“Hey, sis. What’s up?”
“What’s up is you telling Mama about what happened between me, Dough, and my husband. Why would you tell her that?”
“I didn’t go into detail, but I did say that I was worried about you.”
“For what? Now you got her questioning me for no reason.”
“Did you forget you told us that he tortured that man in front of you? That’s abusive behavior, Bria. Then, he took you home and had sex with you. You don't find that creepy as hell?”
Bria could admit that the whole altercation was off. None of what occurred was normal, but she hated how Enya had gone to their mother about the situation. She made everything sound worse.
“The only thing creepy is you not minding your business. You know what? I can’t even be mad because I should’ve never said anything to you or Cali about it.”
“I was worried he was going to kill you. Forgive me for being a concerned sister.”
“Don't you see that I’m still breathing? He’s not going to do anything to me.”
Enya kissed her teeth. “You're married to a psychopath, sis. I think Mama has a right to know that.”
“And you're married to a lame-ass errand boy. At least mine ain’t gotta report to nobody like yours. Hmm, a man who don't play versus a man who waits around for his next move to be told. I think I’ll take the nigga who don't fuck around,” she shot sarcastically.
Enya gasped. “My husband isn’t an errand boy. He runs shit now and your husband isn’t a don. Just an underboss so don't start talking out the side of your neck. Just worry about that man who’s probably plotting your demise as we speak.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up before I make him plot yours next. Stay outta my business and stop telling lies to Mama. Tell about how your marriage lacks love. That’s some tea you should spill.”
Bria ended the call without waiting for a reply. She was already stressed behind Lo and now her family had just pissed her off even more. Lo was a lot to deal with. He was a genre she couldn’t quite figure out. Nothing was the same with him. He was so unpredictable that trying to comprehend him was likecompleting an obstacle course. Still, he was her problem and no one else to figure out.
Make It Better
When Lo was surrounded by the entrancing ballad of the ocean waves, he was at peace. His connection to water couldn’t be explained but he loved sitting and watching the giant waves crest against the sand. The gloomy sky mirrored the internal parts of Lo. Those sections where trauma resided and refused to move out. He’d been trapped in his head for the past couple days. Only clocking out to commit to his mob duties but once they were complete, he grabbed his suitcase and retreated back inside his mind.
Looking to his right, he noticed Meco walking over. When he approached, they slapped hands, and he sat next to him. When they were younger, the twins used to sneak over to the ocean and smoke for hours. It was their time to bond whether it was in silence or a deep discussion, this was their thing to do.
Silently, Lo passed Meco the blunt while he studied the ocean. It was beautiful how the waves moved in sync. It was a visual he could stare at for hours because it put him at ease.
“How long you been out here?” Meco asked before inhaling the blunt.
“For a minute.”
Leaning back, Meco exhaled the smoke from his lungs. “You talk to Maddy?”
He shook his head. Lo hadn’t been in the mood to converse with no one, not even Bria.
“Ma was about to kill her ass. I saw the look in her eyes. She was on one,” Meco noted.
Lo imagined that reality but quickly shut it down when he realized it would sting if Maddy died and Ada was in jail.
“This shit is starting to get to her. She told me she was triggered at your wedding.”
“Then her ass shouldn’t have come,” Lo fumed. “I didn’t want her there anyway. She don't know how to act.”
Meco turned to him wearing a contemplative expression. “You need to work this shit out. It’s been too long, Lo. You need her and she needs you. End of discussion.”
Normally, Lo would curse Meco out and tell him to kiss his ass. He and Devyn knew not to bring their parents up to him but today, he was in a different head space.
“What the fuck am I supposed to say to her? She’s too fucking emotional and she would piss me off.”
“A’ight.” Meco nodded. “Well, then talk to Pops first. That way he can prep her if y’all have the talk. But you gotta admit, this shit has gotten old. The family needs healing. We’ve been living in dysfunction for years. You ain't tired?”
