Page 27 of Pills and Potions: Kase
“Did you not hear me? I just got robbed. I don’t have any money!”
“Well… do you got Zelle?”
“Sir, he took my whole purse. Unless you got a psychic Venmo link, I’m broke-broke.”
He sighed dramatically, likehewas the one who had just been thrown to the ground. “Fine. But don’t be calling no overseas numbers. The last girl tried to call Jamaica and cussed me out when it didn’t go through.”
"Can you help me dial the numbers? The man broke my glasses."
I rattled off the digits, and he grunted as he dialed each one, then handed me the phone without a word. When Tuesday finally picked up, she sounded skeptical at first.
“Hello? Who is this?”
“Tuesday, it’s me,” I rushed out. “It’s Blyss.”
“Where are you? What number are you calling from?”
“I—” My voice cracked. “I just got robbed and carjacked.”
“Wait,what?Are you okay?” I could hear the panic in her voice.
“Yeah, I’m at a station. I can’t see anything. He took my purse, my glasses—everything.”
“Oh my God. Jace and I are at the beach. He surprised me after work. But I will find someone to come to get you. Give me the location.”
Being that both my parents died when I was younger, I didn’t really have anyone except Tuesday and her folks. They lived a few hours away, so getting to me in time wasn’t realistic.
I gave her the address through broken sobs.
“Stay there, Blyss. Don’t move. I’ma send somebody. Just hang tight, okay?”
About twenty minutes later, Kase came strolling inside the gas station. He handed me my extra pair of glasses, so I figured my cousin must’ve told him to use our spare key to grab them. I was so happy, I could finally see again. He looked sharp as ever, fresh line-up, chain glinting under the lights, dressed like he was about to step into his club. I leaped into his arms to give him a hug. Not because I wanted to, but because Ineededto. My body moved before my pride could stop it. For a second, he didn’t move. Just stood there, probably confused as hell and mad that I was getting snot on his shirt. But then I felt his hands come around my back, firm, grounding, but then he turned back into an asshole, not showing emotion.
“Damn, Wheels, can a nigga get some air?” Kase muttered, peeling my arms off him like I was a blanket he didn’t ask for.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, trying not to cry. “I’m just… glad to see you. Thank you for coming.”
He rolled his eyes but didn’t move away. “Yeah, well… you lucky I did. I was mid-stroke in a threesome when your cousin called.”
“Wait… what?”
“Yeah. Two women, one me. Had the playlist goin’ and everything. Only answered ‘cause I thought something happened to Jace. How’d you break your glasses? You good?”
“He stepped on them during the robbery,” I said quietly. “Didn’t want me to see his face.”
Kase nodded like I’d just explained a tactical mission. “Smart. Man had a plan. Gotta respect that.”
“That’s not funny,” I snapped. “I got robbed. You don’t have any compassion?”
He exhaled through his nose, slow. “Didn’t I pull up? That’s compassion. Ain’t nobody tell you to be over here gettin’ gas like it’s sweet. YouknowGolden Shores the damn jungle.”
“So now it’s my fault?”
“I ain’t say all that, but if the shoe fits, my sweet geek.”
“You’re such a jerk,” I muttered. “It’s not easy being like me.”
“You mean awkward?” he laughed. “Trippin’ over your own feet, snortin’ when you laugh, flinchin’ at loud music, you built like an after-school special, Blyss. You don’t belong in this kinda chaos.”
