Page 56 of Fever

“I think I’m just feeling blue about my job, girl.”

“Carla,” I said, “you haven’t been looking for another job?”

“Nooo,” she whined.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just hoping for the best.”

I scoffed. “Carla, if you know without a shadow of a doubt that your drug test will come back positive, then you need to be looking for something else.”

“Can we please talk about anything other than that? What are you doing and where are you going?”

I pulled my shoulders back and peered at the screen.

“Who says I’m going anywhere?”

“I can hear your radio playing in the background.”

I reached for the dial and turned it down.

“I’m on my way to the mall, pulling up in the parking lot as we speak.”

“Oooh, shopping is always nice. What’s the occasion?”

I hesitated, knowing this probably wouldn’t be the perfect time to tell Carla about my position at the newspaper.

“Josiah is taking me to dinner tonight.”

“Santana, are you all dating?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “We are.”

A high-pitched squeal sounded through my ear, and I pulled the phone back and squinted until Carla was done.

“Oh my God, that is so exciting. It’s you. You’re the next one to get hitched by one of those fine ass Rose brothers.”

“I don’t know about all that,” I said.

“What do you mean? It seems like one by one, they’re all turning in their playa cards for love and mark my words. You’re next!”

My smile was bright. Carla’s words were very encouraging, but I reminded myself that our relationship wasn’t a real one. Just that thought deflated me.

“Listen, don’t get all excited, we’re talking about Josiah here.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

I exited my car and hit the alarm on my keypad. It chirped, and I sauntered across the street into The Shops at North Bridge Mall. My heels clicked against the vinyl tile as I headed straight for the bank of elevators.

“We’ve talked about this before,” I said. “Hold on for just a second, Carla.” I shifted the strap that was tied to my handbag and dug in the pocket for my Bluetooth. After adjusting the device on my ear, I dropped my smartphone inside my purse and continued my walk to Nordstrom’s.

“Hey, Carla, can you hear me?”

“Yeah.”

“So, as I was saying. Josiah’s young. I’d be foolish to think he’s ready for marriage.”

“Oh, girl, pa-lease!”

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