Whirlwind

45

[Riley]

Where are you now? seriously had become the most redundant question I had ever heard, yet it was now a conversation starter I had sadly become accustomed to. I suppose it was better responding to that than not being called at all or even being forced to indulge in discussion about something neither of us really cared about – better yet, the world and all its fuckedupness. So for those reasons alone, I'd deal. And especially on days alike to this one where I needed something to make me smile, something to swoop in and save me from what was already becoming a dreadful Tuesday. A simple where are you now? uttered to me in that smooth but very much husky tenor I longed to hear in person, was the key.

"I am, unfortunately, sitting in the middle of traffic headed to my office." My head was propped against the driver's side window, palms gripping the steering wheel tightly as I waited for the green light to go. "Honestly, I would rather be stretched across my bed doing absolutely nothing."

"Sounds like the life."

"It indeed does." I agreed just above a whisper. "Being an adult is for the birds. Work? Fuck work and everything it stands for. It's all a trap."

"Right on. Speak on it, woman!" Lamarr teased on the other end of our FaceTime call as he threw up his right fist. My phone was mounted in a perfect angle above the radio, showing his crooked grin that fought against the sleep still veiling him. In the background none other than Bootsy Collins fluttered around our words and I found it ironic that the lyrics I'd rather be with you were our exact sentiments though we hadn't said it. It didn't have to, the fact he was calling me just after waking up and I answered while driving was enough proof of that.

"You're all jokes, but I'm serious. Some days I could just check completely out of this thing called adulthood. The bills, the loans I'm still writing checks for and let's not forget that I'm almost sure I have no idea what the hell I'm doing, even at this age. Life is just a big ass grocery store and I'm at the register waiting patiently for my mom to return and tell me what to do next. She's not coming back though."

"You know, that analogy might have been the best one I've heard thus far."

"Oh trust me, it is."

"I feel you, sista." he continued to tease as my lips curved into a bogus smile in return.

"You're on a role today, aren't you my brotha? But like I was saying, the only good thing about the place I'm at in my life is I love what I'm doing and some days I have the option to wake up at twelve if I like. Thank God I started dodging nine to fives." I exhaled, feeling the relief of that statement as I pressed down on the gas pedal not a second after the intersection was cleared.

"You skipped classes before twelve at NYU, didn't you?" Lamarr quizzed as his eyes squinted.

"Of course. I mean, who didn't? In my defense though, I was not a morning person and never will be. Anyways enough about me. What are you up to? Wait, let me guess. Gym for five-hundred, Alex!"

"Nope, wrong." he shot back as he sat up from his sheets and pillow then leaned back against the headboard. "I probably won't be headed there until tomorrow, but right now I'm supposed to be packing. Then after that, I'll be heading to rehearsal with my band for the Summer Ends Music Festival I'm scheduled for in Arizona on the 26th."

"Wait, this Saturday?" I inquired, glancing away from the road and at the screen in a bit of shock as he nodded. "Why didn't you tell me this before now?"

"The whole thing kind of just slipped my mind until Mike reminded me. He is my tour manager, about time he acted like it."

"That's because he knows that Ib isn't there to help, or have you fixed that little situation yet?" The answer was no, which was quite obvious from the sigh Lamarr dragged out and how he shifted awkwardly against his bed. I was hoping he hadn't reached out to Ib yet because he wasn't sure how to approach him or apologize, not because he was just stubborn as hell. Knowing Lamarr though, the latter was more than likely the case. This man was making 'changing his bad habit and ways' more difficult for himself.