“Thank you implies I got dressed up for your benefit. I got dressed up for mine.” Seatbelt on. Eyes forward. All business. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I already told you, I don’t like surprises.”
“You had fun the last time we went out.”
She didn’t respond but I caught the corner of her mouth twitch before she turned to the window. And that twitch was worth more than any yes she could’ve given me out loud.
The Parlor was my spot when I wanted good energy without the noise. It was a chill lounge for adults without mumble rap. We got a booth in the back and she sat across from me this time. Not next to me. I noted it but didn’t push. She was choosing to be here and she was choosing her distance and both of those things were hers to decide.
Drinks came—Banks Reserve for me, tequila and pineapple for her—and we got into it about Serenity. She told me everything. The drug use. Mega blowing up the phone every thirty seconds. The bruises from months ago that Serenity blamed on some rough sex shit that didn’t sound right. The fight at the restaurant. The way Serenity stormed out.
“She’s in trouble, Quest. And she can’t see it because she’s in too deep.”
“I know.” And I did. But knowing and doing something about it were two different things when the person you’re trying to help keeps telling you to mind your business.
“I’mma kill that muhfucka,” I barked.
“See, no, that’s the problem. You can’t just kill him. You need to talk to her. You can’t solve all your problems like that. Besides… you kill him and it just sets off a chain of events.”
“Says the woman who got a nigga in a cage,” I smirked.
“It’s not the same.”
“How is it different?”
She looked down because she didn’t have a response. She knew that it was no different.
“Speakin’ of which, you need to get rid of him soon. Get that shit out of your system. You’ve been carrying it on too long.”
“I will soon, when I’m good and ready,” she rolled her eyes.
“Your lil angry ass. But I’mma talk to my sister. Prime, Quest and I will host a lil intervention.”
“Yeah, save her. And don’t jump to killin’ Mega. That shit would start a war.”
She had a point. It would. But my sister was worth going to war over, but not if she wasn’t ready to leave that nigga. I needed to get her to leave first.
“So, you my lil advisor now? You got all the wisdom?”
“I know a little,” she playfully winked, as a smile stretched across her face.
“There she is. Thank you for reaching out to me about Serenity, though.”
“Of course. I love her. We got divorced at the same time and we went through that shit together.”
“I’mglad she had you since she’s shut us out. My grandmother wants you at her eighty-fifth birthday party,” I said.
“Grandma Rita is my homegirl. She may be turning eighty-five, but her heart is so much younger.”
“I know, I feel like I need to get her a babysitter sometimes. You never know what she’s gonna do,” I laughed.
“Yeah, that’s why I love her. So she asked you to bring me? That means you were talking about me,” she smiled. Her lips looked so kissable.
“Yeah, I mentioned you,” I tried to play it cool.
“I’ll think about it,” she smiled again.
