Page 43 of Krash & Bern

“I didn’t know that was your plans,” she explained.

I chuckled. “It’s been trending. You sure you ain’t been reading the blogs.”

“You’re going to drag this out, huh?”

“Nah. If we both leave the blogs and gossip out, they won’t be mentioned again.”

“Deal.”

A normally thirty-minute drive was almost an hour as we finally pulled into the parking lot of the painting spot. I frowned at the packed parking lot and prayed the cars were here for something else. As soon as Javon opened the door, we were bombarded by paparazzi.

“What the fuck?” I uttered as the flashing lights nearly blinded me.

“Krash! How does it feel to be heading into retirement?”

“Krash! Let us get a picture!”

“Krash, who is the woman in the back seat?”

As the questions came flying at me, I felt my blood boil. “Jay, take us back to my crib.”

I turned on my heels and slammed the door shut. Javon got back in the driver’s seat and blared the car horn until the vultures cleared a path for us to pull out. I called Gary’s number and waited for him to answer.

“Yo!”

“Man, what the fuck!” I shouted.

“What?”

“How the fuck did the vultures know I would be at that event tonight? I couldn’t even take two fuckin’ steps out the car, and we were swarmed.”

“Man, I don’t know! I’ll call the venue and see what happened.”

“Fuck that. Get my money back, and tell them I’ll never support they business again.”

My blood was boiling. I wanted tonight to be perfect, but it was everything but. My second date was going to be a disaster. Someone would feel my wrath.

“I’ll do what I can,” Gary stated.

“You better handle it before I do.”

I hung up the phone and rubbed my hand down my face. A frustrated sigh fell from my lips as I finally turned my gaze to Bernice. She had her eyes trained on me the entire time.

“I’m sorry tonight was a failure.”

“Don’t give up yet,” she said.

“My plans were ruined…”

“So? We’ve always been able to pivot. Tonight shouldn’t be any different. We can do something in your big ass mansion if you want. I saw an indoor pool in one of the rooms. We can definitely make the most of the evening.”

Her words calmed me instantly. My heart pounded as defeat morphed into something new. The night wouldn’t end on a sour note. Instead, we’d be able to adjust and still spend time together. This was what I missed. I missed the calm to my storms. I missed her quick thinking and problem solving.

“You’re right. Let me have someone pick some shit up for us. What’s the ETA back to my spot?” I asked Javon as I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Camille. I told her to go to the store and pick up a few swimsuits for Bernice, wine, and board games.

“Unfortunately, with traffic, we’re looking at an hour and fifteen-minute drive. I’m going to search another app to find a shorter route, but it’s looking like we’re going to be sitting for a while because there are wrecks on 45-South and 610.”

“We’re in no rush. Hell, we can get the date started back here. Stop at a drive-through daiquiri spot, and we’ll be all right back here.”

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