Chapter
One
Eli (Pronounced L E) Iyesha Tate
My nerves tooka deep and anxious plunge when I went outside and noticed my car was gone. I lived in a nice, quiet, and safe neighborhood, so it never would have crossed my mind that there was a possibility anyone would have stolen my car. Plus, it didn’t help that it was a little Mini Cooper that most people didn’t like anyway. Usually, I kept my car in the garage, but since I was stopping by the house just to grab my guitar, I parked in the driveway.
My first thought was to check the cameras then call my roommate and best friend, Natasha, to see if she’d heard anything about robberies in the neighborhood. I felt like if any type of crimes were committed, we would have gotten a notice through our neighborhood watch email or Facebook group.
As I tossed my purse onto the couch, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and smiled at the sight of my brother’s name. Isaac was my older brother and first friend. While I wouldn’t lie and say we had a perfect relationship, we were close, and he took care of and protected me. Truthfully, the problemswe had weren’t really because of each other but more so because of our father.
“Big brother,” I answered.
“Wassup, baby sis?”
“I think someone stole my car, Junior,” I said with a pout, leaning against the doorframe.
Isaac chuckled. “Glad I called when I did,” he grumbled before clearing his throat. “I had the car towed, baby love. It was supposed to be towed at the same time your new car was delivered, but apparently, they only had one tow truck available, so they did the pickup first.”
Relief immediately filled me . . . and then gratitude. Leave it to my big brother, the best quarterback in Tennessee Demolisher history, to get me a new car for Valentine’s Day.
“Aww, thank you, Isaac! I’m excited. What did you get me? Nothing too big, right?”
He laughed again. “Nah. I know you like that tiny ass shit. Shit look like a fucking clown car. I be waiting to see seven more people hop out behind you.”
“Hey! I didn’t ask you all that, sir. I just asked if it was something small.”
“Yes, Eli. It is. I got you . . . Well, don’t you want to be surprised?”
“Kind of already past that now, don’t you think?”
“Nah. I still want you to be surprised. Record your reaction and send it to me after it’s delivered.”
“I will. Thank you again, and Happy Valentine’s Day! How are you spending the day?”
Even though the Demolishers had lost the Super Bowl this year, Isaac opted to stay and enjoy himself, which I loved for him. I hated when he was so upset by a loss that he didn’t take the time to appreciate how great it was just to make it as far as he had. Playing in the Super Bowl was reason enough to celebrate,in my opinion, and this year, my big brother seemed to finally be on the same page.
“I met this lil shorty at the club a few nights back. Might hit her up. Otherwise, I’m chilling and resting since I’m coming home tomorrow. We been turning up all week.”
And by we, I was sure he meant him and his best friend, Falcon, specifically. While they did things with the team from time to time, they usually hung out as a duo. Falcon was the wide receiver for the Demolishers, and quite frankly, the best friends were just as powerful on the field as they were off.
“Well, I’m glad you were able to—oh! I hear rumbling outside. I think the car is here!”
“I’m about to FaceTime you.”
I pranced from one foot to the other as excitement filled me. Even though there was really nothing wrong with my old car, I was happy about the upgrade. Isaac had been upgrading my car every two years since he was drafted into the NFL almost a decade ago. I kept telling him I might as well lease the cars if he planned to do that, but he loved spending money on me.
After accepting his FaceTime request, I went outside and cheered at the sight of the mint green Mini Cooper S. I squealed and greeted the man behind the wheel of the tow truck. The sound of Isaac’s laughter was going in one ear and out of the other. I was too excited to worry about anything beyond getting the key and taking my new car for a ride. I didn’t care how much Isaac or anyone else teased me about my love for small and uniquely built cars. They brought joy to my heart, and if I was forced to drive, it would be something I liked.
I signed the necessary documents and accepted the keys, then talked to my brother for a little while longer. He was a little peeved that I was spending Valentine’s Day alone, but thanks to his gift, I no longer cared about that. My boyfriend’s daughterwas born on Valentine’s Day, so it didn’t bother me when he said he was spending the day with her.
“I’m just saying, baby sis,” Isaac continued after I’d grabbed my guitar, locked the door, and headed back outside. “You said Justin’s daughter is five, right?”
“Right.” I agreed, nodding as if he could see me.
“Don’t she have an eight o’clock bedtime or some shit? He has all day to plan something for her and still make time for you. That’s what you do when you have multiple priorities. Even if it was an early brunch or late dinner. I know he ain’t gon’ be with his daughter literally all day today. That’s lazy, and it sounds like bullshit to me.”
I huffed as I started the car, knowing there was nothing I could do to change his mind about Justin. He hadn’t liked him since the moment they met. Being honest, a part of me was still with Justin just because Isaac told me not to be with him. Justin and I had been together for a year and a half now. He hadn’t done anything bad enough to make me leave him, but the excitement and honeymoon phase started to fizzle around the year mark. I didn’t know when our expiration date was, but I could be honest and admit we had one.
