Epilogue
To that Summer in Dooley
Honk.
Honk.
“Coming girl!”
I rushed out of my front door, surprised to find Flocco at the wheel of the car in front of my home. I was fully expecting Saga. He’d promised he’d be tied up at the shop all evening.
“Honking? Really?”
“If I didn’t then it wouldn’t have been a surprise,” Flocco explained, grabbing me by the throat and shoving his tongue down my throat.
“I thought you’d be at the shop all day.”
“That shit can wait. You can’t.”
I’d managed to get through my first semester of school and there was only one way I wanted to celebrate.
“Can’t let you hit The Boulevard alone.”
Three and a half months had passed since it had all happened. I was better. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Flocco and I were in a better space. I’d taken off my sneakers. I wasn’t running anymore. Neither was I afraid anymore.
“You good? You hungry?”
“I am. I figured I’d get something from the food truck.”
“Which one?”
“Wingzzz.”
“I’m always down for a fifteen‐piece.”
“All flats. Fried hard. Tossed carrots. Extra ranch dressing. Buffalo sauce on the side.”
“Just like that.”
We reached The Boulevard to find the whole hood outside. We found a spot on the lot, right next to Saga and Sully. I rolled the window down, unable to contain myself. I instructed Saga to do the same.
“Bitch, that’s why you couldn’t come pick me up? You boo’d up?”
“I’m not boo’d up. Sully is just my friend. Ain’t that right, Sully.”
He shook his head, never losing focus of the blunt he was rolling.
“Yes he is,” she chuckled.
“No the fuck I ain’t. I’m trying to be her nigga. Trying to put a rock on her finger like that psychotic motherfucker put on yours.”
“Fuck you.”
I held my hand out of the window, flossing the diamonds in the sunset.
“It is kind of nice, friend.”
“Kind of?” Flocco sniggered. “Yeah. Aight.”
“I love it, baby.”
“Period, King. Get her right together.”
“You ate?” I asked Saga.
“Yeah. We just had some wings.”
“Twins.”
“That’s where y’all heading?”
“Yes. In a second.”
“Nah. I already called it in. The gone bring our shit to the car.”
“Even better,” I sighed. “You getting out?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
“After I eat.”
“Bet.”
I rolled up the window. Saga did the same.
“You think she’s going to give in?”
Flocco nodded.
“She already has. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“And how do you know?”
“Cause y’all two motherfuckers don’t be in anybody’s face… anybody’s whip. Saga just playing the same games you like to play. But, homie has already won.”
“Like you’d already won?”
“Exactly like that. I made the nigga a bet. He ain’t got long to lock it down.”
“A bet?”
“That I’d get you down the aisle first.”
“Is this a race,” I chuckled.
“Nah. Never. Just knew I was going to convince your crazy ass to be my wife. That’s never been a doubt in my mind.”
“Hmph.”
“Once we sign that paperwork, it’s a wrap. I’ll be licensed to stalk your ass, blow that line down, and break down that front door if I have to.”
“You literally have a key.”
“And you’re crazy enough to change the lock just because I forgot the ketchup for your fries.”
“You do have a point there.”
“I know I do.”
“Speaking of paperwork.”
I slid a hand into my purse.
“Here– Look.”
I handed Flocco the paper I’d been waiting to show Saga. Once he was home from the shop, I’d share it with him as well.
“What’s this?”
“Read it.”
He unfolded the paper and stared, carefully reading each line. His thick brows furrowed a little more with each word. I waited anxiously until he’d gotten to the very end.
“Bullshit, Hyphen!”
“No,” I said, shaking my head.
“No?”
“Everything was in my name. I was the sole beneficiary of his estate. The accounts. The cars. The safes. The home he was rebuilding. The land it’s on. The houses he owns all over Huffington. Everything. It’s all mine.”
“This says $14 mil, Trouble.”
I nodded, tears fresh in my eyes.
“I know.”
“Shit!”
“But that’s not it.”
“No?”
“No. The insurance company called me.”
“Today?”
“Yes. We had a $2.5 million dollar insurance policy. You know–In case anything ever happened to him. It’s mine now. It will be, at least. Once the check is ready.”
“Bullshit.”
I shook my head again.
“No.”
“Goddamn, baby.”
“I used to joke–I used to say that I was never supposed to fall in love with him. That he was only supposed to be my biggest lick. He is.”
The end.