A: Short Story Collection

Chapter 30

"Kendrick"

Ime and I climb down the ladder.

"So, how did it go?" Kaleb whispers in my ear.

"He seems the same to me."

"You're not concerned about him smoking?"

"You're concerned about him smoking?"

Kaleb nods yes. "Doesn't seem right for a person like him. Totally unusual."

"Unusual for you. Guys smoke weed all the time."

"Do you smoke it?"

"No."

Kaleb grins.

Ime calls Kaleb to come on and they both leave in a limo.

Huh, haven't seen him do that before.

"Guess you're not needed anymore," Kendrick said.

I laugh. "I'm always needed." I reach into my pockets and pull out a hundred hundred-dollar bill. "Speaking of needs, wanna eat out?"

"You're offering?"

"Come on, I got twelve thousand dollars."

Me and Kendrick go back into the restaurant and sit at a table.

We both look at the menu and decide what we're going to order.

"What would like to order?" The waitress said.

"Grilled Mediterranean Chicken with Lemon-Herb Couscous?" I said.

Kendrick raises his hand. "I'll take Spicy Mango Shrimp Tacos."

The waitress writes our orders down and then smiles. "Your order will be right with you," she said then left.

I look at Kendrick. "Ew, shrimp."

"What you don't like shrimp?"

"Fish sucks."

"Fish is delicious."

"For you. I prefer chicken."

"Chicken is good too."

We both wait at the table for our meals listening to country radio.

"Here y'all go," the waitress said placing our orders in front of us. "Let me know if y'all need anything else," she said.

"Oh, I'll take a coke," I said.

Kendrick raises his hand again. "Water."

The waitress nods and goes to get our drinks.

"You're boring," I said

"You're wrong."

"Shrimp first, now water."

"Bro, they're both healthy."

"Come on, twelve thousand dollars, for that."

Kendrick sighs. "Don't talk to me."

We both start eating our meals.

"So, I've been thinking about you and Ime," Kendrick said.

I stop eating and look at him. "Yeah, what about us?"

"Y'all are dating?"

I turn red. "We're not."

"Yet, you're comfortable killing with each other."

I go back to eating. "Well, we didn't kill her."

"You planned to kill her."

I continue to eat.

And Kendrick continues to speak. "Then you're paid twelve thousand dollars to just speak to him."

I try to ignore him.

"You're hiding something," He said.

I sweat and look away. "Totally not."

"You're dating him."

I roll my eyes. "No."

"Then what are you doing?"

Kendrick is so nosy.

I continue eating my meal and Kendrick just looks at me.

I sigh. "We fucked."

Kendrick just smiles.

"It was transactional. That's how I was making money."

"So, you got shot over that."

"Yes."

Kendrick shakes his head. "I knew it."

"Woohoo, detective," I mock. "It was Emily's suggestion anyway," I added.

"Emily?"

"The girl that quit."

Kendrick rubs his chin.

"It was Ime's idea."

"You don't say," Kendrick said and took a bite of his meal. "Don't you think that's weird?"

"Duh."

Kendrick stops eating. "Perhaps he has a thing for you."

"Awww," I mock holding my chest.

"Maybe you do too."

I gag.

The waitress arrives with our drinks and puts them down. "Enjoy," she said then walked off.

Kendrick takes a sip of water. "Well, you were kind enough to take an offer to talk to him."

"Twelve thousand dollars."

"Is that what you're worth," Kendrick said then took another sip.

I grab his plate.

"Hey!" he said.

"Don't make me do this."

Kendrick drinks more water. "Do what? You're not gonna eat shrimp are you?"

I look at the plate and back at him. "Dammit, you're right."

I give him his plate back.

Kendrick covers it with his arms.

I rest my elbow on the table and lay my head in the palm of my hands. "I don't wanna talk about this anymore."

Kendrick goes back to eating.

"Besides, talking about this makes me feel uncomfortable."

Kendrick continues to eat.

My nose turns red.

Kendrick looks at me. "I'm eating."

"Don't act like you didn't start this conversation."

"I mean you're gay?"

"Yeah."

"And you're happy?"

I nod yes.

"And you're not in love?"

"Yep."

"And you're okay with this?" Kendrick said and I ponder. "Who helped you find out you're gay?" he added.

"Ime."

"And you're not in love with him?"

I rub my chin. "What about him?"

Kendrick shakes his head. "You're devious."