Page 4 of Our Promise
How We Cope
Lorielle shook her head, trying to shake off the many shots she had, but it was no use. She was intoxicated. The heaviness of her eyes and the warm feeling coursing through her body told her so. A part of her brain said she should care, but another part said, fuck it.
She felt good, and riding shotgun with Benny in the driver's seat was the icing on the cake. She tried to hide the fact that she was staring at him, but as her eyes walked over him, it was hard to keep it a secret.
He had all the features she loved, from his wide nose to thick lips. His top lip was darker than the bottom, but both still held a red hue. He wore four stitch braids that were pulled into a bun at the back of his head. His honey-colored skin was blemish-free and his dark, shadow beard was the perfect addition to his face.
She would give Benny the business if he wasn’t so young, her best friend’s brother, and looking for love. So, with all that in mind, she stayed the hell away from him when she could, but she had a feeling there was no escaping him tonight.
“I’m going to Elle’s house,” Jo called to her brother from the back seat.
“Why you not going home?” Benny asked.
“I don’t want to go home. Ain’t nothing there for me.” Jo sat up, wrapping her arm around Lorielle’s neck. “At least my girl care about me.”
“Always.” Lorielle patted her friend’s arm. “Can I see your phone?” she asked Benny. She would play a song for Jo. All her girl needed was a bit of mood music.
Benny looked over at her with his eyebrow raised, so she added, “I want to play a song.”
He passed her his phone, saying, “8-9-4-5-3-2.”
Her eyes widened when she realized he was giving her the code to unlock his phone. Instead of speaking on it and making it a big deal, she used it to open the phone. As she navigated through the apps, a text came through.
“You got a message.” She held it out to him, but he didn’t move.
“From who?” he asked, never taking his eyes off the road.
“Tara.” She had seen that much.
Tara was his girlfriend. They had broken up but got back together a few weeks ago. Jo despised the woman and so did she. Tara had a foul attitude toward them, so they steered clear of the woman so there wouldn’t be a problem. At thirty-five and thirty-three, she and Jo still got active when needed.
She laughed at the thought.
“Lorielle, I said read the message.”
When he called her name, it sent fire through her veins. It should be a crime to be so attracted to a man she couldn’t have.
“Oh, um… It says, we need to talk without arguing and bringing up the past.” She tried again to pass him the phone, but again, he declined.
“Find what you’re looking for,” he mumbled.
Interesting…
“You’re not going to respond?” she asked.
“Sounds like trouble,” Jo said. Lorielle could hear the teasing in her voice. She couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know why you took her back. Let me find out Trey is cheating?—”
Usher’s “My Boo” played, cutting off Jo. She began to sing along.
Lorielle beamed. This was their song.
Benny sighed heavily before snatching his phone. “I should have known.”
He should have. They would randomly break out singing this song to each other at the oddest times. It was how they related and showed love to one another.
Lorielle jumped in with her friend. Jo held down Usher’s part, like always, and she had Alicia’s.
“See, I knew y’all were gay.” Benny frowned at them.
