Chapter 20
OCEAN
I stared at my phone, trying to keep my cool as I sat on the edge of Ol’ School’s couch.
This was the second time I’d tried to call Skye, and it went straight to voicemail.
I didn’t know whether to be worried or be pissed off.
Given the events that had happened recently, worrying was at the top of my list. For all I knew, someone could be fucking with her life again.
Just as I was about to tell Ol’ School that I had to leave, I got a text.
Skye: Hey. I’m working.
Ocean: Working? With who?
Skye: Noni. She asked me to fill in at the last minute.
Ocean: Oh.
I wanted to say some other shit, and question why she didn’t just let me know. But my ass was already on thin ice. I didn’t need to push it.
Ocean: Meet up with me when you’re done. We can go grab dinner.
Silence.
My eyes didn’t move from my phone, waiting for little dots to appear on the screen. But nothing came.
“What’s got your face all scrunched up over there?” Ol’ School asked, finally breaking away from whatever bullshit show he was watching.
The TV was loud as hell, too, reminding me to make a mental note to get him scheduled with a doctor to check on his hearing.
“Nothing for you to concern yourself with.” I stood up from the couch and nodded toward the kitchen. “I hope you’re ready to eat good this afternoon. My boy, Sutton, is one of the best chefs in the business.”
“I can tell.” Ol’ School rubbed his stomach. “Is that catfish I smell?”
“Sure is.”
“Good, I can’t wait to chow down. Let me go put my teeth in.” He scooted to the edge of his lounge chair, then stood up.
I laughed. “Yeah, you go do that.”
The doorbell rang.
His eyes lit up. “Who’s that?”
“It’s a surprise. You go grab your teeth. I’ll get the door.”
He hurried off to his bedroom, a little extra pep in his step.
“Well, hello,” Aunt Myra said as she strolled into the house carrying a brown box with Ol’ School’s new puppy bouncing around inside.
“Hey.” I kissed her cheek. “Thanks again for agreeing to meet me here.”
“No problem.”
“How’s the little guy doing?”
“He’s good. Excited to meet his new best friend,” she said. “Did you tell him yet?”
“No. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Alright, but if he has a heart attack and starts pissing all over the place, I’m not helping you clean up a damn thing.”
I eyed her in confusion. “Are we talking about Ol’ School or the dog?”
“Both.” She laughed.
I could hear Ol’ School’s feet sliding across the floor as he returned to the living room.
“Alright, close your eyes,” I told him.
“Close my eyes? I can barely see as it is.”
“Just do it.”
He let out a loud huff but did as he was told. “I swear, you’re always up to something.”
“Mmhmm, just keep them closed.” I pulled the puppy from the box and walked toward him. “Now, hold out your arms like you’re going to hold a baby.”
“What size baby are we talking about? Like a newborn or one that’s been out of the oven for a few months?”
My aunt chuckled.
“Is that a young ladies’ voice I hear?”
“Keep those eyes closed.”
“Alright, alright. But if you got me a little person for my birthday—”
“Just be quiet.”
I placed the dog in his arms.
“Oh, wow,” he said, his eyes finally opening. “Where did this little guy come from?”
I looked back at my aunt. “Ol’ School, this is my aunt, Myra. She sells puppies, and she just so happened to have had a few left that needed a home. I know how much you love dogs, so I figured why not? Plus, I figured it might keep you away from that pack of wild beasts across the street.”
“They’re not beasts. They’re just hungry.”
“Oh, those vicious things are definitely beasts,” Aunt Myra chimed in. “They are too far gone to be anything else now. Someone needs to call the city or something.”
“I’m pretty sure the neighbors have, but nothing’s changed,” I said.
“Wow, really?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm...maybe I should make some phone calls. Something’s got to be done about that. There is way too many kids that play around in this neighborhood. If one of those dogs get loose, there’s no telling what might happen.”
I nodded in agreement.
That was what I was afraid of, especially during the school year.
There was a school bus that picked up on the corner, which was just a few houses down.
Although the fence seemed pretty sturdy, the way those dogs barked and pushed shit around, it could give out at any moment.
I didn’t want to witness the result if it did.
I looked back at Ol’ School, he was so mesmerized by the puppy that he didn’t hear a word we said.
“What are you going to name him?” I asked.
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Well, give it some thought. I’m going to go to my car and grab the rest of the things you’ll need for him.”
“There’s more?”
“Of course. You’ve got to have somewhere for him to sleep.”
“He can just sleep in the bed with me.”
“Maybe after he’s potty trained,” I said.
“Now, nephew,” Aunt Myra stepped in. “You know how I do things. They don’t leave my home until they’re trained.”
“Oh, right.”
