Chapter 6
SIX
The beam of light that shined through my darkened bedroom awakened me. It was as if someone had turned on the light. With the girls away, there was only one person to blame.
“Ever,” Lyric called out to me.
“Hm?”
My eyes bounced around the room as I tried comprehending what was happening, what time it was, and how long I’d been sleeping.
Still in a very tranquil state, my arms remained stretched out on top of the cover while my head rested on the pillow beneath me.
The sleep I’d gotten, however long my nap had been, was everything I’d needed.
“It’s a little after six,” she revealed, helping me understand the world around me a bit more.
“I slept the day away.” I yawned, finally able to lay eyes on her.
The pillow felt a bit softer, and my bed felt a bit cozier with every second that passed. When Lyric finished her wellness check, I had every intention of revisiting the faraway place that I had in my dreams. I could sleep another few hours if she’d let me.
“You did, but you needed it. My brothers have invited us out to celebrate Luca’s homecoming,” she stated, standing against the door with her right hand clutching the edge.
“Maybe that’s something you guys want to celebrate among each other?” I wondered aloud.
“You’re a part of the crew, now, so you’re one of us by default. If you’re not there, he’s going to take it very personally.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time a man has taken something personally,” I reminded her with a shrug.
“Okay, maybe you have a point, but it’s too much testosterone when it’s just them and I. If you’re there, it’ll even the score. Even if it’s not to celebrate Luca’s homecoming, just come for me. We won’t be all night, either. I’ll have you back by eleven.”
“I’ve heard something like that before. Next thing you know, I’m hungover and praying for some shuteye.”
I stretched my limbs but refused to get up yet. The comfort I’d been laced with was hard to let go of. I wanted to lie in bed all day and night, but it didn’t seem like Lyric wanted to hear that.
“Right again, but this time I promise. I won’t even go past the two-drink limit. We’ll both keep it cute. Please.”
“Alright, Lyric. But if we’re out past eleven, you owe me.”
“Anything you want.”
“You’ll have to pick up the girls every day for a week straight.”
“I’d do that anyway, so it looks like midnight it is then.”
“Lyric.” I closed my eyes as I yawned again.
“Just kidding,” she rushed out.
“What time are we leaving?”
“Eight. And what about the girls?”
“My mom asked if she could keep them for a full week and have them back Sunday. I think I’ll go get them after work tomorrow, though.”
“No, you won’t, Ever. Let them stay. You haven’t had any time to yourself in six years. They can handle a week, and so can you.”
“I wish I had as much faith in myself as you, Lyric, but I don’t. When it comes to my children, everything is baby steps. Everything,” honestly, I admitted.
“It makes sense, Ever, but take this time. It’ll get easier.”
“I have nothing to wear. It’s really about time for me to grab a few decent pieces from the store, especially if you’re going to be dragging me out of the house every chance you get.”
I wouldn’t admit it, but I was happy to be dragged out of the house for once. Seeing Luca a second time in the same day was as close as I’d get to winning the lottery. Lyric didn’t have to convince me. When she mentioned his name, I knew I’d be in attendance.
“You definitely didn’t go through your entire overnight bag, huh?”
“No, I just picked up what was on top, really.”
“I know, because otherwise, you would’ve seen that there were three options. One of which you can wear tonight. The little black dress seems suiting. We’re going to Oat + Olive.”
“Never heard of it,” I shared with her, finally lifting the top half of my body from the bed. I missed the pillow the second my head left it.
“You’ll love it.”
“Sounds gorgeous. I’m sure I will.”
“If you need shoes, just holler or look in my closet. I have plenty, but the ones you wore last night match as well.”
“Eight?” I asked to be sure.
“Yes, which means we need to leave by seven-fifty. The spot is in The Hills.”
“Fancy,” I joked.
“Whatever. Just get your fancy ass up and start getting dressed.”
Lyric exited, taking the beam of light from the hallway with her. In the dark again, I plopped back down and rested my head on the pillow. This time, with my phone in my hand. There were several notifications, but before acknowledging them, I unlocked my cell and dialed my mother’s number.
