This Shit Is Real — Season One, Episode Six: "Love Always Finds Its Way Home"

I mean, I'm sexy. What? I am. Well, forget y'all then. If you don't believe me, but I know I am. Chanel made it clear that Santos was keener to form something with her and that I'd just be playing apartment for someone else. She needs a lead in her life, not a supporting man. Yeah, I know, right? I should have cried like a baby when she said that. But anyway, I agree with her. I mean, I was freaking relieved to be getting myself out of this bear trap.

Okay, okay, I know y'all are throwing things at whatever platform you're listening to this on, but I'm an honest person and I'm only speaking my truths. Chanel said that what we had together wasn't right for her anymore. And it never was. It was just a fling that didn't matter. Yeah, well, I ficked it during sex, anyway. So, I should have said something like that to her face. That would have been something, right? She then went on to say our sex life was shit compared to hers and Santos.

He's more interested in being tied up and spanked than I ever was. Okay, what? I bruise easily. I'm not weak. I know y'all are judging me right now, call me all types of names, and look, I'm not gonna allow it. I'm a man. So deal with it. Anyway, right now I'm about to hug her, and before I walk away, a car pulls up, and it's Santos. He's here. Chanel called him when I was telling her I didn't like her. Right when I was getting to the meat of it. That bitch. Look, okay, okay, I'm kidding.

Y'all are freaking out. You know, you want this all to be the happy last episode, right? We'll get there. Chanel whispers in my ear. Forgive her. I look at her. Stunned for a beat. She sends me a smile, so I'm not quite sure what she means. Who does she want me to forgive? Karen? I did that a long time ago. I think. I'm puzzled for a second. Did I forgive Karen? Yeah, yeah, of course you did, jackass. You can do it, Ryan. Look, I know and I have. Chanel smiles, not convinced. Fuck her.

Look, Chanel, I have. I've done that already. We'll know soon. Santos walks over to the door with flyers before I can reply. He looks nervous. So I pat him on the shoulder and exit. As I get in my truck to drive away, Chanel kisses Santos passionately and full on. Yeah, somebody's about to get spanked. Better him than me all day long. I've always been okay with Santos and Chanel being together. My heart never belonged with Chanel. It panicked being in the same room with her.

It sank when we had sex. It went dead when Chanel would ask me if I loved her. My heart only belongs to it belongs to Karen. Damn, I mean, I knew it did, but why is it taking this long for me to realize that? As I drive away, I think about Chanel's words again. I've forgiven Karen. Haven't I, Bray? Nope. What? You haven't, Ryan? Look, I'm not in the mood for this. Yeah, okay. Run away from the truth. I need to be with her. I need to be with my family. Not Joey. That little guy is still a dick.

I need to be with Karen. Okay, fine. Joey too. I hate what that kid makes me do. I arrive at my door and I open it as Joey's sitting on the couch. He looks sad. I walk over. You alright, bud? Yeah? Why wouldn't I be? Why would you care? Come on, there's no need for that, is there? He replies. Sorry, dad. Whoa, okay. That's the first time he's called me dad. I must finally be making progress with him. When I give a damn about what you have to say, I'll listen to you.

Okay, on second thought, I must be way off base with that. Sit alongside Joey and put an arm around him. Look, you can keep throwing shots at me, but I'll always be here for you. No matter what. I'm not like Karen's ex. Yeah, yeah. Joy looks uncomfortable to be having us talk. I mean it. Always be here for you, brain or shine. I'm here in your corner taking your lame ass jabs to my gut. Joy shakes his head as he stuffles a laugh. Yeah, like you know anything about boxing. Get out of here, dad.

Joy said, Dad, a second time. And you do? No. But what I do know is if you care about us, you'll prove that to us. By doing what exactly, Joy? By leaving my mom alone. Look, but I can't. I'm in love with your mom. Joy laughed. Yeah, like you even know what that is. And you do? I might be young, but I know what it does to people. Okay? Explain that. Well, mom loved Curtis. She gave her all to him. And you know what she got in return? Years of him cheating on her. That's what love does to people.

I wouldn't do that to your mom. You know what that is? I have the experience of your mom doing that to me. Wait, what? Mom cheated on you? Joey asked. Yep. And then left to live in LA with Curtis. And I was heartbroken and sad for years. That's not fair. Mom never told us that. She made it out like you didn't want us and you abandoned me. Sorry I believed her. That wasn't fair on what she did to you. What's not fair is that I loved your mom and I still love her.

But I can't be with her because, you know, there's drama between us. I want my mom to be happy. I mean, I can turn the drama between us into something positive if you promise to make her happy. You sure, Joey? Look, I I know this is a big ass. I I don't know you that well yet. But I know you. You think I don't pick up on things that happen around you? But grandma always is talking smack about you, and then she's always talking you up non-stop. Have a good picture of the type of clown you are.

You're the good type of fool, dad. That's the third time he said it. I want my mom to be happy, even if it's with a dick sorry false of habits. I love her, bud. If you want me to say it back to you, you'll be waiting for a long time. Now, what's your plan on getting with mom? Well, I get a text from Karen. She wants me to meet her in a bar. My mom's doing yoga with her girls in the garden, so she's free to look after Joey. Hey, Joey, I've gotta pop out for a while. Will you be okay?

Yeah, grandma's doing yoga, so I'll just join her. You do yoga? Yeah, dumbass, I do. And if you mock me, I can always go back to hating your ass. I laugh. Don't make me do it. Ask mom if you can borrow her lycra. That's deciding. I'm back to hating you. I laugh as I exit. You're a dick, dad. As I exit, I think. I might be a dick, but you're now calling me dad, so that's the one for me, bro. We're in the bar. Karen looks nervous. I think I might know why.

