Page 42 of Without Bound
I tap at my phone hurriedly, trying to send a text before my uncle returns to the table. I almost make it, too, but jump when I hear the deep timber of his voice.
“Who’re you texting so sneakily over there?” Uncle Nix pulls out the chair from the table we sit at in the back of the restaurant he brought me to for lunch.
The Wranglers are in the Wild Card playoffs with hopes of winning and moving on to the next round, and hopefully end the season with their second World Series Championship. Uncle Nix’s schedule has been crazy as has mine with classes. So aside from a brief hello and good game and congrats after the games, I haven’t had much quality time with my favorite uncle.
So when he called me last night asking to take me to an early dinner, there wasn’t any way I was about to turn him down.
“Oh. Um. Just Keyara. We’re making plans for this weekend,” I lie through my teeth.
He plops down into his chair, his baseball cap pulled low, andrests his elbows on the table. “Oh yeah. What are you ladies up to? Not getting into trouble, I hope.”
I shrug and smirk at him. “Aw, you know. The usual. Hookin’ on the street corner for tuition money, then we’ll probably stay in our room doing intravenous drugs.”
He reaches across the table and pinches my nose. “You little turd. Now I’m going to have to install cameras and a security system in your room.”
“Welp. Good thing we’re staying at the crack house then, huh.” This time he wads up his napkin and tosses it at me, hitting me square between the eyes.
What do you expect from a top rated MLB pitcher?
“Peanut, I am so proud of you. You’ve become an amazing young woman, and you’re doing so well in your classes, and I’m just so damn lucky to get to call you my number one gal. Well, number one and a half because Viv would wear my nuts around her neck if she wasn’t sitting first.” I snort out a laugh because that is a cold, hard fact.
I don’t mind sitting number two to Vivian. She’s a badass and I hope to be half the boss bitch she is when I grow up. Status wise. Size wise I’ve already surpassed her.
“I’ve talked to your mom and after much convincing, she’s decided to let you have your car at school.”
My mom was incredibly worried about me bringing my vehicle with me to school. She was afraid that it would get stolen, or that I would get lost in this big city or worse, that I would get drunk and wreck it. I was devastated to have had to leave my little Maggie the Mini Cooper, but I wanted to be a good and obedient daughter, so I only sobbed until she said we’d talk about letting me have it after semester.
“Really? Oh my gosh! How is Maggie getting here? Do I need to fly out there and drive it home?” My heart was jumping with anticipation to see my little car.
“Well, that’s the other thing. I didn’t want you driving back here by yourself, and I have to be away for games and your mom is busy atwork. So…” he reaches into his front pocket and pulls out a keyfob with a red bow tied to it.
He underhand tosses it at me and I barely snatch it out of the air before it slams into my face. I hold it out in my palm and look at the four interlocking circles on the fob and squeal.
“You got me an Audi?” I push back from my chair and jump up, leaping into my uncle’s arms. “How’d you get mom to agree to this? She threw a shit fit when you said you were going to buy my first car for me.”
He hugs me back in a tight embrace then kisses the top of my head. “Eh. I laid some younger brother guilt on her. I told her it hurt my feelings that she was denying me the opportunity to spoil my only niece when I had the means to do so.”
“You’re the best, Uncle Nix. Thank you.” I kiss his cheek and drop to my feet, wiggling around in a little happy dance.
“You’re welcome, Peanut. Anything for my number one and a half girl.” He winks with a laugh and wraps his arm around my neck. “C’mon. Let’s go and check out this car of yours. It’s waiting for you at school.”
I reach over and grab my purse that is hanging on the back of the chair and walk side by side with Phoenix out the door.
I text Keyara after I’ve had a thorough freakout over my new car.
Me: Biiiiitch! Get down here. NOW! Parking lot.
It only takes her a moment to respond.
Key: Do I need to bring rings?
Me: WTF?
Key: Are we fightin’ and if so, who’s the ho?
I snort a laugh and roll my eyes. She’s ridiculous and I love it.
Me: No one. I have a surprise.
