“Over her.”
“Over you putting an innocent woman in something she ain’t got shit to do with and disrespecting BJ like you lost your mind. You ain’t about to give my grandma a heart attack cause you weak nigga.”
“Innocent,” he repeated, dragging the word out. “Ain’t none of these bitches’ innocent.”
“That powder got you talking like a fucking fool.”
“You think you better than me because you corporate now?”
“This ain’t about being corporate.”
“You forgot where you came from.”
“No, I remember exactly. That’s why I know where you headed.” I continued before he could cut in. “Until you get your mind right, you can’t fuck with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“So you cutting me off?”
“I’m not letting you drag me down with you.”
“We family fool.”
“Then act like it.”
“Family don’t turn they back.”
“Family don’t call they grandma no old bitch either.”
“Man, you pussy.”
The line went dead and I stared through the windshield, with my pulse beating hard at the base of my neck. For several seconds, I considered turning around and finding him myself. Iknew most of the places he would go, most of the people who would let him sit around sniffing until he convinced himself every bad thought in his head was true, but BJ’s words returned.Don’t let him pull you back.I set the phone down and kept driving.
I handled two errands I had already put off for days. Stopped at a property on 7thavenue where a contractor had ordered the wrong windows and tried convincing me nobody would notice. Then I picked up documents from one of my attorneys, signed what needed signing in the truck, and left them with the receptionist before the building closed.
By the time I finished, Marv’s voice still echoed in my head. I called Navy once while sitting at a red light and she did not answer. I told myself she was probably driving. Milan called before the light changed.
I considered letting it ring but answered. “What’s up?”
She sighed dramatically. “When am I getting invited over again?”
I pulled through the intersection. “I don’t know.”
“You been acting funny.”
“I been busy.”
“You’re always busy. That never stopped you before.”
Her voice carried the playful irritation she used whenever she believed she could pull me back toward her with enough persistence. Milan was beautiful, smart, and familiar in a way that required little effort. She knew when not to ask questions and had once been content with whatever time I gave her. Lately, content had turned into curious and curious always became complicated.
“I got a lot going on,” I told her.
“So do I and I still make time.”
I rubbed a hand over my beard. “Milan.”
