Page 24 of The Hellcat Barbies: Aubree
I greeted everyone else. They were engrossed in conversation about the big race day. It was a dope event, and I was looking forward to it. The previous year nothing major had gone on. No fights, shootings, or BS, and I hoped they kept it that way this year. As soon as something good occurred that was meant for people to enjoy, dummies always had to come along and mess it up. A few police officers patrolled the event, but the new breed of young niggas running around didn’t care about the police being out there. If they wanted to act up, they would. That was the scary part.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and when I saw that my aunt was calling, my heart slammed into my ribcage. She never called me late, so I automatically, assumed something was wrong.
“Hello?” I tried to keep my tone even but while I waited on her to say something, I held my breath.
“Hey, baby. I’m sorry to call you so late, but it sounds like you’re out and about anyway.”
“Yeah, I’m out with my car club. And it’s okay. What’s up?”
“I was invited on a cruise, and my first reaction was no. I’ve never spent even one night away from Brianna, since I’ve had her. But then I started thinking about it. As much as I love thatlittle girl, it’s okay for me to have some time for me. Especially with the anniversary of Victor’s death coming up. So long story short, would you be able to watch her Thursday through Monday? I know it’s short notice, so if you can’t that’s okay.”
My heart was still beating fast, but that time, it wasn’t because I was afraid. I would love to keep Brianna. I loved the fact that my aunt would even ask me because she didn’t play about Brianna. Chewing nervously on my bottom lip, I walked away from the noise. “I would love to keep her, but I do have to tell you something. Me and Brasi are back together. Of course, he wouldn’t say anything to her, but I just don’t know if she sees him and the red hair, you know.”
My aunt chuckled. “Brianna is smart as a whip, but she’s too young to be able to put two and two together. She’ll just be excited to see another black person with red hair like hers. Do you think he can handle being around her?”
“Yes, I think he can. I mean, we don’t live together or anything, but he does come by. I think he’s handling it well now. Like I said, we are back together, so he’s working on forgiving me. If it’s too much for him though, I’ll just tell him not to come by when she’s there.”
“Thank you. She’s never gotten a chance to stay with anyone else overnight, so when I tell her she’s going with you, she’s going to be excited.”
Little would she know; I was excited too. “I’m glad.”
When I ended the call, I closed my eyes briefly and inhaled. I loved how my aunt loved Brianna. Every time I found myself feeling guilty about not keeping her, I’d just think about how loved she was and try my best not to let the heaviness consume me.
CHAPTER 12
BRASI
The more Ihad to walk around holding onto what I knew about Nice, the angrier I became. I wasn’t just angry with him; I was angry with life. To keep my negative attitude away from others, I kept to myself. I went a few days without visiting or talking to my mother, and I was kind of short with Aubree. I checked in with her every day, but I didn’t want long drawn out conversation. It had been three days since I found out Nice killed Ish, and so far, she had been patient and understanding.
Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and go visit my mom. I was out of coke, so I was going to start looking for a part-time job. I had another two months before I started college classes, and only working for two and a half hours a day left me with too much time on my hands. Aubree suggested that I just make YouTube videos and social media content and get paid from that. She was proof that YouTube and social media could pay off, but I knew it wasn’t an overnight process. Making $4,000 a month working at the gym was damn good, but I wanted more. And I didn’t want to touch the money that had stacked from selling coke.
When I walked in my mom’s house, she was sitting on the couch eating takeout from her favorite Italian restaurant. “Dang, I came over here for a homecooked meal,” I joked.
“Ummhmm, that’s what you get. That’s what happens when you only use me for food.”
I walked over to her, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. “Stop it. You know that’s not the only time I come by. I’ve been busy with work.” I hated lying to my mother, but she couldn’t know that I was spending time selling drugs when I first got out. She was happy that I had a job, and I never specified the hours to her. She was just elated for me to have legal income.
“You like working at the gym? You look good that’s for sure. I need to get in the gym.”
“Yeah you should. It’ll keep you active. I’ve had people as old as seventy in my class. It’s dope to see them keeping up with the younger people. You’re only as old as you feel.”
“I don’t feel old until these knees start creaking,” she joked. “You been okay though?”
“Yeah, I’ve been good,” I lied. “What about you?”
Losing my father did something to my mother. She poured all of her grief into me and my brother, but I could tell she was hurting. Grief never stopped her being a great mother. She never checked out on us and left us to fend for ourselves. I knew losing Ish was ten times worse than her losing my father, and I hated that I wasn’t out to comfort her when he died. My mother could be wearing the brightest smile but if one paid attention to her eyes, they’d know that she was still suffering. I hated that for her. She had been through a lot, and I wanted her to find as much peace as she could.
“I’ve been pretty good. I’d be even better if you’d settle down and give me a grandbaby. No pressure though.”
“Woah, where did that come from?” I laughed.
“I’m just saying,” she shrugged casually. “You’re not getting younger, and I’m not either. I don’t want you just getting any old body pregnant. I would actually love for you to get married and then have kids. By the time you do all that, it could be a few years.”
“Aubree and I are back together, but I don’t know about marriage and babies just yet. We spent six years apart. We have to relearn one another.”
My words made my mother beam. “I’m so glad. I always liked her. I do wish she would have reached out to me about the situation before, but that’s water under the bridge. I have faith that you two will get it right this time.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
