Does He Do It Like I Do It

Chapter Nineteen

"Do you have everything you need, Snookie? You need some money?"

My father reached into his pocket and grabbed his wallet. I put my hand over his, stopping him. He had been crying all night and the bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep broke my heart. He didn't want me to leave but he knew he couldn't make me stay. I asked him to move to Baltimore with me but he told me he had too much invested in our house. He damn near spent our last getting it, just to make my mother happy. All for her to not be here. Last I heard she had moved to Buffalo with Meeka and they were planning on adopting. At least that was what my Aunt told me the other night. I was hurt but I had already put it in my mind that I was leaving everything in the past. My mother and her bull shit was one of them. 

"Don't worry about it, dad. You don't have to worry about me. Auntie Alana is going to look after me."

He gave me a small but not reassuring smile. "I feel I don't need to tell you why her looking after you does not make me feel more comfortable."

The oven beeping in the kitchen broke our conversation. My father wasn't much of a chef so he had been making himself TV dinners for the last few months. I told him I could register for some type of fresh food delivery. All he would have to do was follow the instructions. He declined and would say that a little fake mashed potatoes never hurt anyone. 

I shook my head and grabbed my last duffle to take to the front porch. I originally had plans to drive my car to Baltimore but after finding out freshmen aren't allowed parking spaces on campus I felt it would have been a waste. Aunt Alana said I could have parked it in the garage at her house.  I was worried about my father financially and decided to leave the car in a worse-case scenario he needed to sell it for cash. I would never tell him that though. 

I checked my phone for the time and any notification from Brenden telling me he was on his way, but there was nothing from him. He told me last night to be ready by six this morning and it was currently after ten. I remember when we first met he said he would never keep me waiting. If this is what he does with the women he was interested in, I need to plan to gracefully take this ride to Maryland and then dip as quickly as possible. 

A black Charger with tinted windows pulled up by the curb in front of my house. The base was so strong it shook the windows of the closed-in porch. I watched intensely as the driver-side door opened up and a man wearing black joggers and a white beater walked around the car. The red bandana covered most of his features so I wasn't able to tell who it was. The man leaned against the car and we locked eyes. For a moment, this mystery person felt familiar. It wasn't until he pulled the bandana down so that it rested beneath their chin that I realized they indeed were familiar. Without hesitation, I pushed open the screen door and jogged down the steps. 

I cleared my throat, nervously. "Naheim," I spoke dryly.

"Little Annie, how you been?"  

He smiled at me but I couldn't bring myself to smile back. I was nervous, yes, but Naheim had still abandoned me for the streets. And there was no amount of smiles and witty humor that was going to be able to eliminate that feeling for me. 

"Fine", I answered in a cut tone. "What are you doing here?"

His head cocked back as if he was offended by my snippy tone. He wiped his nose and then stood up from leaning on the car. His eyes were no longer soft and his expression was now stern. 

Sticking his hands in his pockets he looked at me. "Jodeci had told me you were moving today."

"Shocking she knew what I was doing and I haven't spoken to her."

He smacked his teeth. "You and Jodi been best friends all this time. I'm sure whatever y'all beefin' about can be fixed."

I rolled my eyes. "Naheim, you're not in any position to give advice about anybody I associate with."