CHAPTER TWELVE IESHA
CHAPTER TWELVE
IESHA
Ihadn’t talked to Seven in three days. During that time, I was able to get Mya’s book cover done and a lot of other projects completed.
It was how I kept myself busy to keep my mind off him.
However, today would be the day that I sat with my thoughts about everything, and I made a decision on what I would do.
I had to do this because I was tired of the back and forth.
If I accepted him back into my life with this bullshit that was going on, I had to accept everything that came with it. I had to think about the whole picture.
I grabbed a spiral and prepared to do this the old school way, with pen and paper. After getting a bottle of Fiji water and a bag of popcorn, I sat on the couch. I didn’t have to think hard.
I huffed as I sat here in my thoughts. It was clear that Seven was worth the risk.
Truth be told, I knew that shit before I wrote this.
I just needed tangible proof of my thoughts.
Most of the cons weren’t that bad. I needed to reevaluate whether I could handle the shit he found himself in or not.
With Seven, I knew there would be future shit to deal with as well.
It was just part of his nature. I twirled my braid around my pointer finger as I searched the depths of my soul.
I curled my feet under me and laid my head against a throw pillow, wishing things could be easier for me mentally.
I wanted to call my mom, but I knew she would just say what she always did.
Stop overthinking, Iesha. I couldn’t help it though.
Whenever I thought I’d overcome it, something always happened to bring me right back to it.
Grabbing my phone from the coffee table, I noticed I had a few text messages.
My phone had been on do not disturb for three days.
I didn’t want to talk to anybody. My brother relayed to everyone that I was okay, but that I was extremely busy.
I had several messages from my mama, sisters, Dad, my other brother, and Seven.
I opened the one I was most interested in first.
I love you, girl, and I miss you already. Your car will be ready tomorrow. If you come to get it and I don’t see you, then I’ll know what your decision is. Take the time you need, but I hope to see you soon.
I checked the date to see that he sent it the day I left.
I’d cried my eyes out when I’d gotten home.
It felt like I was losing my mind because on one hand, I was angry at him for putting himself and his entire family in this predicament, but I was also angry at myself for leaving, especially after seeing how vulnerable he was. He needed me, and I walked away.
Had I at least checked my phone before going to bed, I would have known that he’d texted me. My car had been ready for two days. I supposed I had better get Remy’s car back to him, before he reported it stolen. I quickly sent a text to him.
I’m sorry. I had my phone on do not disturb for a few days. I’m on my way.
I went to my room to get dressed. After putting my phone on the dresser, I went to my closet to see what I would wear.
As I looked through clothes, a slight smile made its way to my lips.
I just naturally told him I would see him, meaning I would still be with him.
Slowly shaking my head, I pulled out a pair of jeans and a baseball jersey.
It was still early . . . too early for lunch, so I toasted a bagel and put some honey pecan cream cheese on it, then left.
By the time I got to China, I realized that Seven had never responded to me.
I frowned slightly, because that wasn’t like him.
He always responded, even if he couldn’t read my full text.
I decided to call to make sure he was okay.
When I didn’t get an answer, I got extremely nervous.
My next call was to Maui, and she didn’t answer either.
I picked up speed in Remy’s vehicle, doing my best to get to Nome as quickly as possible.
When I got there, I noticed Mr. Kenny’s truck stop was practically empty.
When I got closer, I realized it was closed.
That was highly unusual. The store was never closed.
When I glanced left down Highway 365, I saw a whole lot of cars down there.
They were at the family barn, it seemed.
I quickly switched lanes before anyone could join me at the traffic light and headed that way.
I turned in the parking lot and saw it was surrounded by security. One of the guys from Watchful Eyes appeared at my door and opened it for me. Once I got out, he said, “Just a minute, Miss Iesha.”
“Okay,” I said softly.
He sent a text through his phone, then waited for a response.
Instead of a text, I saw the door open, and Mr. Storm came out.
He approached and said, “We’re having a private family meeting.
SS ain’t here though. He’s at the hospital with PJ.
They’re at Baptist if you wanna go up there.
