“Oh shit, my bad. But, um… you got a visitor. I told her to come in with me, but she insisted on waiting for you outside.” I frowned as my brain tried to imagine what woman would be at my house unannounced. Panic set in my chest as an uneasy feeling hit my stomach.
“Oh damn, do you think your mama would send a woman to my doorstep?” I hurriedly moved to lean out the doorframe as if I could truly see my front door from here. That simple act had me thinking about McKay though.
“Fool, Mama ain’t sent nobody, and if she did, you hiding from women now? You got something to tell me?” he said as he smirked, placing his hand on my shoulder.I forcefully nudged him off me, causing Art to burst into laughter.
“What? No! And get off me. I’m just trying to figure out who could be here.” Now I was heading out of the room to get my phone but made the greatest mistake of walking past the front window to see McKay standing on the porch. My eyes grew wide with surprise as my feet headed in her direction.
I opened the door to let her in.
“Hey, Burkeley, I apologize for just dropping by, but in my defense, I texted and called.” She chuckled nervously.
“I feel like we keep going in circles at this point. You forgot your money that night, and as I’ve told you, I don’t like owing people.” She extended the money with the invoice but it was much more than the fifty dollars I had typed. I ignored the money as I stepped aside, creating space to let her in.
“No need to apologize, please come in. I hope you weren’t out here long. I was in my office working.” She stepped in cautiously and I hated that, especially since before my ass spooked her she had moved so naturally around me.
She then looked around as if she was searching for something, no… someone.
“Not long. I pulled up with that guy.” My mouth opened and shut as I realized she was looking for Art.
“Oh yeah, that’s my brother, Art.”
“Oh, okay. Um… I was wondering if—” The loud muthafucka came busting out of the back talking, cutting McKay off, pissing me off.
“BK man, are you cool? Oh snap, my bad. I take it this ain’t a shorty Mama sent to your doorstep.” He chuckled while I scowled at him and his not funny joke.
“Bye, Art,” I said, making him kiss his teeth.
“I swear your lack of social interaction has you forgetting manners. How you doing? I’m Art and you are?” He addressed McKay, holding his hand out waiting for a shake that I blocked.
“McKay, this is my brother, you can ignore him. He was just leaving. Can you give me a minute to see him out?” I asked. McKay gave me her eyes as she nodded. By now, I was pushing Art toward the kitchen so he would go out the back door.
“Damn, I can understand why you ain’t want Mama help. Is she who you’re bringing to the functions this year? Wait until I tell?—
“Fool, will you please shut the hell up and get out? We haven’t gotten that far yet, so don’t go telling nobody shit.”
Which was a lie. We had and McKay shut me down.
True, but she came to you this time.
Only to pay a debt.
That was what I told myself, but hopefully there was another reason for her being here.
“Oh damn. Okay, well let me head out so you can handle your thing. We’re weeks from the pumpkin patch and I’m looking forward to you bringing your new lady friend. Remember, spending money goes a long way.” He was talking while I was pushing his ass out the door, praying McKay hadn’t heard him.
By the time I made it back to the living room, McKay had ventured over to the front room where my plants were, touching the leaves on the spider plant.
“It’s called a spider plant that I named Lou,” I called out to her, causing her to jump slightly. I quickly apologized for my action.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” She turned toward me, giving me her beautiful face, causing me to smile at her natural glow. McKay truly was breathtaking.
“No, it’s okay. I hope you don’t mind me snooping in your space. I couldn’t really look the last time I was here. You have quite a few beauties in here.”
I closed the space between us, getting closer to her.
“Not at all. My babies are on display for a reason. Would you like something to drink? I have water, orange juice, milk?” She snickered, granting me a view of her smile.
“Burkeley, who offers someone milk?”
