Free Free Fridays by Pat Tucker Page B

subdivision where her grandparents once lived. For a long while, her grandfather didn’t speak. She could tell he was deep in thought and she felt sorry for him.
    â€œYou wanna tell me what happened?” she asked softly.
    â€œAh. It ain’t nothin’,” he said and swatted the air in front of him.
    â€œIt is something, Pah-pah. But we don’t have to talk about it now if you don’t want to.”
    â€œYour mama still mad at me, hmm?” he asked.
    Leela nodded. She didn’t want to get into a conversation about her mother because she didn’t want to think about all the awful things her mother had said.
    â€œWe can go grab lunch, but if we do, you have to promise to tell me what I want to know,” Leela said.
    Her grandfather turned to look at her. “What is it you wanna know?”
    â€œI wanna know who you got living up in your apartment with you. And I wanna know how your finances are going,” Leela said.
    Her grandfather frowned and mumbled something under his breath. He tugged on the strap of the seat belt that crossed his chest.
    â€œSo, what’s it gonna be? Are we going to Luby’s or Corral?” she asked. “Or, are you going back to your apartment?”
    â€œWhy can’t we just enjoy a nice quiet lunch?” he asked.
    Leela wasn’t about to back down. She felt like there was no other way to get to the bottom of what was going on with her grandfather.
    â€œIt’s simple really; if we go to lunch, we talk. If you don’t want to talk, we go back to your apartment,” she said.
    â€œAin’t no doggone apartment; might as well be a prison for old folks.”
    A few minutes later, he added, “I’d rather Golden Corral over Luby’s.”
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    There was a part of Riley that agreed with what Bill was saying. But he couldn’t tell his friend about the agreement he had made with his wife.
    Over the last four weeks, Leela and Riley agreed to avoid spending too much time with their two newly single, best friends. Samantha was now wild and loose as far as Riley was concerned, and Bill was like a lovesick stalker.
    â€œNow, what’s this no-spouse party thing again?” Riley asked.
    The little voice that warned him to beware had lost out to his curiosity. Besides, he could use some time away from his spouse since she didn’t want to act right.
    â€œC’mon, Bruh. Don’t talk yourself out of it. All you need to know is there are no spouses allowed. Just think about it like a place where you can go chill with some other dudes and a few females. It’s really just a little get-together with a theme,” Bill said. “And let’s not forget, the old ball-and-chain has had you on lock for a good two months now.”
    Riley ignored his overexaggeration. He didn’t expect Leela back until late because she was spending time with her grandfather, and the old man was so lonely, he hated her to leave.
    â€œI ain’t looking for no drama, Bill,” Riley warned.
    â€œC’mon, Dawg. Give me more credit than that. I’m telling you. It’s a little get-together and I think you’ll like it. What’s up? Nowyou can’t hang with your boys anymore? You ain’t been out in weeks, Man.”
    Bill had a point there. Riley had to admit he missed being out with his friend, and he knew for sure, there was no one who could get him to do something he didn’t want to do. How much harm was there in hanging out with the guys? Besides, he ran things in his house anyway. Lately, he’d been laying low and he and Leela had been up under each other for the last month like they were glued to one another.
    â€œWhere is it, and what time?” Riley asked.
    â€œOh, it’s out there in my old neighborhood. A nice place over there, trust me, Dude. You’re gonna like this,” Bill said.
    Against his better judgment, Riley told himself