by Qiana London
“Do you need to come back in, babe?” Dezzy asked. “If not, I’ll go ahead and lock up.”
“Nope, I’m good.”
“Well, in that case, let’s go.”
Donte and I headed out the door, and Dezzy locked up. We loaded everything into the truck while Dezzy and Raijean chatted and got situated inside. The way they were carrying on, you’d never know that Dezzy once held a grudge against Raijean for stepping out on Donte. While they talked, we worked out who was going to drive.
“You start outand I’ll bring up the rear,” Donte said.
“That’ll work. Let’s be out.”
We got into the truck. I adjusted the driver’s seat, started the engine, and then pulled out the driveway. Our vacation had officially begun.
Chapter Fifteen
We had been riding on the interstate for just over an hour, and traffic was working in our favor. Donte had initiated a game of truth or dare, which was the perfect time filler. I probably learned more about my boy and his girl than I wanted to, but I was still enjoying myself. Dezzy had been texting on her phone the majority of the time and was a bit disengaged. I didn’t like that she wasn’t being completely present andwas making a concentrated effort to make sure that I didn’t see her screen. She was hiding something, and I wasn’t cool with that at all. I was going to let her know once we were alone. I didn’t believe in discussing personal relationship matters in front of others.
“Alright, Dezzy,it’s your turn,” Raijean said.
“I’m listening,” she replied, but continued looking at her phone.
“Truth or dare?”
She finished a quick text and then placed her phone face-down on her lap.
“Um,truth,” she replied and took a sip of cranberry juice.
“If you could choose any person to join you and Khalil in a threesome,who would it be?”
Dezzy choked on the juice and struggled to swallow without spitting it out on the dashboard. Once she got the juice down, she turned around and looked at Raijean. “Really? I couldn’t get a question like if I’ve ever farted while having sex or some shit like that?”
“Quit stalling,” I pressed and laughed. I was curious about Dezzy’s answer even though I knew that a threesome wasn’t something that she would be down with.
“I wouldn’t choose anyone because I don’t like to share my man.”
“Booooooo!” Donte teased.“That answer is hella weak.”
“Shut up, Tay,” she replied. She turned back around and looked out the window.“KJ, we’ll be getting off in three exits.”
“We’re stopping already?”
“Yep. Remember I said that we’ll be making fun stops along the way?”
“Yeah, but what’s over here?”
“Let the games begin,” Donte added.
“Oh,you know about this?”
“Come on, Khalil. You know my sister tells me everything.”
I shook my head and focused on the road. I began to make my way over to the right so that I could prepare to exit. Dezzy sent one more text and then put her phone inside her purse.
“It’s cool, though, because I need to use the bathroom anyway,” I added.
The game came to a quick end. Music filled the car and we all bobbed our heads to the music. I exited the freeway and slowed to a stop at the red light. We were in a residential area off Interstate 5.I didn’t know what type of fun we were going to have in this location, but I was going with the flow.
“Continue straight for a mile and then make a left at the end of the road into the new development area,” Dezzy instructed.
I was confused, but I didn’t say anything. I turned into the new development. Some of the homes were completely built, but most of the homes were still under construction.
“Make a right on the next block.”
I complied and turned onto a street that was lined with a lot of cars despite the scarce number of houses.
“Pull into the driveway of that house with the palm trees over there in the middle on the right side.”
I slowed down in front of the two-story home with a three-car garage and turned into the driveway next to a silver Tesla Model S. I shut off the engine and turned to look at Dezzy, who quickly removed her seatbelt. I looked at Donte in the rearview mirror, and he gave me a head nod as he removed his seatbelt. I removed my seatbelt too and opened my door as everyone began to get out of the truck.
“Whose house is this?” I inquired.
“Lee moved out here about six months ago. I told her that we were headed to Vegas,and she suggested that we stop by.”
Dezzy straightened her clothes while I walked around to the passenger’s side of the car. I repositioned the snapback on my head, pressed a button to lock the doors, and then stuck the keys to the truck into my pocket. We all headed toward the door. She rang the doorbell and then stepped to the side. A few moments later, a short, curvy, brown skin sister opened the door. She and Dezzy immediately squealed and hugged. While they continued to hold one another, Donte took Raijean’s hand and walked around them into the house. I didn’t move. I waited to be invited in.
“Girl, I feel like I haven’t seen you forever!” Lee exclaimed.
They finally let one another go and stepped apart. Lee turned her attention to me. “Damn, Khalil,I haven’t seen you since you left to join the marines. You probably don’t even remember me.”
I didn’t want to be rude, but she was right. “I don’t. I’m sorry, but it’s nice to finally meet the god sister that Dezzy always talks about.” I extended my hand to shake hers.
“Nuh uh, I’m a hugger.” She put her arms outand I stepped forward to give her a hug. She gave me a tight squeeze, let go and held the doorknob as she stepped back.“Come on in.”
I let Dezzy walk ahead of me. We stood near the door as we waited for Lee to lock it.
“You guys go ahead and make yourselves comfortable.”
