Chapter 6 #2
“To be clear, send your angels down to cover my auntie, my cousin’s mama, and my uncle's wife, not take her away from us. It’s the same person but I couldn’t just say my auntie.
Anyway, cover her and remove anything that’s not like you that’s inside of her.
We need her to beat this and stick around with us a while longer.
She doesn’t know it, but she’s my favorite and I’ll lose my shit.
.. ‘cuse me. I’ll lose it just like they would if something happened to her.
Amen.” Zoo stood up and hugged all of us one by one then walked towards the door.
“Where you going, Baby?”
“Auntie, I gotta go commit a crime or something, this house don’ made me soft. I’ll come by tomorrow to check on you. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I said my goodbyes to them as well and told them I would come back in the morning. I wanted to talk to mama more, but she looked like she was ready to lay back down, and I didn’t want to bother her any longer.
Although I should’ve been happy that my thoughts of them getting a divorce weren’t true, I still hate it was something like this. My mama had always been a fighter and I really hoped this is one fight she didn’t lose.
brIANNA
After dragging myself out of bed, I finally made it to my parents' house. She didn’t give a damn about me being exhausted or that it was a Wednesday, she just wanted to have Brixie a birthday dinner.
I was cool with that because I was hungry but the fact that we had to have dinner at the exact time she pushed her out was a bit much.
Especially, when she didn’t have her ‘til nine thirty-eight at night.
“How’s Naomi big head ass doing?” BJ asked as he flopped down on the couch next to me.
“She’s good at home resting.”
“That’s good, tell her I asked about her.”
“Why you worried about her?” I looked at BJ before rolling my eyes towards his new girlfriend, what’s her face.
“Because that’s my sister, too, that’s why.”
“I need to meet her because you men love saying that’s my sis and the whole time, y’all fucking.”
“Girl, if you are that insecure then you shouldn’t be with him. You think because you popping off and making demands about meeting people, that’s gon’ make your spot permanent?”
“Why wouldn’t it?” she folded her arms and asked with a stank-ass attitude.
“The last girl did that... and now I'm meeting you.”
This bitch wanted to show up like she was running something. She had no idea how my brother run through bitches like Keisha Kior tea. She would not be around long, and he knew that just as well as I did.
“Ugh, Bryson, I’ll just wait outside and please don’t be all night. We have other plans.”
My eyes followed her out the door, and it was evident that I didn’t like this one at all.
“Did you have to tell her that shit?” BJ questioned, pulling an eye roll from me.
“BJ, you know I am not about to just sit and let her talk crazy, and now she’s rushing you when you came to your little sister's dinner. She could have stayed at her place and you met her after.”
“What are you two in here yapping about?” Mama came in, looking at us curiously.
“BJ and one of his thot pockets. I don’t like her,” I told my mama while BJ just sat there, sucking his teeth towards me. My brother was twenty-nine years old and still tried to act like he was sixteen. Settling down wasn’t a part of his life, ever, and the streets was his home.
“Lord BJ, send her home in a one of those Youbers because it’s family time.”
“It’s Uber, Ma, and I’ll just leave. Wish Brixie a happy birthday for me. I got some moves to make, anyway.”
Shaking my head, I watched BJ give mama a hug and then take out a wad of money. “This for Brix.”
“Now, BJ you know I don’t want this.”
“Good ‘cause he said it was for me. Thank you, Brother.” Brixie took the money out of his hand before sitting in my lap. “Hey, Sister.”
“Hey, Brix, tell Mama to get this show on the road. I’m sleepy.”
“I only wanted y’all to come over for my gifts. I have a date so you can go now.” She kissed the side of my face and grabbed the Chanel bag that I got her.
“Really, Mama? I told you I was tired, and she only wanted gifts. She could’ve stopped by to get that.
” Standing up, I picked up my purse and headed for the door.
They did the most and I was hungry as hell.
I knew I ain’t smell nothing cooking, and my dumb ass still didn’t feel like getting off the couch to check the kitchen.
“I’m sorry, she told me not to tell you that I wasn’t cooking.”
“I’ll see y’all later.” I gave everyone a hug then headed to my truck. Sitting inside, I scrolled my phone to see what was close by that I wanted to eat. After deciding to cook something light at home, I headed in that direction.
A message came through on my phone, and I had to laugh because I never went to see what he saved his number as but seeing, Yo New Man Brooklyn, really had me tickled.
Yo New Man Brooklyn: What’s up, Bronx? You fell on my mind, so I just wanted to make sure you were good and if you needed anything.
