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september 20
Wednesday
Dad's house
"Jade, you need to calm down," my father chuckled, shaking his head like this was all some big joke to him.
"Calm down about what?" I asked, my tone flat. I didn't see the point in calming down when this was just another day for me.
"Because every time I send you to handle business, you go overboard," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Like, why did nigga get shot ten times in the face?"
I just shrugged, feeling numb. Honestly, emotions had left me a long time ago. Since my friends kept telling me to stay busy, I asked my dad to involve me more in his business. It kept my mind off things, and I didn't have to think about everything else going on in my life.
"So, when are we going to tell Mom?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Tell her what?" He looked at me, knowing damn well what I meant.
"About all this. About what I've been doing," I said, looking him dead in the eye.
"She's going to lose it, Jade. And I'm not ready for that," he admitted, rubbing his temples like he was already exhausted just thinking about it.
"Okay, but—" I started, but my phone started buzzing like crazy. I looked down and saw it was Soraya. I picked up quickly.
"Hello?"
"I'M IN LABOR AND I'M HOME ALONE! YOUR BROTHER WON'T PICK UP HIS PHONE, AND HE LEFT BECAUSE I ASKED HIM TO GET ME FOOD! HELP MEEE!"
Her voice was frantic, and I could hear her heavy breathing. Panic hit me like a wave.
"Okay, hold on! I'm coming!" I said, grabbing my keys off the counter and rushing out the door. My mom and dad were on my heels.
"What's going on?" Dad asked, his usual calm demeanor shaken as he caught up to me.
"Soraya's in labor!" I shouted, already in motion. Mom heard me and immediately shifted into mom mode, instructing Dad on what we needed to do as we all piled into the car and sped to Soraya's place.
While on the way, I dialed Ja'zai's number, my thumb practically pounding the screen. After ten rings, he finally picked up.
"Yeah?" His voice sounded casual, like he wasn't in the middle of a crisis.
"Where the fuck are you?" I demanded, anger flaring in my chest.
"I'm on my way home, why?" he said, still clueless.
"Your girl is in labor, and you weren't picking up your damn phone!" I yelled, frustration boiling over as we pulled up to their house.
"WAIT, WHAT? IS SHE OKAY? WHAT HOSPITAL Y'ALL GOIN' TO? WAIT—"
