“Bullshit like always,” he said with a scowl.
We washed our hands, said grace then all dug in. CJ went up to his room with his plate and his big ass dog. Honey was under the table beneath my chair waiting for something to fall on the floor.
“Babe, I have a game tonight.”
I frowned. “What? I was hoping we could spend the evening together.”
“Me too but I forgot I agreed to referee a basketball tournament at Hickman High School tonight.”
Well, at least when Kaleb was refereeing he was too busy to blow up my phone. “Okay. I’ll just go back to the restaurant later and lock up.”
After dinner I put the food away and Kaleb came down shortly after in his black and white referee gear.
“Babe, I’ll call you between games.” He walked over and gave me a sweet kiss then swung a large duffel bag onto his shoulder.
I nodded and walked over to wipe down the island. “What’s that?” I said, pointing to some small green army men.
Kaleb looked almost embarrassed as he scooped them off the counter. “Those are CJ’s little men he carries around in his pocket.”
I tried to keep a straight face. That kid got weirder by the second.
“If he asks I’m sticking them in the drawer in the living room.” I nodded and leaned in for another long wet kiss. “Love you babe. I’ll see you later.”
He went back upstairs to grab his whistle and by the time I was finished with the kitchen he was pulling out of the driveway.
I went up to the third bedroom that Kaleb had given me to set up as a home office. It was his way of getting me to spend more time at his place than at mine. I padded into the room with Honey under my feet and took a seat behind a glass desk. I made it clear if he wanted me here, then I needed space that was conducive to working. Last weekend we also moved my red love seat from my bedroom to his house so I could feel more at home.
I spent the next hour working on an advertisement for Fourth of July weekend. The holiday was always a big draw for the restaurant and I was planning on having a buffet style dinner that would top any other restaurant in the area.
By the time I had a draft ready to be sent off to the printers, Frankie was calling. Since Kaleb was nowhere around, I answered.
“Guess what?”
I smiled. “What?”
“I found a gas station I want to buy.”
I could hear the excitement in his voice. “Good for you.”
“But I want you to come down and look at it.”
I looked over at the clock. It was six thirty. Kaleb wasn’t due home until around eight. I had planned on dropping by the restaurant anyway, so I could do both. “Where you at?” I was already heading to the bedroom to change.
“I’m at the corner of Providence and Texas.”
I slipped into a pair of skinny jeans and a blue blouse and grabbed a pair of yellow pumps.
I knocked once at CJ’s door and then opened it. He was sitting on the end of his bed playing his video game. Midnight was on his bed and the room stunk like wet dog. “I’m running over to the restaurant.”
“Okay.” He didn’t even bother to look away from the video game. He spent so much time in front of that television, one of these days I would have to bring him down to the restaurant and put him to work.
Honey was whining and wanting to go with me.”No Honey. I’ll be back.” I rubbed his head then hurried out the house and climbed into my BMW, before Kaleb decided to come home early.
I opened the sunroof. It was just one of those June nights when the weather was just perfect.
I spotted Frankie’s SUV as I pulled into the abandoned gas station. As soon as he saw my car, he trotted over and opened the door for me.
“Hey you,” he said with that sexy ass smile of his. I climbed out and gave him a hug.
“C’mon, let me show you around.”
My eyes swept the area. “Remember when we were teenagers and after we got done with those teen center parties we all hung out in this parking lot?”
He laughed. “You remember that?”
I nodded. “Hell yeah! Them were the days.”
This gas station used to be the place to be. I remember all of us with a driver’s license, filling up the parking lot. Music thumping, folks dancing, and acting a fool. The only reason why the store manager didn’t complain was because we were all inside buying up the stores, especially the slushies. We were good for business. Every now and again, a fight would pop off and the police would come and run us all off but for the most part we just weren’t ready to go home and were hanging out.
The place hadn’t been open in years. The gas price still displayed one-ninety-eight a gallon. Something we haven’t seen in years.
“I’m planning to take this garage and install a carwash. And then right on this side we’ll have hand-washing and detailing.”
“You gonna sell gas?”
Frankie smirked. “Hell yeah and run a convenience store just like back in the day.”
I nodded and visualized his dream, while I walked around the lot. The windows were busted on the front of the store and the inside was a janitorial mess, but it wasn’t anything sweat and hard work couldn’t fix.
“I think this will be a great location.”
He looked down at me and grinned. “Me too. I’m going to have the pumps inspected for contamination but other than that I’m already sold on this place.”
“Why would they be contaminated?”
“Sometimes tanks leak underneath. And that’s a bitch to clean up. Besides, the bank will never approve the loan until it’s inspected.” He looked around and grinned. “But this is my dream.”
“It’s better to have some kinda dream than none at all.” I looked around and smiled. “I remember when I first told everyone I wanted to open a restaurant downtown.”
“I remember that. And I said there was no way in hell folks are gonna come downtown for soul food. But you proved us all wrong.”
“Yes I did.”