Donte and Raijean were nowhere to be found. Dezzy and I walked further inside toward the back of the house. I could hear Donte talking and Raijean hurry to quiet him. Before we turned the corner, Dezzy slowed down to tie her shoe.
“Go ahead, KJ. I’m coming. Just give me a second to tie my shoe.”
I knew they were up to something, but I didn’t say anything. I walked around the corner and was greeted by a room full of people.
“Surprise!”
I stood frozen as Dezzy walked up next to me and put her arm around my waist. It took me a second to realize what was happening.
“What’s all of this for?” I asked, putting my arm around her. I gave her a gentle squeeze as I looked around the room.
“This is my way of thanking you for all that you’ve done for me. I love you and truly appreciate you. I thought that this would be a fun way to let you know.”
Lee walked into the room behind us and over to her stereo system. She turned on the music and cranked up the volume. She began to dance and others fell right in line with her. I let Dezzy go and we walked further into the room. It didn’t take me long to recognize some familiar faces amongst the crowd of people. I was pleasantly surprised to see folks I’d grown up with that I hadn’t seen in years. Melanie and Snow were in the room too along with some of my unit members from recon.
“How in the world did you put this together?”
“It was definitely a task! It’s hard to get things past you. You notice every damn thing.”
I chuckled. She was right. It was hard to get anything past me, so I was impressed that Dezzy had pulled this party off. “This means a lot to me, Desrinique. It really does.”
“It’s my pleasure, baby,” she repliedand started to walk away.“Go ahead and catch up with your friends. I’ll find you in a bit and introduce you to some more of my people.”
“Sounds good.”
I headed over to Snow and my boys from our unit. They were standing around drinking beer and talking shit the way we used to do back in the day.They didn’t waste an
y time pulling me into the conversation.
“How the fuck have you been,Anderson?” Scratch asked.
I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since our last tour. He was an amazing sniper and hadworked with extreme precision while we were on duty, but he couldn’t play a game of billiards to save his life, which is how he got the nickname Scratch.
“Look at what the cat dragged in!”
We brought our hands together before embracing. Another member of my unit punched me in my shoulder and then gave me a hug while the other pulled a beer from the cooler, opened it, and shoved the bottle into my chest. It was just like old times.
Snow raised his beer in the air and the others followed suit. “To my brother from another mother. Thanks for everything, man. You’re alright with me.I don’t care what any of these creeps say about you.” He pointed at the guys standing with us and everyone laughed.
“Thank you and thank y’all,” I replied and looked at my unit members. I patted my heart with my fist.“Semper Fi.”
“Semper Fi!”
We all brought our bottles together in a toast before we resumed casual conversation. I caught a glimpse of Melanie near the sliding glass door talking with someone I didn’t recognize. Whoever he was, he had her smitten. I hadn’t seen her look like that in a long time. She looked across the room at me, nodded, and smiled before continuing her conversation. I smiled and nodded back. I was happy for Melanie. I returned my attention to my own conversation long enough to excuse myself.
“Aye, I need to make my way around the room and say hello to some other folks. I really appreciate y’all coming out andcelebrating with me.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Scratch replied while the others nodded.“Go handle your business and we’ll catch up with you later.”
“Alright, I’ll see y’allin a minute.”
Donte had started a game of dominoes with some guys that we grew up with so I made my way over in that direction. I walked up and fell right into the conversation that primarily consisted of sarcasm.“Aye, I need to get in on the next game so I can school you ladies on how to reallyplay.”
Cedric was the athlete of the bunch back in the day. He was being vetted for college football and was talented enough to play in the NFL, but when his mother fell ill, he gave it all up to care for her and his younger siblings. Now, he coached high school football instead.
“I see the marines got your square ass feeling confident and shit,” Cedric said.
“Oh,you got jokes, huh? Your ass knows I ain’t got a square bone in my body.”
“You know the first step is denial, right?” he asked and laughed.
“Fuck you, Ced.”
We laughed and shook hands.
“You know it’s all love,” he replied and slammed a domino on the table.“Twamp, bitches!”
Rashad was the youngest one of our crew and the smallest too. We used to give him shit for being short and skinny, but now he was yoked up.
“It’s been way too long, Khalil. I’m just glad your ass made it back,” Rashad said. “You’re a better man than me because I wouldn’t be able to do it. I ain’t risking my life for nobody.”
“Aye, it ain’t for everybody, but I did what I needed to do.”
“You’re back for good,though, right?”
“Yeah, I’m done.”
“Fa sho.”
We shook hands as Dezzy approached the table with two women. Cedric and Rashad turned their attention to the ladies standing on either side of her. While they were attractive, I only had eyes for my baby.
Before she could introduce them, Donte spoke first. “What’s good, cousin? I ain’t seen you in a cool minute.”
“Hey, Tay. I’m good. I’vejust been super busy.”
He stood from the table and gave her a hug.
