Page 22 of Gang of Roses: Dice

“You know... you can survive by breathin’ through your nose.”

“Point?”

“My point is... runnin’ your mouth is optional.”

“Well, I consider myself a multi-task breather.”

That made me laugh.

“Yo’ brain ‘bout as big as a deer. What you doin’ up here?”

“Not shit. Thought I blew through and kicked it with yo’ Love Island ass. You know you on the quest to find the perfect pussy.”

“Picture that…that shit sounds desperate as hell.”

He just sat back in his chair, watching me over the rim of his glass as if I needed to come to terms with myself. He knew about G-baby. We really didn’t hold back when it came to each other. Oats was still in the streets, and my path never stopped us from being friends, and it never would. Money changed our conversation, not our friendship.

He wasn’t a secretly jealous man, and vice versa. He respected my change, congratulated me on my accomplishments, and was there when I needed him to track someone down. Oats was just better at the game than all of us and was the first to ask what I needed him to invest when I started speaking about opening up a casino. As wild and crazy as he was, the nigga even offered to go with me to college, so I didn’t feel crazy. This fool was my brother for real.

“Bronco and Rodeo here,” he informed me.

I just shook my head because it was going to be a long day if those two were in the building somewhere. Rodeo was Bronco’s homeboy, and most days they came here for one thing, and that was for the ladies. The club at the casino opened on the weekends, and I was sure I'd have to send someone over to make sure they didn’t drink like cars need fuel tonight.

“Anyway, have you decided what you gonna do?”

“Bout what?” I said, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

“Stop playing. What’s the move?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, what yo’ heart say?” he asked instead.

That was the thing with us: we didn’t play hard around each other; we put them emotions on the table. He was the only one who could get me to fight the silence and speak up.

“Part of me wanna pull up to the addy but the other part…”

Before I could finish, he spoke up.

“Thinks that’s some crazy ass shit.”

I just glared at him.

He held his hand up in mock surrender.

“I mean, it’s definitely givin’ stalker, but hey, I’m on what you on,” he finished with a shrug while grabbing some mints left over from the meeting off the table, before unwrapping one and popping it in his mouth while stashing the others in his jeans.

This fool continued the conversation as if he hadn’t just jacked the candy.

“But, nah, for real pull up if you feeling active or play that shit cool since you said she just purchased the property. Sounds like she might be back to stay.”

I nodded.

“You right. I mean, shawty might have a nigga, be married, or have a family. I ain’t trying to come…”

He cut me off again.

“Barging in with another offer.”