Page 26 of Typa
I could see Dad smiling in my peripheral. Deciding to speak the abundances of my heart, I said, “I’m sorry.”
He frowned slightly as I stared at him. “For what?”
“Everything. I may have lost the woman I loved, but it was meant for her to be with me. It sparked a change in me. You told me that if I was making changes for her, it wouldn’t last. I didn’t realize I was making those changes for myself until she was no longer with me. I still wanna go to school. I’d registered at LIT and was supposed to start two weeks ago. I had to withdraw because of my arm, but I plan to enroll in the spring. I wanna be better. I don’t know how I’m gon’ get Adrian off my ass though.”
“I can talk to the guys the Hendersons use, Watchful Eyes.”
“That wouldn’t be a conflict of interest for them? I don’t wanna get even further on them niggas’ bad sides,” I said to Carter. “I hate that what I did fucked up your relationship, man.”
He dismissed me by waving his hand. “Bali gon’ carry her ass back. You see all this shit sitting on this horse? Nigga, I’m a Semien. She’ll be back. Glorilla made that song about our asses.”
Dad shook his head and laughed. “That song should’ve come out when yo’ mama was giving me the runaround. That shit describe me to the tee.”
We all laughed. “That’s where y’all all wrong. Ain’t none of y’all a trappin’ thug-ass nigga. I’m theonlyone fit that description.”
They laughed more. This felt good. I hadn’t spent time with them like this in a long time. I glanced back toward the house and saw my mama and Treasure on the porch watching us. I was sure the sight made her smile big as hell. As we rode, talking about random shit, my phone rang. Dropping the reins on my injured arm, I pulled it from my pocket. It was PJ.
“What’s up?” I said when I answered.
“Did you hear the whole conversation?”
“Naw. I hung up after Storm said what he had to say. I’d heard more than enough. Thanks for making them take that shit seriously.”
“I told them thatyoutold me to make them aware again. Seven didn’t have shit to say about it, but Storm had nodded repeatedly, silently sending his thanks. That nigga been mild as fuck with all this shit going on.”
“That’s good. Let me holla back though. I’m riding.”
“A horse?”
“Nigga yeah. What the fuck else I’ma be riding?”
He chuckled. “How the fuck you riding with one arm?”
“In case you forgot, I’ma fucking pro when it comes to riding. Carter, Epic, and Dad are with me though.”
“That’s what’s up, man. For real. I’ll holla back later.”
I ended the call and slid the phone back in my pocket. “Y’all never said when the next rodeo is.”
“It’s a month away.”
“A’ight. I’m gon’ need back up in a couple of weeks.”
“Back up for what?” Epic asked.
“I’m going to Nome. I need to see Maui. She has a doctor’s appointment in two weeks. I need to see my baby. She finds out the sex that day.”
“You definitely gon’ need back up. Those niggas wanted to take you out,” Carter said.
“How’s your relationship with them, Dad?”
“It’s cool, I guess. We don’t talk as much. I only talk to Jasper and Tiff mostly. Jasper still cuts my hair every two weeks. Storm and I didn’t talk as muchbeforeall this though. We see each other when we’re celebrating something or at the barbershop, and that was about it. I feel like we’re still good though. I told you that I wanted to be angry, but I couldn’t be after I knew the truth.”
I nodded repeatedly. It was quiet again for a little bit. Finally, Carter broke the silence. “I’m proud of you, Mythic. I know it had to be hard to let go of something that had become a part of who you are.”
“Thanks, man. It was hard, but Adrian made it a lot easier. Shady muthafucka.”
“Why is he after you, man? Did you give him his money?” Dad asked.
