“I’m sure,” I told her.
She sighed, then nodded. “You’ll move back into the house?”
“Of course. Plus, my dad’s been asking for me to come back for a while now. I think it’s time.”
My mother still had our home in Solaire, so we always stayed there when we were visiting the States. She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me deep into her chest. “My sweet baby. You know I want to convince you to stay here with me, but I can see a storm brewing in your eyes. So, I want you to do what’s best for you. Even if that means going back to Solaire for a while.”
The sound of my engine purring relaxed me. I merged onto the interstate and pressed the pedal to the floor. I dodged in and out of traffic like laws or speed limits weren’t a thing. Some people honked their horns at me because of how close I was cutting it every time I switched lanes. I chuckled without a care in the world.
My music stopped blasting when a call from my sister came through. “Yes, Katana?” I answered, already annoyed. The girl had been on my phone, irritating me all day about my mama’s surprise birthday party. She was acting like she couldn’t make any decisions without me, so I was stuck with helping her choose cutlery, decorations, and the menu, like I gave a damn about anyof it. I just wanted to fund it, but no. Tana was determined to involve me.
“Unt unh. Don’t be answering the phone like I’m getting on your nerves or something,” she replied after sucking her teeth.
“Um, you are. You are literally getting on my nerves. What you want now? I’m already on the way.”
She chuckled. “Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure you were still coming.”
I shook my head, cutting off a Honda that looked like it was one putt-putt away from giving out. I saw the girl in the driver’s seat flick me off through my tint, causing me to chuckle. I was a menace behind the damn wheel, so I jumped in front of her and slowed completely down. When she tried to get over into the left lane, I hopped over and did the same thing. This was pure entertainment to me and made driving that much more fun.
“Tai, are you even listening to me?”
“Nah, I ain’t,” I replied honestly.
“You get on my damn nerves. I said I found this floor decal I want to order for the party.”
I shrugged as if she could see me. “Okay, order it then, girl. Why you bothering me for real?”
“’Cause I miss you.”
I finally eased up on the girl with the fucked-up Honda and shot off like a rocket. “You aI miss youlie. Yo’ ass wants something.”
I only made it about half a mile down the road when I heard sirens behind me. I huffed a breath and slowly eased onto the shoulder. I flopped back in my seat, already knowing what time it was. I rolled the window down as the state trooper strolled toward my car with a smug grin.
“Good evening, Mr. Kingston.” He greeted me by name without needing any identification.
I glanced to the right and saw it was Officer Striker. I couldn’t even say how many times this man had pulled me over. You’d think he was the only trooper in the damn city. I knew for a fact he loved it whenever my car came up on his speed radar. It was a guaranteed payday every time.
I sighed. “Can you hurry this up and write me the damn ticket?”
He chuckled. “You don’t get tired of paying speeding tickets?”
“You don’t get tired of writing them?” I replied smartly.
“Not when the name Kingston is on them.” He thumped his fist on the top of my car. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Don’t do that shit again!” I yelled out.
He never asked for my license or registration because these cops knew me by name. All of my paperwork was official and up-to-date. The only thing they could ever do was write me a ticket, and since I was having my way, I just paid them off. It was like rinse and repeat at this point.
“Who the hell were you talking to?” Katana asked.
I forgot her ass was on the phone because she’d gotten so quiet, with her nosy ass. “I know you were listening. You don’t know how to mind your own business.”
“You are my big brother. Therefore, you are my business. Yo’ ass needs to stop driving like a maniac.”
I allowed my eyes to drift closed. “And yo’ ass needs to stop calling me to waste my time. You don’t got a man you can sit on the phone with?” I teased her.
“Fuck you, Tai. You always actin’ like you don’t want to be bothered by me, but let me go missing on your ass. You be blowing my phone up like you my man.”
