Chapter 14 #2
“I don’t want him getting in trouble behind this. We both know he will go hunt Derrick down.”
“Good,” she frowned. “I don’t know why you’re trying to save his pussy ass.”
“I’m not, Gerica,” I argued. “You just heard me say I don’t want to get Adonis in any trouble. He has a brother that depends solely on him.”
“He’s your man…”
“I know that.”
“I agree with your sister.” Rhea said. “I think you need to tell him what’s going on.”
“I like you.” Geri smiled at Rhea.
“I’ll tell him the next time I see him.”
“He doesn’t have a phone?” Rhea asked.
“He has two,” my sister answered for me. “Rhea, we need to go out together or something. You’re alright with me.”
“We can girl.” She giggled. “I told your sister I needed to start getting out more so I don’t work all the time, so I’m down.”
“Perfect, so after she calls and tells Adonis what’s going on, we can plan something.”
I rolled my eyes at them both, snatching my phone up to call Adonis. He barely let me finish my sentence after telling him that Brock had been there before spouting that he was on the way then ending the call.
Adonis’s apartment was at least twenty minutes from where my parents lived, but he made it there in fifteen. He texted and asked me to come outside instead of coming in right away. My father, of course, objected to me leaving the house, but he conceded after I let him know that Adonis was outside.
He was already standing outside of his Jeep when I came out, so as soon as I was within reach, he pulled me into him. After hugging me, he gently pushed me back and began to look me over.
“I’m fine, Adonis,” I assured him. “I got him out before anything could happen.”
“What was he doing here?” he asked and I shrugged.
“I was asleep when I heard someone banging on the door. When I opened it, it was him. He began questioning me and asking me to let him in. When I refused to, he pushed the door, and I fell. Thankfully, I was able to hit him in his balls. That’s how I got him out. ”
“You shouldn’t have opened the door for the nigga,” he shook his head. “You and the nigga have nothing to discuss, so I’m having a hard time understanding.”
“I didn’t think he would try to force his way inside.”
“The nigga been pressing you since you left him, baby. And you been ignoring all his calls and texts, right?”
“Yes.”
“Aight then. What you thought he was coming over here for? To have tea?”
“No, asshole, I didn’t, but again, I didn’t think he would assault me either.”
I turned to walk away because he was annoying me just like everyone else was. I knew where they were all coming from, and I understood, but I’d spent years with Derrick, and he did nothing more than maybe raise his voice at me when he was frustrated.
And cheat.
Adonis caught my wrist to stop me.
“What you walking away for?”
“I’m just aggravated with this whole situation.” I sighed. “When I left him, I was done for good. I am done for good. He keeps coming around, calling and texting. It’s exhausting to deal with. Then I have all of you in my ear making me feel worse about the situation.”
“I can’t speak for everyone else, but I ain’t tryna make you feel bad about shit, and I’m sure that your people ain’t either,” he nodded toward the house.
“But you gotta understand that when folks give a fuck about you, they gon’ be bothered about the shit.
He don’t need to be around you period. Y’all ain’t got shit to discuss.
If he feel like you do, then tell the nigga to come holla at me. ”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I filed charges and I’ll be taking out a restraining order against him too.”
“That’s cool and all, love, but I’m gon’ see about him too.” He pulled me back into him. “You my girl now and niggas know I don’t play about my people.”
“I don’t want you to do anything stupid and get into any trouble.” I pouted, tossing my arms around his neck as he leaned against his Jeep, gripping my ass.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m gon’ be straight.”
“Do you want to come in and speak to my parents?” I asked.
“Yeah, come on.” He stood and took my hand before leading me to the door.
When we made it inside, everyone was in the living room. I didn’t have to really make introductions because my family knew him, but since it had been years since my parents had seen him, I did a refresher and made the introduction to Rhea.
“How’ve you been, Adonis?” my mom asked. “And little Apollo.”
“Little Apollo is not so little anymore.” He laughed. “We’re good though.”
“Are you still staying in the same area?”
He shook his head. “I got us an apartment not too long ago because we needed a change but we still own our childhood home. I’ll probably end up giving it to AP when he’s older to let him do what he wants with it, but I wanted to get him into a better area and better school system.”
“Oh, he not at Abe Hawthorne anymore?” my dad asked.
That was the school we went to when we were younger, and my dad taught there for a few more years after.
“No, sir. He was into trouble a lot when he was there, so I got him into Atlyn Prep.”
“Go Tigers,” my sister cheered for her school.
“Oh, Atlyn Prep is a good school.” My dad nodded. “Their new engineering program is top tier.”
“It is. I’ve been trying to get AP to look into it, but you know how teenaged boys can be,” Adonis replied.
“Oh, I don’t think the stubbornness is a boy thing.
” My mom smiled. “I believe that you guys carry it with you into manhood,” she teased.
“Why don’t you two come over for dinner one day, and maybe Jake can talk to him about it.
Sometimes all they need is to hear it from someone else to really hear it, you know? ”
“Yes ma’am, we can make that happen,” Adonis agreed. “Just let your daughter know the date and time, and we’ll be there.”
“Perfect.” My mom beamed.
“Aight, I need to get out of here to go see what he’s up to.” Adonis stood and so did I. “I haven’t been by the crib to check on him yet. Gotta make sure he not in there throwing a party or nothing.” We all shared a laugh. “Rhea, it was nice meeting you. I hope we all get to chill someday.”
“Of course.” Rhea leaned up to shake Adonis’s hand.
“Geri.” He nodded at my sister.
He tried doing the same to my parents, but my mother stood and pulled him into her embrace.
“It was great to see you, Adonis.”
“Likewise.” He smiled.
After shaking hands with my father, I walked him to the door.
I was going to walk all the way to the car with him but he insisted that I stay inside.
He promised to call me as soon as he got home, so after sharing a quick kiss, I closed the door and joined my very nosy family in the living room to answer their million questions about what my future with Adonis looked like.