Ashley's Story: THE LAST CHAPTER (7 page)

With all of the lights and televisions off, Ashley tossed
and turned in bed. The day had been very long and eventful. She was so tired
but she couldn’t bring herself to fall asleep until she heard something from
Rio. Their budding friendship was growing every day and she prayed that he was
okay.

Ashley quietly sat up in bed when she heard a knock on her
door. She looked over at the clock on her nightstand. It was a little past four
in the morning.

“It could be Rio she whispered as she tossed the covers off
of her body. Her feet sank into the plush carpet as she quickly made her way to
the door.

With worry etched on her face, she snatched open her door.
Ashley didn’t even give Rio a chance to say anything as she jumped into his
arms. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she buried her face in the crook of
his neck.

 “I was so fuckin' worried about you!”

Rio was so taken off guard by her reaction that he stumbled
back before wrapping his arms around her.

“What’s the matter, ma?” he asked. “Talk to me.”

He used his foot to close the door behind them. Rubbing her
back up and down softly, he waited on her to reply. Rio could feel wetness on
his shoulder. With a confused scowl on his face, he sat down on the couch.

With his lips barely touching her ear, he whispered, “why
are you crying?”

Ashley tightened her legs around him and cried harder. She
lifted her head up from the crook of his neck then rested her head up against
his chest. Kissing her tears away, Rio said nothing as he waited for her
response.

“I was scared that something might have happened to you. I
texted you but you didn’t respond. You’re the only person I have here with me
that I trust wholeheartedly. You’re the only person I can truly call a friend
here in Miami. The thought of something happening to you scared me. I’m sure
it’s because you’re so close with Supreme and Choice. Knowing that is
comforting. I don’t have to question you because I know where your loyalty
lies. I know you have my back and you won’t let anything happen to me,” Ashley said.

“The feeling is a hundred percent mutual,” he replied with
sincerity.

The silence between the two was very pleasant. They were
both caught in their own thoughts. Rio looked down at Ashley. He could tell she
was tired because she yawned a few times and rubbed her eyes.

“You tired?”

Ashley nodded. “I’m exhausted. I couldn’t sleep until I knew
you were okay.”

He held her close to him and stood up. Rio turned off the
living room lights before walking to her bedroom.

Like a father putting his daughter to bed, he tucked her in
before kissing her on the forehead.

“Wait; where are you going?” she asked him when he turned
off her bedroom light.

“I’m going to go lay down in the living room,” he replied.

“No you’re not.”

Ashley got out of bed and turned her light back on. He
looked over her white sports bra, blue boy shorts, and pink and white fuzzy
ankle socks. It was the first time he noticed what she was wearing and couldn’t
believe how comfortable she was around him to wear something like that. Maybe
he was over thinking and it wasn’t that big of a deal. They were friends.

Then again, the longer he looked at her body he knew he
wasn’t tripping. Her ass was playing peek-a-boo in her shorts enticing him to
touch. Rio could only imagine what her thighs would feel like wrapped around
his neck while tasting her sweet spot. He shouldn’t be thinking about that
though. Ashley touched the side of his face bringing him back to reality.

Rio would never touch her .she was forbidden fruit. Ashley
was family. He couldn’t cross that line with her. She deserved better than him.

“Look at your face,” she said while softly touching around
his bruise.

Ashley went into the kitchen to grab an icepack out of the
freezer then hurried back to her room. She settled between his legs and pressed
the icepack on his bruise. She smiled while looking into his eyes.

“You can sleep with me. Take your shirt off.”

Rio smirked because Ashley was surely running the show
tonight. He took off his shirt before walking to the other side of the bed.

The couch might look like it’s comfortable but it’s not
you’ll be more comfortable in here with me.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared, I won’t bite,” she giggled.

“I’m not worried about your little ass. You should be
worried about me,” he replied with a wink.

 Ashley turned off her light then turned on the television
before getting in bed with Rio.

“You know I really appreciate you,” he said.

“Really? Why?”

“You just said the sweetest shit to me back in the living
room.”

“What did I say?”

“You couldn’t sleep until you knew I was straight. That’s love
and I really appreciate it. I’ve never had anybody worry about me like that.”

“What about your family?”

“Never!” he stressed. “I have an uncle who lives in the
Dominican Republic. Other than that, I consider Supreme and Mark family.”

Ashley nodded her head as she looked at him. She wondered
where his mom and father were but she wouldn’t dare ask. She wasn’t green to
the game at all. If he didn’t mention his parents then he didn’t want to talk
about them.

