“GIRLS GONE WILD”
“When are you coming to see me? You haven’t been over here in like three or four weeks.”
Leah let out an exaggerated sigh, “Why are you being so needy? Every time we talk you want to know where I am and when I’m coming over.”
“I’m sorry, I thought I was your man.”
“Then act like it, Derek. Stop whining like a little boy all the time.”
Take a deep breath man, she’s just stressed out.
“And you expect me to believe you know that Ciara girl from church?” Leah asked with an attitude.
She saw her number in my phone and decided to play detective. Luckily, Ciara didn’t answer and I made up my own story, telling her that she was an old childhood friend from my mother’s church.
“Yes! Look, Leah, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not; you always think I’m lying, anyway.”
“Derek, all I’m saying is it seems odd that you’re walking around a lot happier than usual and there’s some new friend in your life. What about me?” She asked sounding like she was on the verge of tears.
“What about you, Leah? Whenever I want some time you’re too busy. Then you moved way out Silver Spring, knowing that by the time I get off from work I’m too tired to drive out there. And when I’m off or try to make an effort to come see you, something always comes up! You sound like you’re the one with a new friend.”
“I didn’t want to come all the way back out here, you put me out, again! Look, I’m just really trying to focus on finishing school and it’s been really stressful. And honestly, Sweetie, you’re adding to it right now. I just got in and I would really like to take a bath, sip my wine and go to bed.”
“It’s only five in the afternoon and you want me to believe you’re going to bed? You’re stressing yourself out and putting a strain on our relationship.”
“Oh I’m putting a strain on our relationship? I’m putting a strain on it?” She yelled into the phone.
“Look, baby, I ain’t mean it like that. All I’m saying is I need more of you.” I said trying to bring her back down and soften the tone.
“We can’t all have it easy like you, Derek! You don’t have the same responsibilities that I have. You’re still a little boy.”
“Here we go with the age thing, Leah. You’re the one who lied about your age when we met; I can’t help that I’m younger than you! If it was that big of a deal, maybe you should’ve been honest.”
She laughed sarcastically and said, “You know what? I’m tired. Why don’t you call your lil’ friend to come keep you company.”
“Don’t do that Leah. I told you she’s just a friend.”
“Mmm, hmm. And I have my friends, too.” And with that she hung up on me.
I started pacing the floor and talking to myself, “I swear I hate her! Lord, why do I love her so much?”
My phone started vibrating on the table, “I knew she wasn’t that crazy. Here she goes calling back.”
I answered without looking at the screen to see if it was really her, “Yeah?”
“Hey, Derek? Can I stop by for a minute?” It was Ciara; a pleasant surprise.
“Yeah, I really need to see you right now, anyway.”
“I’m on my way.”
I put my hands together like I was praying, “Thank you, God.”
About fifteen or twenty minutes later, Ciara called to tell me she was out front.
“Okay, come on in.”
“Can you meet me at the car? I have something to give you.”
I thought it was odd, but right about now, I would do anything for her. I just needed to see her.
I walked to the car and squatted next to the driver’s side, “Hey, sexy.”
She handed me a pink envelope without saying a word.
“What’s this, my pink slip, boss?” I laughed.
“Stand up and back up a lil’ bit…”
I moved back so she could park, but to my surprise, she drove off.
“What the hell just happened?” I said confused like never before.
I went back in the house and opened the envelope. She wrote me a poem talking about how she’s addicted to me and wants to be more than friends, but she knows we can’t, so now she’s breaking it off…some mess.
“First, Leah crazy ass start trippin’, now Ciara! What did I do to deserve this?”
I knew there was one lady in my life that would know what to say, my mother.
“Hey, Ricky. I was just talking about you.” My mother almost sang on the other end.
“To who?”
“God. You know I worry about you, baby. Ever since you started dealing with that Leah girl, you’ve been going through it. And don’t ask me how I know because you already know, mothers know everything.”
She was always right, so there was never a point to argue with her.
“Ma, I just don’t understand her. One minute she wants to be with me, the next she’s pushing me away, I want to be with her; you know, have a family with her.” I said sincerely.
“Don’t rush into anything, Ricky. Wait on the Lord.”
“I know, but things started happening so fast with us, it just feels right. And even when she’s wrong or we argue, I can’t stay mad at her.”
“It’s called love. And sometimes we can be so wrapped up in what we feel like is true love that we don’t see what’s really going on. People on the outside can see it as clear as day, but you have on blinders.”
I just listened as she continued, “Even if I told you that she’s not the one, and she’s not, you wouldn’t believe it until you’re in way deeper than you are now. I really believe you feel like you owe her something since she helped you out with that case. You don’t owe her anything, but a thank you.”
“Naw, ma. I really do love her. And the fact that she helped me out just seems like it was God’s way of introducing us to each other.”
“Don’t you put God in this. That girl is a liar. She helped you with a statutory rape case when she was almost in the same boat had you all met two or three years earlier. I know they say age ain’t nothing but a number, but women are naturally more mature than men. What does she want from you?”
All I could say was, “I don’t know.”
“Well I think you should find out, baby. Pray about it and talk to her and see where her head is. I gotta go, I have my greens on the stove. Love you.”
I let out a deep breath that I didn’t realize I was holding, “Love you too, ma.”
