Chapter 7 #3
Ever’s movements caught my attention again.
She’d brought her wrist to her face a third time in the last few minutes, forgetting that she no longer had the watch on her arm.
I’d tossed it on our way to the restroom.
It was evident that she was trying to keep track of time because she’d lighten her cell screen right after.
“It’s going on one. You got somewhere to be, Ever?” Laike asked, wondering the same thing I was.
“Work in the morning.”
“Oh shit. That’s right. I promised to have you back earlier. I’m so sorry,” Lyric apologized as she began wiping her fingers with the wet wipe. Ever had already cleaned up and applied more gloss to her lips. She was ready to bounce.
“It’s fine, but I’m ready when you are.”
“Are you OK to drive?” Lyric asked.
“No,” I interrupted, “Laike is taking you home. Ever can ride with me. Y’all both need to chill out.”
“It’s only a ten-minute drive,” Lyric fussed.
“It only takes a second to get wrapped around a pole. Not up for debate. Clean yourself up and we’re heading outside.”
She knew she wouldn’t win because whatever I wasn’t willing to say, Laike would.
If necessary, neither of us minded tossing her over our shoulder and carrying her out with her lips turned up in a pout.
Her safety had always been and would forever be our highest priority.
I’d did eight years to prove it. I refused to get out and let her kill herself on some drunk shit.
My job was to protect her from everyone, even herself at times.
We filed out of the bar with me on the tail end. The slight breeze that welcomed us when we hit the door was appreciated. We all made our way to the valet booth, both Ever and Lyric barely able to walk straight as their giggles pierced the air.
“Oh my God.” Lyric realized just how fucked up she’d gotten. “Yeah. Nah. No driving for me.”
“You ain’t have to tell us that,” Laike assured her. “We knew that shit two hours ago.”
“We meet again, stranger.” I felt a hand on my back as Kasey rounded my body.
She smelled just as good as she had back at the bar.
“Somehow you don’t feel so much like a stranger now,” she joked.
“Yeah?”
“Um. Hm. What are you about to get into?” she asked as I threw my arm on her shoulder.
“Bed.”
“Can I join you?”
“If that’s what you want to do, then I won’t stop you.
This my ride. Hit me up,” I told her as I stepped away.
“Come on,” I turned to Ever and commanded.
Drunk and giddy, she leaped off the curb and toward my truck.
I walked her around and helped her inside, afraid that she’d fall on her ass if I didn’t.
Once inside, I handed her the bottle of water that I’d been sipping from earlier without hesitation. She needed to be hydrated to combat the liquor she’d consumed. Ever turned the bottle up without question, although it had obviously been opened.
“God. I can’t believe I drank so much again tonight,” she fussed.
It was obvious that she wasn’t used to being so far off her rocker. Neither was Lyric, but when with us, they were cool. I wanted them to drink as much as they could tolerate because we’d always make sure they were good.
I remained silent, watching the road. Lyric’s place wasn’t very far, but she’d have enough time to begin to sober up. The water, in addition to the wings she’d eaten would soak a bit of the liquor up. She’d sleep really well and wake up refreshed the next morning.
Neither of us indulged in conversation, instead opting to allow the music to lead us.
Laike drove like a fresh graduate of driving school to ensure our sister’s safety, forcing me to fall in line.
When we approached her street, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Ever noticed we’d reached our destination and leaned up to lower the volume on Meek Mill’s album.
“Can we talk?” she asked as we pulled up to Lyric’s home.
She’d been saving her words for this very moment. I’d caught her orbs a few times in the ten minutes we’d traveled to my sister’s place. Ever wouldn’t let things go so easily, I could tell by the look on her face when she turned to face me.
“What we talking about, Ever?”
I shifted the gear, placing the truck in park.
Laike had left the remainder of the weed we had smoked in the cupholder on the armrest. I removed the clear bag and the grinder that was next to it.
As I waited for Ever to give me a straight answer, I filled the grinder and sealed the bag of weed up again.
“I feel like you’re upset with me,” she admitted.
“You shouldn’t feel that way because I’m not.”
“Then why aren’t you talking to me?”
“What do you call this?” I pointed between the two of us as I picked the grinder up and began twisting it.
“You know what I mean!” she fussed.
“I don’t. Enlighten me.”
“Your attention is elsewhere,” she explained as she removed the grinder from my hand and sat it back in the cupholder.
“You want my undivided attention, Ever? Is that why you’re suddenly in a panic?”
“I’m not in a panic.”
“When I explained to you it was only you I wanted to give my undivided attention to, what did you tell me?”
“I’m not ready.”
“Then why don’t we leave it at that?”
“Because you’ve been upset ever since.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why haven’t you said anything to me?”
“Before I told you that, had I said much to you?”
“No.”
“So, what’s your point, again?”
“Luca,” she called my name, waking my dick up.
“Don’t do that,” I warned.
“I don’t understand.” She sighed.
“You do understand, Ever. You like the idea of a nigga but like you said, you’re not ready.”
“Is she coming to your house tonight?”
“Who?”
“The girl you met at the bar.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged, knowing that I wouldn’t be having company until I secured a second spot, somewhere that I could entertain others. Not everyone would come to my home.
“She gets an invite before me?”
“She’s ready, Ever. Ready to get fucked and if that’s all you want, you don’t have to get out.
Laike will find his way home. It’s been eight years since I slid into anything.
I got a lot of dick to give you tonight if that’s what you looking for but if not, then I suggest you go in the house.
Because if you go with me, then I’m treating you just like I plan to treat her.
You’ll be reduced to a bird, and I’ll only feed you enough crumbs to keep you around until I stop benefiting from your presence.
I’m not getting my feelings involved knowing you’re not ready.
I’m a grown ass man without the time or energy for the games you want to play. ”
Her silence infuriated me.
With a snort, I concluded, “Imagine me offering you the world but you’d rather have crumbs because another bird has access. You really not ready.”
Ever had said nothing. She, instead, opened her door and climbed out of the truck.
I watched as she walked up the driveway and into Lyric’s home.
It wasn’t until I reached for the grinder again that I noticed the bracelets I’d given her laying across the armrest. I didn’t bother picking them up.
For the effects of Ever to wear off, I’d need another blunt or two.
She was a fucking problem, and she didn’t even have a clue.