Chapter 9 Ghana
We cruised through the downtown area of Detroit until we got to Brush Street. It was where Jax and Ruger had new townhomes built last fall, and the construction was finally completed over the spring. The block party was for the Hellraizers and to celebrate the completion of the community.
As we rode down the block, I could feel how tense Autumn was.
She tried not to hold on to my waist, but with the way I rode, she had no choice but to hold on to me tightly.
Feeling her arms wrapped around me felt like home.
I had never felt more comfortable in a woman’s presence than I did with her.
It was weird and blowing my mind because I didn’t even completely feel this way about Nichelle.
I’d admit the broad was only supposed to be a one-nighter, but since the sex was good, I wanted to keep her around. The more I kept her around, the more she grew on me and made me feel as if maybe we could have a future together.
Bad case in fucking judgment.
I could feel the heat between Autumn’s legs against my lower back. I knew she tried hard not to get too close to me, but she had no choice since I kept jerking the bike every now and then to make her slide closer.
Fuck her being my therapist.
I needed her to be my peace.
We pulled onto the block ten minutes later, and the police removed the roadblock to allow us entry.
We saluted them, then headed to the center where the stage was set up.
There were so many people that there were about ten squad cars.
I knew it was mandatory for big crowds, especially when celebrities were in the vicinity.
The shit was dope as hell.
There were bounce houses for the kids, ice cream trucks, water slides, all kinds of games, and grills going.
We pulled next to the twenty other bikes from our crew across from where the Hellraizers were on the other side.
I put my bike on the kickstand, then slowly slid off and helped Autumn off the back.
She took off the helmet, and I just stared at her for a minute.
That fucking face and hair were doing shit to me that I couldn’t explain.
I wanted her ass bad; I just had to figure out how to get her because I knew she wouldn’t be receptive to a nigga like me.
Who the fuck wanted a crazy nigga, right?
She huffed and pushed her curls out of her face and looked at me. “You should probably be more mindful when you’re riding with someone on the back of your bike. I felt like I was going to fall off that thing.”
“You’re safe with me. Always.” And I meant it.
I knew I shouldn’t be attracted to this woman.
That was what fucked me up the last time—being attracted to a woman and putting my trust in her funky ass, only for her to betray me.
But as I looked at Autumn, something inside of me felt .
. . safe. I didn’t know why, but she just had an energy I couldn’t ignore or pull away from.
“Next time, ride like it.”
“As long as you promise to ride—”
She pushed her soft, dainty palm against my lips, seemingly already knowing I was about to say something slick. The smell of her perfume wafted up my nose. Humor played on my face just as Kenz and her girls walked over to us.
“Everything okay?” Kenzi asked, looking between us.
“Yes. Are there drinks around? I need one after my near-death experience,” Autumn replied, side-eyeing me.
I chuckled and licked my lips while watching her.
“Oh, Lord. Come on here,” Kenzi told her, roping her arm through hers and dragging her away.
“Aye, Mona. Don’t get nobody fucked up out here. Behave yourself.”
“When don’t I ever behave, Mekai?”
“When ya ass hear ya favorite song and want to toss that lil motherfucka in a circle. Save that shit for our bedroom.”
She giggled. “Fine. I won’t act up, daddy.”
“Good girl.” He winked.
I shook my head, and my eyes went back to Autumn before she was pulled away. I watched her round ass switch in those heels and unconsciously licked my lips, wanting to put my nose in it. What I wouldn’t give to know what she tasted like.
“Damn, homie. At least try to act like you don’t want to eat her ass,” Jax stated coolly with a knowing smirk on his face.
“Fuck outta here,” I said, waving him off.
“She’s here to help you, G. Not for you to fuck on,” Ruger said.
“She can help me in every aspect needed.”
Slick walked over, shaking his head after hearing what we were talking about. “This nigga.” He laughed, slapping us a five. We greeted the rest of our crew as the music, good-smelling food, and good vibes filled the air.
Members of the Hellraizers came over to chill with us. My eyes stayed on Kenzi and her friends. They were talking with some of the ladies from the Hellraizers while I watched the workers set the stage for K Millz, Christian, and Knowledge to perform.
“What’s good, Grue? Ain’t seen you ’round here in a minute,” Flip, the president of the Hellraizers, said to me.
“Yeah, been staying out the way.”
“I heard you got a lil shorty. Congratulations, my baby.”
