Page 9 of Without You I Have Nothing To Lose

“How the fuck are you going to tell me what the fuck I’m ready for? Haven’t you been grooming me for the past ten years?” He exhaled, but still didn’t respond. “You don’t have to answer because we both know the truth. Let me do this. I got it.” We shared a brief stare off before his face softened and he spoke.

“I did groom you. I just don’t want you to take on too much too soon. I trust that you’re taking everything that I taught you and implemented it correctly. Just be careful.”

“I got it.”

He walked behind me as we exited his office. I needed to go holla at Jaylen, and I knew she was more than likely in her room. That was the about the only young female that didn’t stay in the streets.

Knock! Knock!

“Come in,” she yelled from behind the door.

“What you blowin’ my phone up for, Jay? Unlike you, I have a life.” I pushed her feet off the bed before sitting down.

“Don’t be sitting on my bed. I don’t know where you been. I’on want them granny juices on me.”

“Man, watch out. Ain’t shit on me. What you wanted, though?”

“Nothing. I wanted to see if you wanted to go to lunch, but yo’ ass ain’t even respond.” She rolled her eyes.

“I was sleep. I got some new shit going on and I’ve been on that. Check it, though. I need you to ride with me to pick up somebody for me.”

“Pick up who?”

“This girl I met. Shorty got some shit going on and I just want to make sure she’s good and shit,” I responded honestly.

“What girl? You like her or something? How old is she? Because I’m not picking up nobody’s old ass auntie.” I couldn’t help the laugh that erupted from stomach.

“Man, chill. She ain’t nobody’s auntie. At least not an old one. She’s just somebody I ran into a few days ago and shorty looks like she could use a friend.”

“You do like her,” she smirked.

“Didn’t I just say this girl was young? Might be your age, besides we all know I love the aunties,” I smirked. “I just feel bad for her and shit.” I knew people wouldn’t understand the shit because hell if we’re being honest…I didn’t either.

“Well, what you need me to do?”

“I need you to pick her up for me. Her nigga ain’t shit and be having her catch Uber’s and shit. The day I met her she was outside crying, and shit because he wouldn’t pick her up, so I took her home. That nigga was pulling up at the same time and banged on shorty because she got out of the car wit’ a nigga. Like muthafucka, I could’ve been the Uber driver, but she was in the front seat. I mean, I probably would’ve acted a fool too if my girl got out of the car with another nigga. Shorty seemed to shut down when he was yelling at her, so I know his bitch ass does that shit a lot. I stopped by her job earlier to check on her and offered to give her a ride and shit when she got off, and she declined. She’on need to be getting off that late and that nigga ain’t waiting on her ass at the door.” Just thinking about the shit had me heated. I wish a muthafucka would have Jay catching any form of transportation outside of him. Especially late at night.

“Where does she work?”

“Walgreen’s out on Fleet.”

“Out East,” she damn near yelled in my damn ear.

“Damn. Just fuck my ear, huh? But yeah, but the other end. Not the slums.”

“You just be all over the place, huh? You sound genuinely concerned and you know I understand more than anybody. When does she get off?” she asked. I knew she meant by both of us being in the system and feeling like you have nobody that you can lean or depend on. Even though she didn’t stay as long as me…she understands.

“Eleven. I’ll meet you there and shit, so she won’t freak out or some shit.”

“Okay. You still owe me, so I want to do brunch soon.”

“Brunch? Ain’t that’s that shit where y’all females go and get drunk? I’ll pass. I’ll take yo’ ass to lunch and that’s it.”

“Punk, but I’ll take it.” I pulled Jay in for a hug, then mushed her head and left. I still had shit to do before I had to meet her and get Daizha. I just hope shorty appreciated the gesture and not bang out on a nigga.

Chapter Four

Daizha

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