“What? Aura, now is not the damn time. Why do you play so much? Like forreal. This is too far.”
“When have I ever played ‘bout you? It’s a rhetorical question, so you don’t have to answer. Wrap that cheap ass food up and go home or Pryce taking the car, and I’m coming to get you myself. You don’t have long to think about it. You know that angry nigga don’t have no patience, and he’s charging me by the minute.”
“You are insane! And this shit is not cool.”
“I might be. You wanna not do what I asked and find out?”
The fact that he even knew where I was let me know that he wasn’t above pulling up himself, so I didn’t want to test him. I was fully convinced that this man had a tracker in my ass.
“And in case you’re wondering, yes, I track you. You’ll never know how, just know that you’ll always be safe. In that pretty little head of yours, you think you’re not mine, but I can assure you you are. Now, go in thereand tell the school safety nigga that Dada said it’s time to come home now.”
I sucked my teeth and glanced over at Pryce, who looked bored and ready to go.
“He don’t even work in school safety.”I argued on the goofy nigga’s behalf who hadn’t even come out to check on me.“He’s a DJ. You think you know it all, and you don’t.”
Aura laughed.“That’s what that nigga told you? Yeah, you gotta come home, Ma. If you can’t spot game from a lame, then I’m not doing my job. Dwayne Edison works school safety Monday through Friday and DJs at retirement homes when they have events. I’m mad you let that nigga gas you. Then again, that shit wasn’t going no further than this anyway. Go get your stuff. I’m already at $400 sitting here on the phone with you.”
On top of being pissed, I was now embarrassed. I didn’t bother to ask how he knew all this information about Dwayne. I just handed the phone back to Pryce. “Put my goddamn car down,” I demanded with my lips tight. “I’m going to get my stuff.”
Pryce nodded and put the phone to his ear.“Yeah. She going back in.”
I stomped back inside and snatched up my bag and coat without saying a word to Dwayne, who was still seated and looking dumb.
He blinked. “You good? Did they take it?” he asked with his eyes scanning the restaurant.
“No. They didn’t, and even if they did, it’s clear that you wasn’t doing shit.”
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but you went outside, and the host came back and gave me this note.” He handed me a white piece of paper.
I cut my eye at him before reading it.
This city is big, but my reach is bigger. The woman you’re out with is spoken for. I’m not usually a warning typa nigga, but I’ll oblige this time due to the circumstances. I hope you enj–wait, scratch that. You better not had enjoyed shit wit’ my woman. But yeah, it’s a wrap on this weak ass date. If it’s a problem, there’s a shooter outside waiting to test ya gangsta. However you wanna play it, Dwayne.
-The Boss, A. Sullivan
I folded the paper and put it in my purse.
“You coulda put a nigga up on game that you had a crazy dude lurking, Danae.”
I frowned and rolled my eyes. “Why, so you could forget about it when we got here? Just like you forgot that you said them corny ass jokes last week?” I was irritated and knew I’d hurt his feelings if I said anything further. “Have you a good night, Dwayne.”
I walked out of the restaurant without waiting for his response. The tow truck was gone, and my car was still in the lot. Sighing, I got inside and started it up. I went to pull away when my phone rang. Seeing Aura’s name on the dashboard, I hit ignore. Of course, he sent a text.
Mr.DoTheMost: I ain’t sorry, but I don’t like it when you upset either. I don’t know if you had a chance to eat but let me know when you make it in, so I can have something delivered.
Picking up my phone to text him back, I typed aggressive as hell.
Me: Use your tracker to find out cause I ain’t tellin’ you shit.
I set my phone in the cupholder and pulled off annoyed and clear that no one had ever disrupted my life the way Aura Sullivan’s ass did. I couldn’t shake his ass, and that was my goddamn problem.
CHAPTER 4
Pressure
AURA
“When she go back inside, put the car down,”I told Pryce.
