Loud music, light cleaning, dancing, showering and finally reading kept Keisha’s mind off of Conrad’s depleted ashes. By late morning she’d devoured a hundred or so pages of a book when her phone rang. She hoped for Dick, but didn’t think he’d call this early, plus he would be busy working with his brother.
It was Brady. She didn’t answer. He called again. No voicemail. Then he sent a text.
Hope you had fun last night.
“Jesus Christ,” she said. “No wonder fucking Conrad told me it’d be a one-night stand, and then to kill him. This guy is bananas.”
She put her phone on silent, left it in the kitchen, and went back to reading. Eventually she closed the book and nodded off for an early afternoon nap.
A vibrant flash followed by a blustering boom shook her from sleep. She lay there, blinking at the ceiling when she heard the rain start to pour. Thunder crackled like expensive fireworks, shaking the walls. The rain sounded torrential. I’ll bet Dick’s having fun, she thought.
Keisha peered out the window and saw nothing but heavy rain, flashing lightning and a deep navy blue sky. Hopeful that maybe the weather ruined Dick’s plans, she checked her phone. To her surprise, he did call her. She also had a new text message from Brady. She read his message first.
I’m really sorry. About following you, about some of the things I said last night. I just want to talk to you. Things have really spiraled out of control here, but if we just sit down and talk for a few minutes, I know we can make things right.
This was getting pathetic, borderline scary. She felt bad for any woman who’d ever crossed his path or would in the future. Talk about a clinger. Her strategy of ensuring he’d stay away sure backfired.
“Fuck you, Brady,” she said to her phone and called Dick back.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey yourself, how’s the weather out there?”
“Ha, ha, ha, fuck you.”
She smiled. She could banter with this guy all day long.
“Hope you’re out of it, lightning and shit all over the place. Hate to have a tree fall on you or something.”
“Yeah, when the sky turned black, we decided it was a good time to go inside and check the score of the Browns game.”
“The Browns? Are you fucking serious? Oh my God, I knew there had to be something wrong with you. Dealbreaker.”
“It’s uh… my brother’s team,” he said in an obvious lie voice.
“So you’re calling because you’re freed up now and can’t go one more hour without hanging out with me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, but yeah, thought maybe you could be my plan b.”
“Aww, aren’t you sweet? Well, since you made me breakfast, how about I buy you dinner? I think you can help me out with something.”
“Dinner? You sure? That sounds expensive. Don’t forget, I made you breakfast with your own food.”
“Don’t sweat it dude, I got like $300 in the bank.”
“Well, in that case, how could I refuse? What kind of help do you need?”
“Remember that crazy guy who showed up last night? I still don’t think he’s gotten the message. I know the bar where he works, I’m thinking maybe we go in and put on a little PDA show.”
“You had me at bar. And again at PDA.”
Man, she liked this guy.
“Okay awesome. You ever been to the Ooga Booga?”
“I have not. I’ve made it my life’s work to avoid it based on name alone.”
“I will make it my life’s work to show you new things, and not to be quite so judgmental, mister.”
“Good. What time?”
“How about like two hours? That good?”
“Perfect. But the Brown’s game will probably be over.”
“I can’t even believe they show that shit on TV in the first place. Okay, I’ll call you when I get there. Don’t go in without me.”
“Word,” he said and hung up.
She smiled as she pocketed the phone. Keisha didn’t take a whole lot of pleasure in putting on a show in front of Brady, but other than a show of force, she didn’t know what to do. She also really liked Dick and wanted to spend time with him and didn’t want fuckboy Brady getting in the way. Nothing would get Dick to walk away faster than some needy fuckface stalker that wouldn’t leave her alone. Tonight had to be the night. Brady had to get the message.
Knowing this, and also wanting to make a lasting impression on Dick, Keisha went the extra mile while she prepared for the evening. Make up, dress, shoes, hair, everything perfect. She left her apartment with her umbrella in hand, hoping that neither the rain nor Brady would fuck things up for her.
Her phone chimed as she entered the parking lot.
Dick.
Perfect timing.
Keisha stepped out and scanned her eyes around the lot looking for him.
“Behind you,” he whispered.
She had no idea how he did it, but she turned and there he was, smiling.
“Whoa, look at you,” he said. He looked her up and down, his eyes hovering a few extra seconds to take in her hair, face, breasts, and legs. “You should’ve told me to dress up.”
Dick was in his jeans, dirty work boots, and a wet, busted-up baseball cap.
“I think you look cute,” she said.
She stood on tiptoes to kiss him.
“So what, you’re using me to make someone jealous or something?”
“Oh shut up. More like I want this weirdo to leave me alone, so that we can enjoy each other undistracted. We just gotta send the message first. I trust that won’t be a problem?”
She batted her eyelashes.
“I’ll do my best,” he said. “But just looking at you, I half forget my own name.”
“Good. This might feel mean. And I guess it is, but I need this to stop and other than hiring a hitman, I don’t have a better idea. He says he wants to talk to me, but I already know that will go bad and this will never end.”
“Then let’s take care of this,” Dick said.
“Let’s.” She offered an arm and Dick linked his with hers and they walked into the Ooga Booga.