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She giggled then puckered her lips for a kiss. This shit didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable. I was more uncomfortable watching these other niggas love on their women without having one to love on. I felt like a third wheel. Today I felt like I was truly a part of the brotherhood.
When she walked away, Isaiah walked up to me and slapped my hand. “That looks good on you, bruh.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
I went to sit with the rest of the fellas, and everybody turned their attention to me. I turned around, pretending to look for who they were looking at as Mr. Sheldon chuckled. “Why y’all looking at me like that?” I asked.
“Listen, man. We’re all married, but she is gorgeous. You did good,” Dylan said.
I nodded at him. “Thanks. I appreciate you.”
“Yeah, and she don’t bullshit around either. I thought it was a wrap for y’all at the brunch,” Arrow added, “especially when she called you by your government. It took me a second to figure out who she was talking about.”
I chuckled. “What’s your real name?” Axton asked.
“Joel. That was how I introduced myself to her because I originally thought she was bougie. I knew Vegas wouldn’t fly with her if I was tryna get in her panties. That was two years ago when we went to Puerto Rico. Now, most times, she refuses to call me Vegas.”
“Puerto Rico? On the family trip?” Mr. Sheldon asked.
“Yes, sir. Met in Puerto Rico and we’re both from Houston. Her dad used to work for Jungle’s dad, and we never crossed paths. I even remember her dad. He got killed when I was around thirteen or so.”
“That was close as hell,” Jamel said.
“Hell yeah. She knew my dad too. He looked after them once her dad was killed. Crazy as hell we never met before then. It’s probably best though, because I ghosted her until about three weeks ago when she was picking up her nephew from the same daycare Zamir’s bad ass goes to.”
Jungle pushed me, causing me to chuckle. “Jungle, you know that lil nigga bad. He got one more time to kiss my baby though, and he gon’ get punched in the throat,” Ali said.
“Shiiiid! That nigga was kissing on Kissa too,” Jamel added.
He and Sandrene’s baby girl was around a year old I believed. The ladies had taken her with them. “Yo, don’t hate the player, hate the game,” Jungle said, making everyone laugh harder.
“Yo’ ass better be glad I don’t have girls,” DJ said as Rondo and Jericho cosigned.
I chuckled and slowly shook my head. Seneca cleared his throat and said, “I know this may be weird saying this, given what happened with Jericka, but Kay Baby and I are talking about adopting a baby.”
Everyone was quiet for a moment, then Mr. Sheldon said, “Congratulations, son. I can’t wait to see you love on a baby the way you love Ell and Jericka.”
Everyone agreed and congratulated him. “You don’t have to bring that shit up no more, man. We’ve all moved past it,” Jungle said.
Jericho nodded as well. Seneca fist bumped him then Jericho and nodded at me. He knew that situation affected us the most. It affected me simply because of how close I was to Jungle. He knew I would kill a nigga if they even looked like they wanted to threaten Jungle. He knew it was a miracle that he was even still walking this earth.
“I’m proud of the men you’ve all become. It feels like all of you are my sons. Seeing all these kids running around here is unbelievable. I’m happy that y’all have come into our lives, making it even better than what it was,” Mr. Sheldon said.
“Pop, you don’t even realize how much of an inspiration you’ve been to all of us,” Ali said. “Your words of wisdom and, more importantly, your actions have helped us beyond belief. You met us on our level, let us be who we were going to be, but still demanded better from us, simply by living. I don’t know anyone I admire more. None of us here, besides Arrow and Axton, have a father in our lives. So you the man to us. The father we all low-key craved. I mean, Jungle had a good father, but I think he needed you, too, since his pops is no longer with us.”
Jungle swallowed hard and nodded. I couldn’t believe Ali was so expressive in front of everyone. Everyone sitting here agreed with him. Mr. Sheldon gave him a tight smile. I could see the emotion in his eyes. There were fourteen men sitting here, and we all admired the living example he’d been for us all.
“To add to that, I don’t know where any of us would be without your guidance. I can’t leave out big bruh though. It’s like he’s a replica of you in big brother form. All of us have needed you at some point, Zay. You talk to us and help us understand shit that we probably never would have when it comes to our women. You mean just as much as Pop. Real shit,” Seneca added.
“And you refuse to charge us shit!” Jericho said.
We all laughed, and he did too. “Well, like Dad said, we family. All of y’all are my lil brothers, except Jungle since he’s older than me.” We all chuckled. “We gotta look out for each other. For y’all to even come to me means that you’ve matured beyond words. Men tend to think we’re invincible at times. Y’all realized you needed help, and that’s part of what being a real man is all about. I’m proud of y’all too. And Vegas… A.K.A. Joel, I’m here if you need help with that firecracker.”
I laughed. I didn’t know how he could see that in her, but he was right on it. “I’m gon’ remember you said that shit too, because she petty as hell.”
He chuckled and nodded. This was shit I didn’t know I needed. My dad had been deceased for almost twenty-five years, and every day, I wished he was here. I supposed I would join the brotherhood and start calling Mr. Sheldon Pop as well.
TEN
