Free Brothers and Wives by Cydney Rax Page A

The walls are filled with colorful renderings of the upcoming elementary school.
    “Damn, this doesn’t look like a school for little kids,” she says to herself. “It looks like a fucking college campus.”
    LaNecia hears the sounds of a toilet flushing. Then the door of the tiny bathroom opens.
    “LaNecia?”
    “Hey there, Scottie,” she says reminding herself not torefer to him as cousin anymore. She wants him to see her as a woman, not as his flesh and blood.
    “How’d you get in?”
    “The door was unlocked. I knocked, but you didn’t answer, and I knew you were here because your car is.”
    “Cousin, my staff will be here any minute. They all went out to lunch together. You got three minutes.”
    “Okay, okay, okay.” LaNecia, who only minutes ago had mentally rehearsed what she would say, is now just staring at Scottie as if she’s stumped.
What in the fuck is my problem? If he starts to think I’m losing it, can I blame him? Get it together, girl
.
    “What time do you get off today, Scottie?”
    “Three-thirty.”
    “Good. How about we catch an early movie? That way you feel no pressure. We can just chill tonight.”
    “What is the purpose of this?”
    “Remember you said you’d do one more date with me and then that would be it? Once you get it out of the way, you won’t have to worry about me anymore.”
    “For some reason I find that hard to believe.”
    “You won’t know unless you give it a try. So let’s meet up. I can drive myself. We can go to Alamo Drafthouse. That movie
Wanted
is still showing, and I love movies about assassins.”
    She notices the lines softening in Scottie’s forehead. “Damn, I keep hearing how good
Wanted
is and I haven’t had time to go check it out. You know what? Let’s roll. Now go on and get back in that car of yours. I can see some of the guys pulling up now. They’re late!”
    “Okay, boss man.” She laughs. “I’m so glad that you got the job, Scottie. It seems like your life is going to turn out okay. I just want the same things for my own life.”
    He ignores her comment and watches six members of his construction crew file past LaNecia, up the steps, and into the trailer.
    “So, how’d it go?” Karetha asks the second LaNecia returns to the car. “You had me waiting in here so long I started to drive off.”
    “Girl, don’t worry about what those folks at work think. Just tell ’em you got sick during your lunch hour. It does happen, ya know.”
    “Hmm, in a way it’s true because I’m so sick of you and Scottie I could scream.”
    “Well, start screaming, Ka. Go on and scream.”
    Later that evening, LaNecia paces outside the Alamo Drafthouse. She decided to wear an eye-popping hot pink halter top and her favorite pair of skinny jeans. Karetha volunteered to style her hair, and LaNecia feels that the bangs that partially cover her right eye makes her feel sexy and mysterious.
    Damn, I hope he’s not playing me. But I know how much he loves movies, and it’s been so long since we’ve watched a flick together, I don’t see why he’d be tripping out over this tiny little so-called date. I’m driving myself. I’m paying my own way. Maybe he can spring for the food
.
    From the corner of her eye, LaNecia notices an image that perfectly fits Scottie. But she continues pacing back and forth like she isn’t desperately waiting on his arrival. When she feels a hand tap her shoulder, she swings around and purposely enlarges her eyes.
    “You scared me.”
    “Sorry ’bout that, cousin.”
    “LaNecia will do.”
    “Okay, LaNecia.”
    “You look nice as usual.” She checks him out from head to toe and admires his fresh pair of jeans and partially opened button-down shirt. “That’s sexy. Is it new?” she asks, blushing. Scottie has a way of making her feel girlish and special. And the fact that he finally made good on his promise makes her feel like he is starting to miss what they used to share.
    “Matter of fact, it
is
new.