Page 55 of June: When Gangstas Collide
After the service, I powered my phone off and decided to go to the hill to watch the sunrise. A sense of accomplishment settled in as I watched my nigga, my best friend, willingly step into my church and ask God for help and forgiveness. I knew it took a lot for Chevy to do that. For him to trust me to pray over him was even more of an honor. On the other hand, to see his grandmother sit in the back, fighting her demons, was another story. I could tell she was sorry, but I knew Chevy wouldn’t see.
I leaned forward on my bike as I took in the city lights. If anyone had asked me if this is where I saw myself, I would have said fuck no. I still wasn’t a saint, but I was trying, and I had come to a point in my life where I was finally happy with that. Arms wrapped around my waist as her head leaned on my back.
“This is so beautiful, isn’t it?”
Sage asked.
I glanced over my shoulder, “Yeah, it’s dope. Thanks for showing me this place.”
I could hear her giggling.
“I mean, it’s just you, the land, and God. I feel like he hears you better up here.”
“Nah, he hears you anywhere.”
“You’re right.”
Sage and I were friends, but I could feel things shifting. I didn’t want to rush things with her, but rather take it slow. Navanna and I moved fast. What we believed was love was purely lust. I don’t doubt that she loved me, but she couldn’t love all of me, and that’s what I didn’t need. I wished her the best and prayed that my decision to move on was the right one.
I got off the bike and reached out for Sage’s hand. I helped her off the bike and pulled her closer to me.
“You and your mother. I’m sure you guys will work out your relationship. Pray about it, be patient, but don’t allow her to overstep.”
I wanted to do something nice for Sage, something that I figured would help her relationship with her mother.
“I want to ask your mother to preach on Sunday. My boy is going to baptize his little girl, but I think maybe it would do some good if your mother got the opportunity to step onto that pulpit.
Sage’s eyes widened along with a smile. “Really?”
“Yes, and you should sing.”
“Prentice, you are sweet. What about your parents? Have you thought about going back home to maybe visit?”
I pulled my eyes away for a second before glancing back at her.
“My mother is an addict. I pray for her every day, but that relationship died years ago. My father,”
I shrugged.
“We have work to do, and until I am ready, I won’t be going back. Besides, I have a reason not to leave right now.”
Her eyes shied away, then slowly came back up to me.
“What’s your reason?”
My tongue slid slowly across my lips.
“Because I met a friend. A friend I would love to see grow into something else.”
She ran her thumb over my brows.
“What’s this friend’s name?”
“Sage, the baddest hairstylist in Lake Hill Black.”
She laughed from her belly.
“Ok, Pastor, ‘holy hood’ Prentice Kingston. We can do that.”
I leaned forward and kissed her. I kissed her slowly and passionately because, for the first time, I wanted to take it all in and not rush a single fucking thing.