Chapter Twenty-Six

Hours passed and she was now ready to return to her home. Had it not been that she had a child to tuck into bed she would have stayed out longer. She thanked Naomi for her hospitality and she in turn thanked her for coming. Somehow, she felt awkward around Naomi knowing the special relationship she had with Keisha. What if the old lady already knew about their little love triangle? Would she take sides to back Keisha up or be unbiased about it? She waved her goodbye and took her leave afterwards. 

With trembling hands she unbolted the door and took a calculated step inside. The house was quiet as usual but it did feel different. Darren was nowhere to be found and Jamal, she wasn’t sure yet. She made her way to their bedroom and there he found them, father and son, nestled together in bed, asleep. Not wanting to wake them, she tucked them in better and chose to rest her head for the night on the couch. Morrey would be angered to know if she slept in the couch given her condition so she thought it best to not mention it but she had to think of her proposal to work with her at the kids section. 

She thought it’d be her best option given her circumstances but for how long did she have to numb her hurts. If whatever she did before was to save her marriage and it wasn’t working, perhaps she has to consider one last act of love which might actually let her lose it all. She dabbed off her tears with a blanket at the thought of it. 

****

Todd and Mitch were ready to hit the road seeing how they were finely dressed and donned with some coats. They were prepared for any surprises the weather would bring. Keisha was almost through herself. She packed light but not as thorough as the guys. Quite ironic for a woman. But she didn’t forget her little “candy jar” just in case. Her eyes went wide when she saw the vehicle which was to take them on a six-hour ride across town. 

“Told ya she’d love it. See the look in her eyes,” Todd chipped with glee.

“I’m not sure I’d conclude just yet,” Mitch intoned. The both of them leaned against the truck which looked like it was going to rock them up and down to Lone Street. 

“Are… we going in that?” She asked, trying hard not to sound snarky. They were also surprised to see her for an entirely different reason. Was that handbag she was holding supposed to contain extra clothes and her unmentionables? Because it pretty much looked like it’d have just a toothbrush or at best, a face towel. 

“Keisha, do we have to help you with your suitcase upstairs or something?” Todd asked, hoping she might actually need that kind of help. Mitch didn’t get involved. It was safer to let Todd handle her since he was the one who invited her over. 

“No. I have all I need in here,” she tapped her small purse which was just a little bigger than her usual duffel bag. 

“Erm… alright then. If anything at all, Mitch should be able to-“

“I’m not sharing anything with cranky lady,” he cut him.

“Right. I’m not sharing anything with anyone. I’m good,” she marched right on to the other side of the truck where she was wondering if she had to jump or climb, supposing there was a wedge somewhere. Mitch stared at her not budging. He was waiting to see if she’d ask for a hand but nothing like that happened. Grabbing the side of the door she pulled herself up to the car and toppled into the seat. He was a bit impressed but couldn’t help stifling a smirk from how the young Miss struggled to catch her breath. She on the other hand was already beginning to dread the journey ahead. 

Todd hopped on to the driver’s seat and Mitch opened the door to the front seat.

“No, Mitch. You should join our guest lady to keep her company,”

“I don’t need his company,” Keisha quickly replied. 

“I don’t either. Too tiresome,” he remarked.

“Now I don’t know what’s up with both of you but just these two days, can we all get along? Please?” He looked from Mitch to Keisha and they all had their eyes turning the other direction. Todd pressed his honk to get their attention again. 

“I’m fine with any. It’s bus lady you have to ask,” Mitch finally responded. Keisha shot him a glowering look and nodded at Todd reluctantly.

Mitch jumped in beside her and she scooted as far away from him as she could. He had quite a build, and there was not as much space between them for her comfort. Feeling him close unnerved her, seeing how she clenched her dress tightly on her knees. Every brush against him made her heart race faster and for a moment, she had to stop to think if she was sure Jamal was the only one who tugged on her like that.

Mitch felt her struggle and relished it. He wondered why she was bent on staying bullheaded when she clearly exhibited something else. His gaze was disturbing, especially when he moved them from that pony bun she had tied up on her head down to her unpedicured feet. Was he trying to get her attention? Or he just wanted to be annoying? Her cheeks reddened without her permission and she proved it by how she creased her brows in anger and touched them. Perhaps, avoiding his stare totally and ignoring him would be best. The engine started and they finally hit the road. Keisha held tight onto the seat so she didn’t have to bump into the man by her side. 

