you is the moment you gonna see why they call me Menace.”

She smiled at me. “Then be honest with me and tell me why you’re here… I’m not stupid. Menace is an acquired taste and the both of you are like oil and water. Jeffie has been avoiding me because she is holding something in, and Core who calls me every damn day, has dialed back on his calls which tells me that he’s hiding something too.”

Not knowing why she was crying kept me up most of the night, too. What made a woman like Wonder cry? She was easy going, spunky, and always positive, even when she was moments from dying.

While both my sisters were big fucking deals and handled business, they handled it different. Zoya was a fucking big dawg, shark, and whatever animal that described someone who got the shit done.

Jeffie had a miscarriage, and it was some shit I never experienced before. She had always been my rock, the one that keeps going no matter what. Witnessing her break down and hold onto me while she was hurting fucked me up. Core had some business in a country not too far away, so he was able to hop on a flight and be there in a few hours.

I kissed her wrist, and she blushed so hard I was sure she was about to float away.

Core: I know Geeky not gonna respond but miss you both… miss Stellie too.

Skywhore: Miss you too, Core.

Me: Miss all three of you.

“Why is it so hard to admit that you like her? The thief who steals grapes, and the man who counts them like one another.”

He looked over at me. “Word, she told you that she likes me?”

“No. I have my sus...

“And thos...

“You took her to a cemetery to visit your dead parents and she didn’t call me screaming. Sh...

“You and Core’s trip together will allow you to recenter and get both of you on the same page. I know that’s the reason Corleon is overworking himself. That man cried in my arms, Jeffie… he’s just as hurt as you are.”

“I’ve been selfish… only focused on me.”

“No, you were trying to heal yourself in three to five business days. You have to allow it to happen naturally, and this trip is perfect for both of you. Y...

She reached her hand and held mine. “You being there for him probably mea...

“I know it did… held onto me like he never wa...

“Neither of us do,...

“What do you want me to do? I can’t risk him ever getting my daughter, Jeffie… I’m always...

“Wish you were comi...

She smiled. “All I’m thinking about is the day that we see that positive pregnancy test and then can pl...

“Then you right after so they can be ...

Skyler gave me that look. “Now you do...

I laughed. “Look, Corleon already said that he wants two more… I give him one and you give him two, ‘cause you can’t tell hi...

“You know he sent me an email saying he would take me to court for custody? As if I’m not going through cour...

“I mean, he is Menace’s best friend, and he has that Delgato blood flowing through him… craziness all...

“And lord is he fine,” she fanned herself...

Skyler was my best friend, more like a sister. Our relationship meant so much to me, and even though Corleon wanted us both, we never felt like we were competing with him. He knew how to handle us both. I had been so against what he wanted, and now I only wanted to share him with Skyler. She and Estella were our missing pieces, and we couldn’t do this without them. I hated when people asked questions about how we would explain it to Stella. We didn’t need to explain anything, other than she was loved. She had three people in her life who loved her and would do anything for her. Our situation wasn’t for everybody, and I understood that, and I didn’t care at the same time. Corleon was the head of our family, and he would lead this family. If you didn’t like it, then you didn’t need to read our story. We were family – together.

“Periwinkle… I’m thinking ivory and navy blue for the colors… shit sexy together. Ivory is her color, ‘cause I know my new bride is a virgin. She ain’t been popping that pussy for nobody.” He raised his eyebrow at me.

Recommendation: “If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai

1️⃣🎶

Jeffie was away with Corleon and checked in with me as much as she could. I kept telling her to focus on her vacation and not worry about me.

He smiled at me. “I am sorry for telling you to shut the fuck up. It was wrong of me, and I don’t ever plan to speak to my future wife that way. I’ve said shut the fuck up to plenty of people and never felt anything after.” I watched as he used one hand to touch his chest. “I felt something when I said that to you… you didn’t deserve that from me, Stevie.”

“You hurt my feelings, Maverick,” my stupid ass started to cry, and looked away with my arms folded. “I know I talk a lot and I’ve been told that my entire life.”

He walked closer to me and pulled me closer to him. “I am so sorry, Wonder. You do talk a lot, baby, but I can find other w...

“And promise to never speak to me that way again.” I peered up into his eyes, and his usual harden glare was softe...

“I promise to never speak to you like that again.” We both stared at each other before he held my chin and placed his lips onto mine. I stood on my toes as I pushed my lips against his, and he wrapped his arms around me. Pulling away from our kiss, I continued to searc...