Page 47 of I Need It

“I think he knows something,” Mya said.

“Yeah. That nigga always got his nose in other people’s shit.”

She let out a nervous chuckle as I led her to the door. I could hear them talking and laughing and JJ in there acting a damn fool. Jakari’s son was bad as hell. He was as bad as Uncle Storm’s kids, meddling with every damn thing. I opened the door, and Mya and I walked inside to join the festivities.

However, before we could get to them, the doorbell rang. I wasn’t sure who it could be, since we were all here. Mya and I entered the room they were in as my pop was heading to the door.

“Hey, son. This must be the infamous Mya. Angel has been talking about you nonstop.”

I chuckled. When Angel was extremely excited about something or someone, they were her entire conversation. “Hello, Mister Douglas. It’s nice to meet you,” Mya said as she shook his hand.

He slapped my hand and headed to the door as the doorbell rang again. We proceeded to the room where everyone was, and my brothers stood from their seats. Rylan hugged Mya since he’d met her yesterday. When he released her, I introduced her to Jakari. He smiled and hugged her too. After she kissed Angel then Renzo’s head, I introduced her to JJ and Yendi.

Mya then sat next to my mama and gave her a big hug. I could tell that Mya felt my mama’s sweet spirit. The hug she gave her was different from the one she gave Angel. It was like a mother daughter type of hug. Her eyes had closed and everything. What was even more touching was that my mama closed her eyes too. She was about to have three daughters and three grandchildren.

When they separated, there was a loud noise at the door. I immediately stood from my seat, along with my brothers. We all rushed to the area to see Courtney trying to fight her way inside. “Man, what the fuck you on?” I yelled.

She stopped struggling with Pop and stared at me. “Christian! I need to talk to you!”

Jakari looked at me with his eyebrows lifted. “Who in the fuck is that?” he asked.

“Man, Courtney from school.”

His eyes widened even more. I was embarrassed for even fucking around with her. I wished I had never gone to Ms. Hazel’s house that day. Pop stepped aside for me to get to her. I swiftly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside. My brothers followed me, probably to make sure I didn’t hurt her ass. It seemed I had the worst temper out of the three of us. I was quicker to snap on somebody, too, because patience was a virtue I didn’t possess.

“Christian, I need help! Ms. Hazel put me out, and I have nowhere to go. Please.”

“What the fuck that got to do with me, Courtney? You disrupting our family dinner. That shit ain’t cool. What the fuck you on? I know you using.”

She jerked away from me. “You’re like all the rest! I’m struggling right now, and you’re accusing me of using drugs. Fuck you!”

“And that shit proves my point. Look how defensive you are. Let me see your teeth.”

“Get the fuck away from me!” she yelled as I grabbed her.

“Naw. You wanted to be in my space, so shut the fuck up.”

Jakari grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her side. I grabbed her head and pulled her lips apart to see just what I thought I would see. Her teeth were rotting, a telltale sign of meth usage in my book.

“Just like I thought. Rylan, call the police.” I turned back to her. “You see the no trespassing sign? You in violation. I could have shot your ass and got away with it. Quit fucking with me before that becomes a reality. I am not the same Christian from high school, and you need to respect that shit before you can’t.”

Uncle Storm was in his driveway, watching the whole time, then decided to make his way over. Courtney used to be scared of his ass because he was so damn mean to her. It was mainly because he didn’t like her family. He didn’t care if shit didn’t apply to her. She was guilty by association in his book.

“What yo’ ass doing over here besides fucking up people’s day?” he asked her.

When she didn’t respond, he grabbed her by the chin. “I asked yo’ ass a question. What the fuck you want with my nephew?”

“I need… I need help.”

“Your fucking breath stank. You need to carry your ass to a fucking rehab facility. He can’t provide that kind of help, and that’s what you need the most.”

I slid my hand over my face as a sheriff department squad car pulled up. I turned to look toward the house to see all the women on the porch. My eyes met Mya’s. I expected to see anger in them, but all I saw was concern. That eased my nerves a bit. I knew I would have to explain to her what was going on, but at least I wouldn’t have to try to soothe her beforehand.

When the cop approached, Jakari released her. She ran up on me and swung. Before I knew it, I had grabbed her by her fucking neck and lifted her from the ground. “Christian! Oh my God! Baby, put her down!” I heard my mama yell.

Before I did, I pulled her a little closer to me as she struggled. “Don’t you ever put your fucking hands on me again. I’ll break your fucking fingers one by one.”

I dropped her to the ground, and the cop helped her to her feet. Rage had taken over me in that moment. Thankfully, my mama housed the holy spirit, because the Lord was the only one who could stop me from choking the shit out of her ass. She stared at me for a moment as he cuffed her then spit at my feet.

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