Chapter 3
C aya
After Rennix dropped me off at home, I allowed myself time to wind down and just think.
But before I knew it, I felt like a fire had been lit under me.
I found myself in my office looking for the plans I had when I first wanted to open my own shop.
I still wanted to, but the complacency of being able to care for my son and pay my bills settled me.
I didn’t want to settle anymore. I had saved more than enough money and had my degree, so now was as perfect a time as any.
I didn’t realize I had been doing my research so much until I heard keys in the lock of my front door.
That was one of two people, either my sister or my mother.
Being that my mother was halfway across the country with my son, I knew it was Cylah.
She was in her third year at the university about thirty minutes away, which meant I saw her more often than not.
If Cylah didn’t need a couple dollars, then she needed her hair done.
And if she didn’t need either of those, then she was here to raid my closet or kitchen.
“Sisterrrr!” Cylah’s voice filled the halls of my home as soon as she entered.
“In the office, lil mama,” I called out, looking up from the computer at my sister who appeared in the doorway.
“Oh, you look cute,” she complimented, walking further into my office and taking a seat on the massive beanbag to the left of my desk.
“Thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked, pulling my glasses off and setting them on the desk next to my computer.
I closed my computer and focused all my attention on her.
Cylah looked just like me, except she was a bit lighter with big, babydoll eyes.
They held so much innocence that one look at her and you just wanted to protect her from all this world had to offer.
“I just needed a break from campus. Shit’s too hectic.”
I nodded, aware that it was finals. She was almost out for the summer, but her last class, an eighteen-week course unlike all the other fifteen-week ones, was dragging. “I get it, but you’re almost done for the summer.
“Yeah, I’m counting down the days. I told Mama I was staying in the city with you, and shockingly, she didn’t throw a fit. She was surprisingly calm.”
I chuckled. “That’s because she needs a break from your ass too. And don’t you do this every year?”
“Not true. You know I’m her favorite, but I think she has a lil boyfriend.”
I shrugged. “Which would explain why she doesn’t call me as much. She needs somebody though.”
Cylah’s eyes bounced between me and her phone before she spoke again. “If you say so. I just can’t think of Mama like that. Just like I can’t think of you like that. Speaking of, who was that man in your bed when I called you last night?”
“My friend, lil nosy ass girl.”
“A friend who shares your bed. You yourself told me that the ones you share you?—”
“I know what I told you, but Rennix is different. He’s actually my friend.” I hated that I constantly caught myself defending the platonic nature of our friendship to everybody, including myself. I mean… the attraction was there, but he wanted one thing and I wanted another.
“Mhmm. He was cute though, in that stained Chipotle bag type of way.”
“Girl, what?” I was confused by her poor ass use of a metaphor.
“Means a tatted man, Cay.” She giggled at my ignorance.
“Also, are you babysitting Adonis in the mornings this summer or do I need to look for a sitter?” I wasn’t na?ve enough to think that just because she was staying with me she was a live-in babysitter. Cylah was young with a life of her own.
“Most of them I got you, but on the days I can’t ,I’ll let you know ahead of time. Is that okay?”
I nodded. “Perfect. I think I’m gonna put a lot of energy into finally opening a shop this summer.”
“Really? That’s always been your dream. I’m so happy for you.” She grinned big.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome and I’m down to help you whenever you need me,” she assured, eyes finding the screen of her phone again. Something was wrong.
“What’s wrong, Cy?”
She looked up from her phone and sighed.
“It’s Drew. He’s been acting weird lately.
First he said he needed space and wanted to forge his own path through college and I was cool with that.
Well… maybe not cool. I was here on your couch crying and watching Pretty Woman with you and Harlem.
I swear I gave that man his space, Cay, now he wants to know where I am twenty-four-seven.
Yesterday he sent me a request to share locations and even had the ner?—”
“Lemme stop you right there. Nope. I can’t tell you how to live your life, or any of your choices, but I’ve been right thus far.
Don’t play this game with that boy. You’re young, Cy.
Not nan one of these young ass boys deserve that much energy.
At your age all they know how to do is play games, so don’t get caught up in the I love yous.
