Page 31 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
“You know damn well that I was gon’ get here on time.” I’on give a damn if I had to bring Jake in my fucking truck and make him celebrate her birthday before I killed his ass. I was damn sure gon’ be here.
“You were cutting it a bit close,” she said and walked away from the table.
“Hey,” Maya said when she approached. “I’ve been looking for you all over the place.”
“For what?” Shoving my hands into my pockets, I turned my attention to Remedi’s truck as it pulled onto the grass down by the end of the driveway. She and Reese got out with gift bags in their hands. After Remedi and I shared that moment in the kitchen, I’ve been finding every reason to lie and say I was busy to keep from being ’round her. Remedi looked nice in a beige two-piece pants set. Her hair was in a curly bun with a bang.
“I just wanted to speak. That’s all,” Maya stated, bringing me back from my thoughts.
Remedi handed Khali her gifts and hugged her. She stood there, watching her as she peeked in the bag to see what it was. Our eyes briefly connected. “Who is that?” Maya questioned me. She must’ve seen me eyeing her.
“Why?”
“You’re being really mean right now. Is she your girlfriend or something? I haven’t seen her around before, and she’s quite friendly with Khali.”
“Not that it’s any of yo’ business, no.”
“It is my business. It became my business when we started sleeping together, or did you forget about that little detail?”
“Keyword in that is sleeping together.”
“Hey, Mr. Redwick,” Bobbi said when she and her parents approached. After I told her that she wasn’t welcome ’round here anymore, I ain’t think she’d show up to Khali’s birthday party. Maybe I should’ve been clearer. Since she was with her parents, I wasn’t gon’ say anything to her ’bout it.
“Hey, Bobbi.”
“It’s so unfortunate that Bobbi can’t work for you anymore, Khalif. I know she loves Khali to death.”
That’s an understatement.
“Yeah,” was all I offered as Remedi and Reese approached us. My heart skipped beats in my chest. Something that it hadn’t done since Simone. The connection was there. There’s nodenying that. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been trying to keep her at bay.
“Hey, Khalif,” Remedi spoke. Her eyes danced ’round to everyone else that was over here. I just wanted everyone to get the hell away from me.
“Sup.”
“The party looks nice. Y’all really did a good job,” Remedi said as she looked around.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name. I’m Maya Sinclair,” Maya said and extended her hand in her direction. She thought she was slick. She’s only tryna get Remedi’s name so she can dig into her shit. That’s what she did whenever she thought someone was a threat.
“Remedi.” She handed Maya her hand and shook it.
“You got a last name, Remedi?” Maya questioned her.
Taking Remedi by the hand, I led her away from the herd. If I didn’t, they were only gon’ continue to drill her to death.
“What was all that about?” she asked once we were far enough away.
“She’s nosey as hell and likes to be in people’s business. Particularly mine.”
“Please don’t tell me that y’all are sleeping together.”
“Were,” I replied, staring straight ahead.
“I didn’t take you as the type of guy that would be sleeping with a woman like her.”
“Why?”
“She looks strict. Like the type of woman who doesn’t listen.”
