CHAPTER FIVE
I lay on my back in Jess's bed, staring at the ceiling while she rested beside me with her head propped up on her hand.
"So, when we going out again?"
I glanced over at her.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Nah."
She frowned. "Why not?"
"'Cause I don't know what I got going on yet."
"Well, damn. I was just asking."
"I know."
She rolled onto her back, and I reached over to grab my phone from the nightstand. "I need to get up outta here anyway. I gotta go home and get some rest before work tonight."
"What time you gotta be there?"
"Ten."
I sat up on the edge of the bed and rubbed my hands over my face. Coming here last night hadn't been planned. After Talia called and I told her I was done, the thought of spending the rest of the night alone in that house started fucking with me.
Everywhere I looked, something reminded me of Kaior. So, I called Jess. She didn't ask too many questions when I showed up either. The only thing she wanted to know was what happened to my face.
I told her two niggas tried to rob me and jumped me. It was easier than telling her the truth. I wasn't about to tell another woman that the man my ex left me for had beat my ass in my own living room.
Jess sat up behind me.
"You want me to make you something before you leave?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
I stood and grabbed my shirt from the floor.
"I'll hit you later."
"You better."
I pulled my shirt over my head, grabbed my keys, and headed for the door. Right now, all I wanted was a shower, a few hours of sleep, and enough time to get my head right before work. At least I still had that.
I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. My body still ached from the ass whooping Jokah gave me, and all I wanted to do was shower and get a couple hours of sleep before work.
As I walked up the front steps, something taped to the front door caught my attention.
"What the fuck..."
I pulled the envelope off the door and looked down at the front.
NOTICE OF NON-RENEWAL OF TENANCY
My stomach tightened, as I ripped it open and unfolded the letter right there on the porch.
As of today, your month-to-month tenancy has been terminated... I stopped reading.
"What the fuck is this?"
I skimmed the rest of the page, my heart pounding harder with every line. Thirty-day notice. Vacate the premises. Failure to comply.
"What the fuck?"
I shoved the paper back into the envelope, unlocked the front door, and stormed inside.
"This some bullshit."
I pulled my phone out before the door even finished closing behind me and scrolled until I found my landlord's number.
The phone rang twice.
"Hello?"
"Yeah, this Kyrie Taylor."
"Hi, Mr. Taylor."
"The hell is this notice y'all just taped to my door?"
There was a brief pause before she answered.
"It isn't an eviction notice, Mr. Taylor. It's a notice of non-renewal."
"I don't give a damn what you call it. Why am I being put out?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but the owner has decided not to renew your month-to-month tenancy."
"What owner?"
"The property owner."
"I know that. I'm asking why."
"I'm afraid I don't have that information."
I started pacing across the living room.
"I pay my rent on time."
"Yes, sir."
"I've never had no complaints."
"I understand."
"So why the fuck am I being put out?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Taylor. The owner isn't required to provide a reason for ending a month-to-month tenancy."
I stopped walking and rubbed my head.
"Can I speak to him?"
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
"So, I'm just supposed to accept this?"
"The notice explains your rights and the timeframe to vacate the property."
I looked down at the letter still clutched in my hand. "This some bullshit."
Then I hung up the phone.
I looked down at the notice one more time before throwing it onto the coffee table.
Maybe the landlord had lost his damn mind.
Maybe I could figure this shit out tomorrow.
Right now, I needed a shower. I headed to the bathroom, peeled my clothes off, and stepped beneath the hot water.
Every bruise on my body reminded me of yesterday, but after standing there for a while, the heat started easing some of the soreness. At least one thing was going right.
I turned the water off, dried myself, and wrapped a towel around my waist before walking back into the bedroom. My phone lit up on the nightstand. I had two missed calls. I picked it up. There was one from Talia and one from work.
"Damn."
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I hope they don't want me to come in early."
I tapped my supervisor's number and held the phone to my ear. He answered after the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Mr. Daniels. I just saw y'all called."
"Yeah, Kyrie."
Something about his tone made me straighten up.
"I was actually hoping you'd call us back."
"What's up?"
There was a brief pause.
"I'm afraid I got some bad news."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"You don't have to come in tonight."
I frowned.
"What you mean?"
"We're ending your employment effective immediately."
The room went quiet.
"What?"
"Your position has been terminated."
I laughed because I knew I had to be hearing this shit wrong.
"Hold on. Terminated for what?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss the details over the phone."
"What details?" My voice started rising. "What details? If it was about my attendance, why ain't nobody say something to me? Y'all just gone fire me?"
"I understand your frustration."
"Nah, you don't."
I started pacing across the bedroom.
"Somebody need to explain to me what the fuck going on."
"I'm sorry, Kyrie. The decision has already been made."
"So that's it?"
"You'll receive information regarding your final paycheck and any remaining employment documents by mail."
"There isn't anything else I can do."
The line went dead and I slowly lowered the phone from my ear. My heart started racing. First, it was Kaior, the house and now my job. That's when Jokah's words hit me like a punch to the chest.
"By tomorrow morning... you ain't gon' have a job... a bitch... or nowhere to live."
"That motherfucker!"
The realization settled over me all at once. He wasn't making threats. He was keeping his word. Everything that came out of his mouth yesterday was happening.