Page 30 of The Perfect Verse
“He’s alright,” Kaleela muttered, then grinned when he kissed his teeth. “I mean, I like him a lot.”
There she said it, revealing her feelings in a space that didn’t require more. She knew him though. Before they parted ways, he’d have her discussing more of this feelings shit she wasn’t used to, but she’d try for him.
“Open your eyes, baby. I think he’s what you need. But since you’re here, I’d like to go over a few things and the kids enjoy it when you come. You know we have to feed them before we send them home. I have fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cabbage, yams, and cornbread. You can eat and listen.”
“Like that?” Scooter replied, rubbing his hands together. He knew his grandmother wasn’t playing in the kitchen and planned to grab a plate before he went to the studio, but Mrs. Otto was speaking his language.
“Absolutely. Miss Kaleela’s biggest pet peeve is watching a child starve, although she could eat a plate or two herself. Skinny lil thing,” she sassed. “Hurry up now. Go wash your hands and follow me.”
“Welp, I guess that means we’re staying,” Scooter spoke while she groaned. “Good thing I got that nap in on the way too.”
“Good, come on now before she changes her mind and takes off.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Before she could challenge him, off he went as he sniffed the aroma in the air. She followed him too. It was scary but it also felt good. She was confronting more than what she was running from, she was also healing. That hardened heart she had had been pricked and the culprit was the man that had stolen Mrs. Otto’s attention… and hers.
Chapter 13
Verse Thirteen
As they drove, Chaney sat silently, scrolling through her social media. She wasn’t sure what disturbed her the most—Donovan running to comfort his ex-girlfriend or Kaleela not posting on social media at all. Her interest piqued once Donovan mentioned Scooter and her possibly sparking up a friendship on their ride to Key West. She wasn’t sure what that meant since she’d never known her to date men, but it did make her realize one thing: she missed her friend when they were real friends.
All of their history wasn’t toxic, and there was a time when they weren’t only lovers. They were best friends. She’d even taken a liking to Reagan, Kaleela’s roommate during rehab, who had become Kaleela’s other best friend. On a Friday night, instead of drinking, they’d make root beer floats, eat pizza and wings while they talked shit, and play Spades, Uno, or Connect Four. She wasn’t all bad, but when it became bad, Chaney was her emotional punching bag.
The last post she saw was her attending an AA meeting. She hoped she was actively working her steps, but despite what others thought, she wanted Kaleela to win at life and maybe at love someday.
Just before she logged out, she froze when a notification alerted her that Kaleela had posted. Impulsively, her fingers led her to her past when she clicked on the alert, and Kaleela’s page came into view. She smiled when she saw a post of a new tattoo that sat on her forearm and down her wrist. It was a four-leaf clover with the words,Fuck the bottle, I got God on my side.
Chaney smiled, knowing the significance of the four-leaf clover. It was symbolic of one having good luck. After Kaleela’s last time out of rehab, she’d made it her first order of business to stop by a tattoo shop. While her body was littered with tattoos, she had them add the first four-leaf clover. For each month that she was sober, she’d add another clover. They were all linked by a vine. Chaney was proud of her, so she took a leap and decided to comment.
“Keep at it. I knew you could do it.”
Once she was done, she quickly slid her cellphone into her burnt-orange Teflar purse that Donovan had surprised her with. His eyes slid over and lowered to her purse as she tapped her fingers against it. She wasn’t sure if he noticed or not, her guilty conscience close to having her confess.
It was a public response on a public post, but deep down inside, she knew she might’ve sent a message she wasn’t trying to send. Luckily for her, his cell rang. In fact, it had been ringing since they left the hotel.
“You plan to pick that up?” she asked, grateful the attention was off her.
“Naw.”
He knew who it was. Sashay had been calling nonstop in between text messages. He’d normally put his cell on “do not disturb”, but he wasn’t a monster. At one point, he did love Sashay, or what he felt was love. He just couldn’t coddle her like he normally would have, and he didn’t want to. What he wantedwas to see her grandmother, and nothing she said would help him get there any faster.
“Just trying to get there.”
She crossed her arms, processing her feelings. She honestly had no reason to be upset, considering she agreed to meet his ex’s grandmother. That, and she’d just commented on her ex-girlfriend’s post. The difference was that she was genuinely proud of Kaleela. She wasn’t some ex seeking her out, finding ways to remain in her life. She couldn’t say the same for Sashay. She was the kind who made her presence known simply to annoy her.
“Hey?” he called out after a few beats had passed. The tone of his voice was soft, playful even. He pulled on one of her arms, causing both to fall. She rolled her eyes before she gave them to him, taking in how handsome he was. She wasn’t mad, but she didn’t want to give in so quickly. In fact, she liked it when he chased her. It solidified that she’d made the choice that was better for her.
“I don’t want how we started to be the reason you think I’m fucking with her in a way I’m not. I swear I ain’t. It’s about me showing up for her granny. That’s me, and the same me that would be there for you and your family.”
Chaney scoffed. She didn’t fuck with her mother that way. There were times she’d force her to stay with Kaleela because of what came with her: money. She’d have her hand out before Kaleela could speak.
“Aye.” His tone was more authoritative when she crossed her arms once more. “Don’t penalize me for being a nigga that rides for people that rode for him.”
“I’m not.”
“I hear you, but it feels that way.” He lifted and kissed the back of her hand. “Once we are there, we’re in, and then we’re out. Let me lay eyes on her, holler at the doctor for myself.That way, Shay don’t need to give me any updates. I’ll leave my information after I have Granny Paula put my name down on her list of people to talk to.”
