Halo #3
“Way too much, the lunches are only $10 apiece.” He reminded me.
“I know but you grind out here every damn day Richie. Keep it.”
“Thanks man! God bless!” He was very glad and accepting.
I walked back across the street to my ride and put the food in the front seat. Once inside I started my car so the air could come on, then I took my phone out and called Story.
“Hello.” She answered and immediately felt satisfied.
“What up Story, this Halo. Yo’ sister gave me your number.”
“My sister is too much.” She laughed, “But I don’t mind you having my number. Sorry I did not leave it for you before I left.”
“It’s all good boo. You did dash out my crib like someone had you on the clock.” It bothered me when I woke up and she was gone. Bothered me badly as a matter of fact, it triggered me.
“But you can make it up to me now, if you’re free.” I looked out my window when I saw some people walking past my car. Always have to stay on alert.
“I am free. But if you are comfortable, can we hang at my place?”
That surprised me because I assumed she’d never let me know where she is staying. Hell, I was even more surprised that she did not get mad about me having her number.
“Yeah, I can swing your way. Did you eat, I got us some food.”
“Nope, I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Cool. Shoot me your address. And save my number while you at it.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.”
We hung up and in seconds Story texted me her address. When I put it in my GPS it said that I was eighteen minutes away. I arrived at her townhomes, and I did not care about the layout of them. They were nice, clean, and kept up very well.
I just wasn’t a fan of how anyone could walk up to any door. The townhomes were two stories. I could see the mailboxes lined up inside of a room. At least you had to have a key to get into the mail room and the glass was very thick and protected.
Story was on the first floor, I noticed her door had a screen door to it which I appreciated. I grabbed the food, got out of my car then hit the alarm. When I got to her door, she had one of those Ring cameras on her front door. I knocked and the door opened.
When a man stood on the other side of the door, I checked the numbers above it to make sure I had the right spot.
“This Story spot?”
“Yeah, it is, she told me she was expecting company.” He opened the door and allowed me access.
I stepped inside but made sure to keep my eye on him. Story came down the stairs and that was the only reason that made me stop looking at him.
“Hi Halo! Oh, my goodness that food smells good. Come on we can get some plates and napkins in the kitchen.”
“Story I gotta head out. I’ll check in on you later, love you.”
“K! Love you too!” Story responded.
I looked behind me and watched him close the door behind him as he left.
“That yo’ brother?”
Story laughed, “In a way. Remember I told you I have a roommate---
“Roommate?! That nigga is ya’ roommate?” I paused and I knew my face was all twisted up.
She stepped away from the food and her forehead wrinkled. “Yes, his name is Hendrix, and he’s been my best friend…well, we used to date---”
“Mannn get the fuck outta here. So, ya’ll were together, fucking and what not and now y’all live together as friends. That ain’t gone cut it Story.” Never would have thought I’d turn up the way I did, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from going.
“Halo, it’s not like that at all. Me and Hendrix were together in middle school. It was never sexual and he ended up coming out to me as gay. Since then, we remained close and have a tight bond.”
I pointed behind me, “You mean to tell me that nigga who just left here is gay?”
“Yes! Very gay! This isn’t the olden days when gay men switched and wore a dress only. He may not fit the ‘aesthetic’ that you’re thinking but Hendrix is gay.” She explained.
“If I tried to push up on him, he’d take it. He doesn’t want no pussy at all?”
“If you tried him, he would immediately take the bait. You’re his type and the answer is no. Pussy and Hendrix do not mix at all.”
I walked closer to her and continued keeping eye contact.
“You said y’all have a tight bond. The nigga trusted you with his biggest secret.
Obviously, you know him better than anyone.
You mean to tell me he doesn’t want your pussy in any kind of way?
For comfort or familiarity?” We were so close I could smell her floral perfume scent, and I know she could smell amber cologne scent.
“Even though we are close, like extremely close. I promise you that we have no kind of sexual innuendo between us. He is my best friend and nothing more.”
A piece of her long hair was stuck to the corner of her lip. I took it upon myself and moved it then played with the ends of her hair.
“You better be sure of that Story. Don’t come to me later down the line and tell me how he wanted to dip his head in yo’ kitty litter.”
Story snickered so loud. “Kitty litter! Really!?”
