BEANS
I sat at the table as everyone finished breakfast. Pierre grilled me every other minute, while Piggy swooned whenever I looked at her.
The feeling of sitting at a table with a family that loved each other was a hard pill to swallow.
It fucked me up that my experience with this type of love had to come from outside my home.
The longer I sat at the table, the more I knew I needed to tell Piggy, not only of the game but of other things as well.
I tapped her shoulder as I stood from the table.
I took a quick look at her mom, “Thank you for having me,” I said.
She sipped on her coffee. “You’re welcome, but next time, don’t sneak into my house. You're welcome here anytime. Make sure you tell that mother of yours I said hi,” she finished.
Piggy walked me to the door, “Wait, what about your car?” she asked.
“Keep it, meet me at my house in about two hours, I got some shit to handle,” I told her.
She looked sad, like she didn’t want me to leave, and I didn’t want to, but in order to handle things with her, I needed to close some other doors first. Christmas was around the corner, and I wanted to just move on. I leaned down and kissed her lips.
“But it’s your birthday, Braylen,” she whined.
“I know. I will be a’ight. Remember, my house, and then you can hook a nigga up for his birthday.” I winked.
She giggled as she nodded and closed the door.
I jogged up the street to my bike, hopped on, and took off.
Although she kept a nigga’s mind occupied for a few hours, Chevy and my conversation continued to play in my head.
I had now looked at him in a different light and wondered if the other guys experienced that part of him.
When I got to my destination, I got off my bike and jogged up the steps.
I rang the doorbell and waited. When she opened the door, she cheesed. “Happy birthday!” she squealed.
I gave her a weak smile, “Can I talk to you for a minute?” I asked.
Sasha backed up and allowed me inside. All of the Christmas decorations, the lit fireplace, and the subtle music were a new vibe. I glanced back at her, “This is what happiness looks like? He got you baking cookies and shit.”
She waved me off. “Whatever. Honestly, I didn’t think I would have this, but I’m here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I sat on the couch as I ran my hand through my beard. “I remember the night you showed up crying about Zu’s bitch ass,” I joked.
She plopped beside me. “Yup, and I also remember a girl named Paige asleep in your bed. What’s up with that?”
“That’s what I came to talk to you about. I’ve been keeping some shit from her, and I feel like when I tell her, she’s not going to want to fuck with me.”
Sasha looked at me curiously. I had been able to keep that part of my life separate from them.
However, now the shit was becoming harder to do.
Sasha placed her hand on my lap. “Y’all have been doing the podcast for the last three years.
She should be the easiest to talk to. The only thing I can say is if she’s meant for you, she might be mad at first, but love always wins. ”
I didn’t know if what Sasha was saying was right, but she had found love, and so had Monfua, Mali, and even Peanut. I nodded slowly, “Is Dio here?”
The sound of his voice made me shake my head. “You’re a nosy nigga, I swear.”
He came from the other side of the wall and shrugged. “Nigga, you in my house.”
I pointed at him as I glanced at Sasha, “When y’all putting this nigga out, and where the fuck is Zu?”
Sasha’s brows raised. “He’s asleep.”
“I would be too, as much fucking as y’all do,” Dio laughed. “What’s up, though. I heard it’s your birthday. Happy Birthday, gang. What are we doing?” he asked.
“Thanks, I have plans. Anyways, I wanted to holla at you about something. After the spring semester, I was thinking maybe you can manage Scooter.”
Dio burst out in laughter. He pointed at me while he looked at Sasha, “Yo’ boy delusional. I said the nigga was an ally, not I wanted to be hip to hip with the nigga.”
Dio had it in him, and what better nigga to manage someone like Scooter than a nigga who could relate.
“Dio, the shit sounds funny, but you work well with handling others. I mean, I won’t be too far behind y’all.
I’ll handle the music and production; you’ll handle the management.
I’m telling you, it will elevate your leadership skills. ”
Dio blankly stared. “You’re serious?”
“Just as serious as the question you asked about—”
“A’ight, fuck it. I’ll do it, only after the semester is over.”
“Bet.”
Dio walked off as Sasha approached me. “I’m happy you’re opening up. I am. Now let me tell you about something that I think would really win Paige over.”
Sasha began explaining OLS. I heard Peanut and Monfua talk about it, but never paid it any mind. Now, my ears were perked. I took in everything said, but before that happened, I knew Piggy and I really needed to talk.