Page 11 of Welcome to the Heart Of A Maniac
“What do you call it then?” Tyree questioned him.
My lips parted, but nothing seemed to leave them. I don’t understand.Sold me?
“I’m not a piece of property that can be sold. What is he talking about?” I asked, placing my food on the coffee table. I’d lost my appetite.
“The people that Tyree owes are some dangerous people. If we didn’t pay up, they would’ve killed all of us. I just offered you to one of their sons.”
“You did what!”
I rose to my feet and rapidly blinked.
“Calm down, Wren, it’s not that deep,” Uncle Trayvon said, but he’s not the one who just got news that hebelongsto another human being. This is fucking crazy!
“Not that deep!” My eyes bucked as I stared at him. Reality set in and I stepped over him, heading straight for my front door. “Get out.”
“Wren, just hear me out.”
“Told you she wasn’t gon’ go for it.”
“Shut up, Tyree.” Uncle Trayvon mugged him and turned his attention back to me.
“If you want to sell someone, how about you sell his ass. He’s the that keeps getting us into shit.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“They weren’t gon’ take him.”
“How you know?” I snapped. My blood boiled. I wanted both of them out of my house, and I wanted them out of my house now.
“Please, Wren.” Uncle Trayvon lifted to his feet. He stopped in front of me with pleading eyes. “All you have to do is date him for a while. You don’t even have to marry him if you don’t want to.”
“Marry?” Lifting my hands in the air, I shook my head. “Y’all really need to leave my house, now.”
“Let’s go,” Tyree said, brushing past me out the door. Of course he was willing to get on out of here. He’s the reason why I’m in this mess. They want to pawn me off to some ruthless ass strangers while they go on about their lives. They really lost their minds.
Uncle Trayvon stared at me with moisture in his eyes. “Please, Wren. Just think about it.”
My eyes lowered. I couldn’t even look him in the face right now. Gripping me by the back of the head, he pecked me on thetemple and left out the house behind Tyree. I shoved the door shut behind him and released a sigh.
The following morning
It was Saturday, and I didn’t really have any plans. Since I didn’t feel like cooking breakfast this morning, I decided that I’d go out and grab me something. Waffle House was on my mind, so I ended up there, sitting in one of the booths, eating alone.
There were couples in there, families and friends, enjoying their Saturday morning breakfast while I sat here alone with almost empty plates scattered all over the table in front of me. Picking up my orange juice, I took a sip from it.
“Can I get you anything else?” my waitress asked me.
I shook my head, and replied, “No. I’m good,” and offered her a smile.
“Okay. Just let me know if you need anything,” she said and bounced away from the table.
Picking up my phone, I dialed Aria’s phone number. I figured that she’d be up by now. The night before, she had this work thing, and I didn’t want to bother her after I put Uncle Trayvon and Tyree out my house.
The call connected to my AirPods, and I set the phone back down on the table. It rang for a few and then her voice came through.
“What time is it?” her groggily voice asked.
Looking down at my phone, I said, “Nine.”
“Dang,” was all that left her lips.
