The silence on the phone let Boogie know that maybe he went too far. “Aye—my bad Rem. I ain’t mean nothing by it. You know I wouldn’t force that on you. I’m just fucking around," he replied empathetically. “We’re all just glad you’re coming out. That’s the most important part of the night.”
I let out another slow breath, rolling my shoulders. “Yeah…yeah. I know, fam. You good. I don’t feel a way. It has been a while,” I agreed.
“Whatever you comfortable with,” he added before pivoting. “So, check it…pre-game at my house. Then we heading to the club. Everything is covered, all we need is your presence and your energy tonight. Cool?”
I glanced around my living room—the toys tucked in the corner, the folded laundry on the couch, the quiet life I had built to keep myself grounded. Tonight felt like stepping outside of that safety net. “Cool,” I agreed.
“Bet. I’ll hit you up later, bruh. Hug my godson for me.”
“Will do. Later, bruh.”
We ended the call. I sat there for a minute absorbing the conversation and reflecting. My eyes wondered over to the framed wedding picture of me and Kendrix on the wall. I stood and slowly walked over to the image, taking it in.
Warm memories of that day filled me. I remembered feeling like I would burst with love when she walked down the aisle. She looked so beautiful. My hands had been sweating, heart racing, but the second our eyes met…everything else faded. I had never seen a woman so beautiful—so perfect and graceful. The love radiated off her almond skin making her glow. I felt like I won the lottery that day.
My fingers brushed lightly against the frame, tracing the outline of her smile. A wave of sadness washed over me. I swallowed down the rising knot in my throat. “I miss you, my love,” I whispered to her face. “But I know you would want me to move on. With your permission, baby…I pray you put a woman in my life who is perfect for me and Melo. And when she comes…don’t let me scared. Open my heart, Dri. Let me be able to love again.” I kissed two fingers and pressed them to her face. “I love you forever, baby.”
For a minute I just stood there, staring at the picture. Then from down the hall—
“Daddyyyy!” Melo’s voice cut through the heaviness.
I exhaled, stepping back from the picture. “Coming, lil’ man,” I called back, my voice steadier now. One last glance at Kendrix, then I turned and walked toward the sound of my son.
Later that evening, I was surrounded by my fraternity brothers at Boogie's house. Ten in total and they were all turned up. Loud, boisterous energy, but the feeling of brotherhood was thick. The table was lined with liquor alongside a Ziploc bag full of weed and a box of Backwoods in the center.
The air was already hazy, a thin cloud of smoke hovering near the ceiling fan as it spun pushing the scent of weed and cologne through the room. Laughter bounced off the walls, overlapping conversations. It felt like college again for a moment.
I looked at the display and swallowed deep. I hadn’t smoked since my honeymoon—rarely drank hard liquor aside from a glass of wine paired with a good meal. But there was no wine on the table.
My lips turned down when I saw the bottle of Don Julio. "These niggas on one tonight," I mumbled to myself scratching the back of my head. The bass from the Lil’ Wayne song rattled in my chest. My fingers flexed at my side. I didn’t know whether to indulge or run away. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed as hell.
Boogie came over and patted me on the back. “Don’t get nervous now, nigga. You said you was trying to have a good time.” His hand swept over the display. “And allthis,is a good fuckingtime!”
I didn’t even have time to protest before a shot glass was shoved in my hand. The liquor sloshed slightly. I shook the liquid off my fingers and took a deep breath.
“Toast up my boys!” Boogie hollered already three shots and two blunts in.
My frat's poured shots of liquor and held up their shot glasses. I pushed down my reluctance and took a deep breath. Figured I may as well the most out of this night. With a deep sigh, I raised my glass.
“Tonight is all about brotherhood,” Boogie began, getting serious for moment. He turned to me. “Look dawg, we know you’ve been through hell these last four years. But tonight is a celebration for you. We just want you to know that your brothers are here for you and we got your back.”
I smiled humbly, patting his chest. “Appreciate you, big dawg.”
A chorus of “Yessir!” and “Let’s go!” filled the room, hands reaching in, clinking glass against glass. We toasted loudly and tossed back the shots. The first one burned going down, spreading heat through my chest. I winced. Before I could even rub the burn in my chest, my boy Devon quickly poured me another, tipping the cup to my lips before I could say anything.
“Aye, relax—” I tried, but he all but shoved it down my throat. The second shot hit quicker and harder.
A blunt was passed to me right after. They weren't even trying to let me take a minute to absorb it. I stared at it for a second, the smoke curling in my face and the smell making my nose wrinkle before accepting it. “Fuck it. Turn up.” I shrugged with a smile taking a deep pull of the potent weed. The smoke filled my lungs thicker than I remembered. I coughed once, waving my hand like I was good even though my lungs felt like they were full of train smoke.
After that…hell, the weight and anxiety melted off me. A few more shots in and that old Remy was peeking out. Laughing easier. Talking louder. Dapping niggas up like no time had passed.
“Time to bounce!” Boogie announced to the group.
We all filed out and piled into three Wagoneer's. We pulled up to Club Mystique, the line outside the club was wrapped around the corner. I followed behind Boogie and the rest of the bro's, head low, hands in my pockets, trying to adjust to the change in energy. I was feeling those shots and the weed heavily.
The bass hit hard as soon as we stepped in—dark lights, flashes of red, a heavy fog of perfume, weed, and sweat. The bottle girls were already lining up near our section, LED signs spelling out “WELCOME BACK REMY!” with sparklers lit.
I wasn’t even expecting all that. My eyes widened. “Y’all serious?”
