Chapter 11 #2
While stuck in traffic outside of the park, I hit Teaira again because she still hasn’t called or texted me back.
I’m lowkey feeling tight about that shit.
I did some shit with her that I’ve never done with any other female.
I talked about my parents and the bullshit with my dad and she listened.
There was no judgment and I real shit felt closer to her.
I can’t have her trying to fall back. Not now. Not after that.
Motivated to get to her fine ass and see what’s up, instead of turning onto University Drive when I push through traffic, I hit the highway and head to Diamond Falls.
Fifteen minutes to nine, I pull up to her townhouse but her damn Jeep ain’t parked out front.
Keeping my engine running, I get out and knock anyway.
She doesn’t answer, so when I get back in my ride, I hit her ass one mo’gain.
Me: At your spot. U good?
Finally, she responds a few minutes later.
Tee: At work. Got called in.
Me: What time u off? Since I’m here, I’ll stay this way.
Tee: Go home; it’ll be late.
Me: How late?
Tee: IDK yet.
Me: I’ll still be over here; just hit me.
Actually relieved that she’s just at work, I don’t trip when she doesn’t respond, not really.
Shit gets crazy at the hospital and she normally doesn’t answer at all.
So even though she’s being vague about her off time, I chill and decide to ride through Kove’s.
He mentioned that his brother Yoel is having a kickback at the crib to celebrate us.
Initially, I told him I would pass. A nigga’s tired and I was going to go back to the crib.
Not hearing from Tee has me here in Brunswick Meadows.
Kove and Yoel live in old Brunswick, which is only ten minutes from here, so I might as well step.
There’s a gang of cars, SUVs, and bikes lining the street in front of Yoel’s house.
Looks like most of DP decided to step like me.
After creating a parking spot at the end of the road, I kill my engine and trek back up to the house.
I bypass the front door for the gate leading to the back.
All of their kickbacks, barbeques, and chill sessions take place in their big ass backyard.
The sound of my nigga and DP bruh Krist’s song “Banga” hits my ears followed by the smell of strong ass weed flooding my nose before I walk through the gate.
The party is in full effect. As soon as I walk through the gate, I realize just how much DP showed up.
It’s packed as fucked, and for every DP, I swear there are two chicks.
There are more of them than us. I laugh though because every DP nigga who has a girl has his eyes glued on her and her alone.
They don’t want no shit when they take their asses back to the crib.
My nigga Kassir is sitting in the back by the carport and his girl Rebel is practically glued to his ass.
I smile and instantly think of Tee. I definitely want her here with me.
“From the cradle to the casket, nigga,” Kove’s loud voice says as he hand slaps my back. “You decided to fall through.”
“Yeah, for a minute.”
“Now this is how I wanted to celebrate. That shit at the park was cool but nothing beats this shit right here.”
“Facts, bruh,” I admit then smile.
“You did it, my nigga.”
“We did it, nigga. There is no way we would have made it to or won the championship with you. Kove and Riq, bruh. We been on this balling shit together since we were kids. I couldn’t have done this shit without you,” I say, really speaking facts.
Kove and I are brothers for real: D-Ville, DP, D-Ville Ballerz, and CFU.
If he’s rocking, I’m fo’ damn sure rolling.
From the cradle to the grave aren’t just words for me; they’re a promise.
“Already. Solid.”
“Real shit.”
“Ay! Y’all niggas done with the holding hands and crying and shit,” his brother Yoel says jokingly as he daps me up.
“Never that,” I say.
He pulls me in for a quick hug then pats my back.
“Congrats though, Riq. Y’all niggas did that, for real.
It’s only up from here,” he says and Kove walks off.
Whenever anyone talks about what’s next, he gets like this.
Balling, for me, is a dream; for him, it was just something to do.
Going into the draft for the league is the last thing on his mind.
He real shit would be cool with us falling back and staying right here.
Yoel wants more for him though. They disagree. “He always does that.”
“That’s him.”
“Talk to that, nigga. He’s tired of hearing it from me.”
“Bet,” I tell him but I know there ain’t shit I can say. Kove feels how he feels, and while I don’t agree, I respect his feelings. Going to the league isn’t everybody’s dream.
One of his many girls waves him over and Yoel walks toward the carport.
There’s no vehicle under it tonight. Instead, it’s filled with coolers and tables, foil covered, large aluminum food pans, plates, cups, napkins, plasticware, and a gang of liquor.
I follow him for something to drink, nodding at or dapping up by brothers I pass, each congratulating me.
When I grab a bottle of Energized Sports, Makai clowns me.
“Bruh, don’t you got a lifetime supply of them joints?” he teases.
I laugh to myself because my sponsorship does give me access to as much as I want. Back at the crib, I have about ten cases, and if I want more, I just have to ask.
“Something like that but I didn’t bring one with me,” I tell him before opening my drink.
“So I need to holla at you,” I say and he taps the thighs of the chick sitting on his lap.
Although she’s all over him, her thirsty eyes are glued on me and I don’t like foul shit like that.
