Chapter 5 #4
“He does good business,” I laughed.
“Awwww man! My lil nigga about to propose!” He excitedly yell-whispered, closing the velvet box. “You navigate your career and love life like a fucking pro. When are you going to pop the question?”
“I’m going to propose on Valentine’s Day before Amill and Jameera launch their spring line, and she gets too busy for a nigga.
Has my mom ever gotten too busy for you and vice versa?
It just seems like we keep missing each other lately.
My birthday in Miami was the last time we spent real quality time in a while. ”
“In the beginning ya mama would try that busy shit, but then I would just pop up on her ass. I’mma get my time in regardless. Remember the first time I met the fam at Quincy’s fall ball game?”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Ya mom didn’t invite me. I knew she would be there, so I pulled up on her.
When I met ya mom, I started looking at that old saying, ‘people make time for what they want,’ differently.
I knew I wanted her. I wasn’t about to let anybody else have her, so I started believing that sometimes you gotta insert yourself in a motha fucka’s life if you’re trying to solidify your position.
You already got Jameera, make yourself available to her schedule.
She’s a working woman with two thriving businesses.
Help her with her business shit sometimes.
Tell Amill to move the fuck over and pull up to the farmer’s markets with them if you need to.
Go to her yoga classes or meditate with her.
You think I wanted to meditate with them?
” He pointed at the window overlooking the backyard where the women were hanging out.
Yaseer turned around and grabbed the marble serving tray on the middle shelf behind him.
It held a bottle of Macallan 25 and a pair of rock glasses.
He set the tray on his desk and gave one glass a generous pour and the other a measured pour.
“Shit, maybe,” I shrugged, emitting a light chuckle.
“Hell naw,” he refuted, picking up one of the glasses and passing me the glass with the lesser amount of liquor. “I know you rarely drink, but this is a celebration.”
Yasseer walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window, and I trailed behind him, standing in the open space to his left.
The women were scattered across the backyard.
Amill was sitting in the grass with Yarissa, helping her with her homework.
Jameera sat on one of the lounge chairs with pictures, scissors, glue, and other art supplies surrounding her while she worked on her scrapbook.
My mama and Khaleesi were sitting across the pool with mixed drinks in their hands.
“In my opinion, those yoga mats are uncomfortable as fuck. However, my meetings for the day were canceled, so I came home to spend time alone with ya mom. She’s never too busy, but my schedule can get crazy sometimes.
When my schedule gets crazy, I get in where I fit in.
I didn’t give a fuck about Jameera and Khaleesi being here when I came back home.
They had to scoot the fuck over and give me a mat so I can sit next to my wife.
I’m about to meditate too. I might’ve fallen asleep, but I was still by my wife, and when you get out of my face I’mma go lay on that chair next to her,” he laughed.
“Do what you gotta do. Shit, get a glue stick and start scrapbooking too.”
“I’mma do better. Our situation is a little different. Our schedules make us miss each other a lot. But I’m going to get in where I fit in,” I acknowledged.
“I’m so proud of you, Q! I’m happy for you! Watching you and Jameera over the years has been beautiful. I wasn’t half the man you are at your age,” Yaseer grinned like a proud father.
“Thank you. It means a lot coming from you. The way you treat my mother is the best example,” I admitted.
“Hell, the way you treat me and Quincy is also appreciated. You never missed a beat in our careers. You were the first person to believe in me with this rap shit. You were the first person outside of Jameera I felt comfortable telling about my rap dreams, and I didn’t have to ask for your support.
You threw your money behind me. When I was in that hospital bed, you didn’t hesitate to offer a kidney,” I expressed before placing the glass to my lips and taking a large gulp.
“I love you and Quincy like my own. I’d do all of that shit over again. Y’all are thriving, growing into men that I respect and wouldn’t mind hanging around.”
“I wouldn’t mind hanging around with you either, ol’ head,” I laughed, rubbing the top of his head.
Yaseer pushed my hands away and went back behind his desk to grab his vibrating phone.
“I met up with James at my new building earlier and asked for his blessing.”
“That’s what’s up. You’re doing this all right. I asked Marissa first and let Vincent know what it was afterward,” he reminisced, lifting the glass to his lips.
“I need a favor. Can you hide this in your safe for me?”
“Oh, you know I got you,” he nodded, extending his palm in my direction.
I passed Yaseer the box and watched him place his drink on the desk and open the door across from it that led to the large safe.
He placed his middle finger on the floor-to-ceiling safe and keyed in a passcode, opening it.
The safe housed a bunch of important documents, irreplaceable family heirlooms that weren’t worth much outside of sentimental value, and a duffle full of emergency cash.
For the next few months, it would also house my engagement ring.
Once the ring was safely inside, Yasser grabbed his drink and came back towards the window where I stood.
“Finding the one before thirty is a blessing. Let’s toast to that,” Yaseer attested.
“Amen.” I tapped my glass against his.
We finished off our drink while I allowed Yaseer’s advice to settle in. I swear, Yaseer was the best thing that happened to my mama. I loved that nigga for life.