Free Baby, You're the Best by Mary B. Morrison Page A

couldn’t save me from the devil. And Alexis was not taking Spencer from me.

CHAPTER 13
    Spencer
     
     
     
    D ang!!!! How much longer you gonna be? Charlotte texted.
    Just closed out boo. Waiting on your food then I’m in motion. I had to lie to my gurl or she’d hop in her ride, jet over here, and give me drama.
    I slipped my cell in my pocket. Focused on Blake sitting at the table alone. She stared into her half-full glass, stirred the olives repeatedly. The way her daughters bailed one at a time I was sure that wasn’t how she expected her evening to end when she got here. Sensing her loneliness increased my odds of making Blake my sexual conquest tonight.
    “Still figuring it out, huh, playa?” LB said, picking up his customers’ cocktails. “She looks V to me, Spence. Go for it.”
    We used the first letter for words like vulnerable, booshie, freak, desperate . We dismissed spittin’ THOT (that ho over there), ho, and bitch, although there were times when I seriously came close to calling Charlotte a bitch.
    The six highboy tables aligned in the center of the bar area were full. Same was on the real for the booths in my section. There was a crowd of people near the door.
    Derrick approached me. “Spencer, you want to close? I could use you.”
    Shaking my head, normally I’d take the extra. My time out was official in ten minutes and a brotha had to be avail for his intentions.
    Firmly, I replied, “No can do. Not tonight, man.”
    I couldn’t let Blake soak on her birthday. If we were going to hang, she had to perk up. I was not slinging dick for a depressed broad. A customer paid their tab. I placed a martini at the spot as they were leaving, covered it with a napkin. “Sorry, this seat is reserved,” I told the next person.
    Walking up to Blake, I picked up her cocktail. “Come chill at the bar for a sec,” I said, reaching for her hand. I noticed en route she staggered a notch or two.
    Pulling out the same stool she sat in earlier, I told her, “Relax. I got you.”
    A ten-thousand-dollar fine and incarceration was not the way I wanted this beautiful woman to end her night. If she got a DUI, that was exactly what would happen in Georgia. I drained both of her drinks. Gave her a tall glass of cold water.
    “And who else you got?” she replied. “My daughter?”
    Whoa. Don’t tell me fifty is on one too like Charlotte.
    “I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay. That’s all.” That wasn’t completely true but it would be if she threw tude my way again. I had enough problems with my gurl.
    “I apologize,” she said. “Why are you being considerate of me?”
    Could be considerate of her daughter, too, but that Alexis was certifiable on some Mars dominating-type shit. Couldn’t lie, Alexis had my attention. I did not sense Blake had low self-esteem. Maybe the big five-O had kicked in making her feel some type of way about her daughter.
    “Why not?” I told her. “You don’t believe you deserve to be treated nice for no reason? You’re gorgeous.”
    Her lips curved.
    “That’s what I’m talking ’bout. Chill here for a few while I close out my shift.”
    “I’m going to shop. Maybe that’ll cheer me up.”
    And sober her up. I dug into my pocket, folded two C-notes, placed them in her palm. “Buy us something. I gotta make a run. I’ll get back in an hour. You’ll get off for two. I promise.”
    She was quiet. At fifty, she should be grown up to answer direct. I needed a response or I could go to Charlotte’s and chill.
    “Here you go, bruh,” LB said, handing me a to-go bag with my food. He patted me on the back.
    The order was originally for Charlotte. Now it was mine. I needed the sixty minutes to go home, shower, change, and meet Blake back here. Hopefully the menu selects would be ours if Blake opened her mouth.
    “Thanks, man. I’m out in a sec.” I looked at Blake. Her eyes were glossy, lids were midway. “Meet me outside of Sprinkles at