Chapter 11
“I didn’t know you were over here. How was everything?” Raine, one of the owners of Black Reign, asked.
“I got the works, and everything was amazing. I need to start coming here at least once a month.”
“I agree, and not just because I own the place. We offer four monthly membership levels, and you can mix and match your services.”
“You don’t even have to sell me. How do I sign up?”
“Sign up for what?” Melodie asked.
Melodie was Raine’s best friend, sister-in-law, and part owner of the luxury spa. Their husbands ran the barbershop, the barber school, and the mentorship program for boys.
“She convinced me to sign up for one of the monthly membership programs, although it didn’t take much convincing,” I told Melodie.
“You won’t regret it. Did she tell you that your hair appointments can be included in the membership?” Melodie asked.
“Umm, no. She left that part out.”
“There are too many benefits to remember,” Raine said.
After I signed up for the highest membership package, Raine and Melodie walked out with me.
“Girl, Noelani told us what happened. Physically, you look good, but how are you dealing with it up here?” Raine asked, pointing to her head.
“It’s definitely affected me mentally. I still haven’t been back to my apartment, but overall, I’m good.”
“Did they find him yet?” Melodie asked.
“Actually, they must have found him last night or this morning; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here alone. Russell has had me on lockdown since it happened.”
“As he should. Listen, our men don’t play about us, and it can be overwhelming sometimes, but at least we know how they’re coming behind us,” Melodie said.
“You right.”
“Do you carry?” Raine asked.
“Carry what?”
“A gun,” they responded in unison.
“Umm, no. I’ve never even touched a gun.”
Raine shook her head while Melodie folded her arms across her chest.
“How about your sisters?” Raine asked.
I shook my head. “Not that they’ve told me.”
“Bet. I’ll have Breeze talk to Russ about scheduling y’all for some concealed carry classes. We gotta be able to protect ourselves too, girl,” Melodie said.
“We sure do. Had Noelani not been carrying, her situation might’ve ended much differently,” Raine said.
About a year ago, Noelani shot one of her coworkers in self-defense. He was obsessed with her and, unbeknownst to her, had been following her.
“So, are you and Russ back together?” Raine asked.
“Right. We won’t talk about how you played in that man’s face,” Melodie added.
“We are officially together. No games this time, but I had my reasons.”
My tone had become serious, and they both looked at me with concern.
“We won’t pry, and we know you got a gang of sisters, but if you ever need to talk, we’re here,” Raine offered.
“You damn right we are,” Melodie agreed.
I thanked them, and we embraced before I headed to my car. It felt good to be out and about, not having to worry about my safety. When I got in my car, and my phone had connected to Bluetooth, I called Russell.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered.
“Hey. Are you home?”
“Yeah. I’m waiting for you to do my hair.”
“Okay. I’m on my way.”
“Did you enjoy your spa day?”
“Oh my God, Russell. It was so good, I got a monthly membership.”
“That’s good, baby. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Did you put the membership on my card?”
“Umm, if yours was the card on file, I sure did.”
He chuckled. “You knew damn well that was my card, but it’s cool. I would’ve had you change it anyway.”
“You should come with me to get pampered. They—”
“Nah. I’m good, baby. The only person I want rubbing on me is you. I could use a good rub down since I haven’t had one since you abandoned me.”
“On that note, I gotta go. See you soon. Love you.”
I ended the call before he could return the sentiment.
It seemed that everyone wanted to remind me that spending a year apart from Russell was my fault.
Technically, it was, but he gave me an ultimatum, and since I wasn’t ready to tell him I couldn’t have children, I had no choice.
So, in my mind, it was just as much his fault.
When I arrived home, I stopped at the main house, but everyone was out and about except Mama Rush. She said Rocky had taken Bliss, RJ, and Briar to the arcade, and Papa Rush decided to tag along, but my sisters hadn’t come home from the flower shop yet.
I chatted with her for about thirty minutes before leaving. When I entered the suite, Russell was sitting on the couch watching TV, wearing nothing but shorts and a towel wrapped around his neck.
“Looks like somebody is eager to get their hair washed,” I teased.
He smiled. “Nah. I’m just ready to be close to you and feel your hands on me.”
When I was close enough, he pulled me onto his lap. I put the arm closest to his body around his neck as our lips connected. He kissed me like we’d been apart for days when it had only been a few hours.
