The Brothers

The next morning, Aaliyah wakes up and looks over to see Colin looking and typing away at his phone. "Did you ever go to sleep?" She asks. He shakes his head no. "Baby, you should get some sleep."

"I'm not tired.

"Your eyes and body language say otherwise."

"You always could read me.."

"Like an open book. And I know something happened."

"My mother did everything she could to make sure she raised me to be a good man."

"You are a good man."

"I'm far from it. I can't even get myself to believe that I am. Not after taking another man's life. I can't even look at myself the same way." Aaliyah was at a loss for words. She knew a lot about what he did, and she knew that it'd potentially come to this, but she never thought he'd have it in him to pull a trigger. "I better leave.."

"No, stay. Maybe you should come to church with us..."

"God don't want me there."

"That's not true. You know more than anyone that God forgives, all you have to do is ask for it."

"He ain't trynna hear it. Trust me....I just hope this doesn't change how you feel about me."

"It doesn't. I know you. The real you. I'd be a fool if I left you alone." Colin cracks a smile. He dips down to give her a kiss.

"Dad?" They hear a little voice say. They both look towards the door to see CJ standing there in his ninja turtle pajama pants. He hops in bed and sits between them with his back against the headboard.

"We gotta get some muscle on your scrawny self." Colin jokes.

"I'm only 8 dad."

Colin chuckles. "I know."

"But when I get older, I'm gonna have muscles just like you. Maybe bigger." Colin and Aaliyah both laugh.

"Is that so? Imma still be stronger than you though." Colin says putting his arm around him and playfully putting him in a headlock.

"Stop dad!! Let me go!!"

"Colinn. Let my baby go."

"He's my baby too." He says releasing his grip. "Wimp." CJ hops on Colin in a surprise attack. "Okay okay. You win bubba. You win." Colin says tapping out.

"Good job baby. Now go start getting ready for church."

"Okay. Dad are you coming with us?"

"Nah not this time junior."

"Why not?"

"I have stuff to handle. But I'll come by later okay."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Now go get ready." He nods and jumps down from the bed. On his way out, Colin throws a pillow at him.

"Sure you don't wanna go? We can catch the later service so you can go get ready."

"Nah. I'm straight."

"Okay."

-----------------------

"Unfortunately for you, it ends here." A loud bang goes off, causing Cam to jump out of his sleep. It's been a few days since that night, and that's the first time Cam's had a dream about it. It's been on his mind ever since it happened.

Kai decided not to ask him about it so soon, but it was obvious to her that something was affecting him. She felt him get out of bed and walk to the restroom. She looks over at her phone and it's 5 almost 6 in the morning. She lays there silently and waits for him to get back in bed. He doesn't.

Cam figured he needs to clear his head, so he gets dressed to go out for a run. He didn't come back till it was almost time for Kai to leave for work. He walked in the house and went straight to the kitchen to get some water. Kai was on her way out of the kitchen as he was walking in. He looked damn good, she thought to herself. Sweaty and all. But she knew she had to push those thoughts to side for the time being.

"Bout to go to work?"

"Yeah..."

"You look beautiful." He said sincerely.

"Thanks. I'll see you later when I get home."

"How about I come by and take you out to lunch?"

"No club business today?" He silently shakes his head no. "Okay then. Lunch sounds perfect."

"Cool. Call me and let me know when you're gonna take it."

"I will." She says then plants a kiss on his lips. "I love you.

"I love you too."

She leaves and Cam makes his way to the fridge to get a bottle of water. His pocket vibrates, and it's a text message from Colin. He hasn't spoken with him since Saturday night and Colin figured it's time to just break the ice and talk this through.

Kap: Link up for breakfast?

Cam: Yeah. Where?

Kap: Shit, idk. IHOP?

Cam: Sounds good to me. Give me about 30 minutes to shower and get dressed and I'll hit you when I leave the house.

Kap: bet.

Not even an hour later, they both arrive to ihop. Cam a few minutes before Colin. Cam had decided to get a table and wait. Colin walked in, and his eyes scanned to the room and he spotted Cam. He walked over and sat down and the waiter immediately came over to take Colin's drink order.

"Orange juice is fine." He said.

"Okay. I'll be right back with that."

"Thank you."

Cam looks down from his menu and looks at Colin.

"Thanks for meeting up with me. I didn't think you'd agree to it."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. Lately I just feel like there's animosity between us when there shouldn't be."

"Here's your orange juice sir. Are you both ready to order?"

"Nah, can you give us a few minutes?" Cam asks.

"Sure."

Colin waits till he walks off to continue. "I know I can't take back what happened. It's eating me up inside, and I've been on my knees begging and praying for forgiveness."

"I need to know that everything club related is safe. I don't need random niggas comin into our place of business on some bullshit. We're liable for every person in there. And on top of that, I'm trying to start a family."

"Nothing's going to happen. I can promise you that. And I'd never do anything to put you, Luke, Odell at risk. You know that."

"...and I believe you. But that...it just scared me."

"To be honest, it scared me too. I want to make sure that we're good."

"We are."

"Cool. So a family, huh?"

"Yeah. Me and Kai been talkin bout it, and we're more than ready."

"That's what's up. I'm happy for y'all. Fatherhood's a beautiful thing."

I'm sure. I see how you are with your lil mini me."

"Yeah. Lil dude some else."

"But he's a good kid though."

"Yeah, he is." Colin smiles at just the thought of CJ. They have a nice breakfast and go their separate ways afterwards.