Page 24 of Not A Homie, Lover Or Friend
Her head shot my way, and I knew I had gotten under her skin. “Fuck you!”
“Nah, that’s what that nigga supposed to be doing, but I wonder who fucked that up? Look, I didn’t bring you here for this shit.”
She shook her head, “I never thought I would see the day you choose a woman over your family, but what is it that you said, just like Ma. Like mother, like fucking son.”
I swallowed deep. I couldn’t believe this shit. I didn’t even know what to say. For the first time, I had no fucking comeback. That’s when I heard the door open. I backed up to see Harvey at the door. “Where are you going?”
She was now fully dressed with a duffel bag hanging off her shoulders. “I’m going to Chev’s.”
“You’re staying here!” I shouted as I began walking toward her.
She swung the bag behind her as her sad eyes gazed at me. “I’m not in a position to make you choose, so Myles, I’m stepping away.”
Suddenly, it felt like my world was spinning. Harvey had gone to walk out the door, but when I saw who had walked up, I knew my world was flipping upside down. Harvey turned to look at me as her eyebrows raised, “I guess it’s a family affair. Bye, Myles.”
My face held confusion. “Ma?”
HARVEY
I walked out of the house, past Denna, into the rain. My shoulders bounced up and down as I cried, making my way to my car. I began to wonder if this was what Zaria felt when she walked away from Chevy. I couldn’t believe that his sister had the audacity. The easiest thing would have been to beat her ass, but that would have caused more friction than what was already there.
When I saw Denna at the door, I knew my decision to leave was the right one. The idea was to go to Chev’s, but I needed to drive right now. I got in the car and saw Myles standing at the window in the rain. “Baby, open the door,” he said.
I glanced at him, and everything I thought I saw in him wasn’t there. I was staring at a lost Myles, a man who was confused. A man who didn’t want to choose, but he knew he needed his family, something I always wished I had. It was I who was trying to make the decision easy for him.
“Myles, go inside!” I yelled.
He pulled at the door handle. “No!Unlock this fucking door, man. So, this is what we’re doing? Huh?!” he shouted.
I know he and I risked so much to be together, but I refused to compete with his family. As long as his sister was there, I wasn’tgoing to be. I put the car in reverse and began to back out. Myles hit the hood of the car, “Harvey!” he shouted.
I loved him, I did, but that shit with his sister I couldn’t do. Right now, clearing my head seemed to be the better decision than to sit in Chev’s face for a lecture. The idea of losing Myles completely settled in me and I became hysterical while driving. I screamed and cried. It was I who invited her, trying to do something nice, and it all backfired on me. It was I who tried to defend her, yet it was I who was being shamed.
I reached a small diner not too far from the house before my phone rang. When I glanced at it, it was Zaria. He had gone over there to try to get her to convince me to come back. I knew I shouldn’t have answered it, but I did, “Hello?” I sniffled.
“Harvey, where are you? Are you—”
“I’m going to kill that nigga, Foe!” I heard Chevy going off in the background. “Where the fuck you at? It’s storming and shit, and you’re out there joyriding!” he yelled.
That’s when I knew Zaria had me on speaker. Zaria tussled with the phone, “June, calm down!” she snapped. “Harvey, I’m coming to you. Where are you?”
That’s when Chevy jumped in, “Shitting me. You’re not going out there, Z. I’ll go!”
The last thing I needed was Chevy out here chasing after me. “No, I will be there in a minute, but I don’t want Myles there.”
Chevy chimed in again, “You’ve got ten minutes or I’m coming to find you!”
“I will be there,” I said as I hung up.
As soon as the call ended, Myles was calling me nonstop. I tossed my phone in my hoodie, got out and went inside. The diner was empty, so I found a small spot in the corner. I made my way into the seat and placed my head into my arms. I knew I needed to get my emotions in check. Although I had people who supported me, I still felt alone. It made me feel the sameway I did when a family picked Chevy, and I was left alone in the group home. Or the time I was left with Ms. Vivian and Chevy was taken away. I felt like my back was against the wall, and that nobody truly loved me.
I took a few deep breaths as I let my tears kiss the table. That’s when a tap on my shoulder made me lift my head. “You Good?” the guy asked.
My eyes bounced around as if someone was supposed to come up and stop him from talking to me. I forced a smile on my face. “I’m ok, thank you,” I mumbled as I wiped the falling tears.
He made himself comfortable across from me. “I mean, you say you’re ok, but that pretty face got tears coming down those perfect cheeks.”
I sat back, “I’m fine. Tired is all,” I muttered.
