Me: How late?
Tee:IDK yet.
Me: I’ll still be over here; just hit me.
Actually relieved that she’s just at work, I don’t trip when she doesn’t respond, not really. Shit gets crazy at the hospital and she normally doesn’t answer at all. So even though she’s being vague about her off time, I chill and decide to ride through Kove’s. He mentioned that his brother Yoel is having a kickback at the crib to celebrate us. Initially, I told him I would pass. A nigga’s tired and I was going to go back to the crib. Not hearing from Tee has me here in Brunswick Meadows. Kove and Yoel live in old Brunswick, which is only ten minutes from here, so I might as well step.
There’s a gang of cars, SUVs, and bikes lining the street in front of Yoel’s house. Looks like most of DP decided to step like me. After creating a parking spot at the end of the road, I kill my engine and trek back up to the house. I bypass the front door for the gate leading to the back. All of their kickbacks, barbeques, and chill sessions take place in their big ass backyard.
The sound of my nigga and DP bruh Krist’s song “Banga” hits my ears followed by the smell of strong ass weed flooding my nose before I walk through the gate. The party is in full effect. As soon as I walk through the gate, I realize just how much DP showed up. It’s packed as fucked, and for every DP, I swear there are two chicks. There are more of them than us. I laugh though because every DP nigga who has a girl has his eyes glued on her and her alone. They don’t want no shit when they take their asses back to the crib. My nigga Kassir is sitting in the back by the carport and his girl Rebel is practically glued to his ass. I smile and instantly think of Tee. I definitely want her here with me.
“From the cradle to the casket, nigga,” Kove’s loud voice says as he hand slaps my back. “You decided to fall through.”
“Yeah, for a minute.”
“Now this is how I wanted to celebrate. That shit at the park was cool but nothing beats this shit right here.”
“Facts, bruh,” I admit then smile.
“You did it, my nigga.”
“Wedid it, nigga. There is no way we would have made it to or won the championship with you. Kove and Riq, bruh. We been on this balling shit together since we were kids. I couldn’t have done this shit without you,” I say, really speaking facts. Kove and I are brothers for real: D-Ville, DP, D-Ville Ballerz, andCFU. If he’s rocking, I’m fo’ damn sure rolling. From the cradle to the grave aren’t just words for me; they’re a promise.
“Already. Solid.”
“Real shit.”
“Ay! Y’all niggas done with the holding hands and crying and shit,” his brother Yoel says jokingly as he daps me up.
“Never that,” I say.
He pulls me in for a quick hug then pats my back. “Congrats though, Riq. Y’all niggas did that, for real. It’s only up from here,” he says and Kove walks off. Whenever anyone talks about what’s next, he gets like this. Balling, for me, is a dream; for him, it was just something to do. Going into the draft for the league is the last thing on his mind. He real shit would be cool with us falling back and staying right here. Yoel wants more for him though. They disagree. “He always does that.”
“That’s him.”
“Talk to that, nigga. He’s tired of hearing it from me.”
“Bet,” I tell him but I know there ain’t shit I can say. Kove feels how he feels, and while I don’t agree, I respect his feelings. Going to the league isn’t everybody’s dream.
One of his many girls waves him over and Yoel walks toward the carport. There’s no vehicle under it tonight. Instead, it’s filled with coolers and tables, foil covered, large aluminum food pans, plates, cups, napkins, plasticware, and a gang of liquor. I follow him for something to drink, nodding at or dapping up by brothers I pass, each congratulating me. When I grab a bottle of Energized Sports, Makai clowns me.
“Bruh, don’t you got a lifetime supply of them joints?” he teases.
I laugh to myself because my sponsorship does give me access to as much as I want. Back at the crib, I have about ten cases, and if I want more, I just have to ask.
“Something like that but I didn’t bring one with me,” I tell him before opening my drink. “So I need to holla at you,” I say and he taps the thighs of the chick sitting on his lap. Although she’s all over him, her thirsty eyes are glued on me and I don’t like foul shit like that. Looking down at her, I say coolly, “Shawty, ay. Don’t disrespect my bruh.”
Her eyes get big as hell then she looks at him apologetically. “I wasn’t tr—” she starts but Makai shuts her down.
“You good,” he grits then lifts her off his lap. She stumbles a little then sucks her teeth before stomping off. “Bruh, these females.” He shakes his head. “What’s up, though?”
“Quay and Tre.”
“Yeah. They ’posed to be liking each other.”
“I just found out.”
“No need to trip, Riq, man. He’s a stand up lil dude and he knows how to act. You ain’t got nothing to worry about with Quay.”
