Chapter 14
She’s Trying Me
Since I heard Islah’s voice, I ain’t slept right.
I laid on that thin ass mattress most of the night, staring up at the ceiling, my arms folded behind my head while her voice replayed in my mind like a song stuck on repeat. Every word, every pause, every second of silence between us.
She really thought she could leave me without a fight.
I knew I fucked up, I knew I shouldn’t have fucked that bitch. I had the bread for the coke, but I took the easy route, thinking Islah would never find out.
I closed my eyes and could see Islah’s face. The way she used to look at me when she thought I wasn’t paying attention. The way she would smile when I walked into the house. The way she would say my name when I was deep in her.
That woman was my future.
We had real-life plans.
The house waiting, she out making money for us.
I was ready to put a baby in her.
I wasn’t some nigga she could just walk away from like it was nothing.
My jaw tightened just thinking about not coming home to her.
When morning count came around, I was already sitting up on the bunk. I couldn’t get any sleep, my eyes was burning, but my mind was sharp.
I needed to start moving pieces.
After lunch and count cleared, I made my way to the rec room to use the phone. A few niggas was already in line waiting their turn. The room smelled like sweat, bleach, and cheap ass soap.
I grabbed a phone as soon as one opened and dialed my lawyer. The phone rang and rang. I thought the nigga wasn’t gonna pick up; then the ringing stopped, and I heard, “Yeah?”
I looked at the phone.
“Nigga, who the fuck are you talking to?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, who is this?”
I sucked my teeth. “It’s Gio, nigga. I need you to get over here ASAP. I need to talk to you in person.”
He started talking about his schedule and how he was working on paperwork for me. For real, it didn’t sound like he was doing shit.
I cut him off.
“Nigga, I don’t care about none of that shit. I’m telling you, pull the fuck up.”
There was a pause before he agreed, and I hung up the phone and went back to my cell, letting the rest of the morning crawl by while my mind stayed stuck on Islah and fixing shit.
Later on, once I saw who the guard was, I pulled out my phone and called Bully.
“Yo, who the fuck is this?” he said as soon as he picked up.
I laughed. “Nigga, it’s Gio.”
“Oh shit, nigga! Why the fuck are you just now calling me?!”
I shook my head. “I know, nigga, I know. What the fuck is going on?”
