I grinned unintentionally. “I could never ghost you, Jade.”
She pursed her lips, peering into the camera, giving me that “yeah, right”expression. Nothing I could say would make her think otherwise. I had to show her.
“I promise I ain’t. Scout’s honor. You wanna meet me at the restaurant tonight or do you wanna come by the condo after close?” I asked.
She shook her head. “How about you come here?”
“I can do that. I know you don’t really cook like that, but you have an oven, right?”
She rolled her eyes and I laughed. “And this is why I’m not telling you anything else. Why wouldn’t I have an oven, Oden? What adult is living somewhere without a stove? That is asinine.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Then it’s set, you’re coming here.”
“Yeah, send me your address.”
When we got off the phone, I closed my eyes for what felt like all of five minutes when the alarm I set for myself finally went off. Shit was sickening, because anytime I went off the reservation I didn’t sleep at all. The last few days I’d harvested, smoked, chopped wood, and fished. Tonight’s menu would have something to do with fish and some sort of garden pasta or salad.
Once I had my truck loaded up, I got on the road. There wasn’t much traffic, so what would’ve been a four-and-a-half-hour drive was only three. That was good because it gave me more time to get into my groove and think about exactly what I had.
During my drive to the city, my mind went to my daughter. Though she hadn’t called me during my disappearing act, I still should have called her. I just couldn’t. Shit, when I felt stuck like this, my mind was filled with sorrow and pain I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It was debilitating and darkening, no matter how much I tried to look for the light. It was like I had to come out of it in my own time. Once I had my truck unloaded and the wooden crates of food in the kitchen, I cut on music and got to work.
My time was interrupted when Lo’s intrusive ass came in and turned my music down. “My apologies for interrupting your jam session, but um, we need to talk.”
I looked up from the fish I was cutting into bites and my eyes landed on her. “’Bout what?”
“What do you mean about what? I am literally your best friend. So, I know certain things, but the woman from the other night. Who was she?”
I smirked. That was that nosy shit right there. I was wondering when her or her wife would start their hounding.
“What are you grinning for? I’m asking you who she is. Kie said she’s beautiful.”
“I’m laughing because you and your wife are nosy as fuck.”
“Um hello, yes, we are. You’re usually irritated when a chick is in your face. Do you remember the investor lady? That bitch nearly plated her pussy and handed it to you.” Kie announced her presence in the kitchen by falling right into the conversation.
I chuckled.
“So, what’s her name and what makes her different? Besides the fact that you were literally feeding her out of your hands the other night,” Lo responded.
“Um, they left together,” Kie added.
I felt both of their eyes and finally looked up from the fish I was trying to focus on. “She’s different and I know her people.”
“Oh… so you know her.”
“Not like that.”
“But you’re trying to.” Kie smiled knowingly. “And she likes you too.”
“Of course she does. You know he used that chef shit. When can we expect to meet her?” Lo asked.
“What makes you think I’m going to let y’all meet her?”
“Pish posh. I know you’re going to let us meet her. We’re your only friends. Plus, she was dressed to the gods. So yes, I need to meet her,” Kie responded, not taking no for an answer.
We talked for a few minutes longer, finally getting to the actual business we needed to be taking care of. That was good for me, because it allowed me to get back to what I was doing before they came in interrupting. When it came to cooking, I needed to be in my zone. I needed to feel every ingredient and placement of what I was cooking.
