Troy leaned on a rail outside an eight-bedroom boarding house puffing a Newport cigarette. It wasn't his brand but he withstood the sharp mint flavor and savored the nicotine buzz that settled his nerves. He needed something stronger after a long week's work and plunged into his pocket to obtain a pint of vodka. Keeping it concealed in a brown bag, he openly chugged it before handing the remaining bit to his buddy, Justin.
Justin took a sip. His face turned down and he shook his head, "Ugh. That shit is strong."
Troy cracked up and snatched it back, "That right there will put some hair on your chest, youngster."
Justin was 28 years old, a decade younger than him. They were both in a bad place in their life temporarily living at the boarding home. Troy was white while he was black and Dominican but they got along nonetheless.
Justin laughed as Troy finished off the last bits without making a face then looked out into the crowded street.
It was a gloomy Friday afternoon but a lot of people were traveling by foot down Pollock Street in downtown Atlanta. Hurrying to dodge the shadow of a storm cloud above, folks bumped and bypassed each other with no manners. Southern hospitality was gone with the buzz of the city limits.
Troy avoided people watching and kept his eyes on the darkening cloud above, "We are going to get a big one tonight, I bet."
"Yeah.... Oh, Goddamn, look at that," Justin muttered, nudging his side.
Troy glanced forward at what had broken into his housemate's vision and laid eyes on a gorgeous Hispanic woman walking their way. At a closer glance, she appeared young and seemed out of place in the rough neighborhood although her dress mimicked most of the hood girls that roamed up and down the street. Her brown hair was styled in two braids running across her narrow shoulders and stopping at the curve of her breasts.
Troy noted the curve of her hips in a pair of tight low-rise jeans and grinned. She had lifted her thong, letting it peek unsuitably high on her hip. He had a flashback from his hay days. He thought that trend had died out with time, regardless, she was every bit as delicious with a pink halter top draped across her chest.
"Where are you going, Sexy Mami?" Justin cat-called her from afar.
Slightly embarrassed, Troy averted his eyes as her sights zoomed in on them. Instead of passing by with an eye roll as most of the neighborhood girls did, she walked up the steps with a smile that brightened the gloom above.
"Umm, you must be lost," Justin chuckled, rubbing his hands together, "'cause I know heaven is missing an angel."
Troy chuckled at the lame pickup line. But she beamed, blushing from his game.
"Is this Jack and Hollyanne Johnson's place?" She spoke in a charming southern accent dismissing the thought she was a foreign beauty from another country.
Troy blinked back his fixation and bobbed his head.
"Yes it is," Justin spoke out, "But don't tell me your little boyfriend lives here."
"I don't have a boyfriend," she bit her lip, placing a manicured hand on her thong-printed hip, "Forever single," she said, plunging her plump bottom lip into a pout.
"Oh really, well, I know a brother who could change that status. And you're looking at him," Justin extended his hand, "Justin Peso, and you?"
The young woman finally rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Peso? So you're Justin Money?"
"You must have heard about me. Hopefully, they told you I got a lot of it, baby," He pulled out a few bills, flashing them around her face.
Troy rolled his eyes and folded his arms. He knew Justin wasn't as young and flashy as he let on. But despite his deception, he pulled a lot of hotties. This one was different; she was graceful despite her attire. Her smile elevated her angelic face and she had a petite curvy frame that tempted him to scan it. Her expressions came and went as Justin bragged on but each one held a charming glow.
She surveyed the home and asked, "Do both of you live here?"
"Uh, Yeah," Justin swallowed his pride, "But, trust, it's only temporary. I'm starting up a business. I've got houses all over Georgia, but I like to stay here, ya know when I am in the city," he lied, straightening his work shirt.
"What about you?" Her eyes centered on Troy who hadn't yet spoken, "How long have you been here?"
"Couple months," Troy said, giving her another look over as she scanned the house.
"Do you guys like it here?"
Troy shrugged, "It's a place to lay my head."
"Okay, Well, I think I will check it out," She smiled, playfully bouncing up to the steps.
Both of them veered their sights to her round ass and admired the jewels lining the top of her thong.
"You should come check out my room," Justin said, reaching out to touch her shoulder.
"The door is unlocked," Troy uttered, interrupting his friend's play.
He was hoping her departure would help him to keep his eyes away from the set of plump breasts on her chest. The woman was flawless and he knew neither of them had much to offer her.
"I saw on the website it says that rent fluctuates. What does that mean?"
"We pay a bit more during the summer and winter for heat and air expenses. Weeks like this when it's nice we pay regular prices.
"Okay and how much is that?"
"200$ every week," Justin said and Troy started to interrupt.
Troy only paid $150 but assumed with Justin's criminal past he had to cash out more. Regardless, he was curious about her investigation. She didn't look to be a journalist, but rather a wet dream with the flattering way her body was modeled. His eyes roamed to the glimmer of a belly ring as she continued to question Justin.
