Chapter 6 #2
“Boy, don’t be listening to your lying ass brother. If I wanted to shoot Lucas, I would have. You know I’m a good shot. He slapped me but wanted to run when I reached in my purse. I wasn’t trying to shoot him. I just wanted to scare him away.”
“Why didn’t you tell us he put his hands on you? We would have handled him.”
“We?” I laughed.
“Yeah, me and Bro.”
“I don’t need you or Jrake handling my business, especially not your little hotheaded ass. On the other hand, your brother knew.”
“And he didn’t do shit?”
I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Aye, we are about to have a vocabulary lesson in a minute.”
“Dang, Sis. You know I can’t help it.”
“You mean to tell me that you curse so damn much that you can’t even control yourself around me? You don’t need to be using profanity around women and children anyway.”
“I’m not around any women or children, though.”
“What exactly do you think I am, boy?”
“You aren’t really a woman, Jrue. You’re my sister. That’s not the same.”
“Man, get out of here.”
“I’m trying to, but you keep yapping. Where’s Supreme?”
“What’s up, little guy?” Ian spoke, walking down the hall to where we were.
“What’s up, man?” Jeremiah asked, immediately abandoning our conversation.
I didn’t even care. My heart melted as I watched Jeremiah’s face light up.
I hadn’t seen him so excited in two Christmases.
He was in awe, as Ian pulled him into a hug.
Watching them interact made me all warm and fuzzy inside.
Having Ian around might not be such a bad thing.
The two of them made it all seem worth it.
At the same time, Jrake had made some serious allegations.
I knew better than to take his word for what happened.
I needed to at least hear Ian out before I completely cut him off.
I also felt like I needed to let Jeremiah know what was going on so he could make his own decision.
He loved our low-down brother just as much as I did.
I didn’t want him doing anything that Jrake would perceive as disrespect.
It was up to Jeremiah whether he wanted to be around Ian or not.
I hung back in the living room, watching TV, while Jeremiah helped Ian cook for a few minutes, before I went out to the backyard to sit in the sun. I was so blown away that my little brother was cooking that I had to record him.
That boy would go days without eating if I didn’t make sure there was something for him to eat.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to cook.
I’d taught him the basics to make sure that he would be self-sufficient once he was out of the house.
Knowing how to cook and actually doing it were two different things.
The video on my phone was proof that he was actually doing it.
“Here you go, Sis,” Jeremiah said, delivering a glass of lemonade to me.
“Thank you. Did you make this?”
“Yep. You already know I’m the drink champ.”
“That’s why I asked.”
I didn’t know what it was, but my thirsty brother had a talent for mixing flavors and making the best juice and lemonade. The first sip of the lemonade was heavenly. Since the men in my life wanted to cater to me, I might as well enjoy it. I put my feet up on the lounge chair and stretched out.
Once my legs were elevated, I took another swig of my drink and closed my eyes.
Hearing Jeremiah cackle about something Eamon said made me smile without opening my eyes.
Maybe Ian would be a good influence on him.
It sucked that Jrake’s bullshit might be in the way of that. His mistakes had cost us enough.
“What are you smiling about?”
I opened my eyes to find Ian walking out to join me.
“I was just soaking up some sun.”
“It’s doing your body good.” He nodded.
“My brother teaching you how to cook?”
“Yeah, I think he got me together.”
“Good. Maybe one day you will be able to do it on your own.”
“I can’t wait to show you what I’m working with. This is light work.”
“I’m just messing with you.”
“Yeah right. I’m not trying to hear that. I’m going to make you a five-course meal.” He vowed.
“Make sure you have poison control on speed dial.”
“Oh, you got jokes. I can’t wait to drop your jaw.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” I assured him.
“I don’t want to hear that. You talking all that shit.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry.”
“I missed you, Jrue. Why you playing dodge ball?”
“Did you have my brother arrested?” I came out and asked.
“No.”
“Why would he say that, Ian? I didn’t even know you two knew each other. Now he’s telling me you set him up.”
“I didn’t set Jrake up, Jrue. I wouldn’t do that. Me and police don’t mix,” Ian said, shaking his head.
“Can you tell me why he would think something like that?”
“Before I got my deal, I used to do business with him. When I dropped out of college, my dad gave me an ultimatum that if I couldn’t make it in two years, he was sending me back.
