I looked around for a second, thinking about that.
“I hope not,” I responded.
Islah placed her food down and turned to face me.
“Can you promise me that you don’t do me anything like you did before? That is not you and not the Gio I know.”
I nodded. “If I promise, can I get a kiss from you?”
She looked at me like I was crazy, making me laugh.
“I don’t know about that…maybe a hug.”
I didn’t like that, but I let it go.
“Okay, Islah…I promise that I won’t get like I was before.”
She smiled. “Thank you.” She opened her arms, and I reached in for a hug.
She felt so good. Her skin was so damn smooth. She smelled like vanilla and honey. I didn’t want to let go of her.
But my promise to her wasn’t on some light shit; I meant what I said—no turning back into the nigga that’s trippin’ again.
When she pulled away from me, she adjusted her clothes and looked around the park.
“Are you ready to go?”
I nodded. “Yeah…I want to go anywhere with you.”
Islah stood up with a smirk on her face. I grabbed our empty food containers while trying to hold her hand. She walked to the side while wrapping her arms around her waist.
Back in the car, she didn’t speak to me, just laid her head against the window. I didn’t care that she looked a lil’ down here and there. I was just glad that she was with me.
Once we got home, she slid her shoes off and headed up the steps with all her bags in her hands.
“You know…” I said softly. “You can move your things into our room.”
Islah stopped on the steps and looked back at me.
“No, Gio…I am not ready for that.”
When she was outta my eyesight, I walked back out of the door, hopped in my car, and went straight back to Kronic’s house. I needed to make some more money. But as soon as I pulled up, I saw Bully sitting on the steps.
He stood up once he saw me, walking up the sidewalk.
“You don’t know a nigga no more?” he asked.
“I been busy,” I responded.
“Yeah, I heard you have. Why the fuck did you take them niggas with you to Atlanta?”
I looked him up and down.
“Nigga, ‘cause you and Kronic wasn’t down for the count.”
Bully looked back at Kronic, and he was just shaking his head.
“Because it was a dummy mission, Gio, and you lost a nigga!”
