Page 21 of One Good Reason

“You’re mighty fucking chipper this morning,” I frowned at Hendrix when he bopped his ass in the back of the truck.

“I thought you got some pussy last night,” Drix retorted. “You would think yo’ ass would be happy.”

“I am happy. I’m tired for one. How’s the misses?”

“She good. I’m driving down to Orlando tonight.”

Who would’ve known that when I sent Drix ass off to Winter Crest to handle business, his ass would come back with a girl. I was dumbfounded when he called to let me know what had taken place between the two of them. The fact that he reached out tomeabout it proved he had feelings for her. Drix reminded me so much of Supreme which is why I had taken him under my wing all those years back.

One look at him and I could tell he was a troubled kid who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The man had a lot of insecurities. Before he could ever learn how to be a man, he lost his mama. When she passed, he lost his way. Just like I schooled Preme, I made sure to do the same with Hendrix and now I could sit back comfortably knowing that he took everything I said to heart.

Him putting his insecurities to the side and going after his girl let me know my words held weight.

“When you gon’ bring her up so I can finally meet her?”

“When you gon’ settle down?” he countered.

“I keep telling you Drix, you ain’t gotta worry ‘bout me. I’m good.”

“You not. We know Dah leaving affected you more than you let on.”

“I’m getting over it. All in all, I’ll be good.”

“Yeah… if you say so. What’s up with Sincere though? Something went down? That’s why we headed up the road to meet up with him?”

“I got a few changes I wanna make. I need the two of you to be on one accord cause it affects both of y’all.”

“You know I’m down with whatever.”

With me having to focus my attention more on the school, I needed Preme and Drix to work hand in hand. Preme handled his area and his soldiers in the Heights while Drix handled his in Atlanta. I played the middleman, a job that I ain’t think I was gon’ be able to do for a lil’ minute. I needed the two of them to connect and figure out how to keep this shit running in my absence. Basically, I was ‘bout to be stepping all the way back. After I got the meeting with the two of them out the way, I was going to dinner with Adele so I could let her know that going forward she would have to hit one of them up with any changes that’s made on her end.

Drix and I spent the whole drive upstate catching up. I let him know about the school and the nigga was happy for me. I didn’t doubt it because Hendrix was like me, all for giving back to the community.

“You ain’t say you was bringing this black ass nigga with you,” Preme joked as he trampled into the warehouse, donned in all black like his ass had just come from a mission.

“I know yo’ pale ass ain’t talking shit,” Drix shot back.

On the outside looking in, you would think the two of them were brothers, that’s just how much they joked and played around with each other.

“Y’all gon’ sit down and let me say what I need to say?”

“Don’t look like we got a choice,” Preme drawled.

“Aight, so it’s like this. I gotta step back from the business.”

“Step back why?”

“The woman I hired to replace Dahlia presented me with an idea that was too good to turn down. I’m getting ready to open up a technical college. The shit gon’ take so much of my time, I can’t run between the two of y’all for a while.”

“How we gon’ get our shit then?” Preme asked.

“Adele is still responsible for getting it over here. Instead of me setting up the transport, the two of you gotta figure out a way to move it. I’mma pass all of my contacts over to y’all and let y’all go for it.”

“Basically, you adding more to our plate.”

“Taking it off me. Somebody gotta do it and natural selection would be Drix since he in Atlanta but he got a girl now. It’s gone be times where he won’t be available.”

“I guess that’s where I come in at.”

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