Page 21 of Do You Right

My breaths finally evened out, and I decided to go ahead and take my shower before starting on our food. I walked through the house trying to shake off that feeling of being watched, but its inky claws continued to rake across my skin. I went into our bedroom and started the shower first. I got ready to turn on my speaker so I could listen to music when I thought I heard something.

Quickly, I left the bathroom behind, but I didn’t realize it was the home security alarm until I was almost to the foyer. “Babe, is that you?” I called out as I began to jog, because the excitement to see my man and have him settle my mind had taken over. “W-why is it you?”

All the air left my lungs when I turned the corner to see JoJo standing there. His corded arms were folded over his chest, and a devilish grin darkened his features. He was dressed in a black sweatsuit, which made me realize he was likely the person I felt following me. When he didn’t say anything, I kept going. “Kaizi is not here. Leave please.”

He chuckled darkly, taking a step forward. “I’m not here for KC. I’m here for you, pretty girl.” He tapped his fingers along the stand in the foyer as he tried to come closer, but every step he took toward me, I took one back. “Imagine my surprise when I found out the reason my plan didn’t go according to plan was because you were there.” He pointed at me for emphasis, and I froze.

“What are you talking about?”

“I had everything planned out perfectly, but you had to go and ruin it. I swear, since you came into KC’s life, all you’ve done is cause trouble for me. Do you know how long I’ve watched him get everything that was supposed to be mine?” Fury flashed in his eyes, and he clenched his fists. He released a dry laugh and pointed at me. “Kaizi’s career was supposed to be over the other night. I was looking forward to seeing the expression on his face when his dream was snatched away from him right when he was about to win it all.”

I was sure all the color drained from my face once I realized what he was saying. “You set him up?”

He winked with a satisfied grin. He was proud of the work he’d done, and it made my stomach harden. “Of course I did. I was so disappointed when I got here to find out that nigga only had a bitch-ass busted lip. Like, what fucking angels does he have protecting him? Every time I’m close to ruining him, he comes back out of the ashes like a fucking phoenix. I hate it.”

His top lip curled, and his eyes told me he wasn’t exaggerating when he said he hated to see Kaizi win. He suddenly moved, and my eyes fell to the bat he pulled from behind his back. “But see, I’m done pretending, Chai. Seeing him get everything I wanted has ruined me. I used to think he’d be heartbroken when he found out his first love was obsessed with me, but I actually think you would be the one he loses his mind about. That’s why I got to have you, Chai. I have to make this nigga hurt the same way I have all the years I was forced to live in his shadow.” He shook his head looking like a madman. “Why does he get to have success? Why does he get to have parents who love him and would never abandon him?”

I felt a sharp pain in my heart hearing his words but remained in place. He lifted the bat and smashed it into the photos on the wall. I jumped back in fear of the glass hitting me. Next, he used all his might to ruin the vase that held vibrant purple peonies. I screamed and ran to the living room. I could hear his maniacal laugh behind me. The sound of glass breaking never ceased as he ruined everything in his path.

When he finally found me in the living room, he sighed. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Chai. You decide.”

“Let’s do it the hard way,” a voice that wasn’t mine replied.

KC came out of nowhere and tackled JoJo to the ground. I watched them tussle on the floor like enemies. For every punch JoJo landed, Kaizi matched it and had one more. JoJo wasn’t holding back as his mask completely fell, and his hatred spilled into the room. Tonight, Kaizi would see who his best friend truly was, and that was what worried me the most.

JoJo’s words echoed in my mind, bringing my fear back. I knew he wanted to hurt Kaizi, and there was glass everywhere. While they were distracted, I raced for his abandoned bat. I clutched the steel in my hands, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When I saw JoJo flip Kaizi on his back, giving him the advantage, I lifted the bat and swung with all my might, clipping him in the head. The sound silenced the world. Seconds later, he went crashing to the ground in a daze.

He wouldn’t stop drinking, . . . and I didn’t try to make him. He hadn’t said a word since the police took our statements, then carried JoJo out on a stretcher. The hit to his head had only dazed him, but he was still alive. For the second time in a week, I saw my man morph into someone else. His fists were covered in blood, and each drop that dripped on the cashmere carpet felt like a stab to my heart.