“He just needs to get familiar with his surroundings, so he can do what he needs to do here. You know what? How about you go ahead and do what you were doing? I’ll fill Mr. Ol’ School in on how to care for his new little friend.”
“Alright,” I said lifting my hands and walking toward the door. “I’ll get out y’all way.”
When I made it to my car, my phone beeped.
Skye: Raincheck? I’m just going to call it a night when I get home.
Ocean: A night? What time are you getting home?
Skye: I don’t know yet. But regardless, I don’t think I’m going to feel like going out. I just want to relax.
Ocean: Understandable. I guess I’ll see you when you make it in.
Skye: K
Oh, she was definitely pissed with me.
“Hey,” My aunt called from the porch, “Chef Sutton said lunch is ready, and I’ve been invited to stick around, so get your butt in here so we can eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I grabbed everything from my car and rushed back into the house.
I wasn’t at all surprised that my aunt was sticking around for lunch. She never missed out on a chance to get some of Chef Sutton’s cooking. Whenever I had him cook something at home, I always made sure to drop her off a plate.
I tried to keep myself engaged in the conversation as we sat at the table and scarfed down our meals, but all I could think about was Skye. I didn’t want her to be upset, and I damn sure didn’t want to spend the evening without her.
I had to figure out—
“Earth to Ocean,” my aunt said, snapping her fingers.
“Huh? Yeah, what’s up?”
“What’s got you all quiet over there?”
“Quiet? I’m not quiet?” I took a sip of my water.
“Oh, you’re definitely quiet.”
“I think it’s woman trouble,” Ol’ School chimed in.
“Woman trouble?” Aunt Myra questioned. “Now, what have you done to upset my girl?”
“Me?” I shot back. “Why does it have to be something I did?”
Ol’ School shoved a fork into his cabbage. “Because fucking up is what we do as men. It’s just our way.”
I dropped my shoulders, feeling the need to come clean. “I may have canceled some plans we had, at the last minute. But I had to take care of some business.”
“Sounds about right,” Aunt Myra said. “Sounds like you’ve got some making up to do.”
“Yeah, I do. But I’m not sure if I should just leave things alone or—”
My aunt shook her head. “Nah, that young lady seems like the type that needs instant reassurance, so I suggest you get things resolved today.”
“You think so?”
“Yep,” Ol’ School agreed. “The sooner you get back in her good graces, the sooner you can get back under the sheets.”
“Now, what makes you think we’ve been under the sheets, old man?”
“Oh, y’all have definitely been under the sheets,” my aunt teased. “The way you’re over here all emotional...there ain’t no way y’all ain’t been getting it on.”
I frowned.
The fact that I was having this conversation with two old people, made my stomach turn a little bit.
“First off, I’m not emotional. Second, how about you not mention anything about anyone getting it on around me?”
“You’re more emotional than I’ve ever seen you over any woman.”
“That’s true,” Ol’ School chimed in. “You’ve been staring at your phone like a lovesick puppy the entire time you’ve been here.”
I laughed. “Y’all are tripping. Ain’t nobody doing all that.”
“You definitely are. But it’s all good. Love looks good on you,” Ol’ School said. “Maybe now you’ll put your energy into that instead of bothering me every damn day.”
“Nah, nothing’s going to stop me from checking up on you. Someone’s gotta do it.”
“Speaking of which,” my aunt said as she leaned against the table, eyeing Ol’ School. “Where’s your family? Are they coming by later to spend your birthday with you?”
Instantly, his face saddened. “I’m not sure. I called my son yesterday and left him a message, so anything is possible.”
I sucked my teeth, trying to hold back from saying what was on my mind.
“What’s that all about?” My aunt asked.
“Nothing.”
Ol’ School shrugged. “He’s not too fond of my people.”
“I see,” she replied. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m pretty sure he has a reason. Ocean always has a reason.”
“I guess he has a right to feel that way. My son and I haven’t talked in years.”
“Really? Why?”
“You guys ready for some cake?” I asked, not wanting to hear the story he was about to tell.
My aunt looked at me, and I lifted my brow, letting her know to dead the issue.
It was Ol’ School’s birthday. He didn’t need to be reliving old shit.
“Yeah, my sweet tooth is officially ready for action,” Ol’ School said.
“Good. As requested, I ordered a triple chocolate cake, and I made sure not to put any candles on it. I don’t need your teeth putting them out this year.”
“Hey, that happened one time.”
“Yeah, and it was one time too damn many. I didn’t even get to eat any. There was drool everywhere.”
“Oh, whatever.”
My phone beeped.
Skye: I should be home around seven.
Ocean: Cool.
I glanced at the time.
Perfect. I had just enough time to plan something. Skye may be pissed at me now, but she wouldn’t be for long.