calling it as I see it. Trae, you really need to grow up. I think you are too old to be still trying to live by some little boy’s creed. We both did things that we shouldn’t have. But I think it is going too far.”
“Nah, it went too far when the muthafucka got you pregnant.” His nostrils flared. I could tell he was about to go off so I let it go. But I wanted to say, “It went too far when you fucked that bitch and got her pregnant.” But I didn’t go there. It was as if we didn’t just spend four nights together recommitting ourselves to each other.
We arrived at the front door, and Trae mumbled, “Oh, shit! What the fuck?”
The three of us stood there looking at one another.
I broke the silence. “See, I told you. I told you I wasn’t crazy. I told you I saw him at the restaurant.”
We stood staring at the one and only King Rick. Finally, he said, “Y’all gonna let me stand out here while the mosquitoes eat me up, or are you gonna let me in?”
“Only if you’re ready to put in some work, nigga. Just because you went on hiatus don’t mean shit changed around here.” Trae was smiling from ear to ear as he unlocked and opened the screen door. As soon as Rick stepped inside, they hugged as if they were long-lost brothers.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time. You know how I gets down. Just tell me when and where.” Rick told him.
“Ain’t this some shit! I don’t believe it.”
“Man, you got a lot of shit with you! I remember crying over your dead body. I mean, what the fuck?” Trae wanted to know.
“Shit, the government kills people off, will give you a mock funeral and a whole new identity. They do that shit all the time,” Rick said, and turned to me. “And you?” He hugged me and said, “You are still the finest chick I know.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in a safe house or something? Not back to the same streets where you did your dirt?” I asked him. I had some reservations about Rick’s sudden reappearance.
“You watch too much television! For us low-life, real niggas, ain’t no such thing as a safe house. We on our own. Plus, I’m retired. I can go wherever I damn well please.”
“So what brings you here on my doorstep? I know it’s something. And don’t tell me you miss a nigga or that you are trying to get your ex-wife back,” Trae told him.
“This is my second time here. The first time I stopped by, y’all wasn’t home.”
“So what are you doing here? Are you trying to get back with your wife?” I wanted to know.
“Hell, no, she likes pussy more than I do. Plus, I have someone new and a baby on the way. But as fate would have it, just when I thought I was in a place that I was comfortable with, I got thrown a curve ball. Guess who I ran into right here on your doorstep? And I suggest you sit down, because if you don’t, this is going to knock you down.”
“Please, all the shit we’ve been through, I’m sure we can handle it,” I said as I looked at Trae and rolled my eyes.
“Trust me. This is more powerful than me running into you in New York.” He looked me up and down as if he knew something no one else did.
“Oh, so now you’re gonna snitch me out? What if I didn’t want Trae to know? I see who your loyalty is with. So go ahead and share your ground-breaking news. I’m all ears!” Trae and I sat down on the sofa.
He looked over at Trae for approval. Trae nodded and then Rick continued. “I found Kyra, man. She was right there on your front doorstep.”
There was silence in the room as we wrapped our ears around what we were just told.
“What do you mean, you found Kyra on our doorstep?” Trae asked.
“Yeah, what does that mean? And if that’s the case, then where is she now?” This sounded like some bullshit to me. I know I said I could handle anything but this was not funny. Nor did I need for it not to be real. He was talking about my friend, my sister, my girl. He had to be fuckin’ with us. Maybe it’s like his funeral . . . all a lie. But