Rio laid on his back staring up at the ceiling before
closing his eyes. He prayed she would stop talking and do the same thing. As
much as he loved hearing her talk, he wasn’t up for it at that moment. He
couldn’t stop thinking about his mother. Rio never pillow-talked with a female
and he wasn’t going to start tonight. Even though their bond was much deeper,
he still wasn’t ready to discuss his mother with her. The shit was too painful.

Rio looked over at her and sighed with relief when he
noticed she had closed her eyes and was fast asleep. He took her all in. the
makeup she wore didn’t do her any justice. Her eyes, complete with long natural
lashes, and the cluster of freckles across her nose were his favorite features.
He stared at her and listened to her light snoring as he closed his eyes and
drifted off to sleep.

***

When Ashley woke up, it was going on eleven o’clock and she
was surprised she’d woken up so late. She turned around carefully to see if Rio
was still asleep but he wasn’t there. Ashley sat up and ran her fingers through
her hair as she scanned her room for any signs that he was still there but saw
none.

“He couldn’t have left. Why didn’t he wake me?”

Ashley got out of bed and went into the kitchen but he was
gone. She leaned against the counter then looked down at her clothes with a
scowl on her face, unable to believe she let him see her so scantily clothed.
However, she was so worried about him that she didn’t even think about changing
her clothes when he knocked on her door. Her only concern was seeing his face
to make sure he was okay.

 She wanted so badly to pick up the phone to call him. Just
as she was getting ready to call him, Choice called.

“We ain’t doing shit but popping bottles tonight,” Rio
chuckled.

He held up bottles of the finest liquor in each hand.
Everyone had decided to get together at KOD to celebrate. Music was playing and
it was nothing but laughter and smiles throughout the crew.

“There goes my little sis,” Rio said as Choice approached
him.

“What up?” she asked. She reached for Ashley and gave her a
hug first then pulled away to search her friend’s face. “You good?”

“Yeah. I’m good,” Ashley answered. “Even better know that
you’re here.

Choice smiled then gave Ashley a kiss on her cheek and
another hug. Choice greeted everyone else then sat down next to her best
friend.

All of a sudden, Rio stood up and shouted. “There that nigga
go!”

Supreme grinned as he approached. “What’s up, nigga?”

“What took you so long?” Rio asked Supreme before they both
greeted each other with a brotherly hug.

Supreme shook his head. He couldn’t suppress the smile that
crept on his face. His three best soldiers stood up to greet him. The last time
he’d spoken or seen Dylan, Buddy, and Willie was five years ago. He was happy
that they were able to attend the night’s gathering. Supreme brought his
attention back to Rio. They both walked a few feet away from the crew.

“I had to park my ride. You know I don’t like muthafuckas
doing that shit for me. I need to be able to get to my ride fast if need be and
if I let them niggas park it, I won’t know where it’s at. Shit. Anything can
pop off.”

“Yo, Supreme hasn’t noticed me yet. You think he’s gonna
flip when he sees me?” Mark asked Choice.

She looked over at Supreme. He and Rio were having a deep
conversation.

“I’m really not sure. It’s been years since you both saw
each other. He’s always considered you family. Whatever the two of you fell out
about should be squashed by now. I really wanted to let him know you were back
in Miami but I changed my mind. He needs to see you for himself,” Choice
stated.

Mark nodded his head. The shit should be squashed. Mark had
understood where Supreme was coming from when he spoke about loyalty that night
at the beach. He had apologized about fucking with Blue and he was slipping
with business but his apology should have been enough. All should’ve been
forgiven but it wasn’t and that hurt. He would never voice it though and he
knew Supreme wouldn’t either. As much as Supreme acted like he wasn’t bothered,
Mark knew that he was.

Their friendship was much stronger than that. Before all the
money and women, it was just him, Supreme and Rio. They were family. Supreme
hadn’t been so forgiving after Rosco and Bear crossed him. He wasn’t going to
take any chances for Mark to turn around and do the same thing. Instead of
killing Mark, Supreme cut him off. Now, five years later, they were face to
face with the same problems they had then. Supreme looked over at the table and
did a double take when he and Mark’s eyes connected. A scowl immediately formed
on his face.

“What’s that nigga doing here?” he asked Rio without
breaking eye contact with Mark.

“Where do you think he went when you told him to leave here?
He came back home to New York and been there the whole time. He came to Miami
with me. I could have told you but I chose not to. It’s a wrap when you get
your mind set on something. Why are you still trippin’ anyway? Y’all haven’t
spoken in years,” Rio pointed out and took a swig of his drink.

Supreme licked his lips while he continued to stare. “You
know I don’t fuck with him.”

