“Go ahead, keep talking. Your wife asked me for a few tips on being vegan. I’ll have you over here squeezing almonds for milk,” Marley threatened.
“Aight, aight.” Rahlo held his hands up. “I don’t want no smoke.”
“We don’t act like this all the time,” Taylor swore, turning to their guests while still holding on to her husband.
“She ghetto too.” Czar pointed at Tyler with the tongs. “Did we not all see the same video?”
“Not too much,” she snickered.
“Anyway,” Taylor continued. “The guest house is over there. Go get changed and join us by the pool. We cooked a little bit of everything and there are all kinds of beverages in the cooler behind the bar. The kids are welcome inside the house as well. We have a movie theater on the third floor and there’s a full basketball court on the ground level.”
“Did she say a movie theater?” Spice whispered.
“Did!” Shugg confirmed. “I’m about to see if they want a goddaughter.”
“Oh, that’s all it takes for yall to leave me?” Logic lightly bumped Spice.
“Well, not leave, but they can borrow us,” she giggled.
“Yea, aight. We're going to go change,” Logic said, slipping his hand into Tyler’s. It was one of the last hot days in September and he was ready to enjoy it.
Once inside the guest house, the twins took the first bedroom on the right, Sage took the second one, leaving themaster to Logic and Tyler. Placing her bag on the bed, Tyler started to silently remove her bathing suit and slides. Her mind was racing and she was starting to feel crazy. For years, she had been walking around higher than the stars, and now that she wasn’t, everything seemed upside down.
“Fuck it,” Tyler mumbled, picking up her purse. If she was going to have a good time, then she needed something to knock the edge off. Opening the mint can, she quickly picked up the peach-colored pill.
“Baby girl,” Logic called out, startling her as he entered the room. The can fell from her hand and the pills rolled to the middle of the floor. Lowering his eyes, Logic glanced at the pills and then back at Tyler, who was standing there as if she couldn’t move. She clamped her eyes shut, hoping that it was just a dream, but she heard his voice again, sending her heart to the bottom of her feet.
“Straight up?” Logic frowned, bending down to pick up the pills, shaking them in his hand like dice.
Silence
“The fuck is this?” he questioned.
Silence
“Yo, you really a fucking pill head,” Logic spoke angrily. “I mean I heard the rumors, but fuck. I was hoping I heard wrong.”
“Don’t call me that.” Tyler finally found her voice. She was beyond embarrassed and wanted to kick her own ass for not fighting off the demons a little bit harder.
“Fuck you want me to call you and you’re in here trying to shove shit down your throat. What is this?” He opened his hand. “Molly, fentanyl, X?”
“It’s mine, nigga.” She reached for it, but Logic stepped back, putting space between them.
“So you really a fucking addict?”
“I’m not addicted to shit,” she denied.
“Get the fuck outta here. You cracked out.” Logic shook his head in disappointment. “I’ve been trying to get to know you, but shit, I don’t think I even want to. I can’t fuck with no crackhead.”
Triggered. It was the only way to explain the shades of red that flashed behind Tyler’s eyes.
“Fuck you!” She flew at Logic with tears in her eyes. Balling her fist, Tyler pounded into his chest with all her strength. “Fuck you,” she cried. “Fuck you, Logic.”
“I’m not trying to fight you, shorty.” Logic grabbed her arms, placing her in a bear hug.
“It’s not like it’s the first time I had to fight a nigga.” Tyler fought against his embrace.
“Lo.” Spice tapped on the door. “You ok?”
