Page 60 of So I Know it's Real

“Why are you looking paranoid, Durk? Park in the handicap spot. Nobody will touch your car.”

I looked at her like she’d hit a line of dope.

“Okay. Pull into stall seventeen. That’s my homegirl’s spot,” she professed. “Hurry up! I’m ready to feel that dick then show you these sexy ass boots I want you to buy me.”

A scowl cut across my face so deep I could feel it pierce my skin.

“That’s what you think this is, Lola?”

“Are you telling me it’s not? There isn’t a woman alive that’s going to give you good pussy without expecting something in return.”

“You’s a lie!” I spat. “But I’m not even mad at you. I’ve been a trick a time or two, but I’m cool on that. What do I look like buying a bitch diamonds before I lace my daughter with the best?”

Lola crossed her arms over her chest. “Stop acting like you don’t have enough money to do both.”

“I’m going to see you around, Lola.”

“What? You can’t be serious? You’re leaving because I ask you to spend money on me?”

“I'm leaving because I don’t have no business being here.”

As soon as she got out the car and slammed my door, I increased the volume of my music and sped off with no idea of where I was going. It was too early to go to the strip club, and if I went to the clubhouse, my folks would want to talk about my feelings.

Amid Neyo singing about being sick of love songs, someone called and interrupted my music. The number wasn’t stored in my phone, but a knot in my gut caused me to answer.

“Who is this?” I answered.

“Dookie Durk?”

I chuckled at the shit talker. “Whatchu want, scrub?”

“I want to catch a fade. I don’t like how you hurt my mama.”

Perplexed, I straightened up in my seat. “What?”

“You heard me. When she left earlier, she was in a good mood. Now, she’s crying. I know it’s your fault.”

It wasn’t my place to tell Tatum about our business, but I wouldn’t insult his intelligence and pretend things weren’t rough between me and his mom. I hadn’t seen him or his twin in over a month, but I whupped his ass in Madden anytime he challenged me.

“I’m not gone lie, Tatum. I’m on your mom’s shit list because I was dishonest.”

“Did you cheat or hit her?”

“Hell no!” I countered. “I love your mama too much for that.”

“Then I think you should fix things between y’all. I’ll leave her key in the mailbox.”

“Hold up, T. I don’t—”

He hung up before I could tell him I didn’t think it was a good idea. But, on second thought, there was no way Tatum would call me if he didn’t think Clover needed me.

In the middle of the street, I slammed on my brakes then busted a U-turn. Clover rubbed me the wrong way when she showed up at Joc’s party, but she couldn’t run me away. Her attitude stemmed from my deceit, so I knew I had to take her rejection on the chin until I couldn’t breathe.

Just like Tatum said the key to their house were in the mailbox. I knocked on the door a few times, being careful not to spook Clover if she was in the living room, but I got no answer. The only sound I heard once I pushed the door open came from the twins’ game system.

Quietly, I hiked up the stairs and traveled to Clover’s room. Her bedroom was open, so I had a clear view of her. The television was on, but she wasn’t watching it. For a few seconds, I contemplated if I should say something or go to her, yet the sound of her sniffles triggered my feet to move. I stepped out of my shoes, placed my jewelry and pistol on the nightstand, thenclimbed into bed with Clover. She didn’t seem surprised when I slipped my arm around her body. Instead, she placed her hand over mine and released a deep exhale.

“What are you doing here, Durk?”

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