Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Wife. I still can’t believe you got married. That’s good though.”
“Yeah… life’s been real good to me lately. Oh, one thing though. She’s on bedrest this final month ’cause the doctor said her blood pressure was a little high. Nothin’ too bad, but he wants her to be careful ’cause she works a lot. Baby due to come in about four weeks. I insisted she stay home, too, especially after hearin’ that. I don’t want her gettin’ sick or nothin’ like that. Desiree is an overachiever anyway, ’tween the restaurant and her own thing with her candles ’nd such, so it’s for the best for her to get off ’er feet.”
It was exciting to see Legend about to become a father. Something neither he nor Axel had expected in a million years.
“Y’all know what you’re havin’ now?”
“Naw, the baby shower is this weekend, and we’re having a reveal party. Only her mama knows. I know you probably don’t feel like swingin’ through, with funeral planning and all, but you’re more than welcome all the same, Caspian.”
“Yeah. I’ll see. Either way, I’ll give the baby a nice present.”
“Don’t care about a present, brotha. Just you is enough. Hey, you hungry? Want me to shoot you by my restaurant to get a fast bite to eat before I drop you off at Aunt Angel’s house?”
Caspian glanced at his watch.
“Okay, yeah, that’s fine. I’ve got some time to check out your spot.” He shrugged, rolling in the awkwardness like a pig in mud. He was supposed to attend the opening but had gotten busy with work. “Legendary Desires, right? That’s what the restaurant is called?”
“That’s right.”
“Sorry I missed the grand opening.”
Legend turned the music back on. Latto’s ‘Bitch From Da Souf’ blasted through the powerful speakers.
“This is Desiree’s playlist.” He laughed and shook his head. “She like all these loudmouth rappin’ women… talkin’ about niggas ain’t shit, who gonna eat their pussy, and whose dick they gone ride, then leave ’em broke and tied up to a bed after gettin’ robbed.”
“She doesn’t come across that way, like she’d be into that sort of thing.”
“Maaaan! Desiree a lil ratchet sometimes… and I love every ratchet bone in her body. Regardless, I meant to delete this song. Don’t want her gettin’ any ideas.” They both had a big laugh at that.
“Thank you for tellin’ me what happened to you, Legend.” The man had exploded like a powder keg. The dust was yet to fully clear. “I know it was hard to discuss it.”
Not too long ago, the shit had hit the fan. Legend had been keeping an awful secret from him that just about ruined his life. Sharing that information with the people he loved was part of a promise he’d made to Mrs. Florence—just like him and Axel had. Legend had decided to make good on it after the nightmares and visits from the late teacher became too much. I see my dead mama swingin’ way too often to count. Nightmares ain’t shit but a dream covered in sludge… Ya get used to it.
Legend gave the subtlest of nods, as if he barely wanted to acknowledge the deep conversation they’d had on the phone, when he’d laid it all out on the line. There’d been a lot of pauses and breaks in that phone call. A lot of smokin’ and drinkin’ and cursin’, too. Legend was strong as hell—mentally, emotionally, and physically. But even Superman had an Achilles heel: Kryptonite. Caspian considered himself pretty good at seein’ dysfunction, deficits and cracks in people. After all, he had those same fissures and fractures. He was an observer. A listener. So he’d known something traumatic had happened to Legend—to them all, in truth, which was what had drawn them to each other as children.
Caspian wasn’t necessarily in the mood for it, either, but never bringing it up again seemed rather cold. It had taken him years to get how regular human interaction was supposed to go. Conversation and lighthearted banter didn’t come to him naturally. He didn’t want to appear callous, at least not to one of his best friends who’d laid his soul bare to him. Legend was just not that type of guy—none of them were. Despite their close friendship, they’d been excessively guarded regarding a few things. Stuff that wouldn’t leave their lips unless it was pried out with a sword, knife, or machete. Sticky, icky shit.
Legend drew on his cigar and changed the song. Kodak Black’s ‘Walk’ now blasted loud and clear.
“Did you hear me, Legend? I said thank you for tellin’ me.”
“What you thankin’ me fo’e? Can’t call you a brotha and you don’t know what turned me into a monster. If we don’t know how shit started, we can’t predict how it’ll end. Church. Now, next topic. You got a taste for ribs? Pork chops? Are you vegan or some shit? I could see your stuck up yet still country ass tryna show off and act like you ain’t never ate no hog be’fore. If so, I can still hook you up. You want some Puerto Rican food? What?”