Page 49 of Typa
“Nigga! I know you didn’t call his ass Mister Mayor!” Noni yelled.
We all laughed, even my daddy. Mythic chuckled and slowly shook his head. I loved this playful side of him. It was something I hadn’t seen much of because of all the drama.
“I reconnected with Maui at Market Basket in Beaumont. We ended up in the same checkout line. I knew right then, if she was receptive, she would be the woman to change my life. We exchanged info, but lil mama curved the fuck out of me. I didn’t see her again until the twins graduated from Rice. I talked to her at the party and that was when we resumed what I was trying to start. For the first time in my life, I felt like I needed somebody. Maui accepted me for who and where I was in life without judgment.”
I went to him as the tears threatened to fall down my cheeks. When I sat next to him, he kissed my head. “She never complained, but her aura . . . Her spirit demanded better from me. Carter Legend told me that it took her to bring out the version of myself I was at my core . . . my foundation. Legend and Harper didn’t raise no suckas. They didn’t raise who I became. Watching Philly got me where I was. Although Mauiwas accepting, I knew she wouldn’t be for an extended amount of time. I had to step up my game. She saw me beyond all the bullshit. I owed her my best. When she left, I realized that I owed myself my best too.”
I couldn’t stop the tears. As I swiped at them, I noticed my mama was dropping tears too. She quickly wiped them, and said, “Bali and Noni, come help me bring the food to the table.”
They stood and gave us tight smiles. The doorbell rang, so I figured it was probably their men. Remy came running down the stairs to answer it. Daddy was a fool if he thought Remy was a virgin. That nigga was like sixteen. I was pretty sure he was fucking. Grabbing my attention again, I heard my dad say, “I’m proud of you, Mythic. For real. I’m honored to have this version of you dating my daughter. However, because of your past, I know she’s safe. I know you’ll protect her with your life.”
Mythic looked over at me and gripped my chin. “You muhfucking right.”
He kissed my lips, and I smiled. This was unbelievable. I was nervous earlier for nothing. Everything had gone extremely smooth, and I had to thank God for that. We all stood to head to the table as Carter and Red walked in. They both came to Mythic and slapped his hand and hugged him. Carter held onto him for a couple of seconds longer. When he released him, he swished his hand on Mythic’s braids.
Mythic pushed his arm, but I could clearly see the playfulness in his eyes, despite the frown on his face. After they both hugged me and shook my daddy’s hand, we made our way to the table. When Bali and Noni saw their men, they hesitantly went to them. Daddy frowned as Bali glanced at him. She went to Carter, and said, “I’m sorry for pushing you away. That was bullshit.”
He pulled her in his arms and kissed her lips. “Forget about it. We good, baby.”
Noni made her way to Red, but he didn’t seem like he would be as forgiving as Carter. She stood in front of him and lowered her head. Daddy frowned, and I did too. It was like she was scared of him or something. Here they were, worried about Mythic, and they should have been paying attention to hot-headed Red Squared.
“I’m sorry, Red. I really am.”
“A’ight.”
He didn’t pull her in his arms or anything, but he went to the table with her and sat next to her. “Y’all need to talk privately?” my daddy asked.
I wanted to laugh. Ain’t shit was private around here. “Yes, sir,” Noni said.
“Go ’head then.”
Carter gave Red a pointed look, like he was silently telling him to chill. Once we heard the door open and close, Daddy turned on the TV and put it on the station to where we could see and hear them.”
“Aww, shit,” Mythic said.
We all quieted down and listened.
“It’s like whatever Bali does, you think it’s law. I get y’all are twins and y’all gon’ stick together and shit, but what the fuck that got to do with me? I mean, did she tell you to push me away since she was pushing Carter away?”
“No. I just, I didn’t want the drama to infiltrate what we had. I was scared. Red, you’re my first boyfriend. It has always just been me and my family . . . me and Bali.”
“Noni, if you let fear lead the way, there is no way we will be able to continue. As long as I waited for you to be mine, and you pull some shit like that? I wanna be done with that shit. What will keep it from happening again?”
“Red, I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to trust that what we have is real.”
“Maaan,” he said, then rubbed his hand down his face. “I don’t know, Noni. I feel like this is something we will have to work through, and I’m not sure I want to anymore.”
When I saw Noni’s tears, I had to swallow extra hard to keep mine put. Bali stood, and Daddy said, “Sit down.”
Bali was more aggressive than Noni. While they were both with the shits, Noni was softer and typically followed Bali’s lead. That wasn’t good, not when it came to her man. Nothing he’d said was out of pocket. He was right, and she was right for expressing herself as well.
“Please, give me another chance. I’m sorry, Red.”
He turned to walk away, and said, “Tell everybody I had to go.”
“Red, don’t do this.” When I heard her audibly crying, it tore me apart. “I love you!” she blurted.
He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. His face was red, but there was a deep frown on it. She went to him, and said, “I love you, Red. Please don’t leave me.”
