younger. My moms and Navy’s grandmother went to the same church and knew each other.
Back then, everyone looked out for each other. Especially when you were from the islands. Brooklyn was sacred because it was the Caribbeans within the states. It didn’t matter if you were Jamaican or Guyanese like Navy’s family, you just looked out for one another.
My uncle Chef and Ro used to run together before Chef went to prison the first time. I heard the stories of how they used to cut up in the same Brooklyn streets me and Khaos walked. Ro decided to go legit while my uncle said he would stay in the streets until they gunned him down or put a needle in his veins behind the wall.
“Yeah, I know her family.” I replied and kissed my God daughter’s temple, as she continued to give her father the stink eye.
“Brooklyn really is small… anyway, she’s going on Zoya’s birthday trip with us. You know that’s next month and us girls are going away.”
Meer looked at his wife. “We know, Sug. How many times you and B gonna throw it in our faces?”
“Anjo said she not going.” Sim said like the shit was the truth.
He whispered something in his wife’s ear, and Blair for a slight second was reconsidering the whole girl’s trip. Capricalmly walked over toward them and yanked her best friend away from her husband.
“Aht Aht, you not about to even do that… don’t let his ass hold you captive.” She shook Blair, who laughed.
Blair slowly turned to look at her husband, who was eyeing her like a fucking lion did a gazelle. “Simmy, you working against me?”
“Never, my love… wanna work with you. Need that second baby boy, right?” He licked his lips, as Blair was silently unraveling by looking into her husband’s eyes.
Capri balled her best friend’s lips up and pulled her over toward where she and Meer were standing. “Ain’t no fucking babies happening until after this trip… I need this damn trip.”
Meer kissed his wife’s forehead. “No more babies this way either, right, Sug?”
“Right, Meer Cat.”
A black Range Rover pulled onto the block and parked at the end. I watched as everyone watched the truck intensely, waiting for whoever to reveal themselves. Capri skipped down the block when Zoya stepped out.
I watched her, every part of her, as Capri hugged her and she tensed up, patting her best friend’s back like she was an orphan that needed love. She was dressed down in a black maxi dress, samba adidas sneakers, and a bucket hat pulled down low. Her hair was blown out and hung down her back.
Navy got out the passenger side, while Zoya continued talking to Capri and opening the back door. I watched as she continued to hold conversation while she fucked with something in the back. When she backed away, a Cane Corso hopped out the backseat and sat at her feet.
She held his leash, and rubbed his head, while Capri rubbed him. He looked at Zoya, paying close attention to her.
“When the fuck did she get a dog?” Quasim asked.
“She adopted it because it was gonna be killed or some shit.” Meer shrugged, while we both looked at him. “What? They always running their mouth on the phone.”
Cherry had found comfort on my shoulder for her nap. Baby walked over here with her dog, as she stared at me with a smile fixed on her lips.
“Hey Meer and Sim,” Zoya greeted.
“What up, Zoy? How you?” Sim looked down at her dog, as she got closer. “His ass don’t bite, right?”
Zoya laughed. “Not unless I tell him… he’s friendly.”
“Fuck that friendly shit. If a dog has teeth, they gonna bite.” Meer added.
“Never said he didn’t bite… I said he’s friendly.” She corrected him.
Sim hesitantly put his hand down for the dog to smell him, and then he softly rubbed his head, and the dog allowed him.
“You couldn’t get no cute dog like Beretta? You had to get some beast, huh?” Meer chuckled, and she shrugged.
“Hi, Gerald.”
“What’s up, Boobie.” I winked, and she blushed, as I continued to hold my God baby in my arms.
