Page 34 of Not A Homie, Lover Or Friend
I waved him off as we went further inside to see Zu, Diamond, and Preach sitting there. “Sup nigga,” Zu said.
“Sup,” I said dryly.
Chevy walked over. Fatherhood looked good on him. It didn’t matter the situations that occurred, he was determined to have his kids. “Let me put my little niggas down, and I will be back. Foe, stay yo snake head ass right here,” he finished before he disappeared upstairs.
Once he disappeared upstairs, the guys stared at me. I knew they wanted to say something, but they said nothing. That’s when Dio opened his mouth. “Man, look, everyone came here for a new start, and it’s almost as if you niggas are moving backwards. I mean, I’m no life guru but—”
“But shut the fuck up!” Diamond spat.
“Diamond, worry less about Da God and more about your gem you got at home. I mean for real. Foe, I get it you don’t want any new niggas on the team, but yo ass getting old, you can’t ride forever. Don’t y’all want the Zoo to be bigger than it is? To show the world that we were not just a group of niggas that ride, but a family. Them niggas cool, I don’t have a problem with them. You just mad cause that nigga smoked you in a race, so what you lost, we can’t beat everybody.”
I glanced at Zu, “Nigga get yo brother. The nigga has been crowned Prince now, all of a sudden he’s Dio Farrakhan.”
Zu stood. “Shit, he’s right. I got more pressing shit to worry about than not getting along with some niggas who’re trying to live just like we are. I get it Foe, I do. However, you can’t be an OG acting like you're fresh off the block.”
What the fuck was this?My brother was turning against me. I glanced at Preach. He threw his hands up as he smiled. “Pray about it.”
“So that’s it?” I asked them.
They all said in unison. “Yeah.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Myles, it’s time to grow up. You’ve got a birthday next week. With each year, it’s meant for making smart decisions. You saw me. You saw how my pride sent me on a downward spiral. Why would you want that? Bottom line, them niggas are not going anywhere. Besides, he was cold as fuck on the wheels,” Chevy stated as he came around me, stepping into the living room. “It’s Zoo over everything, never forget. We came into the world like a thief in the night, and now everyone sees us. We’ve earned our respect, don’t fuck it up.”
I nodded slowly because although I felt some way about it, they were all right. I knew that I would have to put my pride aside and have a conversation with Monfua, not even for my sister or myself, but to show Harvey that I could, in fact, be the bigger person.
MONFUA
I stared at the screen as my finger circled over the submit button. While Sukalati was still asleep, I was in the living room debating whether I should submit my application to the fire academy. “Nigga just hit submit,” I gritted while looking at the screen.
This was the part of being an adult that parents didn’t prepare their kids for. I knew it was the best decision, but I also knew the life I lived outside this couldn’t coexist. The feeling of a hand gliding up my bare back startled me. “What’s that?” I heard her ask.
My eyes were still focused on the screen. “My application to the fire academy,” I mumbled.
My head eased its way toward her. The bed sheet was wrapped around her tightly as she held her hands behind her back. Her cheeks rose into a bright smile. “A fine ass firefighter. I can see it. Why don’t you do it? What are you scared of? Change?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“I am too, but look at me here with a man I married before I learned who he was. I think you should hit submit. What was it you asked me, are you afraid of risks?”
I laughed. It had always been easier to challenge other people but never myself. As I took in her beauty, she brought her arms from around her back, and she snapped a picture of me using an old Polaroid I had in my closet. “Fine ass,” she laughed again.
I reached out to grab it, but she backed up. “Aht, aht. Pose for me, Fua. I want to make memories.”
I dropped my head before I slowly raised my eyes to her. My tongue slowly ran across my lips. “Ok.”
I went to put my hair into a ponytail, and she snapped another picture. “No, leave that shit down. Come to me,” she purred.
My stroll toward her was slow and intentional. With every step I took, she snapped, pulling the Polaroid from the camera, tossing it onto the floor. When I was close enough, I reached out and took it from her hand. I turned it around and snapped.
Snap!
“Undo the sheet.”
She shook her head as she held a giddy grin on her face. I nodded and she shook her head. She backed herself into the wall, unable to move. I stopped only inches away from her as I reached out and slowly pulled at the sheet. “Sukalati, look at me, baby,” I told her as the sheet slid down her chocolate skin.
Snap!
“Tell me your fears,” I said to her.
