Page 19 of Bern and Isley
“I ain’t trying to hear that shit, Isley. If I have it, it’s yours. I’ve told you that a million times. I don’t care how much youthink I’ve done. When it comes to you, there’s no ceiling. I’d give you my last.”
I didn’t respond. I believed every word he spoke. There was a comfortable silence while I continued to retwist and style his hair. I was done within an hour’s time. I handed him a mirror so he could check it out.
“Fresh… just as I expected,” he said as he admired his reflection then handed the mirror back to me.
I removed the cape from around his neck and began to fold it.
“Hey, Icey. I need to talk to you about something.”
“What’s up?”
He stood from the chair and placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He almost seemed a little nervous. I grabbed my cup and took another sip of my smoothie. My tummy began feeling a little funny. My mouth began to water profusely and a wave of nausea quickly came over me.
“Hold on,” I quickly blurted out as I made a dash to the bathroom.
I had barely gotten the toilet seat up before the contents of my belly erupted from my mouth. The spasm in my belly hit again and I upchucked once again. I sat over the toilet for a few more seconds until the feeling passed.
“You alright?” Bern appeared at the door.
I nodded as I stood from the floor and flushed the toilet. I rinsed my mouth before grabbing a washcloth and my toothbrush and toothpaste. Bern watched me as I brushed my teeth and wiped my face. His face was decorated with worry lines.
“Where’d you get that smoothie again?” I asked, walking past him toward the living room.
“The little shop not too far from my house… Icey, you’re not pregnant, are you?”
“Naw… my last period was…” I squinted as I attempted mental math.
As the math began to math, my eyes grew wide and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. My period was at least a week late.No, no, no. I can’t be pregnant.
“Oh shit, Icey.”
Chapter 10
Bern
I turnedup the shot glass and allowed the liquid spirit to burn my throat. I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but I planned to drown in liquor. In an effort to drink responsibly, I didn’t even drive to the bar. I used ridesharing because the goal was to get fucked up.
“Nigga, that’s your fourth shot,” Antwan said. “What the fuck got you drinking like a fish?”
“I just wanted to get out of the house,” I lied. The last thing I wanted to admit was that I was stressed because Isley could be pregnant. Telling Antwan and Theo that meant also confessing that my love for Isley was more than a friendship love. It was a romantic love. The googly eyes type love that Isley liked seeing in those chick flicks she forced me to watch.
Theo eyed me suspiciously. “Nigga lyin’ like a muthafucka. What’s going on, cuz? Everything cool with the carwash and shit, right?”
“Business is fine. Shit, it’s only been a week and I’ve made a smooth thirty-five hundred dollars. And that was with one of my vacuums being down.”
“Damn, that’s what’s up,” Antwan replied, taking a bite of the hot wings he’d ordered.
“Well, shit. Drinks on you, right?” Theo asked.
“Yeah, I got it.,” I answered.
My phone vibrated. It was Unique’s worrisome ass. With me being four shots in, I decided to entertain her for a little bit.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Wow, I can’t believe you answered the phone.”
“What do you want?”
