JAMEL
“So what are we doing for your birthday?”
I remained quiet on the phone with DJ. He already knew what I would be doing Friday and Saturday night. I was addicted to Obsession, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. She knew it too. Every weekend I was there to see her… front row with money in my hand. It had gotten to the point where niggas would chill on their comments about her around me. One dude commented on how fat her pussy was, and I was on the verge of coming unglued like she was mine.
The shit was out of control, and there was nothing I knew to do to stop it. I needed her, and I still didn’t know how I would convey that to her. She was it for me. As I remained quiet, DJ said, “Well, me and the fellas gon’ try to make a trip Saturday night to celebrate with you.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. This woman has got to be it for you. I ain’t never seen you like this over nobody, let alone a stripper and a woman you don’t even know.”
“It’s weird, bruh. You right. I ain’t never been like this over nobody. It’s irritating at times, because I can’t even get close to her. How am I gonna let her know that I want to know her? We meet eyes every time I’m there, but I think she may be scared of me. It’s like she’s avoiding me, especially last weekend. She only gave me a glance. I know she sees me every weekend. She proly think I’m a stalker. This may be my last weekend for a while. I gotta detox her out of my system. It’s been almost six months.”
“Ithasbeen a while. Are you sure you’ve exhausted all avenues to her?”
“I haven’t. I just don’t wanna seem like a creep, man. She has to know I’m feeling her. She knows the restrictions she has in place. So if she were feeling me, she would make a move. That’s what I’ve convinced myself of.”
“But she doesn’t know you. Like you said, she may think you’re a creep.”
“Ugh! I don’t wanna talk about it anymore. I need some birthday pussy to calm me down. I may call one of my dip backs. It’s been a while.”
“Nigga, and what’s a while? A week?”
“Two.”
He fell out laughing, and I had to laugh too. He was making light of my situation, but I was serious. That woman had me so fucking gone I didn’t even wanna settle for nobody else. Her name fit her ass perfectly. I was completely obsessed. “I gotta go, DJ.”
“A’ight, bruh. See you day after tomorrow. You have to come to Beaumont Sunday too.”
“Okay. I’ll call you back later.”
My walkie-talkie was going off. They were ready for me to pick up the load and move it to another area. Listening to their instruction, I picked it up and slowly spun to where they needed it to be. This was my last move for the day, and I was beyond grateful. I was mentally drained and just ready to have a drink and go to sleep.
My job could be boring as hell, but it was dangerous too. The crane I was in today was a tower crane. I’d traveled to Phoenix this past Sunday and had been on the job since daylight Monday morning. I would be flying home tomorrow afternoon, and I was beyond ready. I had to work for two hours in the morning, then I would take the two-and-a-half-hour flight home. I probably wouldn’t make it to the club tomorrow night. It wouldn’t be the first Friday that I was out of pocket.
I traveled wherever they needed a crane operator. I’d been all over the country. I was off most weekends unless I had to travel to a big city like Los Angeles or New York City. I’d only been overseas once in the ten years I’d been with the company. Going to Dubai was an experience I would never forget. Although I was alone, I was in awe of how beautiful it was, and I had a great time enjoying the sights.
When I finally got to the ground, I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent my mama a text, checking on her. Although I knew she was well, I also knew she liked to hear from me more than every now and then. I got in the company truck and headed to the hotel I was staying at. Tomorrow, I would have to get an Uber.
Hey, Ma. I hope all is well. Love you.
I set my phone on the seat, but before I could get a mile up the road, she was calling. “Hello?”
“Hey, baby boy. How are you?”
“I’m good. What about you? What you up to?”
“I’m good, baby. Sitting here feeding Foster. Lexi went back to work, so I watch him sometimes. Me and Patricia take turns with him and Mariena. Sometimes we watch them together and go shopping and eat lunch.”
“Sounds like y’all are spoiling them.”
She chuckled. “It does sound that way, huh?”
I chuckled too. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
She was quiet for a moment, then she asked, “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see y’all Sunday.”
