“No problem.”
I waited until Consonance was in the car, started it, and pulled off before walking back to my own.
“What took you so long?” Yale asked once I was back in the truck and pulling out of the parking lot.
“You know Consonance was talking shit,” I replied with a laugh. “She’s still salty about the game and wants to run it back.”
“Really?” Yale mumbled then sighed. “This is bullshit.”
I looked over at her to see that her attention was on her phone. “What’s got your attention?” I asked as I turned back to the road.
“Grant texted me to say he was going out of town as soon as he gets back,” she said, tapping at her phone. “We have an appointment this week that he can't miss.”
“It’ll be alright,” I said, then playfully poked at her leg. “If he can’t make it, then I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t even know what kind of appointment it is,” she sighed, then dropped the phone into her lap. “It could be something you hate.”
“And?” I chuckled and shrugged. “You need support, so I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Amethyst,” she said.
I stopped at a red light and turned my attention to Yale. She was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Her features had matured over the years, but she still had a youthful appearance, and whenever she smiled, my heart slammed against my chest. I put my hand out, and she immediately took it.
“What if we stop by my parents’ house instead of cooking and see what they’ve got going on?” I suggested, and instantly, a smile appeared on her face.
“You think Mama Diamond has some chocolate cake?” she asked, and I shrugged.
“If she doesn’t, you know she’ll make some for your spoiled ass,” I replied.
“Don’t be a hater your entire life, Amethyst,” she laughed, and I grunted.
If Mama didn’t make the cake, then I would. I’d done it plenty of times over the years to see her smile. I turned right at the light and headed toward my parents’ house. I knew that they didn’t have shit planned and would be happy to see Yale. Anytime Istopped by and didn’t have her with me, they gave me a hard time.
Chapter eight
Yale
The phone rang five times before it went to voicemail. I sighed, hung up, and tossed it on the bed next to me. Grant not answering the phone had become the norm, especially when he was out of town. I pulled the covers up to my legs and fell back onto the bed to get comfortable. I’d been home for almost two hours and was bored out of my mind. I was full and tired, but sleep wouldn’t be visiting me tonight, which wasn’t abnormal. I hadn’t had a full night’s rest in almost eight years, not since the accident. Most nights, I was lucky to get four straight hours before I was up and pacing the floor.
My phone rang, and I searched the bed, hoping to find it before whoever it was hung up. When I finally found it, it stopped ringing, and I sighed when I noticed that it was Grant who’d called. I swiped the screen and immediately called him back, only for it to ring twice and go to voicemail.
“Well, shit,” I said to myself, then got out of bed to work. My office was on the other side of the house, but since Grant was out of town, I’d brought my work into our room. I grabbed the black briefcase from beside the bed and walked to the sitting room attached to the room. I sat on the floor in front of the glass coffee table and opened the briefcase. As soon as I saw the yellow and pink diamonds, my mind began to churn out ideas. Designing jewelry was my favorite thing to do besides spending time with Amethyst and Consonance. It was a time when I was free and in the moment.
My laptop started ringing, and I looked at the screen to see that I had a FaceTime call from Amethyst. I tapped the screen and went back to work.
“I knew your ass was up,” he chuckled, and I smiled. “What are you making?”
“I don’t know yet,” I answered with a shrug as I looked at the diamonds. “Maybe a bracelet.” I looked over at the computer to see him lying in bed. His hair was piled on the top of his head, and he wore his glasses. He’d grown it out a few years ago at my request, and I couldn’t say that I hated it. It gave him an edge but also showcased his features perfectly. “You just getting home?”
“Yeah,” he answered with a smirk. “How did you know?”
“Your old man readers,” I answered, and he shook his head. Amethyst refused to accept that he needed glasses permanently and bought a bunch of readers instead. He reached up and took off the glasses. “It’s too late, Grandpa, I already saw them.”
“If memory serves me correctly, you’re barely younger than me,” he countered.
“The only thing that matters is that I’m younger than you are,” I countered and laughed. “When I hit grandma status, you’ll be great grandpa.”
“Bullshit,” he laughed.
