Braids shook her head and glanced toward me. Her shy, sweet smile was cute, but it wasn’t the one I wanted.
“I’m Kindra,” she offered, as the van door slowly began to slide open before anyone reached it.
“Fancy.” I grunted.
“Kindra is?” She pinched her nose up.
“Nah, the Houdini act on the minivan.” I gestured, a little grin winning over. “Kindra is cute, I guess.”
“You guess?” Tonya teased.
Mak swatted her ass and grabbed her arm when she tried to climb in first.
“Let them.” He nodded toward us.
“I am not squeezing my long-legged ass into that backseat.” Kindra announced, and I realized she did reach my shoulder.
I wasn’t used to that but seconded her opinion all the same. “You two are shorter get the fuck in.”
Mak glared as Tonya shot into the van, when he turned back and saw her ass he forgot his upset.
“I’m Anthony.” I cleared my throat and motioned for her to go first.
She smiled like she wanted to say something but eventually entered the van without a word.
I slid the door shut and turned my attention to Kindra, if only to avoid the woman glaring at me in the rearview mirror.
“You three been friends long?” I asked, after clearing my throat.
“We work together at the–”
“Shut up. You don’t need to tell them everything,” Debi scolded, before turning the radio dial until we’d have been left yelling at each other if we wanted to continue the conversation.
Kindra gnawed at her lip, her attention slowly shifting from the rearview mirror to me in an apologetic way. I leaned in, undeterred by Debi’s antics.
“I get it. Ya’ll are top secret agents of NASA,” I teased, bringing a finger to my lips. “I won’t tell.”
Kindra snorted, drawing a leg up onto the seat as she shook her head, “No. We just chase vitals at the nursing home in Swanwick.”
“Ya’ll are nurses?”
I’d have never guessed. Debi probably had the bedside manner of a rattle snake. I met her gaze in the mirror, and she rolled her eyes like she read my thoughts.
“Do we look like fucking nurses to you? Do you think nurses need to carpool in minivans?” Debi mouthed, starting the engine.
I wasn’t sure where we were headed, but at least the terrible music faltered for a minute.
Her logic was amusing, but I decided to try and defuse her a little, “I don’t know. My highfalutin’ ass ain’t never convinced one to give me the time of day. So, I wouldn’t know what the fuckthey drive. I’m sure there are one or two that might have kids, though.”
She stared at me, her disgusted squint not tightening, but certainly not relaxing, either.
Kindra’s hand shot out and she caressed the back of my hand and teased her fingers between mine.
“Never mind her. She’s a little funny sometimes,” Kindra whispered, pushing her arm rest up so she could get closer.
“Fuckin’ hilarious, I can tell.” I snorted.
A giggle sounded from the bench behind us, and I tried to ignore it.
