SCOUT
“Doyou want to call him back?” Luis was trying so hard not to laugh in my face.
“It can wait,” I said through flaming cheeks. The phone rang again, and I flew to it.
“Stop calling!” I hissed as soon as I picked it up.
“Hello?” a female’s voice said into the phone.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Who is this?”
“It’s Deanna, why are you so jumpy?”
I relaxed. “Sorry, I’ve just got Luis here and…” I took a step back to look at him in the other room. He was looking around, pretending not to listen. “I’ll tell you at work tonight.”
“When does he move in?”
“Let me ask.” I put my hand over the receiver and called to Luis. “When do you want to move in?”
“I have to pack, but I’ll be ready by next weekend if you are.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and returned to the phone call. “Next weekend. Look, I gotta go. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay, fine, but just know I have gossip about your mafia boyfriend.”
“Don’t call him that. I’ll see you tonight.” I hung up quickly and returned to Luis.
“Do you get calls like that a lot?” Luis smiled.
“Deanna? Sometimes.”
“No, the other one.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. I covered my face with my hands.
“Absolutely not. I just started seeing this new guy and he’s…” I lifted my head and rolled my eyes. How could I describe Desi? “He’s crazy in the best way.”
“Sounds like it.” Luis grinned. “So, everything is split down the middle?”
We went to the kitchen where I brewed some coffee.
“I share food, but if you don’t, that’s fine. Maybe put your name on it though?” I shrugged. Brucey had to go to the bathroom, so I took that opportunity to show them the backyard. Brucey was more than happy with it. He did his business and then ran around in loose circles.
“He doesn’t get the opportunity to run around a lot where we currently are.”
“Well, consider this space his.” I beamed.
After an hour, Luis decided he had seen what he needed to and we made plans for him to move in. I shook his hand, and he started to his car. He put Brucey inside and they started to leave. Just as he was pulling out of my driveway, a police car turned onto our street and crept to a park in front of my house.
Luis looked at me with raised eyebrows, and I made a gesture to tell him I had no idea what was going on. He drove away, watching the house. I groaned. First Desi, and now this? Could this short meeting have gone any worse? Two policemen stepped out of the vehicle and started up my drive.
“Can I help you, officers?” Growing up in the system had hardened me against law enforcement. The people who were meant to keep us safe were often the ones doing the most hurt to us.
“Yes, are you Scout Smith?”
I scrunched my nose up at my last name. Given to me by the state when they found me. My brown eyes, black hair, and tanned skin fit the Smith name apparently.
“Yes, that’s me,” I replied curtly.
“We wanted to ask you some questions about last Wednesday. Do you mind?”
