“Why are you nervous, Reminisce?” Her voice shattered my endless thoughts.
“Who said I was nervous, Rim?” I glared at the car console as if it were her momentarily.
“Do you not want to do this? Because if no?—”
“Do what, Karim? Be with you? I hope you know me well enough to know I don’t do shit I don’t wanna do. If you don’t think you do, then how about we discuss that shit tonight when you come through? I’m sure we’ll come to a consensus. Now… what you wanna eat? ’Cause if I’m ordering, it’ll be pizza and cheese sticks for shorty.”
“That sounds good. Can you get me some wings?”
“Yeah, I got you.” I turned the car off and grabbed my things before getting out. I hit the locks and moved briskly toward the lobby doors. One thing I wasn’t built for was this Chicago winter. It was only fucking November and it felt like we were in the middle of a fucking polar vortex. From what I heard, this was normal, which had me questioning if I even wanted to settle my ass down here. Who was I kidding? I didn’t see myself settling anywhere else either way. This bipolar ass weather not only matched my vibe, because I wasn’t a sunshine ass nigga by far, but I knew after the cold was the heat. Chicago summers were something you just had to experience for yourself.
“Why are your teeth chattering into the phone, Reminisce?”
“Because it’s colder than a motherfucker out here, baby. I don’t know how y’all survive this shit.”
“With coats. You walk around in a hoodie or sweatshirt and think that’s supposed to keep you warm. It doesn’t.”
“It ain’t like I be walking around outside, Rim. A nigga be outside for three point five seconds,” I explained, walking in and going straight for the elevator. The receptionist still thought I was G, so she never asked for ID or anything. It was hilarious because I knew somebody had to be lost when they saw my brother and my twin then me within the same day wearing different clothing. Not to mention Indiri when he popped up.
“I’m gonna call you later, alright?” she asked, voice bringing me back to her on the phone.
“Aight. Don’t have me waiting too long either.”
After we hung up, I was on the elevator for all of six more seconds before the doors opened and I stepped off. It was funny how I had this feeling like I hadn’t seen my child in ages, but it had only been a damn night. I missed her little ass so much that even though she was supposed to be with them for the weekend, here I was picking her up.
I glanced down at my phone as soon as I stepped in front of the door. Then I knocked and heard footsteps moving toward me. “Yo.” G’s voice sounded from the other side.
“It’s me, fool. Open up.”
I heard his laughter before he got the door fully open. “Couldn’t stay away, could you? First night is always the hardest. Just wait until you really need that break. You’ll be ready to drop her ass off and not look back.”
“You knew I was coming through, huh?” I laughed moving further into the condo.
“Um, we both did. It was truly just a matter of what time.” Beyah walked in the room with a laptop.
“Now pay up. I won’t go too hard on it.” Beyah’s hand was extended.
G went into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. “Yo, I shouldn’t give you shit. You lost yours.” He then extended a black card with a grunt. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this nigga was pouting.
She laughed. “You’re not giving it to me. I won it fair and square.” Then she looked from my brother to me. “Thanks, Rem.”
I laughed. “For what?”
“The fuck you mean for what? Yeen just see me hand her my fucking black card? She ’boutta fuck my shit up. You couldn’t have held out for three more fucking hours?”
“Don’t listen to him, Reminisce. You came in perfect timing,” Beyah tossed over her shoulder before finding herself and the laptop at the dining room table.
I chuckled. “Nah, where my daughter at anyway?” I realized when I walked in the door I hadn’t heard her or any of the other kids.
“In there minding her business and eating.”
I nodded, ready to go fuck with her but deciding to chop it up with my brother for a while longer.
“You spoke to Indiri?” I asked.
“You must ain’t looked at the group chat?” G asked.
“Nah, I didn’t. Why?”
