“I don’t remember when I’ve ever eaten that much food.” I shook my head as we walked.
“That’s because you probably don’t be eating for real?”
“Probably not. I don’t really like to cook.”
We reached his truck and he opened the door for me to get in. “That’s understandable. Then how do you expect to get full?”
He didn’t leave room for me to answer his question because he had already closed the door and rounded the truck to the driver side. Once inside he started it up and glanced in my direction, he asked, “Where do you want me to take you?”
I rattled my address off to him, then settled into his seat. It was so soft and buttery that all my exhaustion from the last few weeks surfaced. Momentarily, I closed my eyes, thinking he was about to turn the music on to decompress from his day like most.
“Are you going home to somebody?” His voice was weighted. Much more weighted than it had been throughout the night.
“Nope. Well, unless you count the dog I just purchased from your sister-in-law as somebody, then yeah.” I laughed at my own joke to ease my nerves.
He laughed as well.
“What about you? Are you going home to someone?”
“Nah. I’on even have a dog. My daughter spends a few days with me and the rest at my brother’s crib. After I drop you off, I have a long ass drive ahead of me.”
“Why such a long drive? You don’t live in Chicago?”
“Nah, I live on the outskirts. Corn county and things like that,” he answered easily and honestly I wasn’t shocked.
“That sounds interesting. How about I give you my number and talk to you during your ride?” I shocked the hell out of myself with my offer, but I had already said it, so oh well. Plus it wasn’t like I’d be sleeping at that time or anything.
He chuckled. “You’d interrupt your sleep like that for me?”
“I don’t sleep as much as I should. I’m in the middle of opening my second location, planning a family vacation, and keeping the one location I have afloat. When has the sleep not been interrupted?”
He chuckled. “Aight, then I’ma take you up on that.”
True to my word I spoke to him his whole ride after he dropped me off. His presence was so weighted, but with every chuckle and chortle it was lighter. He struck me as the type to deprive himself of laughter because he carried so much. It was strange, and so was he, but I liked his strangeness.
“What was soserious you couldn’t tell me over the phone?” Beyah’s voice made me look up from the lemon spritzer I was currently drinking.
“Nothing was serious, I just couldn’t risk you being in the house with your husband and having the damn phone on speaker. You have that bad, and before I know it, I’ll have all of my brothers in my business.”
She laughed. “First of all, I told you I had the phone on speaker because I was getting dressed and couldn’t find my headphones and those two fools are going to be in your business regardless.” She took a seat across from me before glancing out of the window.
“But you didn’t tell me you weren’t alone. Now my brother knows I’m thinking about having a one night stand to have a baby.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t realize you were gonna say that. And it was wild, Jade. Anyways, how was your date with Preston?”
“Horrific.” Then I commenced to explain the worst date of my being to her. I also didn’t leave anything out, therefore mentioning Mr. Oden. That had her giving me a toothy grin by the end of my recalling.
“So, he fed you, drove you home, and talked you to sleep.”
“Um yeah, when you put it that way that’s exactly what happened.” I couldn’t help the goofy grin on my face.
She laughed. “Oh, your brothers are going to kill you.”
My face grew serious. “For what? What did I do?”
Beyah laughed. “Listen, babe. I know the man I’m married to and I have gotten to know your brothers. You are the only female. I don’t think this family can produce girls, that in turn makes these niggas nuts over your business. Yes, you’re grown and they know that, but in their eyes no man is good enough for you. Even family affiliates.”
I waved her off. “Whatever. I’m still grown. And it was nothing.”
