The Unusual Suspects Book 2

Jay

I had just finished taking a run with Mar. Man...for some reason after working out, I always felt much better for real. We had sat down at on a bench and took a drink of our water for a minute.
"It's been a minute, huh?" Mar said.
"Hell yeah." I said while trying to catch my breath and he laughed.
"Either that or that liquor weighing too heavy on you." he said to me.
"Yeah...I haven't drank the past couple of days. Been trying to get my shit together. Had to get back into old habits so that I wouldn't sink deeper into that shit." I said as I stood up to stretch.
"That's good shit. I didn't want to have to pink slip you bruh, but I was if you didn't slow down." he told me.
"I respect it." I told him.
"For real bruh, only a real friend will tell you. But you had me a lil worried for a minute. Like I told you, no matter what happened with you and D, you still my dawg. And I look at you like a brother, so if I had to piss you off in order to set you straight, I will." he said to me.
"And I appreciate that in you bruh. Real shit! I know if no one else, you would." I said because cat been loyal as hell from the jump. I was grateful for that.
"Of course." he said to me.
"But you wouldn't believe who had a talk with me the other night. Was actually really helpful." I said to him.
"Who?" he asked me.
"Toya." he looked at me blank as hell. "Yup that's the reaction I expected for real. But she was real about the shit, but also she showed a different side to her. I might see what T sees in her though. She's not so bad." I had to admit.
"I mean she's a trip, but Toya is actually smart. Tough, but smart. She might have to be like that though, it's life. But you know T is a different type of dude though. He likes to play Captain Save Em, maybe he's bringing that out of her. Or it could be the pregnancy." he said as we started walking back to the car.
"True. You talked to D?" I asked him and he just looked over at me. "Not like that. I mean I really just wanted to congratulate her on winning Salutatorian." I said and he nodded.
"She probably won't answer if you call, but I'll call her so you can tell her." he said as he called her and had it hooked up to the bluetooth in the car.
"Hello." she said sounding happy.
"Hey sis! What you doing?" he asked.
"Getting ready to go to dinner with Toy and Tony. What's up bro?" she asked.
"Well somebody wanted to holla at you." he said and looked over at me.
""Congrats shorty! I see you got Salutatorian, I know you were aiming for Valedictorian, but you still rocked that. You deserve it." I told her.
"Thanks Jay, I appreciate that." she said.
"Where yall going sis?" Mar asked.
"I'm not sure. He just told us to meet him at 6." That shit a little crazy for a sec cuz that means they out here kickin it with her nigga. I can't be mad, but I didn't know it had gotten like that.
"Alright, well enjoy yourself and be safe." he told her.
"She in good hands brody." Dude said.
"Say less Kev." Mar said before he hung up. "My bad bruh, I didn't know."
"Naw you good G. She gotta live her life." I heard myself saying it, but I didn't want to accept that shit. Imma let her do her 1-2, but real shit Dom was mine and everybody knew it. Imma just focus on being a better person, so that when I come, I come correct. "So what's your plans for the day?" I asked him.
"Shit. The girls took Chi & Erica's daughter out shopping and whatnot so they'll be gone all day. What's good?"
"Wanna go scouting?" he knew what that meant. We both laughed.
"Why not? I might be able to find my third queen." he said to me.
"I'm saying though, I might find me a lil something something too."
"Bet." he said. He dropped me off at my crib so I could get ready for this.
"I'll be through after I get dressed and shit." I told him.
"Alright bruh." he said as I went in the crib and my mom was sitting there.
"Hey mama." I said. "I would hug you, but I'm sweaty." I said walking in the kitchen and she laughed.
"Well yeah, I can see that. Feel better now that them endorphins are going?"
"Definitely, thank you for that. I feel a lot better for real." I told her. She was the one that suggested I get back to the old me and it was working for sure.
"That's what I'm here for." she said as I sat down and finished my water. "So...have you talked to her?" she asked me. My mom was hoping we'd rekindle the flame too for real.
"I did. But only to tell her congrats, she made Salutatorian. She was getting ready to go dinner with Toy and Tony."
"Third wheel is always awkward."
"She's not, her dude will be there too." Her eyes got big and then normal.
"Well...she is a catch, I can't blame her for that. You taking that okay?" she asked.
"I mean, I've spoken to the guy. He's not a bad dude and he's been good to her through everything. I gotta take that one, it's my fault. But...I think I can get her back." I said to her. She leaned over.
"See...my question is are you ready for her though? I love you, but I also understand that child's position. You cannot disturb what you are not ready for. She's been through so much. She's worked on herself. You have to work on you to win her back. Or else you'll repeat the same mistakes."
"I'm working on me, he's a placeholder. I know she still loves me Ma. This just is a rough patch."