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“Shit, one of my arms and one of yours will make two.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“If you say so.”

“I do, so wait up. Here I come.” He disappeared from over the railing and must’ve jogged down the steps, because he was coming around the corner of the building in seconds.

Michael grabbed one side of the basket, I grabbed the other, and he was right about this being much easier than me carrying it all on my own.

“You know, sis, I talked to my brother this morning for a few minutes. He asked about you. Wondering why you haven’t been answering his calls.”

“I told him I wouldn’t be answering any of his calls when he got himself locked up this last time. I’m tired of it, and he knows it. He’s going to sit this stay out by himself and think long and hard if he wants to be free and with me in the future.”

Michael just shook his head as he always did when I told him the truth about his brother. Me and Damon had years of history, with the majority of it being toxic. He’s stolen from me, cheated on me, and he had a baby by a girl up in Dallas who wants nothing to do with him, and he’s happy about that because it means no responsibilities for him. I even caught him talking to a Tranny once before, and he said he couldn’t tell from her pictures. I made sure to never let that shit breathe in an argument. That or the fact that we had two sons we had to give away because getting me pregnant was easier for him than using a condom.

“Toya, you know he’s getting out soon.”

“Yeah right.” I laughed through my nose. I’m sure the judge was going to throw the book at him for being a habitual criminal.

“I’m serious, Toya, the gun he got arrested for doesn’t have his prints on it. The gun was just in the backseat of his whip with two of his homeboys in it. They even have Hymmie in custody too, and Damon’s lawyer is making sure they put that weapon on him.”

“And?” I rolled my eyes.

“And that means he could be coming home soon. Sooner than everyone else thinks. I’ll be glad too. I need someone else out here in my corner, and that’s for damn sure.”

Michael had put some shit on my mind for the time being, but I wasn’t going to have faith in the judicial system or his brother because both have let me down before. The fact that whoever killed my little brother is still walking around free made me sick to my stomach. There was no evidence, no witnesses, no fingerprints, or even shell casings. At least that’s what the detectives were saying, but I’ve found our government was more concerned with niggas selling drugs than niggas killing each other. Same stories, different decades and area codes.

Michael and I walked up to my door, and before I could get the key in the lock, the strong scent of some rosy perfume hit my nose.

I looked toward the parking spots, and when I saw the car, I knew the scent was coming from Kharti. She must’ve let herself in with the key I’d given her for emergencies. I never knew when she would have to step in for me and check up on grandma.

“Thank you, Michael. I’ll call you to help with the next load if you’ll be around later.”

“You know I got you. Just yell up for help.”

“Okay, I will. Thanks.”

He walked away as I opened the door.

I dragged the basket inside, and the second I stepped into the living room, Kharti crossed her legs and sat her phone down beside her. Of course, she looked cute while I looked busted as hell in these worn out leggings and oversized T-shirt. Kharti was in a cute two piece skirt set, with some blinged out sandals, and her hair flowing over her shoulders.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming over.” I kicked the basket further into the house.

“If you called my phone, it was on my bed. I was just down at the laundry center washing clothes.”

I finally collapsed on the couch near Kharti.

“You know, you really shouldn’t leave your phone in the house when you’re gone, Toya.”

She reached down to the floor and pulled up a plastic Walmart bag.

“Here.” She held the bag out in front of me.

“What’s this?”

I opened the bag and fumbled through it, quickly finding about five First Response pregnancy tests.

“Khar, why did you bring all of these?”

“Don’t play clueless. You know why. Caine wants you to take one as soon as you miss your first period, so I stopped by the store and got you some. That way we will know if it works or if we have to do the conception thing again or whatever.” Kharti’s left eye twitched, but she exhaled, putting that same smirk on her face I’d known her to do when she didn’t want anyone to know she was mad.