I ignored it.
I’ll see him when I get home.
20
OCEAN
I stared at my phone, trying to keep my cool as I sat on the edge of Ol’ School’s couch.
This was the second time I’d tried to call Skye, and it went straight to voicemail.
I didn’t know whether to be worried or be pissed off.
Given the events that had happened recently, worrying was at the top of my list. For all I knew, someone could be fucking with her life again.
Just as I was about to tell Ol’ School that I had to leave, I got a text.
Skye: Hey. I’m working.
Ocean: Working? With who?
Skye: Noni. She asked me to fill in at the last minute.
Ocean: Oh.
I wanted to say some other shit, and question why she didn’t just let me know. But my ass was already on thin ice. I didn’t need to push it.
Ocean: Meet up with me when you’re done. We can go grab dinner.
Silence.
My eyes didn’t move from my phone, waiting for little dots to appear on the screen. But nothing came.
“What’s got your face all scrunched up over there?” Ol’ School asked, finally breaking away from whatever bullshit show he was watching.
The TV was loud as hell, too, reminding me to make a mental note to get him scheduled with a doctor to check on his hearing.
“Nothing for you to concern yourself with.” I stood up from the couch and nodded toward the kitchen. “I hope you’re ready to eat good this afternoon. My boy, Sutton, is one of the best chefs in the business.”
“I can tell.” Ol’ School rubbed his stomach. “Is that catfish I smell?”
“Sure is.”
“Good, I can’t wait to chow down. Let me go put my teeth in.” He scooted to the edge of his lounge chair, then stood up.
I laughed. “Yeah, you go do that.”
The doorbell rang.
His eyes lit up. “Who’s that?”
“It’s a surprise. You go grab your teeth. I’ll get the door.”
He hurried off to his bedroom, a little extra pep in his step.
“Well, hello,” Aunt Myra said as she strolled into the house carrying a brown box with Ol’ School’s new puppy bouncing around inside.
“Hey.” I kissed her cheek. “Thanks again for agreeing to meet me here.”