They had barely covered a mile when Mitch decided to stretch his legs out to cozy up a lil bit. She cleared her throat and glared at him. “Do you mind?” She eyed his legs and the space that was supposed to be between them which was now closing up.

“You don’t expect me to sit in the same position for six hours, do you?” Mitch snapped. 

“Ha, and what makes you think I care if you do or not? I just need my space,” She scoffed. He didn’t like that condescending tone. 

“I see. You know what? I can give you your space, Spacewoman. After all that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 80 days. Why don’t you draw a line here to mark our spaces then?” He snarled. 

“Ugh, you’re such a big baby,” she puffed and rested her forehead on her knuckle. 

“A baby huh? Then it should be fine for me to stretch my limbs longer. Babies don’t know space as is,” he added as he stretched himself a little more, closing the little gap between them now. His arm was behind her nape and one foot was in front of hers. 

“Everything alright back there?” Todd shouted a little since their truck took much of the silence away from them with its rock-and-roll engine.

“We’re good, Todd” Mitch called out too, wearing a smirk on his face. If looks could kill, he’d probably be dead by now. and if she had known this journey would be this miserable she wouldn’t have signed up for it so quickly. However, she was beginning to realize she wasn’t acting like her usual self. It seemed she cared a little bit more about things now and she didn’t like it at all. It got her worked up over stuff- like the annoying human at her side. 

Six hours. With this creep taunting her?  It would be impossible. She was now seeing how old habits die really hard because how he behaved now was exactly him from back in the day with Dwayne’s troupe. 

“So much for being a changed man,” she sneered.

“Please, according to you I’ve always been the same so no need to pull that card out now,” he yawned and laid his head on the headrest still in that position. 

A jolt up ahead sent the prissy lady launching up and backwards onto Mitch’s lap, knocking the air out of him.

“Shoot!” Glad she didn’t use the less dignifying words. Chagrined, she tried to rise. “Uh… sorry.” 

Mitch teased. “Now that’s something I wasn’t expecting but very much welcome,” His breath at her nape raised the tingles all over her body. Gasping, she tried getting up again but another pothole got her bouncing on his lap.

“Sorry guys, you alright in there?” Todd called out again. 

“You might want to hold on tight, we’ve got quite some hurdles ahead,” he added, revving up the engine.

“We’re fine, Todd,”

“And Miss Prissy I think you should relax. It’s funny how you are now acting shy. Some weeks ago I would have betted you were Potipher’s wife’s incarnate,” he quipped. 

“What, now you have a change of mind?” She shot him a dirty glance.

“Never said that, bus girl.”

“Then you can at least help me get back my seat since you’ve taken up all the space,” she continued. 

“Oh. Help. My bad, I should have thought of that,” he wrapped his strong arms around her waist and held her in place. “Better?” 

She smirked at what he did.

“Not this seat, hood boy? My seat in this boneshaker,” she said sarkily and stamped on his feet.

“Ow! For goodness’ sake you’re safer sitting on me with all these bumping,” 

“Everything alright?” Todd teased from where he was as he watched through his mirror.

“I said we’re fine, Todd.” His voice gruff with agitation. This time, it didn’t sound as friendly. Todd laughed at them. A few seconds later he heard someone scream. 

“Whoa! Didn’t know you had fangs too!” Mitch shrieked as he yanked her off his lap. 

Keisha brushed herself off and perched on the window frame, staring into the horizon and feeling grateful to have taught that fellow a lesson. She anticipated a long arduous journey but so far, she was finding it interesting. 

Mitch returned to his old position, caring less of what she was likely to do to him. For some reason, he thought this trip would not be so bad after all. Formerly, he had resigned to have nothing to do with this stubborn young miss but this ride made him have a closer look at what she wasn’t saying. Her coquetry and withdrawals were all covers. After a few hours their driver gave them another update.

“Two hours more to destination, guys. I suggest we grab a bite shortly. My legs could use some rest,” Todd pulled over to a convenience store at a filling station. He was relieved to see the problem child nestled in Mitch’s arms. He gestured for him to not wake her. Todd headed in to grab some snacks for them while they waited in the truck. 

Mitch couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about the good old days replaying again in his arms.