Page 24 of Stand on That

I took my brother to get food, then I dropped him off at the house. I wanted to buy him a car, but my father was planning on doing it for his birthday in a few weeks. I didn’t want to step on his toes and make him feel like I was trying to outshine him. Since I didn’t have to buy Kyle a car, I was going to buy one for Vani. She said her dream car was a BMW, so I was going to give her the money to put down on one.

I made great money selling dope, and I didn’t mind sharing it with the people I loved. After I took Kyle home, I had to make two more plays, then I could take it in for the night. I had to serve Wally and a guy by the name of Eddie. There was always a chance that someone could call me before I made it home but for once, I was looking forward to being in the house before 9 pm. I loved making money but sometimes, a nigga got tired of ripping and running. Being in the house with my girl, smoking, watching TV, fucking, that wasn’t the worst thing I could be doing.

“These are cute,” I held up a pair of dark denim Levi’s. “Do kids still wear Levi’s?” I looked over at Lo.

“Those kids better wear whatever you pick out for them.”

My man had stuck to his word and bought some kids from the hood shoes when they went back to school. Every time he saw them, they were rocking the shoes, but the clothes they wore were clearly old. After their first report cards, he promised to buy them clothes if they got good grades. They were eager to show him when they got them, and he had given me money to shop for them. I had their sizes and was going to get each of the kids seven outfits each. Darius had already taken them to get haircuts.

“Darius is so nice,” Lo stated as I picked up a red Polo shirt. “Like this is really nice of him.”

“I know. He’s dope like that. Which is why I’m taking him to Puerto Rico for his birthday, and I’m using my money that I make from braiding hair. I also want to get him a really nice watch and some expensive cologne. I want to go all out for him. I want to spoil him the same way he spoils me.”

“As you should. That man gives you so much money you never have to spend any of your own. And he’s not like some of these men that give their girls money but cheat on them left and right. He treats you good too. You’re winning in every aspect.”

“I know,” I smiled. “I love that man so much it’s scary. Like, I have never loved a man the way I love Darius. If we ever break up, I’m going to be sick.” Just the thought of us ending made a lump form in my throat.

“That’s not happening. You’re crazy about him, and he’s crazy about you, so nobody is going anywhere.”

I hated always thinking the worst because being insecure wasn’t cute. I just tried to look at it as being ready for whatever. Hailey called while I was paying for the items, so I answered the call and cradled the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Hey boo.”

“Hey. Please don’t cuss me out, but can you squeeze me in tomorrow? Lorenzo invited me to Miami for the weekend, and I want braids rather than a hot ass wig.”

“Yeah. I don’t have anybody tomorrow which is rare. But I can get you in around two. I do want to sleep a little late.”

“That’s perfect because I’m going to get waxed at twelve.”

“Wax, braids, you going all out. You gon’ give him some? How long y’all staying?”

“You know I can’t go out of town looking any kind of way. Even if he doesn’t get any nookie, I’m going to wear the skimpiest bikini I can find, so the peach has to be bare. But I might give him some. He’s been trying forever, and he stepped correctly inviting me to Miami. And we’re staying for three nights.”

Lorenzo had been trying to get at Hailey for a few months. He was a truck driver, and he sold weed on the side. He wasn’t the cutest person in the world, but he could dress his ass off, he was twenty-eight and mature. He didn’t have kids. I told Hailey more than once she should give him a chance, and she had finally decided to listen. He wasn’t hideous and at this point in life, all the fine men knew they were fine and dealing with them came with headaches. Darius seemed to be the exception to that rule, and I was crossing my fingers every day that it stayed that way.

“I love that for you. Is your mom going to be good? I can go check on her if you want.”

“Thank you for the offer, but my aunt is going to stay with her while I’m gone. She’s sick of me anyway. I’m always getting on her about not doing what the doctor said, and then she’ll get an attitude. It’s like she’s the child, and I’m the parent.”

“It be like that sometimes. I’m glad she’s still her usual feisty self. If she was anything else, I’d be worried.”

“I know right. Mean, crazy ass lady.”

Hailey and I got off the phone as Lo and I got inside my car. “Everyone is going somewhere but me. Tyriq makes me so damn sick. He finally started taking me out on dates, but they’re cheap places we don’t even have to dress up to go to. Everyone has been on a baecation but me. I’m about to kick his ass to the curb.”

I didn’t respond because Lo had said that more than once. Her and Tyriq were still young, but Lo knew what she wanted. I had told her more than once that if she really wanted something, she had to communicate that with him. If he didn’t correct it then in my opinion, he didn’t care. All my sister wanted was to be taken out on an occasional date and a trip here and there, and it was like pulling teeth to get Tyriq to comply. Lo would get mad and ignore him for a few days, but she always ended up going back.

I guess that was just part of the game. Only Lo knew when she would really get fed up enough to leave him alone for good.

“Ohhhh,” my eyes widened. “I almost forgot. Shit, tell him to come to Vegas next month. Me, Darius, Hailey, and Azarius are going to see the fight. Darius had me to book the Airbnb, and it’s super nice. It has two floors, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a pool.”

“See that’s what I’m talking about. Hell yeah, I want to go and if he doesn’t, I’m going by myself. And if I have to go by myself, I’m never speaking to him again.”

I would believe it when I saw it. It was cool though. Experience was the best teacher. I didn’t want my sister to get hurt, but she would have to experience what she didn’t want in order to know what she really did want. Maybe if she got past this now, it would prevent her from dealing with it in the future. My sister was grown, and she could handle herself, but I refused to let her do so. If Tyriq hurt her, he would have to answer to me.

Tyriq didn’t make it to Vegas with us, and Lo was pissed. She swore she was done with him. I loved my sister dearly, but she was blowing me. We had been in Vegas for four hours, and her facial muscles hadn’t relaxed yet. It was like a permanent frown was embedded into her skin. He claimed it was the weekend, and he couldn’t leave all that money on the table. Tyriq did okay for himself. He had his own apartment and an old ass Benz. It wasn’t like he was a bum but with all the time he supposedly spent working one would think he would have much more than he did. But I wasn’t in the habit of pocket watching so…

We were on the strip, while the guys were gambling, and I had gone to the dispensary and purchased some edibles. Hailey pitched in, and we were going to share. I should have known something was off when Lo said she didn’t want anything. That girl smoked like a damn chimney but silly me I chalked it up to her being pissed. Though there had never been a time when being mad or sad stopped Lo from indulging.

However, when we stopped to get food, and she didn’t ask me to order her a drink, I knew something was up. As I stared at my little sister my heart began to ache. She had finished high school and that was better than not finishing, but Lo was nowhere near ready to have a child. I hoped I was jumping the gun, but something told me I wasn’t. Especially when Lo ignored my question.