Page 39 of Strangers No More
There was shuffling on the other end causing me to observe K. She had on a black moo-moo gown and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. After a few moments, she had maneuvered her phone so that I was staring at her and a whiteboard.
“Oh lawd.” I muttered, picking up my lip gloss and applying a coat.
“So, you went into Mr. Adalyn’s office to not only return his phone, but to get started on selling your grandmother’s house.”
I laughed as she drew on the whiteboard like she was breaking down a math problem. “K, if you don’t stop trying to be like Brit and her Books off social media.”
She waved a dismissive hand at me as she continued to draw. “I love Brit and would never post what I am doing. Plus, you know I’m a visual learner and I’m trying to see something.”
I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Anyway, don’t change the subject. So, after y’all meeting was done, he asked you to meet up with him tonight, correct?”
I huffed out a sigh. “Yes.”
“So, if one plus one equals two, the muthafucking sky is blue, and you got to hide your snacks from that nigga Scooby Doo, then bitch how is this not a date?” She explained, drawing a big question mark and circling it three times.
I threw my head back and laughed. “Hold up, trick, when did you start dropping bars?”
K burst into laughter, too. “That shit was hot, right? My boo be letting me play around in his studio.”
“Let me know when your first album is about to drop.” I said, wiping away the tears.
“And will! But seriously, answer my question heffa.”
“Ugh! I told yo big head ass it wasn’t a date.”
“Then what’s up with the late night meeting?” Akira then gasped before she picked up the phone and stared at me. “Girl, is this a meeting to get your back blown out?”
“What the? No!” I yelled, falling into another round of laughter.
“Mmhmm.”
I looked at my friend who was not laughing any more but instead had a look of concern on her face. I cleared my throat. If the roles were reversed, I’d be just as upset right now as K was. I haven’t been telling her the truth for a while and for me to just be up and leaving at ten o’clock at night, during booty call hours, was very suspicious. I mean, I never did that when we were at school, except when I was going over to her place or we were going out to get snacks for our long study sessions.
“Akira, I love you and I promise I’m not meeting up with Mr. Adalyn like that. He’s actually introducing me to his uh- assistant that’s going to be working closely with me to get grandma’s house taken care of.”
“All right,” she sighed. “Just make sure you keep your location on so I can keep an eye on you.”
“Girl, you still in Vegas. How you going to get to me that fast if something did happen to me?”
“Don’t worry about all that - just know I got your back. If you need my help in any way, say the word and I’ll be there.”
My stomach knotted with guilt, but I made sure to keep a playful look on my face. How could I look my best friend in the face and lie to her? K has been down for me since meeting in our first class together and she told me everything. Yet here I was, too afraid to tell her what I was about to do and what I was going through.
I quietly cleared my throat before smiling at her. “And that’s why you’re the best! Let me finish getting ready so I can head out of here.”
“Okay girl. I love you.”
“I love you, too”
We blew each other kisses before ending our FaceTime call. I sat back in my chair and exhaled. I allowed my thoughts to run before finally making up my mind. After all this was done, I would tell her everything. Hopefully, she wouldn’t judge on my decision making skills.
My phone chimed with a text message.
Mr. Adalyn:Where can I pick you up at?
Me:That may be a problem. Mr. L has his driver watching my every move and unless I get dropped off by said driver, I won’t be able to go out.
