Chapter 17 #3
She walked to the driver’s side, and I rolled down the window. She lifted the backpack slightly. “I have it. It’s nineteen thousand.”
I unlocked the passenger door. “Hop in.”
She hesitated with her eyes moving briefly around the parking lot before she walked around the front of the truck and climbed inside.
The smell of vanilla followed her in, mixing with the faint scent of fresh laundry.
She set the backpack on her lap and unzipped it showing me the money like she was in the middle of a dope transaction.
“Why you ain’t at work?” I quizzed.
She looked up while pulling out a thick envelope wrapped in a rubber band allowing a small laugh escaped her lips. “I slept so good after I got home, this morning I called out.”
“You needed it. I don’t see no bags underneath your eyes.”
“I guess I did.” She handed me the envelope. “I’ve been baking all day instead.”
As I reached for it, I noticed the streak of white dust running across the front of her leggings. There was another smudge near the hem of her shirt that she’d apparently missed while brushing herself off. “So that’s what that is.”
She frowned. “What?”
I nodded toward her leg. “You got flour all over you.”
She looked down and immediately laughed, brushing at her thigh with the palm of her hand. “Oh my God.” She shook her head. “I’ve been in the kitchen since this morning. I didn’t even realize.”
“You must’ve had a few orders.”
“I did.” She smiled, allowing her expression to reach my eyes this time. “Birthday cake, cupcakes, and a baby shower cake. I still have one more to finish tonight.” The smile faded just as quickly as it had appeared. “I’m really trying to get this money back to you, Lev.”
I looked down at the envelope resting in my hand before setting it on the center console without counting it. “I know.”
She let out a quiet breath. “I just want all of this behind me.”
For the first time since she’d climbed into the truck, she looked tired in a different way. Not exhausted like the woman I’d seen at the club last night but mentally worn down. Like every decision she made now revolved around chasing a number she wished she’d never owed in the first place.
I could’ve told her don’t worry about the rest because I didn’t need it.
However, she had to take this L and learn a very valuable lesson.
On the outside, a little boy chased a basketball across the parking lot while his mother called after him from a second-floor balcony and that was the only sounds in the truck at this very moment.
Before I could say another word, she received a face time call and Marv’s whole name flashed across the screen.
She briefly looked at me and then back at the phone.
“Answer it,” I ordered her.
She pressed the green button to accept the call. “Hey Marv.”
“Say nurse, why I ain’t seen you? You trying to dog me now?”
I could see the confusion on her face. “Oh Lord, Marv you came to my job yesterday morning. Are you sure you’re okay? You just seem like something is off?”
“First that nigga Lev, now you.” He told her. “I’m cool nurse, I promise.”
Navy looked as if she was unsure about that and I saw it all over her face. She cleared her throat before she said anything else. “Okay, well do you mind if I call you back? I have to finish taking an order.”
“Yeah call me back. I wanna take you out, don’t forget.”
He ended the call and Navy looked at me with an usure look on her face. I knew right then she was studying Marv just like I was studying her. “Um, well I guess I have to go then. I have to finish up so I can make it to the club tonight.”
I nodded towards the passenger door signaling that it was cool to get out.
She placed her hand on the handle and opened it.
When she was completely out, I said fuck it and told her what she should know.
If she didn’t stay away from Marv, she would end up hurt and if I wanted her dead, I could’ve killed her myself.
“Aye, you need to make better decisions with who you choose to entertain your time with.” I told her.
“What does that mean?” She quizzed looking lost.
“It means, you should probably stay away from Marv, and that’s the only and last thing I’ma say to help you out a lil bit. Close the door.” I told her.
She didn’t ask any questions at all which showed me that she was learning that when I spoke, I knew what I was talking about. I watched her walk back to her door and disappear inside before I pulled off, and that was simply out of habit.
After a long day like this, I knew exactly what I needed but first I checked the family group chat.
BJ wanted the whole family at the family reunion coming in a few months and she wanted everyone to have shirts.
I came from a big ass family with too many cousins to count.
My siblings were a whole other story because it was five of us spread out across the world since everybody got grown and started doing their own thing.
I replied and let them know that I was cool with whatever they wanted to do.
Next I called Milan, and she knew exactly what time it was.