“I know and I can handle it and them,” she assures.
“It’s seven more dollars an hour,” I tell her and I see her eyes turning like she’s calculating the amount.
A huge smile slowly spreads on her face and she nods. “I can do that,” she admits with a grin.
“I know you can. Congrats and let me know when you get those ads posted.”
Upon standing, she says, “Oh, they will be posted in fifteen minutes. Your new manager is on it.”
“Your salary isn’t changing till June first,” I tell her as she walks out of my door.
“I know, just practicing.”
She closes my door and I open my emails. It’s after three and I’m just getting to my laptop. I spent most of the day out of the office. First, I stopped by the new spot for a few hours to meet with the foreman from Powers Construction. Then, when I got here, I spent the next few hours outside with the guys. I even joined in on a full detail of a F-350. Sometimes, I have to show them the boss can get his hands dirty and they respect me more for that.
I’m thirty minutes into going through my emails when Kadean walks in. He’s the only person who doesn’t knock. I look up and see him walking toward me holding a phone out.My phone.
“You left this on the stool in the waxing bay,” he says when he places it on my desk.
“Oh shit. Thanks.”
Uninvited, he sits down. “When you gon’ take me to the new spot?” he asks.
“You really want to see it?”
“Hell yeah. My brother’s got a second shop. I most def want to see that shit,” he says, then he sighs. After slouching in the chair, he rubs his hand down his face. “Peaches is pregnant,” he utters.
I’m glad she told him before I had to.
“She told me last night and it’s mine. I haven’t even told Vontrice,” he says and I guess my expression reveals I don’t remember or know Vontrice. “Shawty from the kitchen…Monday,” he says, refreshing my memory. “I’m feeling her but this shit gon’ change that.”
“Having a baby changes everything,” I add.
“Don’t I know it. Dutch goes through it with his baby moms.”
“That’s ’cause he’s a clown and don’t handle his responsibilities.”
“Whatever it is, I’m not trying to have that shit. I gotta figure this shit out and I’m going to need more hours.”
“You can work as many hours as you want. You know that, but look, if I put you on the schedule, you have to show up. No calling in, no bullshit, or rolling in late and dipping early. I can’t run my business like that,” I tell him honestly.
“I know. I know,” he says while shaking his head. He stands. “I’m staying till closing today.”
“Okay. Let Trista know and talk to her about the schedule next week. Let her know the days you want to work.”
“Hell, all of them bitches. I need bread,” he says before reaching his hand out. We dap. “Troy ’bout to go get fish sandwiches from Phat Fish. You ate?”
“Nah but I’ll grab something.”
When he walks out, I grab my phone and see I missed three texts from Adora’s pretty ass. She’d responded to my text from earlier.
Me: Enjoy your spa day, pretty lady.
Adora: Thanks. Won’t you stop by after work.
Adora: I mean, only if you want.
Adora: If you can’t, it’s cool, but if yes, room 545.