Her face is the same look she had all those years back when she wanted to start dating. And when she admitted to fucking Curtis behind my back. Great, bring that up again, Ryan. I'ma jerk. Karen takes a deep breath and I walk over and I kiss her. The kiss lingers, but it's not deep. It's not passionate, it's a simple kiss to say, I've missed you and I love you again. I think. Don't hold on me like that. Karen stops the kiss and smiles. We both smile at each other.

I've missed you, Ryan. You think I haven't? Get out of here. You're I want to restart our relationship, Ryan. Oh. Why? Oh, Ryan. You love her, dumbass. Don't tell me you're having doubts. Bro, do not sit here like a total dummy and tell me you're having doubts about restarting things with her. Oh. What does that mean, Ryan? I like you, Karen. Okay, cool. Then we'll date and we'll go back to you being the romantic lead in our relationship and we'll fall madly in love. Yeah, like it's that easy.

How can Karen think it's that easy for me? She fucked up my life for decades. And I'm just meant to forgive her? Just like that? Nah, it's not going down like that. Okay, you're scaring me. Tell me you want us to get back together. I I think so. But what are your doubts? What if you fuck it up again? I won't. You have before, Karen. And I learned from it. I've learned a hard fucking lesson about it. I know I fucked up. And look, just listen to me. I've grown up.

I'm not the same person I was when I left you. Yeah, I'm not sure if I can believe that, Karen. Look, I I look, I really can't. What will it take for you to get there? I don't know. Maybe deep down, I don't want to restart this. No, you do. I see the ways you look at me. You're looking at me the same way now. No, I ain't doing shit. You want me, Ryan. You know we belong together. I belong with someone who's not a tramp. What did you just call me?

Look, you want to apologize, or I'm slapping your ass the fuck down. Do you understand me? I ain't apologizing. I'm not kidding. Apologize now. No. Then fuck you then. I don't want anything to do with you. You ain't keeping me away from my kid. I'd never do that again, but you and I are over. I never want to think about you again. Karen grabs her things and walks away. I fucked this up. Damn, I really fucked this up. Joy laughs at my mom's joke. I enter.

My mom leaves and Joy points to the kitchen for me to follow her. I know what this means. My mom wants to chat. She wants me to commit to something. She's been in my ears for the last few days wanting me to make a move on Karen. I've told her I don't want to. And now she's really gonna force me to climb that wall. Look, mama, I my mom stops me with her hand. No, I wanna speak. You ain't ready for the next step. Yep, I ain't. I knew you'd get it. You ain't ready because you don't love Karen.

Exactly. And I get it, you're the happiest alone. Well, I'm not alone. I have Joey and you. Ryan, baby, you're alone. Fine. I am, and I'm okay with it. You look like it. That's because I freaking am. Why are you shouting at me? Because you're not listening to me. No one ever listens to me. Ryan, calm down. She probably never loved you. I know, that's why I turned her down when she hit on me. And are you happy with that decision? Yes? I I think. I don't know. Why don't you know?

You have to be sure. And if you're not, you could just have to live with the fact that you could lose the love of your life the second time around. Oh fuck! Calm down. What do you want? Her okay? I want Karen. I love her. Good. Good. So why are you telling this to me? And why are you still just standing there? I'm I'm scared to commit a case I haven't forgiven her. You have. And if you haven't, love triumphs mistakes. You have to let go of the past and leap into your new future.

And that's easy to do. If she means something to you, does she? Yeah. She does. Damn it, I have to see her. I run towards the door and I hear Karen's truck pull up. Open the door and it's raining. Karen's standing there with sadness in her face. I walk over to her and we're face to face. She looks angry. I smile and she instantly knows something has changed. She gets back in her truck and backs up. No, I'm not losing you again. Karen smiles. What? I love you, Karen. You love me?

Let me rephrase that. I've always loved you, Karen. Not a single minute has passed when I haven't loved you. Karen laughs loud. Hey, what's so funny? I'm romantic here. Yeah, and I'm laughing because I've never seen this side of you. Well, you're about to see it every day. So this will be a relationship? Yes. And you won't fucking cheat on me again. Got it? Yeah, yeah, but what if they're really No, Karen? I mean it. I don't think my heart can take losing you again.

You're such a girl and I love it. Karen kisses me. Joy opens the door with my mom alongside him, watching us. Karen's girls run up and hug me. My mom pushes Joy to join us. He doesn't want to do it. Boy, you better get over there before I slap you. Joy runs to join us, and we all hug. Two weeks later, we're at Michael's house for the big 4th of July barbecue. I'm holding Karen in my arms. Joey glares at us while Karen's little girls play tag.

My mom barbecues chicken as Michael keeps an eye on her. Yeah, that dude's been eyeing my mom like he's been walking in the desert and she's watered. Ooh? Wait, who's that? Is that Chanel? What's that on her finger? Karen asks. It's a ring! Karen lets go of me and rushes to hug the screaming Chanel. He didn't, girl, tell me he didn't. You bet hit his ass, he did. Check it out, bitches! Karen holds on to Chanel tightly. There goes my plan to do the same thing today.

Chanel and Karen laugh at that. Yeah, like you'd ever want to marry me, Karen says. Santos walks over with two beers. He offers one to me. I take it and I can't help it. We click drinks, and I guess Santos a big hug. Damn, I love this dude. Santos looks terry as if to say he does too. Karen walks over and plants a kiss on me. And Chanel does the same on Santos. Joey laughs loud. We turn to see what he's laughing at. Michael, Chanel's dad, and my mom are kissing each other. I feel sick.

Chanel laughs. Karen laughs, and with her happy, I laugh too. The end. This shit is real was written by Joao Nasita and read by me, Marcus Brown. And we both want to thank you guys, the audience, for your listenership. Thank you for tuning in.