Hearing her laugh had a nigga cheesing hard. “About to hit the shower, what you got going on?”
“At Jayda’s house. You remember her, right?”
Shit, as much as Messiah still talked about her ass, ain’t no way I could forget.
“Yeah. Tell her I said what’s up.” We spoke for a few more minutes. She told me what Jayda’s sister said to her, and I thought that was fucked up. As we talked, my mind went to the job, and I wondered if she’d been reassigned yet.
“You heard anything from the office?” I asked her.
She sighed. “Not yet, did you?”
“Nah. I ain’t really worried about it, to be honest.” I lifted to bend down, removing my shoes. I really ain’t want to hang up with her, but I’d be able to rap with her longer once I got out. “Lemme call you back when I’m done, alright?”
“Okay,” she replied, then hung up.
A nigga ain’t never take a shower so damn fast. I grabbed a pair of boxers, gym shorts and a tank top out of the drawer, then made my way to the bathroom. I ain’t hear nothing from the front room, so I figured Valentine had done dozed off to sleep.
Putting soap on my washcloth, I was quick to wash my ass and get out. I told Valentine we were gone figure something out, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. The shit he told me about Tank sounded crazy as hell, but I could see that nigga pulling something off like that. I’d been called it, when I said his ass was gone get into something and be right back in prison, but I ain’t count on him dragging my damn brother down with him.
I got dressed and headed back in the other room to check on him. As I turned the corner, I didn’t see him on the couch.
“V?” I called out, looking for him in the kitchen first, then in the hallway bathroom.
“Fuck!” I cursed out loud. His ass done disappeared on me while I was in the shower.
What part of stay put didn’t this muthafucka understand?
27
BABY
Love didn’t callme back last night, and I admit I was a little disappointed. When he said he was gonna call, I waited up for hours. I looked thirsty as hell. I felt foolish.
“You okay, cousin?” Jayda’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“I’m fine, just nervous. What if I do something wrong on my first day?” It had been a long time since I clocked in on somebody’s job.
“Stop thinking so much, you gone be alright,” she reassured me.
She turned into the gas station parking lot, and parked in the space in the front. I tried to take her advice, breathing in and out to ease my anxiety before I hopped out.
Before I could step out, my phone rang. I figured it must’ve been Auntie, not many people had this phone number. However, when I glanced at the screen, I didn’t recognize the zip code.
“Who’s that?” Jay asked. I shrugged in response, pressing the green button to answer.
“Hello.”
“Ms. Wilcox, this is Mr. Simmonds, from the probation office. How are you?” I cast a worried glance at Jayda. “I hope you don’t mind, I retrieved your number from your aunt.”
“I’m fine,” I mumbled. “How are you?”
“Pretty good. I’m just informing you that Mr. Hamilton will no longer be handling your case. Can you come in tomorrow evening to meet your new parole officer?”
“Uh, yes, I can.” I cursed under my breath. I just got this job. I’d have to miss a day already. “What time should I be there?”
“Around 3 o’clock.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay. Thank you for reaching out.”
