32. Derek’s Destiny

HAKEEM

I stood outside the church with Eden, just staring at it, feeling mad outta place. This wasn’t no big, fancy church like the ones I used to seeing back in New York City. No stained glass, no towers reaching up to the sky, none of that. This spot was straight-up simple, like somebody's old house that got converted into a church and thrown in the middle of a dusty-ass field. People parked wherever, no lines, no nothing. Just chaotic, like the country version of double parking in the city.

The wind kicked up some dust, making me shift like I couldn’t stand still. I glanced at Eden, and she was just watching me, all patient and shit. She had that look, the one she gives when she’s waiting for me to stop frontin' and just get my mind right. But the thing was... I wasn’t sure I could.

“You gonna stand out here all day or we going inside?” she asked, her voice cutting through the noise in my head.

I shifted on my feet, feeling the weight of her question.

“What if I burst into flames the second I step inside, for real?” I muttered, half-joking but lowkey serious. “What if the pastor looks at me and sees every foul thing I’ve done? Like he just knows.”

Eden raised an eyebrow, her expression softening just a little. “Hakeem, nobody’s worried about you catching fire. Don’t let Derek get in your head. And trust me, the pastor’s seen worse than whatever you got going on.”

I wasn’t so sure, man. Felt like every mistake, every bad choice I’d made was tattooed on my face. Like the second I stepped in there, the walls themselves would call me out, like, “Nah, you don’t belong here.”

I had on the only button-down I brought for what I thought was gonna be a short trip, some jeans, and my Jays. Definitely not “Sunday Best.” I was feeling all types of out of place.

Eden looked at me a little longer, then sighed, stepping closer. “Ain’t nobody in there worried about your past, Hakeem. Everyone is too busy trying to save themselves.”

I shook my head, half-laughing, but it came out kinda bitter. “Yeah, but my dirt? It’s different. This ain’t just some regular wrongs, Eden. I don’t even know if God wanna hear from me after all the shit I done.”

She reached out and grabbed my arm, her touch grounding me for a second. “You think everybody in that building ain’t carrying something heavy? You ain’t special in that. What makes you think you too far gone to walk inside?”

I took a deep breath and nodded at Eden. My gut was tight, my mind racing, but I started walking. One step at a time, like I was forcing myself to move forward even though every part of me wanted to bolt.

As soon as we stepped inside, the smell of old wood and dusty hymn books hit me. The walls felt tight, close, but somehow the space seemed bigger than I expected. The pews were packed, people chatting low while the organ hummed in the background.

We slid into a spot near the back, and I kept my head low. Felt like everybody was watching me, even if that was just in my head. I didn’t let out a full breath until the choir started up.

The music was different—less stiff, more alive. The choir swayed, clapping along with the rhythm, and before long the whole church was moving with them. Even me. I tapped my foot, trying to play it cool, but the beat was pulling me in. Next thing I knew, I was nodding along. Eden caught me out the corner of her eye, smiling like she knew I’d let my guard down as she sang along with everyone.

Then the pastor stepped up. Older dude, deep voice but smooth, like he wasn’t preachin' at us, but talking to us. His sermon wasn’t that fire and brimstone kinda thing either. He was talkin' about relationships—how we build up walls around ourselves, thinkin’ it’s for protection, thinkin’ we’re keepin' ourselves safe. But all it really does is leave us cold, alone. He brought up Proverbs 18:24, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Said sometimes, we push people away 'cause we’re scared of gettin' close, but that’s when we need people the most.

I couldn’t help but glance over at Eden. She was locked in, hangin' on every word, but I felt like the pastor was talkin' straight to me. I’d been throwin' up walls, pushin' her away, thinkin’ it was for her own good. But now, maybe I was just too scared to let her in, scared of bein' the man she needed.

Then he started talkin’ about forgiveness—not just forgiving others, but forgiving yourself. That part? That hit me harder than I thought it would. The pastor quoted Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” I’d done a lotta dirt. Maybe it was time to stop carryin’ that weight, stop lettin’ it keep me from her.

By the time the service wrapped up, I was almost... chill. The music, the Word—it all did something to me, broke down walls I didn’t even realize I’d built. I caught myself clapping along with the last song, and it felt... good. Like I was letting go of something I’d been gripping too tight.

