Page 9 of Phase Two
“What are you still doing up?”
“I ended up going to a bar with a few of my homeboys to watch the game then we started playing pool. I’m heading home. Just wanted to see if you were still out.”
“Bar?” I lifted my eyebrows.
“Yes, bar,” Carter chuckled. “They do have nonalcoholic beverages.”
“I was just checking. Gotta hold you accountable.”
“I’m sure,” he laughed. “You drunk?”
“More like tipsy. I knew I had to drive.”
“I like a responsible woman.”
“I’m glad I could impress you,” I joked.
“How far are you from home?”
“Only about fifteen minutes. What about you?”
“I’ll be home in ten minutes. We can stay on the phone until I know you’re safely inside the house.”
“A gentleman,” I smiled. “I like.” A beeping sound made me aware that another call was coming in. I rolled my eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. Trey walked off mad at the club just to call me again after everything I said to him. The man had to be slow. There wasn’t any other explanation for it.
“I try.” Carter’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“So, when you’re out someone stays at the house with your ex?”
“Yeah. I’m hardly ever there alone with her. It’s either her mother, my daughter, or the nurse. My daughter is there packing up her things. She finally found a house that she likes, and her offer was accepted. She’s hoping to close in the next twenty days. Granted the inspection and appraisal goes well. She wants to get a head start on her mom’s stuff.”
“A homeowner at twenty-four. That’s impressive.”
“Yes, it is. I told her I’d give her the downpayment, but she went through the first time home buyer’s program, and she didn’t have to do a downpayment. I still put some money in her account because she’s a good kid, and I’m proud of her.”
“I absolutely love that,” I smiled like he could see me. “Does your son live in Diamond Cove?”
“He’s about an hour and a half outside of Diamond Cove in prison.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“He’s been down for two years, and he has two more to go. Our relationship can be a bit rocky at times. All the times I tried to tell him some real shit, he looked at it like I was lecturing. He even fixed his mouth to call me a hypocrite before because I used dope money to pay for law school. He never once thought about the fact that I had been there done that, and I was trying to save him the trouble. Some people have to learn the hard way though. I just hope once he comes home, he’ll be on something different.”
“I hope so. I hate to see young, black men giving so many of their years to the state.” I yawned as I pulled into my garage.
“Tired?”
“Yes, I’m about to go in here, take a shower, then dive headfirst into the bed.”
“Once you’re inside I’ll hang up.”
I entered my kitchen through the garage and punched the code in to turn the alarm system off. I locked the door, then turned it back on. “Safe and sound.” I took my shoes off and carried them up the stairs with me.
“I love to hear it. Goodnight, gorgeous. I’ll hit you up tomorrow.”
“Goodnight. I look forward to it.”
When I ended the call, I couldn’t believe that my big, overly grown ass actually squealed. That man gave me all the feels, and I was going to enjoy it until he did something to mess it up because they always did something to mess it up.
