I looked up and read the handwritten message, before nodding my head like she could even see me. “Yeah, she’s got them and no I’m not bringing it to you.”
“I didn’t ask you to. I’m on my way over there. Where is my Ssiah?”
“Probably back there conning Luna out of all her pastries.”
She laughed. “I’m on my way in right now.”
When I saw her face, I hung the phone up just in time for another call to come in. Immediately I was confused when I looked at the screen and saw it was Niema calling me. It was eight and she didn’t have a shift.
“Hey sweetheart, is everything okay?” I asked immediately, worried.
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to call my brothers because they will have a fi?—”
“What’s wrong, Niema?” I asked.
“You told me I could call you if I needed anything right? My friend left me stranded at this restaurant and there are no Ubers in the area.”
“What restaurant. Share your location with me. I’m coming to get you right now.”
“Okay. And Petrinos downtown. I just shared it.” She responded quickly.
“Stay on the phone. Surah take Ssiah for me right quick.” She was just approaching my table when I stood up.
My cousin nodded. “You good?”
“Yeah, I’ll be righ?—”
“Girl bye go handle that. Ssiah can spend the night with me. I missed my munchkin.”
I hated to be handing my baby off, but I didn’t have time to fight her on it. I just nodded my head, grabbed my purse, and got out of there. I’d be sure to call her when I got in, but right now I needed to get to Niema. She sounded scared. While I drove, I made her talk to me, so I could keep her mind off the fact that she was stranded in an unfamiliar place. When you were sheltered like she was, moments like this could scar you for life.
It didn’t take me long to get to her, which was good, and we talked the entire drive. Once I had her secure in the car, I pulled away from the restaurant. She had already explained to me whathappened, and I felt bad for her, but lessons like this were necessary. Young girls needed to learn early on who their friends were and who weren’t.
“I just can’t believe she did that.” Niema was still in shock because she couldn’t believe that her friend would treat her so horribly over a guy. Shit, if you ask me, they weren’t her friends, but you couldn’t tell a teenager anything about their friends. It was especially for this age, but at the same time she needed to know.
“That wasn’t your fault, and I don’t want you blaming yourself over this. She is not your real friend and now you know that, right. It’s better to learn things like this early than too late.”
She somberly nodded her head.
I refused to just drop her off at a bus stop, because I wasn’t built that way, Instead I opted to take her all the way home. Of course, I didn’t know how far the ride was when I agreed, but I was still okay with it. He lived out near where my father’s main house was. That meant tonight I’d be spending a night at the old man’s house because I for sure wasn’t driving back to the city.
By the time I pulled onto the gated property the gates were already open and a figure stood at the bottom of a set of stairs near the house entrance.
“It’s just the housekeeper, I texted North and told him that I was on my way home.”
I nodded my head as I came to a slow stop in the circular driveway. My eyes remained on Niema, as she gathered herself to get out of the car.
“Thank you, Ommy.” She leaned over the console to hug me.
“You’re welcome, baby girl.” I hugged her back.
Once she was out of the car and walking into her house, I pulled out of the driveway and headed toward my father’s place. I needed to relieve some tension and give myself a moment, but I couldn’t yet. Everything with Argus was still fresh on my mindwhich made it hard for me to think about and even focus on anything else.
Within five minutes I was pulling into my father’s driveway and parking off to the side. My phone rang in the cupholder, snatching my attention. When I looked down to see who it was, I groaned in frustration. It was North. I had been avoiding him since I met his girlfriend, not because my feelings were hurt or anything, but because I didn’t see the point of lying. It was weird because he didn’t give off that vibe. Also because I didn't have the time for any of that right now because I had other things on my mind.
I watched the phone ring for a few before it finally stopped. Seconds later a message came through.
North: Bet.