When we stepped back outside into the sunlight, it felt lighter. Eden looked at me with that little smile of hers, like she’d been watching me the whole time, catching every shift in me without saying a word.

“What’d you think?” she asked, sliding her fingers into mine as we headed back to the car.

“It was solid,” I said, giving her a sideways glance. “Songs hit, and the message was cool.”

“Would you come again?” she asked, and I could hear that little hope in her voice.

I shrugged, keeping it real. “I don’t know how long I’mma be around, Eden. When Truth moves, I move.” Her smile faltered, and that touched me harder than I expected. I wasn’t tryna hurt her, I felt like I had to fix it quick. I lifted her chin, making her look at me. “But look, it’s gon’ take more than one visit to clean up my mess, you feel me? So, as long as I’m here, we can do this together every Sunday.”

Her eyes lit up, that mix of disbelief and excitement in them. “Really?”

“Yeah, for real,” I nodded, meaning every word. “We in this.”

She gave me that smile—the kind that made my chest tighten. That smile made me wanna do this for a long time—hold her hand, go to church, just vibe with her. Whatever she wanted to do. It wasn’t what I was used to, but damn, it felt good. Felt easy, natural, even though a part of me was screaming, calling me a pussy.

“I really like being your friend, Hakeem,” she said, looking up at me with those big eyes that could mess up all my plans in an instant. And for a split second, I almost said fuck this friendship and jumped all in. But nah, with Eden? I had to play it different, had to move smart.

Yeah, part of it was ‘cause she was Destiny’s people, which meant she was Truth’s people. But it wasn’t just that. Eden was different. Special in a way that made me wanna protect whatever this was. That night we sat in the car, talking ‘til the sun came up, I told her—friends first. She was ready to dive in, no fear. Me? I needed to take it slow. Not just for me, but for her. I wasn’t about to mess this up.

I watched Truth level up for Destiny. Dude didn’t come at her wild like when I first met him. He intentionally grew into the man she deserved — even when the crew was giving him shit about it —- and now I was feeling like that’s what I had to do for Eden. Make sure I was the right version of me before I even thought about being more than just her friend.

And honestly? The fact that I was even thinkin’ like this had me buggin’. This ain’t how I move, not how I usually think about… anybody. But then again, I ain’t never met nobody like Eden before.

“I like being your friend too,” I finally said, feeling like a fool for saying it out loud. But with Eden? I couldn’t help it. The truth just spilled out, no matter how much I tried to hold it back.

Before she could respond, I heard someone call her name from behind me. “Eden!”

I turned around, and there they were—her parents, making their way toward us. Her mom's face was already twisted up in that familiar scowl, like she wasn’t feeling what she was seeing at all. Eden bounced over to hug them, all smiles like everything was sweet. But her mom? She had her eyes locked on me, hard. Like she was trying to figure out what kind of trouble I was about to drop into her daughter’s life.

“You gon’ introduce us to your friend?” her father asked, sizing me up with a look that said he wasn’t impressed.

Eden was a straight-up clone of her moms, thank God, ‘cause her pops? Dude was built like a damn tank. Big as hell, probably Ant’s size—height, muscles, the whole package. I bet the gym hated to see him or Anthony Harris coming.

“This is Hakeem,” Eden said, glancing back at me with a smile. “He’s one of Derek’s friends, works with him too. He’s in town visiting. Helped out with the Jubilee and all.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed as he reached out for a handshake, his grip strong enough to feel like a warning. “Saw you at the party yesterday and now at church today, huh?”

He damn near crushed my hand, but I didn’t flinch. I met his eyes, matching his energy. “Yes, sir. Just here making sure everything’s straight.”

“It’s nice seeing you at this time of day, in the sunlight,” Eden’s mother said, her tone sharp but not without a hint of humor, like she was poking me just to see how I’d react.

I chuckled, keeping my cool. “Sorry about the late-night visit, ma’am. I just really needed to talk to Eden that night. The Jubilee hit hard, had me in my feelings, and I had some things I needed to get off my chest,” I said, surprising myself with how honest I was being. Maybe it was this damn church getting to me.

Her mom’s expression softened a little, and I caught the slight shift in her father’s posture, like he wasn’t ready to pounce just yet.

