Waiting To Exhale

Eighteen

Anthony is in the middle of telling me a really corny joke when Gabriel stumbles in the living room. I wonder where he got the money to buy another bottle of Gin. He is making his way to the kitchen but stops when he sees Anthony chilling in the couch with his shoes off and feet up like it's his house. He quickly made himself comfortable.

"Who is this?" Gabriel asks pointing.

"Anthony. He's a friend of mine." I don't know why I felt the need to explain this to him.

"Why are you letting people in my house?"

"This is my house. I pay the bills. I'll invite whoever I want in here." My mouth drops right after I say that. I don't know what came over me. I know not to speak to him like that. I hold my head down and mumble an apology.

Anthony stands up from the couch and extends his hand for Gabriel to shake. Gabriel looks at him like he's disgusted but doesn't say or do anything. "Nice to meet you, sir." I hide a smile. Anthony is keeping his act together even though Gabriel is being rude. I wish he could act more civilized but I know that's not going to happen. He doesn't know how to.

"I'm gonna leave."

"You don't have to Anthony."

He smiles and slips on his Jordans. "Nah it's cool. My mom wants me home to help her move some stuff anyway. I'll see you later."

"Well, I'll walk you to your car." I slip on my sandals. I don't want him to go. I was enjoying his company. He's so easy to talk to.

"So that's your old man?" I nod. "He seems tough." I nod again. "You let me know if anyone puts their hands on you. I'm not that hard to talk to."

"I Will. I promise."

He runs a hand over his curly hair. His light skin is glowing under the street light. "So you and your boy, how far apart are y'all anyway."

I fumble with my fingers. I should have known this question was coming. Is this how a big brother is supposed to act? Mason doesn't seem all too close with his sister. I'm not even sure if they like each other or are just tolerating each other because they have to. I font know how Anthony is going to react when he hears Mason is a grown man. He's only eighteen so it's not that big a deal but according to the law, it is. In the midst of me debating if I really want to tell Anthony, Joe shows up and he's bearing two big bags and a large balloon. I told him not to get me anything for my birthday.

I've never really celebrated my birthday. It's not a big deal at my house.

"Happy late birthday baby girl. I came by to see you yesterday to give you this stuff but you weren't here. I suppose you were out celebrating your birthday with your friends." He wraps me in a warm hug. I gladly return. I take the bags from him after trying to get him to take the gifts back.

"Wait, your birthday was yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?" Anthony sounds hurt that he didn't know such simple detail.

I shrug. "I didn't tell anyone. I never celebrate my birthday." I spare an innocent glare at Joe.

He sees it but shrugs it off. That's Joe for you. "Your birthday should be a big deal." Joe turns his attention to Anthony. He smiles and shakes his hand. He's so different from Gabriel. I wish Joe was my real father. "Hi. I'm Joe. I'm a friend of Olvia. You are?"

"Her big brother. I'm adopting her," Anthony says. He casually throws his arm around my shoulder. He and Joe get into this big discussion about me not celebrating my birthday and how happy Joe is to see that I'm finally making friends. Somewhere in the mix, Joe complements my new hairstyle in a rather dramatic way. He's so silly. I love it. I interrupt their conversation to tell them to stop talking about me. The two of them seem to be getting along just fine.

When they have to leave to return to their lives there's an ache in my chest. I hug them both before waving them goodbye. I turn to head inside but stop with my hand on the knob. I know the way I acted isn't going to fly with Gabriel. He doesn't stand for disrespect. Especially not in front of people. I brace myself for the worst before turning the knob.

Gabriel is sitting on the couch when I walk in. "So that boy...he's Your boyfriend?" He seems almost embarrassed. I never pictured him as the type to get embarrassed. He's usually the one doing the embarrassing.

I roll my narrow and slightly bulging brown eyes. "He's a friend."

"That's nice. You're finally making friends. Where did you get the money to get your hair done and new clothes? You spending money we don't got?"

I restrain from the need to correct his poor grammar. "My boyfriend paid for everything. He wants me to look nice."

"You slept with him?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm not a prostitute. I would never stoop that low."

I can't believe he has the nerve to ask me something like that. The thought has never crossed my mind. I have too much respect for myself to not go out and sell my body for a couple of bundles of weave and some nice clothes. If that was the case I would have been bundled up a long time ago. I make my way to my room angrily. I don't want to let him get to me like that but I just can't help it. He gets me all worked up like this and the sad part is he doesn't even care. I wonder all the time what it would be like to have a normal childhood with two loving parents. I hate the hand I've been dealt with.