Page 71 of Definitely Not a Thing

My eyes went wide. “Seriously?” I asked. “Isn’t it a little early? Did I get us in trouble?”

“Man, I’ve successfully showed my face at this shit and now I’m ready to go,” he answered. “A little bit because of you. Just a little though.”

I gasped. “What’d I do?!”

“Whatdidn’t you?!” he laughed as he led me back out front to approach the valet.

A very familiar looking valet, who licked her lips, rubbing her hands together as soon she saw me. “Amanda, right? You looking real good.Realgood,” Jeanie said, fully ignoring Calvin.

“Right in front of me? This is some bullshit,” he said, prompting Jeanie to shoot him a scowl.

“Sir, I’m trying to have a conversation if you don’t mind,” she said.

He scoffed. “Idomind. What’s your pronouns?”

Her eyebrows went up. “You know – thank you for being respectful. Primarily, she and her, but really I’m good with any. I’m a very fluid individual.”

“Right, right,” Calvin grinned. “Miss Nigga, can you go get my shit and stop trying to press my girl in my face please?”

She put a hand to her chest. “That issodisrespectful!”

“How?” Calvin questioned.

“I ain’t figured it out yet, but as soon as I do, you’re getting cancelled, nigga.”

“Cool – in the meantime, it’s the black on black Range.”

“You and every other unoriginal ass athlete in this bitch, I’ma need more information than that.”

“Jeanie! Youcannottalk to the clients like that!”

We all looked back to find a white woman with an asymmetrical bob and a blazer with the valet company logo embroidered on the lapel standing close by, looking scandalized.

“Ah hell, I can’t lose another job. My ol’ lady gone put me out for real this time,” Jeanie groaned, and Calvin blew out a sigh.

“Ay – we’re all cool ma’am, just banter between friends – we’ll keep it more professional moving forward,” Calvin told the woman – clearly the manager – who gave a stiff nod before shooting Jeanie another warning glare.

“Good looking out,” Jeanie said, once the coast was clear. “Amanda – you keep good company, I like that.”

“Amelia.”

“Who the fuck is that?” Jeanie asked, already walking off. “Let me go get this lil wack ass Range Rover.”

“Why my shit gotta bewack?!” Calvin called after her, then looked at me. “See what I mean? Trouble, wherever you go.”

I gasped. “How is this on me?!”

Calvin smirked, grabbing my hand to pull me closer. “Isn’t it always?”

16/

amelia

“So…how do you think I did tonight?” I asked, halfway through the drive back to the Heights.

Calvin glanced at me, grinning before he put his eyes back on the road. “You want like… a grade?”

“Duh,” I answered. “Do Inotseem like someone who thrives on validation?”