Thinking About You

Chapter 4

"Let me help you."
"I got it, girl," I say as I throw a grin over my shoulder to her. She giggles and okays me.

I was putting her futon together. I spent the past two days helping her move out from her mother's place.
I stand up and look around.

"This is a nice joint." She came back over to me and swats my arm.
"Don't call my new place a joint. I do like it too."
"And it's good that it's on the east side." She moves closer to me, giving me a sexy look.
"Why? So that we could be closer?" I smile down at her.
"No. Because it's a good area."
"That's not all." She reaches up and kisses me. I pick her up, her legs crossing my waist. She yelps and giggles. It's as if nothing's changed.

Cruz comes to mind when I think to myself that the season is changing, school having started back up. I then think about Lincoln and Damantaé and realize that I haven't seen or talked to them since I've been back with Treese. We really had took the time to sit down and talk that night after the park. She realized her mistake and told me that later in the relationship he started to get abusive. That's why they broke it off so soon.

"I'm just glad that he was understanding. He could have been the type that wouldn't have let me go, you know? I don't really even know why I even left you for that. But he showed his true colors."

I constantly got calls and messages from Linc and them.

Linc: The fuck goin on man? Where u been at?

Dam: So, u not about too help me wit these apps no more?

Linc: Bring ya ass down and get this milkshake nigga! Damn! 😒

Dam: Whut the fuck do u put down for this w2 shit????

Linc: Yo! Nigga! Word round town... I better not catch u wit that Treese bitch. You let her talk to u? What the fuck she doin that got u hidin????? 🤬🤬

Dam: Its my second day at Jons pizza. Linc pisser then a bitch! U proud nigga?! 🤪

Cruz: You said what you said Jac. So let's talk

Cruz: You meant that shit, I know you did.

Cruz: Don't do this a second time. Stop kidding yourself.

Cruz: I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable and I don't want to argue. Let's just talk de hombre a hombre.

Cruz: I started back up at school. Maybe we can kick it sometime. My schedule is kind of hectic right now. Linc and Dam have been trying to find you...

Cruz: So.... you really got back with Treese? That didn't take long.

Cruz: You were all I ever wanted Jac.

I just went ghost instead.

"Liar!" My eyebrows jump and I peek my head from around my computer screen to see what's going on at one of the front entrance's table. I had someone else on the line.
"Hold on please," I say.
"Ma'am please be calm." Chris was trying to reason. I see one of the managers fly by my office.
"You can bring that down! My husband knows cars! You're trying to cheat me!" She pulls out her phone and starts dialing. Oh shit! One of those customers. I turn back to my phone call, which was silent.
"Shit!" I slam the phone down. They got away this time. I came across a lot of customers that don't like my follow up calls or emails but I still annoy them. That's my job. I see just the manager talking to the lady.
"Aye, Chris!" I whisper. I get his attention as he's stomping on by. I guide my hand to the lady's direction and give him a puzzling face with a crooked grin that said, 'What the fuck?' He brushes that off.
"Man, don't get me started." He proceeds to walk off. I snort.
"Jay." I look up and my dad is standing where Chris was standing a second ago by the door. He's wearing a gray suit and red tie. "How's the relations going?"
"Pretty good," I lie and divert my eyes.
"That's good. At around 2 can you head over to Lot B? We should be expecting a customer to come in about that time."
"Sure thing." He nods and heads off.

Last month I did great with my car sales. I sold 15 to be exact. Being a people person is what does it. My dad was greatly proud and would put me out on the field whenever he could. This month wasn't looking too great for me. I only had 3 under my belt. The month pretty much just started but still, last month was going a lot better in comparison.

One thing that I loved about this job was all the learning I was doing. My dad was working at this dealership back when I was in high school and I never cared or even asked questions. When asked what my dad did for a living I told them and that was that. Everything I was now learning and my connection to my dad has been greatly cherished. My dad and I go out to lunch almost every day.

"Another late lunch, boy I tell ya," my dad was saying as he started to dig into his enchilada. "Between you and me, Michael is hanging on a fine string." Michael was one of the managers who I rarely ever saw.
"Oh word?" My dad shook his head.
"I'll be surprised if he's still here by November." He did some chewing and looks over at me. "So how are things?"
"Pretty good. Uh... me and Treese are back together." My father slowly looks back at me.
"Is that really what you want to do?" I hesitate before answering.
"We figured to give it another try, being that we have history and things between her and him didn't work out," I shrug.
"And if they had worked out you still wouldn't be with her today. This was a mistake she should have recognized long before she did it. Things didn't work out and she figures to come back to you? Be careful, Jay." I simply nod.

Ten minutes back at the dealership I'm on the lot. As I'm hopping inside one of the cars I happen to notice a figure coming my way. I had to squint because of the sun. It was Cruz. Damn. I hadn't seen or spoken to him since we were in Jordansberg. He had on a navy blue T-shirt, silver chain, black track pants and sandals with socks on. His college look.

"Finalmente te encontré. ¿Dónde has estado?" When he went off in Spanish like that I knew he was upset.
"Hey," I simply respond and close the door, having climbed out.
"¿Y?" He leans forward expecting a drawn out reply. "You don't think I deserve an answer?"
"I'm at work right now."
"Would you ever talk to me otherwise?" I exhale. "Look," he backs up a little with an air of aloofness. "I miss you, we all do. I'm just trying to catch up. You're back with Treese? Ok, it's whatever, it's not something I want to destroy our friendship." I fold my arms and nod while looking down.
"Okay then." I look back up at him and he stares me dead in my eyes almost challenging me. I don't break contact.

In his eyes there's almost a sadness but a hardness as well. In my eyes he probably can see my façade of indifference. He's the first to shut his eyes and look away, off to the side. He eventually slowly makes a 180 and starts to walk away.

Alex...