Chapter 5
Xai
“Momma, I should have listened to you when you first told me Rush wasn’t the right man for me.
You were so right, Momma. So right. Last night, he showed his ass and scared Averi and Romi.
I was so mad. Hell, I still am. Thankfully, they got some sleep last night but I didn’t.
I couldn’t because I can’t believe how fucking selfish he is.
He doesn’t give a damn about our daughters.
It’s always what he wants and needs. Never mind his children.
But I’m done. Really done. I’m not scheduling any more video visits with him, and after I go see him next weekend to curse his selfish ass out, I’m removing myself from his phone and visit list. And before you say it, I know its past due.
I should have been cut him off. That’s on me and I accept that,” her voice says then I hear a sigh.
“I do have some good news. The policy is getting paid. They finally proved what I already knew and the girls and I are getting the money. Thank you for that but you know I’d rather have you here and in person than any amount of money.
I miss hearing your voice, even the fussing. I’ll love and miss you forever.”
The voicemail ends and I place the phone on my desk.
According to the message, she’d left it around four this morning.
She really couldn’t sleep last night. Hell, and neither could I.
Besides my fucking teeth hurting like hell, I had to deal with Kadean and his shit.
I’m still dealing with his shit. His shift started an hour ago and he hasn’t made it in yet.
The fucked up part is he’s at my damn house.
Around eleven last night, I had to get out of my bed, drive to the Manor, and get him from his girl’s.
Peaches put his ass out after coming home after work and finding him drinking.
They’ve been together for a year, so she was with him during his last DWI case.
She only stuck around because he promised not to drink.
He did, she caught him, and put him out.
Me: Where you at?
Kadean: Handling something.
Me: What about your fucking shift?
Kadean: There in an hour.
Me: 15 mins or don’t come at all.
My last text is all the energy I’m giving Kadean today and I’m serious. If he’s not here in fifteen minutes, I’m firing him. I’m not forcing no man, not even my brother, to come to work. Either he wants the money or he doesn’t. I can’t keep wanting shit for him when he doesn’t.
As suspected, he doesn’t text back and neither do I. He has until we open to get here and I’m deadass about letting his ass go if he doesn’t. We don’t open until ten but all staff is expected to be here at nine.
Light taps on my office door cause me to lift my head. It’s Trista with a small box in her hand. I wave her in. When she enters, she places the box on my desk.
“I stopped by The Marketplace and grabbed donuts. Do you want one? I got a plain cake one for you,” she says.
“I don’t know if I can even eat shit. I think I got a toothache or something,” I say while touching the left side of my face. “This shit has been killing me all night.”
“Do you have your wisdom teeth?” she asks.
“I’m sure. I’m thirty-one; I better have all my teeth.”
“If you don’t see a cavity or anything then it’s probably your wisdom tooth. You want me to run to the store and grab something for it before we open?”
“Nah. I can go,” I tell her.
“I know but I know what it looks like when I see it, plus I’m quicker.”
Because I really want to be here to see if Kadean is going to man up and come in, I concede, “A’ight.” Then I open my drawer, place the phone back inside, and pull a bill from my wallet. “Get pain pills too.”
“I’ll get ibuprofen; it’s best for toothaches.”
“Thanks, Trista,” I tell her, then groan. This shit hurts like hell.
She grabs a napkin from the small stack on top of the box of donuts then grabs a donut. “Maybe after the meds you’ll be able to eat this. If I don’t take it out, you know they’ll smash the box as soon as I put it in the break room,” she says, referring to my team.
I just nod because the way my mouth is hurting, I doubt I’ll be able to eat shit.
After grabbing the money and the donuts, Trista leaves my office and I open my laptop.
I liked two of the properties my boy Rick found.
The one closest to the mountain was my favorite.
He’s making two offers today and hopefully something will shake.
I want to have my second location up and running by summer.
That only gives me a few months but I can do it.
I had this location ready in five months.
After looking over my emails, I grab my laptop and cell then head out front.
It’s almost time to open the front door.
When I walk into the lobby area, I see the vending machines are running low.
The customers really fuck with them and I’m constantly restocking them.
