“No, he does not, and I expect you to mind your business while I go catch the bus home and search for another therapist.” She tried to walk away, but I stepped in front of her again.
“First off, slow your roll. You don’t have to find another therapist. Delilah is good at what she does, and I’m sure she can help you through however you're feeling.”
“Whatever, you are just saying that because y’all fuckin.”
I laughed, but she felt like I was out of line, so she folded her arms up tight again.
“My bad, shorty, but let me take you wherever you need to go. I can’t let you hop on a bus when my car is right there.” I pointed just down the sidewalk.
“No, thank you, I can make it without your help.” She walked away from me, and I lifted my phone.
“That’s fine,” I called out behind her.
“Just let me call your brother and let him know that I offered your stubborn ass a ride. So if you get hurt or killed, he won’t think I didn’t at least try.”
When I brought up calling Crew, she stopped in her tracks. She turned around and rolled her eyes.
“Well, come on then nigga, or whatever the fuck you are. But just know that I have mace and a knife if you try something.”
I laughed.
“I’m not here to hurt, just here to help. Now come on.” I led her to my car, and we took off.
The majority of the ride, she sat in the passenger with her arms folded, staring out the window like she was on abus. My phone was blowing up with Delilah calling, most likely to see where I was, but I didn’t bother to answer. Explaining how I knew Jas was something that I didn’t want to have to do.She was never satisfied with answers because she was always thinking of her next question.
When we hit the block, I made my way towards the brownstone address she gave me and there was a nigga coming down the stoop of her spot with a large bag over his shoulder.
“What the hell is this nigga doing here! Why didn’t she call me?” I could tell that she wasn’t talking directly to me, more like complaining out loud about the nigga walking down the steps. She hopped out of the car before I could stop, and her anxiousness made me put my car in park to see what the fuck was up.
“What are you doing with my baby stuff! Where is my mama at?”
She started yelling at the man as soon as she set foot onto the pavement.
“I saw her leave with one of her church friends, and I used the spare key I know she keeps in that plant. My son needs more clothes, and I don’t get paid until next Friday.”
“Clothes for what? You didn’t ask me to keep him multiple days, Reggie. You didn’t ask to get him at all, actually.”
“I’m not asking you to keep him multiple days because I’m not asking you to keep him ever again. My son is about to start staying with me. I heard about all the shit you've been getting into, and he won’t be around it.”
The dude continued down the steps and up to his Nissan Maxima parked in front of mine.
“Let me call my fuckin brother.”
“Go ahead. I’ll have the police here before he gets here. I already filed a restraining order on that crazy ass nigga. He comes near me, and his ass is getting locked up again.”
“Fuck you, Reggie.” She hit him upside his head.
“You can’t take my son from me just like that. You have no fuckin reason to.”
“Oh, I have good enough reason. Don’t you think I hear the chatter around the block? How you got a nigga in Vivo gang killed, and that he wants to come for you.”
“Yeah, fuckin right.” She blew smoke, and I adjusted myself in my seat.
“You think I’m just talking, but you need to understand that niggas just not scared of your brother as they used to be. They know that nigga is a family man now and not really in the streets anymore. You'd better watch your back, Jas, but in the meantime, I’ll watch my sons.”
Her baby father didn’t know it, but he was putting me on to valuable information. I need to know who this Vivo nigga is because I’m sure if he's after Jasmine, he probably wants to find me too. I, however, hope he's ready for what the fuck he's looking for.
“Reggie! Just let me handle shit the way I see fit. If he needs to come with you, then I’ll let you know.”
