Sidebar

*ERIC*

It’s been about two weeks since I last saw or heard from Jamira. I had spent the night at her friend’s place.

I could have gone anywhere, but I just couldn’t resist her. Things are always so simple when we’re together. I appreciated that I didn’t have to think around her. I could just be myself. Time seemed to slow down with her, making every moment feel like a gift.

Despite missing her, I couldn’t do much about it. Between work, therapy, Kayla’s dance class, and Kacie, I was always busy. Early mornings and late nights became my norm. The only positive aspect was that we were almost finished with the case that had to be split up.

The deadline had to be extended to ensure accuracy. We also had other cases to work on.

Hopefully, this is the last day I’ll have to look at it. It’s consumed so much of my time that I don’t think I’ve had a good night’s rest in ages.

I got up from my desk to get some coffee when my phone rang.

“Hello?”

“E, don’t forget we have that sleepover thing tonight at Kayla’s school.”

Dammit! I’d forgotten about that. I remembered her saying she wanted to wear matching pajamas, but I couldn’t recall when she had said it.

“Shit! That was tonight?”

“Oh my god, Eric. Don’t tell me you forgot.”

“Kace, can’t you two just go? You know I’m swamped with this case at work and I have meetings lined up and…”

“And you promised her.”

I groaned. I had promised Kayla I’d make it. I don’t know what’s with that little girl. I can never say no to her, and she refuses to accept that I have my own responsibilities. It feels like she’s my child too. Nobody warned me about this part.

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks so much, brother!”

“Yeah, yeah, you gotta start doing things yourself, Kacie. She’s your daughter.”

“Why would I do that when she has the world’s greatest uncle to handle it?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that because it’s absolutely true. Ever since they both moved in with me, she’s been constantly trying to get me to do things with her. She doesn’t even bother asking her mom anymore.

“Bye, Kacie.”

“I love you too.”

I was on my way to get coffee when I saw Walt. I tried to walk past him, but of course, he wouldn’t let that happen. He was quite imposing at times.

“Playboy,” he yelled down the hall as he approached me.

“Keep it down, Walt. I have a reputation,” I whispered.

It was as if he hadn’t heard a thing I had just said. He just went on yelling again.

“Yeah, that one girl you had was fine as hell.”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. What was his problem? He’d always tried to embarrass me whenever he got the chance, but this was too much.

I was just about to say something to him when he whispered, “Yeah, word around the office is you’ve been a hardass and you ain’t getting no play.”

“Angie even offered to ‘take one for the team,’” he continued, “but you don’t want her. She’s a pass-around. Heard four dudes already hit that, and it was… eh.”

I covered my mouth and gasped.

“Four? Do you know their names? Wait, no, how do you know this? Do you ever work?”

“Semantics, brother. So far, I hear it’s Derrick and Kevin. I’m still trying to figure out the other two.”

My mouth dropped open in utter shock and disbelief.

“I mean, yeah, I could see Kevin. He seems right up her alley, but Derrick… what no! Why am I in the office gossip? And why aren’t you working?”

“I’m working on your image, Duh,” he laughed.

I just stared at him, because no way was I taking him seriously. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the gossip, though. It’s a nice break from work sometimes when I’m not the topic.

“You know, I don’t care about that kind of stuff.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you have me here, brother. Because I got your back.”

I shrugged him off and started walking away until I remembered I had to let him know he might have to lock up tonight.

“Oh, by the way, I need you to lock up tonight. Kayla has a sleepover at her school and wants me to go.”

“What? Wait, so Kacie’s going to be there?”

“It’s her daughter. I hope she’s there.”

My eyes widened at the same time as his. I realized I could send him in my place. Since he has a thing for Kacie, it’ll give him an excuse to get close to her. I think we had the same idea.

“You think I could…” he started.

“You want to go with her and I lock up?”

He smiled like a little girl around her crush.

“Hell yeah… but what about that girl you’re seeing?”

“What about her?”

“She works there, won’t she be there?”

Shit! She would be there, and these events were a way for me to casually “run” into her without seeming too desperate. It didn’t matter; she always knew I wanted to see her, to be with her, and hold her.

“We’ll just hurry and get out of here together then.”

We worked and got through the rest of the day. The last person left around 5:40 p.m., giving us enough time to tidy up, do an office sweep, and get ready for the sleepover. Walt always kept clothes in his trunk for some reason or another, so he just followed me home and got ready there.