Chapter 3
Dexter
Present
My phone buzzed, and I noticed a call from George, one of my parents’ coworkers, back at home.
Overall, he was cool people. He was older than me by a few years and more outgoing compared to my laid-back demeanor.
He was usually loud and chased after every woman he crossed paths with, but my parents loved him.
He wasn’t your typical corporate employee, but he was a hard worker.
“What’s up, Geo?”
“Dexter, my man! What are you doing tonight? Wait, let me guess, playing one of your computer games.”
I huffed out a chuckle as I adjusted my keyboard. “For your information, I am finishing up some homework…then I’m playing one of my games.”
George snorted out a laugh. “It’s Friday night, and instead of getting into something wet, your nerdy ass is doing homework.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you only call me to make jokes? If so, you can send it in a text.”
“Actually,” he said, drawing out the word. “I need that favor.”
I exhaled a heavy sigh and leaned back in my seat.
I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t expect it to happen right away.
Last summer, I took a few courses in my minor of art and design, concentrating in digital art.
For one assignment, we had to design a replica of a classic arcade game.
Long story short, I forgot my gaming laptop at home, and George caught me using the office computers when the cybersecurity alerted him.
I thought I did a better job bypassing the firewall, but as I said, he was good at his job.
Anyway, after he caught me, he promised not to tell if I promised him a favor. I had no idea what kind of favor he was about to ask of me, but I was a man of my word.
“Does this favor have to be tonight?”
George exhaled an annoyed breath. “C’mon, man! I’m in your city, and you’re the closest friend I have right now that’s in the area.”
Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I sniffed and sat up in my seat. I wouldn’t say that we were ‘friends’ per se, but more like associates. “Okay, okay, what is it you need? And what are you doing way over here on my side of town? That’s like a four-hour drive.”
“I met one of these sexy honeys over the summer, and she told me she lived close by your campus. Since the hoes aren’t biting over here, I figured I’d swing by to see her.”
“What do you need me to do? Be y’all chauffeur? Use my apartment for the nightcap?”
“Chauffeur, no. Using your apartment, possibly. I’m going to take Rachel out on a date, but she has this friend with her who is trying to tag along. I've tried everything I could to convince Rachel that we don't need a third wheel, but neither of them is having it.”
I rubbed my beard. “So, you want me to take one for the team?”
There was a brief pause of silence before George burst out laughing. “I didn’t know your nerdy ass knew anything about taking one for the team.”
“For your information, my best friend and I have done a few two-man jobs. I go in, talk to the woman while Key does his thing, and then we head home. It’s not a big deal.”
“Bro, you are a lifesaver! Hey, if you and her friend hit it off, then you've got yourself a new girl.”
It was my turn to burst into laughter. “I’m not looking for a girlfriend. If she’s cool, then I wouldn’t mind hanging out with her afterward, but I’m definitely not looking for anything serious. My focus is on graduating.”
“Man, I’m not talking about a ‘girlfriend’, I’m talking about someone you can hit up when you want to get some. Anyway, I’ll send you the address to the restaurant we’re meeting at. Be there by 8 p.m.”
With that, he hung up the phone. I shook my head as I returned my attention to my homework.
Unlike George, I wasn’t too worried about sex.
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the extracurricular activity, but not as casually.
Random hook-ups weren’t my thing. I mentioned before, my focus was on getting my degree. Plus, I haven’t met the right one.
After finishing up, I submitted my work and stood from my seat with a long stretch.
I had about an hour and a half to get my hygiene together and head over to the restaurant.
I jumped in the shower and made sure I washed every inch.
There were way too many grown-ass men who didn’t know how to wash their ass correctly. You weren’t about to catch me slipping.
Stepping out of the shower, I looked over my body and smirked.
My daily workouts and healthy eating were paying off.
When I first got into college, the freshman fifteen hit me hard.
Not to mention, working at a computer all day only made things worse.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind the extra weight, but what I didn’t like was my overall health.
I got tired of not having energy and feeling sluggish all day and got my shit together.
I stuck with my healthier habits since then.
Walking over to my closet, I picked out a white tee with a pair of slim-fit black Tru Religion jeans.