“Hell, yeah really!” I laughed too, then I noticed something on her face that I kept looking at every time she showed it. “That one dimple is going to be my undoing when it comes to you.”
“To be fair I only have one dimple. You have two deep ones along with those unique setoff eyes. So, I lost in the undoing department.”
While she talked, I was listening to her, but I was hypnotized by her scent and voice. I shook my head, “I disagree. All you need is that one cute ass dimple. Then you have that long hair, that smile, soothing voice, and that scent. Those are dangerous combinations for a man like me.”
Story moved a little closer to me, and I thought we were about to have a special kind of moment. But she flinched like someone who snapped out of a fantasy. After she flinched, she created a lot of space between us and there was a phony smile on her face.
“This food is screaming for me to dive in! Thank you for bringing it!” Story took the bag from my hand and untied it.
I felt a kind of way when she reacted that way. My insecurities grew that I already have about myself. Had I been Greek or Golden, she would be naked by now. But because it was me and I was a fucking mess, she saw through it. Part of me wanted to leave and never look back.
But Story and I had a connection that I could not ignore. I’m meant to be another close friend like her and Hendrix. The thought of being in the same category as that nigga made me turn my nose up and my anger grow. But looking at her plate our food with a smile made me calm down.
“What’chu got to drink?” I asked her while getting some paper towel from the roll that was on the counter.
“Yeah. We have bottles of Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Minute Maid fruit punch and water. I’ll have whatever you grab.”
I opened the refrigerator and got two bottles of Minute Maid fruit punch. Then I followed her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Story had on this short green tennis looking dress and her pretty feet were in gold Nike slides with stones on them.
I could see a hint of her ass cheeks as she went up the stairs. To fucking short for her to be living with that nigga. Gay or not, you can’t tell me he doesn’t sneak a peek at her. I ain’t buying that gay shit that much.
“This is a cute ass room.” I looked around her girly bedroom. It smelled just like her and the decorum fitted Story to the T.
“Thank you. Let me go grab the trays.” She put our plates on her dresser and went into her closet. Story came back with two bed trays, and she set them up for us. “I love these trays. They come in handy when I want to eat in bed.” She joked.
“Yeah, I might gotta copy and get me some.” I took my shoes off and put them behind her bedroom door.
Then I pulled my t-shirt over my head and left on my black beater.
When I looked up Story was looking at my arms and chest like I was the food on her plate.
I just smirked as I untied my bandana and put it on top of my shirt.
Story took her slides off and climbed onto her bed. I did the same, she passed me my plate, and I passed her the drink.
“What do you want to watch?” She questioned me.
I looked at the options on the screen and recognized a movie I had never seen. “You ever seen What Happens in Vegas?”
“No, I haven’t and I love Ashton Kutcher.”
Before she started the movie, I grabbed her hand and said grace. The movie started and we began eating. She told me how good it was, and I made sure to tell her where I got it from. We watched the movie, laughed at its funny parts, and talked through our eating.
“I would have never thought I’d enjoy carrot cake but that was delicious.” Story put her fork on her now empty container the cake was in.
“Me neither, that icing was smooth and just enough sweet.” I finished mine as well.
Story and I took our plates back downstairs. I killed all my food, but she had a chicken leg left and some greens. She wrapped hers up and put it in the microwave. We went back upstairs and this time she picked another movie.
“You know I do hair for a living. I never asked you what it is you do?” Story sat Indian style on the side of me.
I really did not know how to answer that without scaring her off. “Me and my brothers work together for our uncle.”
Story put her lips together and looked to her left, to her right then back at me. “Um, okay and what is it you guys do.”
I chuckled and my hand went over my face. “It’s a complicated business Story. But the three of us are good at it.”
“Do y’all sell drugs Halo?”
“No. We don’t sell anything nor do we steal.
” I hoped my answer was enough for her, but Story did not look satisfied.
“Look boo, just know we make a lot of money, and you are good being around me and my brothers. If it will make you feel any better, one day I promise that I’ll tell you more.
But right now, let’s just leave it at that. Please.”
She studied my eyes for a while, and I could tell from her body language that I won this round. “Okay, but I am holding you to that promise.”
“Bet. Let me ask you something. Do you want your own braid salon one day?”