He lifted the bottle of Black Sade into the air, taking another shot. The room was silent apart from his heavy breathing. Instead of saying anything, I sat there, and I let him drink. I would let him drink until he passed out because then maybe he’d have a chance to forget the heartbreak and pain. I didn’t know how much of what JoJo said he had heard, but it had to be enough to know their friendship was over. All I wanted was for Kaizi’s heart to have peace, and if the liquor did that, then who was I to stop him. Even though I knew this day would come, I still wasn’t prepared for it.

After a few more minutes of heavy silence and him drinking liquor with no sign of stopping, I decided to step in. I crossed the room and bent down in front of him. I gripped the bottle tightly when he lifted it for another shot. His eyes slowly slid to me, and a bomb went off within. I’d never seen his eyes so lifeless and cold. It was such a contrast from the light he usually had that it made him look like a different person.

“Baby, cry if you need to,” I whispered just loud enough for him to hear me.

His hand began to shake, and a second later, the dam broke. I jumped up and wrapped him in my arms right when his real emotions exploded out of him. All I could do was cradle him to my body because I wished I had the power to protect him from the truth. I knew what the sharp edges of betrayal felt like roaming across the surface of your mind. He was in pain, and I hated that I couldn’t make it go away with the snap of a finger.

When he finally calmed down, he silently sat with his ear over my heart. The grip he had on my body could compete with a viper, but I allowed it because I knew he was at his lowest right now. All I felt was empathy because KC was a good man. He didn’t deserve to have such a snake around him, but the good thing about the snake exposing himself was that all ties were finally severed.

“You going to leave me for being a crybaby?” he asked in a whisper.

I brushed the matted hair from his forehead and sighed. “You’ve seen me at my lowest, Kaizi. It’s only right that you’re safe enough to cry, shout, and whatever else you need to get through this. It hurts. You don’t have to pretend that it doesn’t with me.”

He squeezed me tighter, and I didn’t force him to say any more. I continued to run my fingers through his hair. “Why?” he mumbled. “Why?”

He silently cried until the liquor put him to sleep. Even still, I couldn’t move from the position we were in. All I could do was look at his handsome face and promise to always have his back, while playing with his curly hair. It was unfortunate he got his heart broken when he had to play the biggest game of his career tomorrow, but if JoJo got his way, Kaizi never would’ve gotten the chance to play in the first place.

Even though the truth hurt now, when time passed, he would see cutting ties was the best thing that could’ve happened. But until then, I had to hold his hand as he navigated the hard shit. The shit I wish he could’ve gone his entire life without feeling. The entire night, I didn’t sleep a lick. All I could think about was how I could protect him the same way he always protected me.

“You niggas been hatin’ way too long.”

I bopped my head to Gunna’s “On One Tonight” as the announcers called me out to the field. I’d always loved that song, but now I felt Gunna on a whole new level. Because of today’s importance, I honestly had no time to process what happened last night.

I kept asking myself what could’ve happened to Chai if I didn’t make it back in time. I’d heard some of what he had to say, but I reached a point where I couldn’t take any more. I never thought I would see the day when I would have to fight my brother like he was a nigga on the streets. Crazy enough that even though I knew he was serious, I didn’t do damage like I could’ve. Deep down, I still saw him as a brother, and I hated it.

It didn’t matter who it was, I hadn’t said a word to anyone all day. For the first time in my life, I was truly thankful for the long days filled with workouts, film, and preparing for a game. Tonight was the third series game, and if we won tonight, my dream to become a championship MLB player would be true. There was also a lot of chatter about whether tonight would be the one where I broke the Solaire Sonics record for most home runs by a single player.

I glanced toward the stands and saw Chai, along with my parents. Her eyes were already on me. Even without either of us opening our mouths, it was like we had a conversation across the field. She was the only reason I got out of bed this morning. She’d asked me if I was going to let JoJo get his wish, which was to see me fail. Suddenly, I had a point to prove, and getting ready became a breeze. I blew her a kiss that lit her doe eyes on fire even from where I stood.