Chapter 6 Dreka
Chapter Six
Dreka
“Wassup parentals?” I greeted my parents after walking through their house and finding them in the dining room.
My dad was the first to stand and greet me with a hug and kiss to each cheek. “Dreka.”
“Mmhmm, you’ve got that glow again,” my mother buzzed, hugging me next with a smile.
“What glow?” I snatched one of the muffins from the center of the table and took a seat.
“Xy glow,” they said at the same time and then laughed like something was funny.
“Well,” I shrugged and bit into the chocolate chip muffin, releasing a soft moan because it was so good. “Mm, Mommy, this muffin is to die for.”
“It’s to be high for,” she giggled.
I immediately spit the muffin out after having already swallowed some of it. “This is a damn edible?! Why didn’t you say so before I ate this shit? You know I can’t eat your edibles. They have me on my ass for twelve hours!”
I didn’t know where my mom found the weed, THC, or whatever the fuck she used to put in her edibles, but that shit was dangerous.
Making edibles was her passion, and whenever she made a batch, she sold out within an hour.
I just didn’t understand how people could eat them and still move around during the day.
I smoked weed but edibles were a different type of high that I didn’t enjoy that much.
“Relax,” my mom continued laughing, letting me know she was probably on her way to being higher than a kite. “I used very small amounts of THC in that batch.”
Throwing the muffin down on the table, I rolled my eyes. “The last time you said that, I was high for two days straight.”
“Rahdreka, stop exaggerating,” she laughed loudly and shook her head. “Have you heard anything else about what happened with your shop?”
“No. The police didn’t find any prints that didn’t belong, which means they used gloves, and Xy still hasn’t been able to track down the current owner of the car. It’s looking like a dead end.”
“And no one has said anything to you in person or on social media?” my dad investigated further.
“Nothing out of the ordinary, I guess. Since me and Xy have been out in public more over the last week, of course haters are in my comments, but that’s about it. No one has messaged me to claim their handywork, so I’m still at a lost.”
He nodded slowly. “Do you know if Xyleek has contacted any women he’s been dealing with?”
“He swears that no one he was dealing with would want to do that, knowing how he would react. Is that something he can be undeniably sure of? No. Women do stupid shit when they’re pushed to the edge.”
“You would know,” my mother gave me a playful look.
“Okayyy, I go to jail oneeeeee time,” I rolled my eyes again with a laugh.
I loved my parents with everything in me.
I never knew my birth father, but Giulio had been in my life since I was ten, so I only saw him as my dad.
When my mother met him, he was deep into the mafia lifestyle, yet it was never an issue for my mother or I.
None of that street shit touched our doorstep, and that was the only thing my mom asked of him as my father.
Sometimes, Giulio pushed for me to be the image of what he thought his daughter should be like.
And at the same time, he knew my mother and how she raised me to be; strong willed, hard-headed, and determined to do things my own way.
They were my best friends though, and I was grateful to be able to say that.
“What brings you by anyway?” My dad looked up from his crossword puzzle.
“Damn. I need a reason to come see you two?”
“Rahdreka,” he called my name in that voice that put me back in the mindset of being a little kid.
“Xyleek wants to get married.”
My parents exchanged glances before my mom put her hand on top of my arm. “Baby, hasn’t Xyleek always wanted to get married?”
“Yeah, but he hasn’t always acted like he wants to. His infidelity really put a strain on us and the trust I have for him.”
“You don’t trust him now?” Her voice softened even more, changing into that overly concerned motherly tone.
I sighed heavily, glancing between them. “I do, but I don’t. I know what he’s showing me, but he’s shown me these exact same things before. How am I supposed to know if it’s real this time?”
“What is your gut telling you?”
“To not be a stupid bitch.”
My dad laughed deeply, placing the pen in his hand down and forming his hands into a steeple. “Honey, you’re a smart girl, always have been. If being with Xyleek makes you feel stupid, then you need to ask yourself why you are willing to feel that way?”
