APOLLO:

Of all the fucking days, I go to the gym and she showed up. Loriline Barrister and Sharon were both there and for the life of me I couldn't make my presence known. I hadn't interacted with her at all since she’d returned. If she was on the scene, I left almost instantly. Now she doesn't look at me, acknowledge me or even flush like she usually did around me. She never really talked to me before, just stared. Now her eyes would never land on mine.

The fucked-up part was that I missed her. Not her stalker ways, but her presence yet not a soul would believe me with the way I acted that evening. Talking about things that haunted you; I've killed men while looking them in the eye and that doesn't even haunt me the way her face did when I drunkenly spouted off without thinking.

I'd crushed her and as sorry as I was; there was a snowballs chance in hell that I'd ever get to tell her. She'd never know how I truly felt; how I would always feel.

Fuck.

Lori had been needy and wanted this guy she’d made up in her fantasy. She’d told people that I was hers and therefore putting me off limits to women, men and even neighbors. It was fucking crazy but even then, I understood the obsession. I identified, which is why I never confronted her or even tried to lead her on. But that night, I'd had one too many and she had people coming up to me asking about her and I fucking lost it. There was no excuse. Razor, though he had my back with Kylie, lit into me about doing that to her. The same with Bronx who was less diplomatic with me and called me a shit head.

He'd said that Lori was probably the only woman that'd ever get me since she'd take me as I was. I disagreed. She didn’t know the real me and if anyone else thought to – they wouldn’t stay either. I had shit on top of shit wrong with me.

She was several feet away from me talking about that bitch of a guy she called a boyfriend. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know he was no good for her. She was settling and thank fuck, Lori had Shay to tell her the truth. Having a man for the sake of having a man is a waste of space. I could never be that man for her but she deserved better. She needed a fucking warrior who'd fight for her emotionally, intellectually, and match her physically. Her guy was none of that. He needed her more than she needed him.

When I arrived back at the compound, Debra, Uno’s old lady, had a full breakfast on the buffet bar.

"You eating today, Apollo?" Debra asked.

"Naw, just going to hit the shower and ice my shoulder a bit," I replied.

"Well, there's plenty here."

"I'll take some." I heard a familiar voice behind me.

Turning, I saw it was Shay in her scrubs walking towards the table.

"Sure, Shay." Debra said, "You're always welcome."

"Hey, Apollo," Shay said with her eyebrows pulled together. "Wait, what the..."

She stared at me for a beat and then her mouth slightly opened.

"Please tell me..." She started and stopped again. "Were you at the gym?"

Shit.

My hair was still in a ponytail and I never wore it like that.

Ever.

"Yeah," I answered.

She gasped out loud and whispered, "What did you hear?"

I nabbed her arm to pull her away from listening ears.

"Heard everything," I said in a lowered voice.

"Shit, Apollo." Her face scrunched up. "Well, good thing you're not on her radar anymore and thank God she's no longer interested in you."

She shook her head as if she were relieved.

"Yeah, good thing," I repeated which caused Shay to raise one of her eyebrows.

"There a problem?" she asked. "I notice every time she's around you bolt."

Leave it to her to notice shit like that.

Fuck.

"Don't make it a habit to be around folks that hate me," I answered.

"Hate you?" She laughed. "Oh, that girl used to love you and then you desecrated her publicly. Hate? Meh. Not giving a single fuck about you? Definitely. Lori doesn't hate but you are dead to her, that's for sure."

"Couldn't hurt to make amends," I replied. "It wasn't my intention to crush her. Bad timing and too much to drink."

Shay laughed before she said, "Well, keep your amends, man. She's fine without them."

I grunted because that didn't sit right with me; just to let it alone.

"Or you can try," she shrugged. "I'm just saying, if you do or you don't, she's going to be fine. The question is, are you?"

She patted me on the back of my good shoulder and went to get her food.

"See ya later," Shay called before she left out.

None of that was what I wanted to hear. Why I didn't want to hear it was unclear but I wasn't settled. The shit wasn't settled and I had a sneaky suspicion, in regards to Lori and me, it was only about to start.

*****

THE POINT OF GOING to Liv's Diner and sitting all the way in the back was to get away from people and eat in peace. Why Bear thought it was a good idea to join me, I hadn’t the faintest idea.

"Pollo," he greeted as he squeezed his big frame in the small booth.

"Bear." I nodded. "Not really looking for company."

"Me either," he said as he picked up the menu. "You ever had their meatloaf?"

Fuck.

"No."

"Eh," he dropped the worn plastic list of meals on the table and sat back. "You fucking that nurse of yours?"

"Why the fuck are people worried about who I'm fucking?" I sat back. "I don't give a single fuck about where a brother lays their head or their dick. What the ..."

"Calm down, brother." Bear cut me off. "Don't really give a shit but my real question is you ever see yourself taking the plunge?"

This wasn't a typical question and it wasn't one that I'd ever imagined Bear asking. He was a surly son of a bitch and come to think of it, didn't really fuck with anyone. Just did his bid, remained a loyal and active member in the brotherhood.

"Plunge?" I asked in confusion.

"Yeah. With a woman. Going all the way in with her. You know?" he asked.

