Stay Fly pointed at Dio and Joshua and sent them my way. I didn’t waste time. As soon as Dio came to grab something from the truck, my lips got to moving.
“Nigga, I texted you.”
“Man, they’re working our ass. I barely got time to look at a fucking phone. What’s up?”
He picked up a box and started walking off. “Yo brother. You think you can set up some shit so I can talk to him? I want to do what you said, but I want my daughter back when I graduate.”
Dio shrugged as he walked off. He set the box down and cameback. “So, you want them to get attached, then let go. Man, that ain’t going to happen. It’s either you do or you don’t. One thing I don’t play about is my brother or his feelings.”
I dropped my head because I needed this, but I also needed the nigga to understand where I was coming from. He picked up another box and went to walk off, and I grabbed his arm.
“Fuck! Just set up the play, man! Damn!”
Dio’s eyes slowly landed on my hand. “I’ll set up the play. You can talk to him after I cross, but I’ll tell you what. If you fuck around and hurt either his or his wife’s feelings over this baby, I swear ‘fore God, you ain’t got to worry about getting her back because you’re going to be a dead nigga.”
Jesaiah shouted at him while looking at me. “Number fucking Seven! Why are you taking so long?”
Dio pulled away and walked off. I knew what I wanted to do could affect his brother and wife, but to be honest, they were a last resort. I did reach out to Nan, who seemed to be getting better, and her caregivers were getting fewer hours, but she still didn’t have it in her to have Breann full-time. I tried Faye again, but she was on that good bullshit. I had even asked her to sign over her rights. Just to give me hell, she said no. I was desperate at this point, and if this shit failed with Dio’s brother, I knew I was cooked, and that was the end of school. Ultimately, I could come back, but I was sure by the time I got settled, I wouldn’t even be interested.
Once I was done unloading everything, I headed to leave, but not before Jesaiah came walking his muscle head ass over.
“Coach told us you're coming back. Don’t think you’re getting your position back that easy, nigga. By the way, stay away from my line.”
“I feel sorry for your auntie. You’re a bitch!” I told him.
“Yeah, and so are you. Such a bitch, you can’t even get your shittogether. Percy, nigga, move around. Go focus on that girl you’ve been around. She’s the bitch!”
I drew my fist back to hit him before the Big Brothers walked up. “Just leave, my nigga. Not here,” one of them said.
There had to be a way to get this nigga up out of here because although Dean August was sweet, she housed a bitter nigga who was treacherous on campus. If Jesaiah wasn’t kicked out or stopped, his ass was going to end up dead.
PHOEBE
PRESS PLAY
I spent the day showing Xavier how to care for the horses. I did show off a little by riding them, but most of the time was spent showing him the ropes. It felt good to have him here to see this side of my life. This was the part I despised, but with him around, I came to appreciate it.
After putting Black Mamba back into the stalls, I saw Xavier standing where Monk was watching him. I tried ignoring him, but I kept glancing at him all day. I didn’t want him to ask any questions, but I knew they were coming.
“That’s Monk, the one I was telling you about,” I started. “He still isn’t getting any better.”
Xavier looked at me, confused. “Why are y’all keeping him like this? He’s suffering. You would rather see him suffer than put him at ease?”
His saying that made me feel like shit. I knew I was the reason my family hadn’t put him down. But what he said was also bigger than Monk. Kyle was suffering, and it was I who was being selfish because I didn’t want to be alone, yet I ended up alone anyway.Having someone come in and take Monk’s life from me was equivalent to what I did to Kyle, and I couldn’t do it. I swallowed deeply as I grew closer to Xavier.
“I can’t let him go. He’s my brother’s, and I—”
“What happened to your brother? Did he die?”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Yes,” I mumbled.
Xavier turned to me. “Is that why you do what you do to yourself? Or is it guilt?” he asked.
My lips trembled; my breathing became heavy. Xavier gripped my shirt and pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
I knew I needed to let Monk go, and a part of me doing that was letting go of Kyle. I sniffled as I pulled away from Xavier.
