“They’re all so sweet.” I ignored his accusation. “How’d you turn out like this?” I gestured to him.
He chuckled.
“I’m the nicest nigga you know.” He waved me off before backing out.
“I know you don’t actually believe that shit.”
“Nah. I don’t,” he admitted. “But I’m like this specifically because they are so sweet,” he said. “Somebody in the family got to hold shit down. My parents did that shit enough raisingus and Chandler did that shit enough when she had to start parenting me and Rome. They deserve to be nice and sweet and living in la la fucking land. All the shit that could fuck with that peace is gon’ have to go through me first.”
I nodded.
“I thought you didn’t have a family story.”
“What?”
“When you asked what my story was, I told you. When I asked you, you said you didn’t have one.”
Drix shrugged and we sat in silence for a few miles.
Then, he exhaled and leaned further back in his seat.
“My parents got together young. My mom was a teacher. My pops was in the military. We were comfortable, middle class till Pops got hurt. Bad.” He glanced at me then back at the road. “The VA was on bullshit and money dwindled quick. My mom picked up a second job while my dad was just spiraling and trying to figure out how to make shit shake. They sold their vehicles and all kinds of shit to take care of us. I started hustling. Chandler started waitressing. We were making shit work the best we could. I dropped out to hustle more and you know how dudes on the block be fucking around. We would shoot dice and shit and I fucked around and freestyled. It turned out I was good. I started paying most of the bills so our mom could quit one of her jobs. She didn’t. She started pouring money into therapy for my pops. I started putting my extra money into a savings account for Chandler to go to college.
“Chandler got pregnant with Vienna while she was still in school by some stupid ass dude who didn’t want to step up. He ended up getting stomped out by me and Rome but that ain’t make him want to be a father. It just made us feel better.” He scoffed. “Another mouth to feed is what got Rome on the streets. Chandler offered to drop out and get a fulltime job instead but even then we all knew she was our way out. One year forChristmas, she gifted me studio time. I thought that shit was dumb, but after she broke down how much money she’d wasted that could have gone in my niece’s stomach and I found out I couldn’t knock niggas out to get her a refund, I decided to take it serious, and bam, it hit. I paid off my parents’ house with that first check and had Chandler’s college fund taken care of with that second one. We haven’t looked back since.” He glanced over at me. “That’s why we’re close the way we are I guess.”
I nodded at that. “Damn and my family don’t even talk to each other regularly.”
“Yeah, well if that’s the case, you ain’t missing shit.” He shrugged. “What my pops say? Don’t ever let somebody try to tell you that you’ll settle if you love them. If they loved you, they’d rise to the occasion. That shit’s real for family too. Don’t lay yo’ expectations and shit down to have no mothafucka smiling in yo’ face. You don’t need them.”
“I know.” I grinned.
“Then say that shit, Yo.”
“I don’t need them.”
“Fucking right.” He nodded, reached forward, and flipped the music on.
He glanced over, the corners of his mouth tilted slightly upward and the sight made a huge grin take over my face.
CHAPTER 6
DRIX
Iadjusted the instrumental in front of me for what felt like the hundredth time then froze and looked back as the door to the studio creaked open. Myome stuck her head in.
“Hey.” She gave me a little wave before walking further inside.
She wore an oversized sweatshirt and athletic shorts with tennis shoes, but had a duffle bag I was sure held her change of clothes before she headed out… if she ever got to head out.
“What’s up?” I looked at the soundboard while Myome got settled, setting her bag down and digging out a water bottle.
I looked at my watch while I listened to my instrumental loop. I’d scheduled my session with Radiant Reverie for seven sharp. I wasn’t sure how long it would take to lay the entire record but I wanted it to get knocked out on this second day if possible.
It was six.
“Why you here so early?” I asked.
Myome greeted me as she walked over. “Well good morning to you too.”