Chapter 58: Passing Time
- DEX -
I’m in the kitchen leaning on the island and staring at my phone while it rings Grace’s number on speaker. She didn’t pick up yesterday, and it doesn’t seem like she’s picking up today.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Raya moving by the pool. She chooses a lounge chair in the shade to sit in with her brown paper bag of croissants, and I can’t help but smile. At least she is getting comfortable. I’m not going to bother her either. I don’t want her to feel that staying here comes with the condition of my constant presence.
Grace’s voicemail picks up, and my smile falls. I groan and rake a hand through my beard. It’s getting too long. I’m not worried about looking a certain way for my position at the company, but this is a little wilder than usual even for me.
"Grace, call me back please. Lawson told me you spoke, and I don’t want you feeling the need to visit." I pause, wondering if it sounds too harsh or presumptuous. "I hope you are well."
When I end the call, I have to keep myself from walking outside to join Raya when I just told myself I wouldn’t. But it’s like my feet are ready to take me there—as if the most natural place to be is by her side even when I just saw her. The pool is a shared area, so it’s not like it would be an invasion of privacy.
I groan and grab my keys, send Raya a quick text saying that I’ll be leaving for awhile if she needs anything, and then I jump in the truck. If I don’t, I’ll end up pacing, trying to convince myself not to join her. And there are plenty of other things I could be doing instead.
First, I’m getting a haircut. There is one place I know of that is open on Sundays at this time of day, and thankfully they don’t require appointments.
I walk into Q’s and see Quincy lining up a fade for a client seated in his barber chair. He glances at me and then does a double-take.
"Hey, it’s my man, Dex," he says with a grin. "It’s been a long time."
"Yeah, it has," I chuckle and scratch the hair on my face.
"And you have a much different look going on," Quincy laughs. "Have a seat and I’ll help you next."
I sink into a chair and grab one of the magazines sitting nearby. The photograph on the front is of a model I’ve shot for before, and it makes me itch for my camera. I usually take it with me everywhere, but that hasn’t been the case since getting home. I’ll have to take it out when I get back to the house and shoot some photos. That also reminds me that I meant to connect with a few old contacts this weekend to let them know I’m back in the area, but everything with Raya has sidetracked me.
"So what are we doing today?" Quincy asks as he’s sweeping up the floor. When he’s done, he turns the chair, inviting me to sit. "Last I heard you were in Africa."
"Right. I’ve been a few places since. I came home to help with the company," I tell him, avoiding getting into all the details. Quincy is a really nice guy, but I’m not someone who enjoys sharing all the personal stuff.
"Ah. You need me to clean you up then?" He unfolds a gown and snaps it behind my neck.
"Just a little bit," I chuckle.
"I got you, Dex. The ladies like all this hair on you, I bet. It looks good. Different, but good."
He gets to work, making small talk as he takes some of the weight off of the mane I’ve grown while I’ve been away.
"How’s your brother Lawson been?" He asks.
"The same."
"He doesn’t come see me anymore. Probably goes to one of those salon and spas close to work," he says with a wry smile.
"Well, you don’t offer pedicures, Quincy," I shrug. "What do you expect?"
He laughs deeply. "That’s right, I don’t. And it’s gonna stay that way. I did see one of your cousins a few weeks ago though."
"Oh yea? Which one?"
"Luciano. You ever talk to them?"
"I haven’t in a long time, no."
"Maybe for the best," Quincy replies, concentrating hard on what he’s doing.
"Yeah, family’s complicated."
"That’s right. Especially your family." His eyes meet mine briefly with that flash of extra meaning. It’s one of those comments I can’t really argue or agree with unless I want to invite further conversation, and that’s never a good idea when it comes to mom’s family.
When Quincy’s done trimming up my facial hair, everything looks and feels a lot better. I examine it briefly in the mirror before turning and shaking his hand.
"It’s always good to see you, Dex," he says.
"You too, Q. Thanks a lot."
That didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would, so I drive around the city—passing some of the places I haven’t seen in years to make sure they’re still around. This is the time of night that usually drags on and that I have come to dread.
My phone rings, and I see it’s Grace’s number.
"Hi, Grace," I reply while my eyes roam the city lights out the windshield.
"Hi, Dex." I haven’t heard her voice in a long time, but I don’t remember her sounding so... gentle. "I’m sorry to hear about your father."
"He’s still getting tests," I reply, really desiring to avoid this topic.
"Right, of course. Um... where are you?"
I glance at the dash where her voice is coming out of the bluetooth. I really hope that question doesn’t mean what I think it means.
"Home," I say, testing the theory.
"You sound like you’re driving," she says, sounding amused.
"I’m driving home."
"Great. Then I guess I will see you shortly."
I grip the wheel. Are you fucking kidding me?
"Grace, I told you not to come."
"I was already here," she laughs, but it sounds a little nervous.
I sigh heavily, my thoughts immediately turning to Raya in the guest house. If Grace thought that’s where she was going to be staying, she’s going to be in for a surprise. No call ahead means no guaranteed place to stay, and I know she can afford any hotel in the city.
"I hope you have reservations somewhere," I tell her after a long pause.
"Oh. That’s not a problem. I’ll figure it out after you get here."