The air seemed to thicken, and I stared at him as if he just spat in my face. I saw Ruger stand from leaning on his bike.
“You still trying to race that lil raggedy Street Glide?” Ruger asked, redirecting the conversation.
Flip looked from me to Ruger and chuckled. “I’ll show you how raggedy it is when I dust you in it.”
“What you trying to do?” Ruger asked.
“Bet ten?”
“That’s my wife’s play money. Double it if you're confident.”
“Oooh, I’m confident as fuck.”
“Then it’s on. When the lights go down. One trip around the complex,” Ruger suggested.
Flip nodded. “Bet.”
“Oh, this gon’ be good. We gon’ need some popcorn,” Jax said, and they all chuckled.
Ruger turned to me. “I’ma let my mans show you up,” he said, talking to Flip but looking at me. I could tell he was trying to redirect my thoughts because I felt my chest tightening at just the mention of what occurred back in Tennessee.
“I hope you ready to get dusted, Grue,” Flip jested.
“I’m always ready for a good time,” I said.
Ruger gave me a small smile and a soft nod just as the emcee announced Knowledge's arrival on stage. We all headed toward the front of the stage, and my eyes traveled to Autumn. Her bright smile and the sun bouncing off her pretty-ass skin had me mesmerized.
Fuck Knowledge.
I had the best seat in the house.
The show was lit. Knowledge, Christian, and K Millz did their thing, as usual.
When I saw Autumn rapping the lyrics to almost every song, I think I became obsessed.
She had the whole classy, bougie, ratchet vibe down to a science.
I was amazed at how she could be in a serious, professional conversation one minute, then, the next, she was throwing up gang signs.
When she bent over and started twerking that ass, I was outdone.
Once the concert was over, I found her, Kenzi, and Willow talking to Kamilla Moring, K Millz’s twin sister, and K Millz’s wife, Kera.
We locked eyes, and without me saying a word, she excused herself from the circle and headed over to me.
Once she made it to me, I stood from leaning on my bike, towering over her.
“Ready to talk?” she asked.
“You done making me jealous of that skirt?”
“Focus, Mr. Abara. This will only work if you become a willing participant.”
I rubbed my beard and licked my lips while staring directly into her eyes. “See, saying shit like that makes my filtered thoughts unfiltered.”
“I’ll try to be mindful of what I say from now on.
” She looked around, then looked back at me.
“Let’s walk to the next block. I saw a water fountain at the entrance.
” I nodded, and we walked away from the noise, down the block.
We didn’t speak for the two-minute walk to the fountain, but the silence wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, nice—needed.
I wasn’t sure how to open up and talk about the shit that ran through my mind every day. It wasn’t easy talking to people I didn’t know, but I wanted somebody to help me sort this shit out.
“You mind if I smoke?” I asked.
“No, whatever makes you comfortable,” she replied. I pulled the blunt from behind my ear and the lighter from my pocket. I lit the tip and took a couple of pulls before I felt some of the anxiety leave my body.
She looked at me when we sat down on the edge of the fountain. “First, I want you to know that I’m on your time. We can start with the good, then the bad, or vice versa.”
“Shit, I don’t even really know where to start with either,” I said, taking another pull.
“You can start by telling me about your childhood. What was life like for young Ghana?”
“Fucked up.”
“Elaborate.”
“I didn’t have a normal childhood. There were days when I felt normal, then there were days I’d get so angry out of nowhere because the thoughts in my head pissed me off.
It wasn’t as extreme as it is now, and I think it was because of Kenzi’s pops that I had more good days than bad days.
He was a real stand-up dude. Shit, I think the nigga treated me better than my own moms did. ”
“What were some of the things he did that made you feel . . . normal?”
“He’d play ball with me. Taught me how to play basketball, football, and soccer.
He was at my games when I used to play sports in middle school.
It wasn’t really about the sports, though; it was the fact that the nigga showed up and never treated me any different, even though I’d spazz out sporadically.
He was the one to reel me back in before shit got too crazy.
Ashanti . . .” I paused from speaking and pulled in more smoke while placing my elbows on my knees.
I hated talking about her ass. It was probably what triggered my anger most of the time; that and the fact that I hated for a motherfucka to say or do certain shit I didn’t fuck with.
“Ashanti is your mother?”
I nodded. “If you could even call her that shit.”
“Tell me about her.”