Deceit

15 - Renewed

Harlem:

Monday meant it was time to get back on the grind and believe me, I was ready for it. Our vacation was the longest I'd gone without tattooing and giving Yamaris a piece was something that took the edge off a little. She sent me a picture everyday to make sure she was keeping it clean and doing the right things. The aftercare was simple-no chlorine, no sunlight, no scratching. Hydration was another element but in the two weeks I got to know Yamaris, I noticed skin care was important to her.

Being in my own house was amazing and what I missed the second most. My bed seemed to miss me too, as the first two nights of sleep were the best I'd had even before the vacation. While I lived in a town about 15-minutes outside of Seattle called Burien, it was close enough to consider Seattle home. My father bought this quaint double-master end unit a year before I moved with him. The initial plan was to have my mother move in after he'd fixed things up with the spare bedroom available to myself or Tyra if we came into town.

My mother moved in a few months after I did just to make sure Tyra was stable enough to be on her own. A few months after that, my father passed suddenly of a massive heart attack. It was devastating and completely unexpected. My father wasn't an unhealthy or overweight man nor did he drink or smoke often. I knew those kind of things could happen out of nowhere but I never expected it to happen to anyone I knew.

Thankfully he had a will and left the place to me as long as I could afford the payments each month. I hustled at the shop and on the side to make things work in the beginning and it was even harder after my mother moved back to Virginia. Now, I was in a comfortable place and had to choose between selling my last memories with my father for a fresh start, or missing out on an opportunity so I could continue playing it safe.

After a one on one with Ghost, I let him know that I would need some time to make a decision of my own. I missed my mom and sister so much already and wanted to get to know my niece and nephew as well. But my love and desire to be around them meant sacrificing my own dreams. Thankfully my mom understood where I was coming from and Ghost did as well. My answer would be given as soon as I knew what was right for my heart. Only time could tell when that was going to be.

I stepped out of my large walk-in shower and dried my hair before wrapping the towel around my waist. As I watched my reflection stare back at me, I noticed how stressed my face had become recently. My eyes were dark, my cheeks were no longer round, and my forehead was getting stress wrinkles. 25 wasn't doing me any favors but neither was I. Staying up late on the game, smoking, and chasing behind Krysta's jealous ass was a routine I needed a break from.

I trimmed my mustache and the overgrown scruff creeping around my chin before washing my face and hitting my teeth once again. A nigga was looking good, I couldn't lie. But I'd look better once I figured out this rough patch of life.

Just as I walked into my room, my phone sounded off. A photo of me kissing Krysta's cheek popped up and I debated answering. I stopped responding to her messages the same night I snapped and broke my phone. Looking at the damaged screen reminded me that I'd have to get it fixed on my next day off.

I sighed as I answered the phone, knowing that she would only keep calling. "Hello?"