Free The Joneses by Shelia M. Goss Page A

asked.
    â€œYou called my man’s number, so you tell me.” I was livid.
    â€œI don’t have time to play games. Put Tyler on the phone.”
    â€œTyler’s busy. Coming, baby,” I yelled out.
    â€œDon’t have me come over there and whoop your ass.” The woman screamed in my ear.
    â€œI dare you.”
    â€œExpect an ass whooping.” The caller hung up.
    I stormed in the bathroom and ran smack into Tyler.
    â€œSlow down,” he said.
    I hit him on his chest. I shoved the phone in his face. “Who is Baby?”
    Tyler grabbed the phone. “Why are you answering my phone?”
    â€œStop trying to avoid the question.”
    Tyler moved and dried himself off. “It’s none of your business.”
    â€œWell, Ms. None of Your Business is on her way over here.”
    Tyler grabbed my clothes and threw them at me. “You need to go. Now!”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere until you tell me who this woman is blowing up your phone.”
    â€œHope, I’m warning you. You need to stay in your place and mind your own business. Now, I’m telling you nicely, get your stuff and get out of here.”
    My eyes watered. I kept telling myself, I’m not going to cry, over and over. Enraged, I got dressed. I sat in my car outside Tyler’s apartment and waited. I needed to see the identity of this mystery woman. Tyler was my man, and I was not about to let her or anyone else mess up what we had going on.
    I waited and waited, but nobody stopped by. I drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 20
Lovie
    â€œHello?” I answered the phone in a sleepy voice. It was after midnight.
    â€œThis Dre. I just saw Hope. She’s sleeping in her car.”
    â€œAre you sure she’s sleeping?”
    â€œYeah, man. She told me she was waiting outside for her boyfriend, but she was asleep when I first noticed her.”
    â€œWhere did you see her at?”
    While Dre talked, I put on my clothes.
    â€œAt the Bridgewood Apartments. Over here by the lake.”
    â€œI’m about to head that way now. Thanks for calling me to let me know.”
    â€œYou want me to wait here until you get here?”
    â€œNo man, I got it.”
    It took me fifteen minutes to get to her location. I tapped on the window. Hope jumped.
    She rolled down her window. “Lovie, what are you doing here?”
    I leaned down. “I should be asking you that question. You’re too pretty to be stalking some dude.”
    â€œI’m not stalking anyone. I was too sleepy to drive home, so I took a nap.”
    â€œYeah, right. Who is he and do I need to go beat him up for hurting my baby sister?”
    She laughed. “No. Everything’s okay now. You don’t have to worry about me.”
    â€œStart your car up. I’ll follow you home.”
    â€œI don’t need you tailing me.”
    â€œThis is not up for discussion.”
    Hope stopped protesting, and I followed her home. Once she was inside, she flicked her bedroom light. Now that I knew she was inside safe and secure, I pulled out of the driveway.
    Since I was out and wide awake, I decided to stop by my old place of employment, Bottoms Up, to see how things were going. I spoke to everyone as I made my way through the club toward the office.
    Clarence sat behind his desk with one hand under the desk on his gun.
    â€œMan, it’s just me,” I said, as I walked in.
    â€œLJ, you know you need to announce yourself before entering. I was about to reach for my piece.”
    â€œHow are things going?” I sat down in the chair across from him.
    â€œBusiness is good. Several people have asked about you. Told them to reach out and touch you if they were that concerned.”
    â€œI’ve heard from a few people. But, you know in this game, it’s out of sight, out of mind.”
    â€œYou heard what happened to Slim?” Clarence asked.
    â€œHe might have to do some time, but he’ll