Dezzy took the opportunity to make introductions. “Babe, this is my cousin,Camille,” she said, pointing to the woman hugging Donte.“And this is my good friend,Robyn.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you. I feel like I know both of you already. Dezzy has told me so much about you, but my schedule has been so hectic thatwe haven’t had the chance to meet before now.” I turned my attention to Robyn.“You’re her god daughter’s mother, right?”
“Yes, that would be me. She’ll be a godmother to this one too when he gets here,” she replied and rubbed her belly.
If she hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have known that she was pregnant.
“I can’t wait to spoil him!” Dezzy squealed.
“You’ll have to do it from a distance because we’re going to move to Kansas City next month. Trevellgot a promotion with his company.”
“Wait. What?”
While Dezzy digested what Robyn had said, I focused on Camille. “And you’re Camille, the one with Blu and who introduced her—”
“Yeah, I still beat myself up about that one. If I could do it all over again—”
“It’s water under the bridge now. I’m sure that if you had known,it would’ve never happened.”
“Never. In fact, Blu would have never done business with him either. He cut all ties with that son of a bitch after learning what he did to Dezzy.”
I nodded in agreement. I didn’t know him, but I appreciated his loyalty to my lady. “That’s what’s up. Is hehere? I’d like to meet him too.”
“No, he’s on tour right now, but when he’s back in town,I’ll have you and Dezzy over for dinner.”
“Alright, cool. I’m looking forward to that.”
“Shit, me too,” Donte added.“Judging by that rock on your finger, he’s going to be around for the long haul. I need to meet him so I can grill him.”
“In that case, I’ll conveniently forget to tell you,” she responded and laughed.
After I introduced the ladies to my boys at the table, we watched them continue their game, hold small talk, and occasionally shoot insults when wack moves were played. While we talked, I looked around the room in admiration of the people who had come out to celebrate with me. Some of the folks I had known for years and others I’d met for the first time. The same was true for those in attendance, but you would never know because everyone meshed well together. The energy in the room was upbeat and inviting. People were eating, drinking, and a few brave souls had turned the middle of the room into a dance floor. I had just polished off my beer when I saw my brother enter the room with his wife. I was shocked and my expression must have given it away because Dezzy followed my gaze across the room.
When she realized that I was looking at my brother, she turned back to me and whispered in my ear. “I figured that Craig’s presencehere would be the icing on the cake.”
“You never cease to amaze me, woman,” I replied and gave her a kiss on the lips.
She smiled, stepped back, and cleared the path so that I could head over. “Go ahead, KJ. We’ve got all night.”
I walked up on my brother as he scanned the room, looking for me. “Well, I’ll be damned. Look who came out from under that rock. I know you saw my calls, punk ass.”
“Fuck you. I was getting my shit in order.”
We mugged each other, smiled, and then embraced.
While I held Craig, I spoke quietly in hisear.“I’m glad you’re alright. I would have kicked your ass if something hadhappened to you.”
After we released each other, I grabbed Autumn by the hand, pulled her into my arms,and kissed her cheek.“We’ve gotta keep our eye on this one.”
She nodded in agreement.
“Y’all asses ain’t gonna be talking about me like I ain’t standing right here.”
“Did you hear something?” I spoke to Autumn and completely ignored Craig.
He lifted his middle finger and put it in my face.
I laughed and put my arm around his shoulders.“I’m just fucking with you. Y’all come on and get comfortable.”
“I don’t mind if I do,” Autumn replied.
“Go ahead,baby, let me holler
at my brother right quick.”
Autumn walked further into the room and struck up a conversation with Lee, who had begun making margaritas. She was an excellent hostess. I made a mental note to send her an appreciation gift later.
“Can we step outside for a minute?” Craig asked.
“It’s all good. Let’s go out front.”
We slipped away from the party through the living room and went outside in front of the house. We took a seat on the patio bench on Lee’s porch.
“What’s up,little brother?”
“Aye, a lawyer contacted me and said he was going to have my record expunged.”
He studied my face for a reaction, but I didn’t budge.
“I know that’s because you pulled some strings to help me out and I appreciate that shit for real.”
I nodded. “I couldn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure how things would pan out and I didn’t want you to try and talk me out of it.”
“You know me well. I would have saidno because I didn’t think it was possible.”
“I’m glad it all came together for you. I want you to be good.”
“I appreciate that. A nigga got a new beginning and shit.”
I chuckled. “I hope you take advantage of it and change the way you do things.”
“Now,you know I ain’t ever gonna be a nine-to-five type ofnigga.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“But if your offer is still on the table,I’d like to fuck with you and your crew.”
“Real talk?”
“Yeah. Something’s gotta give. I need to make real money in a legit way. I’m getting too old for this trap shit.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this right now.”
“Look, I ain’t about to beg yo’ ass.” He was annoyed.“What’s good?”
“Don’t I always hold you down?”
“Fa sho.”
We stood up, brought our right hands together, and embraced. We wrapped up our conversation as we made our way back toward the front door.
“I’m headed to Vegas for a few days, but when I get back,I’ll introduce you to the teamand we’ll figure out where to place you.”