“You’re not offering me a sleepover?”
“No, of course not. You wish.”
“Yes, I do wish.”
Silence. I couldn’t come up with anything witty. His responses were always the opposite of what I thought they would be.
“I’m offering to give you a ride home.”
“Oh, okay.” He shrugged like he was disappointed.
I swear this young man is too damn much. I laughed inside. Did tall, muscular, Bieber really think he was spending the night? He was more like a new school Jordan Knight. Lord these young folks nowadays.
“You can put your bike in the trunk. I really can’t let you go riding off in the dark while it’s raining. Someone could hit you or you could catch a cold.” Jason was smiling at me. “Why are you smiling?”
“You’re acting like a mother.”
“I am a mother.”
“It’s adorable.”
“Jesus Jason. Just put your bike in my fucking trunk.” He’s got me out here cussin’. Lord. “I’m sure you know where the key to my car is. You know everything else.” I threw up my hands in exasperation.
He chuckled. “Your doors are unlocked. I don’t need a key.”
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help it.
“Just do it. I’m going to get my jacket.” I left him standing in the store and I went upstairs to get my purse and my raincoat. I probably wouldn’t get wet but it was better to be with it than without it.
I hustled up my things and locked the back door. I tossed my hood up on my head. I quickly jogged across the yard to the garage. When I entered the garage Jason was leaning on the passenger door looking down at his cell phone screen.
“What are you doing Snap-Chatting or Tik-Toking?”
“I’m currently not on social media.”
“Not at all?”
“Nope.”
“Everyone has a Facebook page.” I pushed my hood back off my head.
“I don’t have any social media apps on my mobile.” Jason handed his cell phone over to me. The screen was unlocked and there were only a few apps. There were the ones that came on the iPhone. None were social media apps. He had a jeopardy game. I thought that was odd considering his age but Jason wasn’t your average twenty-year-old man. He was charming, smart, witty, funny and well-spoken. He would be perfect for my daughter but I wasn’t sure she was attracted to White guys. I had a feeling she would probably end up with a college-educated Black man that belonged to a fraternity.
Jason was just starting out. He still had a chance to go to college and get a degree. He could teach music. He seemed to enjoy playing the guitar. He had a fabulous voice. I was no expert but he seemed to be rather good at music. He played the guitar on his breaks and he knew so many songs without sheet music. I was beyond impressed.
I handed his cell back to him. “You ready to go?”
“Yes, Kat, I’m always ready to go.”
“I’m glad you decided to start back talking to me.” I cut my eyes at him. He grinned.
I hit the button to open the automatic garage door. Jason got in the passenger seat and I got in the driver’s seat. I placed my seatbelt on and glared over at him until he did the same. I pulled out into the alleyway. I waited for the garage door to go back down. I flicked my windshield wipers on and I pulled my car out onto Main Street.
“I think I know where you live but don’t let me get turned around.” That wasn’t honest. I knew exactly how to get to his place. I drove by to make sure it was a real address with a real house on the property.
“I will let you know if you’re driving off course. Try to keep us out of the river.”
“You really think you’re a funny guy.”
“I do believe I’m quite comical.”
“Why don’t you take the guitar with you?”
“I have a guitar at my uncle’s place.”
“Have you thought about going to college to study music?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I know you know how good you are.”
“You think I’m good?”
“Don’t play.” I eyed him curiously. “You’re better than good. You have all that music in your head. You could be a music teacher.”
I could feel his eyes on me but I was going to keep my eyes in the wet dark road.
“I don’t have the time to go to University.”
“Come on Jason. You’re not busy. You work at a candy store. I know you want to be more than a cashier.”
“I’m okay with the life I have right now.”
“But you have to plan for your future.”
He chuckled. “Do you get on your kids about this kind of stuff?”
"I don't have to get on my daughter. She's really ambitious. She wants to be a lawyer and she's smart enough to pass the bar when the time comes. My son wants to be a filmmaker so he has it in his mind that he's going to Colombia College in Chicago. I'm okay with it to some degree. I don't want him to be in the entertainment industry but if he seriously wants to pursue it I'm not going to discourage him."
“Huh, filmmaking.”
“I know it’s not a good choice.”
“No, I think that's a great choice.”
“You do?”
“Yea, you’re a really good mother for encouraging your kids. I don’t think university is in the cards for me.”
“That’s a shame. You are so talented.”
“Thank you, but I’m okay with what I’m doing right now.”
“You’re only twenty so you have time to change your mind.”
“I highly doubt it.”
“How long are you staying with your aunt and uncle?”
“Just for the summer.”
“Where are you going after the summer?”
“California.”
“Do you have family in California?”
“Friends and family.”
“Are you going for a job?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me. What kind of job?”
“What’s with the twenty questions?”
“I’m just making sure you have a plan once the summer is over.”
“Not much of a plan. I’m going to go to California. I will come up with a plan after I arrive.”
“Well, I guess that’s something.”
“Just because my mother is
