“Are we back together? No. Is there a chance for reconnection? Yes. Things are just… complicated right now.”
Adrian gave a faint smile. “Good. I like seeing you happy, Chess.”
“And I like you showing who you really are, Adrian. That was… damn near magical.”
He smirked. “I got layers… like a hood-ass onion.”
We both cracked up.
“You’re a fool… but a talented one.”
“Don’t gas me up too much. I’ll be out here trying to open for Brian McKnight on tour.”
We laughed again, then Adrian got quiet.
“Nah, for real, I ‘preciate that. And I uh… I’m sorry, Chess, for all the lying. The little lies… the big ones and trying to act like I had more than I did. I just ain’t want you to see how lost I really was.”
I took a slow breath, letting his words settle. “I appreciate that, Adrian. And if I ever said something outta pocket, my bad… even though you probably deserved it.”
He grinned. “I did.”
“I ain’t always have to go for the jugular; sometimes I could’ve stopped at the collarbone.”
That had him laughing again, shaking his head. “I just wanna see you happy, Chess… even if it ain’t with me. You deserve real love… real peace.”
“Thank you.” I looked at him for a long moment before teasing, “So… what you think about Isis? I see the way you be looking at her.”
Adrian raised a brow. “You mean the way she be looking atme?” He smirked. “Nah, she cool, though. Bougie as hell, but cool. Would I smash? Hell yeah. Could I see myself with her long-term? Nah. She a lil’ too uptight for a nigga like me. Isis looks like the type to make me put lemon slices in the toilet water ‘cause ‘guests might peek in.’”
I giggled, then let my face settle into something softer. “Look, I know the streets been your way of life for a long time. But you got talent, Adrian… real talent. And you got kids. Don’t let them grow up only hearing you sing behind Plexiglass.”
“Damn.”
“You don’t owe the streets nothing, but you owe yourself a shot at something better, and a life that doesn’t come with an expiration date… or a mugshot.”
He looked down, voice quieter now. “You always was the one who saw more in me than I did.”
“I still do. So make it count. But not only for yourself, but for them babies. Which are how old, by the way?”
Adrian scratched his head. “Six… four… and aquestionableone-year-old.”
I burst out laughing. “Not questionable. I’ma need for you to get a DNA test done ASAP!”
“Getting on thatsoonas I touched back to the crib. But I ‘preciate the advice, Chesteria. You always been a real one.”
“Well, you know I would say the same about you, but…”
We both laughed again.
Then I nudged him lightly, my tone dipping into something more sincere. “You’re a good person, too, Adrian; you just gotta do away with the lying and lead with the version of you that isn’t scared to be seen. You’re already halfway there; you just needed to hear it from someone who still believes you got time to rewrite your ending.”
Adrian looked at me. His eyes were softer than usual, like the words hit deeper than he’d let on.
“You really think I still got time?”
I shrugged, preparing to leave. “As long as you’re breathing, you got time. But don’t play with it, ’cause second chances don’t always come with third warnings.”
I tapped the piano once, more habit than intention, then turned on my heels, only to stop short.
