Page 58 of Rhet

“So, tell me what’s up.” She leans back into the seat.

I can’t tell her everything thing, but I do offer the basics.

“I got the job. It came just in the nick of time. With my mom and Dante’s med bills. I needed it.” I want to open up and tell her so much more.

“No, you need to do Zeeta once in a while.” She hits her hand on the tabletop.

“Don’t start with that, please.” My stomach grumbles as the scent of freshly cooked fries’ floats through the dinner.

“Zeeta, you postponed your dreams when your mom got sick. Then when Dante’s accident happened, you didn’t even bother to sign up for college.”

“Pen, what was I supposed to do?” Frustration creeps into my voice.

“Maybe it’s time for Zeeta to put herself first. What does Zeeta want to do?” Two guys pass by staring. Penny winks at one, the poor man walks into a table. She chuckles.

Penny looks exactly what you think hacker would look like. Hoodie? Yes. Sweatpants? Yes. Top it all off, my friend is gorgeous. I know all girls say this, but she legit is. Her skin glows, her complexion is like rich maple syrup. It’s golden, it doesn’t help that her skin looks like glass. Today she had her red locs piled high on her head. Did I mention she’s thick with double “cc.”Thicck.

“When everything is settled with them both, I will do me.” I need my home to be stable, no one would understand not even my best friend.

“Fine. How are Dante and your mom?” Penny has always had a crush on my brother, but he never paid her any mind. Stupid boy.

“Dante is doing fine and well, mom, she’s always sleeping. When she’s up, she calls me Janet her older dead sister. Next topic,” I say.

“How is your boss?” She picks up a straw and begins to play with it.

“Alive,” I grumble.

“How have you kept your hands to yourself. Have you seen this man?” Penny sticks her tongue out of her head.

“I have. I don’t want him.”Liar,my brain whispers.

“If I were you, I would be like. Nah, I can’t. Then fuck it, let’s do this.” She bursts out laughing.

“Trust me, his words would turn you off.” Who am I kidding? Nothing about Rhet turns me off.

“He’s an asshole?”

I chuckle, the waiter puts our burgers and fries in front of us.

“Twenty-four seven, Penny. He doesn’t stop.” I grab the bottle of ketchup and squirt it on my fries.

“But you like him?”

I shrug. “I like him with his mouth closed.”

“But imagine it open, on your clit.” She leers and her dimples deepen.

A flash of heat runs through my body. “Get to church Sunday, you will need it.”

Penny sips her soda. “Oh, I will be there. Ma told me about the new young pastor, father or whatever you call him.”

“Oh, Lord, no.” I bite into my burger. It has a hint of spice but it’s all grade A beef, melted cheese, and crispy bacon. In other words, heaven.

“What? Maybe the good Lord is sending me to give his life a little more pizzazz.” She wiggles her eyebrows and her cheeks become red.

“Ms. Helen calls him apack of ain’t God good.” I laugh, I haven’t seen the pastor yet, but I heard he’s amazing.

“I hope he has that unwrap-only-for-the-holidays-kind-of-dick.” Penny looks down at her red fry basket.

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