He ran his hand through his beard. “Then when?” he asked.
I nodded. “We’ll talk,” I said as I walked toward where my friends were.
The sound of Sasha clapping caught everyone’s attention. We all turned and looked at her. She smiled brightly.
“Zeus and I have an announcement!” she squealed.
“Ah shit!” Foe said.
“Shut up, nigga! Let her talk,” Zeus snapped at him.
Sasha looked at everyone as her eyes landed on Dio. “Dionysus, you know we love you like you’re our own, but Zeus and I have decided to adopt!”
Diamond laughed. “Ok, Big Zu, so you want to join the club! Congratulations!”
All of them embraced them in a hug as they celebrated the news. Zeus looked at Dio, “How do you feel about that?”
Dio popped a deviled egg into his mouth. “Eww, who made this shit?”
Everyone started to laugh until Preach snarled. “Whatever, nigga, the eggs slap.”
Dio waved him off as he turned to Zu. “Whatever makes you happy, I’m happy. Zeus, I hope y’all adopt a girl because I got to be the only nigga walking around this muhfucka,” he joked.
Everyone burst into laughter. My eyes landed back on Braylen, who had been staring me down even after I told him we’d talk later. The idea of being part of this family, if I chose to give him another chance, was something I kind of looked forward to.
CHEVY
PRESS PLAY
I stood around and watched as my handpicked family enjoyed the holidays. I had gone from a nigga with nothing to a nigga with everything. The journey of the Zoo was one I will never forget. Seeing everyone grow and unfold into their greater selves was something I would do all over again if I had to.
Only minutes after Zu and Freckles announced that they were going to adopt, Pierre, Tuesday, Bleek, Synai, their kids, Anthony, Bishop, Indigo, and that fucking dog came through the door. Symphony rushed over to give them a hug while Pierre grilled Beans.Hmph.
I watched as Indigo held the pearl leash in her hand. The damn dog wore a white fur-like dress with a pearl collar to match the leash. Bishop took the leash from Indigo as she stepped further inside and hugged the women. When she walked over to me, she smiled. “Sup, sis,” I said to her.
“Merry Christmas,” she paused. “Chevy.”
As she leaned in to hug me, I watched as Bishop leaned down and pulled something from the patch on the dog’s dress. He glanced up at me and winked.
My nigga.I mouthed.
Indigo pulled away as she had now walked back over to a nervous-looking Bishop. “Hold on really quick!” Foe said.
He hopped up, ran outside, and came back with a big ass box and handed it to Harvey. “I know I got you a lot already, but here,” he told her.
Harvey began to open the box, and it moved. “What the hell?” she mumbled.
She opened the lid to a miniature Doberman with a gold collar. I tossed my hands up, “Fuck is up with these dogs!” I shouted.
“June, please!” Z spat.
Harvey picked him up and cooed at the dog. Foe was so excited, the nigga jumped up and down like a kid. “It’s a boy, bae, what do you want to name him?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe, Lucky.”
“Fuck that, we’re naming that nigga Brick or something,” Foe scoffed.
As they went back and forth about what to name the dog, Navi came through the door, “Merry Christmas!” she shouted.