“I see,” her mother said slowly, eyes narrowing a bit like she was weighing my words. “You apologize for makin’ her cry?”

Straight shooter. I respected that.

“Yeah, I did,” I admitted, meeting her eyes and then Eden’s. “I owned up to what I’d done wrong, it couldn’t wait till morning.” I wasn’t trying to hide from my bullshit. Eden deserved better than that, and I knew it.

Her mom seemed a little impressed, her face giving me that look like she wasn’t completely sold, but I was at least halfway there. Eden’s father glanced at her, like he was checking to see if she was feeling me, but she just gave that innocent smile that didn’t give away much.

“Say, Hakeem,” her father started, voice all casual now, but I could tell he was sizing me up. “You wanna grab lunch with us?”

Eden’s eyes widened, and her mom’s did too, like they weren’t expecting that offer to come out.

I smiled, trying to break the tension with a little humor. “I’m a big guy, sir. Food is always a good idea.”

Her father grinned, a flicker of approval crossing his face, but I knew better than to get too comfortable. This wasn’t just an invitation to eat—it was a test, a chance for him to get me under a microscope, figure out if I was worth the space I was taking up next to his daughter.

“Good,” he said, clapping me on the back, the kind of clap that almost knocked the wind outta you but was still friendly enough to not be disrespectful. “We’ll head over to The Pit. Best BBQ spot around.”

Eden shot me a look, her eyes wide like she couldn’t believe this was actually going down. Lunch with her parents? I gave her a little nod, letting her know I was cool. If I could survive running with Truth’s crew, I could handle her parents. No sweat.

We climbed into her dad’s truck, the ride over to The Pit real quiet. Only thing you could hear was some old country music playing low through the speakers. Wasn’t exactly tense, but there was definitely something in the air, like everybody was waiting for the real conversation to hit.

When we pulled up at The Pit, the smell hit me first—smoked ribs, collard greens, and that sweet tang of BBQ sauce. This wasn’t no fancy spot, but it was the kinda joint that told you the food was gonna hit just right. We grabbed a booth in the back, and I slid in next to Eden while her parents took the seats across from us.

Normally, the smell would make my mouth water, have me thinking about the food and nothing else. But today? Nah, today was different. The food was the last thing on my mind. There was no forgetting the situation at hand—this wasn’t just lunch. This man was bout to grill me.

As soon as we put our orders in, her father looked me dead in the eyes.

“So, Hakeem,” he began, voice steady but with an edge, “what’s your plan? You work for Derek, but what’s your plan?”

There it was. The question I knew was coming, the one that really meant, ‘What are you doing with my daughter?’

I swallowed, but I didn’t flinch.

“I’ve been running with D-Truth for a long time,” I started. “But I’m not just in it to stay behind the scenes forever. I’ve been saving, planning. One day, I’m gonna have my own thing going. Truth’s been schooling me on the business side, and I’m learning. It’s just... taking a minute.”

Her father leaned back, studying me, nodding slowly like he was weighing my words. “That’s good to hear, son. ‘Cause life’s too short to be following someone else’s dream. You gotta build your own.”

I nodded, respecting the advice, but I wasn’t missing the subtext. He was telling me to get my shit together, especially if I was gonna stick around Eden.

Eden’s mom wasn’t saying much, just giving me that look. You know the type—like she could see right through me, clocking every move I made. Felt like I was laid out on the table, butt-naked, no front, no walls, like all my doubts and bullshit were right there for her to read. The way Eden could see through me? Yeah, I guess that Miss Cleo shit ran in the family.

Under the table, Eden’s hand brushed against mine. Just a little touch, nothing big, but it grounded me. She didn’t have to say a word, but that small move? It was like her telling me, You got this. We in this together. And man, I needed that. Gave me the strength to sit there, face the heat, and take it all in. Maybe even rise to whatever they were expecting from me, ’cause I wasn’t about to fold.

“Hakeem’s got a lot of dreams and talent,” Eden said, flashing that sweet smile of hers. “He’s real good with cars.”

I damn near choked on my lemonade. Nah, I said I used to hot-wire cars—not exactly the same thing. This girl wasn’t hearing me right at all. But I ain’t about to embarrass her or myself in front of her people. I made a note to set her straight later.