“Man, fuck all that old shit! The nigga fucked up. He’s
family and family gets a pass, right? Real talk...he’s sorry, Supreme. How
about y’all have a conversation with each other? It’s hard to find niggas that
got your back. Don’t take that shit for granted, B.”

Supreme took his eyes off Mark and looked at his mentor and
friend. Rio was speaking the truth. He often thought about Mark and wondered
where the wind ended up blowing him. He was happy that he went back home to New
York.

Supreme sighed. “I’ll talk to him. Send him outside.”

Rio grinned with relief and walked into the VIP section.
Mark was sitting next to Ashley. Rio ice-grilled him for a second. “What you
take my seat for?

Mark chuckled. “You got up so it was no longer your seat,
homie. Besides, she whispered in my ear that she didn’t want to sit next to you
anyway.”

Ashley giggled. “You a damn lie!”

“Yo, Mark,” Rio said, “Supreme wants to holler at you
outside.”

When Mark got up to leave, Rio took his seat back.

***

Supreme was sitting inside of the charcoal gray Land Rover
he leased at the airport when he, Choice, and Legend got off the plane. He
truly had no idea what he was going to say to his longtime friend. So much had
changed since they last spoke.

A few minutes later, Mark tapped on the window so Supreme
could unlock the door to let him in.

“What up?” Mark greeted Supreme when he got in the truck.

Supreme was quiet for a few seconds before he responded
dryly. “Ain’t shit.

Mark missed his friend. He asked Rio about him throughout
the years and now the time had finally come for them to speak face-to-face.

“Real talk, ‘Preme, I’ve wanted to talk to you for years but
if you’re not up for it, let me know.”

“What do you want to talk about?” Supreme asked shortly.

Mark glanced at his old friend before focusing back on the
road. “I missed shorty’s birth and your wedding. We’re family, right? Fuck all
of this! You and I have known each other before all this shit,” he waved his
hand around. “I fucked up. Good pussy can be a man’s weakness sometimes. When I
was fucking with Blue, I wasn’t thinking about betraying you. I was just
thinking about fucking. That’s it and that’s all. You know that I would never
cross you over a broad. We’ve missed years, years we can never get back and for
what?”

Supreme sighed. “I hear you, Mark. I hear everything you’re
saying and you’re right. I had so much on my plate back then. I had shit coming
at me from every direction. When I found out that you were fucking with Blue, I
jumped to conclusions. To be honest, I didn’t think about your past loyalty to
me. I was just focused on what happened at that moment. I’m not a mushy nigga
and I know you’re not either. The past is the past. Let’s leave it there.”
Supreme chuckled. “Mark, we’ve always been family even when we weren’t on
speaking terms, we’re family. We’re just one dysfunctional ass family. When I
got out of prison and reached out to you on that ‘let’s take over Miami’ shit,
you never even questoned it. You just moved to Miami. Then it went from me and
you hanging out all the time to me, you, and Petey. You may have felt some type
of way when Petey jumped on board but you never spoke on it.”

Mark thought about Petey. He missed him too. He missed
hanging out with him. There were a few times that he’d been jealous of Petey
and Supreme’s relationship but it was always love.

Supreme smiled. “Let’s get back to this party.”

He and Mark got out of the car and slapped hands twice
before giving each other a hug.

“You gotta meet your nephew,” Supreme mentioned.

“Hold up, he’s here?” Mark asked with surprise in his voice
and a crooked smile on his face.

“Yup. Choice and Ashley planned something so you’ll get to
meet him tomorrow. Nana's here too. She’ll be happy to see you. Trust will be
touching down tomorrow. He should be at the gathering too.”

“Yeah, Rio said something about the lil nigga coming to the
M.I.A. I haven’t seen homie since he was twelve,” Mark said.

“Brief me on what’s been going on your end,” Supreme said as
they walked back to KOD.

A silly smile appeared on Mark’s face. “Ashley. I’m feeling
her.”

***

Ashley and Choice was on the dance floor dancing like two
carefree white girls enjoying life. K Kemp’s
Marilyn Monroe
was playing
throughout the club. Strippers walked around making as much money as they could
while niggas tried to bag bitches to take home for the night. Choice could feel
someone’s eyes burning a hole through her. She gazed around until she locked
eyes with the person they belonged to, Supreme. Rio and Supreme were looking
down at Choice and Ashley from the balcony. Supreme grinned slightly then
winked at Choice. She returned his wink and blew him a kiss then turned her
attention back to Ashley.

“Rio is cuffin’ and don’t even know it.”

Ashley chuckled. “Nah, I don’t think so. We’re friends. He
doesn’t look at me like that.”

“Are you fuckin’ serious, Ash? Look at you. You’re fucking
hot. You’re not that little girl you were five years ago. Your body isn’t the
same.”

