Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Hood
It feels good as fuck to be home. I ain’t gon’ lie. Last night was about family and freedom. That’s exactly what I needed. I locked in and blocked out all the noise. Looking back, giving Adrienne that phone was probably the smartest decision I made.
This time around, I don’t plan to be accessible to every hoe just because she wants access to me, whether I want her body or not. Not everyone deserves a direct line to me.
Seven years is a long damn time to be away from home. I missed birthdays.
Cookouts.
Funerals.
Life kept moving whether I was there or not.
I ain’t trying to play catch-up. I’m trying to make my next move my best move.
I was paroled out to my sister Tieranee’s house, but the original plan was to find myself a bachelor pad today—somewhere I could come and go as I pleased while still checking in here whenever I needed to.
But... I low-key like it here. It’s quiet, secluded, out of the way, and peaceful. I’ve been sitting on the balcony for the last hour, letting the breeze hit my face as I try to clear my mind.
Truth be told... This is all I ever wanted for my family. Years ago, I promised myself I’d get my momma out of the hood. That promise became one of the biggest reasons I hustled so hard—even from behind the wall.
Every move I made was about saving enough money to buy my momma a house and making sure Tieranee never wanted for anything. Turns out... My little sister beat me to it. She gave us something I couldn’t.
A home.
Not just four walls... A place that finally felt like peace.
I heard the patio door slide open behind me. I glanced over my shoulder.
It’s my momma. Tieranee no longer lives here; she lives with Joog, her baby’s daddy and soon-to-be husband. I didn’t get a chance to holler at him last night like I wanted to, but I will soon. My momma eased into the chair beside me.
“Good morning, son.”
“Good morning, Ma.”
She smiled. “I’ve been looking for you for the last twenty minutes.”
“I’ve been out here.”
“I noticed.” She nodded toward the backyard. “I cooked breakfast.”
“Oh yeah?”
I smiled. “Dang, Ma, you trying to spoil a nigga already.”
“Yep… I miss cooking for you.”
“I’ll be in there in a minute. I just needed to catch a breeze.”
“I figured.”
For a while, neither of us said anything. Sometimes, silence with your momma says more than conversation ever could. Then she finally broke the silence.
“So...” She looked over at me. “How you been?”
I shrugged. “I’m good.”
“And what are your plans now that you’re home?”
I leaned back in my chair. “I plan to take care of you.”
She frowned. “Me?”
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“Tieranee got her a new man now.”
My momma started laughing. “Boy...” She reached over and patted my hand. “I don’t need you to worry about taking care of me.”
I looked at her. “I’m serious, Ma.”
“I’m fine.” She motioned toward the house. “I’ve got a roof over my head. I live in a safe neighborhood. My children are home. Shit, that’s all I need.” She smiled. “I’m at peace.”
Then she looked me dead in the eyes. “What I need...” She squeezed my hand. “...is for you to finally take care of yourself.”
That one landed for sure. For the first time in a long time, no one was asking me to carry them. My momma wanted me to put the weight down.
“I’mma try, Momma...” I smiled. “But I still wanna spoil you.”
She rolled her eyes.
“At least let me buy you a car.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No.”
“Ma...”
“I said no.”
She reached over and grabbed my hand. “I don’t want you to carry any more weight than you already have.” Her voice softened. “Hood... I feel responsible for your spending all those years in and out of prison.”
I frowned. “Momma?—”
“No.” She stopped me. “Let me finish.” She took a deep breath. “I wanted more for you and better for us.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “I never should’ve made you feel that taking care of me and your sister was your responsibility after your daddy left.”
I squeezed her hand. “Ma...”
“That burden should’ve stayed on me.”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t you.”
She looked at me.
“I was gonna hustle regardless.” I meant every word. “I made that decision.”
“Not you.” I looked out across the backyard. “Whether Daddy stayed or left... I still would’ve made sure you and Tieranee were straight. By any means.” I shrugged.
Momma nodded. “I know I believe you.” She smiled sadly. “But this time, I want something different for you.”
I looked back at her.
“A lot changed while you were gone. The streets ain’t the same. Shit, the product is laced with fentanyl.” She paused. “And these heifers ain’t either.” She laughed to herself. “They’re just as cutthroat as the niggas nowadays.”
I smiled.
“I want you to settle down, get married, have some babies, and stop breaking people’s hearts.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Ma...”
“No.” She pointed a finger at me. “You heard exactly what I said.” She folded her arms. “And speaking of breaking hearts...” She gave me that momma look. “What did you do to Adrienne?”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“That heifer has been calling my phone all morning looking for you.”
I let out a slow breath. Damn, this hoe done got my momma involved.
“Ma, Adrienne decided yesterday she wanted to go her separate way.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “So, we’re good. She can do her, and I’mma do me.”
My momma looked at me for a long moment before pushing herself up from the chair. “Boy...” She shook her head. “I’m not getting caught up in your mess.”
She smiled. “Come on. Let’s eat before this food gets cold.”
“Say less.”
We walked back inside together. I washed my hands and fixed my plate. My momma cooked waffles, eggs, bacon, and grits. Yeah... I could definitely get used to this. Halfway through breakfast, I looked over at Momma, and it felt like the right time to ask her for one more favor.
“Ma.”
“What?”
“Do me a favor.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What do you need?”
“Block Adrienne.”
My momma slowly set her fork down. Then she looked me dead in the face. “Like father...” She paused just long enough for it to sink in. “...like son.”
Damn. That one hit.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
She took another bite of her breakfast. “You’re always so quick to cut people off rather than clean up the mess you made.”
I looked down at my plate. “I’m just getting rid of dead weight.”
My momma didn’t say another word; she didn’t have to. Her silence spoke louder than either of us. After breakfast, I was supposed to link up with Guap and Cash. Instead... I decided to stay right where I was. For once... the streets could wait.