Her dad nodded, taking it all in like he was really thinking about it. “Maybe you could get into a trade,” he said, leaning forward, “and then apply some of those business lessons you’ve been pickin’ up from Derek. Make something solid for yourself.”

“Maybe,” I replied, playing it cool as the waitress came through with our food. I wasn’t tryna argue or make it awkward, but the whole idea of me going legit like that? That was a whole different lane.

“And you live where?” her mother asked, her tone sharp, cutting through the noise of the restaurant as the food was being laid out in front of us.

“I bounce around. Truth got a place in New York, where I’m from… LA too,” I started, trying to sound confident.

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes locked on mine. “I asked about you,” she reminded me, that motherly tone laced with a warning.

That’s when it hit me, like a brick to the chest. I ain’t got shit of my own. I moved when Truth moved, crashed where he crashed, even here in Juniper. But now, with him and Destiny gettin’ engaged, how long was that setup gonna last? They cool with me now, but what happens when they get married, have kids, all that family shit? Where the hell do I fit in then?

For the first time, I started to feel what Eden was sayin’—her fear of Destiny leavin’ her behind. I always figured I had time to sort my shit out, but maybe I was the one laggin’, sleepin’ on the fact I needed to get my own life in check.

“I got a lot of things up in the air right now,” I admitted, more to myself than to them. It wasn’t just talk; I was realizing how much I’d been drifting.

“But he’ll figure it out,” Eden said, all bright-eyed and confident, like she had no doubt in me at all. It hit different hearing her say that, like she believed in me even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.

Her father bit a piece of his cornbread, his voice cutting right through the vibe. “Look, I know ya’ll are playin’ this ‘just friends’ thing right now. But I can see it clear—you got eyes for my Eden, and I know she’s got eyes for you. That’s why I figured we’d nip this in the bud and have lunch now, since she invited you to church and all.”

Eden and I both shifted in our seats, caught off guard. Her mom tried to stifle a laugh, barely holdin’ it in as she glanced between us.

Honestly? I was feelin’ Eden’s parents. They didn’t beat around the bush, came straight at you. No games, just real talk. I could respect that.

“We really are just friends,” I said truthfully, trying to keep it cool.

“For now,” her father said casually, taking another bite like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb at the table. He chewed slowly, then leaned in, his voice lowering. “But when y’all finally stop pussyfootin’ and decide to get serious, if that’s where this is headed, just know—my daughter knows what love is. She’s seen it her whole life. She’s seen how I treat her mother, and she knows to expect nothing less than that. So whatever your plans are, Hakeem—come correct. Don’t step to her unless you’re ready to give her everything she deserves and more.”

Eden stayed quiet, her eyes flicking between me and her father. She wasn’t gonna press it, but I knew she was waiting on me to say something, to let her know where my head was at.

“I hear you, sir,” I finally said, keeping my voice steady. “I’m not gonna play around with Eden. She means more to me than that.” It was the most honest thing I’d said all day. Maybe in a long time.

Her father nodded, a slow, approving gesture. But that didn’t mean he was off my back. “Good to hear,” he said, his tone still firm, like he was giving me a shot but wasn’t handing me no free passes. “Don’t waste her time if you ain’t sure.”

Eden’s fingers slid into mine under the table, like they were meant to be there, and that’s when it hit me—hard. Like a sucker punch straight to the gut. It wasn’t some light feeling I could brush off. Nah, this was real. The kind of real that grabs you by the throat and don’t let go.

I was sure about Eden.

My chest got tight, my pulse was racing, and I had to swallow the lump in my throat. She was the one. I’d been ducking it, tryna play it cool, act like I wasn’t feeling this deep. But the truth? Eden was the one I’d change for. The one I’d actually grow up for, get my shit together for. I’d give it all up—everything I’d been running with Truth for—to be with her. Hell, I’d go to church, sit with her family, and actually talk about the future kinda shit...for her? I’d do it all…shit, my ass was already doing it.

Damn.

It wasn’t just about right now or tomorrow. I was thinking about the long game. Me and her, building something real. Could I even do that? Could I be that man for her? The man who wasn’t just drifting from place to place, living outta bags, doing whatever Truth needed? Could I be the man her parents would respect? A man worthy of her?

