Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Indiri
I left Selah’s spot late as hell, knowing I was gonna be tired as hell in the morning, but she was worth it.
I meant what I said at the bakery, that thoughtful attribute she had showcased was appreciated and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Getting to know shorty was easy as fuck, because she didn’t want anything from me.
She was just getting to know me, as I was her.
It was a breath of the freshest air, and no lie, I liked it.
Now here I was sitting in the back seat of the truck with a pastry box and a smile at the thought of her.
The vibration of my phone interrupted my thoughts and I looked down.
It was then I saw a FaceTime request from the family group chat.
I had missed the first two calls earlier, so I would answer this one.
Most likely, it was Jade with whatever important family update at this time of night.
If I didn’t answer, she’d curse my ass out or hit up Jordyn’s friendly ass and curse me out by way of her.
“Yeah, Jade,” I answered, knowing it was her.
To my shock, when the screen opened up it was Rennix and G talking.
“Yo, when your MIA ass start answering the chat? I thought you muted us?” Rennix asked.
“I did. I thought for sure this was Jade on some BTW shit. What’s up?”
“Yo, you missed that hours ago. Where the hell have you been?” G asked.
“Falling in love. I can see that shit all over his face,” Rennix responded before I could.
“Fuck outta here, I’m jus—”
“Oh shit, that’s baby boy. When did you start picking up these calls?” Reminisce’s face floated into the call, meaning he picked up.
“You’re just what? Niggas seen how you’re acting about the lil bakery chick,” Rennix joked.
I shook my head. “We ain’t like that. We chilling.”
All three of my brothers smiled into the camera, almost like they knew something I didn’t.
“What y’all smiling at? Looking like big dumb ass goofs.”
“Nothing, we’re chilling,” G responded and they all busted up laughing like he’d told a joke.
“But all jokes aside. Where are you coming from?” Reminisce asked, stepping into his big brother shit.
“The bakery with Selah.” I knew that statement was about to have them clowning me. “We baked red velvet cheesecake protein brownies.”
“He said we.” Rennix scratched his head.
“Damn sure did, but he said he’s just chilling,” G responded.
“Man, y’all leave him alone,” Reminisce said through laughter because G and Rennix were up to joke all night. “Matter fact, hang up on these niggas and I’m about to call you regular.” Before either of them could protest, I had already hung up, and true to his word, Reminisce was calling.
“Yo. I’ve been meaning to check in with you, but time has been beating on me. You good out there?” Reminisce asked.
“Yeah. Can’t call it. I have been training since before the wedding, getting ready.”
“No need to get ready when you been ready, bro,” he reminded me. “All ol’ boy has is mouth. You got hands and fists. But you have something else on your mind, talk to me.”
I sucked my teeth, new to the territory I was finding myself in. So new in fact, I didn’t even know how to discuss it without sounding like a bitch.
“It’s about shorty, ain’t it?”
I laughed. “Man, how do you know?”
“Because every nigga has that constipated look when they’re feeling a woman. You ain’t no different, and even though you’re several hundred miles away, I can see it. You’re feeling her, ain’t you?”
“I am, but it ain’t the right time to be trying to balance new shit and oth—”
“Who says when it’s the right time? Think about it. You’re balancing right now, right?”
“Yeah, but we ain’t even at the pinnacle of how heavy this shit gets.”
“What are you scared of?” Reminisce asked blatantly.
“Shit. I know that nigga can’t beat my ass, so damn sure not that.” I shook my head, eyes focused out of the window.
“Facts. So, what are we talking about?” he asked, unknowingly putting things into perspective for me.
I knew I could and was going to beat Knockout’s ass, but I was mentally bitching up about how much I fucked with Selah in such a short amount of time.
Wondering if I was throwing myself off my square because I’d never had to balance nor was I willing to until now.
“Nothing, you right. I’m overthinking.”
“You damn sure are. Move your way, fuck anybody who doesn’t like it.”
A jab came my way, I ducked, sending one back.
“Good eye, what’s next?” Big Joe’s loud voice trespassed.
He blocked the left.
Doors open for a body shot.
“Count your steps, Indiri.” Big Joe’s voice entered the ring again.
It landed.
His knees buckled.
He went down.
I stood up straight, eyes moving around the gym before they landed on my uncle. He was nodding with a grin.
I moved over, extending a hand to my cousin who was on his knees to get up.
“Yo, I hope you hit that nigga as hard as you just hit me.” He coughed through laughter.
“My bad. That tunnel vision is a motherfucker.” I chortled.
You’re fighting like you have a second wind. Do I need to be worried about something?” he asked, as I approached the ropes.
Next to him was Jordyn—iPad, phone, and notebook always stacked. It was time for another impromptu meeting. As soon as I was floor-side, she was opening the notebook.
“Nah. I’m straight, what are you talking about, old man?” I grinned as he took the gloves off my hands.
“Something different about the dog, nephew. Are you getting some nookie?”
“Um, what? I’m standing right here Mr. Joe, I don’t need to hear that?” Jordyn had me and the old man laughing.
“Yo, you’re crazy.” I laughed at him.
“Yeah right, I know what I see. You’re fighting well.
Get you some rest and the ice bath is waiting for you.
Thirty minutes tops. Take it easy on your body, and wherever you got the protein brownies from, you need some more.
They were good.” He tossed over his shoulder as I walked toward the back room of the gym.
Until Jordyn found a property, I was here at Killah’s space.
Of course, Jordyn was right behind me.
“You wanna tell me where you got the brownie so I can put in an order for them? Khia didn’t make them, did she?”
“Nah, I gotta special order them.” I shook my head. My shit didn’t last three whole days in the kitchen before the whole coaching staff was tasting and trying shit. As a matter of fact, first it was Remy asking about them and bringing attention, then Unc.
“Well, I have several properties for you to choose between and we can relocate to them as fast as next week. If it were me, I’d choose the second because it’s a full property with enough space for you to have the immediate house to yourself.”
“Aight, then choose that one.” I stepped into the silver tank filled with ice and water. I shuddered, mentally prepared to feel like I needed to be hopping out.
“I don’t know how the hell you do this.”
“Not with ease, I promise,” I said slowly, after I had finally taken a seat.
“Hand me my phone.”
She nodded, then moved to grab it from the bench.
Once I had it in my hand, I clicked it on. The first thing I saw was a missed FaceTime from Selah. She was returning mine from when I’d called her earlier.
“Yup, let me talk fast, because obviously it’s cake in the ice time. I’ll be making an offer for the house. Next we have to discuss the campaign with Journee later, as well as the couple offers.”
“Aight. Just know I’m not lying about eating shit, putt—”
“Putting shit on your skin or hair and wearing anything outrageous. I know,” she finished for me.
“I guess I can email the rest. Other than the photoshoot in the morning, you’re good.”
When Jordyn finally left, I dropped my phone onto the floor and just sat back, allowing my eyes to close and my body to attempt to regulate itself to the cold.
Unc was right, I damn sure needed some rest and I had every intention of getting it when I made it home.
Right now, my mind kept replaying my moments in the ring and how I needed to capitalize off every opportunity.