Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Loco.
“Aight, so now that we got everything finalized, we can start the promo roll out,” Sy said as we wrapped up our meeting.
“That’s cool,” I nodded. “I’m low key excited, Lord.”
“As you should be,” he grinned. “People have only been seeing you here or there, recently when you’re doing features or appearances. They gon’ love this tour.”
“Facts,” I agreed then stood. “I’ll announce it later today if that’s cool.”
“No doubt, bro,” he stood as well then dapped me up. “I’ll let them team know to press the button on their end after you do yo’ shit.”
“Bet. I’ll fuck with you later, Lord.”
As I was walking out of Sy’s office, Dior was walking in, so I stopped to give her a quick hug before slipping past her and exiting.
I spoke to a few other artists on the way out too.
Just as I hit the exit my phone rang, so I paused my stride to see who it was.
When I noticed it was India, I released a low, exasperated breath because I knew she was about to get to nagging.
I hadn’t seen her in a hot minute, and I wasn’t trying to, but I knew if I didn’t answer her looney ass would just keep calling.
“Yeah?”
“Damn nigga, it’s about time,” she spat. “I’ve been fucking with you for a while and I’ve never had to wait this long to talk to you.”
“Been busy, Lord,” I admitted because I had. When I wasn’t doing music shit or handling my righteous business in the streets, I was in Diamond’s face. A nigga ain’t had time to be bothered with no hoes.
“Busy doing what?” she snapped. “Because I’ve seen your ass all over the place on Pikz and Cliqued.”
“It’s my job to be all over the place, baby girl.”
“Don’t be smart, Loco.”
“I damn sure ain’t gon’ be dumb.” I chuckled. “What’s up though?”
“What’s up is I want to see you. It’s been a while and I miss you.”
“Miss this dick,” I corrected. “Never gave you shit else to miss.”
“Same thing. Can I see you?”
“Maybe later. I got some shit going on right now.”
I didn’t really have shit to do after meeting with Sy, I just didn’t want her ass in my face. I was on Diamond’s pretty ass too bad, and after hearing how she dropped her last nigga after he fucked up once, a nigga was afraid that if I fucked up a little, I’d ruin my chances with her.
“Loco,” I heard someone say as soon as I exited the building. I glanced in the direction of the voice and saw a nigga, who was clearly a cop, lift from the wall and walk toward me.
“I’ll hit you back, India.” I disconnected the call before she could reply.
I continued my strides to my whip after hanging up with her because regardless of if I was on the phone or not, I had no rap for the jakes.
“Loco!” He called out again. “Just a few seconds of your time.”
“You can’t afford a few seconds of my time on a pig’s salary. Beat it, nigga.”
“Just a few questions Loco,” he insisted. “You’re one of the names of my list of suspects so it would do you good to talk to me.”
“I pay my fuckin’ attorneys to talk to mothafuckas like you. Go holla at them.”
“I just—”
“Lawyer,” I cut him off as I opened the door to my car.
“If you—”
“Law-yer.” I cut him off again, breaking the word down. “If I gotta say the shit again, Lord, I’m gon’ hit the niggas myself and have a fat ass lawsuit on ya desk before you can make it back to ya ride,” I warned. “Fuck out my face.”
I left his stupid ass standing there as I peeled off hoping some of the dirt that my tires kicked up smacked his dumb ass in the face.
Nigga had to be new because everybody at CFPD knew Makhai Matthews didn’t talk to the cops, and I didn’t cooperate.
I didn’t have to. I had bomb ass lawyers on retainer that ate lil’ niggas like the one that just tried to press me for dinner.
I made a mental note on the way to the crib to hit Miles and see what was up with the police pulling up on me and to figure out what they had.
I was confident that if it was something, it wasn’t much because there wouldn’t have been a question on whether or not I was going to the station with the nigga, he would have just arrested me.
Still, I wanted to know why they even wanted to talk to me.
When I got to my crib, I showered, brushed my teeth, and threw some basketball shorts over my boxers before I went to the kitchen and FaceTimed Diamond.
“Ew,” she said as soon as the call connected. I’d propped my phone on the counter and walked to my refrigerator.
“Girl, please,” I laughed.
“What? Nobody wants to see all of that.”
“Yeah aight.”
“It looks like you need to hit the gym. You’ve got sort of a dad bod.”
My brows furrowed. “A what?”
“Dad bod,” she repeated. “A fat belly and wide hips.”
“Crazy as fuck, Lord,” I laughed again. “Fuck out of here.”
“What are you doing? Are you home?”
“Yeah, I am,” I answered. “Trying to find something to eat, but ain’t shit in here.”
“Why didn’t you get something before going in?”
