Will Love Ever Come?

Chapter 2

AT FIVE TO SIX, Eschewal has already left the building. As he steps outside, the cool fresh air hits him and seems to shake off the oppressive stress of the office. He beams a cheesy grin because he has a definite date for later on. Her name is Keneisha. He had met her four months ago. He had taken her out on two expensive dates without getting as much as a kiss. This did not matter because she had promised him he would get lucky at the weekend. This promise had gotten him through his grueling working week.

A wider smile dons his face as he pads past a row of shopfronts. His phone rings; it is Keneisha. He pumps his fist out of joy as he hopes she is calling to tell him to pick her up earlier.

He answers the phone with his calm, steady, sexy voice, "Yeah, what's up, Keneisha?"

Her voice drops a tone, and she says, "Oh babes, I'm so sorry, I can't make it again."

For a second, he loses his voice as hot heat rises inside of him. Her words feel like the impact of a car crash, resulting in his whole world collapsing. A lump appears in his throat, but he controls his voice and replies, "Yeah, why, though?"

"Oh, at the last minute, I've been asked to babysit my goddaughter. You understand, don't you?"

He replies yes, which is a lie because he does not understand. 'How could she do me like this?' he thinks.

She ends the call with the promise that she will meet him tomorrow, another lie. She has a better date for later on and tomorrow, so her "goddaughter" is really Godfrey, a big-time drug dealer with a mansion in the countryside.

From across the street, someone hollers Eschewal's pet name (which everyone calls him, except loved ones and the police).

"Oi, Eros, you listening?"

"Oh shit, it's Tek," says Eschewal to himself.

Back in the day, Tek was always thinking up new ways to make illegal money, but his ideas always seemed to get Eschewal arrested whenever he decided to hustle with Tek.

Tek calls again.

"Ah, what the hell does he want, man? I bet he wants to ask if I'm down with one of his bait moves," a scowl develops on Eschewal's face, '''but I'm sure he knows I don't make money on the road anymore?" He sucks his teeth and continues thinking, ''It's taken me five years to break away from the road, so why does this waste-man wanna drag me back down?" He raises one finger in the air and shouts back at Tek, "Just cool, man, I'm in a rush. Are you still on the same number?"

Tek nods.

"Alright, man, I'll ding you little more from now."

Tek raises his right hand in the air.

Eschewal nods; he raises his fist, then turns down the first road on his right with no intention of ever phoning Tek.