Page 16 of Truth

We hugged once more.

“Hopefully, I’ll get my clearance, and it’ll be us two back together again.”

He slid his arm around my neck and walked me out the door. Although I didn’t look, I could feel Truth’s eyes on me. I didn’t know why, but I could. Once out the door, a quick glance confirmed it. He was looking at me. Fuck.

No sooner had me and Kane came out, there was Truth. Instead of speaking, he walked in between us, bumping Kane’s shoulder and with nothing in his hand.

“Yo, man. That was?—”

Truth’s glare was like a silent stop sign. I wasn’t sure what that was all about.

“Thanks, Kane.” I quickly rushed in and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll call you later this week when you’re off. Friday, right?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, still eyeing them. “Friday.”

I walked away but made sure Truth knew I wasn’t happy about that stunt he pulled when I flipped him off. He laughed, but I knew better. Anytime he saw me, I knew he’d have plans to tap dance on my fucking nerves. I guess my time atInkzwas up. Germaine would have to forgive me since I didn’t want or need to see him. Fuck Truth and the Saint Riderz.

“Fuck no. Not now.”

My car wasn’t working, and Kane wasn’t picking up. After what happened a few days ago, I figured he was still upset. He probably felt I was hiding something. I wasn’t. If anyone knew I wasn’t interested in dating outside of Germ, Kane should have. I fished my cell phone out, trying my luck with Germ. I wanted to make it to the post office before they closed.

“Come on, Germ. Pick up.”

I hit the map feature and mapped out the distance. I had two pieces, and if I carried them carefully, I could walk, or I could catch a Lyft. I just didn’t see me wasting thirty bucks to go up a few blocks. I tapped his name again, and this time, it went straight to voicemail.

“That damn Joreen. It probably was her ass.”

She was in her feelings since Germ wanted to buy me a car… or a bike. I didn’t need one of those. I needed my 2012 Mitsubishi Galant I purchased after saving up money from my first year on the job.

I hauled the two boxes out of my car and steadied them in my hands. I refused to pay a Lyft once I remembered rent was due. Germ was making money, but he was also spending too. If it wasn’t on more supplies or overhead at the shop, it was on bills and dumb Joreen.

It didn’t matter, though. I don’t care how much he made. I was the oldest, and I was determined to find out the latest fees at Ritzer Art School. They were creeping up steadily, but I had more than half tucked in a box in my bedroom closet.

As I walked, people on bicycles zipped past me. I decided to cross the street since it had less foot traffic when a truck camerushing toward me. He almost hit me, but I’d cleared it just in the nick of time.

“Fuck you!” I belted out, adjusting the bun of braids I’d pinned up.

“Damn it,” I muttered when I stepped on a pebble or shoelace. I’d double tied them, or so I thought when my ankle twisted, and I fell to the ground.

The boxes flew in front of me, one tumbling into the street.

“Noooo!” I saw it shatter into pieces when not one but two cars rolled over what was left of it.

“Shit, shit, shit.”

I sat up with closed eyes, close to tears. This day couldn’t get any worse. It couldn’t until I heard his voice, which sent chills up my back. The hairs on my neck stood up, and my skin was clothed with sweat as the sun bore down on me. Great, I’m sure I looked like a fucking wet dog. I could feel my hair sticking to my skin.

“You plan on just sitting there?”

“Listen, leave me the fuck alone.” I could feel the goosebumps peppering my skin the more he stood there as my eyes took him in. He wore a simple, white tank covered with his Saints vest. His perfect biceps and pecs were on display that I admired without trying until I noticed that cocky ass grin on his face.

“Or else?”

That little smirk that stretched into a smile told me that would be too much like right. Since he didn’t specialize in right, what came next was him literally picking me up and placing me on the ground.

“Did you just touch me?” I huffed with clenched fists, feeling the electricity where his hands once were. My mind was filled with rage but my stomach fluttering to my lip I’d bit down on out of frustration said otherwise.

He sucked his teeth then proceeded to brush specks of dirt off my arms and legs as if he had the right to touch me. All the while I stood, my mouth hung low with no protest in sight. Imagine me, mouthy, quick comeback Merci, and in this man’s presence, I could barely formulate complete sentences as he invaded my space.

---