Free Scandal: Crossing Boundaries (Scandal Series #1 INTERRACIAL ROMANCE) by Jean St. Claire

are?"
    Keisha told her about her new math gig and all the respect she was getting.
    "Well," Linda said with a surprised look on her face, "I'm happy for you baby. But I would not be there if I were you. You know I don't fuck around with no white folks."
    Trust me, they wouldn't want to fuck with you either.
    Keisha thought it good to wrap things up so she could get back home to her kids. "Well why wasn't you answering your phone, auntie? You had momma scared out of her mind."
    Linda gave her a sheepish look. "I've been behind on my bills for several months. My phone got cut off."
    Probably because you drank and smoked up all your money at the beginning of each month.
    On a fixed income, this was a frequent problem that Linda had because of her bad habits. She would often fall behind in her house payments or utilities and would need someone to help her out, because of spending money on liquor, cigarettes, gambling...and maybe crack for all Keisha knew.
    Sighing, Keisha asked, "How much is it going to cost to get it turned back on?" She knew her mother would reimburse her most of whatever she gave her aunt because she cared that much about talking with her older sister.
    Linda gave her an even more sheepish grin. "They bout to turn off my lights too."
    Oh Lord.
    "How much?" Keisha repeated.
    "You know them motha fuckin utility people be raising the bill on purpose and shit."
    "How much?"
    "And I only got behind cause of Willy's fat ass owing people."
    "Auntie how much!"
    "Four-hundred dollars."
    Keisha groaned.
    This don't make no damn sense.
    Reaching inside her purse, Keisha grabbed her checkbook and quickly scribbled out a check to her aunt. There was no point in being stingy when she and Davonte were doing well.
    "Girl, you a lifesaver," Linda told her happily. "I'll pay you back."
    Yea right.
    "Don't worry about it," Keisha said, ripping the check out of the book and handing it over.
    Linda snatched the check out of her hands with a toothless smile. "That's my niece."
    They chatted for a while more with Linda telling her all about the daily killings that seemed to go on in the area. After Keisha could no longer take hearing about this ghetto nigga and that nappy-head hoe, she jumped to her feet.
    "Well Auntie," she yawned, stretching her arms. "I need to get back to my babies."
    "Okay baby," Linda said, rising and snatching her favorite niece into an embrace. "But I have one favor to ask of you."
    Jesus!
    Giving Keisha one of her infamous, sheepish grins, Linda said, "My car ain't got no gas, so I need a quick ride to the gas station down the street."
    Now noticing what was missing from her aunt's hands, Keisha thought, You a damn lie. That's not all you want.
    "Okay Auntie, be real," Keisha said, eyeing her suspiciously after a moment.
    "And several pack of cigarettes and a fifth of Hennessey."
    Knowing that she would also be buying her broke aunt all these things, Keisha sighed with defeat and said, "Go get what you need so we can hurry up and be back quick."
    Letting out a whoop of joy, Linda scurried on her boney legs to the back, exclaiming, "That's my niece!"

Chapter 10
    "Y ou guys would never guess who asked me to Sadie Hawkins," Anthony said while they were standing in front of their lockers before first period.
    "Who?" Randal, Joseph and Zack asked in unison.
    Anthony laughed derisively. "Sara Perkins."
    Randal made a face. "That makes sense. She is retarded, just like your dumb ass."
    "Okay you fat fuck," Anthony growled threateningly.
    "What did you respond with?" Joseph asked curiously, quick to stop the two from going at it.
    Anthony laughed. "I was like, sorry, I don't do the downs."
    "Dude, you did not," Joseph choked, cracking up.
    Chuckling like a moron, Anthony nodded proudly. "Yup."
    "You're a real shithead, Tony," Zack said with a shake of his head. He saw no reason to tell his friends that Mandy had asked him to the dance and he'd accepted. They would think they were getting back together and word