My eyes dropped to the table as I thought deeply about his question. Why was I willing to play the fool for Xy one more time? This shit had to be a mental illness. I needed to call up that retreat in Idaho to see if I could admit myself again.
“I don’t know. I just…I love him, and I know that’s the stupidest shit I can say given everything we’ve been through, but that’s the unfiltered truth of the matter. I loved Akil but not in the way that I love Xy.”
“Xyleek hasn’t been able to do any wrong in your eyes since y’all were thirteen years old, Dreka. I get it, but baby, if the only time he’s fighting for you is when he’s doing wrong, then that speaks to his nature.”
“Yeah,” my shoulders slumped slightly. “I know he’s trying to be different and talks about wanting to move forward but…” my voice trailed.
“The most expensive thing that muthafucka can give you, Dreka, are his actions. Words are cheaper than a key of crack. You know why so many people running around on crack? It’s cheap.
Easy to get. Just like words. People can say anything, but when they get to showing you shit?
Ah, well, now you got yourself a couple keys of coke. ”
Staring at him, I couldn’t believe this man just compared Xy’s actions to the cost of drugs. I blinked in disbelief, trying hard not to laugh. The expression on his face was dead serious, which made his words ten times funnier.
“Dad,” a giggle slipped out anyway. “Really?”
“Giulio,” my mother laughed along with me.
He shrugged, completely unfazed. “What? You knew what the hell I was saying, right? You know the business, so you know what I’m saying is true.
Don’t take his money and diamonds, take his coke, and if he’s only offering crack, then in the words of the late and great Whitney Houston, crack is wack! Tell him take a hike.”
I covered my face and let out a deep, hearty laugh. The kind that only your parents who loved and poured into you endlessly could give.
My mother was laughing so hard she had tears coming out her eyes. “What Whitney say, baby?”
“Crack is wack! And she wasn’t lying either.
Listen, baby girl, at the end of the day, it’s your life.
We want to see you happy, preferably married with kids, but your happiness is what matters the most to us.
You have to ask yourself if you want a man who loves you right because he’s about to lose you or one who loves you right just because it’s Monday,” he imparted with sincerity.
“C’mon, Pastor Giulio!” I teased, holding my stomach as I kept laughing.
“You have a good heart, baby, a big one,” he continued even though me and my mom were still laughing. “Don’t let someone who’s still learning how to love themselves teach you a fucked up version of love. You deserve better.”
My laugh stopped immediately as his words body slammed me. “Well damn, Dad, way to change the mood.”
“I wasn’t trying to change the mood, sweetheart.
I just want you to make the right decision for you.
If that’s Xyleek, then he really needs to step it up.
You know there’s an agreement in place with the families, so Xyleek isn’t to be touched, but for my baby?
I will stomp through his arrogant, big ass head and answer for it later.
We love Xyleek, you know that, but you also know we love you more.
You are our first and only priority, Dreka. ”
Nodding slowly, I swallowed down the lump in my throat.
I heard and understood everything my dad was saying.
He was right. Xy needed to do more than just talk about it, he needed to be about it.
Had he been better now than ever before?
Absolutely but that still didn’t mean shit.
He could’ve been putting on an act just to pull me back in.
Time would tell, and time always showed people’s true colors.
The hopeless romantic in me wanted to believe Xy really was changing for the better, but our long history made me extra cautious with him.
Spending another thirty minutes with them, I left their house and decided to pull up on Makenna at her nail salon.
We hadn’t talked much since she popped up at my shop, and I missed her.
It was the first of the month, so I knew she’d be there doing inventory and payroll.
If nothing else, she was a creature of habit when it came to her business.
When I walked in, the smell of acrylic and acetone attacked my nose.
Her shop, Nailed It, stayed busy and understandably so.
Her nail techs were so damn good and more than that, they were affordable.
She didn’t charge an arm and a leg like other salons, which kept people coming in.
I spoke to a few people on my way to her office. Knocking on the closed door, I at least gave Ken the courtesy of waiting for her to tell me to come in before doing so.
“Oh, you’re not who I was expecting,” her face remained neutral after I walked in and closed the door.
