Page 29

CHAPTER 29

MCCOY

“Okay, so I don’t want you to panic,” Earth said, coming into my office. I looked up from the computer and took off my glasses.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing bad,” he answered as he rounded my desk. I sat back in my seat and stared up at him.

“Then why would I panic?” I swayed from side to side and waited for him to answer.

“I just want you to know I love you,” he said, and I nodded. “Like, legit love you. Will give you any and everything in the world without a second thought.”

“Earth,” I sighed. I’d been trying to get up the nerve to tell him how I felt for the last two weeks, but every time I opened my mouth, the words died on my lips. It wasn’t as if I didn’t love him because I did, I was just scared that once I said those words, things between us would change. It was the same way with Jamel. The second I said those three words, it was like a switch was flipped and he reared his ugly head. Don’t get me wrong, I knew Earth and Jamel were two different types of men, but that didn’t take away the fear I had.

“Ay, it’s cool,” he said, then kissed me. “I’m not rushing you to say nothing you’re not ready for. I just want you to know, is all, and to understand in this next phase of your life, I’m proud to be your nigga and will help you through it.” He put his hand out for me to take. “Now, come on. I want to show you something.”

“Now I am nervous,” I said, laughing.

“It’s gonna be okay,” he said, then helped me from my seat. We went into the living room where a brown-skinned woman sat on the couch. I looked at Earth, then back at her, slightly confused. “Coy, I want you to meet someone.” The woman stood up. Her eyes bounced from Earth to me with the same look of uncertainty I know mine held. “This is your sister, Bradley Toliver.”

“What?” I looked at her, this time taking in her full appearance. She was average height and curvy but it was her face that stopped me. Full lips, a small nose, slanted, dark eyes, full cheeks, and deep dimples that were all identical to mine. Her hair was cut into a cute pixie cut and she wore diamond studs in her ears. She was dressed in a pair of baggy blue jeans, an oversized khaki t-shirt, and matching tennis shoes. She had a cute tomboy style I loved. “Sister? Earth, what are you talking about?”

“I had Nine do some digging into your background.” He ran his hand over his hair as if he was nervous. “Nothing too major, I just wanted to see if maybe you had some family out there. If you didn’t, it was cool ’cause you are part of mine you know? But if you did and they wanted to get to know you, then I was down for that too. I know I didn’t ask you but that was because I didn’t want to get your hopes up about something that might not turn out like you want. But Nine found Bradley a few weeks ago and we flew out to talk to her.”

“You found my sister?” I asked him and he nodded. “A sister I didn’t even know I had?” Again, Earth nodded. “Why the hell would I be mad at that?”

“Because you never said you wanted to know.” He shrugged and I shook my head. “I mean, shit, you ain’t even said nothing to her now and she standing right there with the same fuckin’ face as you.”

“That’s because I don’t know what to say!” I fussed and shook my head. “And I’m nervous.”

“Man, Coy, turn around and talk to Ley. She cool as fuck.” Earth laughed. He kissed my forehead, then turned me by my shoulders to face my sister. “Ley, this is your baby sister, McCoy Toliver.”

“You’re older than me?” I asked, surprised. Bradley didn’t look a damn day over twenty-five. “I’m sorry for staring, but I’m trying to figure out why I don’t remember you.”

“Yeah, you were a baby when our parents died in a car accident,” she answered. “I was five; you weren’t even one yet when it happened. We were separated. The group home they sent you to was full by the time I got out of the hospital. When I got old enough and aged out of the system, I tried finding you. I reached out a little over two years ago but a man who said he was your husband answered the phone. He said you didn’t want to meet me and was fine without me. It broke my heart, but I accepted it.”

“Fuckin’ Jamel,” I mumbled and shook my head. He knew how much I wanted a family and took that away from me. I hated him more now than I did a few months ago. I was glad Earth killed him. “What he said isn’t true.”

“I know that now.” She laughed. “Earth came to see me a few weeks ago like he said and explained everything. He said you and Jamel were no longer together and he was looking for me for you. He said he wanted you to have someone to have your back besides Lynx and his family.” She paused and a bright smile spread across her face. “And just so you know, his family is amazing and Lynx will probably end up being both of our best friends.”

“You met them?”

“Earlier today,” she said. “Earth thought it would be a good idea to meet them first so we would have time to get to know each other without them being curious and interfering with our bonding.”

“Did he?” I glanced at Earth, who was watching us closely. He was on go mode, waiting for me to show any signs that this was too much. I knew without a doubt if I said this was too much or I didn’t want it, Earth would escort Bradley out of this house and out of my life without a second thought. “What else did he say?”

“That you’re the love of his life and he’d do whatever he needed to protect you,” she answered. They shared a look for a brief second before she turned back to face me. “But he’s a good guy and I respect the hell out of him for loving you the way he does.”

“Ay, I’ma head out,” Earth said, and I nodded. “I gotta handle something with Citrine but I’ll be back.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way back to see what y’all want to eat.”

“Okay.” I nodded. He left the living room, and I turned back to Bradley. “Have a seat.” The sound of the garage opening caught my attention. “I’ll be right back.” Bradley nodded and I raced from the living room to the garage just as Earth was about to start his car. “Earth?”

“Yeah, baby?” He started his truck, then rolled down the window. “What you need?”

“I love you!” I spoke. Fear didn’t mean anything to me now because I knew this man loved me with everything in him. His actions, words, and intentions were always clear, and if I ever doubted anything, he’d proved it over and over.

Earth got out of the car, leaving the door open and walked over to me. His low eyes stayed on me until he was close enough to lift my chin with his finger. “Say that shit again.”

“I love you.” I laughed.

“Say it again.”

“I, McCoy Elise Toliver, love you, Earth Marcel Carlson,” I declared before his mouth crashed into mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him with the same passion he kissed me with.

“I swear on everything I have been waiting on you to say that shit,” he said after breaking our kiss.

“I know, and I’m sorry it took me so long to say it,” I said.

“You said it when you were ready. I ain’t mad at that,” he said, shaking his head. “Now take your ass in there and kick it with your sister.”

“Be safe out there,” I said as I unwrapped my arms from around his neck and stepped back.

“What’s the worst that can happen, Coy?” he asked with a laugh. “My enemy is dead, remember?”

I made sure I was close enough to the door so that he couldn’t catch me and smirked. “You know somebody could catch you slippin’ and snatch you up.” I laughed and took off running, making sure I slammed the door shut behind me.

I went back to the living room where Bradley was waiting and dropped down on the couch. Bradley looked up from her phone and smiled at me. She was beautiful and I wasn’t just saying that because she was my sister.

“I want to ask you something, but I don’t want it to be awkward when I do,” Bradley said, then bit into her bottom lip.

“Ask away,” I replied.

“Can I have a hug?” she asked, and for a second, I was taken aback. I was prepared for her to ask me about Earth or my life but not that. “If it’s too soon, I completely understand. I just?—”

I didn’t let her finish her sentence before I jumped up from my spot and pulled her into a hug. Tears I didn’t even know I was holding back started to fall from my eyes as soon as her arms wrapped around me. “I didn’t even know I missed you until I knew you existed,” I cried.