Frankie gave me a fist bump and we stood there like two fools staring at each other. I starting thinking about when we were in high school. I had been so young and confused back then. Now he was simply delicious and looked so good in blue jeans and a fresh white t-shirt.
My cellphone rang, breaking the spell. I reached inside my purse and look down at the screen.
“Hey CJ. What’s up?”
“Have you seen my men?”
It took me a second to figure out what he was talking about. “Your little army men?”
“Yes, my men.” He sounded impatient.
“Yeah you left them on the counter so your dad stuck them in the drawer in the living room.”
I could hear him moving through the house.
“Where in the drawer?”
“I don’t know. He said he was putting them in the living room.”
“There not in here!” He sounded frantic.
Oh my God! He was such a pussy. “I don’t know CJ. You’ll have to text him.”
“Why did he move them?” he whined.
What’s the big fucking deal about those men? “I don’t know. Look, I’ll try and reach your dad for you.”
“Okay.” He hung up, and probably went back to looking for those men.
“Is everything okay?” Frankie asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, let me try texting Kaleb. He moved his son’s toys and now he’s freaking out.”
He scratched his chin. “How old is the boy?”
I rolled my eyes while I texted. “Thirteen. He carries these little men around in his pocket and now he can’t find them.” Frankie gave me this look and I held up a hand. “Let me stop you before you even ask. I can’t even begin to explain it.”
I hit Send then put my phone away. “I better get over to the restaurant before Kaleb starts blowing up my phone.”
There was that look again. I decided to ignore it. “I think this place is great. What are you planning on calli
ng it?”
“Frankie’s.”
I grinned. “Of course.”
He shrugged. “Like you always say, “It’s all about me.”
We laughed and then he took my hand and got all serious. “So how are you doing?”
Didn’t he just ask me the same thing two weeks ago? “I’m doing good.”
“I mean really. You just don’t seem yourself.”
“What does that mean?” I didn’t mean to get defensive but I did.
“I mean you’re usually really talkative, laughing. I don’t know, you just seem different.”
I shrugged. “Maybe it’s called maturity.”
“Or it could be stress.”
I blew out a breath. You never could hide much from him. “Yeah, that’s true. I just gotta lot going on right now.”
“You’ve always been able to juggle a lot of things but that man and his son they’re so needy. I thought you didn’t like needy men?”
“I don’t and he isn’t.” This was one conversation I just didn’t want to have. My phone started vibrating in my purse. I didn’t even have to look down to know who it was. “Look, I better get to the restaurant so I can go home and help CJ find his men.” I tried to laugh it off like it was a joke but Frankie barely broke a smile. “Let me know what you find out about the gas tanks. Otherwise, I think you better snatch this place up.” I moved over and gave him a quick hug then hurried off to my car just as my phone started vibrating again.
I waited until I had started the car to answer.
“Where you at?” Kaleb barked.
“Heading to the restaurant. What did you do with CJ’s men?”
He laughed. “Oh I have them in my pocket.”
“In your pocket? You told me you were putting them in the drawer. That boy is practically in tears over those men!” I didn’t mean to snap but I didn’t like the way he was behaving.
“Sorry. I was just playing with him.” He had the nerve to sound defensive.
“Then keep that shit between the two of you! He’s calling all frantic over his men while you’re at a basketball game.”
“How long you gonna be at the restaurant?”
“For a slit second then I’ll go back to the house with CJ. You got him all upset.”
Kaleb blew out a long breath. “I’ll call him.”
I ended the call and went to the restaurant. CJ and his dad were both blowing up my phone, but I left it in the car and went inside. It was definitely slow for a Wednesday night.
When I finally made it back to the house I noticed the entire place was lit up with lights. Honey was on the porch waiting for me. CJ had obviously let him out and forgot to bring him back in.
“CJ!” I called as I stepped inside the house.
“Yes ma’am.”
I moved into the living room where he was sitting on the couch rocking back and forth hugging the pillow to his chest. Cartoons were on.
“Why are all the lights on?”
“I’m sorry. I was looking for my men.” He got up from the couch and started turning out lights. I saw the dried tears on his face and the sad look on his face.
“Did you speak to your dad?”
He nodded. “He says he has my men.” His bottom lip quivered. Ugh! I was so tired of feeling sorry for him.
“He’ll be home I’m sure in the next hour.”
“An hour?” His eyes widened.
“How about some ice cream with chocolate syrup?” I suggested.
He nodded. “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” I knew he loved chocolate syrup. I just hid it at the back of the closet because he liked to drink chocolate milk with a spoon and all that damn slurping got on my last nerve.
I put the syrup on the counter along with the ice cream and suddenly felt compelled to strike up a conversation. “I hear you’re an honor roll student.”
“We don’t get mid-grades until next week.” He mumbled without looking at me.
“So do you think you made it?”
He nodded. “Yes ma’am. But math has been tough.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. If you need some help just let me know.”
“Okay,” he said in that annoying babyfied voice. I left him eating ice cream in front of the television and went upstairs to put on something comfortable. By the time I was coming back down, Kaleb was coming through the front door. CJ practically knocked me over.
