Chapter 7
keep the remote
Desmond
I manage to get Nia through checkout without running into Lila and sigh in relief as the night air hits our skin. We’re almost to her car when she gasps, turning toward me.
What’s wrong?
“Oh God. I’m still wearing…the toy,” she whispers in my ear.
“Shit. Uh, don’t worry about it. It’s on the house,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“But it doesn’t work without the remote.”
Damn.
“Sorry. You’re right about that. Uh—here.” I say, tucking the remote in her hand.
“What if—I mean…what’s the distance on this thing? Like, does it work if we aren’t in the same place at the same time?
My eyes widen at her response and I look over my shoulder to make sure no one overhears us.
“Yeah, it can work from a distance. There’s an app, actually. You should download it.”
“I think I will, if you’re willing to keep the remote,” she suggests, placing the remote back into my pocket with a smirk. “And if you give me your number,” she adds, handing me her phone.
“Bet.” I type my number in, saving my contact as “Daddy Green Eyes.”
She takes her phone and chuckles to herself. “Alright, Sir. I’m really glad I came to class today. I got a lot more than I bargained for.”
“Me too. Thanks for coming…in more ways than one,” I tease, opening her car door.
“Thank you for letting me,” she quips with a wink, lowering herself into the driver's seat. “See you around, Desmond.”
“I’ll be seeing you. Drive safely and feel free to use that number.”
“I will. Good night,” she purrs, offering a wave.
“Good night, Nia.” I shut the door and step back, keeping an eye out as she exits the lot.
I stand outside for a moment, enjoying the fresh air and the silence of the nighttime when I remember to send a text to Rodney.
Me:
Long story short.
I hosted a class, made her come, and gave her my number. I’ll call later.
Rodney:
Now, who’s the anticlimactic muthafucka?I’ll be waiting for this story time.
Me:
My fault, OG. lol
A figure appears, startling me. Lila’s sneaky ass.
I have no clue when she came out here or how long she’s been watching.
She looks me up and down and says nothing before pulling out her disposable weed vape and taking an excessively long drag, playing it off until she breaks out in a fit of coughs and sneezes.
“That’s what your nosy ass gets.”
“That’s why I took your last string cheese, motherfucker,” she says as she settles down. “You can thank me later, but I told you she liked you. Aren’t you glad you listened to me?”
“Why are you smoking on the job? Unprofessional, I swear,” I taunt, changing the subject.
“It’s fucking legal. Grow up,” she says, blowing pineapple-scented vapors at me.
“Grow down. And order me some more cheese. All that goddamn power walking has you eating all my snacks.” I scoff, heading back toward the entrance.
“Fine,” she sighs, following behind me. “Maybe I do walk a little too fast,” she admits, stopping me in my tracks. “Someone complained,” she sighs.
“Of course they did,” I cackle. “I’ll delete it from our records.”
“Why?” she asks, staring up at me.
“‘Cause nobody gives my sister a hard time but me,” I say, approaching the front doors.
“You get on my damn nerves.” She cackles.
“I love you too. Now, walk even faster out of spite. We got a business to run.”
“Bet.”
There’s never a dull night between these four walls.
the end