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“I missed you more, I promise,” I said, kissing her temple. “Don’t fall asleep. You know we have somewhere to be.”

“I know,” she yawned as my phone rang from the living room.

Getting up, I went back out to the living room and grabbed it. Seeing a missed call and text from Takoda, I knew I was going to have to adjust my plans. Fixing shit with Xiyah was my primary focus, and I had completely forgotten about our drop tonight.

TAKODA:

Get yo’ ass up, nigga. We got shit to do. Meet me at the spot in an hour. And we need to talk about Carter’s bitch ass, too.

After I told him I was on my way, I told Xiyah we needed to shower and that she would have to have Oaklyn come get her. We’d just have to meet up at the party later. She tried to act tough, but I knew she was a little disappointed. There was no need to be, though. I was always going to find my way back to her, and we would still be spending Halloween together.

FIVE

XIYAH

As I rode through the city with Oaklyn, I thought about how drastically my night was ending versus how the day began. I really thought I was done with Hasan, but apparently his ass wasn’t done with me. I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy. He wasn’t the kind of man who’d take “we’re done” for an answer and move on. So, I really set myself up for failure, as he said.

“What are you over there smiling about?” she asked, quickly turning to look at me before going back to watching the road.

“Nothing. I’m not smiling,” I said, shaking my head.

“Girl, tell that lie to someone else. I know Hasan fucked the shit out of you and now I gotta feed you so you can get your energy back up.”

Laughing, I replied, “He did indeed do that. I’m glad I got you two to take good care of me.”

“I’m glad y’all figured it out. From what I hear, that man was walking around here miserable while you played with his heart. I really thought he was going to kill you and Carter for playing with him like that.”

She wasn’t lying about the Carter part. I thought that man was as good as dead, and I wouldn’t have been able to live with that. While in my head I thought me and Hasan were done, I knew a conversation needed to be had, and I needed to tread lightly before I took someone seriously. He would kill for and behind me without question, and any man I would’ve talked to would have to deal with him for at least a while until he found someone else.

“I’m glad, too, friend. I missed him. Although I still felt like I was doing the right thing. But I guess I can admit I may have been wrong for not giving him the chance to actually explain what was going on. I know how that bitch gets down, and even you said it looked real. But I guess I have no choice but to believe him until I figure out the truth. I can’t just take that bitches word for it, especially since we already know her ass doesn’t like me.”

“I get you, friend. I also understand why you felt that you had to let him go to protect yourself. And, if it had been damn near anyone else, I would’ve told you to go over there and burn his house down. But that bitch, nah, I don’t trust shit she has to say unless I can prove it. She got a few loose screws, and she’s not to be trusted.”

“So, you think I was wrong for even questioning him about it?”

“Questioning him? No. But the way you asked it then didn’t let him answer the shit, and then you called yourself breaking up with him about it? Hell yeah, bitch. But that’s all behind y’all now. You got your man back, and y’all can be happy because you were killing me slowly with that sad shit.”

“I was going through it, huh?” I asked, laughing.

I thought about how hard the few weeks had been for me. Hasan wasn’t just my man; outside of Oaklyn, he was my best friend. I felt like I had lost a part of me and someone had truly died. I wanted to reach out to him so many times, but my pride wouldn’t let me do it. Thankfully, his pride didn’t get in the way, or we would still be where we were a few weeks ago.

“Hell yeah. I about blocked your ass several times. But you’re my main bitch, so I’m going to stick beside you,” she said, laughing as she pulled into the parking lot of Chili’s.

Surprisingly, the restaurant wasn’t that crowded, so we got seated within about ten minutes. After ordering our food and pre-game drinks, I took my pictures to post later, we toasted, and then began sipping our drinks until our food was ready.

“So, now that I have my shit together, let’s talk about you, boo,” I said, smirking as she looked over the rim of her glasses at me.

“I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about,” she said, shrugging as she set her drink down.

“Oh bitch, play with someone else who doesn’t know you. I noticed you and Takoda were very cozy at the haunted house. Y’all back to fucking with each other? Seems like there might be something still there.”

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she replied, “Hell fucking no! We’re not back to shit. It’s still and forever will be fuck him, his mammy, and his brother, too.”

“I hear you, friend. Fuck all of ’em,” I said, laughing, knowing that we were both talking bullshit.

I knew her, and even though she felt like she didn’t and had probably convinced herself that Takoda wasn’t the one for her anymore, I knew the kind of history that they had didn’t just go away. But that was up to them to fix, and it wasn’t my story to tell, so I was going to drop it.

“Exactly. Not everyone gets the fairytale story that you and Hasan are building, and I’m okay with that. When my time comes, then it comes. That’s just not my story right now. So, until that happens, it’s fuck these niggas, especially Takoda’s ass, and get money.”