Free Boyfriend Season by Kelli London

Lucky.”
    â€œPatience? Cuz is that you?”
    Patience turned, and a smile parted her lips. “Meka? Hey cousin! What are you doing here?”
    â€œWhat it was, cuz?” Meka walked up and greeted her, then nodded at Silky. She held up department store bags. “Shopping—my way, as usual. What’s up with you? I can’t believe The Good Reverend Doctor let you out,” she said, laughing. “But you’re good, right?”
    Patience nodded. “I’m great. You want to come hang with me and Silky?”
    Meka looked over her shoulder, then shook her head. “Nah. Security’s too beefed up around here. It’s in and out for me. Maybe we can get up later. I godda go find my girl, Santana. It’s time for us to be out!” She looked around again. “Yep. Y’all be safe. Call me if you need me.”
    Patience nodded, smiling as her cousin disappeared. She grabbed the drinks and walked over to the sugar and milk station. She put two sugars in each, stirred, and closed them, then walked back over to Pretty Boy. “Here. I made yours like I made mine. Hope you don’t mind. I’m sorry, I should’ve asked you what you wanted.”
    Pretty Boy bit his bottom lip, shot a quick glance at each of his friends, nodded, and took the specialty iced coffee. He smiled at Patience, then sipped from the straw.
    â€œThanks, lil momma.”
    His friends were oohing and ahhing, making street-boy catcalls, which amounted to a bunch of “Yeahs” and “That’s what’s ups.”
    â€œWhat I say? I told y’all!” Silky sang again.
    â€œYou didn’t buy me one,” the growler growled.
    Pretty Boy took Patience’s free hand in his. “Come with me,” he said, pulling her away from the crowd. He stopped walking when they were by Tiffany & Co., one of her mother’s favorite jewelry stores. “I really appreciate the coffee, and I know we don’t know each other that well, but I’m also here because it’s my mom’s birthday.” He shrugged. “But I’m a lil short on cash, and it’s Sunday so the bank’s closed. . . .” His eyes were warm and trusting, and had filled with love when he mentioned his mother.
    Patience nodded. She handed him her drink, reached in her purse, and pulled out her wallet.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” he asked.
    She opened her wallet, took out a bill, and handed it to him. “I have fifty dollars from working at the church—”
    Pretty Boy held up his hands, both filled with a caramel macchiato in a venti cup. “Hold up. Hold up. You’re going to give me money?”
    Patience looked up, saw how shocked he was. She was sure he’d said he was short on buying his mother a gift. “You said you’re a little short, right?”
    He stepped back, looked her up and down, then tilted his head. “When do I godda pay you back?”
    Patience smiled. One thing her parents taught her that she hadn’t forgotten today was don’t lend, give. Even that was in The Good Book. Never a lender or a borrower be. She shrugged because she didn’t know what else to do.
    â€œNever. It’s for your mother’s gift.”
    He took the money she handed him, closed his eyes for seconds, then looked at her. He handed her a cup, whipped out his cell phone, and began texting. Suddenly, his friends and Silky were walking up to them.
    â€œStay right here. Okay, lil momma,” he said, handing her his cup. He tilted his head toward Tiffany & Co. and his boys followed him inside.
    â€œWhat did you do?” Silky asked.
    â€œNothing. I gave him some money to help buy his mother a birthday present.”
    Silky’s head almost came off, she’d turned it so fast. “You what? What?”
    Patience repeated herself.
    Silky threw one hand on her hip and leaned into it. “He didn’t ask you for