Page 9 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)

Isley

Bern: Ay. I got some good news to tell you. I need to show you in person. Hit me up when you can.

A huge grin spread across my face after reading that message.

I needed some good news. It had been one thing after another lately.

Aunt Fee recently had cataract surgery that didn’t go as planned, so she needed a revisional surgery to correct the thing that went wrong.

Then she had multiple follow-up appointments.

I was going nonstop and missing out on money because I wasn’t able to take on as many braiding clients.

Me: I’m available this afternoon. I’ll come by your house around two, is that cool?

Bern: Two is fine, but can you meet me at that car wash down from Highland Park?

I raised a brow. That was weird. Why did he want me to meet him at the carwash? I shrugged. I guessed he was washing his car and thought maybe I could talk him into washing mine too.

I finished my last client twenty minutes before I was to meet up with Bern.

I made sure Aunt Fee was good before heading to the carwash.

Bern’s black BMW was the only car in the lot when I pulled up.

He was leaning on it, looking handsome as usual.

He wore a white polo shirt with khaki shorts and casual tan sneakers.

The chain around his neck sparkled under the sun’s rays.

I parked directly beside his car then got out.

“I was going to ask if you invited me here to wash my car but you’re dressed too nice for that,” I jested.

He chuckled as he headed toward me. “Even though you’ve been a stranger, I’ll hook you up.”

“That’s my bad, friend. Shit been hectic on my end.”

His forehead crinkled as he folded his arms. “Oh yeah? What’s been going on?”

I exhaled deeply. “I don’t even want to get into it right now. I need positive news right now.”

He looked as if he wanted to protest but decided against it.

My brow pointed upward as I squinted in curiosity. “Sooo…. why are we here?”

He rubbed his hands together and looked toward the property then back at me with a wide grin across his face. “This carwash belongs to me. I just bought it today.”

“Really?” I squealed in delight. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered.

“Oh my god, Bern…Congratulations!” I grabbed him and squeezed his neck tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”

He wrapped his arms around me firmly. “Thank you, Icey.”

My heart was so full of joy for Bern that it could have exploded.

We held each other for a beat longer than normal.

As I inhaled his woodsy cologne, I got lost in the comfort of his arms. The arms that had been there for me through everything.

The good. The bad. The ugly. I finally pulled away, leaving just a small amount of space between us.

He gazed at me with lowered eyes. I looked away bashfully and focused on the car wash he’d purchased.

“Are you going to keep the name the same?” I asked, breaking the awkward silence and avoiding Bern’s stare.

“Nah…I plan to change it eventually.”

Turning back to face him, I saw the pride in his eyes as he looked over his purchase. I was so damn happy for him. And proud that he was willing to invest in himself and not leave his fate in the hands of the system created to keep him down.

“Cool.”

“Hand me your keys, I’ll wash your car up.” He held his hand out. “You can take my car to grab a bite to eat in the meantime. I know you ain’t ate all day.”

I threw him a mean side eye. “You don’t know that.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Don’t worry about it.” I playfully snatched his keys from him.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He nodded. “There should be some cash in the glove box.”

I hopped in his car that still smelled brand new.

I decided to drive to Wings & Things, just a few miles away.

Bern’s car rode so smoothly, I had to keep glancing at the speedometer to be sure I wasn’t speeding.

And I loved the way his air conditioner was blasting.

My car could never. I could barely feel the air in my shit.

I wished I had a more dependable vehicle.

It didn’t even have to be brand new. I was thankful for my little hoopty, but she had over two hundred thousand miles on her.

The amount of money I’d spent in the last few years on repairs was shameful.

I was doing everything I could to avoid getting a car note.

But I knew eventually I was going to have to bite the bullet.

When I walked into the restaurant, the bell on the door chimed.

I stood in line behind a lady with purple and gold box braids holding a small child.

I studied the menu out of habit, but I already knew I’d get my usual, six-piece lemon pepper wings with fried okra.

When it was my turn, I placed my order then took a seat at an empty table that sat two.

