High Fidelity

22. sunset drive

Sydney Bay Janes

I tried cuddling with Wilson, really, I did. While it felt nice, I kept getting a feeling of it felt so right, it had to be wrong. Like I didn't deserve it. So, once he fell asleep, I left.

The next morning, I spent at the DMV, changing my address and so on. My stay at Delaney's was supposed to be temporary, but I wasn't in a rush to leave. At least not until I got my affairs in order. Then, I spent the rest of the day watching Joe Rogan's podcasts on YouTube and eating double stuffed Oreo cookies.

6:34pm

"--So I was thinking," Rielle went on over the phone.

Blowing my beef-flavored Ramen to cool it off, my eyes flickered. "What now?" I asked, expecting the worst.

"Nothing bad; just that I found a venue for the event," she informed me, excited.

I was proud, sitting up to exclaim, "I knew you would! Where at?"

"Jettie's loves you so much, they wanted to collab with us and have Reignbow host an event! Except, I told them you're in Nevada. So get this" they have a sister bar there in Vegas," Rielle informed me.

"Ahh, perfect! Music? Decorations? Promo?"

"On it. Chyna and Patrick will promote it once you o.k. the flyer we emailed you. Amber found a dope DJ who said he'll work for exposure, we just need to make sure we get a picture with him and tag his profiles. Lana's working with me to choose a theme before we go 'head with decorations."

"I'm loving what I'm hearing, literally so proud," I beamed at their productivity.

"SYDNEY!" Delaney called me.

"Get out here, now!" Tom followed up.

My eyes rolled.

"Anyway," I talked to Rielle, pushing the straightened hair over my right shoulder. "what's new there?"

"Guess who's pregnant now?"

"God, it's easier to guess who's not pregnant now," I spat.

Suddenly, my door was forced open.
I looked up from the bed to see who dared enter so aggressively. Tom.

"Aye," he barked, "didn't you hear your aunt calling you?"

"Unh-unh," Rielle buzzed in my ear. "who the hell is talking to you like that?"

"I gotta go," I told her, pulling my phone from my ear.

"Yeah, handle that," she ended the call.

Tom crept away and I followed after a minute.

When I walked in the kitchen, I was met with Delaney pacing at the counter. I sat on the counter and readied myself to get lectured. Only, she just looked at me like I called this meeting until I rolled my neck and her arms flailed.

"What's this, Sydney?" she asked me, holding a green piece of paper in her ashy hands.

"A check," I answered, annoyed.

"What happened to you taking it to Wilson, you literally offered? You had one job, one."

I pursed my lips, popping a shoulder as my arms pretzled.

"Sorry, it slipped," I excused.

"'Slipped?!' Wow, okay. Thanks a lot, good to know I can count on you," she badgered, swiping a hand down her mouth that she was basically foaming out of.

"Are we done?" I mused, looking at the black and white tiled floor.

"Wilson's coming over later to pick it up. He'll be here within the next few hours so don't sneak off like you do, or is that too much to ask you, your highness?"