Astray (See No Evil Book Two)

Chapter Nine

"Wake up, Simmy!"

I opened my eyes slowly to see Essence jumping on my bed to wake me up. I shot an annoying look at her and she fell down on her ass. I never celebrated my birthday and she knew this. The homes I was in never gave me anything or even acknowledged that I lived another year, and I didn't have any money to do anything myself. Only person who ever got excited was Essence, and I hated it.

I rolled out of bed and went in the bathroom to collect myself. And of course, Essence followed me in. I sat on the toilet and she sat on the rug in front of me, smiling from ear to ear.

"Can I have some damn privacy while I piss?"

"Why are you being grumpy?"

"Other than you waking me up out of my sleep, knowing we were out all night?"

"Aw come on, it's your birthday!"

"It's who's birthday?"

Are you fucking serious right now? Jaivon stood in the doorway, sharing the same smile as Essence.

"It's Simone's birthday!"

"We have to celebrate then, don't we?"

"No, we do not".

"Of course we do!"

"Bitch, shut up!"

"Come to my room when you're through in here", Jaivon said, giving Essence a wink before disappearing.

"What's up with you two?" I asked Essence, getting up to flush the toilet.

"What do you mean?"

"All you two do is eye fuck each other".

"We do not!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever".

I washed my hands and left her clueless ass on the floor. I didn't have the energy to deal with her bull shit this morning.

I have no idea what Jaivon could have to tell or show me in his bedroom. He slept on a completely other wing in the house than we did, we barely saw him unless it was for dinner. I honestly liked it that way. I just wanted to earn my keep in peace and have no dealings with anything else.

I knocked on his bedroom door and he opened it, still smiling from ear to ear.

"Come in".

I stepped inside, not surprised. Jaivon claimed to be a clean nigga but a man is going to be a man. He decided to put his clothes on the floor beside his bed than in the hamper in the corner of his room. He had a round shaped bed with black silk looking sheets that seemed to be calling my name. It smelled like old spice, and the smell turned me on. For some odd ass reason.

"Did you sleep good?"

"I was fine until Essence decided to wake me up".

"She really looks up to you".

Yeah, that's the problem. "You two have a thing for each other".

"Me? Oh no, that would be ridiculous. I know she has a little crush on me, and me in my old age shouldn't be entertaining it, but it's adorable".

"How old are you anyway?"

"I'm forty-eight".

Holy shit, I thought he was older than that.

"Yes I know, old enough to be your dad right?"

I chuckled, not even processing the thought of him being anything close to a father to me.