“I’m sick of everybody telling me I need to forgive that bitch. I can’t wait until that bitch dies so I can stop hearing the shit.”Truth gave me a look, and I knew he understood what I was trying to say. He glanced over at Peace, then back to me, and I could hear the question he hadn’t asked. He wanted to know if she knew the truth. I shook my head and stuffed my hands in my pockets.
“Maybe it’s time for you to tell them the truth. I actually have some news I need to give you anyway.”
I ignored the first part of his statement, but the second part caught my interest.
“What do you know?”
“You know I don’t get in the middle of your business, but if you’re going to move forward with this, then you need to tell them,” he urged. I shook my head because I had no desire to discuss my past with anyone. It wouldn’t change anything, and it certainly wouldn’t make me feel any better.
He greeted Peace before leaving the room. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, trying to figure out where to even start.
“You keep saying no one cares, but you don’t give us the opportunity. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“I think I liked you better when you were too afraid to speak your mind,” I replied, taking a seat on the bed as she sat down next to me.
“Well, that’s too damn bad. You told me to stop being a weak bitch, and I listened. Now, stop bullshitting me and tell me what’s going on.”
I took a deep breath, then told her everything. When she started crying, I turned my head because I wasn’t trying to get into all the emotional shit. It happened, and I was making the best of it. My main issue was the adoption. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that my parents lied to me. I saw all of the pictures from when I was a kid, and no one could have convinced me Doniese wasn’t my mother. She never treated me any differently, nor did she ever exclude me from anything.
After the incident at the hospital, I called Truth and ran down the story. Of course, his ass knew about the situation. A part of me wanted to be upset at him for not telling me, but I knew he wasn’t on no flaw shit. He offered to help me track my birth mother down, but I had been so busy dealing with Belleza and her bullshit that it slipped my mind. I hoped whatever news he had would bring some clarity.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but I’m really sorry. I can’t even begin to understand how you’re feeling, but I’m here for whatever you need.” Peace held my hand in hers, and I couldn’t shake the feeling her touch gave me.
“I’m good. The only reason I snapped was that I’m tired of everyone telling me how to feel. Doniese doesn’t deserve shit from me, including forgiveness. I’m sure she hasn’t reached out to my sisters because she doesn’t care about anyone but herself. I don’t know what changed after my pops died, but she hasn’t been the same since. It is what it is. Life’s gotta go on.”
“What about your birth mother? Have you thought about reaching out to her?”
“Yeah, I thought about it. Truth is helping me track her down. I’m still not sure if I want to talk to her, but I guess I’ll determine that once I get the information.”
“Well, I’m here if you need someone to come with you. I mean, it’s only right that I help you find your mother since you helped me find my family. I guess we’re both outside babies, huh? We can be bastard buddies or something.”
“Why the hell would you say some shit like that?” I don’t know why her statement made me laugh, but it was something I needed.
“What? I thought we were bonding. Was it too soon?”
The innocence in her eyes only made it funnier. Her facial expressions reminded me of Promise whenever she did something she thought she would get in trouble for.
“You are something else. This wasn’t something I expected us to be bonding over, but I can live with it as long as you don’t ever use the term bastard buddies again. I’m too hood for that cheesy ass shit.”
“I’ll work on a new name for us. In the meantime, are you okay?”
“I told you, I’m cool.”
“Well, you punching a hole in the wall doesn’t give off that impression,” she pressed.
“I’m under a lot of pressure right now, and I lost my cool for a moment.”
“You know you don’t have to wear your cape every day, right? It’s okay if you aren’t okay.” Peace turned my chin towards her, and I found myself getting lost in her eyes. Her beauty mesmerized me, and I had to catch myself from kissing her.
“If I don’t wear it, who else will?” I asked the question as a joke, but there was truth to it.
“I will. If you taught me nothing else, it’s that you’re supposed to show up for the people you care about. I might not be as good as you, but I think I’ve got what it takes.”
“You care about me?”
“I do. We might not always see eye to eye, but you’re important to me. I never want you to feel like our relationship is one-sided. You’re not only Promise’s father, but you’re also my friend. Well, when you aren’t pissing me off.”
Her eyes were still locked on me, and I could see the sincerity in them.
