Chapter 15
Xai
“Nobody claimed that old ass phone yet?” Trista asks, startling me and causing me to drop the phone. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she apologizes quickly.
“Don’t worry about it. What’s up?” I ask, trying not to act fazed.
Truth is though, I’m fazed. I’ve been fazed as hell since Monday when Adora told me about her mom’s accident.
I felt like shit and didn’t know what to say.
I wanted to say a lot though. I wanted to tell her that my brother had been involved in the accident with her mom, that I’d gotten her mom out of her car and took her to the hospital, that I had her mom’s phone.
I wanted to tell her everything but I froze.
My guilt paralyzed me and the only words I managed to utter were “I’m sorry”.
I regretted the night of the accident and now, all week, I’ve regretted my inability to open my damn mouth and tell her the truth. I need to tell her the truth. But how the fuck can I?
Trista steps in from the doorway and sits in front of my desk. She has a stack of papers, and as soon as she’s comfortable, she spreads the sheets in front of me.
“I emailed you this Monday and you still haven’t responded. These are the final candidates for the front counter. These are for this location and these are for Two,” she says, using her name for the second location. “We have to pick two so we can start the background checks.”
Since the front counter position has extended duties that include handling cash, they have to complete and pass a background check before hire.
I don’t worry about that shit for outside, ’cause if I did, over half of them wouldn’t have a damn job.
I hired who I knew on the block and niggas fresh out who needed a change.
“Which two are you feeling?” I ask her because the reality is both will be working closely with her, especially in her new management role.
“These two,” she says while tapping the resumes.
We spend the next thirty minutes weighing her top two versus the others. She did most of the talking because I kept looking at the phone in my lap and thinking about Adora.
I have to tell her.
“You’re off tomorrow, right?” Trista asks.
“Yes. Off until Monday.”
“Adora?” she asks and I furrow my eyebrows.
We cool but not that damn cool. “My bad. I just think she’s a good look for you.
My sister’s braiding her hair today for the Music Festival so I was just putting two and two together.
But let me mind the business that pays me,” she says while gathering the resumes.
“What time you leaving?” she asks and I answer that question.
“I’m here till five. Did Kadean get here? I haven’t seen him out there.”
Slowly, she shakes her head then shrugs. “No. I was hoping he was just running late but he was scheduled for ten. It’s after one now. He was doing so good too,” she says and I have to agree.
Since our little talk in here before Easter, Kadean had been on his shit. He came on time, worked his whole shift, and hadn’t missed a day. I was real hopeful that he was finally on his grown man shit. He was also on his way out of my house. He’s been with Peaches all week.
“Did you call him?” I ask.
“Three times and I sent a text. It’s going straight to voicemail. I think it’s off.”
“Alright. Call PJ and see if he can come in. We’ve been busy with everybody getting their rides ready for this festival and it’s picking up. I’m sure he’ll take the hours.”
“He’s going to be on OT after one hour,” she says, reminding me about overtime.
“It is what it is. We need him.”
“Alright. I’m guessing you staying here for lunch?”
“Nah. I’m going to get a cut actually. ’Bout to leave now but I’ll be back. You need something?”
“Can you pick up my order from ShopSmart? Them vending machines stay empty.”
“Yeah, I got it,” I say and she nods.
When Trista walks out, I grab the phone. I see there are four new messages since the last time I checked but I ignore them. Once I met Adora in person, I couldn’t listen anymore. That shit just didn’t feel right.
I grab the phone and the charger and take them with me.
I’m not sure what the fuck I’m about to do with it.
I throw both in my glove box the minute I’m in my ride.
Maybe having it here and not hidden away in my office will make it easier for me to tell her.
We’re spending the entire weekend together.
When I get off at four, I’m heading to her crib.
We are having dinner with the girls then dropping them off to her homegirl’s people.
Then she’s finally coming to my spot. I don’t like that Kadean flaked and didn’t show for work, but I’m hoping wherever he is, he stays.
I can’t have him fucking up my time with Adora.
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up to She’s Elite Cutz just in time for my appointment with my boy Dre.
Like always, he gets me right and I’m back at the shop with the pickup order from ShopSmart by two.
Kadean still hasn’t arrived, so I hit him up.
I call and it goes straight to voicemail.
I shoot him a text that goes unanswered.
Since he’s been kicking it with Peaches all week, I shake it off and say fuck it.
