Page 80 of Anything Goes

After stuffing our faces and getting enough coffee in our system to feel like normal human beings, we made our way out of the restaurant and hit the road. The trip was pretty quiet. Despite all of the coffee she managed to suck down, Alauni fell asleep ten minutes after we hopped on the highway, and Keyon was in the back listening to music.

Pressing my hand into Alauni’s arm, I said, “Rise and shine, we’re at your place.”

Slowly, she lifted her body and ran her finger over the corners of her mouth to remove the drool that had settled. “Damn, did I really sleep the whole way?”

“Yeah, you did. But it’s cool, I needed the break.”

Laughing, she punched me. “Forget you.”

“I’m kidding. Come on so I can get you and your bags upstairs.”

“It’s fine. My bags aren’t that heavy. I can carry them.”

“You know I’m not about to let you carry your bags, so just come on,” I said before stepping out of the car and walking to the trunk.

“See you later, Coach Jeffers,” Keyon said, sticking his head out of the window.

“I’ll see you later. Oh, and don’t be late for class. I don’t want to get any bad reports on you this week.”

“Come on, now. I’m always on time.”

“You can save that, nephew. We all know that’s a lie,” I stepped in.

“Whatever, I keep telling y'all to switch out your clocks. I don't think they're running on the same time as mine.”

Shaking my head, I told him, “Just get back in the car.” He let out a chuckle and eased his head back inside. “That boy knows he’s a trip.”

“Yeah, but I love his spirit. Clearly, that runs in the family.”

Staring at Alauni, I moved in closer to her. “Oh, so is that a compliment that you’re dishing out?”

“Maybe.”

“Nope, we don’t have time for that. I need to go home,” Keyon said, sticking out his arm and tapping his finger against his wrist.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Grabbing her bags, I followed her inside of the building and onto the elevator. Had I been thinking, I would have dropped Keyon’s ass off first. Then I wouldn’t have to be in a rush to leave.

As we stood in front of her doorway, she said, “So, are you going to call me later?”

“What kind of question is that? You know I am.”

“Am I going to see you later?”

“I don’t know. Do you want to?”

“If I’m asking then I must want to,” she said. “I could let Layne stay with my mother one more night. It’s not like she wants to come home anyway.”

“Oh okay. Well, I’m down. Just let me go drop Keyon off and get me some clothes.”

Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she said, “Okay. I’ll be here with nothing on.”

“Damn, nothing at all?”

Yanking me forward, she lowered my lips to hers and whispered, “Nothing at all.”

“Well, let me get my ass out of here, so I can get back.”