Me: Bronx?? Really! Lol I’m starving... can you help with that?
Yo New Man Brooklyn: Me too, I’ve been in the studio since I left my parents' house. Where you want me to meet you at?
Shit, I was expecting him to say that he couldn’t help.
Me: My place...
I replied without fully processing his question and obviously, my answer.
Yo New Man Brooklyn: Drop your location. I'll be there in a minute. You need me to get anything?
Me: No, I literally have everything at home, I just like giving my money away to restaurants. See you soon.
Once I sent him my address, I called PJ ‘cause bitch what was I thinking?
“PJ!” I dragged once she answered the phone.
“What, girl? What’s wrong?”
“I just invited him over and now I want to tell him not to come. What if he’s crazier than Teddy when his ass is high as fuck?”
“Umm, Bri, in order for me to help you, you gotta start with telling me who you talkin’ about.”
“Brooklyn,” I softly said, almost not wanting to say it at all.
“Best Friend, if you don’t get cho ass off my phone. Brooklyn fine ass seems cool and if you guys exchanged numbers, then shit you must like him, or something made you give him the right number. You know yo’ ass used to give out the wrong number bad in college.”
“Shut up!” I chuckled because I didn’t give a damn back then. I’d wrong number a man in a minute and don’t let him be ugly, oh you were most definitively finna get someone else's number. “He insisted on us exchanging numbers after Teddy called while we were headed to the hospital.”
“You didn’t tell me that. What did he say?”
“I forgot, friend, my bad. He didn’t get a chance to say much before Brooklyn inserted himself in the conversation after Teddy called me a bitch.”
“Ok, Brooklyn, I see you being a protector and what not. I like that. So, what’s the problem again?”
Exhaling, I started to think if there were a problem at all. “Just me overthinking, I guess. I don’t want to move to fast, although we are just cool and this is totally friendly, but having another man at my house already is...”
“Is fine! Fuck Teddy.”
“Ok I’m pulling in now; he should be here in a second.”
“Ok, boo, enjoy your night and don’t overthink this. Like you said, you guys are just cool. So there’s nothing to worry about. I love you.”
“I love you more. Kiss Mimi for me.”
Ending the call, I went inside and took out something to make a salad, mashed potatoes, and Salmon. That was something quick. I was still mad my mama and sister played me for a gift.
Walking inside, I headed straight for the kitchen. I turned my Snoh Aalegra station on Pandora to let her fill the vibes up in my house.
I was so deep into the music and prepping that I didn’t notice I had a missed message.
Yo New Man Brooklyn: I’ll be there in 5.
And that was sent six minutes ago. I really started moving around the kitchen then.
A knock came at the door, and I swiftly pulled it open.
“I’m so sorry, I just saw your text,” I told Brooklyn as I turned on my heels, immediately heading back into the kitchen.
“You got it smelling good in here.” When I heard his voice, I froze in my tracks. I cursed myself over and over in my head for not asking who was at the door and for opening it and just turning away, assuming it was Brooklyn. Teddy popping up was the furthest thing from my mind.
“Teddy, what do you want?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you got two plates out on the table, but I didn’t get an invite. Expecting someone?”
“Yep, and he’ll be here any moment so you may as well leave now,” I told him straight up.
After the last conversation we had, I didn’t trust this nigga at all.
His once handsome face now looked stressed out, and his eyes looked like he’d been swimming in a pool with his eyes open.
That athletic build that he once had, had now faded away.
I don’t know what he was on but it was slowly eating away at him.
“Oh, Nino coming ova?”
“His name is not Nino and for your information, yep so you can leave. Ain’t nothing here for you no more.”
Instead of moving to the door, he pulled the chair out at the table and took a seat. Reaching for my phone, I sent Brooklyn a quick text.
Me: HE’S HERE... HURRY, PLEASE!!!!!
I was trying to act cool with Teddy, but I could literally smell the alcohol coming from his pores.
“You gon’ put a third plate out for our guest?” Ignoring him, I tried to walk past to go towards the door, but he yanked me by my wrist.
“Get the fuck off me, Teddy!” I yelled while snatching my arm back, making him jump up from the table.
“Or what?” Teddy growled.
“Yo, we got a problem in here?” Brooklyn came into the kitchen with his gun already out.
I didn’t know if I should’ve been happy that he made it before things got ugly or worried that this nigga had a silencer on his gun with the beam pointed right at Teddy’s forehead. Either way, I eased to the side of him.
“No problem. I was just leaving.”