Chapter 14 October
October
The temperatures were perfect in the high sixties with a slight breeze blowing. Gold and red leaves drifted to the ground from the trees that still sported foliage. The music was loud as the audio competition moved to the height of its segment.
Teens, young adults, and even little kids with older people moved around from one food vendor to the next. Groups of people gathered around various cars to take pictures with the owners or simply to flex on their own.
There were smiles on everyone’s faces as people socialized and celebrated the happy occasion.
We were having our annual Cherokee Springs car show at the community center.
It was an event that my grandfather had started twenty years prior, and it had only grown through the years.
My father headed it ten years ago, and it was my turn three years ago.
I tried to make each event bigger and better than the year before.
“O, they’re taking pictures. Come on,” Nautica called out.
“One minute!” I shouted back. I dropped a kiss on Auburn’s head and then Autumn’s lips before I explained, “I’ll be back, baby. We’ve gotta knock this photo shoot out of the way.”
“No problem, baby.”
I kissed her again, smacked her on the ass, and then left her with her sister, Wynter, to head in the opposite direction. I glanced over my shoulder one final time to see Autumn with her sister. They were both laughing, and it did my heart good that she looked happier than I’d ever seen her.
“What’s up?” I asked Nautica as I approached her.
“It’s time for photos, and we’re all waiting for you, boss man,” Nautica instructed as she pointed to the gold and black 1967 Chevelle that my crew was surrounding.
There were a lot of drivers, crews, and residents out today. I was just glad that everyone was having a good time and happy that all my crew were in good health and able to show up and participate today.
The professional photographer took several photos of Reuben, Bam, Wings, Tree, Jo-Jo, me, and a few of my other drivers who didn’t work in the shop but participated in today’s event.
“One more!” I heard a voice shout from my left as we finished our shoot.
I looked sideways when I heard the rest of the crew groan, and Nautica grabbed my hand and whispered, “Behave.”
“For what? I ain’t did shit.”
“Yet.”
“Hey, y’all. I wanted to get a picture with everyone for old times’ sake,” Trish Johnson, my ex, called out.
She sashayed her way toward me, all thick curves, big breasts, and plump lips.
“What’re you doing here, Trish?”
“I told you. I wanted a picture with everyone.”
“This is just for my crew.”
“It may be, but don’t forget that I was friends with everyone once upon a time. They were my crew too.”
“Yeah, well, you went and ruined all that shit. So, I ain’t tryna hear that, all right?”
“There once was a time that you used to love racing cars with me.”
“There once was a time that I used to love you, but I ain’t feeling that no more either.”
“Why are you so fucking jealous and cold-hearted, O?”
“Seriously? That’s the one that you wanna run with?” I sneered.
She rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. “Reuben?”
“Yeah, Trish?” he replied.
The entire crew had formed a circle around us, watching our interaction. I knew they wanted to be close enough to ensure that nothing broke out. Trish was quick as hell with those hands, and she was also the only woman I’d ever put my hands on before.
A young nigga had gotten into lots of trouble behind her hot ass back in the days, and I wasn’t ready to go that route again. I had too much to lose now, even more than I did back then.
“Can I please take a picture with the crew for old times’ sake?”
“TJ, why are you starting shit, man?” Bam asked.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Bam, I’m not talking to you. But since you want to converse, let’s chat. I didn’t expect all my friends to ditch me and choose sides when the shit went down between O and me. I thought y’all were my friends, but friends don’t turn on each other like that.”
“That’s a bunch of bullshit, TJ, and you know it. The shit you pulled, who the hell wanted to stick around with your ass?” Bam declared, walking closer to her.
“Aye, y’all. Let’s get these pictures out of the way, and everyone can go on with their day,” Reuben suggested.
I heard what he wasn’t saying, which was, “She could be on her way.”
“Yeah, because plenty of people are watching. And with O’s name being on this event, we don’t need no drama,” Tree interjected. “So, let’s do this shit.”
“You’re right. Too many heads are turning our way. The last thing I want this event to become is some damn hood drama. I’m trying to uphold my grandfather and father’s legacy,” I grumbled.
Everyone fell into position as the cameraman set up to take our pictures.
“Wait just a minute,” Trish stated, moving from beside Nautica and Tree to squeezing in between Reuben and me.
I rolled my eyes as Bam grumbled. “Take the gahdamn picture already.”
Just before the picture snapped, Trish plopped down in my lap, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed the side of my face. I wanted to hit her, curse her, throw her, or something, but I froze in place as he snapped photo after photo.
“Gotcha ass,” she murmured.
The minute the pictures were over, I stood and dumped her ass unceremoniously to the ground.
“O, chill the fuck out, man. Here comes the news crew,” Reuben hissed angrily.
“Leave that bitch on the ground and let the story of the day be the trifling ways of hos,” Bam grumbled.
“Bam,” Jo-Jo warned.
Bam sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. I reached down and offered Trish my hand. The last thing I needed was to be accused of assaulting a woman and being caught on TV doing it. That would land my ass back in jail and devastate our business.
