Wren
A WEEK LATER
“That brother of yours is losing his mind,” Uncle Trayvon said through the phone. He didn’t have to call and tell me that, I already knew from experience myself.
“What he did now?”
“Word on the street is that he owes some nigga name Roc some money. I tried to tell him it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“I tried calling his phone, but he’s sending me to voicemail.”
“I think he has you blocked.”
Getting up from the desk, I rounded it and headed toward the back of the library to keep everyone out of my conversation. I try not to talk on the phone when I’m here but when I saw Uncle Trayvon’s name pop up on the phone, I knew it was something and immediately answered it.
“It’s alright. He just gon’ have to learn the hard way.”
“And I hate that for him.” My head lowered and I sighed as I leaned into the wall by the bathroom door. “We’ve done all we can do to save him. It’s up to him now.” I just hope that whoever this Roc guy is, that he takes it easy on him.
“I’m not gon’ hold you up for too long. I’ll call you later and check in on you.”
“Okay.”
The call disconnected, and I peeled away from the wall. Shaking my head, I headed back to the desk and sat there for the rest of the day with a book.
Once work was over, I went by Publix to grab somethings to make for dinner. I asked Maniac if he was gon’ be out late tonight and he told me that he shouldn’t be. My goal was to break into his house and cook dinner for him. I’ve never broken into anyone’s house before but today was gon’ be a first.
I could’ve easily just made dinner at my house, but I wanted to use his state-of-the-art kitchen. One probably would say I should’ve just asked him for a key, but it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he knew I was gon’ be in the house by the time he got there.
I locked up the library and then crossed the parking lot to my truck. I really need to stop parking so far from the door, knowing that by the time I leave, it be dark outside. That’s the downside of day light savings. The time just went back and it be dark before five.
Climbing into the truck, I drove to Publix. A lot of people were heading into the store while I tried to find a parking space. I noticed a red sedan backing up and whipped around to that aisle. They pulled out and I drove straight into the parking space.
Getting out, I locked the doors behind me and headed for the entrance. “Aye!” I heard someone yell behind me, but I kept walking. I knew Maniac was crazy as hell and if he saw me interacting with a man, he’d probably beat his ass.
“You don’t hear me talking to you?” the guy said, but I kept ignoring him and went on into the store.
Picking up one of the baskets, I headed over to the meats to figure out what I wanted to make.
It’s late, so I can’t put a pot roast on.
That’s something that you have to cook during the day in a crock pot while at work.
Beef tips were out of the question as well.
Standing there, I tapped my index finger against my chin. “Do you need help with anything?” the butcher asked.
“No. Thanks though.” He offered me a smile and went into the double doors.
“I think I know what I want to make.” I picked up a pack of chicken and headed to the pasta aisle.
Soon as I stepped on it, I saw Idris, staring in front of the pasta.
I slipped back around the corner, not wanting him to see me.
I hadn’t seen him since I showed up to the hospital to check on Cassius.
Since I wasn’t dealing with him anymore, there was no reason for me to associate with any of his family. They were dead to me just like him.
I headed to the dairy aisle to grab the cheese and hopefully, by the time I make it back to the pasta aisle, he’d be gone.
“Wren?” I heard my name being called as I reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a pack of Parmesan cheese. My body went rigid. I knew that voice from anywhere. Idris.
Easing out the refrigerator, I turned and faced with him a fake smile on my face. “Hey, Idris.”
“I thought that you was you.” He pulled me in for an embrace. “How you doing?”
“I’m great.” If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t tell him for him to go back and tell Cassius. As far as he’s concerned, I’m doing excellent.
“That’s good. Cassius still be talking about you.”
“No offense, Idris, but I really don’t care. He had his chance, and he messed it up. Don’t he have some other women he should be concerned about?”
Idris tossed his hands up in the air. “I don’t have nothing to do with that. Cassius is a grown ass man. I told him you were the best thing to ever happen to him. You’re right, he did fuck that up.”
My phone vibrated and I removed it from my pocket. Staring at the message on the screen, my eyes widened and I looked around the store.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” I removed myself from Idris’ presence immediately. Maniac knowing exactly what I’m doing right now baffled me. It’s like this man has a security camera on me or something.
I finished grabbing everything that I needed out the store and headed to self-check-out.
As I headed out the door, I headed to my truck. Soon as I was securely inside, I dialed Maniac’s number. “Are you watching me or something?” My eyes scanned the parking lot. I didn’t see any of his cars.
“You’re worried ’bout the wrong thing. Get yo’ ass to the house.”
“I was going anyway, and not ’cause you told me to.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you in a few.”
The phone beeped and I turned my attention to the road.
When I got to the house, I stopped by and grabbed me some clothes so that I can take a shower at his house.
Maniac has one of the best walk-in showers I’ve ever seen in my life.
I was thinking about spending more time at his place just to use the bathroom there.
Pulling down to his house, I stopped in front of the front porch and got out the truck. Rounding to the passenger side, I grabbed the bags and went up to the front door. Maniac has a doorbell camera and one that points down at the driveway.
I rang the doorbell and waited for it to connect. “What are you doing?” he asked when his voice popped on.
“I’m breaking into yo’ house just like you did mine.”
“If you would’ve just got the key like I told yo’ ass to, you wouldn’t have to break in. Just put the damn code in.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Fine. What is it?”
“Eight, two, four, five.”
I punched in the code and the door unlocked. He’s lucky that he picked up, because I was just gon’ burst the window out by the front door and let myself in. I may have read several books about men breaking into homes, but I didn’t know the first thing about doing it.
Entering the house, I went into the kitchen and placed my things on the counter. I was making something simple—marry me chicken pasta. It wasn’t gon’ take long to make, so I’ll go take a shower before I get started in the kitchen so that everything be ready by the time he gets here.
Taking the back stairs to his bedroom, I entered and fell in love all over again. This man’s room was almost the size of my freaking trailer. He has a damn living area in his bedroom. If he added a kitchen in there, he’d have his own mini apartment upstairs.
Placing my bag on the bed, I went straight into the bathroom and turned on the dual head shower. I stripped out my clothes and stepped over into the shower, letting the water run down on my head.
After spending thirty minutes in the shower, I got out and went into the bedroom.
I grabbed my Jergen’s lotion out the bag and rubbed my body down with it before getting dressed in a cute lil pink night gown.
I didn’t bother to put on any underwear underneath.
By the time Maniac walks through that door and eat his food, I’m sure he’s gon’ be ready to tear me out the frame.
Heading back downstairs, I poured myself a glass of wine and got started on the food. By the time I’m done cooking, I’d gone through half the bottle and Maniac was walking through the door.
“Got damn, it smells good in here,” he said when he entered the kitchen. Stopping behind me, he smacked me on the ass and then rubbed the stinging sensation out. I scooped up some of the pasta, blew on it and brought it to his lips. “Shit, that’s good,” he made known.
“Thanks.” The corner of my mouth quirked.
“I know something that tastes better than that though. Picking me up bridal style, he carried me toward the staircase.
“But what about the food?” I asked, looking back over his shoulder at the food that I’d slaved over the stove to make and ensure was hot by the time he got here.
“We can eat that shit afterwards. Right now, I got something else to attend to.”