Shit, even at my age men are still in that phase. ”
She nodded. “I hear you.”
“Good. Now that part of business is up. How much do you need?”
She laughed. “I truly came to raid your fridge and lay low. Don’t need any money right now, big sis, but if you’d like to send a few dollars to my account that would be much appreciated.”
I cackled. “Okay.”
She and I talked for a while longer before it was time for me to start getting dressed to meet my girl for dinner.
Even though Harlem had Kinga and the twins, she and I still had a standing dinner date at least once a week.
I had already threatened Kinga about keeping it, to which he waved me off like a gnat.
He did that shit every time I threatened his big ass about her.
By the time I was dressed to meet Harlem, my sister was passed out on the couch while her phone lit up over and over on the couch near her head.
I already knew it was Drew, her high school love I had told her not to go off to school with.
She was young and didn’t listen, now here we were.
Either way it went, she was my sister, so I had her back regardless.
I locked up and left soon after I threw a blanket on her.
The entire drive to dinner I talked to my mama and baby on FaceTime.
I missed my son something crazy, but I was grateful for my mother.
She was a big help any time I needed her and she didn’t mind him.
She was the help his father wasn’t. Adonis spending a few weeks with my mother helped me a lot, giving me time to myself and time to work around the clock for a while during prom, wedding, and graduation seasons.
My standing dinner with Harlem was at Willows. So of course when I walked in the door, she was already seated in our usual booth, sipping what looked like water.
“Why are you never on time?” she asked, looking away from her phone to me.
“Traffic. Everybody isn’t a speed demon. You have been with Kinga so long you don’t stop at red lights or stop signs. You blow through them.”
She cackled. “Not true.”
“Yeah, right. Remember I’ve been in the car with you.”
She laughed and so did I. “Anyway, how are you?”
“I’m here. I miss my baby and I’m ready for him to come home. Two, Cylah is at the house.”
“Your mini? Is she still sulking over that boy?”
“Nope, from how she explained it, he’s borderline stalking.” I laughed, looking around the semi-empty restaurant. This used to be one of the most popping spots in the city, but when the owner's nephew and son died a few years back, so did her business.
“Didn’t I tell her he’d do that if she ignored him?”
“You did, but you also knew from experience.” I winked in her direction, referring to her nothing ass ex.
I couldn’t stand his ass and I was so grateful when she was finally done with him for good.
Now Kinga, I loved him for her. He loved and protected her and his kids with everything in him, and that was evident.
She deserved a man who was selfish with her feelings, and most of all, selfish with her.
She nodded. She was about to speak, but the waitress approached our table. Once she introduced herself as Andy and took our drink orders, Harlem and I were left alone again.
“So, Rennix.” She crossed her arms across her chest and just looked at me.
“What about him?”
“What not about him? He took you home that night and I have been waiting for you to say something, very much something, but you said nothing. That means one of two things because you don’t like to be wrong. As a matter of fact, you don’t even lik?—”
“We’re friends.” I didn’t mean to smile so widely, but I couldn’t help it given the expression on her face.
“So you can’t date a club owner, but you can befriend them? Girl bye. You’re making up the rules as you go.” She waved me off just as Andy returned with our drinks.
I laughed. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
I detailed the last two times I had seen Rennix, and of course by the time I was finished she had a toothy grin. “Friends, my ass, y’all will be fucking by Thursday .”
“Why Thursday?”
She shrugged. “Seems feasible.”
“Well… we won’t. I mean the friends thing. He’s not looking for anything serious and I’m not looking for what he’s looking for.”
“And you and him talked about this?”
I nodded, glancing around the restaurant again. Though there was no one here, I couldn’t help but feel like somebody was watching me. That probably sounded crazy, but there was a feeling I got when eyes were on me, like the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“Then alright, you have a friend. I’m happy for you.”
“No, you’re not. You want me to jump that man’s bones, then bust his windows when he tries me.”
She laughed so loud I think she almost choked on the spit in her mouth. “No, actually I don’t. When you did that reckless shit, I was right next to you, and won’t hesitate to be next to you again. However, I’m pregnant again and my kids’ father slash husband will have my ass.”