“Dad, where are my men?” he said in a frenzy.
“They’re in my bag,” Kaleb said like it was no big deal.
“W-why’d you move them?” he stuttered.
“Quit whining like a fucking baby!” It was clear he was now annoyed.
CJ stood there rocking side to side. “I just wanted to know why you moved them.” I couldn’t believe his little ass was demanding answers.
“CJ, get your men and go to your room!” Kaleb snapped and there was that crazed look again. I was starting to think something was wrong with both of them.
I waited until he was up in his room before I turned to Kaleb, completely puzzled by the entire situation and said, “What’s up with him and those men?”
Again he shrugged like it was no big deal. “He’s had them since he was a little kid and I can’t get him to part with them.”
“So they’re like his security blanket.”
“Yeah, pretty much. He carries them around in his pocket all the time.”
I looked over at the staircase. Something about this boy gave me this sick eerie feeling like there was so much more to this story. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
25
NYREE
Ever since the proposal I haven’t been able to sleep a wink. Instead my mind has been racing with thoughts and so many emotions I’m ready to go find a psychiatrist and ask him to prescribe me something. My feelings were torn. Should I follow my heart or use common sense? I love my man and wanted to follow him to the ends of the Earth. But at the same time, I’m giving up my job, my home, and friends to travel across the world with a man I have known for three months.
Trust me, I was eager to walk down the aisle and be Mrs. Samuels but I had gone down this path so many times before that for once I was scared. I’m serious. I was afraid that maybe I really was moving too fast and I needed to pull on the reins and say, “Whoa!” and slow it down. However, if I did, I ran the risk of losing my man, and I simply couldn’t imagine living without him.
I didn’t know who to turn to for advice. If I even dared to call my mother and mention marriage, she would be contacting Reverend Williams and booking the church, so I decided to ask Janelle to meet me for lunch. Normally she can be a male basher but ever since she started dating Kaleb she seemed happier and more positive about men.
I called and asked her to drive down to Jefferson City and meet me for lunch at this little bistro downtown. I was feeling a little better knowing Janelle was coming, because if I didn’t tell someone soon, I was going to go crazy. To be honest I wasn’t sure why I was losing my mind over the proposal. Jeremy and I were in love. He got a job offer on the most romantic island and asked me to go with him as his wife. End of story.
If things were that simple why have you been second guessing your decision to marry him for almost two weeks?
All I know is I needed to talk to my girl and hear her advice.
I had just ordered two waters with lemon when I looked out the window and spotted Janelle sauntering cross the street. She was wearing a smoking red dress that hit every curve on her thick body and with the small black clutch purse in her hand I didn’t have to guess she was strutting in black five-inch stilettos. That chick could dress. And as always she made me feel self-conscious in my military uniform.
“Hey girl!” she squealed as soon as she spotted me sitting at a booth in the corner. I waved and signaled for her to come and join me.
Janelle slid onto the sit across from me batting her fake eyelash extensions like a little kid with a secret.
“Now you know my restau
rant is busy as hell during lunch time,” she scolded as she put the Chanel bag on the seat beside her. “You better be glad I love you.”
I smiled. “I know and I appreciate you driving down.”
She settled on the seat, reached for a menu and I noticed her perfectly sculptured nails. I needed to remember to make an appointment myself.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked and brushed her shoulder-length hair away from her chocolate face.
I still had my hand hidden underneath the table. I swallowed and was getting ready to tell her when her cellphone ringtone chimed that new Beyoncé song. Janelle frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing… just Kaleb checking up on me.”
“Checking up on you? He’s still sweating you like that?” I said but she simply waved her hand like it was no big deal.
“Girl, once I let him taste my goodies, the fool lost his damn mind.” She made a joke out of the situation, but I was starting to worry because the laughter didn’t quite reach her eyes. Janelle went back to looking over the menu. “I swore I wouldn’t move in with him until after I was married but… I’m now planning to move in with him next weekend.”
“Really?” I couldn’t believe it. The way she liked her space?
Janelle was grinning and nodding at the same time. “Yep. I can rent out my townhouse and put that eleven hundred dollars a month right back in my pocket. You know Mama loves to shop!” she chuckled.
“We know.”
Our waitress arrived and took our orders.
“Okay, so you had me meet you for lunch for a reason, so what is it?” Janelle asked like she was in a hurry.
I stared directly at Janelle, while I removed my hand from underneath the table and wiggled my ring finger.
“Oh shit! You’re engaged?” She snatched my hand and brought it to her eyes so she could get a closer look. Damn, I know the diamond was small but it wasn’t that bad.
“Jeremy proposed two weeks ago.”
“Damn bitch and you’re just telling me now!” She pushed my hand away.
“You got a lotta nerve!” I was talking with my hand now. “At least I’m telling you in private. I wasn’t ready to say anything until I had a chance to get used to the idea.”
Talk a Good Game Page 17