I really need to get somebody to do it though.
Since it’s only three minutes till opening, I go ahead and unlock the doors then post up behind the counter. I log into my ShopSmart app and place bulk orders of candy, chips, and snacks for the vending machines. With my business select membership, my order will be delivered in a few hours.
When I’m finishing my order, I hear the roar of a motorcycle and look up. It’s Kadean’s ride and he has the nerve to be driving the shit. This dumbass. I swear he doesn’t learn.
I watch as he pulls into the parking lot under the large oak tree.
After taking off his helmet and attaching it to the back of his bike, he walks this way.
All employees must clock in on the digital clock in the small break room.
Most enter through the back door because it’s closer, which means they have to walk past my office.
He normally does too. Obviously, he’s trying to avoid me by coming through the front.
The look on his face when he walks in and sees me proves my suspicion.
“Oh. Xai…um…Why you up here?” he stutters.
“Why are you driving?” I ask.
“Bruh, here you go. You can’t even let me explain,” he huffs.
“You don’t have a license. What the hell is there to explain?
” I ask and he loudly blows out his breath.
Two customers walk in and he quickly uses the distraction to curve me.
Quickly, he nods and rushes to the back as the two ladies approach me at the counter.
“This ain’t over,” I utter but he definitely hears me.
Then I turn to the ladies. “What can I do for you ladies this morning?” I greet.
“We both want the premium interior detail,” the taller of the two says.
“That’s two hours. You can wait here or drop off,” I tell her.
“We’ll wait,” she assures before handing me both sets of keys.
I check them both in, total them out, then give them their claim tickets for when we are done.
They walk over to the waiting area and sit in the chairs.
The flatscreen on the wall is off so I use the remote to power it on.
Right after I place the keys and detail choice in the service window behind me, Trista walks in and another customer is behind her.
“Go take this medicine,” she says as she hands me the bag. “I got him.”
“Thanks. They are all set,” I tell her and nod toward the window.
Then I grab my laptop and the bag and head back to my office.
As soon as I’m inside, I pop two ibuprofen and squeeze some of the tooth gel into my mouth.
Almost instantly, I get that odd ass numb feeling on my tongue.
The pain subsides a little too. It’s not stabbing my gums but I still feel the shit.
If it’s not better by tomorrow, I’m gonna have to take my ass to the dentist.
Two hours later, the stabbing sensation returns with a vengeance.
I apply more gel and take another pill then head up front.
My order has arrived. When I walk into the lobby, Kadean is up front, fucking with Trista.
Although she is about five years older than him and has a man, he’s always in her face trying to push up.
“Please get your brother,” she scoffs playfully.
“I just came to help with the machines,” he says.
There’s so much I can and want to say to him but this isn’t the time or place.
The lobby is filled with customers and I’m dealing with this damn tooth shit.
I just grab a few of the boxes and walk toward the machines.
He grabs the rest, and in silence, we restock both machines.
He keeps a Snicker and a bag of trail mix for himself, and when we are done, he actually follows me to my office. He closes my door when he walks in.
“I know I’m not supposed to drive but I had to this morning,” he says apologetically and I simply shake my head.
I’m real shit tired of wasting my breath.
“Xai, man, come on,” he adds when I don’t say shit.
Then he sits in the chair in front of my desk.
“Dutch got locked up and I had to go get my bike from his girl’s house,” he volunteers and I can’t hold my words anymore.
“And you had to go get it? The one with no license? You call me for everything else, why didn’t you call me for that?” I grit.
“Man, ’cause of this,” he sighs. “I knew you were gon’ have shit to say.”
“I ain’t said nothing on the real. I just asked a question.”
“I already had to call you when she put me out last night; I didn’t want to bother you with this.”
“So you decided to take penitentiary chances and just drive. You got to be smarter than that, Kadean, or you going to be right inside with Dutch.”
“I’m putting it in the garage when I get off and I won’t drive it again.”
“It’s going on my truck and I’m taking it to the house when you get off,” I tell him sternly.
“Damn, alright,” he sighs then stands. “And I’m not going to be at your house long either,” he utters when he reaches my door.