Page 14 of Taking Care of You
Me: Not everything. I know what a football is. And that you guys wear black and red uniforms. What else is there to know?
Ethan: You’re killing me. There’s a lot to know. When you come over for the project, I’ll tell you all about it.
Me: Deal. And maybe I can teach you some things too.
I sit up,staring at what I just sent. Did that come out wrong? Did it sound forward, like an innuendo? I didn’t mean it like that.
The bubbles appear at the bottom of the screen, so it’s too late to clarify or try to take it back. Fuck.
Ethan: Teach away, O wise one. Lol.
The breathI’m holding flows out of me slowly. That was close. I’m glad he didn’t think I meant anything…sexual with my text.
He sends another text before I can type one out.
Ethan: Can you come over on Wednesday? We have a short practice. I can pick you up on my way home.
Me: Sounds perfect.
Ethan: Only creeps say perfect, creep.
I smileas I toss my phone on my pillow. What am I going to do with Ethan King?
5
On Wednesday evening after he gets out of practice, Ethan texts me, letting me know he’s outside. During English, I asked him not to knock on my door since my father would be asleep. Honestly, I don’t know if that’s true. I rarely see my father and don’t really know his schedule since he works so many double shifts.
The real reason I don’t want him knocking is because my mother might answer. And she’ll say something that will have me more embarrassed than I already am. With how Ethan looks, she’ll definitely say I’m sucking or fucking him and I’m not really in the mood to defend myself against her words.
I never am.
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I also pick up my duffle bag with a change of clothes inside. I know it’s wishful thinking that he’ll want me to stay, but it would be nice to stay somewhere that isn’t my house for a night. I stay at Crystal’s sometimes, but she’s right down the street from me. I can see my house from her porch. I want to feel like I’m in a city, a state, aworldaway from home.
I carefully hop down the missing steps and jog over to his car, hoping my mother doesn’t open the door. I’m almost there when someone calls my name. I look over and see one of the local dealers, Isaiah, making his way over to me.
Tossing my bags in Ethan’s car, I ask him to give me a moment and walk over to Isaiah.
Isaiah looks me over, then glances at Ethan in his shiny new car. I hope there won’t be trouble, since Ethan is a new face around here. But all Isaiah does is raise his hand to give him a two-fingered salute. Ethan waves back and smiles at me. I give him a shaky smile, then look back at Isaiah.
“New friend?” he asks. I nod, but don’t elaborate. I don’t know his angle. Hopefully, there isn’t one. “I’ll tell the boys to leave him alone if they see him driving around since he’s with you. He smart too?” Again, I nod. “Good. We won’t start any trouble with him, Koby. You don’t have to worry.”
“Thanks, Isaiah.
“Anytime. We want to see you leave here and never come back. If he’s the one that’s gonna take you, we won’t hold you up.” I don’t correct him and say he isn’t—that I’m working on taking myself away from here—but I’ll let him think that. Anything to make sure Ethan is safe when he comes around.
Isaiah pats me on the shoulder and saunters off. When he gets to the group of guys at the end of the block, he starts talking and gesturing to me and Ethan. The others look over and I see them nodding.
When I slide into Ethan’s car, he looks at me quizzically. “What was that about?” he asks as he makes a U-turn and heads out the way he came.
I shrug and slide on my seatbelt. “They won’t mess with you when you come down here. Isaiah pretty much runs the block, and what he says, goes.” I look over at him and he’s still looking curious. I sigh, seeing how our worlds are completely different.He doesn’t have to worry about dealers watching his back, making sure no one fucks with him. He doesn’t have to worry about whether his friends will have protection if they come to his neighborhood.
How would a friendship like this even work?
To answer his unasked question, I say, “Isaiah has been watching out for me and Crystal for years, making sure no one tries to mess with us, rob us, or try to sell to us. He wants us to get out of the neighborhood, get an education and make something of ourselves. Not sure why, but he’s been like that since we were freshmen. He’s…overprotective of us.”
Ethan has a smirk on his face and he’s glancing at me every so often. “What?” I ask.
“Nothing. That’s the most I’ve heard you say at one time.”