“Wanted something homemade.”
“You cook?”
“I can do a lil’ something,” I smirked. “You?”
“Of course. I don’t like to eat out all the time.”
“You cooked tonight?”
She nodded. “I made bourbon chicken over rice since I’ve been craving it.”
My stomach growled immediately.
“No invite.”
“You weren’t driving this far just to eat.” I smirked and folded my arms over my chest. “You’re disgusting.”
“I ain’t even do shit.” I laughed.
“Your face said it all.” She playfully rolled her eyes.
“Just saying, all I need is the invite, and I’m there.”
“Now you need an invite, Makhai?”
“You right.” I lifted from my spot and grabbed my phone, heading back toward my room.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m gon’ hit you back in a little.”
“No. Why?”
“I got some shit to handle right quick.”
“Like what? You better not be getting ready to come all the way here.”
“I ain’t.”
“You’re lying.”
“Naw, I’m not.”
“Then what are you about to do?”
“Just told you I got some shit to do right quick, baby.”
Her pretty ass face twisted into a frown. “Why’d you call me if you had something to do?”
“My fault, love. I’m gon’ call as soon as I’m done.”
“Whatever, Makhai. Bye.”
I laughed lowly when she hung up , tossing my phone on my bed before I went to get dressed.
Pretty Ass Diamond: Don’t call me back tonight.
Pretty Ass Diamond: As a matter of fact, don’t call me ever again.
Pretty Ass Diamond: Liar!
I laughed to myself as I read her messages. She swore she wasn’t feeling a nigga like that at first, but she was going off because a nigga hadn’t called back in only a little over an hour and some change.
Locking my phone without replying, I pocketed it before climbing out of my car.
I made sure to check my gun before securing it on my waist then making my way up the steps to my destination, two at a time.
I stuffed my hands in my pockets while I waited for them to answer.
I contemplated picking the mothafuckin’ lock but decided against it for now.
“Who is it?” They shouted. I chose not to reply, opting to knock again. “Who is it?!”
She paused for a few seconds before realizing I wasn’t going to respond, so she snatched the door open, leaving the chain on like she always did.
“You do know I can still open this door even with that weak ass chain, right?”
She tried her hardest not to smile, but failed miserably, before closing the door to remove the chain then opening it wide enough for me to come in. I immediately crowded her space, pressing her into the door frame.
“Who you poppin’ all that hot shit to in them text messages, Lord?” I playfully scowled at her.
“You are a liar.” She grinned and pushed me back. “I knew you were coming over here. You’re becoming too predictable.”
“Why you was texting and crying then?”
“Nobody was crying, negro.” She rolled her eyes as she closed and locked the door.
“Where baby girl?”
“In her swing sleeping,” she pointed. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to get that plate.” I answered, walking toward the baby. She was small as shit and pretty as hell. Her little ass fists were balled tight as fuck as she slept peacefully, rocking side to side in her swing.
“Makhai, I know you’ve eaten,” Diamond said, tearing my attention away from the baby.
“Naw, I haven’t, so go fix ya man a plate.”
Her brows lifted. “My man?”
“That’s what I said.”
“You wish.” She waved me off but strutted her fine ass toward the kitchen. “I distinctly remember you promising me an unforgettable experience when you ask me to be your girlfriend. I’m holding you to that.”
“Word, so you want to be my girl?”
“You’ll have to see when I get my unforgettable experience,” she smiled.
“Aight, bet.” I nodded. “I know you gon’ say yeah, but I’m gon’ wait.”
She fixed my plate and walked it over to me. “Would you like water or juice?”
“Water cool.” I answered, accepting the plate.
I closed my eyes briefly and said a quick prayer before digging in. A nigga was hungry as fuck. I’d spent all day at the studio then met with Sy. I didn’t have time to eat shit, so the food really hit the spot.
When Diamond returned, she sat a cold water on a coaster on the table in front of me then took a seat on the chair adjacent to the couch I was on. She had an amused expression on her face as she watched me.
“You know I have more in the kitchen.”
I chuckled, using the napkin beneath the plate I was holding to clean my mouth.
“Why you watching me eat, Lord? Shit rude as fuck.”
“You’re making it hard not to.” She giggled. “I can’t help it.”
“How long she been sleep?” I quizzed nodding toward the baby. “I drove all the way over here to watch a movie with her.”
“For about two hours,” she smiled and answered. “She’ll be getting up soon, but I don’t think the movies you watch are appropriate for her.”
“How you know what kind of movies I watch, Dime?” I smirked.
“I can tell from your personality.”
“For your information, I fuck with Disney classics when I’m chillin’ and smokin’ and shit at the crib. Lion King might be my favorite.”
