AUGUST, page 6
Ten minutes later, I divided my attention between Faith and the television. She sat in the recliner positioned next to my bed, watching light rain pelt the window. Faith was beautiful. Her light brown skin and brown eyes were gentle. The subtle smile on her face was one that was likely permanent. She didn’t have the slightest worry on her face.
She introduced herself as August’s friend. However, I was technically August’s friend, and I knew how I felt about him. Either he liked to friend zone beautiful women, or he had history with this girl enough to where, when he called, she came running.
“You have a million questions. It’s okay to ask,” she stated. Her gaze never left the window, but her smile stretched.
Since she opened the door, I decided to be direct. “You’re August’s friend? Or…”
She chuckled, then looked at me. “Hi. I’m Faith. June’s mother.”
I literally wanted to gag and throw up the ibuprofen and ginger ale she’d given me. My face didn’t conceal my shock which caused her to laugh.
“You look like you’re about to spazz the fuck out.” She shook her head, then laughed again before saying, “August and I are just really cool with each other. Trust me… My position in his life is secure. So is yours.”
Faith went back to looking out of the window while I laid there wondering what type of woman had the strength and patience to run to her baby daddy’s aid. Honestly, I was confused as fuck. So, I kept my mouth closed and didn’t ask this girl another question.
Within minutes, I was asleep again.
The next time I woke up, daylight was fading. What mattered most was that my migraine was gone. Weakness had me moving slow, but my bladder screamed for release which had me hurrying to get out of the bed.
In a flash, August was in my room. He caught me when my legs gave way. Instinctively, he knew what I needed. Swooping me up, he carried me into my bathroom and placed me in front of the toilet.
“Take ya time, shawty. I’ll be right outside the door.”
Nodding, I waited for him to exit, then handled my business. Once I was done, I went to the sink to wash my hands.
“Ugh,” I grumbled to my reflection. My face wore the stress of the last few days. Every once in a while, these migraines came along and put me on my back. I hadn’t had one in so long that I thought I was over that shit.
“You good, Asia?”
Hearing August’s voice snapped me out of staring at my reflection. Cutting the water off, I dried my hands, then moved to the door that he was already opening. He stuck his hand out to me. Without so much as I thought, my hand went into his.
“Do you feel any better?” he asked as I climbed back into bed.
“I do, just a little weak.”
“That’s to be expected. You need to eat.”
As if to confirm what he said, my stomach replied.
He chuckled. “I got you.”
Before he left my room, I stopped him. “Thank you… For everything.”
“Friends come through for each other, right?”
Although him referring to me as a friend grated my last nerves, I genuinely smiled and answered, “Right.”
He left out of my room in the next second. Sighing, I leaned back against the pillows and first thanked God that I was even feeling better. Complaining to Him about my problems without even saying thank your first just wasn’t in me. Once I got that thank you out of the way, I told Him all about my fears. I just really needed some hope that everything was going to be okay. Even if my mind was telling me otherwise.
August reappeared with a food tray stacked with a bowl and bottle of water. I looked him up and down, realizing this was the first time I’d ever seen August dressed in sweats, socks, and slides. In my eyes, he could literally do no wrong. He was just too fine to not acknowledge whenever I laid eyes on him.
He placed the tray on the nightstand, then handed me the water.
“Drink some of this first.”
I followed his orders and drank half the bottle. However, the soup inside the bowl was what held my attention. My empty stomach growled louder at the aroma of the creamy potato soup.
“Eat slow,” he instructed while carefully placing the tray over my lap. I thought he would leave me to it. When he lowered his body into the recliner, I recalled the woman who’d been here earlier.
“You really called your son’s mother…and she came?” Faith claimed she and August were just “cool”. I wondered if the reason he friend zoned me was because of her. If he was in love with his son’s mother, I could understand why. Faith’s presence still lingered in the room. That was how strong her aura was.
August smirked. “Yeah. I didn’t have the luxury of askin’ you for permission to let her into ya house. She made sure you were clean and helped you to the bathroom whenever you needed to go.”
Balking, I couldn’t even recall any of that. “She said the two of you are cool.”
“Should we be beefin’?”
His smile said he knew where I was going and still he avoided the bait. Taking that as my cue to leave it alone, I started eating.
“I said, eat slow. Fuck around and throw that shit right back up. Then we gon’ have to start all over again.”
Snickering, I slowed down and acted like I had some home training. What was harder was eating and watching television while August’s fine ass sat just a couple of feet away smelling like he wanted to hop in this bed with me.
Clearing my throat, I jokingly said, “Our friendship is starting off a little rocky, don’t you think?”
He chuckled. “Stop overthinking shit, lil’ baby. All is well.”
Chapter Nine
AUGUST WELLS
Finally, Asia couldn’t fight her body’s need to sleep. Ten minutes after she shut her eyes, I turned the television down, along with the lights, and eased out of the room. Just down the hall was my destination.
Mary wasn’t exaggerating about Asia’s library. Every time I walked in here, it was like being transported to a different era in time. An era where something as simple as reading was the highlight of a person’s day.
