I nodded at him while thinking about my words, trying to keep things respectful.
“To be honest, sir, no. I love her. I crossed the country for her, and if I had to do it all again just to have her, I would. Over and over again.”
Her dad looked at her mom.
“Was that good enough for you?” he asked her.
She laughed. “Was it good enough?! I was trying to hold back tears! Of course, you have our blessing.”
I smiled while Islah grabbed me and pulled me in to kiss my cheek.
Her father stood up with his hand out, and I followed suit, shaking his hand. “Thank you for bringing my daughter home.”
“Always, sir,” I responded.
We sat back down, and his father looked at her.
“I never liked Gio for you. This man right here! That’s a real man. I told you a long time ago, Gio was a boy!”
The rest of the time there was good. We exchanged numbers and told them we would be letting them know about the wedding soon.
When we walked outta there, I rested my arm on Islah’s shoulder.
“What do you think?” she asked.
I laughed a lil’ bit. “I think you should have listened to yo’ daddy and left that clown a long time ago.”
We both laughed, hopping in the car.
“I know. I was scared I would find better.”
I looked at her. “And what happened?”
She smiled hard. “I got the realist nigga alive.”
I clapped it up. “That’s what I want to hear.”
“One more stop, then we can get ready to leave?”
“Whatever you want to do, mamas, I am in your world.”
Islah pulled off, and I rested my hand on her thigh, watching her move through the streets while I smoked, looking at her.
After a while, we made it out to Crenshaw.
“You going to holla at Bully?” I asked.
She raised her brow at me. “How you know this area?”
I sat up. “Because I listen when my girl talks. I remember where you told me y’all stayed. I pulled up over here and found Bully. How else do you think I found the house?”
She nodded. “My nigga smart, my nigga smart.”
We laughed, pulling into the parking lot and hopped out, just as Bully was walking out of his crib.
“BULLY!” she yelled out.
That big nigga smiled. “Mannn, is this how you tell me my nigga gone?”