This shit was new to me. Scary as hell. I wasn’t used to thinking like this, wasn’t used to slowing down enough to even think about the future. But here I was, sitting next to Eden, feeling something bigger than anything I’d felt before. I glanced at her, the way she smiled without a care, like she wasn’t doubting me at all. But me? My mind was spinning.

I squeezed her hand under the table, but my palm was sweating. The fear? It was real. Could I even be that guy—the one who stood by her, who didn’t flake, didn’t let her down? Could I handle all that? Could I give her everything she deserved?

But I wanted it. I wanted her. More than anything I’d ever wanted. More than all the wild shit I’d done with Truth, more than the fast life, the money, the thrill. I wanted us. But could I do it? Could I really be what she needed?

Shit, I could see it in my head—me and her, building a life together. A crib. Kids. Sundays at church where I wasn’t just fidgeting in the back but showing up for her, being there for real. It all started feeling real to me. But then the doubt crept in some more. The weight of everything I’d done, everything I was still carrying, whispered that maybe I wasn’t good enough.

I held her hand a little tighter, like if I let go, all the doubt would rush back in. She looked at me with those big, soft eyes, trusting me like I wasn’t about to disappoint her. Like she believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself. I wanted to protect that look in her eyes, never let her down. But man, the fear of failing her? That was real.

And just as the thought was hitting me, my phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. I glanced down—Truth.

Of course.

All the weight of my life outside this moment came rushing back.

“It’s my boss,” I said, pulling my hand from Eden’s and lifting my phone. Her dad gave me a nod to take the call.

“Truth,” I answered, trying to keep my tone even.

“It’s time, Keem. You ready to ride for Eden and Destiny?” His voice had that edge, like he was playing a twisted game, like he knew something I didn’t. He sounded like the damn Joker, all evil and crazed.

I looked over at Eden, caught her smiling at me, all bright-eyed and full of hope. It took me back to that night at the club, when I yanked her the fuck outta there. Back when she told me about Arnold and Johnathon, how they had her caught up in some twisted game. A game I’d been itching to play ever since I promised Arnold I was coming for his ass. And I meant every word. I’d been waiting for that moment.

She didn’t know the side of me that was lurking right under the surface. The one that didn’t just handle shit, but handled it ruthless. She was looking at me like I was the hero in this story, but she didn’t know the half. I wasn’t just about to save her—I was about to destroy anybody who thought they could play her.

I could feel the darkness creeping in, the part of me that’d been waiting to unleash. I was ready to ride for Eden, ready to do whatever needed to be done. And the thought of it? That shit felt good. Hell yeah, I was ready to get my hands dirty.

Arnold? Johnathon? They didn’t know it yet, but their time was coming. I’d been quiet, laying low, but now it was about to get real ugly. I was ready to show ‘em exactly who the fuck they were messing with.

"You know me," I said, keeping my voice steady, calm like I wasn’t about to step into some serious shit. "I stay ready."

"Suit up, then," Truth replied, his voice cold as ever, and then the line went dead.

I kept the smile on my face, but inside? I was already locked in. Finally, some action in this sleepy-ass town. No more waiting around. Arnold—the dude who had Eden working in his club like she was some pawn in his dirty little game? He was about to meet me. If I wanted any shot at a real future with her, I had to handle this. No questions. No half-stepping. Clean up the mess once and for all.

I glanced at Eden, catching her eye as I put my phone away. "Better get used to seeing me in church, ma. I’m gonna need all the help from above I can get."

She giggled, all soft and sweet, her parents looking at me like I was just some regular dude stepping up to be the man she needed. They had no clue. They thought I was playing it straight, thought this was about settling down. But they didn’t know the storm that was coming. Not a single one of them knew what was about to drop.

I dove into my plate, playing it cool, but my mind was already somewhere else. I knew the way Truth was talking, the way his voice had that edge? This wasn’t a game. This wasn’t just some little problem we were about to handle.

Nah, this was war.

And I was ready. Ready to dive headfirst into the chaos, standing right by his side, no matter how deep it got. Ready to do whatever it took.

God help me. I was gonna need more than just Eden’s prayers by the time this shit was over.

to be continued…