In the time since being in Asia’s house, I’d catalogued nearly every book that was in here. There was no rush for me to purchase myself new books when Asia had so many in here that I could read one a day and still not finish before the year was out.
Mary’s fingerprints were throughout the room. I loved that Asia kept her grandmother’s touch and didn’t destroy it by cleaning out anything that looked antique. The only sign that Asia even came in here was that there wasn’t a dust mite in sight and, in the corner overlooking the front porch and yard was an oversized sofa chair. Across the chair was a throw blanket. I could see Asia curled up on that thing, drowned out by how big it was.
Smiling to myself, I made my way right to it, sinking into the plush cushion like it was mine. This was where I’d spent most of my time while Asia slept. If this room were in my house, I would never leave it.
A few minutes later, a ringing sound interrupted my current read. Glancing at Asia’s phone, the name on the screen was one that had appeared several times since I’d been here. Every so often, Asia’s phone would sound with a notification or a call. I ignored everything that didn’t have Mary’s name on it. Outside of this caller named Nesha, the only other calls and notifications had been from unknown numbers or social media messages.
Nesha wasn’t letting up, though. As soon as her video call went unanswered, she called right back…and a third time. I wasn’t the smartest nigga. However, creeping around Asia’s house and peeping the lack of family pictures throughout the space, I could swear she wasn’t close to anyone except her grandmother. There were a couple of pictures of the woman who was most likely her mother. Then again, none of those pictures were recent. Thoughts of my granny’s house had me visualizing every picture that once hang in there. The shit I took for granted…
Asia’s phone rang again, sweeping away solemn thoughts. Sighing, I snatched up the phone and answered Nesha’s call.
“Hello?”
“Who are you?”
It only took me a second to place Nesha’s face.
“August—a friend of Asia’s.”
Nesha’s expressive brown eyes scanned every inch of my face.
“What’re you doing in my homegirl’s house? Why are you answering her phone? Where’s Asia?”
“She wasn’t feeling well, so she’s resting right now.”
“Uh, uh. That ain’t gon’ work for me, nigga. I don’t know you. Asia’s never told me about anyone named no fucking August.”
I just looked at her while she ranted. Her eyes narrowed.
“Where’s my girl before I call the cops?”
Not even mad that she was pressing me, I got up, left out of the library and went down the hall to Asia’s room. She slept on her back, with the covers pulled almost to her chin. Clicking the camera over, I showed Nesha the proof of her friend peacefully sleeping.
“See.” I ran my fingers down Asia’s delectably soft cheek and over her chin. “She’s resting just like I said.”
Clicking the camera back over, I met Nesha’s bewildered expression as I left back out of the room just as quietly as I’d come in. Within seconds, I was back in the oversized chair inside the library.
Nesha was back to sizing me up. “Keep your hands off my friend,” Nesha warned. However, this time interest replaced the skepticism in her eyes. “She doesn’t like people touchin’ her like that.”
“Respectfully, I’m not people. I’ll let her know to call you when she wakes up.”
Briefly, her lips turned up before relaxing into a smile I knew a million niggas fell for.
“My girl better call me, or I’m comin’ to Pensacola to jump on you.”
Smirking, I replied, “Yeah, aight.”
Nesha didn’t garner a second thought after I hung up the phone. I went right back to reading, hoping this nigga in the book didn’t fuck up his chance with this girl he’d been chasing since the first chapter. He acted like a fucking fool behind this girl. At some point, I had to remind myself this shit wasn’t real.
If it was, then Asia and I were well on our way to falling in love. That was the only logical reason to explain me being inside a stranger’s house, looking after her until she felt better. Furthermore, the ache in my chest wouldn’t subside until I was sure she felt better. There was no reading between the lines with that shit.
By morning, my chest had loosened. Asia came out of her room freshly showered and smiling. Her face finally had some color in it which helped me breathe a little easier too.
“You look like you’ve been holding your breath,” she said upon entering the kitchen.
I handed her a cup of orange juice and chuckled. “Mary called threatening me. She wants to hear ya voice before noon, or I can’t go see her anymore.”
She busted out laughing. “Aww! We can’t have that.”
“Nah, we can’t.” Slowly, her laughter faded, replaced by the same longing mirrored by my soul. I enjoyed watching Asia’s face light up. Anything she did seemed to spark something inside me that couldn’t be tamped down.
“Well, I’m sure you have plenty of work waiting for you,” she stated, cutting the silence. “Thank—”
“If you tell me thank you one more time, I know something.”
She giggled cutely. “Okay, okay.”
“If you need anything, I left my number on the refrigerator. Use that shit. Don’t play wit’ me like I won’t slide back through here.”
Prettily, she rolled her eyes. “Sure. Any more commands?”
The tilt of my head caused her eyes to stretch. Her face darkened sexily. I licked my lips and thought of anything except how quickly I could have her on this counter.
“Call ya homegirl, Nesha. She’s been blowin’ you up.”
She visibly gulped, then nodded.
“See you later, Big Head.” As always, I tweaked her chin. I felt her eyes watching my back as I left.
