𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃

4: 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻.

"So you don't know if the man is truly single then?"

"No, but I know enough, to know that you're in good hands. Besides I thought you didn't care about that."

"I'm off niggas, J. You know that."

"Yeah, that's what your mouth keeps saying. I hear you, mamas."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

𝗞𝗗

My elevator chimed bringing me out of my head. I've been in this same spot for what seems like an hour. With a blunt burning between my fingers — I decided to take my last pull. It was dying anyway and my head was floating.

Standing up from the L-shaped couch, I could confirm my high with a grin.

Taking the walk from my living room to the kitchen's island, I place the backwood on top of the ashtray. Just then, I heard KaMari before seeing him. In his hand were his phone and keys, his attention on the screen as he stepped closer to the opposite side of the counter.

"Whatever you smoking, smell good as hell." He mumbled, tossing the keys down on the surface.

"Got it from my white boy. Smooth as fuck."

"I needa hit his line. Young niggas in the city is bullshittin'," I didn't respond verbally, but I understood what he meant.

At one point in time, KaMari ran his own trade. While it seems like forever ago, it's only been a few years since he walked away. Still, there are moments when he is zoned out in memory land. Or even pulled back into the lifestyle by old foes.

One thing for certain, once you are in — it's hell to get away.

"Let's go get some food, man. I'm hungry as shit...when was the last time you talk to Jessy?" He suggested before asking the very random question.

"Nigga, I'm not ya' bitch. Go get food by yo' damn self. Or call Trish ass. I'm not even damn hungry. The fuck."

Niggas come over just demanding shit...

"I'm just being nice to ya' big lanky ass," Laughing, the thought of food crossed my mind, but truly...I wasn't hungry. My appetite was almost nonexistent and as I chugged half of a bottle of water — I realized that may be why. I hadn't eaten much today outside of some eggs and toast this morning. That was the best of a full breakfast I could make. Every morning I could eat it without getting tired.

"Have you talked to Jessy?" Mari asked again and I shook my head with a light shrug.

"Yesterday," I told him, tossing the empty bottle in the trash can before going back to my original spot in the living room.

An outfit.

"She came to the car show for a lil' while but that was the last time I saw her. She spent a lil' minute with some nigga named Dex. I asked Penny about 'em, but she just said J was straight. I told her bye and they left together. That's 'bout it."

"Who the fuck is Dex?"

"What the fuck do you want wimme?" I asked with a low laugh. Clearly, he came over with an agenda.

"Why you got clothes laid out? Where you going?" Mari looks at me with a rose eyebrow, his attention now on me as he took in his surroundings. "You got a bitch over here?"

"What the fuc-no, damn."

"So what's up?"

"I got some to do tomorrow. I am grown, shit."

"Since when you started picking out clothes before you go somewhere? And what you doin' on a Monday? Got a car meeting or some?" Mari asked, waving towards the three pairs of pants on my coffee table. All different styles in the same color — black. Every blue moon I'll put on some grey bottoms or even jeans. But usually, I'm an all-black kinda guy. "All these shits the same anyways. Just throw on a pair."

"No they not," I expressed, standing up from the couch."These," I said in the direction of my Dickie's. "Are...business, yet, street. Street business shit, but I ain't got that going on," I told him truthfully and Mari nodded with a smirk. "So I got the regular Amiri jeans out. Yeah, they are black, but it's designer. And then some cargo pants. All different my nigga."

"No, the fuck it's not. But in your world...yeah, I get it."

"Fuck you."

KaMari laughed before finally taking a seat while I gathered the clothing from the couch. I'm not sure how I went off on a tangent. One minute I was thinking about Penny and the next I was going inside my closet for outfits. Not feeling the closet, I brought everything inside the living room with me instead. And here is where KaMari found me in my overthinking stage with a blunt burning.

"Nah for real...I need to talk to Jessy. Like today."

"Call your sister and talk to her man. It ain't hard to do it."

Jessy and KaMari were siblings, only the two of them. Yet, they treated each other like strangers on the street. Sometimes. Their home life wasn't the most nurturing and loving environment. Causing issues between the two of them as they matured into young adults. Many days I would walk into my mother's home with Kamari and Kai — to see Jessy already there after her elementary school had let out.

That would be our sign then. Our mother was taking on all four of us. So her sister could have free will. Since then Aunt Deborah has evolved. Her children on the other hand? Still struggling with one another.

"I rather the fuck not."

"You just said you need to talk to her."

"Okay and? That don't mean imma just volunteer and call her." Frowning slightly, I let the moment go with a silent head nod.

I had no time for Jessy or KaMari — they will figure it out one day. I had more important shit to handle anyways. Like prepping for tomorrow with Penelope.