“New? ’Cause I’m laying on a new sound?”
“And singing it and bobbing your head and yeah… that’s just too much.”
“Don’t lie. He aight?” I asked, taking a quick second to glance in my little brother’s direction.
“You going to turn this shit, or do I need to get in my own fucking whip? I’m not trying to hear this all day.”
“Then get out and go pay for the gas. Give your ears a break,” I suggested, pulling up to the pump.
I was on a quarter tank leaving Baisleigh’s House and wanted to refill, even with over one hundred miles left on the dash. With a shake of his head, Laike opened the door and placed the Glock that had been resting in his lap into the back of his pants and pulled his shirt over it.
“And, I’m adding this high ass gas to your fucking tab.”
“When I got in, this motherfucker should’ve been on full. You’re just paying for the gas you burned before I got the chance to.”
“That’s OK. I know the account number.”
“Then you should know that there isn’t a man alive that can say they played with my paper. Do with that information as you please.”
“There he goes!” Laike slapped the dashboard.
“Fuck you,” I spat in his direction.
“The Grinch is back.”
He hopped out of the truck and slammed the door before I could respond, leaving me with my thoughts as the music played in the background. Ever’s pretty face came into full view as I drifted to a faraway place, one where her worries rested with me. She had no idea just how much I wanted to lift any and every burden from her small shoulders.
I saw the desire for more, for better in her eyes. Unlike the nigga she’d left, I only wanted to help her reach her full potential, never hindering or holding her back. It would take patience on my end, waiting to gain her trust, but I was willing to wait if it meant undoing the damage that he’d done.
For once, I wanted to save someone but to my surprise, she didn’t want to be saved. Ever wanted to be her own knight in shining armor, and my heart tightened at the revelation. Baby had been damaged. The nigga who’d played with her had played her right into my arms, and I couldn’t wait to show her what it felt like to fuck with and fuck on a real nigga.
Laike caught my attention from the second he exited the store, mainly because he wasn’t alone. He had company. Squinting, I tried determining who was at his side while clutching the strap in my lap. As they got closer to the truck, the contorted facial expression dissolved as I relaxed my features. Before they reached the vehicle, I was out and headed in their direction.
“My nigga!” Ken shouted, spreading his arms and welcoming me into his personal space.
I accepted the invitation from my friend of over twenty years, patting his back forcefully to demonstrate my appreciation for his presence. There wasn’t a doubt about it. I’d missed my nigga. Eight years of not seeing his face, hearing his voice, or kicking shit with him hadn’t seemed like so much of a big deal until I was standing in front of him, again, dealing with my emotions.
“Wow. Eight fucking years, bro.” I recalled my time away.
“Eight fucking years. You ate that shit, big dog. I thought my ears were deceiving me, hearing motherfuckers claim they’d run across you in passing. I’m like, not my nigga. I would’ve heard something by now. What’s good?”
“I got home yesterday and had plans to pull up on you. A phone call wasn’t gone do it for me, fam.”
“Me, either,” Ken agreed. “What’s up? What you niggas about to get into?”
“Shit, pull up on Moms at the center.”
“Aight. Aight. How the fam? How’s Lyric? I ain’t seen her in, man, shit… since you’ve been gone.”
“Everybody straight, according to Laike. Lyric is the only family I’ve seen since I touched down. Mom and Pops been out of town.”
“Word. Laike got the number. I’ve got to run, but hit me up. I don’t give a fuck what I’m doing, I’m going to make time. Just give me the play and it’s on.”
“Aight. Here, program your shit in my phone. I’m about to text you the number now.”
“Bet. Welcome home, nigga.”
Ken dug into his pockets and emptied them in my hands, giving me every dollar that he had on him. I chuckled, happily accepting it because I knew he wouldn’t allow me to leave if I didn’t.