I scrolled mindlessly on social media while waiting for my food to be ready.

Within fifteen minutes, the server brought my meal to me.

I didn’t waste any time devouring my food.

I smiled as I thought about Bern instinctively knowing I hadn’t eaten all day.

He really thought he knew me. And he did.

Being friends with someone for so long, you learned all of their habits.

Good and bad. And he knew that I had a bad habit of not eating, especially on days I had braiding appointments.

I just got so focused on tasks that I neglected my body’s hunger signals.

“Where Bern at?” A voice startled me. I glanced up from my phone to see Unique standing over me. She had removed her long braids and was rocking a blonde lace front. The pink mini dress she wore barely covered her adolescent looking body.

“He’s not with me.” I rolled my eyes as I gathered my trash and stood.

“Okay, hoe. But his car outside.” She stated the obvious as she followed me to the trash can.

“Alright…watch your mouth,” I warned her. I wasn’t one to start shit, but I had no problem with solving some. I exited the establishment, very aware that she was still on my heels.

“What you doing driving my man’s car?”

“Your man? When did y’all get back together?” I asked, never breaking my stride.

“None of your business.”

“Okay then, bitch, you need to ask your man what I’m doing driving his car. He answers to you, not me,” I advised when I reached the driver’s door of Bern’s car.

“I always knew you wanted my man.” She glared at me as I opened the door and took a seat.

Her accusation didn’t deserve a verbal response from me.

I grabbed Bern’s sunglasses and placed them on my face as I started the car.

I smiled and waved at Unique as I pulled out of the parking lot.

I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but with the way she was pointing and rolling her neck, it was fair to assume she’d called me every insult under the sun.

When I returned to the car wash, Bern was spraying something on my wheels. I cut the engine and stepped out of the vehicle.

“I love the way that car drives,” I told him as I handed him the keys. “I need something like that.”

“You can have it whenever I get a new ride.”

“Sure,” I giggled.

“I’m for real,” he said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He took a deep breath before answering. “What is it, Unique?”

I bit my lip, attempting to hide my smile because I already knew what that call was about.

“Who the fuck are you talking to? You got life fucked up. That’s my muthafuckin’ car. You’re not my girl, so I don’t answer to you. I don’t know why you can’t get that through your head.” His jaw clenched as he hit end on his phone.

“Did I get you in some trouble?” I asked with a mischievous grin.

“Hell nah, the broad is delusional,” he answered. “Hey, I heard there’s a couple of vacant units over at the D-Ville Projects available for purchase. I’m thinking about checking it out.”

“Oooh… we may be in the same complex again, huh?” I couldn’t hold back my smile.

“Possibly.” He shrugged nonchalantly before a subtle grin appeared.

“And what does Ms. Cynthia have to say about all of this? New business and moving out?”

I knew how glad his mother was to have him home.

She and I spoke regularly when he was incarcerated.

Ms. Cynthia always mentioned how she couldn’t wait to have her baby boy back under her roof again.

I knew he wouldn’t stay there forever but it had only been a little over a month and he was already making plans to move into his own spot.

He pushed his hands into his pockets. “She doesn’t know yet.”

I pursed my lips. “She’s not going to be happy.”

“She’ll be alright. I’m a grown man who needs privacy. I don’t like bringing women into her house.”

I felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of him inviting broads in the house to fuck on. I didn’t know why. It wasn’t my business. But I was still salty.

“Well, good luck having that conversation with her,” I finally responded.

“I’ll be alright,” he insisted. “Thanks for meeting up with me. I’ve been missing you.”

“Of course, I’m glad you wanted to share your big news with me. I feel honored to know first.” I beamed.

“It’s only right that I shared it with the person who means the most to me.” He inched closer to me and grabbed my hand.

I gulped as I felt a spark I hadn’t felt before. Bern had never been shy about telling me how much I meant to him over the years. But this time felt different. It felt deeper. It felt like maybe Snow was right. Did Bern really have feelings for me deeper than friendship?