Page 22 of Heart of a Savage
“How you been?”
“You would know if you picked up the damn phone.”
“Man, shits hella crazy in my life right now. It ain’t personal.”
He chuckled. “I heard FTS giving you the blues…”
“These niggas talk too much,” I said, looking at my brothers who were now indulging in all the ass shaking around them.
“And you don’t talk enough. I told you not to fuck with that broad.”
“You and everybody else. What’s done is done, and I’m not dwelling on it. She’s only around me because of my son.”
“I feel you... Anyway, I got some news to share wit’ y’all.” He tapped Mo and Mike on their shoulders and instructed us to have a seat. We all sat on the sofa, and he poured us all a shot of 1942.
“This better be some good news. You know I don’t drink,” I told him.
“It’s great news! Ya boy getting married,” he announced with a huge smile on his face.
“Whaaaat? Not you closing the black book!” Mike exclaimed.
“I am. Shit, it’s time. I’ve been fucking over women for over twenty-something years. It’s time out for the games now. I’m ready.”
I stared at his profile while my brothers congratulated him. I didn’t speak for a moment. Harv was the biggest ho I knew. The nigga was afraid of commitment, so I always assumed he’d never settle down. Hell, just us sitting in this VIP section with all this ass surrounding us had me thinking he was on bullshit.
“Is she white?” I had to ask.
Harv laughed. “Man, you know damn well I ain’t giving up my melanin women.”
“I just had to ask to make sure you ain’t on noGet Outtype shit. You and commitment ain’t the best of friends, my nigga. What shorty do to get your ass to settle down?”
Harvey smiled and shook his head. “She matches my energy. Like, I ain’t never met anyone I could just vibe with. These broads see a nigga with a lil’ pape and lose their minds. The most you get out of them is a conversation about what they want or need material-wise. My baby is a boss and smart as shit. The fact that she caters to my needs is even a bigger plus.”
“Where’d you meet her?” Mo asked.
“Here. When I came down last fall, I met her at the Lions game. That’s another reason why I’m here. This is my pre-bachelor party slash birthday party she threw for me.”
“Man, hell no. You let ya girl throw you a bachelor party? You weak as hell, Harv!” Mike blurted, laughing.
“That woman can do whatever she wants for me. Plus, I just told y’all niggas that this isn’t my official bachelor party. I’m saving that day for you niggas to plan.”
“When is the wedding?” I queried.
“July thirteenth, so you niggas got time to plan me something and get fitted for them tuxes.”
I held out my palm to him, and he accepted it. “This shit is wild, but I’m happy for you, man. Congrats. When do we get to meet her?”
“Tonight. She should be here in a minute.”
“Coo’. Toast to a good night, and my nigga getting locked down for life.”
He smiled as we all held up our glasses and downed the shot. We turned up in VIP as we got lap dances and took shots. This was a rare occasion where I got to enjoy myself, and it felt good, if only for the moment.
I grabbed my drink and stood, leaving the section. Harvey’s news and how happy he seemed had me thinking about my life. He was right. We were damn near forty and had acquired a lot. While I wasn’t opposed to finding a lady to be by my side, I wasn’t quite looking for one either.
Since the day Papi gave us our positions, I had done nothing but work and take care of my son. It was the reason why I was so angry and uptight all the time. Being a CEO took up the majority of my life, to the point where I didn’t do shit but work. I really had no life outside of C&C Pharmaceutical, and that shit was sad.
Before being appointed to my higher position, I was doing whatever the hell I wanted. Now, I’d become comfortable—comfortable with stressing and allowing my son’s mother to suck up the same air as me.