"Fuck you asking me for?" My face was bound to be in a frown.

He looked at me then he said, "Got that lone wolf sense about ya. Mind ya business, don't fuck with folk. Never see the same women around after you had 'em once. Figured you ain't the type for that shit."

He looked down at the menu and continued, "Figured I'm like you. Not ready for that type of shit. You know? Well, I thought that and now I'm not thinking that no more."

Bear inhaled as if he needed all the air he could get. The man had a thick mustache and what seemed like an expanded beard or it could have just been his chin. Bear had to be about six- foot and four-inches and solid as if he bounced for clubs in the city. I wasn't a small man in height or stature but Bear made me look like a boy with his volume. He was also one of the older members so there was a strong presence about his demeanor. He wasn't arrogant but he didn't care for the foolishness of the younger members. There wasn't a lot of tolerance there.

"You thinking of settling down?" I asked. "You got somebody in mind?"

He eyed me and said, "Somebody got me."

There was no elaboration on that comment and I didn't ask but it did sound like he needed to talk. I wasn't really that person, so I suggested, "Maybe you should talk to Pres or Bronx about this."

"Yeah, did that already. Needed to mull it over with someone who thinks like me." He tapped his thick fingers across the table.

"I ain't one for settling down so to answer your question, no. Haven't thought about it, not interested and I highly doubt a woman will enter my world and want to stay."

Bear nodded causing his beard to move in the same motion. After tugging on the hairy bush, his eyes met mine before he asked, "But what if one does enter and demand to stay. What then?"

Damn. He was up shit creek.

"Sounds like the decision has already been made then." I raised my hand towards him. "She stays."

Suddenly, Bear burst out in laughter causing the booth to shake.

"Fuck, man. Think you're right about that shit." He kept laughing. "Crazy part is, I think I need her more than she thinks she needs me. Blows my fucking mind. I've embarrassed her, blown her off and outright told her I wasn't interested. Think that deterred her?  Now, I'm the one that will kill a man if she ever thought about leaving me. I'm fucked.

The man was still laughing but more to himself or at the irony of that crazy shit he’d just spat. It also made me think of Lori but even Shay said I was dead to her. That didn't mean I couldn't make amends.

"So, despite your blowing her off, she kept pursuing you. How?" I was curious about how a woman could wear down a man like Bear.

He laughed and said, "Fuck. She made me fall in love with her. Can't believe I'm actually admitting that shit." He scoffed. "She made me dinner when I didn't ask. Met a need I hadn't even thought I had. Put up with my sister who was trying to fuck with her. Shit, man. She just was there and when I needed her the most."

My head nodded as I thought of ways to make amends with Lori. I wasn't trying to do whatever that chick did to Bear but I did want her to know that I was sorry.

"Happy for you, then." My head nodded.

"Ha," he shook his head. "Now comes the hard part."

"What?"

"The realization of the shit I'm in isn't the hard part, maintaining that shit is. She's fucking young. How am I supposed to keep up with her? I'm old as shit," Bear exclaimed.

"Wait, who is she?" I finally asked.

"Shay's cousin, Dessy."

"Holy fuck." I leaned towards him. "Does Shay know? She'll have your balls. Fuck, man. She will shoot your ass."

I told him as I did not want to have to clean up that homicide.

"Oh, she knows. Her crazy ass already threatened me." Bear laughed. "You got to love her protectiveness."

I internally exhaled.

He’d dodged a major bullet.

"Well, if she's friends or kin to Shay, you got a good one." I nodded. "She's good people."

"Yeah." Bear smiled. "Oh, I know. I just got to keep her happy."

"Do you?" I asked. "Sounds like, she's trying to keep you happy."

Bear looked up and said, "You know nothing about women. Yeah, her mere presence in my life makes me happy. However, she needs to stay satisfied, not just physically but mentally, and emotionally. I fucking suck at emotions. I doubt I have much of any left but she brings them out and I'm not sure what to do with that shit. In order for her to keep me happy, I must do the same. That's just how it works."

"Okay, well this is all I know. Razor protects Kylie like a mama protects her cubs and that was before she got pregnant. He's attentive, spends time with her and listens. Bronx does the same but he's different with Shay. She's more vocal than Kylie so he acts on her words. Like if she says, oh we should do this. He won't say nothing else about it and then surprises her. Gets her every time. He also puts her in check when she gets out of line. He'll tell her that she can try to leave but he says he'll find her, so she might as well sit her ass down and discuss it." I took a sip of water and continued, "That's all I know. Those are my only up close examples."

Bear laughed and asked, "Bronx tell you that?"

"No, Shay did."

"Y'all close?" he asked.

I almost said yeah but then I answered, "We talk. She thinks she owes me for saving her and Bronx’s life. So..."

He nodded his head and said, "Well, that's no easy feat. Good for you."

I shrugged.

"Well, I took up enough of your time, brother." He nodded. "Thanks for sharing and uh, I hope things work out for you."

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"With the shit you need to take care of. Hope you right that wrong." Bear delivered his last blow and left.

The only wrong he could have been talking about was the same wrong that haunted me day and night. That was what I needed to make right.