and moved her out. She would be going back home to Knoxville for the summer. Her father owned a small restaurant, so she would work as a waitress over the summer. Marcelle's parents had paid for

d Naia as we packed the last

had come down to help us move Naia out of the dorms. Instead of the two trips that

" I asked, leanin

d, getting in the driver's seat of Rio's

" Rio asked, leaning

m g

th me after we dro

an do that

was insatiable, and I was having a hard time keeping up. My brother had also noticed a difference in my walk and it was kind of e

the cheek. "I'm gonna drive your

lse drive my car, they would kill me. That's how dickmatized Rio had m

ach other down and come on,

following morning. Jay moved forward to help her down the stairs. He took her suitcase and the overnight bag that Marcelle was carrying. I knew Jay was trying to earn cool points with Marcelle becaus

get you on my good side

have to carry your bag

in my car, so y'all can ride with Jay

g the speed limit. Even though I had done it on several occasions, it was different sitting in the passenger seat watching so

I said as we pulled up to the apartm

y that?" Ri

most ki

my hand and kissing the back of it. I shuddered a little bit as I

o eat pizza and play spades. Rio instructed me to follow him. I had never been to the house because we had only spent time together in the dor

r and told me to wait a moment while he went inside. I waited for a few minutes, wondering what he was doing.

ur house," I said as I sat on

is my

e are we going

people," he said as he b

veway of another ranch-style home that was just as big as his house. The home was all brick with white columns out front

d as he killed the engin

ew whoever lived in the house very well because he walked in the place like he owned it. I tried to relax as we walked through the kitchen. We walked into an adjoining den and I came face-to-face with a friendly-looking elderly woman th

proudly as he pulled me gently so that I was standing side

for putting me on the spot like that. We had not discussed if we were off

mother asked me. She had a smile

" I brought up the weather because old

g. What are you doing with my knucklehead

We're just getting t

t's

mama? I been calling dow

, pulling his phone out of his pocket. I watched as he searched through his conta

her?" his g

one to pick up. Apparently, they did not answer becaus

they're at," his

tell her to call you," Rio said as

io," sh

le. This is my gi

smiled. His aunt studied me for a moment before speak

w doesn't run yo

not that ba

y for you,

ama?" Rio asked, ch

m they had up at the schoolhouse," Meshell

't answer," Ms. Harriett said

e, Grandma. I'll tell Mama

careful. Loren, don'

won

e as his girlfriend, but I decided against it. It was not like it was marriage, and I could jump ship if

e they're at," Rio said

ssed the key that I had assig

aia answered afte

wanted to know

ck up some pizzas from Littl

way," I said, and

asked as we pulled

se. She said pick up some

his hand for my keys. I didn't want to give them to him, but I

the leather seats because my shorts were short and it had been sittin

oing to wre

in't, but go

phone out and connected it to the Bluetooth. He found

minutes, so I focused my attention toward the large picture window that Little Caesar's had. I could see him leaning on the counter talking to the female cashier. She was smiling like she had just won the lottery. I did not know what he was saying to her, but it