Thinking About You

Chapter 9

Driving around in this car is what relaxed me.

Nobody's talking. Linc and Damantaé aren't talking, Cruz isn't talking to me. My own baby mama hardly speaks to me. It's quiet.

After work I went home. Occasionally when I went to Treese's I noticed she was becoming more and more withdrawn and her shirts were getting baggier. I could still tell she was getting huge.
I still talk to Linc and even he pointed this out to me.

The weeks flew and the weather was turning to shit; hitting as low as 50° which was cold to us. But it was a nice day when Cruz had his graduation ceremony. It was being held outside. I showed up like I said I would last month.

I stand near the back of the field and watch the students get called to the stage by major department. Everyone had a dark blue gown on. I spot Cruz in line once his department is called. He receives his degree and walks off stage. I'm impressed and proud of him. He now has a degree.

Later on his mother spots me and gives me her usual dead stare. That woman doesn't like me, ever since that day.

Thankfully I find Cruz without her by his side. But when he sees me an angry look passes on his face and he starts to storm away. I went right after him, hearing the angry mutter of Spanish words under his breath.

"Cruz, I came to say congratulations."
"Gracias," he throws over his shoulder as he continues to walk away from me.
"De nada," I say listlessly. "Can we talk, maybe hang out..."

He abruptly stops in front of me, turning to face me but when he talked he was looking right passed me.

"What? In your car and maybe afterwards we can make out? You drop me home and then go back to Treese's?"

I close my eyes and exhale, bring my hands together almost in prayer and held them against the front of my face.

"I didn't come here to do this."
He now looks me directly in my eyes.
"Thank you, Jac for coming. I appreciate it but I'm not really trying to talk to you... or even see you..."
I sigh.
"Comprendo."
His eyebrows shoot up in mild surprise.
"Buen," he says before walking away.

I stand there for far too long, long after he was gone from my sight, until an older woman asked me if I was okay.

The following week Linc went to go play ball with me. We took turns dunking on each other.

"Damn, nigga, you only good against me when it comes to NBA2K," I tell him. Linc laughs.
"Fuck you, okay. My wrist game just off, you know I stay flipping them burgers."
I laugh way too hard.
"You stupid."

I had the ball and dribble it to the basket, dunking it in. I was hanging from the rim for a while when Linc called to me.

"Yo! Your phone going off."

He points to my bag on the sideline. I let go of the rim, my feet touching the court.

"It's probably Treese."
"You been to any of her appointments yet?" He asks with exasperation in his voice. I roll my eyes.

She has another appointment coming up and little does she know I'm about to sneak up in there. She can't ignore me or turn me away if I'm in the doctor's office. She makes it seem like she's embarrassed to have me come in with her. Not embarrassed of me but of the whole situation, being pregnant. I don't get it.

When I get to my phone I see a missed call from a number I don't recognize. I usually let shit like that go but I was really curious, it was a call from this area code. I go to sit on the bench and call the number back. Linc slowly comes my way.