“Aight. Lemme go back through these text messages.”
I wait impatiently, then he comes back and says, “They went to Gold Bar.”
Gold bar? That doesn’t seem like Raya’s kind of place.
“’Preciate you,” I tell him, already grabbing my keys off the table. “Aye, why you don’t be listening when your girl tells you shit?”
Bron laughs again. “It ain’t got shit to do with me.”
“So you don’t actually like this girl, then.”
“She cool. We’re just talking right now, man. It ain’t that deep.”
“Do youwantit to be?”
“Eventually, I guess.”
“How that work?" I say as I exit the door to the garage. "Cuz if you start out a relationship not giving a fuck, when is the giving a fuck supposed to begin?”
“Well we can’t all be out here fallin’ in love at first sight like yo ass.”
“It ain’t about love.” I slide into the car and press the button to start. “You so nonchalant, it feels like you don’t even like the bitch. What you waitin’ on?”
“Yo, why do you care?”
“I don’t. But you always say you wanna settle down and find somebody who gon' love yo dumb ass, but now you got a girl in your life and you treatin’ her like the homies. Shit, you treatin’ herworsethan the homies. You actually pay attention when we talk.”
“Nigga, you’re boring me.”
I pull out of the garage. “Look, you always givin’ out advice, so let me give you some. You listening?”
“Yeah, I’m listening.”
“Take an interest in her life, man. Like she at the spot right now, probably got a bunch of niggas in her face buying her drinks and shit. Get in the race, man. Compete.”
“Nah, never that. What, I’m supposed to show up there and profess my love?”
“Nah. Text her, ask her if she’s having fun with her girls, send her some drink money.Somethin’, nigga.”
He's quiet for a minute. “I think I’m good.”
“Nah, I’ma tell you what you are. You a lonely, dry-dick motherfucker who puts his ego before pussy. Man, this shit is so easy when you actually listen to what these hoes be sayin’. It’s a cheat code. Just…do what they ask you to do. That’s it.”
“You in the car?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m Gucci. I can guarantee youI’mfuckin’ tonight. We’re talking aboutyou.”
“Alright, man, I hear you.”
“Do you? I ain’t Tiff, nigga. Listen to me.”
He guffaws. “Whatever, man. Go fuck your wife.”
“Yeah.”
After we hang up, I head to Gold Bar to make sure my wife understands the order of things.
31
