When I went to acknowledge him, commotion not far from us caught our attention. Since it was so dark out, it was hard to make out faces, but when the voices stepped closer to the streetlight, I saw Spinna’s face and Serenity not too far from him. She wasn’t the woman doing the yelling, so I kept my gaze in their direction until Celeste came into view.
“Allen, fuck you! I fuckin’ hate you and wish you would leave me the fuck alone and stay where you’re happy at! I’m tired of this shit!” Celeste yelled, pain laced through every word.
“Baby, it’s not like that. We were only talking. Nothing else happened.”
“If nothing else happened, why the fuck are there pictures all over the blogs with your lips on her?” she countered, pointing her finger toward Serenity.
“I’m sorry, Celeste. I love you so fuckin’ much, baby.”
One of his homeboys came up and my attention was pulled away by the headlights coming in our direction. The driver’s side window rolled down and a brown skinned woman spoke to Tripp.
“Come get yo’ ass in the car. You stay thinkin’ you need to be outside somewhere,” she spat playfully.
I didn’t get a good look at her, but I for sure saw the pink bonnet on her head. She also had on a pair of black framed glasses, but that was all I could make out.
“Woman, don’t be pullin’ up on no bullshit. Nobody told yo’ ass to be grown and come get me. Anyway, bae, this my homeboy, Shane. Shane, this my lil baby, Marissa. If she act right, maybe I’ll keep her around long enough for her to earn that sis title,” he joked.
“How you doin’, miss lady? Text me when y’all make it in safely.”
“Bet, stay safe, bruh.”
Before they were even out of the parking lot, I was in my truck and pulling out of my parking spot. Turning onto the main road, I damn near slammed on the brakes when I saw Celeste standing on the sidewalk. Her head was buried in her phone and I could tell she was crying. Hitting the button to turn on my hazard lights, I pulled over and got out of my truck.
“Celeste? Is that you?” I questioned.
I walked up slowly, with my hands up so she’d know I wasn’t trying to harm her. Once I was a little closer, her shoulders relaxed and she let out a breath of relief.
“Shane? What are you doing out here?”
“I was at the club tonight. I was on my way home and noticed you over here. Why are you outside this late, and alone? Where’s your car?” I threw out.
“I didn’t drive here. I was so mad I couldn’t drive, so I took a U-Ride. I’m trying to order another, but they keep switching my damn driver!” she cried.
“Let me take you home.”
“No. I’m okay.”
“Where’s Spinna?”
Her head snapped at my question and she didn’t answer me. All I got was a head shake that signaled she wouldn’t be answering me.
“Celeste, let me take you home. If not home, at least somewhere safe. All I know is I’m not leaving you out here to wait for no damn U-Ride,” I stated honestly.
“Why do you care? You don’t even know me!”
“I don’t know you, but we’re familiar. I care about the safety of a woman, period.”
I saw the exact moment her phone died and that was when she lost it.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
Throwing her phone to the ground, Celeste stomped on it until the device was in pieces. She was spiraling and I’d seen enough.
“I’m gonna take your hand and walk you to the passenger side of my truck. Is that okay?” I quizzed in a low tone.
Her beautiful face was stained with old tears and her eyes were red and puffy. Even in the middle of having a breakdown, Celeste exuded nothing but beauty. Her hair was curled the same way it had been when I saw her last week and her graphic T-shirt and cotton shorts let me know she had probably been chilling before all of this. Carefully, I reached out and grabbed her hand. When she didn’t resist, I gently pulled her in my direction. I opened the door with my free hand when we approached my truck and helped her inside. Rounding the truck to the other side, I slid in and turned the overhead light on the low setting.
“Do you wanna use my phone to call anyone?”