He was so pissed that he made me do it all on my own for a while.
I started selling to pay for studio time and beats and shit.
By the time I ran into Jrake, I was moving a little weight, but I was starting to make some noise in the rap game too.
The last time I was supposed to meet him, I was running late.
By the time I pulled up to the building, it was surrounded,” he explained.
“He thinks you set him up.”
“So I heard. He’s actually sent some of his people at me a couple of times. If I was a bitch ass nigga, I would be hollering about the hundred thousand dollars that he owes me. I’m not saying shit.”
“He owes you a hundred thousand dollars?” I quizzed.
“I’m not worried about that shit. That’s light work, but I’m not letting him get in my way. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t care who likes it. I’m here unless you say otherwise.”
“Why do I trust you more than I trust my own brother?”
His eyes widened at my statement. “Because I’m telling the truth. I’m not a fucking snitch, Jrue. Why would I fuck up my own money?”
“I’m so torn.”
“Stop pushing me away and let me be here for you, Jrue. I know you find it hard to trust and depend on people, but I’m not your brother. I’m trying to be your man.”
After dinner, Eamon and Jeremiah got absorbed in one of Jeremiah’s football games, while Ian and I sat in the backyard and watched the stars.
“I brought you something, Choc.”
“You don’t have to give me something every time you see me.”
“Stop being a hater. You don’t tell me how to take care of my girl.”
“I’ll try. Maybe if I get a man of my own, I’ll stop worrying about you and your girl.”
“Don’t try to be funny.”
He grinned anyway. “I’m just saying. I want to talk to Jeremiah about what happened. I don’t know what Jrake told him, but I need to talk to him myself.”
“I agree.”
I nodded.
“Let me grab your gift. I’ll be right back,” he said as he turned and headed back inside.
Instead of continuing to sit outside, I stood and walked back into the house. I made it in the house just in time to see Eamon and Ian coming back inside. My eyes moved to the box that Ian juggled in his arms.
“Show me where to put this,” he instructed, motioning with his head.
“What is it?”
“A box of the wine you thought was good enough to enjoy in private.”
“Let’s put it in the kitchen for now,” I said, leading the way.
Once we were in the kitchen, I turned to face him. He put it on the counter, then walked over and placed his hands on my waist. I inhaled his cologne as I smiled up at him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How are you feeling? You’re not still thinking about pulling away from me, are you?”
“I don’t know. I really want to know how Jeremiah feels after we talk to him.”
“Who said we were talking to him? I’m going to talk to him. I owe him that. Jrake is his big brother. I don’t want him to feel like I betrayed him too.”
“OK.”
“With that being said, how about you pour yourself a glass while I holler at him. Do you need me to open it?”
“No, go ahead. I think I can handle a corkscrew.”
I let Ian leave the kitchen while I turned and removed a bottle of the wine from the box. Sure enough, it was the same as the one I’d savored for as long as I could. I took my time pouring myself a drink and taking a few sips before moseying back into the living room.
“A lot of niggas make you think going to prison is a badge of honor. Prison is nothing but a cage. They glorify that shit to keep us in a cycle. You have to break the cycle.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do. My sister is thinking that I’m gon’ follow behind Jrake, but I know better. I’m not on the shit he was on.”
“I’m proud to hear that, young bull. As long as you keep your head on straight, I will do what I can to help you get anywhere you want to go.”
“Even after my sister fucks up and makes you leave?”
Ian laughed, but I didn’t know whether to laugh or hit his ass with a shoe.
“Hey!” I said, blowing my cover.
“I’m just messing with you, Sis. I knew you were over there ear hustling.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was coming to see if either of you needed anything.”
“Since when do you see if I need anything?” Jeremiah asked.
“You can handle yourself. I’m talking about our guests.”
“I’m good, Choc. I think Jeremiah wanted to watch some movie.”
“Yeah. Eamon has never seen The Raid . Is it cool for my friend to come over?”
I looked at Ian with lifted brows. This was my house. I usually didn’t mind Jeremiah’s friends coming over at a reasonable hour, but this was different. I knew how much Ian valued his privacy.
“As long as he’s cool, but I’m gon’ have to ask him to put his phone away while he’s here. E gotta hold on to it.”
“He not even gon’ care. He can’t believe I know you.”