Looking down at her, I say coolly, “Shawty, ay. Don’t disrespect my bruh. ”
Her eyes get big as hell then she looks at him apologetically. “I wasn’t tr—” she starts but Makai shuts her down.
“You good,” he grits then lifts her off his lap. She stumbles a little then sucks her teeth before stomping off. “Bruh, these females.” He shakes his head. “What’s up, though?”
“Quay and Tre.”
“Yeah. They ’posed to be liking each other.”
“I just found out.”
“No need to trip, Riq, man. He’s a stand up lil dude and he knows how to act. You ain’t got nothing to worry about with Quay.”
“Good to know but I’m still gon’ be her big brother,” I tell him and he nods in understanding.
“As you should, but congrats.” He reaches his arm out and we dap.
“Thanks.”
I nod then walk over to Kassir and Rebel.
My bruh is down bad. He’s kissing all on her neck and she’s laughing.
I love that shit for him though because growing up, all I knew was Kassir and Rebel.
When she left D-Ville, he was shook. I was worried ’bout him but it’s good to see this. I’m glad she came back.
They both stand when I step to them. He daps me up then pulls me in for a hug. “Proud of you, Riq. You did that shit,” he says.
“Thanks, bruh,” I tell him.
“And you won me a stack. Imma get rich off yo’ ass.”
“Nigga, like you ain’t already stacking paper.”
“I can’t call that shit,” he says, keeping it G. A real nigga never speaks on his money.
I turn to Rebel and she squints at me before hugging me. “What did you do to my girl?” she whispers in my ear.
Tee talks to Rebel about me?
When I end our hug, I look into her squinted gaze. “I ain’t do shit to her. What’s up?” I ask because her question and accusatory tone catch me off guard like a mug.
“I haven’t heard from her all day. I even called and texted her,” she reveals.
“She got called into the hospital.”
“Oh good. You’re off the hook,” she playfully shoves my arm, “Be glad because I don’t play about her.”
“Neither do I,” rolls off my lips easily as hell.
I’ve never admitted that before, out loud, or to anyone.
To the outside, we are just friends. We are very careful in public.
When we end up at the same spots or events, we keep it cordial as fuck.
No one knows I love kissing her sweet pussy.
They have no idea that I love being between her thick thighs.
They’re clueless that I’m at her crib each time she allows me.
They don’t know I’m practically addicted to her.
That’s our little secret…at least it was till just now.
At my words, a cheesy ass smile forms on Rebel’s face and she shakes her head smugly. “I knew it and I love it,” she gushes.
“Bae, stay out of their business,” Kassir jumps in. He pulls her to his side then shakes his head.
“Well, I am happy.” She is still smiling, even as she pulls her cell out of her pocket. She’s clearly texting and I’m sure it’s Tee.
Shit, she’s on my mind too.
“I’m out, fam. Cradle to the casket,” I say and he repeats the same before I walk off.
I find Kove first; he’s off in the cut with a lil shawty. I tell him that I’m dipping then find Yoel. As usual, he has more than one girl, one on each leg. I say goodbye to him too then leave.
Twenty minutes later, I pull up to Highland Regional.
They actually offer valet parking for the ER but I choose the garage instead.
I’m really careful and private with my shit.
With our championship win and me getting ejected from that game, my face is a little popular right now to say the least. I can’t have no nigga recognizing me and going all through my shit.
There are no spaces on the ground floor of the parking garage so I end up parking on the third and taking the stairs down to the ground floor.
I walk through the covered parkway to the main entrance of the hospital then find my way to the ER.
As suspected, a few people either recognize me or just assume I’m at least a baller. My height always draws some attention.
In the ER, I’m stopped when I head to the side doors.
“Sir, you can’t go back there,” a woman calls out.
I turn to see the older looking Hispanic woman at the moon shaped desk glaring at me.
“You have to check in first,” she says while waving me over to her.
Out of respect for my elders, I trek back to the desk.
“This is the emergency room area. If you are visiting an admitted patient, you need to check in at the main entrance.”
“Nah. I need to see somebody who works here in the ER.”
“Do they know you’re coming?” she asks with a peculiar look.
“Yeah,” I lie.
“Well, you still need to check in first. Then I’ll call them out here. Driver’s license please,” she says as she taps the counter.
After pulling my wallet out of my pocket, I grab my license then place it on the table. She grabs it then places it on some machine. It grabs my license then spits it back out. She takes it out and sets it on the table. “Tyrick,” she says, mispronouncing my name.
I don’t bother correcting her; I just nod as I grab my ID.
She nods back. While she does whatever she’s doing on her computer, I scan the waiting area.
It’s not as crowded as I would have thought but there are people waiting.
The sound of the large brown door opening draws my attention to it. Out walks Teaira.
“Good night, Miss Beatrice,” she says while looking down in her bag. She doesn’t see me but my eyes are glued to her.
“Thanks for coming in. I hope you feel better,” the lady behind the counter says. When I start to walk toward Teaira, Miss Beatrice tries to stop me. “You need this badge,” she says but I ignore her.
“Tee,” I say as I step to Teaira.
Her head damn near flies off her neck when she looks up at me. With eyes as big as basketballs, she exclaims, “Tyriq!”