“I was just about to call you,” my mother said when she answered the phone.
“Why? Is everything OK? Where are the girls?” Panic stricken, I jumped up from the bed completely, waiting to hear the delivery of bad news so that I could beat myself up over the decision to let the girls out of my sight for more than a few hours.
“Nothing is wrong, Ever. I told you the girls will be fine. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Then why were you about to call me?”
“To tell you that ole boy texted my phone today, asking if I’d heard anything from you yet.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“That you’d called me from a restricted line to tell me you and the girls were OK but you’d left him. I also told him that was about a week ago, and I hadn’t heard anything since.”
“Did he buy it?”
“Yeah. He told me he might’ve really fucked up this time and all I could do was agree.
I also told him I’d appreciate it if he didn’t contact me anymore now that he knew that you guys were alright.
That’s the only reason I made up the lie in the first place.
He needs to stop calling me. I googled how to use that block feature, and I managed to block his number. ”
“Good. He’ll call you restricted. Just don’t answer,” I instructed.
“Oh, I won’t.”
“You think I should come get the girls just in case?”
“Noooo. Nooooo. No. The girls are fine, and James is on alert. Dewayne shows up and he’d better hope the police can get to him in time after James puts one of those bullets in his ass.”
Chuckling, I couldn’t help but think of how ridiculous my mother sounded.
James, my stepfather, was the perfect match for her.
Aside from their cuteness, he kept her safe and took good care of her.
He was the reason I decided not to stay with them.
I didn’t want to put him in any unnecessary danger.
Dewayne had no idea where Lyric lived or anything about her beyond the fact that we talked occasionally.
He was clueless to the fact that she had become my best friend and the first place I’d run to when I left him.
That’s how I’d made sure it was kept in the event of an emergency, and I wanted to truly disappear.
My mother’s house was the first house he’d suspect.
That’s why I wasn’t there and was leery about the kids being there.
“I’m going to think about it, mom. I promised Lyric I’d get out with her this evening, but if I start to feel too uneasy about the entire situation, I’m going to come get them.
It has nothing to do with me not thinking you guys will protect them but everything to do with the lengths that Dewayne is willing to go to cause me pain.
We both know that he cares very little about our girls, but he’s going to try to use the fact that he’s their parent too against me.
I’m just trying to keep them close because he is unpredictable. ”
“I understand, Ever. But, I’d rather them be here, honestly. At least until you get yourself a gun or something. Not to sound insensitive, but he can overpower you, baby. We’ve seen it time after time. He can’t do that shit to a real man.”
“I’m not offended, mom. You’re just telling the truth and maybe you’re right.”
“They’ll be fine. He won’t come to my house and not be sent away on a stretcher. James has made that very clear.”
“Tell him I said thanks.”
“No need. He knows you’re appreciative, and he wants to do anything he can to help.”
“I’m going to go, mom. I need to start getting dressed.”
“Alright.”
“Tell the girls I love them and call me if you need me.”
“I will. Enjoy your night and pay attention to your surroundings.”
“OK.”
I ended the call with a sigh. My mother was a godsend, just like Lyric. I wasn’t sure why it had taken me so long to come back home. When it came to me, they’d both move mountains to make sure that I was taken care of.
My text thread had a few unread messages. One being from Cedric, which I was anxious to open. The other was from Pam, an extension of Dewayne that made my ass itch at the thought of. She was the woman who’d birthed him but didn’t deserve to be called mother.
So, you just take my grandchildren away from their father without an explanation. And, over what? A few love licks? You don’t work or do shit. My son handles everything. You should be more grateful. There will be times when y’all fight and go through shit but to leave? That’s a weak ass move.
As much as I wanted to give her the satisfaction of responding, my energy wasn’t set up that way.
I couldn’t and had never gone back and forth with her or anybody else.
It was always pointless to me and always would be because they’d still have their beliefs and I’d have mine.
It was the main reason Dewayne thought that he’d won every argument that we’d ever had.
The truth was, I was hoping he’d hear himself talk long enough to shut up and understand that I didn’t have the capacity for meaningless words with fools.
It would only make me look and feel foolish.