ATL Hoe

Chapter 26: Home Sweet Home

"We wish Derek could've come with you," my mom smiled as I unpacked my things. I had heard that line from everyone in my family since I arrived at the airport. Derek was still in Harlem with his family. After everything that happened with TJ I got a flight to Cali the next day. I brought the clothes I had packed for Harlem with me and Kingston was sending the rest of my stuff from Atlanta. "Do you need help with anything?" my mom asked. She had been hovering over me since I got there. She didn't know what happened in New York. Only that I got homesick and decided to come home earlier than expected.

    "I'm fine mom," I laughed.

    "Ok, I'll leave you alone. I've just missed you so much," she said, hugging me. I hugged her back taking in the scent that I had missed. She left me to unpack the few things I did have. My phone started ringing and I declined it already knowing it was Derek. He had been calling since I left last night but I wasn't in the mood to talk to him. I knew he was trying to keep me safe by leaving me at the house but he didn't. He put me in even more danger by doing so and I just needed some time away from him and all that came with the life he lived.

    "Mini me," my brother said, grinning as he entered my room. I jumped in his arms hugging him tightly. He couldn't come to the airport because he had training so this was the first time I'd seen him in months.

    "I've missed you so much," I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

    "I've missed you, too. What's going on?" he asked, setting me back on my feet.

    "What do you mean?" I lied like I was fine.

    "You don't get homesick. You've wanted to leave since you were 15. When you came home for Christmas you were so restless to get back to ATL. What's really going on?" Adonis was like my other half. He knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.

    "Nothing, I've just really missed you guys. I didn't come home for spring break, so..." I trailed off. Donnie was the last person I could talk to about what happened. If Derek hadn't already killed Larry, Donnie would fly out and do it himself. Then try to kill Derek for putting me in that position.

    "Bullshit. I'll let you lie to yourself and mom and dad though. You'll fess up soon enough," he said, sitting on my bed. I rolled my eyes and sat down next to him. We talked for hours about everything we'd missed in each others lives. Apparently he had a girlfriend that I was going to be meeting at his graduation in a few days and I was sure Jaiya was going to be devastated to hear that. She'd had a crush on Adonis since we met in middle school.

    "So, what about football. You and dad always keep the business stuff to yourself but I wanna know everything!" I said, bouncing on the bed some. Adonis had been a star athlete his whole life. In basketball and football but in high school he really took off in football. He was the best at UCLA right now and since he was graduating his eligibility for the draft opened up. Out of everyone that was excited to see where'd he'd go next I was his number one fan.

    "Well you know I'm getting ready for the combine soon. And I've talked to with a few teams," he said referring to NFL teams.

    "Like who!?" I asked excitedly.

    "Dolphins, Titans, Falcons, and the Niners," he spit off.

    "Did I hear Falcons?" I asked, grinning. My life would be complete if Donnie moved to Atlanta to play football. Well, that and if Derek could live a normal life but I knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon so I'd take what I could get.

    "It was just a conversation," he chuckled. "Combine will really secure my spot in the draft. That's why I'm not taking any days off,"

    "Well, it's summer time so you can at least give me a weekend. Let's go somewhere fun!" I said. Donnie always took me somewhere fun in the summer. Just us, no parents. He'd let me drink, sneak me into parties and clubs. It was always the best weekend of my life.