“I bet,” I took a seat across from her, releasing a deep sigh. “Do we need to fight or what?”
“What?”
“Kenna, you been giving me the cold shoulder and as much as I like to act like I don’t give a fuck, I do. You and Rae are my hearts,” I spoke about my best friend. “So say what you need to say.”
She shrugged and sat back in her chair. “I think I said everything I needed to say the last time I saw you, Dreka. Getting back with Xy is a mistake and a disaster waiting to happen, but if you’re down to go through a bunch of bullshit again, I can’t stop you.”
See, the difference between my parents and my God-sister was that they politely called me stupid. Makenna didn’t give a damn how her words sounded coming out. She said exactly what was on her mind and let me deal with my emotions of it after the fact.
“Oh, and before you say,” she sat up straight again, so I knew I was about to get a mouthful.
“He’s changed,” her mockery tone made me laugh just a little.
“That nigga always changed after he’s got you and him caught up in some bullshit.
That’s your favorite line about him, Dreka, and I’m honestly sick of hearing it.
According to my husband, Xy has changed and wants to do right, but how many times has he said that?
And then how many times has he proceeded to drag you by your edges through the streets of Virginia?
And then, how many times has he gone to ‘see the lady’ to stop him from acting like the world’s biggest asshole for the next time?
How many next times does the nigga get? I mean gahdamn.
You’re on your shit, you’re fine as fuck, any nigga would be lucky to have you, yet Xy doesn’t realize what a privilege it is to be in your presence.
Hell, I know that and I’m not even fuckin’ you, so what’s that say about him? ”
“I thought you said everything you needed to say the last time you saw me?” I squinted at her.
She pushed her middle finger in the air. “Don’t piss me off, D.”
“Sorry,” I giggled, twisting my lips to the side as I allowed her words to soak in my mind.
Makenna wasn’t wrong…she rarely was, and that shit annoyed me to no end. Every time she thought Xy was cheating, he damn sure was, and she was there to pick up the pieces.
“You know I love you, which is why I have to say the harsh shit that no one else will probably say. Rahdreka,” she sighed and leaned forward on her desk with her forearms. “I’m always with you, right, wrong, or indifferent but this?
This just seems reckless considering the work you did in Idaho.
It’s the same story, different month. He promises he changed, you take him back, he fucks up, I clean up the mess, you cry your heart out, you get yourself together, and then there that nigga is again with the I’m a changed man speech.
The very definition of insanity is doing the same shit over and over and expecting different results. I mean…you ain’t insane…are you?”
The look on her face made me laugh. “I guess I’d have to be to stay on this merry go round. And I know, Ken, I know what this looks like, but I can’t explain it. I really do think he’s different this time.”
“Listen,” she drew in a deep breath and pressed the palms of her hands together.
“Let’s just say there’s a pitbull who bites a muthafucka, but he’s wearing a green collar, right?
He just keeps biting niggas, so his owner thinks to himself maybe if I get him a new, fancy collar, he’ll stop biting people.
The owner buys the pitbull a diamond collar and guess what?
The dog bites somebody again. You are the owner.
Xy is the ugly ass pitbull. He keeps doing the same thing, but you think that if he comes to you with a new story or a new version of himself… he’s gonna be different.”
Everybody had damn analogies today regarding my love life. I didn’t expect anyone to understand it, I just wanted them to respect it a lil’ bit. That might’ve been wishful thinking though.
“Makenna…”
“You’re gon’ do what you want,” she waved me off, already knowing what I was about to say.
“Go ‘head on with your ugly ass pit. When he bites you, please don’t expect me to help bandage your wound this time. I’m all out of bandages and tired, so I know you have to be tired, but if you have the energy for another lap with that nigga, be my guest.”
I could feel the tears wanting to start, but Makenna wouldn’t give a damn if I cried.
Actually, she would probably turn it into another lecture, so I gave her ass a quick hug and left the building just as quick.
I needed a blunt and a spa day, and that’s exactly what I intended to do with the rest of my day.