Page 84 of I Heard It All Before

Cam arrived at IHOP for his meeting with Randy about two hours later. He was late and secretly hoped that Randy got tired of waiting and left. He realized that he wasn’t so lucky when he saw Randy’s car among the many that were parked out front. Cam hadn’t been to IHOP in a while, but Randy wouldn’t have known that. He and Demi had found another spot with better food, but they hadn’t been back there since he had a fight with her husband. After getting out of his truck, Cam made his way into the restaurant, bypassing the hostess. He looked around the semi-crowded dining area and spotted Randy sitting at a booth all the way to the back. He looked a hot ass mess and the sight was no better, as Cam got closer. Randy had lost a significant amount of weight and the bags under his eyes were proof of him stressing about something.

“No need to stand,” Cam said when Randy got up to shake his hand.

He wasn’t in the mood for all the pleasantries, so he sat down and waited for Randy to start talking. Cam could tell that he was nervous, but he had no need to be. Cam wasn’t trying to do him anything, especially over Asha’s trifling ass. Cam had to lay hands on him before because he was talking crazy to him. That was the part that he couldn’t let him get away with.

“How’s it going?” Randy asked as he nervously stirred sugar in the iced tea that was in front of him.

“I’m good. What’s the deal with you?” Cam inquired.

“Man,” Randy sighed as he ran his hand down the side of his face, “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Shit, start at the beginning,” Cam coerced.

“I first wanna say that I’m sorry about everything that happened between us. I fucked up and I’m not too big to admit that. Fucking with Asha was the biggest mistake that I’ve ever made in my life,” Randy admitted.

“I’m sure it was, but I just wanna know why. You were my friend long before Asha was my girl. Truthfully, you were more than just my friend, you were like my brother,” Cam admitted.

“Aside from jealousy, I really didn’t have a reason,” Randy admitted.

“What were you jealous of though? If I had, you had, and I made sure of that,” Cam replied.

“I know man, but you were always the popular one. All the women wanted you and I hated that shit. I got tired of being your shadow and playing the background. Then, when Asha got in my ear, I just took that shit and ran with it,” Randy added.

“Honestly, I was more hurt by your actions than Asha’s. I already knew what she was capable of, so I wasn’t surprised. Asha was my girl for years and I told you how she was. I don’t know why you thought shit was gon’ be different with you. Asha is a manipulator, but I’m sure you know that by now.”

“I should have listened to you too. Fucking with her trifling ass got me broke and all messed up. That’s why I wanted to see you,” Randy said while looking into Cam’s eyes.

“I hope it’s not to ask for money. If so, we can end this shit right here and now. I agreed to meet you, but that don’t mean that shit is sweet between us,” Cam replied.

“No, I’m not here to ask you for anything. I’m here to give you something,” Randy said as he slid a gold envelope over to Cam and told him to open it.

Cam dumped the contents of the envelope on the table, looking on in confusion as a set of keys fell out of it. He read over the paperwork that was inside and everything became clear.

“So, you want me to buy your shop from you?” Cam inquired.

“No, I want you to accept it as a gift,” Randy replied.

“What? No man, I can’t do that. You just said that you’re broke. The shop is in a damn good location and I’ll be happy to take it off your hands if the price is right,” Cam said.

“There is no price Cam, it’s yours. All the paperwork has been finalized and switched over to you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even have it at all. It’s the least that I can do after the kind of friend that I’ve been to you,” Randy acknowledged.

“Can you do that legally? Can you just sign your business over to somebody else like that?” Cam questioned.

“It’s very legal. I’m the sole proprietor, so all I had to do was transfer ownership to you. You can let a lawyer look over it, but I promise you that everything is in order,” Randy swore.

Cam didn’t have to go far to look for an attorney. He was gonna let Demi look over everything as soon as he got home. He didn’t understand Randy’s logic though. If he was hurting for money, why was he giving it away so freely? His business could have sold for thousands and he was turning it down. Something wasn’t right and Cam needed to know what was up.

“What’s going on Randy?” Cam questioned.

“And those two sealed envelopes, make sure you give one to my mama and one to Nia. Their names are on them,” Randy answered, pointing to some of the items that Cam had dumped onto the table.

“Okay, I will, but I still feel like there’s something that you’re not saying,” Cam speculated.

“I fucked up man. I fucked up big time and I really don’t know what to do,” Randy confessed.

“Fucked up how?” Cam questioned.

“Man, it’s like this,” Randy began. “I started dealing with that nigga Lo, but you already know that. We used to meet up at your cousin Laila’s house, but I’m sure you know that too. But, anyway, one day, Asha got this bright idea that we should rob Lo and take his dope and his money. Like a fool, I followed the nigga around for a little while and then her brothers ran up in his house when him and his wife came home one night.”

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