“Let me go check on my homies.” I pecked Autumn’s lips. “See you out there, Baby Sis. I’ll be waiting to walk you down the aisle.”
“See you, Brother. I love you.”
I winked at her. “Love you more, my baby.”
Three Days Later . . .
We had been in Accra, Ghana, for two days now. While Kenzi and Autumn slept to catch up on the time zone, Ruger and I rented motorcycles and rode through the city. Everything about Africa was dope—from the food, to the people, and the culture.
Shit was a whole vibe.
When we touched down, I got a call from Kaylani, telling me that Nichelle had committed suicide. She told me they found her body in a hotel a few miles from where they lived, with a note saying she couldn’t take living anymore.
I didn’t know how to feel about that, but I knew I wasn’t going to dwell on that shit. Nichelle made her choice—a bad choice, no less, which ultimately led her to end her life. I knew it sounded bad, but I’d rather have her be dead than to be living on this earth, leaving her daughter behind as if she didn’t exist. Either way, she was selfish as fuck for doing it, reminding me that she was no better than Ashanti, and I dodged a bullet with her ass.
I did, however, send them money for her funeral arrangements, and would take Nizara there to say her final goodbyes.
Since I couldn’t sleep, Ruger agreed to come with me to find a bike shop and decided to go for an evening ride. This nigga swore he was faster than me and was trying to show out by popping wheelies until I showed his ass up, doing some tricks of my own.
We ended up at the beach, just sitting on the bikes and watching the sun go down.
I didn’t know how to feel, being here.
I wanted to keep cool, knowing that we were here to celebrate my sister and Ruger, but my mind kept wandering to seeing Ashanti after all these years. I didn’t know what I’d do, seeing her face, hearing her voice, or her damn excuses.
“Shit crazy, Ru. I feel like I’m in a fucking twilight zone. From Nich and her bullshit, the nigga Nico coming for me, then the baby actually being mine. I’m about to have another baby. Then I’m here, in fucking Africa, about to see a woman who made my life a living hell. Like, the Big Homie gotta be playing wit’ me, man.”
Ruger chuckled. He didn’t speak right away. It was something he always did when he was choosing his words carefully.
“You want to know the beauty of all of this, though?”
“What?”
“You got a woman who loves you and cares about your mental state. Not only did she come with a baby of her own, but you’ve been doing yo’ shit with her for months, treating Taylor like she came from your loins. The Big Homie ain’t playing games with you, man. He’s telling you that no matter what you think of yourself, He sees the best in you and knows you got this shit. As far as ya moms, your sister had to help me through a similar situation. I have no doubt Autumn gon’ get you right through this situation with yours.”
I nodded. “She really do keep me calm, man. I always said God put her in my path through Kenzi. He definitely sent a nigga a lifeline when I felt myself drowning.”
“Take that with you, fam. When you get ya answer, think of the good shit that’s been happening around you. Don’t even focus on why she did what she did. It starts with forgiveness, Grue. You could have been worse off, but you kept ya head for your sister, and look at you now.”
I smirked. “I gotta give props to you too, Ru. You really helped me focus when I was all over the place. Even after Mr. T died, you were the next person I looked up to. So, I agree. The Most High has definitely been looking out for a nigga.”
“Indeed.” He held his fist out, and I gave him a pound.
“You got this shit, Ghana.”
Nigga never called me by my real name, so I knew he was serious.
“Appreciate you, my baby,” I said as we continued to watch the sun set.
Kenzi and I sat in the rental car, looking at Ashanti Abara's home.
We had been sitting outside of her house for over thirty minutes, and I had already gone through two blunts.
“I don’t know if I can do this shit, Sis.”
“You got this, Ghana. We need to close this chapter of our lives, no matter how much it hurts. Let that shit bleed so it can heal.”
I sighed. “Fuck it. Let’s do this.”