I’d been apprehensive when she extended the invitation for me to join them.
As I wash my hands, I’m glad I came and glad I accepted her invitation to come back.
I step out of the bathroom and find Sin sitting at the foot of the stairs tying her laces. That feeling of being glad swells. When our eyes meet, I smile.
Hers narrow and hold mine with an assessing, stony glare.
I’m not sure why the woman who did a sexual eat and run is pissed atme. I smile at her. She scowls and looks down at her watch. “The store closes early on Sunday. Let’s go.”
Before I can replay, she shouts, “Kwame and I are headed out. Anyone want something?”
“Get me some gum. Orbitz sweet mint, please,” her sister says as she walks into the kitchen.
“Text me that. Anything else?” Sin calls out to the room.
“No. Drive safe. Love you.” Her mother waves at us and sits down next to her husband and puts her mouth next to his ear to whisper something that makes him grin and wag a finger at her.
“Ready?” She smiles this time, but her eyes are hard and direct.
It’s not a question. She doesn’t wait for me to reply before she walks out the front door.
“Sure.”
At this point in my life, the only person who can tell me what to do is my dad, and even then, only when he has leverage. But I follow Sin out like the general commanded me himself.
“Your family is great,” I say when we’re outside.
She stops and turns around to face me. “Okay, cut the shit. What the hell are you doing here?”
Chapter Twelve
Sin
Pipe Dreams
I’ve been waiting for this since I laid eyes on him tonight. I thought I would burst.
“Well, what do you really want?” I repeat when he doesn’t answer.
“What do you mean?” He holds his hands up in the air.
“Imean,what are you doing here?” I enunciate each word.
He squares his shoulders and his jaw. “I came to see your parents. My mother was their landlord. She asked me to personally deliver something to them.”
“So where is it?” I demand.
“Where is what?” He blinks at my rapid-fire questioning.
I snap my fingers impatiently. “Whatever you came to deliver. Where is it?”
“I gave it to your mom when I arrived. She said they’d open it later.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “So, they’re not being evicted?” I press, desperate for that assurance.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t have sat down to eat with them if that was the case.” He’s speaking like he’s talking to a hostage taker.
I force myself to relax my guard. He’s not dangerous. At least not in any obvious way. I look at him with exaggerated suspicion on my face. “So youreallyhad no idea I would be here or who I was when we met inApril?” I press.
