Need You

CHAPTER O9

"Derrick!" I exclaimed.

"Harry?" He said when I reached him and pulled him into a tight manly embrace. The guy I had been looking for since my release, I had now found.

"Sir." The man behind the counter interrupted us as he handed Derrick a bag.

"Thank you."

"Bro, where have you been?" I asked excitedly as we walked out of the building.

"I've been around." He said nonchalantly. "What were you doing in the store looking so professional? Do you work there?"

"No, but hopefully I will be by next week. I went in for an interview."

I walked beside him, following his direction. If I hadn't seen him, I would have been in a taxi headed for the restaurant but there was a lot we needed to talk about.

"Where have you been?" I asked again.

"I told you, I've been around." His voice was still nonchalant.

"You've been around where?" I questioned. "I've been looking for you since I got out, and somehow nobody knew where you were. I wasn't even sure you were in town until Gina told me she saw you last week."

"Oh." He muttered. "I got back from Europe last week."

"You were in Europe?" I thought it was a lie when Richard told me about Derrick being there while I was in jail.

"There's a lot we need to talk about." I stated truthfully. I had a lot of questions like why didn't he tell me he had sold our house, why was his number no longer working? A lot.

"Yeah I know." We stopped by a really nice black sedan and he opened the boot. Was that his? "But—"

"Is this your car?" I asked surprised. It was a really nice car. Neither of us had cars before I went to jail.

"Yes." He answered with a grin as he shut the boot.

"When did you get it?" I asked checking it out.

"I bought it last week." I noticed the pride in his walk to the driver's side as I stood by the passenger door waiting for him to unlock the car.

I was going to get a lift to the restaurant. It would have been absurd of me not to. My best friend had a car.

He unlocked the car and we stepped into it together and then he said, "What are you doing?"

I looked at him confused.

"I'm going somewhere very important." Derrick said. "I'm sure you have somewhere to be too."

"I do, and I was hoping that you would drop me off there." I said. "It's —"

He interrupted me and said, "Bro, I really need to get to this place soon. Just get out. I'll call you later."

"You don't even have my number." I said without thinking — I didn't have a phone.

"I'll just get to you through Gina." He replied hurriedly.

I was staring at him in confusion. I hadn't even closed the door and he was telling me to get out of his car.

"Harry!" He spoke. "I need to go."

Getting out of the car I heard him say, "I'll reach you later." How? I closed the door and he sped his car out of the parking lot.

Shaking what just happened off, I got into a taxi headed for Ethel's Diner.

Nikki was standing at the bar when I entered. She turned and I smiled, seeing the smile on her face. "You look great."

"Thank you."

"How was the interview?" She asked but before I could respond she told me to go to the office. "Auntie is in there. I'll be there soon."

"Okay." The office was on the left side of the hallway, opposite to the kitchen. Knocking before I entered, Ethel greeted me with a smile.

"Hello." I said. That was my first time in there and I liked the setting. The yellow walls seemed brighter with the light coming through the windows. There was a brown sofa and a small rectangular table opposite the door, a few feet away from her polished wooden desk. Behind her, in the corner was a short fridge.

"Hello. How are you?" Ethel asked. "How was the interview?"

"I think it went well."

"Sit."

I sat on the chair in front of her desk and continued, "The man who interviewed me said he thinks I would be a great addition to their team."

"That's great." She smiled. "When is the next job interview?"

'Um tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I didn't understand the surprise in her voice. "I have a meeting with the investors tomorrow concerning the loan."

"Okay. Are you taking it?"

"Hopefully not." She answered. "But I don't think I can take you."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I'm sure I can get there on my own. Thank you for taking me to the interview earlier."

"It's fine."

The few seconds of silence that passed before Nikki came in made me wonder who was doing the busboy duties.

"Why are there three plates?" Ethel asked Nikki. She had come in with a tray.

"It's mine."

"Yours?"

"Yes Auntie, I'm taking my break."

"Oh? Is Amanda here?"

"No Auntie." She answered hurriedly and then said to me, "Harry go and sit there." Her eyes pointed to the sofa.

After placing a plate in front of her aunt, she came to sit next to me. The fried rice with sautéed vegetables and fried chicken looked and smelled good.

"So, tell me, how was the interview?" Nikki asked as we ate.

"It was good. It wasn't as long as I thought it would be but I think from what the interviewer said to me, I might get the job." I said honestly.

"What did he say?"

"He said he thinks I'd be a great addition to his team." She smiled.

"Okay, so imagine the interview you'll go for tomorrow also goes just as well and then you end up being offered both jobs, which would you accept?"

That was an interesting question. I would absolutely be surprised if I was offered both jobs. "I doubt that'll happen but I'd choose financial analysis."

"Mmm." She took a spoonful of her food. After swallowing, she said, "It could happen that you'll be offered both jobs."

"Nikki," Ethel spoke. "you need to hurry up and get back out there."

"I know aunt." Nikki replied sulkily and then turned to me to continue with our conversation.