Page 8 of Welcome to the Heart Of A Maniac
“What the hell is it doing now?” Tyree asked when he pushed the screen door open and stepped out onto the porch. He towered over me, standing at six feet.
“It’s not wanting to start sometimes. The other night I kept turning it over ’til it finally started.”
He tugged on his goatee and stared off into space. “Did you put it on a computer?”
“No.”
He tread down off the porch toward the truck. “Keys?”
“They’re still in it.”
Opening the door, he climbed into the driver’s seat, and the steering wheel pressed him in the chest. He frowned, and I snickered. He knew better than to get in that truck without adjusting the seat. According to Uncle Trayvon, I have my mama’s height. She was short and tiny just like me. Tyree on the other hand was built like Daddy and looks just like he’d spit him out.
We were teenagers when I first realized how much he looked like him. I couldn’t stomach looking at him sometimes. My daddy was my world. I may have been young when he left here, but it fucked me up. I missed out on so much growing up without a father. Uncle Trayvon tried his best to be there for me, but it just wasn’t the same. A girl needs her father.
Tyree let the seat back and turned the key over. As if it knew that I was trying to get it looked at, it started straight up like it did back at the house.
“It seems fine to me.”
Reaching down, he popped the hood and got out. I stood back, observing him as he lifted the hood and took a look underneath. My knowledge about cars were scarce. If it was something wrong with it, I’m sure he’d be able to catch it.
“Everything looks fine to me,” he said and slammed the hood down.
“Are you sure?” My brows furrowed.
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “I’on know what else to tell you.”
I should’ve just gone to a shop just like Aria said.
Flipping my wrist, I checked my Apple Watch for the time. “Shit, I have to get to work. I’ll check in on you later.” I ran around the truck to the driver’s side and placed my right foot inside. “You gon’ tell me what got you back to drinking again,” I told him, and he waved me off.
Maniac
A cat pounced onto the windowsill outside of the restaurant, and I jumped.
“You okay?” Solei asked me.
“Shit just caught me off guard.”
“Let me find out that your big ass scared of cats.” She let out a snicker.
It was actually the opposite. I’d noticed every single cat ever since I ran into ol’ girl the other day. Every time I see one, she embeds in my mind, and I can’t seem to get her hooks out of me.
“So where are we with the party planning?” Just as quick as I lost my train of thought, I jumped right back into business. This event has to be on schedule. Everything has to be perfect.
“I have all of the décor picked out for it. The color scheme is on point. You can take a look at it if you want.” Reaching over, she grabbed her folder and flipped it open.
“I trust yo’ judgment. I just wanted to make sure that everything was going according to schedule.”
“This will be the event of the year aside from the wedding.” A smile coursed her lips.
The cat jumped down from the window. I lifted from my seat and reached into my pocket, pulling out a wad of cash. Peelingoff a couple hundreds, I tossed them onto the table. “I got a stop to make right quick,” I told her and pecked her on top of the head.
“Be safe out there,” she tossed at me over her shoulder as I strolled toward the exit.
I ain’t have shit on my agenda for the day, but I did need to make a stop by the library. I’d seen ol’ girl there the first time after hours, maybe she works there and I’d be able to see her again. There’s never been a woman that planted in my mind the way she has. We’ve only had two encounters, and I already felt as if I was about to go crazy.
Hitting the fob on my car, I hopped into the driver’s seat and started it up. The library wasn’t too far from the restaurant. It took me about ten minutes to make it there. I ended up whipping into a handicapped space and getting out. There were a few cars in the parking lot. Nothing too extreme, seeing how it was around lunchtime.
