Mahogany Blues

6

Levi brought back the drinks from the bar to the table where his friends chatted it up. They left their resort for a minute, enjoying the local scenery and the cultural excursions that they had to get up to.

" So what's up with you and ole girl at the beach? I know she must be sumn different because your conversations with women never last that long" Marcus alluded, sipping on his cocktail.

" Imma get what I need real soon " Levi smirked, knowing that she give in soon enough.

" But you don't even know her name?" Omar spilt. Levi was well aware that she managed to keep much of the control between them by ensuring she evaded telling him what her name is.

To say he was irked was an understatement, he didn't like any situation where he couldn't manage. It made him feel so useless and it was becoming clear to him that whether or not she was doing this intentionally, he needed the opportunity to reassert control fast.

" Mystery ain't always a bad thing. Besides, it's not like anything will happen past our time here in Antigua" Levi shrugged but his boys looked at him, unconvinced by what he said.

They knew him well enough to acknowledge that the lacking of knowing something as simple as her name was driving him insane.

"Whatever you say, just keep the same energy when it's time to go," Marcus said, Omar nodded in agreement.

" You niggas need to get off my dick" Levi dismissed them.

The sound of chatter mellowed as the boys caught up with each other. It had been a while since they were all quite busy, especially Levi.

"Anyway, what's good with y'all? since you all up in my business " Levi retorted.

" Tell me why my pops is thinking of leaving the restaurant to me now, I'm just a baby boy! All I do is chef it up and go home, the fuck I look like owning the shit too" Marcus shook his head as the boys laughed.

" I don't think most people would be angry that they getting a whole restaurant but I guess you built different" Omar uttered.

" Mann, whatever. The business side is a lot and I ain't interested in dealing with all that"

"Ok, we hear you. O, how's business?" Levi questioned, sipping his drink.

"Shiid, business is good. I finally got my hands on the second location I been needing, shit feels a little surreal. Feels good to be in this position, my mama won't stop telling people about "my son, the business owner" He beamed, mocking his mom's Nigerian accent in a joking manner.

Levi couldn't help but smile at what he said. There was no way that his mother would ever proudly show him off if it didn't benefit her. But he was used to that, he came to accept a long time ago that was just the way that she and his father operated.

But it didn't mean that now and then, he didn't hope that he could be praised like that and he wasn't jealous of Omar, if anything he wanted to have the kind of relationship that Omar had with his parents.

Nevertheless, he knew better than to believe that his parents would ever change and pushed those thoughts to the side.

As the sun disappeared, they walked back to the resort, chatting and laughing away.

When they walked inside, Levi saw her again and his heart jumped a little. He was beginning to dislike the effect she was having on him.

As she almost turned a corner, he lightly grabbed her wrist which made her spin so quick that she hit him in the face.