Page 45 of Truce Of The Matter

“She can’t miss what she never really had. Plus, she has Momma, Lyra, Chantel, any maybe even yo’ girl, Truce,” he says, smirking when he speaks her name. That’s when I take a swig of my drink and shake my head. “Oh shit. Don’t tell me you fucked that up. Already?”

“Nah. I don’t think so but something’s up. We just started but we went from talking or texting a few times a day to just one call and one text these last two days. I know she’s been dealing with her mom’s death so I don’t want to pressure her, but shit,” I say, frustrated.

“Then nigga why you here with me?” he says and his words are true as hell.

Why am I here with him?

“You shole right. Shit!” I say, agreeing with him. I need to go see what’s up with my Truce. I’ve waited too fucking long to get to this point with her for me to let any distance with us linger. I stand and reach into my pocket for my wallet.

“You go. I got this. I’mma chill for a minute. Chantel is at the house with Chloe.”

“Shit. I forgot her sister was here.”

“Yeah, the wedding is getting close and sis is here to help Chantel finally pick the location.”

“She still don’t have a spot nailed down?”

“Hell nah. I told her that I don’t care. I’ll marry her any damn where but she wants the perfect place.” He smiles then sits up. “Go handle yo’ business.”

“I am. I really am,” I assure him as I dap him up.

As soon as I’m in my ride, I hit Lyra. She answers with an attitude. “You know that you don’t have to check on my niece when she’s with me, right?”

“Chill. I just want to see how it’s going.”

“We decided on a new style instead of a touch up.”

“Still no fake hair,” I say.

“Rex!”

“Okay. What kind of style?”

“Two ponytails with clear beads. I took the other ones out and washed her hair. The conditioner is on her hair now. I haven’t started braiding her yet so it’s going to be a minute.”

“Well, I’m going to send dinner. Ask her if she wants Leonardo’s. Those mini pizzas?”

“Damn! What if I don’t want pizza,” she snaps but the laughter in her voice lets me know she’s just fucking with me. “Hold on. Let me ask her.” From the change in sound, she must have switched the phone to speaker. Seconds later, I hear what sounds like a dryer. “It’s your daddy. He wants to know if you want some pizza.”

“Oh, I do. Tell him yes. Two mini ones with just pepperoni. I don’t like the other stuff,” Aryel says.

“You heard her and order me a supreme calzone with extra dipping sauce, the pizza one.”

“Auntie,” I hear Aryel say. “Ask him can I have one of the slushes, the lemon one please.”

“He hears you,” Lyra says. Then, she says, “Add two Italian slushes. The strawberry-lemonade ones.”

“I got you. I’m placing the order now.”

“Thanks.”

“And when I do come scoop Aryel, you are going to tell me what’s up with you,” I say. For almost a week, Lyra fell off and neither me, my mom, nor Dax could get up with her. I asked her about it when I dropped Aryel off after school but Lyra brushed me off, pretending like she didn’t hear me.

“There’s nothing up with me. I’ve been busy at the salon. That…is…all. Goodbye, Rex,” she huffs then ends the call. I’m not going to let it go that easily though because disappearing like she did isn’t her. Lyra talks to my mom every day, really several times a day, so I know something is up.

After I place their delivery order in the Munchies app, I start my ride then head to Truce’s. With traffic, I pull into her condo parking lot within thirty minutes. I get out, walk in, nod at big man at the security desk, then walk to the elevator. The door to the one on the right is open so I walk into it and press her floor.

When I ring her bell, the door opens immediately. She’s dressed in a pair of ripped black jeans and a brown T-shirt, with no shoes. Her eyes are swollen and bloodshot and her long black hair is all over the place. After running her hand through the top of her hair, she steps back and says, “Come in.”

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