I started toward the door with Tink beside me, already knowing he was probably going to win that argument.
I didn’t say anything as we left the facility. I was over this shit and over everybody telling me everything would be okay. How the fuck did they know that? This was my career, not some fucking hobby. Yeah, I had a degree to fall back on, but this shit was my life.
Once we got in the car and left, Tink finally opened her mouth.
“You know overexerting yourself is only going to make it worse,” she stated, but I ignored her. “You can ignore me all you want, but the people around you are only trying to help you... not hurt you.”
I looked at her, and she was staring back at me.
“This is my fucking lively hood, Tink. This is the shit I’m creating for my legacy. It can’t be over already,” I voiced.
“Then don’t let it,” she countered, firmly.
She caressed the back of my neck, and her touch immediately relaxed me.
When we got back to my house, my mama was already there with Lani. She was in the kitchen cooking like she’s been every other day since I’ve been hurt. Outside of rehab, I’ll need to live in the gym to work all this food off me.
“What you in here cooking today?” I asked after she spoke to Tink.
“Fried pork chops, cabbage, some jasmine rice and cornbread,” she responded.
“Oh hell yeah,” I blurted, causing her to pop me in the mouth.
“Watch your mouth,” she chastised.
“Ma, this my house though.” I frowned.
“I don’t care whose house it is. I said watch your mouth,” she fussed.
Sucking my teeth, I walked out the kitchen and went into the living room where Tink and Lani were. I sat on the opposite side of Tink and stretched my arm behind her head and mushed Lani in hers.
“Ow, you jackass,” she sneered.
“Shut your crybaby ass up,” I laughed.
“Mommy! Bubby in here cursing,” she snitched, sticking her tongue out.
“Don’t make me come in there,” Mama yelled back.
“Let me move before I catch a stray,” Tink said as she tried to get up, but I held her in place.
“Nah, stay your ass right here.” I buried my face in her neck and sucked on her exposed skin, causing her to squirm.
“Yeah, stop all that by me,” Lani spat. “Bubby, Mac sent over the information for the lawyer you asked him to look into. What you need a family law lawyer for?” Her nosy ass asked.
“Damn, bro. You real life nosy. I’on pay you for that shit,” I shot back.
“We already know I’m nosy, so answer the question.” She folded her arms like that shit meant something to me.
“That shit don’t scare me. All you need to know that it’s not for me,” I insisted.
“Mhm,” she mumbled. “Anyway, Cady, you ready for graduation?” She asked changing the subject.
“I am. I know I started late, but it feels good to finally finish and see how my hard work paid off.”
That was one of the reasons I didn’t mind helping her regardless of the agreement. She took two and a half years offafter graduating high school and was still determined to finish. You couldn’t be mad at that, and I wasn’t going to let her quit when she was trying.
“We should go celebrate,” Lani stated.
