Page 87 of 4 Corinthians

“Two strangers,” she mumbled. I looked from our hands to see her eyes were closed. Judah had fallen back to sleep. “Two people who aren’t broken.”

“Okay,” I agreed. I would’ve agreed to anything if it meant I could be next to her.

I rested the back of my head against the window again, then closed my eyes. I didn’t fight against my sleep as it pulled at me. Not this time, not with Corinthians and Judah next to me. For the first time in a long time, I felt peace.

Four years later…

Corinthians

“Mama!” Judah yelled as he ran through the living room into the kitchen. His hair was all over his head, no shirt on, ball shorts and tall socks. His headset covered one ear, and his face was twisted. I knew that look. He was upset, more than likely with Krude. “Mama!”

“Yeah?” I answered him, trying not to laugh. I leaned against the island, resting my elbows on top of it, waiting.

“Krude is cheating!” he set his controller on the island and crossed his arms. I knew it. That look always meant he was dealing with Krude. “You said he wouldn’t cheat.”

“No, I didn’t,” I laughed and shook my head. “I said if Krude isn’t going to do anything else, he’s going to cheat.”

Judah looked at me like I'd grown two heads and spoken seven different languages all at once. “I have no idea what that even means.”

“It means you need to stop gambling with him,” I told him, and Judah’s shoulders dropped in disappointment. “Why do you keep playing with him knowing that he cheats?”

“Because I refuse to lose. Krude said the only time you give up is when your woman has you pinned against the wall with your head spinning,” he answered.

Genesis DeCorte and his unneeded advice.

“Judah, please stop talking to Krude,” I groaned. I picked up my phone from beside me and pulled up the family group chat.

“Stop talking to him?” he asked, and I nodded. “Why would I do that? He’s my best friend.”

I looked up from my phone to see him with a confused expression. “He also cheats at the game,” I reminded him. “Which is the reason you’re in here upset.”

Me: Genesis DeCorte!

Krude: Whatever it is, Judge did it.

Me: What did you tell my son about giving up?

Judge: He’s lying.

Krude: Nigga, I know you not on this thread saying cuss words like my Best Friend ain’t on here.

Judge: I didn’t cuss.

Krude: You said the L word! You know in black households that’s a cuss word. You supposed to say, ‘telling a story’.

Judge: Krude, get the hell off my phone.

Krude: Nigga I did not text you!

I rolled my eyes at their exchange. Krude and Judge would go back and forth all day if someone didn’t tell them to shut up. And the only people they listened to were our grandparents.

Me: Granddaddy!

Granddaddy: Krude, what did you tell Judah?

Krude: Oh, that the only time he’s supposed to give up is when his woman has him pinned against the wall, and his head was spinning. The same thing you told me.

Granddaddy: You were a grown man when I told you that!