Page 47 of Gang of Roses: Dice

I was man enough to admit what could’ve happened. Neither one of us asked about a partner. Neither one of us asked about protection. Hell... neither one of us asked much of anything. We were just two people trying to escape for one night.

“Coca, me want juice.”

The tiny voice grew closer. When the owner of the voice came around the corner, my eyes landed on a baby boy...

Nah, a nigga had to take a seat.

He looked at me...

Then back at who I now assumed was Coca.

At that point, I couldn’t have cared less what the hell his name was.

“Bruh... what the hell going on?” Oats asked.

I couldn’t answer.

My eyes stayed locked on the little boy.

“Nigga, you ain't told me shit.”

“No, no... bad word,” Revv corrected.

“Oh... my bad, playa.” Oats rubbed the back of his neck. “But, uh... Radar, you ain’t said nothin’ ‘bout no baby. Nigga when yo’ as.. I meant behind have a child? This little mini you gotta be like one going on two.”

“Ouuu... what’s that?”

I glanced over and realized Oats still had his pistol in his hand.

He hurried and tucked it behind his back.

“Hell... I mean, heck. My fault. I might as well say… Unk, sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Revv answered in that tiny voice.

“You must have got that sorry-ish BS from yo’ mama’s side. We gon’ work on it.”

This nigga was crazy.

But Oats, being Oats. He had more to say. “Listen, please don’t tell me we came up here to take a blood test cause I’ma tell yo’ black moon the freaking results right now… 99.9999999% yo’ backside the pappy. That lil nigga nephew all day long.”

He was just making up words now, trying not to cuss.

I was quiet, and Coca looked like he didn’t know whether to grab the juice or grab the child, while I processed what I was looking at.

Everything grew silent then...

“Coca, my daddy,” Revv pointed over at me.

Man...that was it.

My ass wanted to slide down the damn wall like a chick, all dramatic and shit.

“Let's go get your juice,” Coca said, trying to redirect him.

Revv wasn't thinking about no damn juice once his little brain finally stopped to think and scan my face. He was tough because he walked right over to me.

Then he lifted his little arms. Like, no blood test was needed; he saw it, and I needed to get on board.