“Did you miss me?” I asked.
“You can’t tell?”
“Yeah, but I like to hear it.”
“I missed you, baby.” He pecked my lips a few times. “You ready to do my hair? I don’t want us to be late for our plans tonight.”
“Yeah.”
He carried me, bridal style, into the kitchen before putting me down in front of the sink. Everything I needed was already on the counter, so we got started.
I loved Russell’s hair, and washing and braiding it was one of my favorite things to do. There was something soothing and therapeutic about massaging his scalp and running my fingers through his tresses.
In the past, we’d had some of the best conversations while I did his hair. Honestly, the first time Russell opened up to me and showed me his sensitive side was while I did his hair. Although I teased him about not getting his hair done, I appreciated that he only wanted me to do it.
“Your fingers and hands are magical, baby,” he complimented as I massaged the shampoo into his scalp.
“Your fingers and hands have been known to work some magic. I’m a witness.”
We laughed at my response, then he said, “I do what I can.”
Thirty minutes later, I’d finished blow-drying his hair and oiling his scalp. We were back in the living room, and I was sitting on the couch with Russell on the floor between my legs. He preferred his hair in plaits, so I parted it in sections.
“I talked to Mr. and Mrs. Porter today.”
“Who’s that?”
“Oaklyn’s foster parents.”
I gasped. Oaklyn had been on my mind since the first time I saw her.
“Did you find out anything about her background?”
“Yeah, and it’s tragic.”
He went on to share with me the circumstances surrounding how Oaklyn ended up in foster care, and it was beyond tragic. My heart broke at the thought of her sitting in an apartment alone for days, in her own urine and feces, with no food.
“That’s so terrible. Do the Porters seem like nice people?” I asked.
“Yeah, and they’ve grown attached to her since she’s been with them, but they usually only keep the kids for three months. She’s also very young and needs a lot more attention than what they’re used to with their foster kids.”
“How long has it been?”
“A little over a month. If no one in her family steps up—”
“Oh my God, Russell. Can we take her in?”
He tilted his head and looked up at me. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while, huh?”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about her and those sad eyes since I saw her. I even looked into how to become a foster parent. It’s not hard, but the process could take a few months.”
He let his head fall back between my legs and looked up at me.
“You’re serious about this?”
“I am.”
He lifted his head and angled his body so that he could see me.
“When you asked me to find out more about her, I knew what you were thinking, but why didn’t you want to tell me?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I felt something when I looked into her eyes, . . . something I’ve never felt before. I wasn’t sure what it was, and I needed to sit with it for a while. How do you feel about being her foster parents?”
“Being her foster parents would be cool, but I was thinking we could adopt her.”
My eyes widened in disbelief.
“Baby, are you serious?”
“I am, but I didn’t know how serious I was until I was getting ready to leave the Porters’ house. Oaklyn tapped the back of my leg, and when I kneeled to her level, she hugged me.”
“Oh my God, baby. She likes you.”
“Baby, you were the only one who has ever made my heart skip a beat until today.”
“Aww, Russie.”
I took his face in my hands and leaned forward to press my lips against his.
“I love you, Rose.”
“I love you too.”
“Ahh, shit! You got a crisp lining and fresh braids. This is the best you’ve looked in over a year,” Rocky teased.
“Fuck you, nigga.”
“Y’all leave my man alone,” I defended.
“Oh, he’s your man now?” Rocky questioned.
“Shut up, Rocky,” I told him, rolling my eyes.
“He ain’t lying, though. Where y’all headed?” Rowdy asked.
Rocky and Russell looked alike, but Russell and Rowdy were damn near twins. The two of them only had the same father, and their mothers’ genes didn’t put up a fight at all.
“We’re headed to Kustomize Your Kicks now,” Russell told them.
“Noelani and I have been meaning to go back there. The first and only time we went, we got into an argument. It’s a good time, though,” Rowdy offered.
“I guess we’re about to find out,” Russell said as we headed toward his bike.
He gave me my helmet and made sure it was properly secured before putting on his. My father passed along his love for motorcycles to my sisters and me. Even though my parents were killed while out for a ride, it didn’t change my love for them.
Rue hated motorcycles for a long time after our parents’ death, and even seeing one on the road made her upset. Once she began dating Rocky, slowly but surely, her love for them returned.