Page 63 of 4 Corinthians

“Yeah,” he said. “Robert came to see Trey at the hospital.”

“You need me to fly back to KC?”

“No,” he answered. “Your brother’s got this. He and Eight are doing what they are doing. I need you to play your part, Four. I know this shit is hard, but you being there is for the best. If Robert thinks you’re around, he will go back underground.”

“Alright,” I said, nodding. “I’ll check back in with you in a few days.”

“Later, nephew.”

I hung up then dropped the phone into the cup holder. My car was in gear; all I needed to do was pull off, but I couldn’t. I put it back in park, shut it off, then grabbed my phone and got out. I made my way back upstairs to Melissa’s room. I stepped off the elevator to see her standing in the doorway in a robe, talking to a cleaning lady. She looked up, and her eyes were full of surprise.

“You’re back?” she asked, smiling.

“Yeah, I ain’t done yet,” I told her.

“I’m not complaining.” She handed the cleaning lady the trash bag, then stepped aside so I could walk into the room. I barely glanced in her direction as I stepped past her. “Thank you for coming up and getting the trash.”

“No problem,” the cleaning lady said, nodding.

Melissa closed the door, removed her robe, and smiled at me.

Corinthians

Isat in my car, debating whether I wanted to go into Rowdy’s, where Melissa worked. I’d been dodging her calls for the last week. She finally got tired of it, showed up at the shop, and reminded me I'd given her my word about celebrating me. I wanted to argue with her, but I didn’t; she was right. I needed to celebrate my wins, and over the last week, not only had I hired all my barbers, but I officially had an opening date. I was prepared to live out my dream, and spending time with my only friend outside of my family was how I was going to do it.

Even though I'd rather be at home.

I got out of the car, locked my doors, then crossed the parking lot and went inside Rowdy’s. The music was loud but not overly deafening. Melissa was working the bar, talking to a man. I could see her smile from where I stood. She was enjoying herself, more than likely flirting. I couldn’t knock her hustle, though; she always said she sold the illusion of going home with every person that sat at the bar and hardly ever did.

I took a deep breath, let it out, then walked over to the bar and sat down. Melissa flirted with the man for a few before finally pushing away and approaching me.

“I just knew you were going to flake on me,” she said, smiling. “I’m so glad you didn’t.”

“I told you I was going to come,” I told her, laughing and shaking my head.

“How long did you sit in the parking lot before you got out of the car?” she countered with a smirk. I playfully rolled my eyes. “Exactly, you probably tried to think of a million reasons as to why you should be here instead of every reason why you shouldn't.”

“I could be at home working,” I told her. “The shop opens in less than two weeks. I have other things to do.”

Melissa held up her finger, then walked away. I watched as she flirted with a new customer. This one was short, barely taller than her five-two height and chubby. He looked out of place here but comfortable in his surroundings. They talked for a little while before Melissa nodded, then walked away. She reached under the counter, pulled out her phone, typed something into it, then put it away.

“Okay, sorry about that,” she said, coming back. “That’s my boss's third in command; annoying ass nigga thinks he runs something when he doesn’t.”

“He’s third in command,” I reminded her, and Melissa shrugged. “His word means something, sometimes.”

“Never,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “He’s trying to impress that damn sports reporter that’s here; that bitch doesn’t even look in his direction.”

“What reporter?” I asked with a laugh, and Melissa pointed to the other corner of the bar to Shai David. “What’s she doing here?”

“Slumming it,” Melissa laughed and shrugged. “She comes here when her baby daddy isn’t in town and flirts with Shaun’s old goofy ass to get free liquor like she ain’t got a kid at home. That bitch gives me deadbeat mama vibes.”

“You don’t even know her,” I reminded Melissa.

“But I came from a deadbeat mama, so I know one when I see one, and that bitch is a deadbeat. Her baby daddy is just dumb and don’t see it,” Melissa said. She pushed up from the bar and looked around. “You want something besides water to drink?”

“No,” I answered, shaking my head.

“I didn’t think so,” Melissa said. “Give me a few; I gotta go get some from the back.”