Her smile widened. “Really? All of that is a bit shocking.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “It just surprises me. I took you for a Menace II Society or Paid in Full kind of guy.”
“Wow.” I laughed, tossing my head back. “I ain’t even gon’ get offended by your judgement because I do fuck with those movies too, but when I’m kickin’ it, I like to watch the shit I grew up on,” I admitted. “As bad as I was as a young Lord, my mama wasn’t allowing me to watch no shit like that.”
“Yeah, I can see that. You probably got your ass whooped all the time as a child.”
“Naw, my pops wasn’t goin’ for all that shit.” I smirked. “He ain’t let my mama lay hands on me like that.”
Her lips pursed. “So, you didn’t get any whooping’s growing up?”
“Hell yeah, I did.” I laughed. “But not as much as you’d think.”
“Well, who’s your favorite character in Lion King? Scar?”
“Fuck no,” I quickly answered. “Again, I won’t be offended by your judgement.”
“What? I’m not judging you!” she shrieked, laughing, making it impossible for me to not join in. “You just have this bad boy persona going on, so naturally you’d like the villain in the movie.”
“Naw,” I shook my head. “I don’t do no flaw shit and everything about Lord was flaw. Nigga killed his brother just so he couldn’t be on top. I’d never do no shit like that or rock with it.”
“I love how you’re talking like these are real people and not fictional characters in a children’s movie.”
“Fiction or not, the shit taught some real ass life lessons,” I replied. “Mufasa looked out for everybody that was with him and made sure everyone around him ate and was good. He my favorite. Nigga ain’t even want the top spot for real, but he got it and looked out, so I fuck with him.”
She nodded, still smiling at me with her little corny ass.
“We can watch it. I just need to get my shower and stuff out of the way in case I fall asleep.”
“Handle your business. I gotta upload some promo shit anyway and make some calls.”
She nodded and got up. “Don’t call your hoes in my house.”
“You the only hoe I’m tryna have, baby, so chill out.” I said then laughed when she clocked me with one of her pillows.
I promised her to keep an eye on the baby and call for her if she wakes up before she disappeared down the hall. I went to upload my promo on all of my social media platforms and killed my notifications as well because I didn’t want them flooding my phone while I was chilling.
When I was done with that, I called my cousin. She still wasn’t fucking with me since I ran down on her and Chino in the club, but I ain’t give a fuck about all that. I’d let her have an attitude for long enough.
“What, Makhai?” she snapped as soon as she answered.
“Ay, take some of that bass and attitude out ya fuckin’ voice, Lord.”
“What do you want, Makhai?” she asked, much calmer, but I her little ass had rolled her eyes.
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“Why would I do you a favor while I’m mad at you?”
“You mad for nothing, Porsh.” I chuckled. “But we ain’t even gettin’ into all that shit. I need you to cook for me.”
“You paying?”
“Damn, Lord, it’s like that?” I grinned.
“It is,” she answered. “And whatever I usually charge, I’m doubling it since you embarrassed me.”
“My nigga,” I laughed. “After all the shit I do for yo’ spoiled ass, you can’t do me a solid.”
“I’m willing to do you a solid, just not for free.”
“Aight, Lord, I got it.”
“I know you do. But cook what? And when?”
“Prolly this weekend, and it don’t matter. I’m just tryna set some nice shit up…”
“For a woman?”
“Naw, for some niggas.” I frowned. “What you think, Lord?”
“Oh my God, you have a girlfriend?!” she asked excitedly. “Who? Do I know her?”
“Relax, Porsh. Damn.” I chuckled.
“Who is it, Makhai?”
“You don’t know her cuz, but you will soon,” I let her know. “I need you to come to my crib this weekend and hook some shit up for me. You can send me an Apple Pay request for the cost of the food and whatever you charging a nigga.”
“I hope she’s not a hood rat or one of the scandalous women I’ve seen you with before,” she said ignoring everything I’d just told her ass. “Please tell me it’s not that India hoe.”
“Come on, Lord, you know better.”
“Good. I guess I can cook for you though, but only because I want to meet her.”
“Naw, you not meeting her yet. I need to make shit official first.”
“But—”
“You gon’ meet her Porsh, soon too, just not this weekend.”
“Fine.”
“Aight, I appreciate you and I love you.”
“You better. I love you too.”
I’d ended my call with my cousin just in time because minutes later, Diamond was returning.
By the time we got the movie on the screen and her greedy ass had fixed her snacks, the baby had gotten up too.
She had a lil’ pillow that helped her sit up, so we placed her in the middle of us after she got changed and ate, then we chilled watching the movie until we were all knocked the fuck out.