Page 7 of Follow Me to Your Heart
“I’m tired of trying with her. It’s emotionally exhausting.”
“I know it.” Cage kissed my forehead.
“And I’m hungry.”
“A double cheeseburger fully loaded with seasoned crinkle cut fries and a Dr. Pepper?” Cage recited my order from Fatty’s, smiling.
“Please.”
“Come on. I got you.”
Slowly,I was getting back to a better place mentally. Since I was bouncing back, I decided to take a ride to Camden Cove. It was a little after nine at night. The temperature was nice, so I rode with my windows down and my music up, allowing the moonlight to guide me.
Usually, I had Red with me, but I needed to pay someone a visit alone. Red was my boy. He rode hard for me. He had some ways I didn’t quite agree with, so I liked to go off the radar and do things on my own at times.
My phone ringing through the speakers interrupted my vibes. My phone was on ‘Do Not Disturb’ which meant it could only be one of three people who could reach me. I glanced at my screen and smiled before answering.
“What are you doing up, Symone? It’s a school night.”
My little sister, Symone, smacked her lips, and I envisioned her dramatically rolling her coal-like eyes. “You act as if I’m not in the eleventh grade and can’t stay up as long as I want.”
“And be late for school almost every morning. You better chill out before they take Mama to truancy court.”
“I don’t be late, Cage. I make it on time with a minute to spare.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sabrina says otherwise. Let me find out you got someone keeping you up at night that I don’t know about. I’d hate to pull up on you unannounced, but you know I will.”
“Oh my gosh. Please don’t. That would be so embarrassing. Boys are already scared to talk to me because you’re my brother.”
I laughed to myself. “Good. We need to keep it that way.”
Symone was my baby. We were four years apart, and I’d been taking care of her since she was in the womb. Our mother was a single mother. Sabrina did everything in her power to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. While Symone and I didn’t have the most growing up, we had the necessities. We had what mattered, and I would forever be grateful to my mother for getting it out the mud.
“Anyways. Korren said she would do my nails for me if you brought me to her.”
“Mmm. Now I know why you called. When do you want them done, Symone?”
“She said she could do them one day after class, but she would leave it up to you. I really want to get them done before the football game next Friday.”
“All right. I got you.”
Symone loudly squealed in my ear. “Thank you so much, Brother! You want to take me shopping too? Spend some brother and sister time together since you moved away?”
“Let me guess. You want me to feed you too?”
“You know it. What’s a day out without food?”
All I could do was shake my head. Leave it to her to con me out of money. I didn’t mind. She deserved everything she asked for. Symone consistently stayed on the AB Honor roll and never gave Mama any trouble. All we asked of her was to make good grades and stay out of trouble, and she did us justice.
I promised Symone I’d pick her up after school on Thursday and ended the call. I’d probably end up checking her out so we could get more time together.
Once I made it to my destination, I parked behind one of the many cars on the curb and got out. The music blasting from one of the houses was where I needed to be. People littered the yard and sidewalks as I swaggered up to the front door. Girls tried stopping me, but I was on a mission.
“Don’t tell me that’s my man Cage up in here?”
I didn’t need to turn around to know it was one of my good friends, Keith. The distinction of his squeaky voice could be recognized anywhere. I turned around, just as he walked up on me, and dapped him up.
“What’s good, Keith?”
