Chapter fourteen

All I could think about was the session I had with Lauren. My head was all over the place no lie. Once she asked if I wanted to be hers I didn't know how to answer her. I mean I know she like me and don't get me wrong I like her to. It's just I don't want to get confused and to caught up with that. I was focusing on getting to the bottom of finding out what happened to my mother. With the information Maleah dropped on me that was all I needed. The whole time I was trying to figure out how to get closer to Giovanni and his fucked up family I had been close the entire time. I just had to evaluate a smooth ass plan to do what needed to be done. I must be heavy in my thoughts cause my pops looking at me side eyed. "You okay son? You look spaced out. You been taking drugs or something?" He asked. My Gma looks over at me with curiosity. "Come on pops you know I don't do that. I'll never mess with the devil plant." I said half true. I only smoke occasionally not a lot but they wasn't about to know that. "You know you better not or you'll be grass." My grandma Ava butted in. "You raised me better than that." I assured her. Only my pops gave me his normal mug. After the stare down I hurried up and got away from the table. Receiving a phone call unexpectedly I found out that restaurant job I applied for hired me. I was happy because it was my first job and I was proud of myself for doing something on my own. Only my first day of work was today. I had to go in for orientation first to see if I could handle it. So I didn't drop the news on my folks until I knew for sure the job was mines. Heading over to the restaurant I met up with Charlie. I've been knowing him for a long time from the neighborhood and church. Apparently my grandma spread the word to a few of her churchgoing friends and he just so happened to reach out to me. That's how I ended up there in the first place. Charlie made it very clear to me that he wasn't just going to give me anything. Telling me that I had to work for everything I wanted. On my end I made him promise not to tell my grandma anything. Inside the restaurant he instructed me around the whole place. This man had me doing kitchen work, Cleaning up, taking a few orders, and working the cash register. The only thing I was good at was working the cash register so I got that position. We went over a few paperwork as he welcomed me aboard. My first day was super crazy and I discovered we had some rude ass people in our community. By his grace I made it through day one and Charlie was impressed. Finally home I made it back late. My grandma Ava was sitting in the den looking super worried. "Cain." She said as I stood there at the door entrance. "Yes ma'am." I answered. "What's going on? You've been acting strange lately. Is there anything you need to tell me. You can talk to me about anything baby please." She said concerned. "Grandma you right and I'm so sorry to tell you this but I got the job." I said excited as her face changed. She jumped up and hugged me but pinched me. "Ouch grandma!" I yelled. "That was for scaring me. Congratulations I knew you could do it baby. I'm so proud of you." She said. "Thanks grandma I love you I told you I got you." I said then kissed her cheek. "You go shower I'll bring your food up." She said. "But grandma you never let me eat upstairs." I said. "Boy hush up and do as I said." She said. Well shit I thought as I do exactly what she tells me. Once I've showered and brushed my teeth I ate and watched a movie. Once it ended I cut off the tv and called Lauren. "Hello." She answers. "What you doing?" I asked. "Why Cain what you want?" She asked coldly. I knew I didn't give her the answer she wanted the other day but like damn. "Damn that's how you doing me now?" I asked confused at her response. "I'm tired of you playing mind games with me Cain. Just leave me alone." She said hanging up in my face. I know she didn't do that so I called her ass back. "Don't start calling me back to back Cain I'm not in the mood." She said. "Well get in the mood. Don't be hanging up on me girl." I said. She sighed. "Boy what the fuck you want?" She asked. She was being a bit feisty and that shit was turning me on. I laughed. "How the fuck you gone be my girl acting like that?" I asked. "Well I'm not your girl so technically I can act however the fuck I want to." She said. Goddamn she on a roll tonight with the comebacks. I ain't know she had all this sass about her. "You better calm your ass down before I come pull up on your ass don't fucking play with me." I said. "Cain please that shit ain't moving me. Don't waste your time though." She said. "Why what the fuck you doing?" I asked trying to really read between the lines. "Don't worry about me. Friends don't keep tabs on friends boo." She said. I had to laugh this shit off she was trying it. "Your ass bold tonight but like I said don't make me find you." I said. "You couldn't if you tried now if you don't mind I got to go." She said. Before I could say anything she hung up on me again. This time I wasn't calling back fuck that and her attitude.