Page 26 of June: When Gangstas Collide

Chevy asked me to meet him at what used to be known as Zaria’s place. He had to meet with some people to discuss rebuilding it. I knew he’d been waiting to talk to me about me picking up Zaria from the hospital. I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share because Zaria’s prayer was before God, although I was there. Whatever it was that they were going through was something they needed to figure out. I had my own problems.

When I pulled up, Zu, Diamond, and Foe were outside with him. I hopped off my bike and walked over toward them, “Waddup nigga, thought you were going to the church today,” Foe said.

“Nah, I asked him to come,”

Chevy chimed in.

“What’s good, Black Man?”

I said to Chevy.

He ran his hand down his face as he glared at me seriously.

“Z, what’s wrong with her?”

I knew it. I knew he would ask me. I shrugged.

“I don’t know, you ask her?”

Chevy dropped his head.

“Preach, nigga I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with Z so I can fix it.”

I glanced over his shoulder at Zu, who shook his head no, and Diamond, who was being extra dramatic, waving his hand no. After the birth of Love and seeing how Zaria was, we had decided not to get involved with whatever was going on in the Calloway home. Chevy has been able to manage everyone else’s business but his own. This was one that he needed to figure out. He had always preached to us about getting our house in order and figuring shit out, now it was time that he took his own advice.

“I don’t know Chevy, but if it’s something, I’m sure you can figure it out. Also, I’ve been meaning to tell you that your granny came to the church. I think she’s trying to pull it from under me, her and another pastor.”

Chevy pinched the bridge of his nose. I’m sure if he knew things were going to be like this, he would have never come to this place. However, he knew how to get out of things like this. He knew how to turn shit around and make it better, but the thing about him was that if it cost him his pride, then it would also hinder him.

Chevy sucked his teeth as the anger in him rose. I didn’t know if his juggling the Zoo, his businesses, being a husband, and soon-to-be father was affecting his judgment, but something was off. The nigga we knew as Chevy wasn’t being Chevy. I felt like he was emerging into something better, but it was going to take the fall of a king for him to rise stronger.

Zu came over and placed his hand on Chev’s shoulder.

“You got this, my nigga you always have. It’s Z, she loves you, and I’m sure whatever it is, y’all can work it out.”

Diamond stepped up and shook his head, “Look, I need you to work out whatever kinks you need to because your Goddaughter needs you. This beef shit we need to figure out because I’ll be damned if I don’t see my baby. My family comes first. I’m a nigga who doesn’t remember his and I refuse for my daughter to go through the same thing. Chevy, with love, my nigga, your decisions are affecting all of us,”

Diamond said seriously.

“Word!”

Foe shouted.

Chevy looked at all of us, and I could tell that he knew he was in way deeper than he’d ever imagined.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll get things straight. Y’all take care of home. Love on your girls. I’ll be fine.”

Zu came around in front of us.

“I’m going to marry Sasha.”

We all looked at him, surprised as hell.

“The lies you tell,”

Diamond joked.

“Wait, your big gorilla ass is serious?”

“Just as serious as your hyena acting ass.”

Foe started laughing, “That was a good one, Zu, and the nigga does look like one,”

he said to Diamond.

Chevy nodded slowly.

“I see you, Zu. Whatever you need, we’re here. I also want to talk to you about Dio.”

Zu waved him off.

“Dio and Samara are grown You—”

“Nah, I want your blessing for something. We all know Dio is coming into himself. He’s growing into something special, something the Zoo needs,”

he paused as he turned to fully face Zu.

“I want Dionysus to—”

A random guy with a suit walked up, cutting Chevy off, “Excuse me, I’m looking for a Mr. Calloway?”

Wrinkles formed in Chevy’s forehead.

“I’m Mr. Calloway.”

The guy pulled out some papers and handed them to him. Chevy glanced over the paperwork and nodded.

“Who sent you here? Huh?”

he asked as his eyes rose from the paperwork.

The man didn’t say anything as he quickly rushed to his car and sped off. We all looked at him and then back at Chevy. Foe tapped his shoulder.

“What is it, Chev?”

Something flicked in him.

“Shits cool.”

I watched Chevy closely; something was happening, and whatever it was had him hot. I could feel in my spirit that God was brewing up another storm.