mind I’m sure. He likes you.” Shaking my head, I wipe my tears and step away from his arms.
“No thank you. I can’t see myself imposing on you soon to be newlyweds. I’ll figure things out. Can you tell me how long I have to vacate the premises?” He frowned and rubbed my shoulders still trying to comfort me.
“A week.” Closing my eyes in utter defeat, I take a deep breath and try to get in control of my emotions. After leaving the office I run up the steps to my apartment feeling defeated and lost. Inside I look around not even knowing where to start. This is the only home I’ve known since I moved from Texas. Not to mention rent in LA is absolutely insane. This was one of the most affordable complexes that I’ve found, and it still cost me and arm and a leg to live here at over seventeen hundred dollars a month for a one bedroom one bath. As I sit on my loveseat couch, I think about what options do I have. I can’t leave my job and go back home.
I refuse to leave my brother hanging like that. Taking my phone from my purse I look for last minute places to rent. When I find places for a minimum of two thousand, I change tactics and start searching for flights back to Texas. There is absolutely no way I can afford that on my salary. God give me miracle because I don’t want to go back. My life here wasn’t the best but- the sound of my phone ringing put a halt to my thoughts. Not bothering to look at the caller ID I pick up hoping my emotions aren’t heard through the phone.
“Hello?”
“Angel? Baby what’s going on? I hadn’t heard from you yet and was starting to worry. How you doing suga.” Mama, oh no!
“Uhmm, sorry about that. I was a little busy this afternoon when you called. Did you get the money sent over to the school?” I wanted to avoid all conversation about myself if possible. My mama is a sharp one and had a weird third eye when it came to her family. She’s from New Orleans and let her tell it my granny and family over there dabble in voodoo and shit. She told me that it’s the reason why she moved to Texas, to get away from that but she still has a keen sense and her spiritual connection is just stronger than others’. It’s hard to hide things from her so I like to keep conversations with her as short as possible when I’m going through rough patches.
“That’s ok, I understand you were busy. Yes, I called, and they accepted the payment and the lady was nice enough to waive the late fee.”
“Wow, that was nice of her.”
“Mhmm, it sure was, so I why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you? I felt it in my spirt that something isn’t right over there. There is something a force in motion that’s making things difficult for you and I want you to know if you ever need to come home you are more than welcome to come back. I can take c-”
“Mama please stop. Everything is going good on my end. Thank you for worrying though.” This was is so embarrassing, she always knew when something was up with me. “It means a lot to me that you’ll let me come back if I need to but I’m okay. I am in the middle of something important so is it alright that I give you a call back sometime next week?”
“Alright I see you don’t feel like talking about it, so I’ll let you go. When you’re ready to talk I’m only a phone call away.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t let a whole blue moon pass before I hear from you okay?”
“I promise to call you talk to you next week and tell that knuckleheaded brother of mine that I love him and to stay out of trouble.” After hanging up the tears started pouring. I have nowhere to go, and even though she said I could come back I’ll be damned if I burden my mama by going back home. When my phone rings again I pick it up expecting my mama, but Channing’s deep voice comes though.
“Hello Angel? You there?” Damn it I’m not in the mood to talk to him right now. Trying my best to hide my sniffling, I wipe my tears and