“Trying to stay that way.”
She nodded. “Where preggo at?”
I chuckled. “In the kitchen, stuffing her face already.”
“Let me go see her.” Kenzi went inside as I stepped down to greet Ruger. He talked on the phone a little before he ended the call and smiled at me.
“What’s good, my G?” he asked once I made it to him. We slapped palms and pulled each other into a tight hug.
“Shit much. It’s good to see you, brother.”
“Same. You look good, . . . happy.”
“I’m trying to stay that way, man. How shit going back home?”
“Same shit, different toilet. We lost Flame a few weeks back. Motorcycle accident.”
I frowned slightly. “Damn, why you ain’t tell me? I would have come up.”
“You got baby girl coming in a few short weeks. Your focus should be on that. We sent him off properly, and I brought you an obituary for your keepsake.”
I didn’t speak for a minute. Flame was one of the homies in our motorcycle crew who also looked out for me, so to know he passed away and I was not informed about it was fucked up.
I hated the way people sometimes treated me. I understood my girl was about to have my baby, but she wasn’t due until next month. According to him, Flame died a few weeks ago, so there was no need for me to not show up for him.
“One band, one sound, right?” I asked, reminding him of his own rule.
Ruger stared at me for a minute, then nodded. “That’s right. One band, one sound means we all look out for each other, Grue.”
“Exactly. I should have been there to see him off. It ain’t like he got taken out by a rival gang or some shit.”
“I just wanted you to stay focused, G. No harm, no foul, my baby.”
I sighed softly as I rubbed my tongue over my teeth. I knew Ruger was only looking out for me, but he was also keeping me in the dark. He felt like any little situation would trigger me, and that was the shit I didn’t like.
People were trying to think for me like they knew how the fuck I felt.
“I’m good, Ru. I don’t need you making decisions for me, bro.”
He bit the inside of his jaw and looked off. I knew he wanted to say more, but I needed him to know that he couldn’t son me nor think for me.
“It’s Sunday,” he said, eyes coming back to me. I knew what that shit meant. This was his day of peace, and he didn’t want his peace disrupted. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the shit.
“Yeah, okay, Ru.”
“You gon’ show me your humble abode, or should I take my ass to my house?”
I sucked my teeth. “Stop being dramatic, bruh. Come on in. We’ll revisit this conversation another time.”
He chuckled and followed me inside.
“How’s business going, Sis?” I asked Kenzi as we sat at the dining table, letting the food digest after pigging out. I had poured myself and Ruger bourbon and Kenzi some wine. Nichelle had a virgin daiquiri while cutting a piece of lemon pie for dessert.
“Business is doing well. I got my seventh client last week and hired two more therapists.” She beamed.
“Who she’s become best friends with. Don’t leave that part out.”
I smiled. “I hope they ain’t shit like Nani’s ho ass.”