“This is legit and I can make a lot of money.”
“Doing what?”
“Buying a box truck,” he says with raised eyebrows like I’m not understanding him. That’s not the issue. I understand him clearly; he just hasn’t said shit that makes sense. So I make sure my words are clear.
“So, you spend what sixty thousand on a truck and then what the fuck next? You don’t have a damn license right now,” I grit.
“It’s not sixty. I only need twenty-five, then we start making money. I won’t drive it until I get my license fixed,” he says, still not being clear enough.
“Where are you getting the twenty-five? Who the fuck is we? And what the hell are you going to do with the damn box truck?” I ask, unable to hide my building frustration.
Our fine server comes back with the check, and as soon as she places it on the table, I pull out three bills and place them down.
“Keep the change,” I tell her.
“You didn’t look at it,” she says. “I put something extra on it for you,” she says while smiling. “I’m off at eleven.” Her eyes look down at the check so I lift my money and look at it. Her name and number are written on it. Shawty is staring hard, so I grab the tab, fold it, and place it in my pocket. “Thanks, and use the number.”
When she walks off, I give my attention back to Kadean. His little ass is grilling me.
“I’m listening,” I tell him.
“Okay. Well, it’s gonna be me, Dutch, and his cousin, Bayshon. We’re going to pressure wash those big ass houses in Chandler Heights. I’ll be washing only at first.”
“You don’t need a box truck to pressure wash houses. You can use a trailer to haul the equipment. Ay, whose idea was this anyway?” I ask.
“Mine,” he huffs. “And it’s a good one. Xai, you got your business, your own shit, and I want mine.”
“I had my own money to start my business,” I remind him.
“Yeah. And we know how you got that money too,” he mumbles but I hear him. “You know what. Fuck it. You take everything from me anyway. Man, I’m out,” he grits before rushing out of the booth.
I just let him go.What else can I do?If I chase him, there ain’t shit I can say to him anyway. Shit, he’s partially right. It’s my fault that it’s just been me and him since he was eleven. I slipped up, bad, and I’ve been dealing with that mistake and the guilt from it since.
After pulling my thoughts from the past, I grab my cell from the table and stand. I head to the door, passing our server,Narissa, on the way out. She mouths “call me” and I nod slowly before I walk out.
She might be just what I need to keep my mind from wandering back to some shit I need to forget.
“Your phone,”Narissa utters.
I pull my arm from under her body. My cell phone is vibrating on the table by her bed. I didn’t even hear it. I was knocked the hell out. When I left McCall’s, I hit Narissa once I got back to my crib, and an hour after her shift ended, she invited me over.
According to the time flashing on the digital clock on her table, it’s almost four in the morning and no one should be hitting my line. So without even looking at my cell, I press the button on the side to stop the vibrating. However, when I start to turn my body back to face Narissa’s naked one, the shit starts vibrating again.
“Please, get it,” she begs.
Annoyed as hell, I grab my cell and see it’s Kadean. It’s late as hell and he knows I hate answering my phone in the middle of the night.
“What?” I answer.
“I fucked up. I fucked up. Come get me,” he cries frantically.
Quickly, I get out of the bed and trek to her bathroom. “What happened?” I ask once I close the door.
“It’s bad, Xai. Real bad and I can’t tell you on the phone. Just come get me and bring the truck, please,” he begs. He’s really crying so I know this shit must be real bad.
“Where are you?”
“That back road to the mountain. Right after that big curve. You gotta come right now. My phone’s ’bout to die.”
