Page 33 of Delirium 2

“I have to. Got to. Just tell me you hear me, sis,” Zeke interrupted.

“I hear you, Zeke.”

* * *

Hours later, Zeke was gone and it was just First Lady and I. We got in from our walk not too long ago and she was back on the couch watching The Bernie Mac show. I was bored. That was the only downside of this job. The boredom. I spent a lot of time on social media, aimlessly scrolling, looking for entertainment.

I was in the middle of laughing at one of Devontae’s dancing in the club skits when my phone rang. I was startled by the sight of Exodus’s name. Things had been… I guess you could say… weird since I cried on his chest the other day. He hadn’t been around much and any time he called to check in on First Lady or something, I stammered over my words and shit like a fool. I liked him. Like… liked him, liked him and it annoyed me so got damn bad. I didn’t want to be one of those. You know… one of the ones who loveeeed Exodus Christ.

“Hello?” I said, answering the phone, putting it to my ear.

“How did it go?”

“How did what go? The walk? It was good. We almost made it to the corner.

“

He laughed. “Nah, not the walk. That’s good to hear tho’. Means she’s building endurance. I’m talking about the apartment shit.”

I giggled. “Oh. It went good. I put in an application. They say give them forty-eight hours or whatever.”

“Bet. What’s the name of it?”

“Springview Hills. About fifteen minutes away from the house.”

“So… what’s the plan? Pay rent there every month for no reason? While you sleep at the crib? You like wasting money, huh?”

He was being casual.

This wasn’t a work call. This was a… personal call?

I kicked my feet up on the couch and looked off at the TV, not particularly paying it any attention. “Yep. That’s the plan. And… no… I don’t like wasting money. I don’t waste money.”

“That’s what you’re going to be doing with that tho’. Wasting it. I’m sure you can think of better places to spend over a g a month. You need a new purse. Get one.”

I sucked my teeth. “I just got two new purses. Thank you very much.”

“Nah you need to replace that fake ass Prada,” he joked. “I understand though, baby girl. Still… you got the funds now. Drop that bag on a new one. Please.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with my fuckin’ purse,” I playfully snapped. “You want me to have another one, buy it.”

“Say less,” he quickly replied before saying a couple of words to someone in the background. Princess.

For some reason I got in my feelings and snapped. “Bye, Exodus.”

“Damn, why you getting off?”

“Ain’t you busy?”

“With my dogs, yeah,” he told me. “Princess!” He shouted again.

I felt silly.

How was I being insecure and he had a girlfriend? What was I doing liking him in general and he had a girlfriend? It was no longer about possibly hearing him talking to someone else in the background—it was about that. I needed to chill. I’d never been a side bitch, and I wasn’t about to start just because I liked Exodus Christ. A little too much, might I add. I didn’t even trip on Vellz when we were together about other women. I might’ve side-eyed a couple of things, but jealousy never pegged me. However, with Exodus, thinking about him with his girlfriend… I got a little jealous.

Wondered if she saw that soft side of him.

Wondered if he prayed with her.