I wondered what he meant by that but wasn’t about to ask a question to which I didn’t want to know the answer. Mike had this salacious look on his face that made my stomach clench. He was talking about Niya like she was a piece of steak.
Mike licked his lips. “Me and Niya go way back.”
I cocked my head.Was he saying he and Niya…?
“Naw. She’s too feisty for me. Jazzy is the one who might snag me into settling down,” Travis said.
I couldn’t hold back my chuckle. Travis had been feigning for Jazmin for years. Everybody knew she would never look his way, not even once. My eyes fell on the clock. It was a little after nine. I started up the car.
“I’ve got to get going. I don’t want to miss praise and worship. And Pastor Moore’s about to start a new series on Heroes of the Faith.”
The officers stepped back. “All right. But we can’t make it a habit of letting you off the hook. Pretty soon, we might be getting dash-cams in our vehicles. We’d have to issue a ticket then. But for now, go do your church thing. Repent to the Lord for speeding, this time. We’ll swing by later to catch up.”
I gritted my teeth to hide my agitation. What’s up with people calling my relationship with God, a “church thing”? I couldn’t stand that. God was my everything. If they only knew. Serving Him wasn’t athingfor me. He was my life. But I wasn’t about to argue with them and possibly end up with a speeding ticket after all and points on my license.
Travis gave a poor rendition of a salute. “Catch you later, Chief Morrison.”
I cringed. “Stop with all that. I’m still Sean. I’m proud of my accomplishments but this title didn’t make me into the man I am today. God did.”
Travis held up a hand. “Don’t start your preaching. It’s too early in the morning for all of that.”
I wanted to say,There’s never a bad time to talk about God,but I didn’t want to come off sounding cliché and, well, corny.
“You’ve come a long way from Cyber Tooth and High Waters. You don’t talk the same and you certainly don’t look the same,” Travis teased, though his voice held pride.
I nodded. Those old nicknames hurt. I placed a tongue between the now-smaller-sized gap between my teeth. I had had a gap so wide that kids said I must have lost a tooth in cyberspace, earning me the title, Cyber Tooth. I wasn’t as bothered by High Waters because my pants never did fit me right. However, I was tall and I looked mean so nobody said it to my face. Lucky for them.
Mike chimed in. “I wish your old man was here to see you and eat his words.” He spoke with a steel-edged tone.
We all fell silent.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.
“We’ll call at the end of our shift,” Mike said. “It’s your turn to cook.”
I laughed. “Get ready for steaks and potatoes on the grill.”
The men shrugged. I knew they weren’t surprised. That’s all the cooking I had mastered.
With a wave, I shot off toward my home. Three minutes later, I pulled into the gated apartment complex and whispered, “Thank you, God.” I had been living here for about six weeks and every time I entered, I was struck by the elegance and beauty of my home. I couldn’t help but praise Him for all His blessings. I chuckled to myself. Maybe Travis was right. I was turning into one of those high fallutin’ church folks, as he called them.
I pressed the car alarm and entered the ritzy, newly-built complex suited for the upper working class. I loved the blue plush couches in the lobby, the fresh flowers, and the fruit-infused water the staff kept on hand. Every time I came through the front door, I felt I was at a five-star hotel. It never got old. I didn’t mind paying the monthly maintenance fees to keep the marble floors shiny and pay for the weekly socials. I flashed a smile at Wanda at the front desk and pretended I didn’t see a couple sisters checking me out. I strutted toward the elevator, proud to be a successful black man who had defied all the stereotypes despite his upbringing.
I had God. I had a career. I had more money than I could spend. I had a home. There was only one thing missing.
A wife.
Niya’s face flashed before me. This time, her lips were ruby red. I pushed that out of my mind and hummed a gospel tune to center my mind on God. I entered my apartment and took off my shoes before sinking my feet into the plush white carpet. I traipsed into my master suite and grabbed my Bible off my bed.
Twenty minutes later, I entered The Great Hope Deliverance Center. Sis. Charlene already had the church on its feet with her singing gift. It was hot and crowded, but I wasn’t bothered. I finagled my way through the crowd until I was in the front row at the left corner. I nodded at the keyboard player before closing my eyes and lifting my hands in worship along with the congregation.
I don’t know how long I stood there lost in His presence before I felt a consistent tug on my right leg.
I opened my eyes and looked down toward the pesky interloper of my time with God. When I saw who it was, I couldn’t disguise the breath-taking gasp.
I came down from my high, noticing a few curious eyes though most people were into worship. I kept looking until I saw her in the fourth row, fourth seat. Lakesha stood with her arms crossed, chewing her gum and rolling her eyes at me. The mile-high weave and low bangs across her tiny head did nothing to shield heat from her eyes that pierced me like the vicious Florida sun. I had to look away.
I felt another pull on my leg and sat so I could face the imposter.Herchild. He was standing right next to me. Lakesha must have told him to come stand by me.
