Thugs With Tendencies MxM (Staten Krown)

10

On my block you make it there on time. Where? Wherever the fuck you are supposed to be. It becomes a matter of life or death. You are where you are supposed to be and you're there when you're supposed to be there. Colored people time is a myth on my block. The dope boys always arrived on time. The shooters always arrived on time. Because being late meant that you were either missing out on money...

Or you were already dead.

"You're just on time..."

I turn at that moment. I walk into the house to the smell of food. I'm not expecting it. As I walk into the dining room I see plates set out on the dining room table. I'm shocked actually. I haven't cooked in this house since I inherited it after my parents died. When I walk in though I see none other than Sterling welcoming me in.

"What's going on here?"

"Decided I would cook for you and your sister. She's on her way here. I know you guys have been through a lot. I just want to be there for you," Sterling explains.

I look down at my phone. I keep getting back to back calls from Yusef. He wants me to run some stupid errands with him. He had "pickups" he had to do. I had no doubt that it was drug money. Usually I would run at the chance to make a couple extra dollars but a memory of Yusef is coming into my mind. Lopez told me not to trust Yusef.

Yusef swore to me that Boozie and Red were the ones who did the shooting. He swears to me that Ty wasn't involved. He tells me that somehow Red convinced Boozie to switch sides. It made sense. Still. Why the hell did Meech still think Ty had something to do with it?

Would Yusef lie like that?

"I have a lot on my mind," I explain to Sterling, "Now is probably not a good time."

"Because you have a lot on your mind. It's the best time. Come on."

I pause.

Sterling is cute for no goddam reason. He's standing there with his apron on looking like Ken doll. He has oven mitts on. The whole 9. He's gives me that Hollywood smile of his. You would think we were in Pasadena instead of Southside Chicago. For some reason it makes me laugh. What makes me laugh even more is a distinct smell from the kitchen.

"I think you're burning something..." I tell him.

His eyes get wide as though he's remembering something, "OH SHIT!"

Sterling runs in the kitchen. I chase close behind him. He's struggling using his kitchen towel to buff out a fire. I push him out of the way grab the fire extinguisher and take out the fire that is flaring up in the kitchen. We cough a little bit until I manage to open the window to let some of the smoke out. At the end he's standing there with the most innocent look on his face.

"I tried my best," he tells me.

I can't stop laughing, "What the hell Sterling? What you watching Paula Dean on television or something? Trying to cook Soul food and you almost burnt down my house..."

"I saw it on Youtube."

Really? Youtube?

"Hand me the apron. I'm taking over," I respond.

He smiles a little bit and hands it over.

"I guess that means you're staying?" he asks.

I look down the phone at Yusef. I silence my phone. Fuck Yusef right now. I had a lot I needed to get off my chest with the guy and things weren't working.

It's an hour later before my sister shows up. The food is pretty much done and she walks in on Sterling and I sitting at the table sipping on some wine. I don't know why I'm smiling so hard with Sterling. I don't know why I've completely forgotten about all my troubles right now. Talking to Sterling makes me feel like I'm somewhere else besides Chicago. Pasadena. Yes. That's it. I'm joking around with Sterling in the dining room and there is no worries in the world.