Ashley looked down at her Valentino dress. It hugged every
curve of her body like a glove. Her hips and ass were a little thicker, even
her thighs had a little more meat on them. She had gotten thicker but she was
still the same person she was five years ago.

“I told you that me and Rio slept in the bed together,
Choice. Did you forget? I was half-naked and he never tried anything, he didn’t
even put his arm around me. I’m telling you, it’s not like that between us.”

“Niggas of his pedigree don’t move like that,” Choice
stated. “You have to remember that Supreme moved the same way with a wall
around his heart. Back then, our relationship was different. We were both young
and still trying to figure out our place in the world. Our love was so strong
that it was scary sometimes. Rio is older than us but that doesn’t mean he’s
still not trying to find his place in the world, just like you are.” Choice
winked. “Maybe that’s an adventure the two of you can go on together.”

“With Supreme,” Choice continued her lecture, “every day is
something new. I’m still mesmerized by that man. He’s my love.”

Hearing the happiness in her friend’s voice when she talked
about Supreme made Ashley smile. She prayed for the same thing one day. When
Ashley looked up at Rio, he was smoking a cigar while staring down at her. Both
of their eyes lingered on each other for a while before she finally looked
away.

***

“I can’t walk in these damn things. Here, take ‘em,” Ashley
slurred drunkenly as she handed Supreme the heels she wore to the club.

She was a mess and the only thing she wanted to do was
sleep.

Choice quickly walked in front of the two. She opened the
door to Ashley’s apartment while Supreme cradled her near him to keep her from
falling.

“Shhh, Ash. It’s late. You’re going to wake the neighbors.
Choice whispered.

Ashley slapped her hand against her mouth and giggled. “I’m
sorry.”

Once they were inside Ashley’s apartment, Choice took Ashley
from Supreme. With Ashley’s arm draped over her shoulder, she helped her to her
room.

“Bae, can you look in her medicine cabinet and get some aspirin?”
Choice yelled before entering her room. She sat Ashley down on the bed so she
could find something for Ashley to sleep in. glancing over at Ashley to make
sure she was okay, Choice couldn’t help but chuckle. Ashley was lying on her
back with both of her hands covering her eyes.

She turned around and pulled out another drawer. Choice’s
breath caught in her throat.

Petey’s dreads were in a plastic Ziploc bag. She ran her
fingers over the dreads before looking back at Ashley sympathetically.

Choice closed the drawer then opened up another one to pull
out a t-shirt. It was a short t-shirt that probably wouldn’t cover her bottom
but it would be more comfortable than sleeping in the expensive dress she had
on now.

“Come on, Ashley, get up,” she said as she helped her up
from the floor.

Ashley sat on the bed and Choice helped her out of her dress
before sliding the t-shirt over her head.

“I’ll be right back,” Choice said when Ashley was settled in
bed.

“Hold up, Choice; please don’t leave me,” Ashley pleaded.

She looked back at Ashley and smiled. “I’m not going
anywhere, I’ll be right back. Close your eyes and rest,” she said before
closing the bedroom door behind her.

“Ashley's good?” Supreme asked Choice when she walked into
the kitchen.

“Yeah, she’ll be alright. She had way too many drinks.”

He pointed to the island. “I got the aspirin and a bottle of
water for her.”

Choice picked up the aspirin and then the bottle of water
before walking over to Supreme. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on
the lips. “I won’t take too long.”

“Don’t worry about hurrying up ma. Ash is family. I’ll crash
on the couch until you’re ready to go.”

“You are too much.”

“Love you ma.

Choice stood with a smile as she watched him walk into the
living room and turn the television to ESPN before heading back to Ashley.

Ashley was still in the same position lying in bed on her
back and staring up at the ceiling when Choice walked back into the room.

“Choice, the world...the world won’t stop spinning,” Ashley
mumbled.

“That’s because you’re fucked up.” She giggled. “Here. Take
this aspirin.”

She sat down beside Ashley and handed her the aspirin and
then the bottle of water. Ashley sat up on her elbows to take the pills.

“Choice,” I’m so glad you’re here,” Ashley stated as she put
her hand up to her head.

“Yeah, me too.

Choice went to the bathroom and got the wastebasket. She sat
it next to the bed then sat down beside her friend and stroked her hair until
she noticed Ashley drifting off to sleep.

“Ash?”

Huh?” Ashley replied sleepily.

“I just want you to know that I’ll be gone when you wake up.
I’ll be back tomorrow around noon with Legend.”

There was silence for a few seconds.

“Ash, do you hear me?”

“Yeah, I hear you.”