Page 41 of The Ninth

“Basically!”

“We gotta fix that, Ms. Devyn.”

I looked at the side of his face as he drove. He was leaned back into the seat, driving with one hand, smiling softly. His darkskin was edible and his big body took up the entire space. Damn, I wanted to sit in his lap so bad.

“You from here?”

“Born and raised on the southside. Grew up with my parents and big brother for about two years before they split and my mom met someone else. Then came my little brother. Pops died. And that’s really it.”

“Is she still with your little brother’s dad?”

“Yeah, she is. Nigga soft for her and acts just like his son,” he chuckled. “Nigga goofy as hell. But I’m the only one out in Chicago right now. My peoples moved for their safety.”

“You’re safe here alone?”

He laughed, “I’m okay.”

We got to the Chicago Riverwalk. He handed me my phone and placed my bag under my seat. When I asked about my wallet, he just told me to get my ID and leave everything else. He almost laughed at me worrying about bringing money.

The start of our walk was silent. After talking about his family, I could see he was in his head. He must miss them. Being in a city alone is tough. I have to be grateful that I at least have Cassie.

Once we got on the actual boardwalk, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, shoving me into his body. I giggled, having no choice but to wrap my left arm around him. He cleared his throat after chuckling.

“Why you tryna walk so far away from me?”

“I thought that was the appropriate distance for strangers.”

“Aw, so you acting like you don’t know anybody anymore?!”

“How old are you? Do you have kids? A crazy woman looking around for you?”

“Recently thirty. No kids, just my brother’s one. And no crazy woman looking around for me. Unless we counting you, then one.”

I cackled, “Nobody was checking for you!” I so was.

“I got busy with family business, but I made sure to not leave you hanging too long. Number nine, the cross with the vines surrounding it. That mothafucka tough, and I know somebody who would want it. I can pay you of course. But I just love how versatile your art is. You don’t just do flowers, or 3D. Turning each page in your book was truly coo as fuck. You never knew what was next.”

“Thank you, Duke.”

“Of course, Ms. Devyn. So, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-eight.”

“A lil girl.”

I chuckled and pushed him, “I’m an only child. Raised by my parents and grandmother. I have a cousin. That’s about it.”

“How’s your relationship with them?”

“I thought it was okay.”

“What has being in the city made you realize?”

“That I may have been a bit sheltered. No kids. No man. No...anything. Just those three. And my cousin.”

“You have you, and that’s quite the loot, shorty.” I blushed as he pushed me into the Nutella Café. “Let me get you something small, I know yo drunk ass finna pass out.”

“And who said I was drunk?!”