“Now you know that’s light work for me. Don’t be defending him.”
I roll my eyes. This nigga swears he’s my big brother, too, and would probably spontaneously combust if Tati and I didn’t get along. Now, though, he be mad we get along “too well.” His exact words.
In another world, they’d be my mom and dad.
“Stay dangerous,” I say, but they’re both too busy going back and forth, or their version of it; Peanut telling her nothing’s too much for her, and Tati telling him he can tell her no sometimes, though I doubt she means it.
I open the door of Nut’s old ass Volvo, but Sean’s hand stops me from leaving.
I turn back to him, but he’s still typing with one hand. I glance at his phone, and see he’s writing in his notes app–lyrics.
I’ve been getting better and better at remixing and making beats. Some of them are trash, no lie, but the good ones, me and Sean record over them. It’s supposed to keep us out of trouble and out of their way, and so far it’s been working.
He locks his phone and lifts his eyes to me, grinning. “Congrats, Dub. Just remember, you knew me first.”
He holds out his hand and we do the Birch handshake, even though officially I still haven’t got put on.
“You a fool,” I tell my best friend, and exit the car.
My nana’s in the waiting room, and stands when I enter the hospital. I’m taller than her now, but I’ll always feel like a little kid when I hug her.
“It’s a little girl, Smoochie. Candy named her Raya.”
I nod as we step onto the elevator. She pushes the fourth floor button and takes me in. “How was the drive? Tati brought you?”
“Yeah.”
Her face lights up. “Hopefully she can be ya lawyer when you make it big.”
Tati and Sean are the only ones who’ve met my Nana. And I get it, there’s a firm line drawn in the sand. My family got Bishop sent away. I’m just glad Set and Nut’s hatred doesn’t extend to me.
I throw my arm around her shoulders and she leans into me. “I’m still your favorite grandchild, right Nana?”
“How about you’re my favorite grandson?”
I chuckle and we go into the small room. “Deal.”
My OG is sitting up on the bed, holding my baby sister. She looks up, and when our eyes lock she breaks into a smile I haven’t seen in a long time.
“Come here and meet your sister,” she whispers.
I walk over to the side of her bed, and as soon as I lay eyes on Raya my eyes start leaking.
She’s beautiful.
“You wanna hold her?” My OG asks, already handing her to me.
“Mom, I-I don’t–”
“Just support her head, Smoochie,” Nana says, walking over to us. She helps get Raya settled into my arms and I can’t stop looking at her.
“My babies… get a picture Mom.”
She can’t know struggle. She’s not gonna know about robbing Peter to pay Paul, or my OG telling her we can’t afford to do something. Nah, she deserves the world. And if me and Sean keep going, maybe I can be the one to give it to her.
Present
“Two down, one to go.” Dal glances at Mace, who scoffs.
