“
Nope,” the woman said, not even bothering to look up.
“
None?” McKinley said in disbelief.
The woman looked up at her. “I believe that’s what I said the first time.”
“
Well, see,” McKinley looked at the woman’s name tag, “Cricket, I have a huge problem with that, ’cause I need to get home today.”
“
So does everybody else, Prima Donna.”
McKinley frowned at the woman and turned around pissed. She was even more upset to find that Koran was sitting right behind her and had overheard everything.
She screwed up her face. “What the hell are you laughing at?”
“
Nothing.” He chuckled.
“
I swear this is some bullshit.”
She didn’t know how her life could get any worse. Her man, who was really somebody else’s man, was dead. She was broke, homeless and stranded in a city where it looked like the local Wal-Mart was the hippest place in town.
“
Mr. McKnight, your car is ready,” a Hertz representative said to Koran.
Koran stood up, gathered his things and walked over to the Hertz station to pick up his keys. McKinley watched him eagerly like a fat kid who was dying for the last piece of cake. Sure she’d been a bitch to him all morning, but there was no way she could allow him to leave without taking her with him.
“
Koran,” she called out.
Koran stopped mid-stride and smiled to himself. Before turning around, he erased the smile off of his face.
“
What?” he asked with an attitude.
“
I assume you’re driving back to St. Louis?”
“
You would assume right.”
“
Look, I know we’ve had our moments, but is there any way I could ride back with you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know about that.”
“
Why not? I promise I won’t even bother you. Hell, I won’t even talk to you if you don’t want me to.”
“
Put that on something.” Koran twisted his lips to the side, not believing her.
“
I put that on everything,” she lied.
“
Cool, but I’ma need one more thing from you.”
What?” McKinley eyed him quizzically.
Koran stepped into her personal space. “A kiss.”
“
You out yo’ damn mind,” McKinley scoffed.
“
A’ight, stay yo’ ass here then.” Koran began to walk away.
“
Really?” she challenged.
“
Yeah.” Koran looked at her.
“
This is not right.” McKinley approached him.
“
You either gon’ do it or you ain’t,” Koran replied.
Knowing she had no other choice but to either put up or shut up, McKinley wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him the most sensuous kiss he’d ever had. Right there in the middle of the airport their lips and tongues intertwined.
“
Are you happy now?” McKinley asked, stepping back.
“
I mean, yeah. I just asked for a peck, you ain’t have to put ya’ tongue all in my mouth.” Koran twisted up his face, pretending as if he hadn’t enjoyed every second of it.
“
Whatever. Can we go now?” McKinley rolled her eyes.
“
Yeah, but if you get out of line one more time yo’ ass is out.”
She raised her right arm and saluted him. “I promise I’ll behave. Scout’s honor.”
XoXo
Relived that she finally had a way home, McKinley walked through the revolving door and outside to the roaring, windy thunderstorm. McKinley dropped her head low and tried her best to conceal herself, but to no affect. The wind was so forceful that she couldn’t even walk at a normal pace or stand straight. She tried calling out for Koran who was ahead of her, but every time she went to open her mouth a sea of water would choke her.
After what seemed like a five-mile walk they finally made it to the car, which was a bright yellow 2011 PT Cruiser. McKinley couldn’t believe her eyes. This had to have been some kind of sick joke. No way was this the rental car. McKinley was so taken aback by the vehicle that she didn’t even hear Koran calling out her name.
“
McKinley,” he shouted once again, holding onto to the hood of the trunk.
“
Huh?” She blinked her eyes, coming back to reality.
“
The door is open,” he shouted.
Nodding her head, McKinley got inside the car with a bewildered expression on her face. Drenched, she slowly placed on her seatbelt while wondering was this all a bad dream. The car was so bright it made her head hurt.
“
Whew.” Koran sighed, wiping the drops of rain from his face.
McKinley looked at him. “This is a joke, right?”
“
Is what a joke?” Koran asked perplexed.
“
This car.” She looked around.
“
I know it’s brighter than a muthafucka, but it’s the only thing they had left. It was either this or a yellow Bug.”
“
I will be so glad when I see the
Welcome to Missouri
sign, so this trip from hell can be over with,” McKinley replied.
“
That’s like the second thing you’ve said all day that I’ve agreed with.” Koran started up the engine, only for it to cut off seconds later.
“
Now what do you have to say, Big Mouth?” McKinley folded her arms across her chest.
“
Didn’t we agree, no talkin’?” Koran turned the key again.
This time the car cranked up right away without any problem.
“
It ain’t my fault you fell for that shit.” McKinley giggled.
“
Whatever. You just sit back and look pretty. I got this.”
“
Uh huh.” McKinley pursed her lips, trying her best not to smile.
