Page 20 of Do You Right

Reaching for her hand, I pulled her into my chest, forcing her to put her violin to the side. “You will get there, baby. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

She looked up at me with those doe eyes that always got my blood pumping. “You know what it’s like to feel like you could do better, but everyone is telling you that you played a perfect game?” Hearing her question put things into perspective for me. I knew that feeling better than the average person. Being an athlete, my whole life made me a professional self-critic, so I couldn’t imagine how it must have felt for Chai to be returning to the thing she loved while feeling like she wasn’t as good as before.

“I understand, baby. You will get there.”

“How do you know?” Her arms wrapped around my waist as she rested her chin on my chest. Glancing down at her, I could only admire how beautiful she was to me. Running my fingers through her thick hair I couldn’t help but to smile.

“Because you haven’t given up on yourself yet. The more work you put in, the better you will get. That’s how it works, rather you’re playing the violin or playing baseball like me.” She offered me a closemouthed smile, and when her body melted, I knew she was in a better mind state. “What’s going on with you and JoJo? Did he do something to you?”

I watched her mouth open and close twice like a fish with no water. “He’s the one with the problem, but since we’re on the topic, heed my warning when I say to be careful with him. He may not have the best intentions toward you.”

I tilted my head to the side, studying her. She held steady eye contact with me which I took as a sign of her seriousness. I didn’t believe she’d pull a warning from out of thin air. Those feelings came from somewhere. “Where that come from?”

While it looked like she had more to say, she chose to keep quiet instead. “Is there any more of that roseberry pie?” she asked, changing the subject.

“It’s one slice left, but it’s mine.”

“Not anymore it’s not.”

She took off running laughing like a hyena up to no damn good. Because of my injuries, I couldn’t move as fast as her, and she was taking full advantage of it. “You ain’t right. You know I’m damn near crippled right now, Peach.”

After nearly four hours of repertoire practice, my body was stiff as a board. I stood up in need of a good stretch to get the kinks out. While I began to go through my stretch routine, I took my phone off do not disturb, and a flurry of notifications made my phone chime back to back. I smiled, seeing that most of the notifications were from Kaizi.

We’d eaten breakfast together on the back patio before he had to start his day with conditioning. I loved how we never allowed a single second together to slip away. As two people dedicated to their dreams, we didn’t stand in one another’s way. We found ways to support each other while also doing what needed to be done for ourselves. Most of the day, he was in practice, and I was locked in the house playing for hours on end.

I was starting to fall in love with the way I sounded again. The decision to visit my youth coach, Yuri, was a smart decision. Her critiques tuned me up quicker than guessing what I needed to do to get concert ready. She’d told me that she would keep my name on the tip of her tongue whenever she heard of any opportunities she felt I would be perfect for. Knowing that kept me on my toes. The last thing I wanted was for my second chance to fall in my lap and I fumble it because I wasn’t ready. Refusing to allow that to happen was the motivation I needed to stay locked in day after day.

Baby: Baby we should check out this restaurant. I heard the lobster is good!

Baby: They have steak too before you ask smh

I giggled because he knew I loved me a steak. I had one at least once per week since moving in with him. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I used to use money I made from playing on the street to splurge on a steak. Some days I wondered what my life would’ve looked like if I were still homeless without a pot to piss in. KC never made living with him uncomfortable, and having a safe place to practice every day was one of the reasons my playing had become stronger. I was so thankful I didn’t regret my decision to trust him.

Me: Ouu that does look good! I’m up for it whenever you have the time my love

Me: About to go for a walk. I’ve been playing since you left, and it hurts to move my neck honestly

I placed my phone on the bed before I went into my dresser drawer in search of a two-piece workout set. I settled on a pink one and went into the bathroom to change. By the time I came out and was ready to slip on my sneakers, my phone was lighting up with a response from KC.

Baby: I’m going to book us some appointments to the spa. I got some kinks too

Me: Please do that! We deserve!

I grabbed my fanny pack off the dresser and placed my phone in it. I kept a lip gloss in there, so I used it to bring my dry lips back to life. I popped my AirPods in next before leaving out of the room. After I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, I was ready for my walk.

I locked up the house and was on my way a minute later. I planned to do a half-hour walk, just to get my blood flowing, then head back in to cook dinner. I was itching to try Mrs. Carter’s potpie recipe she’d shared with me. It took me a week of begging for her to finally agree, and the only reason she agreed was because it was one of KC’s favorite meals. But hell, it was my favorite too after the first time the flavorful dish collided with my tastebuds.

I was about two songs into my walk when the hairs on my arms began to stand up. At first, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, so I brushed it off and kept following the trail. By the third song, my heart was beating faster, and it wasn’t from the workout. Glancing over my shoulder, I paused, but again, nothing stood out. Just as I got ready to begin again, I saw a shadow shift down the street, but when I spun around, no one was there.

I released a deep breath and shook off all my jitters. “There’s no one there. You’re just bugging.” I chopped it up to me still being on edge because of the men who attacked Kaizi. I always had concerns of more issues arising, but he assured me plenty of times not to worry.

I started back on my walk, allowing the music to take my mind to another place. When I turned the corner on Augustus Avenue, that was when I knew I wasn’t making things up. Someone was clearly following me, and they couldn’t hide it anymore. Cotton filled my throat cavity as I increased the pace of my steps.

Now that I was certain that I wasn’t alone, I made the decision to head back home. I would be safer there than being out in the open. I took wider strides to quicken my pace. Every time I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the hooded figure was still on my trail. When I made it onto our street, I took off running with my keys in hand.

By the grace of God, I made it up the porch steps and into the house without anything happening. After turning on the security system, I pressed my back into the door, trying to catch my breath. I dug in my fanny pack for my phone and sent Kaizi a text message to ease my thumping heart.

Me: I’m pretty sure someone was following me on my walk. I made it back in the house safely, but I just wanted to tell you because I’m a scary ho.