“What else is for him?”
“You got something you wanna ask me, Pops?” I tilted my head to the side, looking him over.
“Nope but you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
I nodded and continued to run the report, going with my first mind and extending the dates from the beginning of the year till the last deposit date on both the name he gave me and the businesses connected to that name. It wasn’t until the barbershop came up that I knew who he had me looking up and I immediately shook my head.
“Look, I know I don’t tell you what to do, and you can handle things for yourself, but do an old man a favor and be careful. You and your sisters are all I have in this world.”
I nodded. “I’m good, I promise.”
“Good.”
He and I made a little more small talk before I got what I needed and headed next door to the flower shop.
From the moment I entered the shop I felt her eyes. She was pissed.
“Where the hell have you been?” Lauryn asked, stuffing a rose into the glass vase in front of her on the counter.
“Little bit of everywhere. Working, laying up, and repeat. How are you?” I asked sarcastically.
“I’m fine and I can tell you’re fine. Too freaking bad I have to chew you out about the incognito act.” Her left brow raised and showcased her irritation.
“I’m working, Lauryn, what do you expect me to do?”
“Pick up your phone and tell me that. Shoot me a text, so when the two worrywarts start worrying I’m not also worried because I know you’re incognito aka working.”
I laughed, understanding where she was coming from. “You’re right.”
“I’m what?” She dropped the shears in her hand onto the counter. Her eyes were on me immediately, shocked.
“You’re right. I need to communicate better and I’ll work on that.”
Her jaw hung open as she stared at me in disbelief.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, Lauryn, I’m fine. Now is that all or are we discussing somet?—”
“Yes, we’re discussing the man who’s dropping off enough dick to make you agreeable. And before you tell me there is nosuch thing, I will definitely wait because your attitude has been adjusted, honey.”
I laughed. “I think my attitude is all the same.”
“No, baby. You’re getting dicked down properly because Sergeant told my husband he pulled you over and you told him you were seeing someone. My sister, who I know is afraid of routine, wouldn’t tell a soul that. So who is he and is it serious?”
I glanced at my hands, shaking my head. Before him I would have never been this damn open.
“Look at you all flustered and fidgeting. At least if you’re not gonna tell me his name, tell me about him.”
I grinned. “Tell you about him. That’s like telling you who he is. But honestly, he’s sweet without knowing it, quiet and calculated and… Honestly, he has me kind of stuck. Like even though I’m as fucked up as I am, he makes me feel seen.”
Her smile grew. “Seems like somebody has met that person who didn’t ask her to stop running, but somehow you took your running shoes off for him.”
“I do not run.”
“No, you walk fast and expect everybody to keep up. Shit, you think fast too. You get that shit from mama too.”
I laughed because our mother was definitely that way. She expected everyone to either read her mind or keep her pace. “Whatever.”