Koran was a cutie pie, but he was arrogant as hell. From the little that she could remember about their night of passion, his sex game wasn’t too shabby either. But what could a one-night stand lead to? It wasn’t like they were going to fall madly in love and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
They barely knew each other.
He could be crazy.
He might have a hint of beat-a-bitch down in him.
He could very well already have a woman.
He could have fifty million kids spread around the United States.
He could be crazy!
Besides that, McKinley was still mourning the death of Jamil. The wounds of his death and betrayal hadn’t even begun to heal. Plus, what honestly did she have to offer a dog, let alone a fine, strong, cocky-ass man like Koran? She needed to get herself in order before she could jump into anything. Needing to hear something inspirational, McKinley leaned forward and turned the radio station from the FM Hip Hop and R&B station Koran was playing to an AM gospel station.
“
Another’s Day Journey” by Lashuan Pace was playing. McKinley gazed out of the window and tapped her foot while singing along.
“
I got my health and strength y’all—”
Koran switched the station back to the FM side.
McKinley shot him a look that could kill and switched it back to AM.
“
A lil Jesus never hurt nobody,” she said.
“
And neither did a lil JayZ.” Koran pushed her hand away and turned the knob once more.
Determined to beat him at his own game, McKinley pinched him in the arm and switched the knob back to Lashuan Pace.
“
Oww, that shit hurt.’ Koran yanked his arm up and down then quickly turned the station.
“
OOOOOOOOOH!” McKinley mockingly groaned, forcefully turning the knob back, but this time causing it break off.
“
Look at what you did!” She held the knob up. “Now neither of us can listen to the radio.”
Koran pulled over to the side of the road. “Get out!”
“
What?” McKinley looked at him like he was crazy.
“
Get out!”
“
You’re kidding me?”
“
Does it look like I’m playin’ wit’ you? Get out!” Koran reached over her and opened the passenger side door.
“
I can’t get out and walk. I have on Chanel heels.” She pouted.
“
Oh, yes you can, and you will.” Koran unbuckled her seatbelt.
“
But I’m sorry.” McKinley poked out her bottom lip.
“
No, you’re not.”
“
Yes, I am.” McKinley smiled and nodded her head simultaneously.
“
Sorry for what?” Koran inquired.
“
I’m sorry I broke the knob.”
“
What else?”
McKinley held her head down and whispered, “I’m sorry I turned the station without asking.”
“
You’re missing something.”
“
I’m sorry I spoke out loud.” She rolled her eyes.
“
Thank you. That’s better. Now close your door,” Koran ordered while making his way back onto the road.
Part Three
“
No one has to know what you are feeling, no one but me and you.”
Alicia Keys
“
Diary”
“
No, no!” McKinley shook her from side to side while asleep. “No, Jamil! Jamil!” she screamed, jumping out her sleep, scaring Koran half to death.
“
Oh, my God!” She inhaled and exhaled.
“
What the fuck is wrong wit’ you?” Koran asked, trying his best to stay focused on the road.
“
Nothin’.” McKinley panted, holding her chest.
“
I don’t know about you, but to me that was something.”
“
I said it was nothin’,” McKinley insisted, wiping her face with her hands.
“
Then who is Jamil?” Koran quizzed.
McKinley snapped her neck to the side and looked at him.
“
What did you just say?”
“
I said who is Jamil?” Koran replied, bluntly.
“
Nobody.” McKinley leaned back.
“
He must be somebody, you over there dreaming about him,” Koran replied back.
“
Will you mind yo’ damn business? He’s nobody. Now can you stop at the next exit? I have to pee or is that up for discussion too?”
By the expression on her face, Koran could tell that he’d overstepped his boundaries. Instead of putting her in her place for talkin’ slick, Koran did as he was asked and got off the highway. A Shell station was down the road, so he stopped there. He wasn’t even parked well at a pump before McKinley jumped out and slammed the door behind her. Inside the restroom, McKinley turned on the faucet and let the cool water run over her hands. Relishing the sensation, she splashed the soothing water onto her face.
After grabbing a paper towel and drying her face off, McKinley gazed at herself in the mirror. Ever since Jamil died she’d had trouble sleeping. Most nights she stayed awake as long as she could in fear of the nightmares she was sure to have. McKinley just wanted her life to get back to normal. But what about her life was normal? She was taking a road trip home with a complete stranger whom she’d had a one-night stand with the night before.
Thinking of Koran made McKinley feel horrible. He was only trying to figure out what was wrong with her and she’d completely gone off on him. Not liking what she saw staring back at her in the mirror, McKinley walked out of the restroom. Koran stood at the side of the car, pumping gas, when he noticed every time he looked at her the hairs on his arm stood up. She was petite compared to Whitney, but her face and dimples were the exact same. She seemed to have been dropped down from heaven. He knew McKinley probably thought he was weird for randomly staring at her all the time, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.