Juelz walked into the living room and plopped onto the couch, then looked over his shoulder.
“Damn. You never really know the muthafuckas you hang with every day.”
I stood with my arms crossed, holding my bike keys. He was going to need to speed up the theatrics. I had somewhere to be and not much time. I glanced down at my watch as Juelz sniffled like he was sitting there crying. The man got on my nerves sometimes, but he was solid as hell.
“Aye, I’m gone need you to wrap all that up. I got something to handle.”
Juelz hopped up from the couch and stretched, then turned to face me with a smirk.
“I hope it’s so you can get on your Keith Sweat. You messed up my night with her homegirl. I knew she was gone let me show her something. But no, Solana called and now they’re all over at her place.”
I groaned, knowing they were probably dragging my name through the mud over there.
“Yeah, you messed up. But I got you. You need me to come hold a boombox and everything? You gotta handle the singing, though. My mama didn’t pass that skill down to me.”
I tilted my head and turned to head outside. Juelz followed behind me, then stepped to the side so I could close and lock the door.
“I’m not going there first. She’s already upset, and she needs time. I need to stop and see Heiress first, then I’ll go by the shop. But you can head wherever you were going before I called. I appreciate you.”
Juelz waved me off and made a beeline for his bike. I chuckled as he flicked me off and took off. I grabbed my helmet,placed it on my head, then made my way to my grandparents’ place hoping Heiress hadn’t decided to leave again.
The moment I turned onto their street, I noticed a figure leaning against the porch steps. The closer I got, Heiress came into view. She looked to be deep in thought. At the sound of my engine, she glanced up as I pulled into the driveway.
I kicked the stand down and pulled my helmet off.
“Wait,” Heiress called out, stopping me before I got off the bike.
I squinted and waited. She turned and headed into the house, then came back out a few moments later with a jacket on. I watched her lock the door, then jog down the steps toward me.
Heiress looked different, like the straps on her parachute had been cut. Tired.
“Can you take me somewhere?” she asked.
I released a breath and moved to stand up. She reached out and placed her hand against my wrist to stop me. I looked back at her, but her eyes said something different than they usually did.
“I’m not taking you to the nearest bar, Heiress.”
She looked off with a roll of her eyes. “I want to go somewhere with you. It’s not a bar. I just want to talk, but not here.”
I sat back down, then reached into my pouch for Solana’s helmet and extended my hand. Heiress twisted the helmet in her hands and smiled.
“Who is Sweets?” she asked.
“Where do you want to go, Heiress?”
“Stillwater Bend.”
I nodded and helped her onto the back of the bike. I released the brake and backed out of the driveway. She wrapped her arms around my waist. I couldn’t remember the last time my mother had held onto me. I hated the way it was making me feel to bein her grasp. But I needed to deal with this if I wanted to love Solana the right way.
We rode through the streets until we made it to the Bend. This place always felt as still as its name. Like a rebirth was always waiting on the horizon. Once I parked, I helped her off the back of the bike.
We walked side by side in silence toward the tree along the edge of the river. The branches rustled as we approached. I put my hands in my pockets and kept my attention on the stars and clouds. I didn’t want to be the first one to break the energy building between us, especially since she had brought me here.
“I don’t want to offer you excuses?—”
“Then don’t,” I cut in, leaving no room for more.
“I’m trying, Duke. I want to be real with you without it sounding like an excuse.”