She took my hand and allowed me to pull her up. Before I could release her hand, Trish squeezed it and stepped closer to me. She looked up at me as she pressed against me.
“Can we please have peace?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
“The only reason I’m back is because I know that I fucked up, O. Okay?”
“What do you want me to do about that?”
“Forgive me.”
“You don’t even matter to me anymore, Trish.”
“What about him?”
“I ain’t got shit to say to either one of y’all. I’ma let you make it today because these cameras and all these folks are out here and shit. But after today, you know not to let my name fall from your lips,” I whispered with a smile as one of the cameramen swung his camera in our direction.
“Seriously? That’s how you want to leave things?”
“Don’t act like you’re the victim here, Trish. We both know better than that.”
I felt a pair of eyes on me, and I released Trish’s hand quickly and took a step back. Scanning the crowd, I saw Autumn’s questioning eyes on me, but she turned back to Sarai, Wynter, and a few other women.
I extricated myself from my situation and moved around the park talking to several participants of the car show. Spirits were high, and excitement was contagious, no matter what group I stopped and spoke with. I moved to a section of the park where burnouts were taking place.
Our show focused on modified cars, so there were various vehicles in attendance, from sports and luxury cars to SUVs and trucks, but there were mostly sports cars in attendance.
I felt her presence before I saw her or before she spoke a word. Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “What is it that you want, TJ?”
“I want you to forgive me for my mistakes.”
“You mean the way I was forgiven?”
“I didn’t expect people to react the way that they did, okay? Besides, it’s been eleven years since the truth came out.”
“You ripped dreams away from me, TJ. You destroyed friendships, tore apart a family, and had me living a gahdamn lie! Don’t tell me about eleven years.
That shit still stings like it was yesterday.
Not to mention that those same family and friends aren’t speaking to me now.
” Some of my maternal and paternal aunts, uncles, and cousins no longer spoke to me. ”
She sighed. “I know, and for that, I’m sorry. I just want closure and wish that we could put it all to rest.”
“It’s closed as far as I’m concerned.”
“He misses you, you know.”
“He’s dead to me. Just like you are!”
“You’re speaking to me, though.”
“Because you showed your ass up at a professional event. You truly don’t even matter. You’re shit to me, TJ. I loved him. You’re just another fucking wet hole and nothing more.”
“That’s harsh, O.”
“You’re harsh, TJ. You need to bounce. Crawl back under whatever rock you came from and live your slimy life with him.”
“I came hoping that we could put the past behind us. It’s not going to be easy to dismiss me the way that you have for the last several years.”
“I’ve been doing it just fine until now.”
“Yeah, well, things changed. I’m going to be in the shows, racing, and everything. You may as well forgive me and move on.”
“Move on, I can do. Bye, TJ.”
“O, wait. Please,” she pleaded, running to catch up with me.
I kept walking, and she walked beside me.
“She’s happy and healthy. She wants to see you.”
I stopped and mugged her. “You haven’t told her the truth?”
“I have. She still wants to see you though. You were there in the earlier years. She’s heard nothing but good things about you.
She’s extremely smart, and she looks like you.
” She sighed when I didn’t respond. “I wish that I could turn back the hands of time, you know. She would have been better off with you than him.”
“You’re still with him. Don’t seem like you’re having problems to me.”
“We’re trying to work things out. He’s gotten much better. He went to rehab, and we both went to counseling together. He wants to do better and be a better man. But what he wants most is you back in his life. He wants to work things out and find healing for the two of you.”
I chuckled and shook my head as I shoved my hands into the pockets of my joggers. “It’s always about what he wants, isn’t it? That was always your problem. You were more concerned with him than you were with me.”
“That’s not true, O.”
“Naw, TJ. It’s very true.”
She grabbed my arm and looped hers through it as we stopped in front of her pink Jeep. “I have never said that I’m sorry to you. I apologize for hurting you, for taking you for granted, for playing you, and for lying to you.”
“Get the fuck outta here, Trish,” I growled and jerked my arm from hers.
She stood in front of me and looked up into my eyes.
“I’m sorry for tearing your family apart and for taking away your freedom.”
“October,” Autumn called out to me as she walked in my direction, pushing Auburn’s stroller. I turned away from Trish and removed her hands from my chest.
“Hey, baby,” I greeted, stepping away from Trish. I kissed Autumn and wrapped an arm around her.
“Who’s this?” Autumn asked with a smile as she waved at Trish.
Turning back to Trish, I introduced the two.
“Autumn, this is TJ. TJ, this is my woman, Autumn, and our daughter, Auburn.”
I didn’t miss the look of hurt and offense in Trish’s eyes, and I didn’t give a damn. Her lips formed an “O.”
“Nobody told me that you had a kid. When were you gonna tell me, O?”
I saw the look of hurt and confusion on Autumn’s face, and I knew that she was probably getting the wrong idea.
“I don’t recall needing anyone’s permission to move on with my life, TJ. Enjoy yours. I’m definitely enjoying mine,” I replied.
I grabbed the stroller, turned it in the opposite direction, and steered Autumn along with me.
“Who was that?” she asked.
“No one who matters anymore,” I replied softly.