Page 22 of A Boy is a Gun: Part I
“Soon! She said she’ll be moving back to Atlanta, so once she’s settled in, we’ll meet with her next Tuesday.” I reply.
“Moving back?” Hayley narrows her eyes at me. “She’s from here?”
“Buckhead.” I check the next pot of coffee and start a fresh one. “She’s white, but that’s not the point. She’s woke. She’s very progressive. She’s all about Black Lives Matter and equality.” I am trying to sell her. “I know what it sounds like, but trust me, she’s cool.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me, though.” Hayley comes closer to me. “What is it, Tay?”
I take a deep breath and release my shoulders. “The potential partner is Jamie, Cameron’s sister.”
Hayley stares at me for an eternity and shakes her head. “I know Finesse doesn’t harm women, but he might make an exception for you.”
The relationship between Cameron and Jamie is complicated. They love and hate each other at the same time. I’m not entirely sure if one died if the other would truly mourn. “She has some amazing ideas. Her idea was to do the hip-hop-themed restaurant in conjunction with Fresh Espresso. She’s a huge hip-hop head.”
“Bitch, that’s not the point!” Hayley blinks at me, “I don’t care if she can recite every lyric from Reasonable Doubt. I don’t care if she lists Big L as part of her Top Five. It’s one thing if you have Mrs. Trap Queen, aka Cameron’s mama doing photo-ops here, and I’m sure Cameron’s KKK Daddy will make an appearance somewhere along the lines.” She takes a deep breath. “Jamie is opps, Tay. And I know she’s especially opps because she’s fucking Ethan.”
The hair on my neck stands up. “I’m sorry, what?”
Hayley shook her head. “Oh, Ms. I Don’t Like Drugs Yet I Benefit the Most From Them didn’t tell you? Cam’s sister isfuckingEthan, and they have been for a long while, girl! Que showed me all the shit he got about her. Word on the street, it’s getting serious, andthat’swhy ol’ girl is moving back.”
I swallow. Twice.
Cameron’s arrest at Mia’s birth gives me a painful, gnawing feeling in my stomach. Ethan knew Cameron didn’t do it, but he wanted to prove that he would run the show in the family. Other than Ethan being an outsider, the problem with that is that if Cameron doesn’t destroy him, Eric surely will. “Cameron went to San Francisco yesterday. He called me briefly and said he needed to talk to me when he got home.”
“Yeah.” Hayley smiles with a nod. “And guess whoain’tcoming to dinner?”
~~~~~~
The day came and went. It was spectacularly busy like any other day, and it was nonstop. When I got a moment’s rest, I called to check on Mia, and Tesh politely told me to mind the shop and not my daughter, as she got it taken care of.
While I didn’t worry about Mia, I worried about Cameron. While it’s easy for everyone to tell me to mind my business, I wouldn’t have gone into business with Jamie if I knew things werethatbad between them.
It also makes me question Ethan’s real intention with Jamie. How he and Jamie feel about the family doesn't escape me. Heather and Eric were pissed that Cameron was arrested, and Ethan officially was on their radar since.
If Cameron doesn’t enact revenge on Ethan, Heather and Eric surely will.
I have about twenty minutes until closing, so I’m starting to wrap up things in the shop. It’s just a few workers and me as Hayley took off early to pick up Mia from daycare. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam are blaring over the speakers, and we’re all having a great time talking about whatever.
My employees range from high schoolers looking to make some extra money to stay-at-home moms who want to get back into the workforce to old retirees who wish to have adult interaction. And it’s nothing but love between all of us.
As I was preparing for tomorrow’s orders, I saw Ethan and Lisa pop in. They converse with the workers, and everyone is happy to see them. While I smile and nod, I hope my apprehension isn’t as apparent. The last time I saw Ethan, he officially ruined what should’ve been the happiest day of my life. It’s hard for me to forget that.
After Ethan places his order, I see him walk in my direction and stand in front of me. I’m not a rude bitch, so I stop what I’m doing to be polite. I owe him at least that much since he’s patronizing my shop. “Hi, Ethan.”
“Hey, Taylor,” he lets out a small breath, “can we talk in the back for a minute?”
I glance over at Lisa, who is looking directly at us. “Is this personal or business?”
“Personal,” he looks over at Lisa, “it’ll just be a minute.” He follows me to the office and closes the door behind him.
He sits in the chair, and I go behind the desk. I didn’t realize how much I needed this border between us. I’m not sure if I like Ethan now. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I haven’t seen you in a while.” Yes, Ethan, we both know when was the last time you saw me so that you can cut the bullshit. He lets out another small breath. “How’s Mia?”
I want to slap him. He hadn’t called once, nor did he even try to explain his actions for the false arrest of Cameron. Now he’s inquiring about my daughter as he cares. Instead of exploding on him, I act like how I’ve learned from Mariah Carey in “Breakdown”– pretend everything is fine when you’re dying inside.
“She’s great,” I smile. “She’s at home now. Did you want to see a picture?”
“I would love to,” Ethan smiles, and I pull out my phone. I show him a litany of pictures of Mia, and he smiles at them. “I see a lot of Lamont in her.”
