Free Complicated by You by Kenya Wright

story for fun, but I’d left them in the dark about my latest goal. A book. I’d dreamed of writing a book. I didn’t have any idea what the topic would be, but the urge to write about something fluttered in my head non-stop. Tonight had been designated for brainstorming on all the many books that bounced around in my skull.
    I guess I’ll do it later.
    My phone vibrated. I strapped on my book bag and checked the phone.
    Jay: Come on. We’re out front.
    Me: We?
    No response.
    “It better not be he and Cynthia,” I muttered under my breath.
    “Why not?” A familiar voice came behind me. “You’re not impressed with her either?”
    Pipe?
    I spun around. Pipe stood in front of me resembling a gorgeous woman more than a handsome man. A white fur hat sat atop his head. His auburn hair peeked out. A lit cigarette balanced between his lips. A plume of smoke circled his face.
    Leave it to Pipe to smoke in a library.
    He wore a white cotton shirt with a V-neck that hung loosely from his slim frame. Black and white plaid pants tightened around his butt and thighs, then flared out at the bottom. The outfit should have looked crazy, but instead, he seemed hip and fashion forward.
    “Pipe!” I hugged him.
    He touched the black rose in my hair. “God I love this. I’m going to send you a fresh bouquet every week.”
    “I put a black rose in my hair last night too.”
    “I think I’m going to do that too.”
    I shook my head. “What are you doing here? When did you get into town?”
    “Less than an hour ago. I decided to leave Miami for a few days and come bother you and Jay.” He tightened his grip around me. “I see you’re still spending all of your time in the library.”
    “I see you’re still dressing like you dress.”
    “With style.”
    “Well that’s one way to look at it. Daring and not giving a flying fuck about anyone’s opinion is another.”
    He gave me a peck on my right cheek, then my left, placed one on my forehead, chin, tip of my nose, and finally ended with my mouth. It was Pipe’s signature greeting with me and a select few. “So you don’t like Jay’s new girlfriend?”
    It knocked me off balance a little. “Oh … I like her. She’s my roommate.”
    “But?”
    “But nothing.”
    He released me, grabbed my bag, and put his hand in mine. “Something is up with her. There’s this odd feeling I’m getting from her.”
    “You and your feelings.”
    “Her aura is off. It changes colors which is unusual for most.”
    “You’re off. I can’t believe you’re still claiming you can see auras.”
    “I can.”
    “Sure you can.” I knocked him with my hip. “When did you meet her?”
    “When I came to surprise Jay, she was there, being all jittery. She’s cute of course, but Jay’s all stiff and weird when he introduces her. The whole time he’s acting like he’s trying to get rid of her, especially when I said we had to go get you.”
    I tensed a little. “You’re looking too deep into the situation.”
    The ceiling lights near my table went out. More followed. This clerk was really ready to go, and being that it was Saturday night, I couldn’t blame her.
    “I can’t believe you’re here. What have you been doing?” I paused. “Hold up. You said you were in Miami earlier? Are you joking? How long were you in Miami?”
    “Six months.”
    I hit his shoulder with mine. “And you’re just now telling us? If I’d known you were down there, I would’ve come to see you, maybe taken a bus or something. All the times you texted me, you never mentioned it.”
    “I’m sorry. I had to get my stuff together before I visited you guys.”
    “What were you doing down there?”
    “Well I was with Frederick.”
    “The old man?” I joked.
    “He’s not old.” Pipe frowned, usually he made a funny comment back, but this time he seemed sad. We headed to the front door.
    “What’s wrong? You know I’m joking right? He looked pretty hot in the pictures you sent. So what’s