If You Let Him Take Me From You || Woody McClain ||

Chapter 7

Woody 

I continued to baby sit the same drink I had ordered upon arriving. I was too emotional to drink. The fear that I'd irrationally react to the things I just learned still lingered on as I sat at the bar with my guys. I couldn't understand how things had just went to shit in the last couple of hours.

"Woody you good bro?" JoJoe asked nudging my elbow with his. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Whatever it is you might as well tell me right now because we both know you gone tell me eventually." He joked. But he was right. JoJoe was like the little brother I never had. To be so young he definitely had his head on his shoulders. He was a great listener and gave good advice without passing much judgement. And he was loyal almost to a fault. 

"C'mon man." I laughed as did he. 

"You know you are." He tilted his head before taking a sip from his glass. "We supposed to be celebrating and you over here looking like somebody stole your bike." 'Bike ... not quite.' I thought to myself. 

"Yeah man you right. I'm killing the vibe." I admitted before placing my drink to my lips and taking a big gulp. "Bartender can you bring us a round of shots." I requested tilting my head in the direction of where the rest of the group had gathered. They were over in the corner playing darts and pool. And I thought it best I join them before another one of them asked me was I okay. 

"Now that's more like it." JoJoe said placing his arm around my shoulders as we made our way over.

I made small talk with the gang and was sure to dance as I always would whenever a bop came over the speakers. At least until I was sure that they were all convinced I was indeed enjoying myself. After a few rounds of drinks and hours later the group started to calm down. It was getting late and I could tell that most of them were ready to call it a night. Except for Splack. 

He took a seat at a nearby table and I took the opportunity to join him. I couldn't resist the urge to pick his brain. A part of me was still curious as to why he had decided to propose to Zora tonight of all nights. "So you finally decided to step up." I joked slapping him on the shoulder as I took a seat. 

"Yeah man. Like I said earlier it was long overdue." He nodded his head at his own words. 

"I'm proud of you boy. You have my blessing." I assured him. "But why you ain't never mention you were considering proposing? I thought I was your man one hundred grand." I goofed.  

"You know you my goon. To be honest it was a last minute decision. Zora and I have been in such a good space as of late. And I wanted to do this before things changed." He looked away after saying that last part. 

"Wh-Why would things change?" I asked unable to hide my curiosity any longer. 

"Woody I ..." He started only to be cut off by Algee. 

"Sabrina been blowing my phone up for the last hour." He playfully rolled his eyes. "You ready to head out?" He asked Jean. 

"I can take him home." I interjected just as Jean was about to speak. Causing them both to raise a brow. 

"I'm not going to argue with you about it." Algee said playfully throwing his hands in the air and taking a step back. 

"I'm headed that way anyway." Which was true. But the main reason for me volunteering was because I needed to know what was on his mind. 

"Alright well, I'll hit you two up tomorrow." Al said before dapping us both up and heading towards the exit. We said our goodbyes to the rest of the gang as they headed out. And shortly after found ourselves alone for the first time all night.