Chapter 9
I hadn’t spoken to Arlie or Kimaji in a couple of days. I’d gone back to work yesterday and was in Vegas. We were about to fly back today. Taking a chance, I sent Arlie a text.
Hey. Just checking on you.
I could see her gratitude before she even hugged me.
When I heard her yell, Kimaji and I made our way to the door.
Kimaji listened to her conversation to figure out something had happened to her brother.
I didn’t even know she had a brother. I didn’t know much about her at all.
By her response to the phone call, I came to the conclusion that whatever had happened, it was serious.
I called my mama and had her send Noah my phone number.
I didn’t want to take the chance of him not answering had I called him.
So to avoid all that, I just went through my mama.
It had only taken him a minute or two to call me.
He thanked me for letting him know. I knew Noah was all about family, and he would understand why Arlie needed to be home.
When Arlie didn’t text back, I sent a message to Kimaji. Hey. Arlie okay?
I sat at breakfast, thinking about how much I’d gotten to know Kimaji in such a short amount of time.
She seemed so genuine, and that was refreshing.
We had a lot in common. We both liked smothered potatoes, which was crazy as hell.
She loved rap music and R&B. She also loved some rock and pop music.
Like me, she loved showing off, it seemed.
We were siblings for sure. She told me how she used to brag about Arlie being her best friend all the time and used her name in Houston to get what she wanted.
We’d laughed about that. I was definitely one to name drop if I thought I could benefit from it.
When Arlie left, we talked for another hour and agreed to keep in touch.
I bought her a few books, although she’d rejected my money at first. She’d racked up a nice amount of books.
I read occasionally, but she was an avid reader, which was cool.
I’d dropped nearly three hundred dollars on books.
What sealed the deal for me was knowing that math and science were her strong suits.
When I told her I had a master’s degree in chemical engineering, she nearly came unglued.
She said her mother was good at math and science as well and was a chemistry teacher now.
Knowing what I knew about her past, I was impressed.
Maybe meeting her wouldn’t be that bad. Kimaji didn’t know why her mother gave me up.
She said she’d only been told it was for financial reasons and that the timing wasn’t right, but she could tell there was more her mom wasn’t saying. I wouldn’t be the one to enlighten her.
My phone chimed, so I picked it up from the table to see a text from Kimaji.
Her brother died. She’s not taking it well at all. She’s been in her bedroom, refusing to eat or leave. Her dad is staying with her to make sure she’s at least drinking water and protein shakes.
That was why she was refusing to respond to my text.
I hated that for her. I hadn’t had anyone close to me to die.
My mama’s brush with death happened before me.
I surely didn’t remember my own experience.
I was only about eight months old or so.
I didn’t remember Aunt Sonya’s suicide attempts that I’d heard about.
I remembered when Aunt Sonya’s ex had supposedly died.
I wasn’t close to him though. Hell, I was barely close to anyone in the family around that time.
Nick and I had grown up together, but he had separated from me before we were teenagers.
Our personalities didn’t gel at all. His dad, Uncle Corey, wasn’t feeling the way I talked to my parents, so they stopped coming around, even after Uncle Corey married my dad’s sister.
I also remembered when Nick’s mom was killed.
I was only around nine or so. Again, I wasn’t close to her either.
My grandmother had died before I was born and before my parents had even gotten married.
My grandfather died when I was a teenager, but I really didn’t feel the sorrow like everyone else.
It was weird to explain. I spent a lot of time at his house with my mama, but he and I really didn’t have a connection. Maybe I really was a problem.
I texted Kimaji back. I’m in Vegas, but we’re heading back today. I’ll head to her place when I leave the airport.
Okay.
I finished my breakfast of eggs, waffles, and chicken and headed to the airport to get ready for our flight.
I was dragging like crazy though. I hit the strip last night and saw a couple of shows, then went to a couple of casinos.
I thought the night would be a loss, but I ended up winning my money back plus a couple of thousand.
That was what I got for trying to gamble at the blackjack table.
I should’ve known better. I wasn’t a gambler.
I brought my ass to the slot machines after that and that shit paid off.
