Free Can't Be That Other Woman by Ambria Davis

number. I was about to ask her whose number it was, when she send another text, saying that it was Delaney number. To say I was surprised and yet happy was an understatement. I thanked her, before saving Delaney’s number. I then powered my phone off and got back in the bed.
    Today was definitely an eventful day, but overall, I was a happy man. I couldn’t wait until it was the right time for me to use this number. I was going to make shorty mine. I just had to wait until the right time to do so, and I hoped that would be sooner, not later.
    * * *

 
    Chapter 9
    Delaney
                  A whole week has passed since the shit that went down at Tracy’s house, and I still felt like shit. I couldn’t believe that I actually went off and had a fight in those people’s house. I mean, I know they would understand and forgive Tracy for fighting, but I was a different story. I should’ve left well enough alone and minded my own business, but I couldn’t, because Tracy was my best friend. I wasn’t about to let anyone mess with her and I know she wouldn’t let anyone mess with me.
                  I stood in the school hallway, getting ready to head to my locker. I only had one class left, and then I was free to go home. I was thankful for it being Friday, because Lord knows I was tired. I had to work all day this week, and then went straight home to take care of my siblings. I couldn’t wait to get home, because I was going dive straight in my bed, where I was planning to stay until tomorrow. I was about to head into class, when I heard my name being called. I turned around, just in time to see Tracy speed walking towards me.
                  “What’s up, boo?” I asked her.
                  “Why haven’t you been answering my damn calls and texts?” she asked, sounding a bit upset.
                  “My bad, Tee. I’ve been so busy with school, work and my siblings that I haven’t had time to do anything,” I told her.
                  “I know your scary ass is lying, Delaney. You need to get up off that shit. You’re just worried about what my parents’ might say, huh?” she asked me.
                  “Honestly yes,” I answered, feeling like a fool yet again.
                  “I thought so. Girl, my parents aren’t tripping on that. I told you, my people aren’t like that. If anything, they’re happy that I have a friend like you. At least they know you’re going to have my back whenever I need you,” she said, erasing my worries. “With your little scary ass.”
                  “Girl, fuck you. Shit, I thought your people were going to tell my ass not to step back into their house,” I told her truthfully.
                  “Trust me, Delaney. If they didn’t want you to step foot back into their house, they would’ve put your ass out the minute they made Onijae escorted his bitch ass ole lady out.”
    “Oh okay.” I felt relieved.
    “Oh, I actually came here for a reason,” she said, grabbing my arm.
    “What’s up?”
                  “My mother was wondering if you would let Dallas come over today. I told her that I would have to ask you, since you’ve never allowed her to leave out of your sight, other than school. So she insisted that you guys spend the night, if you guys aren’t busy.”
                  “I see Dallas has gotten somebody else to fall in love with her tail,” I replied, laughing.
                  “Girl, I’m saying. The other day she went shopping, right? When she got home, she came in with two hands full of bags. Crazy thing is, the clothes were from a children’s boutique. Now I know I was too old to even fit them and none of my brothers have kids, so I asked her whom they were for. She shocked me when she said they were for Dallas. I mean she’d bought clothes, shoes, bows, and barrettes. I knew she