I went home, showered, then changed into my work clothes before heading to the shop. Tending to Asia hadn’t put me behind schedule. However, I hated working on weekends and wanted to catch up on anything that would put me over.
“Don’t sneak in here like you haven’t been MIA all fuckin’ week.”
My ass barely touched my chair as King came strolling into my office, scowling.
“Who the fuck lives in our old ‘hood?” he asked.
“Why the fuck you spying on me, nigga?” I chuckled but was serious at the same time.
Jericho busted into my office wearing the same scowl as King. “Fuck allat. Faith is on the hush mouth, and you never miss work. I’on know, but I’m finna start pouring kerosine all over this bitch if somebody don’t tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Hol’ up, hol’ up.” I died laughing at the look on Jericho’s face and so did King. “First of all, nigga. If I was fuckin’ Faith, you’d know. I’d take every fuckin’ opportunity to blast that shit. We’d have to go bullet for bullet and may the best nigga win.”
“Whoa, whoa!” King had to hold Jericho back.
“Remember the last time I beat yo’ ass,” Jericho blasted.
King laughed. “Come on, bruh. Y’all been doin’ good,” he said to Jericho who wasn’t trying to hear that shit. Just like that nigga in the book I was reading last night, Jericho was a fucking fool when it came to Faith.
Because I was petty as fuck, I egged it on. “You ain’t beat shit. I was drunk and high as fuck. That shit ain’t count. Slow movin’ ass nigga. How the fuck you been Faith’s friend for all these damn years and you still tryna figure shit out.”
This time King was laughing too hard to keep Jericho back. As soon as he rounded my desk, the door cracked opened.
“Jericho,” Faith chided. “Y’all quit that shit in here. And August… you have a visitor.” She opened the door to reveal Asia standing there with a plate in her hand.
“Uhm… Hi,” she shyly spoke.
With a sharpness I couldn’t describe, my gaze zoned in on the flutter of her lashes, the juiciness of her lips, and the serenity in her brown eyes. Her glasses made her sexier, even with those old lady ass beaded neck strings attached to them. Nothing detracted from her beauty.
As if in slow motion, she flashed me the brightest smile, revealing the dimples imbedded deep in her cheeks. She casually waved at me like my heart didn’t stop in my chest. The weather was perfect out today, allowing for shorts and a light jacket. She had her stomach peeking through a white half-shirt that hung off her shoulders. There were no visible bra straps, and I had to wonder if she was bare under that shirt. Feeling myself overheating, I gulped hard.
Three pairs of eyes stared back at her. All the air in the room got sucked right up at the sight of her. When I finally released the breath I was holding, I cleared my throat.
Faith shook her head. “See, girl, I told you. All that shit they talk and not a single one of them has anything to say.”
Asia snickered.
“Jericho and King, meet Asia.” Since I was still stuck on mute, Faith introduced them. King moved her way first.
“I’m the big brother. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You two look just alike,” Asia said.
“Nah, I’m definitely finer than that nigga,” King stated. My office erupted in laughter.
“King. Jericho. Out.” Faith wasn’t taking no for an answer. She waited by the door until King and Jericho, who stopped to shake Asia’s hand, left out of my office. Faith closed the door behind them.
Suddenly nervous, Asia turned to look at the closed door. I stood from my desk, rounded it, then perched myself on the corner. I had to slide my hands into my pockets to avoid putting them anywhere on her. When she turned back around, her eyes collided with mine.
“‘Sup?”
As if remembering she had the plate in her hands, she chuckled. “Oh! Here. I brought this to you for your lunch as a thank you. You took such good care of me, I had to make sure you know I appreciate you. Not everyone cares for a complete stranger without batting an eye or wanting something in return.”
I took the plate from Asia, removed the foil covering it, and smirked at the hefty serving of chicken alfredo and garlic bread.
“It was the quickest thing I could make.”
“It’s perfect,” I replied. “By the way, how’d you find me?”
Just like earlier, her face darkened. Briefly, she glanced at the floor.
“I’ve passed by here many times. Your truck is kind of hard to miss.”
“So, now you got my number, and you know how to find me. There’s no excuse.”
Her brilliant smile returned in full force. “Now to go deal with my grandma.” Amused, she shook her head and waved. “See you later… for real this time.”
“Later, Asia.”
Not until my door was closed did I snap out of the stupor she had me under. Asia was breaking my muthafuckin’ ass down, and she wasn’t even trying.
Chapter Ten
ASIA ANTHONY
A few days later…
Answer the phone! I screamed at myself.
This was the second time Baptist Memorial’s number had popped up on my phone. The number wasn’t saved, but I knew it by heart. It had been a week since I went to the emergency room. Surely, this could be nothing good.
The fear inside me was truly debilitating. Although days had passed since my stent in the emergency room, I still hadn’t had the courage to look at my discharge papers or the results of the MRI. Coupled with these repeated phone calls, my nerves were frazzled and worn like I walked through a landmine.
Just answer the phone, scary!
With bile rising in my stomach, I pressed the talk button. “Hello?” I sounded like a woman about to have a breakdown.
