Page 42 of My Brother's Keeper
I was surprised to see her, since she had gotten married, she’s been pretty quiet, and I respected her because I knew that being around a bunch of niggas took a toll on her. However, to have her here was starting to get to me.
Chevy stepped into the living room like I didn’t tell his Black ass to leave. “This is a part of being in the Zoo. We’re here for each other. We’re going to rock it out with you.”
Jalen came over and sat next to me. “Yu-yu-you ga-ga- got th-th-th-th-this.”
I felt embarrassed. I felt weak. If only I had a drink. I wanted to wave the white flag; I wanted to give the fuck up. My liquid lover never made me feel this way. The aches my body was going through were indescribable. I didn’t think coming off alcohol would feel this way. Diamond came around with a bag, “Here nigga. I had Yana get you some shit she said you need. You can thank her later.”
I gritted my teeth as I glanced up at him. He shrugged. “Nigga don’t look at me like that, we’re trying to help.”
“You got this, my nigga. Push through,” Foe said.
Monfua nodded. “It’s tough, but you're tougher. I want my best friend back.”
I started to feel emotional like a bitch. I got up from the couch and scooted my feet to get away from them niggas before I started to cry. Then stopped when I heard what Chevy said. “We’re proud of you, Mali. Fight through it all. A nigga with a heart always does.”
Preach’s hand landed on my shoulder, “You want me to pray for you?”
“No!”
That’s when the door opened, and Symphony came hurrying in. “Baby, I couldn’t find the—”
All the guys looked at her. “Hi,” she mumbled.
Zeus looked at me. “So, you have another reason to fight. You love her?” Zeus pointed to Symphony.
“Yes.”
“Ok, then chin up!”
I swallowed deeply as I glanced around my house to see all of the crew except Xavier and Beans. I knew Xavier was done with me and that fucked me up. I needed my brother, and I had fucked up so much he wasn’t even in the room.
The guys stayed with me for another hour before they decided to leave. Chevy told me they were doing a Zoo version of Thanksgiving at his house and to be there. I didn’t know if my body would let me, so I didn’t make any promises to come. A nigga was trying to get sober, not have a family function.
It had been about two hours since the guys had left, and after taking a few pain pills and filling my body with the nasty Pedialyte Symphony bought, I wasn’t at my best, but I was feeling a little better.
Symph had fallen asleep on my lap while I allowed the TV to stare back at me with no sound. I knew she was exhausted; she had been caring for a nigga like a nurse, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It messed with my head every time I thought about that necklace, and the thought alone made me want to drink to forget.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I glanced down at her beautiful face.
I picked up my phone and scrolled to Xavier’s number. My finger circled his name before I hit call. I placed the phone to my ear as it began to ring until it went to voicemail.“Shit!”
My phone dinged with a text from Beans letting me know he was outside. I gently slid from under Symph as I got up and made my way to the door. When I opened it, I offered him to come in, but he declined, so I stepped outside. “Sup my G?”
He nodded my way. “You look like shit.”
I chuckled. “Feel like it.”
“They told me what you’ve been going through,” he paused as he flicked his nose. “It’s been a long time coming. Keep it up, we’re rooting for you. A nigga proud.”
I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared at him. Beans has never been a nigga to be on some emotional type of shit, so to hear him say what he said made me feel good. “Thanks.”
“I told that nigga Kareem to slide through. He said he couldn’t today cause that chick, Flex, died in an accident. A car accident,” he paused as his eyes grilled me. “You know anything about that?”
The stripper bitch was dead? Was that who ran me off the road that night?“It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t even know it was her in the car. She tailed me and sent me and my bike flying.”
“Were you drinking?”
I pulled my eyes away. “Yeah, but I didn’t kill her.”