I headed to the shuttle and pulled my phone from my pocket. Good morning, Ma. We’re about to leave Vegas. Love you.
Love you too baby. Safe travels.
Once we’d gotten to the airport, I texted Arlie again. I’m coming straight to you when I land.
Her response was quick. I frowned as I read it.
Her: No.
Me: Yes.
Her: I said no, nigga.
Me: I said yes, nigga.
Her: I don’t feel like fucking, and I’m not finna go back and forth with you, Graham.
Me: Who said anything about fucking? I’m glad you not finna go back and forth with me, Arlie, because shit ain’t up for discussion. I said it and that’s what it’s gon’ be. See you later.
She had all that lip by text, but whenever she was in my presence, that mouth was on hush.
I slowly shook my head. She was gonna be a problem.
I just wanted to be there for her. The shit was unnerving to say the least. Just the fact that I gave a fuck about somebody I was simply fucking was what bothered me.
All I knew about her was that she was a Houston rapper, her age, and just recently, that she had a brother.
Kimaji told me that ever since Arlie’s breakup in high school, she’d been private.
She didn’t share personal shit with nobody.
I supposed that was the reason she didn’t tell me her brother had died.
I thought she would have since I knew something had happened to him.
I guess I wasn’t as open either. She only knew shit about who I was connected to, and that I was adopted since her best friend was my sister.
I huffed as my phone chimed. You show yo’ ass up here and I’m calling the cops.
I rolled my eyes. Say that shit to my face when I get there.
I called Happily Ever After Florists in Beaumont to deliver a bouquet to her tomorrow.
Thankfully, they serviced the Houston area.
I paid extra for the rush and travel. Her bouquets were exquisite, so I knew it would be gorgeous.
I didn’t know why I was trying to force myself on Arlie.
That was a form of begging. What in the fuck?
I decided at that moment that I wouldn’t go.
The flowers would suffice, then I would mind the business that paid me.
When we arrived at the airport, I headed to the private area of the terminal.
For the first time, I didn’t scope out the scene to see who I could see.
Arlie had my mood fucked. When I got on the aircraft, I sent Kimaji a text.
I won’t be there. I’m not forcing myself on nobody.
She didn’t respond right away so I found my list and started getting ready for the flight.
“Nigga, I had to make sure yo’ ass was amongst the living,” Cooper said as I stepped aside and let him through the door.
“Whatever. I went to Beaumont during my last couple of days off. I chilled with the parentals. We went bowling, seen the Michael movie, and had dinner at TRUST.”
“Sounds like y’all had a full day. That’s what’s up,” he said as he flopped on the couch.
“You good? It’s been a minute. How’s work and shit?”
“It’s cool.”
I frowned slightly. Cooper was younger than me, but not by much.
I wanted to say he was thirty-two or thirty-three.
He’d gotten a master’s degree at TSU in computer programming or some shit like that.
The nigga was smart as fuck. I mean, I wasn’t a dummy, but it seemed Aunt Serita’s kids were next level smart.
Shane, Sharee, Kyla, and Cooper all were straight A students.
They made that shit look easy too. I got good grades, but I had to study hard for that shit.
“You sure? You having problems at work?”
“Naw. Me and my girl broke up. She was full of shit though, so I’m irritated. I came here because I knew you could get me out of my funk.”
“Well, nigga, you picked the wrong one this time. I been fucking with SOLA lately. She said she don’t want a relationship or no shit like that . . . no attachments. That was how she said that shit. But guess who done fucked around and got pussy whipped?”
I slowly shook my head as Cooper’s eyes widened. “I know you fucking lying.”
“I wish I was. I didn’t tell her that shit, but I guess I did in so many words. I told her that shit was mine whenever I wanted it. She agreed to that shit. Well, her brother died. I was tryna be there for her, but she doesn’t want me there, and I’m in my fucking feelings like a got damn woman.”
He chuckled. “That shit is new for you. Damn. I thought I would never see the day you wanted to be with just one woman.”
“Shit, me either, nigga.”
He chuckled. “So what are you gonna do?”