“No bitch. That’s what I need to be asking you. You missed the game, and you know that’s not what we do. Where the hell you been?” I countered.
She wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear as her face turned red. She was definitely doing God knows what with God knows who. Leave it to her to defy whatever her family had going on. She literally moved to the beat of her own drum and paid them Atkins no mind.
“Aye, what happens in Vegas, damn sho stays there. I ain’t speaking on shit,” she replied.
“Vegas? Cedees, what the hell are you doing in Vegas? And I mean answer both ways. I want to know what you be doing for real and exactly why you’re in Vegas. This is so random,” I said perplexed as fuck but also excited for her.
She cocked her head to the side with raised brows and pierced lips. That look alone let me know she be out here doing any and everything without a care in the world. I truly loved that for her. She had a seat at The Oath’s table and never gave it any attention. The men let her do whatever she pleased and spoiled her just as much. She was born with the princess treatment.
“Vegas has been a second home to me for the past six months. Sage Springs is so draining cousin. Like, have you looked at this place lately? I’m so tired of the same ole thing and the family drama that’s going on is killing me. Auntie Rhema left for this very reason and now her son can’t catch a break. I’m overstimulated bitch. Vegas provides fresh air and dick. I’d rather be there than here,” she vented.
I understood her completely. It seemed as if ever since Mama Rose passed away, the drama behind the Atkins was nonstop. First Genesis and now Bentley. I knew my best friend and he wanted nothing but the best for his blood. However, he wasn’t acceptive of Bentley. It was something about him that had Royce on defense mode all the time.
“So, do you really think that’s Bentley? I mean, we don’t have shit to go off of for real.”
“I don’t know what to believe and if we’re being honest, I truly don’t give a fuck. Royce is the head of the table for a reason. Let that nigga deal with this shit.” She pulled out her phone and got to pecking while shaking her head.
“What are you doing now Cedees?” I questioned. Irritation was etched all across her face.
“Booking another flight to Vegas. I’m annoyed already.”
I walked over and snatched her phone out her hand causing her to roll her eyes. “You need to stop. This family drama involves you too. That’s Aunt Rhema’s only child, your freakin’ cousin heffa. You can care a little. Would you like to know what I think about him?”
“Not really but go ahead cousin. Tell me what you think ‘bout Bentley fuckin’ Atkins. He’s taking my spotlight, and I ain’t too happy ‘bout that for the record,” she fussed.
Laughing, I handed her cell back to her and copped a squat on the bench. She came and joined me seconds later. Cedees ran her mouth a lot as if she didn’t care but she really did. Family was her soft spot just like any other Atkins.
“Well, I think he’s weirdly nice.”
“Huh? What the fuck is weirdly nice?”
“Like… he’s forcing the niceness, so it gives off a weird vibe. So, at the game he sat with me and Lincoln. It was cool, but it was like he strategically avoided my questions. Everything I asked, he countered with something he wanted me to know instead of just answering the damn question. I know a victim when I see one and that nigga ain’t hurt behind shit. He used Aunt Rhema’s death as a crutch too. For some reason, I don’t think he cares too much about the family,” I genuinely expressed.
“I think he’s here for that inheritance money,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “I mean, look at it from his point of view. None of the family welcomed him with open arms, none of us has took the time to get to know him for real, and every single last one of us has noticed he looks nothing like Auntie Rhema. The Atkins genes are strong Heidi. Why don’t he look like us?”
She told no lies. Even down to the kids, they all looked like Atkins. CJ and Essence included. It was like Royce altered their DNA in their sleep or something. It was fuckin’ weird. However, Bentley was darker and looked like not one Atkins dead or alive. I could see why everyone was so skeptical.
“Damn, I didn’t think about it like that.”
“I did, which is why I got the fuck up through. I’m not feeling none of this shit and to avoid being in the middle, I’d rather get the hell on. You should try it sometimes,” she suggested.
“I’m tired of running away from problems. Speaking of, I joined Chats with Angels again.”
The silence that surrounded us damn near suffocated me. I could hear the cars passing by and tell you each body style. Her reaction was one I expected. I’d revealed the news to each person in my life piece by piece. I was making my way down the Atkins line. Lucky for her, she was first up.
“Girl, stop playing with me. I am not in the fuckin’ mood,” she said waving me off. I grabbed my cell and pulled up the app. Once I went to my profile, I handed it over. She looked up from the device to my face several times before scoffing. “The fuck is going on cousin?”
“I’m taking control of my life Cedees. Before Michael, I enjoyed being that voice of reality for those that had no one. I don’t want to be anyone’s victim anymore. What I went through consumed me to a point where I couldn’t breathe. I’m finally doing that again. I’m also facing a fear head on. I got this.Check me out. I’ve been chatting with someone already. The conversations are cool.”
Cedees went to scrolling and snooping like I knew she would. Once she came across the chats, I prepared myself for the foolishness getting ready to come out of her mouth.
“Who the fuck is Bentendo94’? Cousin don’t start this shit,” she voiced rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time.
“Calm down Cedees dang. I don’t do too much on there and neither does he. Seriously, the conversations are about bullshit. Games, shows, anything nonsense… it’s okay Cedees,” I assured her.
She was still going through the chat not listening to a thing I was saying. When it all came down to it, I was doing this for me and no one else. Being able to talk to a man again period was one of the biggest steps I’d taken in the last six or seven years. I was trying and nobody seemed to care other than me.
“No, it’s not. Oop, he just sent a voice chat.”