If not, there are workers at Marcus’s shop that can get your car for you. Just leave Remy’s there.”
“Okay. Umm . . . what happened?”
“I’m not at liberty to say right now.”
With that, he walked off. I didn’t know whether to be offended or grateful that he came out and talked to me at all.
He could have relayed that message through the man that opened my door.
I got back into Remy’s car and went to the body shop to swap vehicles.
When I got there, the service guys seemed to know who I was.
They made the transition easy. They helped me unload my things from Remy’s vehicle and put them in mine.
After I thanked them and left, I tried calling Seven again.
He didn’t answer. I knew he wasn’t in a great state of mind if PJ was in the hospital.
He was one of his best friends. He talked to PJ and Ace the most. Although they were family, their friendship meant just as much.
I knew that Mythic was close to PJ as well. Their dads were first cousins.
I wanted to just go to Baptist Hospital, but at the same time, I didn’t.
I didn’t know what type of mood Seven was in.
When he was emotional, he could either be vulnerable or hostile.
Most likely, PJ had gotten injured in a fight or an accident.
I wanted to believe it had something to do with all this bullshit Seven found himself in.
If that was the case, Seven was probably feeling hostile.
I continued driving home. When I got there, I felt a sense of loneliness, and I couldn’t shake it.
I supposed with PJ being in the hospital, things would have to be on Seven’s time.
I understood that. He’d allowed the past three days to be on my time, which was unusual to say the least. By the time I got inside, my phone was ringing.
I dropped everything to the floor, trying to get it out of my pocket.
Maui’s contact information appeared on the screen. “Hello?”
“Hey, Iesha. Daddy Mayor said you came by. PJ isn’t doing well. Actually, they’ve only given him a little while longer, even with the machine breathing for him. Uncle Philly, Aunt Kema, Lema, and Kiana are a mess. Seven is taking this so hard. He’s been up there for three days.”
“What happened?”
“PJ was working for Watchful Eyes, and the stupid nigga that dropped a dime on Seven, dropped a dime on him also. They beat him, then shot him four times.”
I could hear her whimper, and it made my heart weak. I sat in the chair and closed my eyes. “Do you think Seven would want me around?”
“I don’t know, sis. He hasn’t really wanted any of us around him.
I hate this funk he’s in, but I can only respect his wishes for now.
Their entire crew is going through it. We’ve been praying that the doctors are somehow wrong and that PJ makes a remarkable recovery.
God has the final say. So even if they decide to unplug him, God can still work.
We’ve been praying for that and doing our best not to speak or think negatively. ”
“Okay. I hate that. How’s Mythic?”
“About the same as Seven. He’s coming home to be with me though. If he could stay up there day and night like Seven, I’m pretty sure he would.”
“Well, I’m sorry for interrupting y’all’s family meeting. Please keep me posted on everything.”
“I will. Talk to you soon.”
I ended the call and cried until I couldn’t cry another tear.
I didn’t know PJ well, but I knew him. My tears were for what Seven was probably feeling.
While I knew that PJ was once involved in all that bullshit, he’d stopped selling the dope.
I just wished he would have left those people alone.
I understood why he was doing it though.
He was doing it for Seven, and that was why Seven felt so guilty.
I finally stood from the couch and made my way to the bedroom and answered the rest of my text messages to let them know I was still living . . . barely.
I woke up to my phone ringing. I was so disoriented.
I looked around and saw it was dark outside, then I glanced at the clock to see it was almost nine.
Damn, I wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep now.
I snatched my phone from the nightstand, just as it stopped ringing, and saw I’d missed a call from Seven. I quickly sat up and called him back.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Seven.”
“What’s up?”
“I umm . . . called earlier because I was gonna be in Nome. I brought Remy’s vehicle back.”
“Yeah. My dad told me.”
“You okay?”
I wanted him to tell me what was going on and what he was feeling. Although Maui had already clued me in, I wanted to hear it from him.
“I’m cool.”
“Seven—”
“I said I’m cool. Thanks for bringing Remy’s car back. I gotta go.”
“Seven! Please don’t hang up.”