"You still haven't told me what was in that package."
Wendy is typing on her laptop. She's been asking about the package for the past week but I said nothing about it. I don't know what to do.
"How about we go to the restaurant tonight ?"
"Awww you saw that beautiful black dress I bought huh ? It's a good idea."
"We'll leave at 6."
"Mkay." She smiles. "But I gotta make some calls for work now."
"Oh so you want me to get out ?" I fake being sad.
"Please my love." She opens her arms to hug me.
I peck her lips before going out of the room. I take my phone and dial Chris' number. It rings a few times.
"Sup D ?"
"I'm aight bro. Did Denzel tell you he invited me to his party ?"
"He didn't but I figured he would. Everybody got your lady's name in their mouth round here. The fam wanna meet her."
"See that's what I find really suspicious. Why they wanna see her ? They found her IG account, they been stalking her for days now. Ain't that shit enough ?"
"I won't lie bro... You got locked up as Prince D, a tough man in the streets. I never seen a bitch make you stay at home. Since you got out, you been rejecting everybody calls and shit. You left the state and shit. You don't call yo family no more. All that for a chick you met online. It makes no sense."
"What makes no sense ?" I frown.
"You ain't the Randy we been dealing with our whole life. You used to be a-" He stops himself. "I mean, you know... You got a certain past. Now you acting all soft and shit, talking bout making legit money."
"And how the fuck is that y'all business ? I'm a fucking adult bro, who fucking cares bout who I fuck ?"
"Everybody." He says like it was obvious. "Everybody cares, especially being that your ex bitch been fucking your homie while you were in the joint. We expected some kinda revenge."
I smack my lip, "Look bro Ion know what's going on with you weird ass niggas but I ain't bringing my girl near y'all."
I hang up the phone. I can't believe six years passed and they all have the same mentality. I'm 26, slowly approaching 30 fucking years old. I can't stay in the hood, doing all that gangsta shit and risk my freedom again. It's crazy that some people never wanna change.
I shake my head, thinking. I gotta make up an excuse because I know Wendy won't just listen to whatever I say. She can be really stubborn at times... I scratch my head when my phone rings again.
"What the fuck you want now bro ?"
"Wassup man it's TC."
"Oh man sorry bro these niggas been pissing me off. Wassup ?"
"It's aight. I told you my uncle was gonna work on the freestyle we did last time right ? He just sent me the final result. Bro we gonna go viral !"
"Straight up ?" I smile. "Send it to me I'ma listen to this shit."
"Gotchu. You gotta come to the studio. I got some new beats."
"Aight."
I hang up. That's good news but I can't get that conversation I had with Chris out of my mind. I'm still mad and I don't know how to cool off. I wanna smoke. I used to smoke weed several times a day. I obviously had to stop during my lil trip but now I feel the need to smoke.
I pace in the living room. It's only when the door opens that I stop myself. Wendy looks at me in a strange way.
"What are you doing ?"
"Thinking."
"About what ?"
"Ion know. Life."
Wendy gives me a little smile. She takes my hands and invite me to sit on the couch. I expect her to say something but she remains silent. She knows I hated that over the phone. It made me feel uncomfortable. But now it's a different situation. I can touch her.
"I..." She finally decides to speak up. "I'm just realizing now that we haven't spent the time to reflect on everything that happened the past few days. So I think it could be nice to do it now. You okay with that ?"
"Yeah of course."
"Mkay... So as for me, it's been a rollercoaster when I moved into this place because I was alone. It took me a lot of time to adjust myself to this country and I'm still struggling, but it's way easier now that you're here. I feel like I don't need to take care of things all by myself anymore.... Can you imagine that I spent days without eating a proper meal when I was alone here ?" She chuckles and smiles at me.
"And you still forget to eat sometimes."
"I know but I swear I'm doing my best. That's why you here really is a blessing for me. I don't have to think too much. And it's also kind of weird because sometimes it feels like we just met, you know ? That is true in a sense because we have never been around each other before. But anyways, that is to say you make my life less stressful and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for you."
She's on the verge of tears. My strong woman is also a very sensitive human being who goes through all types of emotions at once. I love that. I love to be able to see every version of her personnality.
I hug Wendy for a few minutes. I slide my hand on her ass to squeeze it gently.
"So hmm," I clear my throat, "If I'm being honest, being free feels overwhelming at times. I feel like there's so much things I gotta do, so many places I gotta go to, so many people I gotta call and see. I feel a lot of pressure from my family, my friends. I feel like people are watching my moves, you feel me, and that they waiting for me to make the wrong move. I just wish people could leave me the fuck alone. I have you, and I don't want to waste energy on-"
My girl sits up straight to face me.
"What are you talking about ?"
"Just in general you know. Chris said everybody wanna meet you and-"
"Meet me ?" Wendy repeats, frowning. "Your friends want to meet me ?"
"That's the issue ma. They ain't my friends."
"Randy... What was in that envelope ?"
"Nothing that you need to worry about."
"Answer the question."
"It was nothing man don't think too much ab-"
"Mister Randal Corey if you don't answer right the fuck now." She rolls her eyes.
I sigh, "Denzel is throwing a birthday's party next week."
"That's interesting. We have to go."
"Hell nah bae trust me you don't wanna be around these people."
"I'm not going to hide, Randy. I want to meet him too."
"Why ?"
"I need to know what kind of problem he's going to be." She kisses me. "Now, if you don't let me get ready, we will be late tonight."
She walks out of the room, swaying her hips like she loves to do.
