“You and my brother have more in common than you think.”
“Trauma bonding,” I said. “Great foundation for a relationship.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“Or maybe it’s two people who understand loss finally finding somebody who gets it too.”
I shrugged. I missed my mama more than anything, but I couldn’t let that hold me back the way it held my daddy.
“His wife’s accident fucked him up. Bad,” she said. “He shut down after that. Stopped dating. Stopped caring about anything except basketball and making sure the family was straight.” She looked me dead in the eye. “Then he met you. And I don’t know what you did to him, but he’s been different ever since. Smiling more. Talking about the future. Actually living instead of just surviving.”
“I jacked his ass up and told him he didn’t run nothing but his mouth, that’s all I did.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “He liked it, with his weird ass.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that without blowing my spot up.
“I’m not trying to guilt you,” Omni went on. “But whatever you think he is, whatever you’re scared of, he’s real. And he’s all in. He doesn’t do casual. Never has.”
The server came back with our food, breaking the moment.
“I’ll admit, the stalking was weird,” I said. “But I liked the thoughtfulness. He paid attention.”
“Whew, I love a situationship just like the next person, but I’m getting older. This cat is ready to live its nine lives with one person.”
The cackle that came out of us bounced around that room like we’d known each other for years.
“What’s holding you back?” Omni asked.
“His lifestyle, for one. I don’t need anybody coming in and out of my life. Your brother has drama, a hectic ass career, and God knows what else. I got enough people picking and choosing when to fuck with me. My father being one.”
“Oh no, I hate to hear that. Was it always like this?”
“We were close. Before my mom died, we were inseparable. After…” I shook my head. “He just kinda checks out. It’s probably been three years since I’ve seen him. I’m always the one reaching out, and honestly? I’m tired.”
“That’s heavy, sis. I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is. I love him, and he’s my heart, but I don’t know, maybe I’m expecting too much.”
“No,” Omni said, firm. “You’re not. You deserve better than that. From him. From anybody. Which is why I’m telling you right now, my brother’s gonna show up. Every time. If you let him in, he’s there. For real.”
I felt a little crack in one of the walls I’d built around myself.
“Friend, how much is he paying you to cap for him? Because you need a tip. You working hard.”
We both fell out laughing, her head going back.
“He called me about you. He even talked to our parents about you that same night. He didn’t even know your name.”
“He told your parents?”
“Yes, but not in a weird way. In a ‘we might need to make room for somebody new’ way. We’re a small family, but the love is big. We got room for you.”
My cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much. I did like DaVinci way more than I wanted to admit, but I was scared. My own daddy wouldn’t even show up for me. Eventually, I just knew DaVinci would be the same way.
“I plan to talk to him,” I said. “But I’m still leery of your stalking-ass brother. This week has been hell, though. I had to get my own bagels and everything. The ghetto.”
“That’s restraint for him.” She leaned in. “Halo, don’t let fear make your decisions. You run into fire for a living. You know the scariest shit is usually the thing most worth doing.”
