Page 18 of Love U Down II

“Damn.” He chuckled. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“Well it’s the truth.” I sighed. “I love you and Major, of course, but being around y’all is hard enough, even knowing y’all were raised in the same toxicity as me and are victims just as much as I am. Dealing with our parents…” I took a deep breath. “Dealing with them is hard and being around them is harder. I hate who I am when they’re around.”

“Nah. I get that. For real. But they’re still our parents, Myome ,and they’re not going to live forever.”

“Yeah. I hear you.”

“Look, I’m not saying you need to have them at performances or at your house or out to dinner or anything but a phone call once a month might be cool.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“A’ight. I’ll be waiting for that phone call.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Welcome.”

We sat on the phone in silence for a moment then another.

“Bye,” I said quietly and awkwardly.

“Bye.”

I hung up the call and tossed my phone on the bed. Then I fell backwards and groaned. I took a moment then snatched my phone back up and texted Drix.

Me: Zamir said he’d take your case. 388-279-0001.

Me: He also said I should call my parents.

A call from Drix popped up almost immediately.

“Hello?”

“Why did he say that?”

“I don’t know. He wants us to hold hands and be a happy family.”

“And is that what you want?”

“Well…” I sighed.

“Be real with me, Twin. What’s up? Where’s your head?”

“Do I sometimes wish I could have a regular relationship with my parents? Yeah, but I don’t think it’s going to happen, Berlin, and I don’t want to set myself up for that kind of failure.”

“If you don’t do it, are you going to just keep thinking about it and letting it bother you?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Is that stupid?”

“No. You see how I am with my family and behind my family. I think it’s normal to want that kind of relationship. Shit. I couldn’t imagine if I didn’t have it.”

“So you think I should do it?”

“I think if never knowing is going to fuck with you more than disappointment, reach out. But I want you to do that shit knowing disappointment can come from it, baby. If I see you cry, be ready for whatever the fuck comes after that because I’m coming stupid behind you.”

“Yeah. I know.” A little smile crossed my face. “I think I’m going to reach out and see if they want to meet when we get back from tour. Would you want to come?”

“Yeah. If you want me there, I’m there.”