Kay’Lo especially stood out to me because of how he handled his wife and his kid. I saw the way he moved with her, the way his whole energy changed when she was around, and how protective he got without it feeling like control. He took care of his responsibilities like it was nothing, like that was just who he was, and it made me think about things I didn’t like letting my mind sit on too long. Every once in a while, Harlow would cross my thoughts just enough to remind me what it felt like to think you had something solid and then realize you were the only one standing on it.
I never responded to her messages, even when she kept sending them, even when she tried to explain herself in every way she could think of, because I already knew how that would go if I gave her even a piece of my attention. So I kept that door closed and left it where it was, even if it meant carrying that weight in silence while I sat around watching another man live the kind of life I once thought I was building.
At the same time, I couldn’t deny that Kay’Lo had shown me something real the second I got here. He didn’t hesitate when I showed up. He didn’t question my intentions past what he needed to know, and didn’t treat me like an outsider even though I clearly was one. He gave me space in his house, put me in rooms I had no business being in, and trusted me with shit that could’ve gone left if I wasn’t who I said I was. That kind of loyalty don’t come easy, and I wasn’t about to take it lightly.
Pressure and Renza took a lil’ longer to warm up to me, and I understood that without needing it explained. They watched everything, from how I talked, how I moved, how I handled myself when things got tense, and they didn’t say much at first. It wasn’t no open hostility, but it wasn’t open arms either. I could feel that they were protective of their circle, and I respected it because I would’ve been the same way if the roles were flipped.
Over time, though, that shit changed. I stayed out the way, handled my part without making noise about it, and showed them I wasn’t here to play both sides or do anything sideways behind Kay’Lo’s back. Once they saw that, the vibe switched. They started talking to me different, including me in conversations, and eventually it felt less like I was around them and more like I was with them. We had enough in common that it didn’t take much to bridge whatever gap was there. We all got money, we all moved how we wanted, and none of us was the type to let anybody play in our face without consequences.
That’s how I ended up sitting outside at Pressure’s place, kicking it like I had been doing this my whole life, eating food that hit different, sipping on something smooth, and letting the night move how it wanted to move without thinking too hard about anything else.
I can’t even lie, sitting at the table with them felt normal as hell at this point.
We were outside at Pressure’s, cards spread out, drinks sitting around, thick blunts passed, and nobody really focused on winning. It was just talk, laughs, and that kind of energy where you forget everything else for a minute.
Kay’Lo leaned back in his chair, rubbing the side of his face while he looked at his hand. “Man… I ain’t even gon’ lie, I’m ready for this trial shit to be over with ’cause I’m tryna get back to this for real and actually enjoy it.”
Pressure nodded, dropping a card on the table. “Hell yeah. This shit draggin’. We done tried everything.”
Renza smirked. “Everything except walkin’ up in that bitch ass nigga’s house and pullin’ answers about that lost footage outta him.”
Pressure gave him a look. “My pops already tried to get in there. You know how he move. That bitch locked down different. I’m talkin’ serious security. Ain’t nothin’ just gettin’ through.”
Kay’Lo clicked his tongue. “That’s what got me hot. You know it’s bad when Unc can’t even get in that muthafucka. That’s crazy as hell.”
Renza shook his head, laughin’. “That just mean that nigga scared. He already know how we give it up, and to have that security on standby.”
They all laughed, and I just sat there watching it, listening and taking it in, letting the moment sit the way it was without rushing it or trying to fill it with anything extra.
Then I looked down at my cards, thought about it for half a second, and tossed one down.
“I’ll do it.”
Everybody paused, and that silence hit the table for just long enough to make it real.
Renza leaned back slow, grinnin’. “Say, Leonardo DiCaprio, you a cold muthafucka if you can get in that house.”
Kay’Lo looked at me like I said somethin’ wild. “Nigga.”
Pressure stared at me for a second, then his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile. “You’ll do what?”
I shrugged and took a sip of my drink, keeping it light even though I already knew I wasn’t joking. “Walk in his house.”
Kay’Lo raised his brows. “With his security standin’ around?”
“Yeah…” I replied.
Renza slapped the table. “Oh yeah… Slim Shady might be on to somethin’.”
Kay’Lo shook his head, laughing at Renza. “This nigga dumb as hell.”
Then he looked at me again, studying me a little closer this time. “Nigga, you said that like you goin’ to grab somethin’ from the store.”
Pressure leaned back, finally smirkin’. “A’ight then. Go ahead. Go in the house.”
I nodded once. “Say less.”
Renza raised his glass. “To my boy Brad Pitt for thinkin’ it’s that easy.”
