Sitting forward, I watch her car pull away and rage boils inside me. Clare’s skanky ass bounds up the front path and with the click of her heels tapping the concrete, the urge to get in her face takes over.
She looks pissed, but I’m more than pissed with her right now.
“Where’s Tariq?” she snaps as she climbs the porch steps.
“I thought he was with you. Why was Amelia dropping you off?”
It was her first day at college today, that and her being pregnant, she would’ve been tired as fuck, she shouldn’t have been out driving at this time of night. Not for any reason.
“Your dick of a friend left me down in hobo central on my own. Amelia picked me up.”
I dig out my phone as she disappears inside the house. Tapping on Tariq’s number, he answers on the second ring.
“Where the fuck are you?” I snap.
He had one job to do tonight and that was to distribute to the dregs of the earth behind the rundown oil plant.
“I’m on my way back, ten minutes out.”
“Your girl just showed up, she isn’t happy.”
“How did she get there?”
“Amelia picked her up.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, Dar. I should’ve known she’d call her.”
“Yeah, well, if it happens again, I’m going to step in, you feel me?”
“I hear ya, I swear, it won’t happen again.”
Jermaine drops in the chair next to mine and I hang up on Tariq. Clenching the phone in my hand, I fail to understand how hard it is for him to get his shit together. He’s changing because of her and it’s becoming a liability.
“Why the fuck is she still around?” Jermaine asks.
“Fuck knows.”
“Can’t we make her disappear and let Tar think he lost her somewhere?”
Laughing, it feels fucking great to lose the edge I’ve been feeling lately. But it doesn’t last long.
“She keeps him occupied… for the most part. I want it known she’s not to drag Amelia over here again, though.”
“Done. I’ll make sure it sinks in.”
I nod and lean back in my seat. What a fucking night. What should’ve been a chilled one, has now brought everything to do with Amelia back up for me.
“You haven’t mentioned her much lately.”
“There’s nothing to say. The baby’s doing well, Amelia’s busy with her studies and I’m here.”
“And that’s still what you want?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want. It’s the way it’s gotta be.”
I can’t do this, not with him, or anyone. Instead, I say, “In future, I don’t want Clare going with Tar on drop-offs.”
“Done.”
