We walked to the parking structure. We were almost to the car.
“I’ll buy you out. Don’t give it to me.” Chubby said firmly as we stopped by the hood of his car.
“Money ain’t shit. I owe you this.” I said it because I believed it.
“It’s something to me.” He countered, and once again, Dyami’s words hit me.
“Yo. Chub, if I ever made you feel some type of way with how I throw shit around, it ain’t ever intentional. You've been my nigga since the playground, and I want you to have the same freedoms I have.”
“Respectfully, bruh, I only deserve the freedom I create myself.”
“Respect, bro.”
“Damn Dyami must have some shit in her pussy that got yo ass talking like this.”
“Nigga, don’t worry about Dyami’s pussy worry about Chante’s.”
“I do every chance I get and that muthafucka is dee-licious!” He licked his lips, and I turned my head and laughed. The vibe turned back serious.
“When this shit wrapping up T?”
“I’m handling the Jay problem very soon. I got Chris locked into his cameras, and it’s whenever.”
“Damn, I know it’s serious when the Geek Squad gets involved. Jay talking?”
“He knows better, and soon he won't be able to say shit. Kole is a ghost. I didn’t want to, but I’m going to have to get with Crystal. It’s time for us to move on.” I said confidently.
“Be careful with that bitch.”
“You already know. I’ll fuck with you.” We dapped up, and I started to walk away.
“Yo, T!” Chubby called. I turned to face him. “What about MJ?”
“What about him?” I shot back. I felt my blood begin to boil at a venomous level.
“I know it won’t change how you feel. I’m just saying, you should know.” Chubby slipped into his car and peeled off.
Chapter 29
Dyami
Igot the call today, and I had never felt so relieved in my life! My mother was up and responding. I felt the weight of the world come off my shoulders! I didn’t have to make that call. The last words I said to her were indeed not the final ones. I vowed that no matter how much she pissed me off, I wouldn’t speak to her like that again. My mother was many things, but she was indeed the only mother I had. It was just a matter of distance, not disrespect. I prayed that she would turn her life around seriously this time.
I was back to work, which was in my favor since she was at the same hospital as I was. As soon as I heard the news, I texted Trina and told her that I would make sure I brought her up here to see Momma as soon as she got out of school. We were trying to get back to normal as much as possible, but we also knew we had a long way to go. As things were coming together for me, it seemed like all hell was breaking loose on Marcos’s end. The shit at the restaurant had to be the scariest thing I had ever been a part of. I looked at Marcos at that time, and he had nerves of steel. I was freaking out, and he managed to hold it together and lead everyone out. Instead of that pushing me away, it only drew me closer for two reasons. For one, I nowknew he was serious about the danger we were in, and secondly, he was able to handle himself.
When I clocked out for lunch, I grabbed Chante to tell her the good news, and she was thrilled for me. She knew how worried I was about her. We rode the elevator up together, and when it was time to go into the room, Chante took a step back.
“Come on,” I urged her.
“No, babe. I know we are family, but you need to speak to your mother in private. At least for the first time. I’ll stay out here and check on my boo,” she said, pulling out her phone.
“How is he?” Chubby was taking the incident at the restaurant hard. I saw in his face when he ran out. It looked like his child had died. He put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that establishment for it all to be burned to the ground.
“He is going to look at properties today. They will figure it all out. So, you quit stalling and go in there. Everything will be fine.”
She was my best friend through and through. She knew exactly how to call me out. Although I was excited, I was also nervous. What did I say to her? My mother and I never had a good relationship, and I never knew the genesis of our problems. All I knew was that we had them. I swallowed the lump in my throat, and I went into her room. She was sitting up. I stilled my feet as soon as I saw her. My throat went dry as I tried to find the words to say.
“Momma.”
