“Yoshi, a whore is someone who sleeps with men for money with malicious intent,” he explained to her. “You’re just a girl that’s made some poor choices. Baby girl, you’re one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. Do you know how special you made me feel the other night?”

“Jah, everyone feels special when they’re busting a nut,” she said and turned away.

“Baby, a nut ain’t nothing new to me so I ain’t tripping over no pussy. That night was special to me, real special. That’s why I’m here.”

Yoshi looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Jah, I know damn well you didn’t come here to crack for no pussy?”

“Hell no!” he said seriously. “I came here to tell you how I felt.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve never been the most emotional cat, but you stirred something in me that I didn’t even know was there.” He paused to compose himself. “Yoshi, I’m feeling you and that’s the real deal.”

“I’m flattered, but what exactly are you trying to tell me?” she asked, figuring she was reading the message wrong.

A million thoughts ran through Jah’s mind at once. He tried to speak, but the words came out tangled. Taking several deep breaths, he said finally, “Yoshi, when I say I’m feeling you, I mean I wanna fuck with you on some exclusive shit.”

The look Jah gave her when he said it took Yoshi’s breath away. Her state could only be described as speechless. Many a man had tried to acquire Yoshi as his main lady, but there was always something to be gained on his part, or something lacking. She didn’t see that in Jah. In his eyes she saw not a killer’s edge, but the gentleness and innocence of a child that the lonely side of her wanted so badly to cling to. At that moment, all she could think to do was hug him close to her and loose the floodgate of tears that she had been holding back, but she hesitated for fear of corrupting what was left of his innocence with her sin.

“Jah,” she said and looked down at her hands. “When I was a little girl I used to watch these TV shows and dream of the day when a guy would come along who would help me carry this pain around. When I got older and bore witness to my own truth, I realized there wasn’t no princes in the ghetto. I gotta get it how I live, same as you, because that’s the only way we know how.”

“Unless we find a different way together,” he said.