Waiting To Exhale

Thirty-nine

   He wraps his arms around me in a tight embrace. The smell of his cologne wafts up my nose and engulf me in a tight embrace as well. I almost forgot how good he always smells and how good he always feel when he's next to me like this. He unwrap his arms from around me. I let out a small whimper of protest. He ignores it. "Olivia what's been going on with you lately, you know I'm not in to these lil' kid games? I love you you know but the way you been acting..." He lets the rest of his sentence longer in the air.

   I sigh. "I don't know really. I guess I just needed some space. I know you love me. I love you too."

   That's only kind of, sort of true. I haven't been feeling myself lately but I know a part of that is because of what I did. Uh I just need to just forget that.

   "Well if I give you any more space I'm going to lose you."

   "You won't. I promise."

   "Good." He plants a wet kiss on my cheek, laughing, I wipe my cheek off. "I gotta make a quick stop before we head home."

   "Okay."

   About fourty minutes later we pull up to this small building. His definition of quick if different from my definition of it. The building turns out to be a small dinner. Despite its size it looks pretty packed. What are we doing here? Mason gets out the car and I follow. The air conditioner in the building seems to be on full blast, putting an end to the attack I was under by the sweltering sun. I let out a breath of relief.

   "What's up Pops?" Mason greets when he spots a chubby dark man dressed in a dirty apron. His red shirt reads; Papa's BBQ. Strange name but I guess it works. The man's face lights up when he sees Mason. The two hug like guys do. The man slaps Mason's head playfully. I stand to the side awkwardly as I watch the encounter.

   "You haven't come by to see me in a while. I suppose this pretty lady has been keeping you quite occupied." He takes a moment to sink in my appearance. I wonder if this is Mason's dad. He looks like him, only more weight and his dreads are died at the tips and pulled back out his face. Mason always wear his dreads down and hanging around his face. The man is also much shorter than Mason but Mason's very tall and more-so lean.

   "Hi, I'm Olivia" my voice comes out softer than intended. Who can blame me, I've never met a guys parents before.

   "I'm Tyrone. I'm Mason's uncle. Its nice to meet you."

   "You too...so this is your place? It's nice."

   "Well it is now. My old man passed away and left it to me. Its not as easy to keep up with as he made it seem but I suppose that comes from years of practice. Now I really wish I would have helped out more around here when I was a kid. I'd probably know all the ropes by now. I was a lazy kid. That's why I'm so far now."

   The last part makes me smile. "I knew I could make you smile. You have a beautiful smile with them deep dimples. Well I need to get back to work. I'm already behind with these orders. Mason'll show you around. If you get hungry let me know. I'd be happy to fix you a plate."

   "Thanks," I say. He gives me a quick hug before scurrying off to tend to whatever it is he has to do. I turn to Mason smiling, glad to finally meet someone from his family other than his sister. I'm glad I wore a respectable yet chic dark blue bodycon dress and sandals with a white cover up. "He seems nice."

   "Come on I need to hurry up and do what I gotta do so we can get back to the crib."

   He takes my hand and lead me to a locked door in the back of the dinner. He types in a code and the door opens up to reveal a freezer. I open my mouth to ask questions but decide against it. Its always better to not ask questions with Mason. He moves some stuff out the way to reveal another door. My heart starts racing. There's only one thing this could lead to. Is he really showing me his trap house? Putting me in danger like this. When he told me he sold drugs I didn't expect to be thrown into his world. I'm not stupid. I know this is his trap house. Under a family owned business? Really?

   I stop midstep, "why am I here? Why are you showing me this?" I know I said it was better to not ask questions but I really don't need to go down there.

   He pinch the bridge of his nose, irritated. "You know what it is?" He says it more as a statement rather than a question.

   "I'm not stupid. I don't come from a sheltered life."

   "Watch your tone," He says waving a finger in my face. I resist the urge to smack his hand away. I'd hate to see his reaction to that. Wouldn't be a good one. "Look you mine and I don't plan on us splitting up any time soon so you need to see what I do and learn how to protect yourself or what to say if the feds start asking questions. Just chill out girl. You not about to be in here killing people and whippin. I trust you." There goes that tiny pang in my heart again. He trust me. He doesn't know he shouldn't. He can't...

   "Do I have a choice?"

   "Nah. You good." He takes my hand again and walk me down the stairs. The basement of whatever you call it is huge. Its a while nother building. Unlike the top it's not packed. Only a few people are here. They greet us when we walk in and Mason introduce me.

    Being in their pretense makes me feel like a little kid. All of them seem so grown up. I bet they are. I'm the real kid.

   A girl dressed in dude clothing comes up to Mason and daps him up. She..he...whatever spares a lingering look in my direction. I told my arms across my small chest. Mason introduce her as Bird. I'm really hoping that's just a street name. Bird hugs me, her arms falling a little too low. She release me just as quickly.

   Mason commands me to have a seat somewhere and for Bird to keep an eye on me while he handles something. I decide against the couch, instead going for a chair at the table in what I'm guessing is the break room. I don't know how these things work. The only "trap house" I've ever been in is when I was younger and it was just what a group of kids called the abandoned house they found. They didn't do anything in there but smoke paper "cigarettes" and scope the place out for whatever was left behind by the previous owners.

   Bird sits next to me in one of the chairs. He runs her hands over her braids. She's not that much taller than me. Her body, what I can see of it, is covered in all types of tattoos. I've always wanted one for myself but when I brought the idea up to Mason he said I don't need to be doing anything to ruin my skin. I wouldn't necessarily call getting a tattoo ruining my skin. "I got my first one when I was fourteen." Bird says, catching me off guard. I wonder if she's had any surgery because her voice is just a little masculine.

   "Huh?"

   "My tattoos. I noticed you staring. You got some beautiful eyes."

   "Oh. Thanks."

   "No problem. So aren't you a little young to be dating Mason?"

   "He's only eighteen."

   "Eighteen? Is that what he told you? Man I swear old dude be coming up with this shit real quick." She laughs a dry laugh.

   "What do you mean?"

   Mason comes out of the room and makes his way towards us. We stand up. Mason wraps his arm around me. "I'm ready to go. Lets get out of here. We can stop and pick up something on the way."

   I want to ask Bird what she means but not in front of Mason. It doesn't look like she's willing to tell me anything in front of him anyways. She says a quick good bye before walking off. Tyrone waves us off.