“Eww, you all in love and look at me. Single as hell,” Carissa joked, pinching Brix’s cheek.
“That’s your fault for always playing games. What you tell me? You need a thug in ya life,” she replied, cracking up.
“Girl please. I got me a thug nigga; he just ain’t fooling with me right now. That’s still my nigga though,” she said, slapping hands with her.
The two sat around chatting until Carissa started to yawn. Shortly after she left, Shemel used the back door to sneak up to Brix’s room. He told her she needed to get her own shit since her mama’s health was increasing but she was scared. Mrs. Carla didn’t take the news about her husband as hard as Brix did. She was saddened that Drew would risk his life for something he could have easily prevented. She was also encouraging Brix to move out. She had even gathered her names of places and rent prices. With her and Shemel being a couple now, Mrs. Carla wanted them to have as much privacy as possible. A grandbaby would be exactly what she needed to keep her busy once Brix moved out the house.
After taking a shower, Shemel slid behind Brix in the bed and wrapped his arms around her small frame. Placing a kiss on her forehead, then her neck, Brix woke up and looked at him. Placing a soft kiss on his lips, she ran her hands through his dreads.
“You made it,” she said quietly.
“I told you I would, didn’t I?”
Brix nodded her head up and down.
“And I meant that. Now let’s go to sleep. I’m tired as shit.”
Burying his face deep into the crevice of her neck, Shemel pulled her in closer as if she was going to disappear. He was content with his life, but he knew the upcoming week was going to be hell. The thought of laying his producer to rest pained him, but he knew it had to be done. He thanked God for watching over him and his family tonight and made up in his mind right then what profession he would be choosing.
Epilogue
The crowd went crazy as Shemel announced his signing to Homage. It was the day after his producers funeral, and he just did a show at the Annual Hoop-A-Thon in memory of his name. He had signed his contract the morning after the incident at the studio and Brix couldn’t be happier. Watching her man walk off the stage, she beamed with pride to be his woman. Shemel was everything to her and didn’t care what anyone thought; he was hers.
After shaking hands and saying thanks to hundreds of people, Shemel finally made his way to where Brix, Carissa, and Lexi were. Standing in the back of the gymnasium by the concession stand, she brushed off every dude that approached her. The look on her face was pleasant, but when she told them she wasn’t interested at all, they knew she meant that shit.
“Them niggas better gone,” Shemel said, swooping her up in his arms.
“Melly, stooop. My hair,” she whined.
For the first time in three years, she had her hair straightened out and looked damn good. She had gotten it done for the funeral and Shemel loved it. He couldn’t keep his hands out of it.
“Shit, I can fuck it up if I want to. I’ll just pay for you to get it done,” he replied kissing her neck.
“Ugggh. I swear you two make me sick for real. I ain’t lying,” Carissa groaned.
“Don’t be a hater all your life my nigga. It ain’t a good look,” Pierre replied, walking over with plates of cake Brix had baked for the event.
Mugging him up and down, Carissa didn’t even respond. She was pissed off with him, which wasn’t anything new. She had went over his house a few days prior and they had sex and went out to eat. She figured if she gave in and gave him some pussy, he’d kill the attitude he’d been having with her. That isn’t what had happened at all. He hadn’t hit her up since, and she was in her feelings tough.
“Y’all want some cake?” Pierre asked.
“I’m straight. You know I don’t eat that,” Shemel replied.
“Nigga, Brix made this shit. It’s hitting,” Fatz said, walking over stuffing his face.
Brix looked at Shemel and grinned. She hadn’t forced him to try any of her desserts since they started dating, so she wanted to see how this played out. Taking the plate, he stuck a fork full in his mouth and nodded his head.
“This shit good. It’s sweet too,” he said kissing Brix’s lips. “Not as sweet as you though.”
Blushing, Brix took a bite from his fork. She had been through enough drama these last few months and was truly happy this go around. There was no more fake smiling and putting on a façade. She was finally at peace with her daddy’s death, her mama was healthy, her businesses were bringing in major money, and she was looking to expand. Life was good and the trials she went through hadn’t turned her completely sour. She wouldn’t let them either. Brix had too much to be grateful for and would never give the enemy another opportunity to break her. Like Shemel said, she was still sweet, only now people knew not to take her kindness for weakness. No longer the young girl still caught up on her past heartaches, Brix had developed into a grown woman with an even tougher skin, standing by her mans side ready to ride it out with him.