“Good and dark, but were you able to choose your quartz for the counter? I wanna get that ordered so when we finish the counters, we can get it laid.”
“Uh yeah, I did. But since you’re talking about my colors, I might go with that one you suggested.”
We shared another laugh. “I’m following your lead, son, but I just want you to know it’s gonna be dark as hell in there if you don’t go a little lighter on something.”
I nodded, understanding what he said. “I got you. I’ll let you know soon.”
He showed me what else he and his team had worked on, explaining the concept of tuckpointing and sealing the windows. I had been unaware all this went into building a home. I fucked with the fact that I wasn’t only writing a check when it came to Jason’s work. He was also explaining the things one never considered when buying a home to renovate. I always learned something when we discussed progress.
After chopping it up with him for a while, I made my way to my brother’s house to see about my lil bossy ass best friend. Iwas a minute from pulling up when I decided to call Rim. She was used to me going missing after I stayed at her crib. It was just our thing and there was never a promise or expectation for anything else between us…until now.
“You ran out of here like you had somewhere to be.” Her voice filled my car as soon as she answered.
“I did. I had to meet with somebody. Now I’m wondering what you got going on tonight. I’ma have lil mama, and once I get her aggy ass in the house, I ain’t taking her back out,” I mused, thinking about getting her ass undressed once we got in. Romance dropped clothes from the front door to wherever she settled.
Karim laughed. “Don’t be talking about her.”
“Shidd, shorty is just stressful.”
“Well, the apple doesn’t seem to fall too far from the tree, does it? Because you’re just as stressful. What are you cooking?”
“Who said I was cooking, Karim?”
“You’re inviting me over. Anytime I’ve ever been invited anywhere, that meant somebody was cooking for me.”
“Don’t tell me that shit.” I screwed my face up. I didn’t wanna hear about anybody else cooking for her or inviting her over to their place.
She laughed. “To think of it, I’ve never been over to your place before.”
“You coming or what, Rim?” I asked, knowing she was about to start her shit.
“You want me to?” There she started.
“If I didn’t want you to, I wouldn’t have invited your ass to come. Don’t get to being complicated because you’re feeling me and don’t know how to let things happen.”
Laughter expelled from her lips. “Shut up. I’ll be there. What do you want me to bring?”
“Just you and your mama if you wanna bring her too. You know mama was feeling me,” I joked, to fuck with her.
“Reminisce, stop playing with my mama. She was just being nice. She doesn’t like you for real.”
I could hear the lie through her teeth. “Yeah whatever, not the same mama who made me promise to come to dinner one of these days before you got to whining and shit.” I pulled into the parking garage of G’s building.
“I told you she was being polite.”
“Yeah, aight. What you getting into today?”
“Nothing really. I’m about to handle something for one of my brothers before I go try this aerial fitness shit with Kaydence.”
I laughed. “Oh, so you ’boutta come over all sore and shit.”
“I hope not, but you never know. Kay always wants to try some off the wall shit. Last month she had me in hot yoga. It was ninety-nine degrees in there and we were doing fucking yoga poses. My legs hurt for days after that.”
I chuckled. “I just bet they did. Don’t go fuck yourself up.”
“I’ll try not to. What time you want me to come your way? And you do know you have to send me the address, right?”
“Whatever time you finish. Uh, bring a bag or something, that way yeen tryna rush out my shit top of the morning.” I didn’t know why I felt so put out by what I was saying to her, especially when everything I was saying seemed to flow from my lips like it was meant. Then with all the ease in the world, I dropped her my address. It wasn’t like she couldn’t get it on her own. She could get the president’s exact coordinates if she wanted. For me it was the fact that I had willingly given it to her.
