I just wasn’t ready to tell anyone that. The thought alone was crazy, even to me.
“And how long is this going on for?” Tino asked.
“Through New Year’s. We’re going to talk about the breakup scheme at a later date. For the moment, I’m just trying to get through our first event. McKay suggested dates to help us get to know each other.”
“So, real dates throughout the duration of your fake relationship? Yeah, at this point just call her your damn woman who's pregnant and you decided to help raise the baby.”
Another reasonable option but not a solution, not for McKay’s situation.
“It sounds good, but not for her. It still leaves room for her people to ask about that bum ass nigga who left her. So, we eliminated his ass altogether to avoid that. Going forward until further notice, even if Art asks, McKay is my woman. We’ve been together for the last six months and recently found out she’s pregnant, okay?”
I wanted my boys to know the history I made up for our backstory.
“Oh no doubt, whatever you need from us. Shit, if you want pictures to use as evidence I can help with that too. You know I got that editing app,” Tino said as he leaned up, reaching to give me dap with Boss following suit.
“Yeah, BK, you already know, whatever you need. I think there’s a simpler way to handle this, but y’all grown. You gon’ fuck around and fall in love, playing.”
That’s the plan.
“Naw. In the words of McKay, it’s strictly business.”
“Okay, so she’s coming to the pumpkin patch and apple picking outing? Or whatever Art’s ass got us doing.” Boss groaned, making me chuckle. He was like me, not seeing the point of these festivities.
“Man, I’m not understanding why the hell we gotta do this shit just because his ass got married. Amber’s not my wife, so not my responsibility for making her happy,” he said.
“Speaking of, that fool needs to give me an itinerary for these so-called extra season events or we won’t be there anyway. But, yes, that’s the plan, McKay will be in attendance with me.
“Ah shit thatwecame out too fucking easy, BK. Ay, Boss, how much do you want to bet these damn fools fall in love within the first week of this shit?”
“Uh uhn, I ain’t betting against that shit happening. But I’ma put two hundred on it by the third week they’re both in love.”
“Fuck y’all. And two hundred, really? That’s all our love is worth to you?” I questioned, making this fool bust out laughing.
“Oh hell, I’ll take that bet. Make it four though and by the end of week two for both,” Tino stated as they slapped hands, locking it in while I flipped them off, making them laugh harder.
“No but seriously. Keep your dick and your heart intact and you’ll be fine. Save those wes and usses for when it’s needed to prove the relationship. Simple words like that will have you forgetting you’re single for real,” Boss said while I sipped my drink, taking in his words.
If I didn’t already have growing feelings for McKay I would take heed to what he was saying, but I was already a goner. I wanted McKay in a real way.
Chapter
Eleven
McKay
I bobbed my head to the R&B playing lowly through my speaker while I worked, going through the herbs I’d just gotten from the wholesale market I was trying out. Since I hadn’t practiced in years—well, since my apprenticeship—I was so out of the loop with where all the fresh herbs were these days. I reached out to my mentor and was waiting for her to call me back with her contact so I could get what I need to start growing my own. Where? That was another question for another day. But for now, since Mackie needed a replacement soon, I was making a tincture using the ginger, catnip, and rosemary I outsourced. The ginger I got fresh from The Marketplace and dried myself in my dehydrator I had recently purchased.
I had been using the task to distract me from my thoughts of Burkeley since he’d texted me this afternoon reminding me of our date.
A date.
I cursed myself for even calling it that instead of something more platonic like a hangout or meeting. No, my ass said date and Burkeley had been killing it since then. I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket to view his message once again.
Burkeley: McKay, I’m that kind of man who will take the time to remind you of where and who you’ll be with tonight. I’ll be by to pick you up at six. Also I hope the baby is craving Diablo’s.
Me: I said nothing fancy, Burkeley!
And just as I did when he never texted me back earlier, I grunted my frustration at Burkeley ignoring me.
