“I’m not sure how much of her personal space Apricot will let me invade, but I can try.”
Devin chortled. “A stubborn one she is. I hate to hear I told you so. And even though she hasn’t said it, I can see it in her eyes. She’s disappointed in me. Upset that I put Kiwi in danger. She won’t even let Kiwi come see me. I messed up.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I had never heard Mr. Jennings sound apologetic about a damn thing. “I’m sure she’ll come around.” I didn’t even believe that, but what was I supposed to say?
Mr. Jennings looked over at me. “You don’t know Apricot.” He studied me for a bit. “Had I known about what Lonzo did sooner, he would have been dead much sooner. Apricot might think I’m a monster, but all I ever wanted was to give my wife and child a good life. My family means everything to me. You’re mature and not with that dumb ass rah rah. I’m trusting you with my babies, Uno.”
“I got you,” I assured him.
“I already told Apricot that you’d be reaching out to her and not to give you a hard time. Hopefully, she’ll listen. She’s a little shaken up, so I don’t think she’ll protest too much. I just want to be cautious until I handle the niggas that came for me.”
Mr. Jennings and I discussed a few more things before I left. I had texted Apricot to see how she was doing, but I could tell she was still overwhelmed and shaken up, so I didn’t press theissue. When I got in my car, I called her and to my surprise, she answered.
“So what, you’re supposed to be my bodyguard now?”
“I’m not sure how the shit works. Maybe just be a second set of eyes when you’re out in public or some shit.”
Apricot snorted. “Great. It’s nothing personal. I’m just. I’m over this shit.”
“I feel you. What are you up to now?”
“Trying to put my bed together, so I can sleep in my own place tonight. Kiwi is stressing me the hell out. She’s determined not to leave her grandmother’s side, but I want her here with me. Since her bed isn’t up, I’m letting her stay with my mom tonight.”
“I’ll slide through and put it together for you. I’m supposed to be looking out for you anyway.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I think we both know while your pops is in the hospital, he feels different.”
“Yeah, it’s because of him we’re even in this situation. Why did he get shot? I’m sure you know.”
“One thing you’re not going to do is put me in the middle of this. I don’t know nothing about nothing. What’s your address? I’m on the way.”
Apricot gave me her address and once I typed it into my GPS, I saw that I was close to her. Her building seemed nice and secure. It was in a good area, and I doubted anyone would come out there on dumb shit. Then again, some of those Africans were savages.
Apricot answered the door smelling like vanilla, shea butter, and some kind of flower. She was dressed in a black tank top and little black gym shorts. Her big, curly, orange hair framed her face almost like a lion’s mane. Shorty was sexy as fuck. With a glass of wine in hand, she gave me a tense smile and pivoted.
Closing the door behind me, I looked around the space, and it was nice. “Dope place.”
“Thank you. I can afford it because I agreed to work for my father, and now I hate that I did. I need money, and I already quit my job, so I’m going to stick with it but if something else happens,” Apricot shook her head.
I almost told her that nothing else was going to happen, but I didn’t like to make promises that I couldn’t keep. I couldn’t call what the African’s next move would be. When I didn’t respond, Apricot led me to her bedroom. Looking over the instructions, I figured the task would be easy enough, and I got to work.
“Would you like something to drink?”
I had smoked on the way over and had cotton mouth. “Yeah. I’ll take water. Thanks.”
Apricot went to get my water, and I continued putting her bed together.
“You really don’t know the reason behind my father getting shot?” She leaned against the door frame after passing me the bottle of water.
“I don’t know why you insist on asking me questions I’m not going to answer even if I had the answer.”
“Yet, my father wants you to babysit me, so obviously, it was some bullshit and it’s not yet rectified. Me and my daughter, mother, and grandmother are what? Supposed to be sitting ducks? This is the shit that I was talking about.”
I peered at her intensely waiting for her to get it all out. “You done?” I asked when she’d been quiet for a few moments. When she didn’t respond, I continued.
“I get you being upset, scared, anxious, all that. But you’re taking your frustrations out on the wrong person.”
