Read Online Frenemies by L. Divine - Free Book Online Page B

I’m not in the mood for all this mess tonight, Mickey. Please take me back to Inglewood,” I say, sending Rah a similar message. I just want to go home, study my lessons and maybe eat some chocolate Nutter Butters, if my mom left me any in the refrigerator. I just want to chill and focus on making Jeremy tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth tomorrow. Everything else will have to wait.

5
    Revelations

    â€œThough my eyes saw the deception/
My heart wouldn’t let me learn.”
    â€”FUGEES

    I don’t like walking home in my mom’s neighborhood. I feel more exposed with all the apartments around here. I told Jeremy he could pick me up from here an hour after I got off work, which was thirty minutes ago. I need to change out of my work clothes, and I didn’t want him to wait with my mom. She’s liable to grill him again, and I don’t need him tense, not today. Besides, I don’t think he’s all that comfortable over here, unlike Rah. Too bad my mom wasn’t home when he and Kamal came by yesterday. I’m sure they have some catching up to do.
    Approaching the long driveway leading toward my mom’s apartment, I see her gray Mazda parked in its stall. I wonder if she’ll let me drive it when I get my license. I forgot to tell her about my dad paying for my driving lessons. I know she’ll have something to say about that. Maybe I should save that information for next weekend.
    â€œHey, baby. How was your day?” my mom says, sprawled across the cozy couch. She knows Jeremy’s picking me up today so she’s decided to lounge until she goes to work tomorrow morning, I guess. Ever since things went sour with Ras Joe, she’s been chilling at the house more. Yesterday she was out with her homegirl Vivica for a girl’s day. But, unlike my mom, Vivica’s married and has children at home, leaving her little time to play.
    â€œIt was okay,” I say, closing the door behind me before heading straight for the bathroom. I’ve had to pee since I clocked out, but I didn’t want to give Marty the opportunity to say anything else to me. It was hard enough following Summer’s advice of making it easy for myself by being unresponsive to Marty’s stupid comments, but I’ve been at my wit’s end all day. It can’t be good for me or my bladder to hold my tongue like that. But until I figure out another way to make some cash flow, I’ll have to take all the shit she shovels my way.
    â€œJayd, what time is Jeremy picking you up?” my mom yells from the couch. We can practically hear each other breathe, the walls are so thin in this apartment.
    â€œIn about half an hour,” I say, washing my hands and quickly undressing. As I open the door and head for her room where my weekend bag is, I can hear my mom pouring herself a drink in the kitchen. I’d bet money it’s Bailey’s Irish Cream. I quickly change into some Old Navy jeans and an orange GAP shirt. We’re supposed to hang out by the pier and have coffee, so low key is definitely the way to go.
    â€œHow are your studies going?” my mom says, noticing me put my spirit notebook into my backpack beside the couch before finding my sandals and slipping them on. If I could, I’d wear them every day of the year. “Has Mama given you any new assignments?” she says, reclaiming her position on the couch and forcing me to sit in a chair at the dining table across the room.
    â€œWell, sort of.” I recall the writing exercise she gave me last week. “Mama told me to focus on what I want most and write it down in the present tense,” I say, doubtful of the results. I’m not too good at any assignment that requires me to be still.
    â€œAh, yes. The law of attraction.” My mom sips her brown elixir. “The shit works, I’m telling you. Usually we just make it work for the wrong reasons,” she says, getting