“Nigga, I don’t even know why you still there. You ain’t gon’ fuck with them for real,” Kong ranted.
I made eye contact with every person in the room before saying, “They know that, but we still blood, so I’m open to building something. Feed Sarabi and Nyla for me.”
“I got you.” With that, the call ended, and the room was back to its stillness.
“We will visit as much as you’ll allow. We need a family vacation anyway. I think we’ll be taking you up on your offer really soon. Try the fish and tell me how you like it,” Iris chimed.
She was bringing light to the dark mood trying to infiltrate the room. I ’preciated her for that. I wasn’t trying to beef with them or cause any confusion. However, the realer I was, the more accepting the truth would be. I was in Sage Springs for two reasons, to put Enzo down and claim my woman. The latter was the only thing I had focus on now.
Nodding, I engaged in the plate of food she placed in front of me. She could whip in the kitchen. I wasn’t gon’ hold you. It was definitely bussing. The conversation went from real shit to Iris just questioning me about the Florida life. The other side of the table had grown temporarily quiet, and I wasn’t mad at it. Each person spoke their peace and that was that. It wasn’t nothing left to talk about.
By the time I was ready to go, it was a lil’ after four in the afternoon. I only stuck around for so long ‘cause Iris wanted to bullshit. I ain’t mind simply because if my mama really was her ace, she was just trying to get as close to me as she could. I wasn’t sweating it.
I walked out the front door moments later wanting Heidi’s whereabouts. This woman still had no idea that I was out or even in her city. This was a nice lil’ surprise that I had planned for her. I missed her pretty ass, I couldn’t lie.
“Where you headed cuz?” Royce shouted at my back.
Turning around, I responded with, “To Heidi. Why?”
“Heidi who?” he asked with dropped brows.
“Mitchell. I’m gone so holla at me, not while I’m with her though,” I said throwing up the deuces.
She was under his radar way too much for my liking. She ain’t need his protection or anything else for that matter. I had more than enough money for her to do whatever the hell she wanted and enough love to make sure she never felt lonely or unloved again. She ain’t know it, but she was more than good with me.
“Muthafucka please don’t take me there. I don’t even play when it comes to her,” he warned me.
“That makes two of us. Don’t go blowing her phone upcuz. I ain’t too fond of interruptions,” I threw back.
Hopping in my whip, I pulled out without giving Royce time to say anything else. Cruising down the private road, I typed in Heidi’s first and last name. To my surprise, a business pulled up called Heidi’s Hideout. I hit the maps and pressed go on the location. I ain’t know where she was, but I was hoping she was there.
Once I was on the main roads, I zigzagged in and out of traffic with ease. The only time I was able to get a piece of mind was when I was alone. My thoughts settled, and I didn’t have to think about the constant pressure of being one big happy family. I wasn’t with all that just yet.
My mother was loved by the Atkins but for some reason, I felt that from everyone except Senior. Her own brother wasn’t caring enough in my eyes. It made sense on why Royce fought so hard to keep everyone close. He saw his father's mistakes and wasn’t trying to repeat history. Big cuz wasn’t so bad, I guess. He was gon’ have to put in way more effort when it came to me though.
The downtown area was cool. It was Heidi’s lil’ lounge thing that had my attention though. Her lil’ shit was spotted damn near immediately after I hit the busy and crowded space. She had a spot that was in between other bars and restaurants giving her a hint of competition. I found a parking space behind an all-white Range Rover.
Stepping out, I threw a few quarters in the meter and headed inside. I knew she was somewhere around by the fact that her name was being shouted by a lil’ one that ran across the room.
“Mama Heidi. Mama Heidi. I got to pee!” he screamed at the bottom of the steps.
“Okay, okay. Come up and use the bathroom,” she spoke gently. She was heard but not scene.
I walked over to where lil’ man was at the steps and leaned against them. I could wait for her. I had nothing but time. The expectations of this pop up was fifty-fifty. I expected her to be happy for a nigga but also display caution. She expressed how inmates terrified her, and I knew the back story on the last one she spoke with. I was risking the bond we built so far, that I knew.
Minutes passed before the smell of her perfume clouded my senses. That hit me before the sound of her heels against the hardwood floor was heard. The closer she got, the worst my containment got. It was taking everything in me not to grab her up and tell her Daddy was home. That would’ve caused her to hate a nigga for real.
“Excuse me sir. Can I help you?” she questioned stepping off the stairwell.
I remained quiet as she came around to face me. When it finally registered who was in front of her, her hands flew over her mouth before she turned around giving me her back. This was one hell of a surprise, so her reaction was understood.
“Damn, you can’t even look at me?” I inquired in a low tone.
For months we’d held conversation with each other. Where it started out as simple anonymous messages, we progressed to real shit over the phone. I knew when she was upset, happy, or sad all from the tone of her voice. I took the time to learn her virtually, now I wanted the time to do that physically. It required much more, but I was willing to do whatever it took to bring her back to Florida.
Still giving me her back, she asked, “Bentley, what are you doing here?” I gently touched her waist, and she swatted me away immediately. “Don’t touch me.”
“My apologies, Mama. It won’t happen again.”
