Page 103 of Tarek

Penny

Hey, I know you got the ding. But we don’t have to meet today.

She doesn’t even want to see me, yup I fucked up. Dashing behind the wheel I don’t even know what the hell I am going to say when I see her. I don’t even understand why I ran. Imagine trying to explain that to her.

I think I committed at least three traffic violations while driving to Penny’s.

Finally parking in front of her house, I turn off my car and glance up at Penny’s house. The lights from her tv are beaming through her curtains.

Still confused as to what I was about to say, I jog up her stairs and knock on her door. After several taps it finally opens.

In a pink polka dot short pjs, Penny stands by the threshold blocking my entrance.

“I said we didn’t have to meet today,” Her eyes look sad, and heavy. My heart cracks since I am the reason that she is looking like that.

“I told you; I will be here whenever the ding goes off. Look about last night,” the words stick in my throat.

Penny shakes her head. “My period came. So, we didn’t have to meet today.”

“Okay, how long does it last for?”

She shifts the weight on her leg. “About 5 days. I will tell you when to come back, okay? Later.”

I didn’t know what to say. Before I could formulate a sentence, Penny was already closing the door in my face.

Slowly I walk down the stairs wondering how can I fix this. As I enter the car, my phone vibrates. The name FOW (Flavor of the Week) Kelly.

Staring at the phone, I look back at the house and hang the call up.

My engine roars to life my tires screech out as I drift around the corner. I have FOW Kelly, calling me, I could pick her up and my night could be amazing.

I have a phone full of Heaven on Earths, Sloppy Top Tanya and Fun size Suzanne. All willing to accommodate me. However, I don’t want them.

“I want Penny,” I whisper.

How the hell do I fix this? Penny is having her period. I know what a period is, I just never had to be around a woman when she had one. Even in my situationships, I tend to be around for a good time, I never had to stop and take care of anyone. I never stopped to care.

“Siri Call Gia Banner,” I shout inside my car as an idea hits me.

The phone rings and the voice of Rhet’s mother surrounds me in the car. “Tarek, honey. How are you? Looking for Rhet?”

I feel a smidge of guilt since Gia Banner has been a mother figure in my life, and I hardly check in on her.

“No. Actually Aunty G. It’s you I need.”

“Really how can I help?” she says with excitement.

* * *

PENNY

Is he really leaving? Standing at my window peeping behind my curtain, my heart stops when he looks back at the house. Maybe he will come back, but he doesn’t. His tire screeches when he bends the corner and it’s like he couldn’t get away fast enough. Story of my life, I am always standing at the window, watching the men in my life leave.

Settling back into the sofa, I plump the pillows harder than they need to be. My uterus contracts like it was upset with me and my whole-body aches. I should take a shower; I feel sticky and sweaty again.

I close the file I was reading. I was reading a contract that was sent to me from Trinidad and Tobago. A major company is interested in using The Asylum to set up their cyber security software. The company is inviting me and some employees of my choice to stay for the year.

A year. Maybe a change in scenery would be nice. Everything would be new. I would have so many places to explore. Networking to be done. Maybe I can extend my services all up the Caribbean. I can put my house up for rent. It’s not like I’m leaving anyone behind. Archer will be living his political dream. Mom most likely would come to see me. That woman loves a plane. Zeeta, well if I am predicting right, she will be married and happy. There is no one holding me back.

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