Page 17 of Certified to Handle You
He glanced at me. “What part?”
I turned my head, lookin’ at him instead of the sky now. “This… ridin’ around, you poppin’ up with lil’ spots like this, not sayin’ too much but still sayin’ enough. It’s calm.”
His jaw tightened just a lil’ like he was holdin’ back a bigger reaction, but his voice stayed even. “It ain’t going nowhere.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, but I am.”
His eyes flicked to mine again, and this time he ain’t look away as quick.
“Then I’ll pull up on you,” he said.
That made me smile for real.
“Boy, you better,” I said, nudgin’ his arm with mine before lettin’ my hand find his again.
After starin’ at the stars for a while, I turned my head toward him again, watchin’ the way the dashboard light hit his face. “You gon’ miss me?”
Kelli ain’t hesitate. “Yeah,” he said, but there was more behind it than just the word. “I’m gon’ feel it when you’re not around.”
That made my smile soften before I could stop it. “I just love how honest you be with me.”
“I don’t play with you.”
The way he said that made my stomach do a small flip, and I cleared my throat tryna act like it ain’t do nothin’ to me.
“I’m gon’ miss you too,” I admitted. “I done got so used to botherin’ you.”
“You don’t bother me,” he replied.
I smirked. “Don’t lie.”
“You don’t. You make things lighter.”
“So, what you gon’ do without me then?” I asked after a moment. “Just sit around bein’ quiet and mysterious?”
“I’m gon’ text you,” he replied. “Check on you and make sure you good.”
“Every day?” I asked, tiltin’ my head to the side.
“Every day,” he repeated.
“You promise?” I asked, pokin’ my bottom lip out.
“I swear.”
I smiled, lookin’ down at my hands. “I like that.”
He reached for the blunt, relit it and took a slow pull before speakin’ again. “You ain’t gotta go through nothin’ by yourself just because you’re goin’ back home.”
I nodded, lettin’ that settle in me.
“Every time I see a pack of cigarettes,” I added, glancin’ at him with a grin, “I’m gon’ think about you.”
Kelli laughed under his breath. “That’s crazy.”
“It is,” I said, smilin’. “But it’s true.”
He shook his head, still smilin’, and the car went quiet again, with the music fillin’ in all the spaces between us.
