Chapter 2
Layloni
I loved my man, don’t get me wrong. But, some days, it felt like I hated him just as much.
I was only twenty-one dealing with more than I could bear.
Me and Glen had been together since Jr high.
He just seemed to always have bad luck on his side.
Then there was my crackhead momma always saying shit like, I was just a scapegoat to him.
But what did that shit mean, when crack was a scape goat to her?
Ever since my father left her when I was fourteen.
I had been carrying her pathetic ass too; I just needed some kind of break before I became broken completely.
Calling Glen on my break for the tenth time, I sighed and put my phone back in my pocket as I limped back inside to finish off my last two hours.
My feet were hurting bad from the raggedy Chuck Taylor shoes I had on my feet.
A thunderstorm was coming, and I wanted to make sure he was going to pick me up.
Usually, I would catch the bus home and walk eight blocks until I reached the Meridian projects.
Rushing out the house to get away from one of my mother’s daily rants.
I left my damn wallet and already knew that she took my last couple of dollars that I had in it.
Dealing with drug addicts was one thing but having to live with them was on an whole other level.
I constantly had to hide shit; each time she found my hiding spots, I became exhausted.
My breaking point with Charlette was her offering to suck my man’s dick for a piece of crack, which was why I stressed to him day in and day out to not serve other feigns around her.
Shaking my head at the thought, I became frustrated with my life.
I felt the tears well up in my eyes. Blinking them back and putting on my fake smile, I relieved my manager from the register to take the next order.
It was only three of us working, so we all rotated.
I played all roles here at Tammy’s. I refused to complain when I knew it was the only job I could get and keep with no high school diploma.
Some days were easy; other days were hell here.
I appreciated my job and continued to maintain good work ethics to be able to keep it.
Glen was in and out the streets and also jail.
I couldn’t depend on his income at all. I didn’t want to either; I knew he loved me, but he was just as selfish with his money.
We struggled, and he still maintained fresh kicks and a nice car that he couldn’t even afford.
He cared too much about what the streets thought about him instead of putting his priorities in check.
“You gone take my order or keep standing there looking dumb as fuck?”
Snapping my eyes up with hell of attitude, I had to blink a couple of times at this handsome man that stood before me looking perfect.
His jet-black skin was so beautiful and smooth looking.
His white teeth aligned perfectly. He was so tall, I had to tilt my head back to stare into his midnight deep-set eyes.
The look on his face displayed he had a lot on his mind.
I humbled myself instead of cursing him out.
I took his order, then went to the back to give it to the cook.
My manager looked up at me with a smile on his face.
Touching my shoulder, he said the magic words.
“Gone and get out of here a little early Layloni. I’ll still put you down for 12 hours. You need to get a head start getting home; the rain is about to come. I can smell it.”
Shaking my head no, I finally spoke, “It’s okay Mr. Vandross. I’m not trying to leave you and Diaz hanging tonight.”
I had their backs. Just because I was tired, there was no way I was willing to leave them hanging and it was only two of them.
“Girl, gone child, we got it,” he waved me off. “Tammy just called and told us to shut down. I’m going to have Diaz put the closed sign up now. You know that thunder and rain cut off our electricity.”
He had a point. When it rained and thundered out here, things would cut off, making it hard to work or even be at home.
Truth was, I really did not want to go home, nor did I want to face the fact that my so-called man still didn’t return my calls or answer my text.
I would have to walk at least 2 hours until I made it home.
Stopping along the way to rest my feet would work, but it still got super dark.
I didn’t have a jacket nor an umbrella. It would be just my luck to start my journey home, and it start pouring down hard on me.
“Okay Mr. Vandross, I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
“You want to wait till we close, and I can give you a lift home? Or is that man of yours coming to get you?”
I told him no. Swallowing down my dumb ass pride; I prepared to gather all of my things.
Mr. Vandross and his wife, Tammy, had been like a second set of parents to me.
I just didn’t believe in pushing all my problems on folks.
I was grown and I felt like I needed to handle my own shit without pushing my baggage on other people.
“Okay baby girl… make sure you text me or Tammy when you make it home.”
Nodding my head, I headed out the door looking down at my phone for clarity.
After five minutes of me calling and texting Glen, I shook my head and tucked my phone in my pocket, disappointed.
He never could come through for me when I really needed him.
Three minutes into me walking up the road, I started to feel light drizzles of rain.
I silently thanked God that I had individual braids instead of having my real hair out.
My hair was thick and coarse and would matt up by the slightest touch of water.
Picking up my swollen feet and ankles, I tried to walk as fast as I could.
The rain started coming down harder than I expected, making it hard to see which way I was walking.
Feeling frustrated and defeated, I took a seat on the wet bench and cried.
I had to force my own chin up; it was getting later in the evening, and I needed to make it home.
Standing to my feet, I kept my pace up. Humming a tune and counting my steps, it felt like I was on a marathon.
An hour into me walking, I approached a liquor store.
A tall gentleman with a hoodie walked out with his head down, avoiding the rain that was coming down hard.
I was drenched, so wet it felt like my whole body was numb.
When he looked up at me, I recognized him.
He was the mean bastard that caught me daydreaming behind the register.
Shrugging his appearance off, I picked up my pace and continued my walk until he pulled up alongside of me five to eight minutes later.
“Get in, I’ll take you home.” His face maintained a stone expression.
The way he stared at me was very demanding.
My stomach fluttered and I became nervous.
I wanted to run and jump inside of his car.
He was a stranger though, no matter how bad I wished to have a ride.
I shook my head no and thanked him for the offer.
He stepped out of his all-black Navigator truck, running his hands down his slick waves.
Standing by the passenger door, he opened it up and looked up at me, ignoring my refusal.
“Get in the car Layloni… I don’t have all damn day.”
“I said no thank you, sir.” I pondered on how the hell this strange man even knew my name.
“We can stand here like idiots; I refuse to see a lady who just got off work walk home in the pouring rain. You know how shit goes down here.”
Knowing exactly what he meant, I nodded my head in agreement. Women were raped, beaten and robbed at night if caught in a vulnerable state. The very thought made me shiver.
“How you know my name sir?”
“From the name tag.” He looked at me comically, as if I was way past dumb.
“Well, what’s your name?” I asked.
“King, now come on.”
Saying nothing else, I said a silent prayer and got inside his truck.
A part of me felt bad that I would be ruining his seats and floor.
My clothes dripped and it felt like I was stuck to his leather seats once I adjusted myself and put my seat belt on.
The seats were heated, as well as the inside of his truck.
Once he got in, he handed me his phone, which was on maps for me to put my address in his GPS.
He took off driving with no words leaving his lips.
He must have been the type of individual to only talk when it was necessary.
I was not going to push him to do anything but take my ass home.
My phone started ringing. I watched King take his eyes off the road momentarily, to glance at my phone then he focused back on the road. He was so damn handsome; his whole aura screamed power and dominance. A girl like me usually couldn’t get a man like him.
One look at him, and you could tell he sought after the model type chicks.
I wasn’t sloppy fat, but I knew I was far from skinny.
I stood at a solid 5’5, and I wore a size 16.
My body was well proportioned but, hell, this man was too damn perfect looking to be entertained by me.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I finally answered my phone, realizing it was Glen’s ass.
“Baby, I got caught up in the streets, ya heard… I’m at the house now. You still need me to pick ya up?”
His voice was so loud, I was pretty sure King heard him. Checking out his side profile his facial expression remained the same.
“It’s okay Glen, I understand… I’ll be there in a second.”