Page 62 of Buy Back My Love

“Whatever.”

I carried the phone with me into the bathroom and checked myself in the mirror while he fussed about how long he’d been on the road. My new teeth still caught my attention every time I saw them. I smiled at myself, turned my head a little, then smiled again.

I had probably looked at these damn teeth five hundred times since Colombia.

“When you coming home?” I asked.

“Probably Sunday night. Might be Monday morning depending on how this shit go.”

That pulled my attention away from the mirror. “You said Saturday when you left.”

“I know. They added another load.”

“Of course they did.”

“Don’t start, Lee.”

“I ain’t starting nothing.”

“Yes, you is. I can hear it.”

I laughed and walked back into the bedroom. “I said four words.”

“And had an attitude with all four.”

“Boy, whatever.” I picked up my lip gloss from the dresser and tossed it into my pocket. I didn’t like how often he was gone, but I knew what came with his business. At least I was trying to. “Just be careful, and call me when you stop tonight.”

“You know I will.”

There was a brief pause before his voice softened. “I love you, Lee.”

“I love you too.”

“Aight, baby. I’ll call you later.”

We hung up, and I dropped my phone onto the bed before checking the time.

Van was late.

Only by about five minutes, but he was usually right on time. I went into the kitchen and got a bottle of water, took a few sips, then wandered back into the living room. By the time I checked my phone again, five minutes had turned into seven.

Where the hell was he?

I found myself at the front window before I even realized I had walked over there. I pushed the curtain aside just enough to look toward his place, saw nothing, and immediately let it fall.

Girl, calm down.

I had barely turned away when Snoop started barking his big ass head off outside. I peeked through the curtain again and saw him dragging Van up the walkway.

About damn time.

I headed for the door and had my hand on the knob before I caught myself rushing. I didn’t know why the hell I was acting like Van had been gone for six months instead of being seven minutes late for a walk, but I slowed my ass down anyway.

By the time I finally opened the door, he was stepping onto my porch. I didn’t even give him a chance to speak before I smiled big as hell, showing all thirty-two teeth.

Van stopped on the top step and looked at me for a second longer than usual.

“Damn, Lee.”