“You see how them boys look at they women?” she said. “Scared and in love all at once.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“You right there wit’ ‘em,” she added. “Just don’t let that fear speak louder than the love.”
“I’m tryin’,” I said.
“I can see that,” she said. “She gon’ see it too.”
I wanted to believe her.
A couple days later, I was at the Club 4 Play Philly location, in my office but for once actually workin’. Contracts spread out, my laptop open, a notepad full of numbers.
I heard a knock.
“Come in,” I said without lookin’ up.
Door creaked.
“Don’t you ever take a day off?” Truce’s voice came.
“This your idea of work?” Royce added, steppin’ in behind him. “You starin’ at the same paper for ten minutes.”
I leaned back. “Y’all don’t know nothin’ ‘bout business.”
“Whatever,” Truce said, floppin’ onto the couch. “We just came to see if you still on your creep tour.”
“Fuck you,” I muttered.
Royce sat on the arm of the chair, lookin’ at me. “You talked to her?”
“Not like that,” I said. “We text.”
“Text say what?” he asked.
“Good mornin’,” I mimicked. “Did you eat? Normal shit. I been chillin’.”
“Chillin’ for you or chillin’ for a human?” Truce asked.
“For a human,” I said. “I ain’t popped up nowhere uninvited.”
“That boy growin’ up, look at him,” Truce said.
They laughed. I flipped ‘em both off.
Truth was, I did feel myself changin’ a little.
Not softer.
Just… more intentional.
I still wanted to know everything about where Melissa was and who she was with.
Difference now was, I wanted her togiveme that, not take it.
Whether I liked it or not, that was the only way this was gon’ feel safe to her.
That night, the club started fillin’ in early.