It was a bit windy outside, so I grabbed a matching black Tru Religion varsity jacket.
I finished my outfit with a pair of all-white Nike Forces.
I walked over to my top dresser and grabbed my platinum grills, silver stud earrings, and matching chain.
Others might see me as nerdy, but my appearance would surprise them. I had medium locs that hung past my shoulders and a thick box beard that complemented my espresso skin. A few tattoos ran down my chest and arms, and a single one on my neck.
Grabbing my car keys, I headed out of my room. My best friend and roommate, Ricky, whom I called Key, was sitting on the couch typing fast on his phone. His face was balled up into a frown, and I could tell that something was wrong.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, reading a new message that had come in. “My sis is…. She’s going through some shit.”
“Damn. Is she going to be straight?”
Key nodded his head. “She’s the strongest person I know, but every strong person needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes. I may take a drive back home to talk some sense into her.”
He exhaled a breath before placing his phone down. He cocked his head to the side when he finally looked at me and smirked.
“My eyes must be deceiving me. Ain’t no way I'm seeing the one and only Dex going out on a Friday night.”
I shook my head with a laugh. “Bro, I go out on Fridays.”
“Yeah, when I literally drag you out of the house.”
I opened my mouth, but then quickly shut it. “Touche.”
Key stared at me with a concerned look. “Don’t worry, it’ll get easier.”
“What gets easier?”
“Being wrong.” Key burst into laughter as he stood up from the couch.
“Man!” I laughed with him.
“Where are you going, anyway?”
“You remember that guy, George?”
“The one who works at your parents’ tech company?”
“Yup, well, he’s finally calling in that favor I owe him. He wants me to entertain his date’s friend.”
Key walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. “I thought you swore off blind dates.”
“I did. Thanks to you.” I huffed, leaning against my doorframe.
Key jabbed his chest with his finger. “What? Me?”
“Don’t play, nigga. You know good damn well I didn’t do any blind dates or ‘taking one for the team’ shenanigans until I met your ass.”
He snorted out a laugh. “You're right. You're right. Well, hell, we were both freshmen, and all you wanted to do was sit in the dorm. I had to get you outside.”
“Anyway,” I said, rolling my eyes. “The only reason I’m going out today is because I gave George my word. Besides, he’s stuck to his end of the bargain by not snitching to my folks.”
Key lifted an eyebrow. “We graduate this year. Don’t you think it’s time you told them the truth? I mean, you’re a grown-ass man.”
“I might be grown, but I’m keeping my mouth shut.”
“Hmm. Why is that? Because they’ve been paying for your tuition this whole time?”
I pointed my finger in the air. “Bingo! I already feel like crap, and I’ve tried to pay for my own classes, but they refused. Like, I appreciate the fact that they wanted to ensure their only child continues his education, but he feels like it’s more of a control thing.”
“Bro, why are you speaking in third person?”
“I’m just saying,” I continued, ignoring Key. “I think they know. Why else wouldn’t they let me take care of my tuition? It’s because they know the truth! Think about it!”
“Dex-”
“I have to stick to the degree they want so that I can stay on track to take over Green Tech. Therefore, they pay for my classes–”
“Dex–”
“They know that I’ll feel guilty if I take any other classes on their dime! I mean, I’m doing that now, but look what’s been happening. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in–”
“Dex!” Ricky shouted, causing me to stop in my tracks. I had worked myself up so much that I didn’t realize I had started pacing around the living room. “I need you to take a breath and stop all that stomping. Our downstairs neighbors are going to get pissed.”
I briefly closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.
My heart was racing, and I could feel anxious butterflies swarming in the pit of my stomach.
Every time I thought about my parents, school, and the lies I’ve been telling them, my anxiety shot through the roof.
I’ve tried to talk to them before about my passion for designing and creating video games, but they always reduced my dreams to mere hobbies.
I hated I was lying to them, but at this point, I didn’t have any choice.
Sure, I could tell them the truth, but did I really want to hurt the two people who gave me everything in life?
And all for what? My own selfish desires?
Then again, this was my life. I’ve tried to do the right thing by paying for my own classes and following my dreams, but my parents never listened.
Eventually, I’ll come clean about everything.