Page 25 of Typa
“I’m going to see about my baby. I can’t take this shit no more.”
Treasure came out of the bathroom with wide eyes. I assumed she heard what I’d said. “Baby, I don’t think you should go. Plus, Caleb will be here in a little bit.”
“I need to fucking know how she’s doing! I can’t keep sitting here in the fucking dark!”
“Mythic, seeing you gives her anxiety.”
I turned to Treasure with a frown on my face. “What the fuck you say?”
She took a deep breath. “When she saw you at the rodeo, it landed her in the emergency room. Her blood pressure was high, and she has preeclampsia. You seeing her can cause her to lose the baby. Honestly, I think it’s more about her seeing you, knowing she can’t be with you, that has her that way. She’s in the middle of the shit between you and Seven, and you were wrong. She had to choose her brother.”
My adrenaline plummeted. I stared at Treasure and asked, “How do you know that?”
“Karima. She begged me not to tell you, so you can’t say anything. She’ll keep updating me on how Maui is doing if she feels like she can trust me.”
I sat back on the couch and slid my hand down my face. The spirit of defeat was all over me. My mama sat next to me and put her arm around me. “Eventually, you will be able to see her, baby. I’ve never seen you like this with anyone. That tells me just how much you love her. Be patient, baby. She’s not going anywhere.”
“She needs me,” I said. “I need her,” I practically whispered.
Treasure knelt in front of me and grabbed my hand. “Seeing you like this is so beautiful. She changed you. She has to be your soulmate.”
I closed my eyes, hating that they were seeing me like this. The longer I was in this fucking house, the more depressed I was getting. “Do you know when her next appointment is?” I asked her.
Treasure looked away. That told me everything I needed to know. “When is it?”
“Not for another two weeks. She’ll be seventeen, almost eighteen, weeks by then, and they’re hoping they’ll be able to see what she’s having.”
I nodded repeatedly.Two fucking weeks.“Okay. In the meantime, I need to get back with PJ. Those niggas finna try to get at Seven. I need to see if he told them and what they said.”
“Oh God,” my mama said as Treasure helped me up from the couch.
I made my way outside and called him back. He answered but he didn’t say hello. I could hear arguing. “You were the one who put yourself in that predicament by snitching. Snitches get stitches, nigga.”
I recognized Philly’s voice. He used to say that shit all the time. “Yeah. You ain’t no street nigga. You should’ve run that by somebody before you did it.”
“Uncle Marcus, that nigga could have gotten me fucking killed! I was just doing whatever I could think of to get back at that nigga,” Seven said.
I slid my hand down my face. The OGs were trying to put him up on game. That was a good thing. Philly and Marcus were both in the game for ten years or longer. I believed Philly was in it closer to twenty years. That was how he’d become the head nigga in charge. It was quiet for a second, then I heard Storm say, “You gon’ have to be mindful of your surroundings. Like they said, Mythic didn’t directly get you in this shit. While you were seeking revenge, you were reckless with that shit. You gotta be smarter than that. I’ll get Watchful Eyes on you to catch shit you don’t see. We can’t lose you behind this shit, Seven.”
I ended the call. I’d heard more than enough. Knowing that what I did started all this shit bothered me. That was different too. Normally, I didn’t give a fuck. Treasure was right. Being with Maui had changed me for the better. Instead of going back inside, I walked out to the barn and did something I hadn’t done in a while. I carefully grabbed a saddle pad and went to my horse. That nigga was probably gon’ be salty as hell with me. I used to ride all the time. I loved riding.
I walked up to him as he eyed me, then put the pad on him. Going to his face, I rubbed my hand down it. “What’s up, Blackie? I need an easy ride. You got me?”
He whinnied at the right time, like he was responding to me. Hopefully that was him saying he could handle that and not him saying he was gon’ fuck me up. I used to be able to ride without a saddle, but I knew I would need the saddle horn to get on since my other arm was fucked up. I went and grabbed it by the hornand slung it on him. He flinched slightly, so I rubbed his body, letting him know it was okay.
It took me fithy-leven years to strap everything with one hand and the assistance of my mouth, but I got it done, eventually. I opened the gate of the stall and slowly went to him, doing my best not to spook him. I had to think about how I would have to swing my left leg over instead of my right. Going to the other side of Blackie, I got it on the first try. I gently rubbed his neck. “Thanks, man.”
I lightly kicked him so he would walk. Before he could leave the stall completely, I saw my felt Stetson resting on the shelf. Smiling slightly, I picked it up and put it on my head. When we got outside the barn, I saw Carter and Dad pulling up. Neither of them got out of their vehicles as they watched me. It was probably dangerous to be up here, knowing that Blackie could get a hair up his ass and decide to buck me off, but I felt like I was supposed to be up here at this very moment. I had to wait two weeks to see Maui. They didn’t want me to see her at all, but I had to see her for that appointment. I wanted to see my baby growing inside of her.
As Blackie walked, I couldn’t help but admire how shiny his black coat still was. I’d been having him for years, before all the bullshit. I was in ninth grade when Dad bought him for me. I spent a lot of time on this horse. I told him that I wanted a completely black horse, and he actually found one for me. I was so happy that day. I’d gotten on him immediately and stayed on him for hours. I felt like that would be the case today if my arm allowed it.
When I heard galloping, I knew it was Carter coming to ride with me. Thankfully, Blackie didn’t get inspired and want to gallop with him. Three horses surrounded me. Carter, Dad, and Epic were all on horses, wearing their cowboy hats like me. Ididn’t even realize Epic was with them. They remained quiet for a moment until Dad said, “My boys.”
I smiled slightly. It had been a while since I’d even felt a part of the family, let alone feeling like I actually fit in. “When’s the next rodeo?” I asked.
“You tryna compete?” Epic asked. “You got on your Stetson and shit, like you finna practice.”
I side-eyed him, and they all laughed. “I just wanna be there to support y’all.”