"What's with all the questions?" Troy asked and inferred, "You know a guy who needs a place to stay?"
"No. I was hoping to move in. I talked to Jack over the phone but he told me to come here in person."
Justin's eyes brightened with mischief while Troy frowned in despair. His sights pulled to her hazel eyes avoiding the adorable smile on her face.
"I don't know you too well, Sweetheart. But trust me, you don't want to live here. They've got sex offenders, addicts, and-"
"Speak for yourself," Justin interrupted with a chuckle, "Some of us are good guys. I've never been to prison and the only thing I do is that green," he smiled at her with a whiff of lust in his stare, before passing a substance her way, "You smoke?"
"Yeah," she took the rolled bar and didn't hesitate to stick it between her plump lips.
"Where are you staying now?" Troy asked.
"With a friend and her dad." She said, blowing smoke that reached his face, "But her dad is a major perv."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Troy frowned.
"It's cool. I fucked him," she shrugged, causing his eyes to widen.
"You're a freaky girl," Justin beamed, "I like that. And you're looking really good in that outfit. How much does it cost to take it off?"
"I'm not a prostitute, boy," she chuckled, shoving his shoulder, "You probably couldn't handle this anyway."
She twisted around, revealing her plump backside, and did a trick that caused her asscheeks to quake with ease.
"Girl, don't play with me. I'll give you everything in my pocket."
"The whole 26 pesos huh?" She teased, sliding her fingers over her crotch, "It's warm and wet down here. I think you might need a lifeboat."
"I can swim," Justin smiled.
"Trust me, you will drown in this pussy."
Troy coughed, caught off guard by the witticism of the two. He found her unrealistic and couldn't believe someone so sweet and innocent would speak in that way, primarily with two older men.
"Where are your parents?" Troy asked concerned.
"LaGrange, I just graduated two months ago and came straight to the city." she chuckled, giving another shimmy that pulled his eyes to her perky titties, posing pretty with no bra.
"College?" Justin asked.
"Ugh, I wish." she frowned, "High school."
Troy rubbed his jaw to hide a nervous chuckle, "Honey, I think you need to find somewhere else to stay. Plus, Jack drug tests new residents," he warned, hoping she would change her mind before she went inside and embarrassed herself.
She giggled, holding her finger to her lip. Reaching inside her tight pants, she pulled out a small pill bottle that Troy assumed was her way out of the piss test. He was sickened and hurried into the house away from the young posers.
Troy found Hollyanne Johnson in the kitchen busying herself with the 'Family Dinner'. He didn't consider anyone in the house a friend let alone family but he respected his host's hospitality.
"Good afternoon, Troy. It sure got dark quickly. That storm is coming soon enough."
"Yes ma'am. You have a visitor outside," Troy said, sitting down on one of the stools, "Some young girl."
"Oh, that must be Grace. Our new tenant."
Troy frowned, "Do y'all think a woman will fit."
"Well, After Gloria left it's just been me. I think this house could use some more feminine energy," Holly chuckled, "Should I go get her and bring her inside."
"No, she's talking to Justin." Troy smiled, but dropped it to say, "She's a little too young, don't you think?"
"Her application said she was 26, and she's got two jobs trying to put herself through nursing school. I admire that. I always wanted to be a nurse."
Troy dropped his head and tried not to laugh. Grace had her fooled and he was a bit interested to see how this would play out. He got his answer when she finally walked in. He noted she had now hidden her panties and covered her skimpy outfit in Justin's hoodie.
"Grace is it?" Holly beamed, walking toward the living room, "I'm Hollyanne but you can call me Holly. My husband is at work right now but I am sure from your application he won't mind if I interview you."
"Nice to meet you," Grace said, rubbing her reddening eyes.
Troy knew she was high and smirked as Holly continued her interview. However sweet and innocent she appeared, he knew the girl wasn't going to make the cut.
"Well, where do I even start? We do our payments weekly. 150 plus a deposit. We take cash or checks but I haven't seen a check in years," she chuckled.
Grace gracefully smiled and pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills folded neatly from her back pocket. She peeled off six with ease and handed them to Holly.
"I'll have another six next week and I can pay in advance."
Holly didn't question the stack of bills and placed them in her bra, "Let me show you your room, sweetie."
Grace admired the simple decor placed on the walls of the long hallway. Holly stopped at a door and wiggled the knob.
The bland room came into her view and Grace frowned, "This is it?"
"Yes, this is it," Holly smiled.
"There's no dresser?" she pouted, strolling in and plopping onto the bed, "Uh, this has got to be the hardest mattress ever."
"We don't mind if you decorate how you like. Just please don't put any posters on the wall or paint. We've got a few more rules to go over then I will-"
"150$ a week for this?" Grace groaned, "How big are the others?"
Holly felt a bit culpable. She wasn't as business-oriented as her husband, instead, she was embarrassed as her guest examined the room with contempt.
Grace turned her nose up trying to push up the window and turned back to Holly with a frown.