I’ll deal with him about his job after my weekend.
PJ showed up so we are straight for the rest of the day.
After taking the order in for the machines, I walk out to the bays to check in. I thank PJ for coming in when I spot him. I stay out here for almost an hour and the moment I’m back in my office, I get a text from Adora. It’s a picture showing her beautiful face and braids.
Me: Beautiful.
Adora: Thanks My ass hurts though and I don’t feel like cooking. How’s nachos? That’s quick and simple.
Me: That’s still cooking. I’ll get Taco Express. Beef nachos and cheese quesadillas for Romi?
Adora: How you know that?
Me: I listen, pretty girl.
Adora: I see. Taco Express is perfect. Not too much though. I just want to give them a little something before we drop them off. There’ll be plenty of food at Celeste’s.
Adora: The nacho kid’s meal with mild green sauce and the kid’s quesadilla with mild red sauce.
Me: Bet. But what about you?
Adora: What do you want? We can share.
I smile at her text. Sharing food has never been my thing.
Hell, until I hit the block and made money to buy food, I cherished any food I got.
I couldn’t share because we barely had shit.
It stuck with me and I’ve always been particular about that.
My plate and my food is mine but she’s changed that.
We’ve shared food since our first night together. She can have that.
Me: Birria tacos?
Adora: Yum. Get beef and chicken and an extra consommé. It’s so good.
Me: Got it. Off in 30. I’ll pick up the food and come straight there.
Adora: Thank you. See you soon.
I spend my last thirty minutes checking emails. The foreman managing the construction of the new location is supposed to be emailing two change orders for my approval. We are on schedule and I don’t want any delays.
Both emails arrive right before I leave and I approve both before placing a pickup order for the food. Taco Express has a drive-thru but it’s always wrapped around the building. I’m not trying to wait.
Trista is filling the vending machines when I leave so I just nod at her and dip. With traffic and a small wait at the restaurant, I don’t make it to Adora’s until almost five-thirty. Averi opens the door.
“Hey. My mommy told me to let you in,” she says.
“Thanks.”
Once I’m in and close the door, I take the food to the kitchen island. Adora and Romi walk in minutes later.
“Xai,” Romi exclaims. “I didn’t know you was coming.”
“I told you he was. Mommy said it in the car,” Averi says.
“Nuh uhn,” Romi utters.
“Yes, she did.”
“I know you two aren’t arguing,” Adora interjects sternly.
“No ma’am,” they reply at the same time like normal.
“Alright then, go wash your hands so we can eat. CiCi is waiting on y’all,” Adora says and they take off down the hall.
She steps to me, wraps her arms around my neck, then stares up to me with her big, pretty eyes.
She smells like heaven and looks like an angel with her long braids pulled up. “You ready for me this weekend?”
“Hell yeah. I stay ready for yo’ fine ass. You gon’ let me pull this hair and hit it from behind?” I ask and her pretty smile gets big as fuck. Adora is freaky as shit and I love it.
“Hit it from behind, most definitely. Pull these tight braids, hell no!” She laughs then kisses me with her soft ass lips. “I can’t wait to see your townhome. You cleaned up for me?”
“It stays clean but I bought candles for you,” I admit.
“Ahh. So sweet,” she gushes before kissing me again.
I pat her ass before releasing her then journey to the bathroom by the living room to wash up. When I walk back out, the girls are at the dinette table with their food and Adora is at the island with ours.
“Thank you for my food,” Romi tells me when I sit at the island.
“You welcome, cutie,” I tell her.
“Xai,” Averi begins.
“What’s up, cutie?”
“You know our CiCi?” she asks.
“Nah. I don’t know her.”
“What about our MeeMee?” she asks.
“Nah. I don’t know her either,” I explain and her questions stop. I just smile.
As we eat, questions come from both of them and I gladly answer each one.
They are the smartest little girls I know and want to know everything.
When we finish eating, Adora cleans up while they grab their little rolling luggage.
Adora grabs hers next and I take all three to my ride.
Then we load up and follow Adora’s directions to her homegirl’s mother house, CiCi.
I’m grabbing the bags from the trunk when a tall, brown skinned woman comes out, walking toward my ride fast. Adora opens her door and practically jumps out, intercepting her.
“Move, girl. Aht aht. I had to come meet the mystery man,” she says while waving Adora off.
“Celeste!” Adora snaps.