"You're not really going to move to Cali are you?" Rico asked as we sat in the barbershop. Looking at him, I shrugged. "I honestly don't know what to do." I said. "Bruh Fallon is not going for it. She ain't going to Cali." He said. "You don't think I know that? But the team is there and I just went and looked into opening a tattoo shop there too." I said honestly. Shaking his head he chuckled. "I get it bruh, but when you asked her to marry you, that meant you were making decisions for both of y'all. And asking her to up and uproot her whole life to California isn't a good start." He said. "I need to go see Ms. Gladys." I said, she always spoke the truth no matter if we wanted to hear it or not. "She wanted to see Trey so we can slide over there." He said. "Trey let's go see granny." He called for Trey who came running around the corner.
Heading out the barber shop we got in the car. My mind was going a mile a minute. Getting out of the game was still a priority to me. And moving to Cali and investing the rest of the drug money and running some honest businesses was the way to do it. But Fallon was also a priority to me. Making her my wife, and creating a stable and happy home for her was also very important to me. But the more I tried to do both I realized I couldn't. I had to choose.
Pulling up to Ms. Gladys, nobody's car was in the driveway which made me relieved. Getting out we headed to the door. Knocking, it took her a minute but then the door swung open. "Oh my. Hey there Ry baby." She said pulling me to her. She was little but strong. Something she and her granddaughter had in common. "How you doing Ms. Gladys?" I asked as she kissed my cheek before doing the same to Trey and Rico. "Oh just fine baby." She said. "What y'all niggas doing over here?" Fabian asked coming from the back. "Nigga I almost shot you. Don't be popping out at me." I said, dapping him up. "Ever since you went off the grid, you be on some Casper shit." I said honestly I hadn't seen this nigga in about a month. "I gotta keep shit low key. And come check on my granny when I can." He said. Sitting down on the couch we all sat in the living room. "What brings y'all by?" Ms. Gladys asked. And the room was quiet as Rico looked at me. "Come on Trey let's go play basketball." Rico said standing up. "Fabian bring your ass." He added. They left and it was now just me and Ms. Gladys. "What's on your mind Rylan?" She asked taking a sip of her coffee. "Fallon." I said. "I'm listening." She said looking at me. "I had some business ventures come up for me in California." "Good business ventures or similar to the ones y'all are running here in Houston?" She asked eye balling me. "Good business ventures. Initially I had planned to use them for other purposes but then I realized I don't have to." "Okay good. I heard about the basketball team and I'm proud of you." She said. "Thank you." I said sighing. "Come on Ry. Spit it out baby. You know that whatever you tell me in confidence won't leave this house." She said. "I need to move to Cali, that's only way my businesses can flourish without the corruption of the game interfering. I asked Fallon and she said no." I said shrugging. "But Ms. Gladys I have to go, that's the only way I can start over. And live the life I want." "Baby sometimes you just have to do what's best for you. I know that's hard to hear because I know you love Fallon, and she knows it too. But this is a hard conversation to have. Y'all are childhood friends, first loves, been engaged twice, and now you're dealing with something that probably feels like it's going to drive y'all apart. But that's up to you Rylan. Is starting your life over fresh, after nine years of being confined like a caged animal still important to you or have you let that go because you got the girl of your dreams? Because I love my Fallon but if she was the woman for you then she wouldn't ask you to choose Ry." She said and that shit hurt.
"Ms. Gladys." I said not wanting to acknowledge what she was saying to me. "I'm not saying go home and call off your engagement. Don't be so hasty. I'm saying put things into perspective for yourself. Don't think about the pressure of Fabian going away. Don't think about how it might make Fallon feel if you leave. Don't think about anyone but yourself for once Rylan. Since you've gotten out, I watched you do everything so selflessly. And I'm telling you right now, take this time and be selfish. And figure out what is truly the best thing for you. And because Fallon loves you, she will understand. She'll have to." She said. And I nodded.
My mind was saying just go to Cali, if she loves me like she says she would follow me there, if she doesn't it just isn't meant to be. But my heart was saying if she doesn't go, I couldn't go. She was more than just the girl of my dreams, she was everything to me. The sun rises and sets on her for me. And after all the time I had spent away from her, I couldn't even imagine my life without her in it. She was my peace. So it felt pretty clear to me what I needed to do.
Peaking his head around the corner Rico looked at us. "Is this session over, Sevyn has called me about five times wondering where we are at." He said. "Yeah we're good, I'm ready." I said. "Y'all boys be safe now, and come see me anytime you need." She said hugging us. Heading out the door, Rico smiled. "Looks like y'all both needed some guidance." He said nodding. Leaning against her car I approached her, while Rico and Trey got situated in the car.
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"Came to ask your granny if you should let me go without you?" I joked looking her up and down. "No. Did you?" She asked looking at me with sad eyes. Lifting her hand, I saw her engagement ring still resting on her finger which gave me reassurance. Kissing the back of her hand, I pulled her to me. "Nah." I said kissing her forehead. "Rylan I don't want to leave my family behind. But I want to be wherever you are. I would have never asked you to choose between getting a fresh start and being with me under normal circumstances." She said looking at me. "But?" I asked cus I knew it was coming. "But I am asking you to choose. Because I don't want to feel like I'm getting in the way of your dreams. And I'm so sorry that I'm even asking that of you." She said crying. Wiping her own tears as she collected herself. "Fallon, baby I choose you. Everytime. If that means not going to Cali, I will make it work. But im not leaving Texas without you. Dreams are just that, dreams. I'll be fine, we'll be fine." I reassured but I could see deep in her eyes, that wasn't what she wanted to hear.
Pecking my lips, she headed towards the house but I grabbed her wrist. "That's it?" I asked. "I just need to talk to my granny, I'll see you at home." She said but I couldn't help but notice how sad she looked.
