Betrayal

Chapter Twelve

•Shawn•

The night approached and the moon took its rightful place in the sky. Paula had stayed a little while longer but left to go home before it got dark.
I stayed behind to spend a little extra time with pops. I stood at the window looking out at the night sky.. just thinking.. why him.. why did it have to be like this? I walked back to my dad's bedside. He looked so peaceful as he slept.

"God, I know I havent been the one to go to church and praise you like my mother does but.. I need you too help my dad get better.." I prayed aloud to myself.

"I didnt know you knew how to pray?"

I looked up at the door to see Greg standing in front of it.

"You learn something new everyday bruh." I responded as I sat down in one of the chairs.

He followed suit.

"Why you stay up in here so late man?"

"I dont know.. He was always by our side so it would be wrong to leave his."

He nodded.

"You need to get out and get some fresh air man."

"I dont need no fresh air."

"Yes you do. All you been doing is inhaling these hospital fumes, sitting in that damn chair and leaving Paula at home by herself."

"See thats where youre wrong, Paula and I have an understanding. You need to get you a woman, that way you can stay out me and mine business."

He chuckled as he threw his hands up.

"Man I'm just fuckin with ya. You aint got to be taking low blows, ya feel me."

"Its the truth. Aye whatever happened to that chick you were dating? Whats her name..uhh.. Kim.. thats her name."

"Man.." Greg started as he slumped down in his chair, "That broad was crazy."

I laughed softly.

"You always chasing the crazy ones."

"Naw man.. she was on a whole new level of crazy. I mean the girl use to blow up my phone leaving all kind of messages. She was even stalking my crib a few days back."

"Damn."

"I had to let her go man. She fine as hell and the head wasnt too bad either but .. it aint worth all the crazy shit she was doin."

"You aught to stop fucking around with them type of women man. You might run up on the wrong one and the only way she gone let you leave is in a body bag. These women are crazy now-a-days."

"Man aint no good women round here."

"See thats where youre wrong. You looking in the wrong place for one. The good women aint walking round here putting their ass all out on display.. you know the ones who be setting up them thirst traps that you fall for."

"So you saying all the women who up on them poles shaking ass to feed their children or to pay college tuition aint good women?"

"Aint saying that. You gotta do what you gotta do but what man wants a woman that done showed everything she got to half the city? Cause I don't."

"Strippers get plenty of play man, what you talm bout?"

"Yeah the wrong kind of play. You and I both know that it aint nun but a quick hit. You gone put a ring on a chick that done busted it open and let niggas cop a quick feel for a few dollars?"

"Hell naw.. but you gotta admit they get hella paper."

"True but there are other ways to get money Gee." I said stating my case.

"I know." Greg said as he checked the time on his phone. "How long you plan on staying here?"

"I was gone leave in a few."

"Come and get some drinks with me."

"Drinks?"

"Yea drinks man. It aint like I'm asking you to snort some coke or some shit."

"Very funny."

"You gone come?"

"Man.. Ion know.."

"C'mon Shawn, you can use a few drinks."

I thought about it for awhile.

"Aight man."

"Good. You can follow me to my crib and we can take my car." Greg said as we got up and walked out the door.

We pulled up in Greg's carport and got out.

"Why you getting out?" I asked Greg as he locked the car door.

"I aint wearing this. I gotta change."

"Man you sound like a female."

"Call it what you want. You gone change or are you goin in that damn suit."

I looked down at my attire and realized I still had on my work clothes.

"I think I got a spare outfit in the car let me see." I said as I searched through the car. One thing about having a wife who loves fashion is that she always made me carry back up clothes. "Thank you P." I said as I pulled out a pair of jeans, a Nike shirt and a pair or lebrons.

"C'mon bruh." Greg motioned as he walked up to the front door and unlocked it.

After Greg and I got dressed we hopped in his ride and headed to our destination.

"Where the place at?"

"Its new. You ever heard of this joint called Xstasy?"

"Yea. Paula mentioned it a few weeks back."

"Well thats where we going."

"Man I thought you were taking me to a bar or sum."

"I am. They got a bar in the inside."

"Youve been there before?"

"Twice. The place be packed."

"I dont know about this man. I told Paula this wasnt for me."

"Man is Paula here?"

"It dont matter, I'ma act like she is. My wife would be pissed if she knew I was in a club without her."

"She aint got to know. This will be our little secret. Brother to brother.. Hermano to Hermano." Greg said trying to make the situation better.

"That still dont help Gee."

"Look, you said I need to find a good woman well thats what I'm finna do."

"In a club?"

"I got a 50/50 chance."

"Man this is some bullshit Greg."

"C'mon Shawn we here now." Greg said as he pulled up in a parking lot and cut the car off. "Lets just go in here, pass a few blunts and have some drinks. If you still not feeling it after that, We'll leave."

I looked at the club that was filling up with half naked women and wannabe thugs.

"Aight Gee but when I say we out, lets be out."

"Aight man, I gotcha."