24/Renee
I moved into the bathroom and decided a long, hot bubble bath was in order. I turned on the water, not too hot, then pulled off my work clothes and tossed them onto the floor. As soon as the tub filled, I climbed in and leaned my head back against the pillow.
I had dinner with Kenny. Tonight.
I picked him up and we drove up the street to Sonic’s and sat in my car, talking and chomping on cheeseburgers and fries.
He never lets me pay for anything, and I was so attracted to that quality about him.
Even before it was time for him to return to work, he slipped me a Benjamin and told me to put it in my tank for my time.
A smile curled across my lips. I couldn’t wait until morning so I could see his goofy smile. Can you believe that shit?
My cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the phone number and thought it might have been John’s worrisome ass if it hadn’t been a St. Louis number.
“Hello?”
“Nae-Nae, it’s me.”
I groaned inwardly at the sound of my brother Andre’s voice. “Hey, whassup?”
He gave a nervous laugh. “I should be asking you that. I haven’t heard from you in... in a long time.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“I was hoping you could come to my house for Dad’s birthday. Jorja is making dinner.”
My stepfather’s birthday was next month. “I don’t know. I’ll have to check my schedule.”
“Come on. Make time.”
“I don’t know. I’ve got a book due and I’m not sure I’m going to make my May deadline.”
“You said that last year.”
He was right. Andre had invited me to spend Christmas with him and his family along with Paul and his new wife. I had planned to come, then changed my mind at the last minute, deciding I just wasn’t up to being fake all evening.
“I’ll try, but I won’t promise you anything.”
There was a long pause. “Nae-Nae… he’s sick.”
“So?” I tried to sound like I didn’t care. And wished in my heart I didn’t. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He has colon cancer.”
I felt a lump rise in my throat. Not another.
My sister had died almost three years ago from complications only hours after having surgery for her ovarian cancer.
My life hadn’t been the same since. Lisa and I had always been close even though she stayed in my ass.
I couldn’t stand it then. Now I would do anything in the world to hear her nagging one more time.
“It’s spread. He’s going to have surgery next month but would like to spend some time with us before then.
Please, Renee, he wants a chance for the two of you to talk.”
Shit, he never cared about talking to me before. “I’ll get back with you. How’s my niece and nephew?”
“They’re doing good. Why don’t you come down for yourself and see?”
“I will. I promise. Look, I got to go. I’ll call you in a few days.”
“You do that. Otherwise, I’m calling you.”
I ended the call, then sank lower in the tub and closed my eyes.
The last thing I wanted to do was think about Paul.
I hated him and that’s the way I wanted it to stay.
Ever since Lisa passed, Paul had been trying to get Andre to talk to me about giving him a chance to make things right between us.
I wasn’t hearing it and ignored every effort.
The last time I spoke to Paul was after I caught John in bed with Shemar.
He had called to invite me to his home for Thanksgiving.
When Paul pissed me off, I always called Danielle. One thing I could say about my girl is that no matter what, she was always there for me when I needed her. This last week with her not talking to me had been hard. I pulled an angry leg to my chest.
Danielle needs to quit trippin’ and call me.
Hell, I called her several times and she ignored every last one of my attempts. Shit, I’m not about to beg. I’ll admit I was wrong for letting Calvin lick it. But what’s done is done. We’ve been through worse. So, it was time to get past the dumb shit and move on.
My cell phone rang. I looked down and saw it was a Philadelphia pay phone. I frowned because I didn’t know anyone who lived in Philadelphia.
“Hello?”
“Renee, please don’t hang up!”
“John, what the hell are you doing calling me from Philadelphia?”
“It was the only way I could get you to answer.”
That fool drove an hour just to make a phone call.
“I don’t have shit to say to you.” Before he could say anything further, I ended the call.
I had enough problems. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to his gay ass.
But even as I said that, a part of me couldn’t help but wonder what was so important that he drove all the way to Philadelphia to call me about it.
“Call his cell phone and find out,” I said out loud.
Nah, I’ll pass. If it’s that important, he’ll call me again. And even then, maybe I’ll answer. Maybe I won’t.