“Nah.”
“Switched carriers?” She played the guessing game.
“Nah. Is you the FEDs or what, baby girl?”
“Hmmm. Fresh out?” she figured out.
“Something like that.”
“OK. Fresh out dick always tastes better.”
“When you trying to find out?” I challenged, not giving a damn who she was referring to or how many niggas were considered in her statement.
“Soon.”
“That’s good enough for me. Just hit my line whenever that may be.”
“I will.”
“Here you go,” Amy said as she sat her shot on the counter.
“Ayo, grab her a bottle of that shit,” I instructed. “Put it on my tab.”
“Thanks, daddy,” Kasey told me as she smiled.
“No problem.”
I watched as she killed the shot, tossing it back like it was nothing. She sat in silence as she waited for Amy to bring a new bottle. When it was in her hand, she leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
“See you soon, stranger.”
I didn’t bother checking for her as she walked away, mainly because I felt like a fucking hypocrite. I didn’t have to see Ever’s face to feel the disappointment radiating from her. Neither did I have to turn around to know that she was watching me. Her energy was evident, encompassing me as I sipped from my glass. If she wasn’t ready, that was cool. But there were a thousand bitches that were ready to hold it down until she was. Hopefully, no one compared because otherwise, the position I was trying to put her in would probably no longer be available by the time she was.
Two drinks and an order of traditional wings later, I was back at the table and chopping it up with my people. My stomach was touching my back, prompting me to dig into the platter the second our waitress put it down. Laike was right behind me, followed by Lyric and Ever.
I wasn’t sure why, but seeing her dig in brought me joy. I’d been on a few dates in my lifetime and knew that there were women willing to starve than allow a man to see them actively eating on the first date. This wasn’t a date for Ever and me, but the same sentiments existed.
“Mom and Dad are coming home tomorrow,” Lyric shared, giggling for whatever reason she deemed suitable in her drunken state.
“I thought that was Wednesday.”
“Tuesday. I told Laike Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest.”
“One of them motherfuckers I remembered,” Laike jabbered with a shrug.
“Aight. I’ll pull up on them when they touch down.”
“Mom will probably have dad take her straight to the center. You know how she is, acts like she can’t stay away from them kids more than a day,” Lyric reminded me.
“Wherever she is, I’m going to find her. She’s going to be on my ass about not telling her I was coming home, but I’ll take it.”
“She is,” Lyric agreed.
Ever’s movements caught my attention again. She’d brought her wrist to her face a third time in the last few minutes, forgetting that she no longer had the watch on her arm. I’d tossed it on our way to the restroom. It was evident that she was trying to keep track of time because she’d lighten her cell screen right after.
“It’s going on one. You got somewhere to be, Ever?” Laike asked, wondering the same thing I was.
“Work in the morning.”
