Page 69 of Heightened Assurance
“Hell nah. You of all people better be here, because you got me majorly fucked up. We got to talk,” G’s fake hostile ass said.
“Oh damn,” I answered just before Oden knocked on the window, holding my soda. I didn’t realize he was back because I was all into the conversation with these fools.
“Thank you, baby.” I beamed as he handed me the massive foam cup.
I pulled the straw from the paper and stabbed it into the top of my cup while these fools bickered back and forth about who was bringing what. I let them go on and on while my mind went back to what my life was becoming.
Oden didn’t think he was perfect, but to me, he was. I didn’t think anything could remove him from the pedestal I had unintentionally placed him on, because regardless of what he believed, it was where he belonged. Oden deserved unconditional love and heightened assurance, no matter what he had done in his past. Though I had absolutely no idea what the future held, I had every intention of being what he needed. Because for the people you loved, you did what was necessary.
Chapter 18
Oden
Days later…
I was standing in front of Adjacent, waiting for Aja and Jade to pull up. I had them drop me off this morning so I could handle some things and they could go do some real damage. Aja randomly woke up this morning saying she needed new clothes and asked Jade to take her. Jade, being the sap she was, agreed immediately. Then again, my baby wasn’t a sap, she liked to spend money. Even though she asked me not to, I still sent money to cover their trip. I had spent the better part of my morning after they left getting Jade’s car towed to Kinga. He claimed he knew somebody who could handle it and that it wasn’t a total lost cause. I was ready to just purchase her a new one seeing as how it looked like her shit been picked up by a forklift and dropped back down, therefore shattering all the windows and denting the body.
I was seconds from dialing Jade and asking where she was when a black-on-black Escalade pulled into the lot. I was on edge, wondering who it was and what mess it was probably bringing, until the door opened and Wiley stepped out. Insteadof making him walk all the way to me, I approached his truck, taking him in.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked, looking around before his eyes met mine again.
“Nah. You’re good, what’s up?” My eyes glossed the empty parking lot before they landed back on him.
He nodded. “I won’t be long anyways. I just came by to let you know I handled that lil situation for you. You shouldn’t be getting any more visits from those fucking pigs about anything.” His accent was so thick I only made out every other word.
“You didn’t have to do tha?—”
“I did. It was the least I could do.”
I was about to respond, but my Jeep pulled into the lot blasting Beyonce like shorty was going out of style. When I said the music was loud, I meant it was booming through the fucking windows. From a look through the windshield, both Jade and Aja knew the entire song.
“Thank you,” I responded, deciding not to be difficult but instead grateful. Not only that, my eyes were on the truck holding my family. Detective Jordan Oaks was one less thing that would threaten the happiness of those I loved, as well as my own.
“No thank you necessary. Just know I’m here whenever you or your brothers need me.” He turned to leave, but my voice stopped him.
“Understood. Would you like to meet my family… well, yours as well?” I was taking a huge step here, but something about Wiley told me I wouldn’t regret it. I had an inkling he needed this more than I did.
I heard his thoughts before he responded. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, motioning for Jade and Aja to come over here with my hand.
He then answered, “Yes.”
A few seconds later, Jade had hopped out of the driver’s side and opened the door for Aja to get out as well. They were a few feet away when I pulled Jade’s body against mine and Aja’s in front of mine.
“Jade, Aja, this is Wiley, my father and your grandfather, Aja.”
Aja looked astonished as she found her way in front of Jade. “Your father? Like Uncle Kinga and Uncle Sora’s dad too?”
“Yeah, your grandfather.”
She nodded. “Oh, so since you’re my grandfather, can I call you?”
Wiley laughed then looked at me to make sure it was alright. “If you want to, that’s fine.”
Aja was sure to get his number before going back to the car and leaving me, him, and Jade. She was silent, but her hand on my back for assurance meant more than she would ever know.
“Thank you for that.” His eyes glimmered, like the old man was holding back tears. I understood though, a three-minute moment would have a lifelong impact.
