“Rahdreka,” he called my name in that voice that put me back in the mindset of being a little kid.
“Xyleek wants to get married.”
My parents exchanged glances before my mom put her hand on top of my arm. “Baby, hasn’t Xyleekalwayswanted to get married?”
“Yeah, but he hasn’t alwaysactedlike he wants to. His infidelity really put a strain on us and the trust I have for him.”
“You don’t trust him now?” Her voice softened even more, changing into that overly concerned motherly tone.
I sighed heavily, glancing between them. “I do, but I don’t. I know what he’s showing me, but he’s shown me these exact same things before. How am I supposed to know if it’s real this time?”
“What is your gut telling you?”
“To not be a stupid bitch.”
My dad laughed deeply, placing the pen in his hand down and forming his hands into a steeple. “Honey, you’re a smart girl, always have been. If being with Xyleek makes you feelstupid, then you need to ask yourself why you are willing to feel that way?”
My eyes dropped to the table as I thought deeply about his question. WhywasI willing to play the fool for Xy one more time? This shit had to be a mental illness. I needed to call up that retreat in Idaho to see if I could admit myself again.
“I don’t know. I just…I love him, and I know that’s the stupidest shit I can say given everything we’ve been through, but that’s the unfiltered truth of the matter. I loved Akil but not in the way that I love Xy.”
“Xyleek hasn’t been able to do any wrong in your eyes since y’all were thirteen years old, Dreka. I get it, but baby, if the only time he’s fighting for you is when he’s doingwrong, then that speaks to his nature.”
“Yeah,” my shoulders slumped slightly. “I know he’s trying to be different and talks about wanting to move forward but…” my voice trailed.
“The most expensive thing that muthafucka can give you, Dreka, are his actions. Words are cheaper than a key of crack. You know why so many people running around on crack? It’s cheap. Easy to get. Just like words. People can say anything, but when they get to showing you shit? Ah, well, now you got yourself a couple keys of coke.”
Staring at him, I couldn’t believe this man just compared Xy’s actions to the cost of drugs. I blinked in disbelief, trying hard not to laugh. The expression on his face was dead serious, which made his words ten times funnier.
“Dad,” a giggle slipped out anyway. “Really?”
“Giulio,” my mother laughed along with me.
He shrugged, completely unfazed. “What? You knew what the hell I was saying, right? You know the business, so you know what I’m saying is true. Don’t take his money and diamonds, take his coke, and if he’s only offering crack, then in the words ofthe late and great Whitney Houston,crack is wack! Tell him take a hike.”
I covered my face and let out a deep, hearty laugh. The kind that only your parents who loved and poured into you endlessly could give.
My mother was laughing so hard she had tears coming out her eyes. “What Whitney say, baby?”
“Crack is wack!And she wasn’t lying either. Listen, baby girl, at the end of the day, it’s your life. We want to see you happy, preferably married with kids, but your happiness is what matters the most to us. You have to ask yourself if you want a man who loves you right because he’s about to lose you or one who loves you right just because it’s Monday,” he imparted with sincerity.
“C’mon, Pastor Giulio!” I teased, holding my stomach as I kept laughing.
“You have a good heart, baby, abigone,” he continued even though me and my mom were still laughing. “Don’t let someone who’s still learning how to love themselves teach you a fucked up version of love. You deserve better.”
My laugh stopped immediately as his words body slammed me. “Well damn, Dad, way to change the mood.”
“I wasn’t trying to change the mood, sweetheart. I just want you to make the right decision for you. If that’s Xyleek, then he really needs to step it up. You know there’s an agreement in place with the families, so Xyleek isn’t to be touched, but for my baby? I will stomp through his arrogant, big ass head and answer for it later. We love Xyleek, you know that, but you also know we loveyoumore. You are our first and only priority, Dreka.”
Nodding slowly, I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I heard and understood everything my dad was saying. He was right. Xy needed to do more than just talk about it, he needed tobeabout it. Had he been better now than ever before? Absolutelybut that still didn’t mean shit. He could’ve been putting on an act just to pull me back in. Time would tell, and time always showed people’s true colors. The hopeless romantic in me wanted to believe Xy really was changing for the better, but our long history made me extra cautious with him.
Spending another thirty minutes with them, I left their house and decided to pull up on Makenna at her nail salon. We hadn’t talked much since she popped up at my shop, and I missed her. It was the first of the month, so I knew she’d be there doing inventory and payroll. If nothing else, she was a creature of habit when it came to her business. When I walked in, the smell of acrylic and acetone attacked my nose. Her shop, Nailed It, stayed busy and understandably so. Her nail techs were so damn good and more than that, they wereaffordable. She didn’t charge an arm and a leg like other salons, which kept people coming in.
I spoke to a few people on my way to her office. Knocking on the closed door, I at least gave Ken the courtesy of waiting for her to tell me to come in before doing so.
“Oh, you’re not who I was expecting,” her face remained neutral after I walked in and closed the door.
“I bet,” I took a seat across from her, releasing a deep sigh. “Do we need to fight or what?”
