“Thank you.”
I was quickly getting used to him not responding when I spoke, so I wasn’t surprised when I got a nod instead of spoken words. The aroma from the tea relaxed me already. I stirred it until I was satisfied and took my first sip. Thankfully, the tea had cooled enough for me to take a full sip without burning my tongue. I wasn’t sure what to expect since Miss Lynn made this tea, but I was pleasantly surprised at how refreshing it was. Shane and I sat at the table in a comfortable silence while his mother continued to make breakfast.
“How you feel?”
“Good. I love the tea,” I answered.
It didn’t take me long to realize the infused part of the drink was starting to kick in. I’d smoked a time or two with Jade and Allen, but the effects never felt like this. I felt at ease, like I was on cloud nine.
“May I use your phone? I just wanna call my momma before she starts worrying,” I asked Shane.
When I came into the kitchen, the time on the microwave was much earlier than I thought. From how bright the sun shone, I assumed it was past nine o’clock. It was only seven forty-five and I knew my mother hadn’t even had her morning shower yet. Shane pulled his phone from his pocket and pecked at the screen before handing it to me. I knew my mother’s number by heart and began dialing before I stood to leave the kitchen.
“Hello?” she answered curiously.
“Hey, Ma, it’s me. How you feeling this morning?”
Closing the door to the guest room I’d occupied, I sat on the bed and stared out the window. A little girl who looked to be around four years old ran around with a stick in the air. When I saw bubbles, it took me to a time in my life I’d never forget. The house next door was close enough for me to see the neighbors clearly, but there was still enough yard space for both homes.
“Celeste? Whose number is this? Did you get a new phone?”
“No, Ma. I’m using a friend’s phone. My phone broke last night, but I wanted to call you to let you know. I’ll be getting another phone at some point, but yeah,” I explained, only willing to give a half truth.
“Oh okay, sweetheart. How is your morning starting and who is this friend letting you use their phone? I only know of one friend.”
“My morning is good, Momma. My friend’s name is Shane. I’ve never mentioned him to you. He’s a new friend.”
There was a pause that lingered longer than expected, causing me to call my mother’s name. She wouldn’t get too many details out of my dealings with Shane, especially while I sat in his mother’s house. It may have been a stretch to call him my friend, but more questions would’ve surely followed if I hadn’t.
“I’m here, Celeste. I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Nothing much, little girl. It’s good to hear your voice though. Nurse Nicki just came in to help me shower, so I’ll let you go. Make sure you give me a call when you get the new phone.”
“Okay, Momma. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Once I ended the call, I debated on calling Jade to check in. I hadn’t talked to her since before everything went down last night. I was sure she’d been blowing my phone up if she saw social media today. Luxe Addiction wasn’t open yet, but I wouldn’t be going in today. This would be the first day in years I didn’t go in and I felt uneasy about that. My brain needed a break and I needed to think long and hard about the mess my life had become. Before I could make a final decision, my fingers were already tapping at the screen to call Jade. I wouldn’t go into details over the phone, but I wanted her to know I was fine. Likemy mother, Jade would worry if she didn’t hear from me. The only difference was, Jade would show up to Allen’s house.
The call with Jade was so quick I barely let her say hello before ending it. I’d been out of Shane’s sight for a few minutes now and wasn’t trying to be rude in his mother’s home. Curiosity got the best of me before leaving the bedroom. The phone hadn’t locked yet, so I quickly went to his text messages and scrolled. I wasn’t even sure why I did it, but I wanted to know how many women he was dealing with. Most of the threads had a contact name, but there were a few unsaved numbers. Nothing caught my eye from what I was able to see in the previews. I was starting to think Shane had more than one phone. There was no way a man as masculine and fine as him was completely single. Everybody had somebody.
When I returned to the kitchen, Shane was at the stove with a plate in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other. Miss Lynn was now at the table with a mug of her own, reading the morning paper.
“I put a lil bit of everything on a plate for you. It’s on the table,” Shane said, tilting his head in that direction.
Nodding, I took my seat at the table and slid his phone beside me. The spread in front of me looked more than delicious in my current state of mind.
“Were you able to speak with your mother?” Miss Lynn asked genuinely.
“I was. Thank you for asking.”
“Are the two of you close? You have any siblings?”
“We are, and no. I’m an only child,” I answered honestly.
“That’s good. Shane is an only child as well. I think that’s one of my few regrets in life. I wish my husband and I would’ve had more children when we had the chance. Shane had his cousins growing up, but it’s nothing like having brothers and sisters.”
