FLEX
“Finally, out of this bitch,” Keith said as he scooped the applesauce into his spoon.
I had come to the hospital not only to check on Keith but to see if he could talk some sense into Kareem.
Every day he was out there without a dime to his name was a day he was losing his fucking mind.
When he threatened me at the club, I knew he had lost it.
I know I promised him the money I made that night, but after shit went left with Foe, I knew I wasn’t going to get anything from him.
Harvey. I smiled, thinking about her. I liked her. I liked the taste of her sweet lips against mine, which made me feel something. The sound of Keith’s laugh brought me back. “You’re staring at me like you like me or some shit. You know Kareem doesn’t play that shit, and neither do I.”
I smacked my lips then waved him off. “Boy, please. Not interested, never have been. Hell, I’m trying to dodge your brother, but it seems almost impossible,” I muttered.
“Yeah, well, you chose him. Kareem needs someone to love him, right, that’s all. We all needed someone to love us right.”
I understood that, but he’s not the one I want to be with forever. I leaned forward. “I need you to tell him to back off, Keith. I’m sure he will listen to you.”
Keith looked at me. “I can’t control him. If I could, you think he would have been locked up in the first fucking place? Look, there are things I want to do, like college. I want a future. I will try to talk to him, but I cannot make any promises.”
I dropped my head in defeat. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to try. “Who did this to you?” I curiously asked.
Keith’s face curled up as he glanced at me with his bruised eyes. “A Zoo bitch. He caught me slipping, but he won’t get a next time.” He laughed. “Yeah, when he least expects it.”
The sounds of someone tapping on the door made both of us look. “My little nigga Keith,” Bishop said to him.
I had almost forgotten about how fine the Prince of the Cove was.
He came through the door in his finest, per usual.
I watched as Keith lit up seeing him. I could tell Keith was in good hands.
He was getting all the things he needed from Bishop, but Kareem didn’t see it that way.
He figured his brother loved him less because of Bishop, which I didn’t believe was true.
I stood from the chair to leave when Keith called out to me. “You should come to the Halloween party. Have some fun.”
I glanced at Bishop, “You can slide through. It’ll be at the lounge.”
I smiled. “I will think about it,” I paused. “Bishop,” I called out.
He glanced back at me. “Keep an eye on Kareem,” I finished before I left.
I didn’t know if anyone would be able to stop him. If Bishop couldn’t, I hoped the Zoo could. As I thought about the Zoo, I thought about Harvey. I wanted to see her again. A smile eased on my face as I rushed to my car. I was going to pay her a little visit.