Gavin let out a laugh before rubbing his head.
“Don’t get nervous.”
“I’m not nervous. We know each other.”
“Not well.”
“I know you well enough to know that you’re going through something and you wanted to talk to a familiar voice.”
“Let’s see.”
“Is it work? Neighborhood? Who’s bothering you?”
“A little of both. Nothing that I can’t handle.”
“Do you need me to stop by before I head into my shift?”
“Stop by where?” she asked taking another drink of her water.
“Brinley, you were always one that liked to play games when it came to expressing your emotions. I know I was a terrible boyfriend, but I was never a bad friend.”
“The verdict is still out on that one.”
“I can’t tell,” he answered glancing at his phone. “We’ve been talking for 30 minutes now and I haven’t hung up once.”
“Oh dang. That makes you a good friend?”
“Yes because I hate talking on the phone. I hardly answer the phone for my own mom.”
“When did this happen?”
“Within the last several months. I think when I got this supervisor position, things changed for me. I don’t like talking to people once I get off work.”
“Damn, it’s that bad?”
“Yes. I hear so much complaining all day. I don’t want to talk about common things.”
“I’ll let you go. I didn’t know.”
“I’m not telling you to hang up. I asked you if you needed me to stop by before I headed in. Answer that question.”
Brinley stared at the black television screen.
“Hello!”
“Do you hear me?”
“Yes. What happened?”
“I asked if you wanted me to come and see about you.”
“You don’t know where I’m at.”
“Drop the address and I’m on the way.”
“Gavin, I didn’t call for you to drop by. I called to speak. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Dang. It’s like that. I was coming to check on you and you’re acting like this.”
“I’m not acting. I told you what the deal was.”
“You’re standing firm. I like that. Don’t make me find out what the location is and pop up.”
“It’s not that serious.”
“It’s always that serious.”
“I’ll talk to later.”
“Yeah, I see another year going by before you pick up the phone and call me.”
“It won’t be that long.”
“Holidays are coming up. Thanksgiving. Don’t forget to send out my invitation. I love to eat and I’m off,” he joked.
“Is that right? I’m not cooking. I’m trying to have my feet sitting up somewhere and enjoying the festivities.”
“Here, you go.”
“What?”
“When did you stop cooking?”
“When I became single. It’s been a long couple of years. I only cook for small crowds.”
“And that’s probably only you. I’m not crazy.”
“You’re not crazy and you’re right.”
“I’ll talk to you later. I need an hour nap and to get my lunch packed.”
“You take a nap before you head in?”
“Sometimes. I need one tonight because you’re rejecting me.”
“I’m not rejecting you. I told you that it wasn’t serious. Which it’s not. You’re so dramatic.”
“And you’re not dramatic enough.”
Beep.
“There’s another call coming in. You need to get that.”
“It can wait.”
“I’m going to hang up because it’s probably important.”
“I don’t think so but I’ll let you go and get your nap. Don’t work too hard.”
“I’m going to try not to. I’m going to pray that these people don’t drive me crazy.”
“Let us pray.”
“Brinley, don’t start.”
“I’ll send one up for you.”
“Yes, you do that.”
Beep.
“And get that call. It might be Maverick. I don’t want to cause any friction in your relationship.”
“Please.”
Gavin started laughing before he hung up.
“Hello!”
“Where the hell have you been?”
“I was on the other end. What’s wrong?”
“You’re going to get beat up. Who in the hell were you talking to?”
“None of your business.”
“Oh, damn. Was it that guy from Saturday?”
“No, it was not.”
“So, it’s one of your exes? Which one is it? Gavin? That’s the only one I would think you would want further contact with.”
“Why Gavin?”
“He was a whore but he meant well.”
“To who?”
“To himself. He knew what he was doing, he just wasn’t trying to change it because you never spoke on it.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he mentioned it to me. He claimed that’s why he kept cheating because you didn’t care. He thought you would eventually say something.”
“But he didn’t tell you about that night that I almost fought one of his whores at the club but he wouldn’t let me get to her?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Exactly. I just said the same thing to him. He acted like he forgot about that night. That’s the night that I checked out. I was there physically but emotionally and mentally I was checked out. As long as he paid the bills in the apartment while we were still in the lease, I didn’t give a damn. We weren’t having sex like that anyway.”
“Oh, well damn. I didn’t know all of that.”
“Yes, I know. Nobody does. I was going along with the motions.”
“I see.”
“Why did you call, though? I know you didn’t call to talk about my exes and relationships,” she laughed.
“I sure didn’t.”
“You’re always going to be a hot mess.”
“Most of the time.”
“Are you at your destination?”
“Not yet. I’m at a layover for about two hours and then I’m back on my way. How was your run this morning?”
“It was different.”
“How?”
“People.”
“Do I need to turn around? I already told you.”
“Quinn, no. I handled it.”
“How did you handle it?”
“I got back home, safely. I’m still alive.”
“I can’t believe this shit.”
“You can’t raise your voice in the airport.”
“Who told you that? I don’t care about these people. I’ve been listening to snoring and noise making for the last two damn hours. I don’t care about these people.”
“Calm down.”
Quinn stood up and started rolling her suitcase down the walk way.
“Where are you going?” Brinley laughed.
“Away.”
“But you were talking about me being dramatic when you left.”
“I’m worried about your safety that’s all.”
“I know. I can handle it. I’m not going to lie though, I was nervous. I got ahead of myself and was a mile away from the house.”
“What? Why didn’t you run your normal route?”
“I was but I started running and didn’t notice where I was. By that time it was too late.”
“What happened? Was that guy with the dog out there?”
“Yes.”
“Is he stalking you?”
“I don’t know. I hope not.”
“I think he is. I wish I thought to get a picture of him before I left.”
“I know what he looks like even though he really doesn’t make eye contact.”
“Brinley.”
“Don’t start. How was your first flight?”
“Noisy as hell. I don’t know what’s wrong with these damn people today.”
“Is there a lot of traffic at the airport?”
“Too much on a Monday.”
“The holidays are coming up. You know people have to get out and see the world.”
“That’s not until the end of next month.”
“No, it’s this month. It’s November. Where have you been?”
“Lost,” she laughed.
“When are you going to tell me where you’re going?”
“Once I get there. I’ll let you know. I already told you that one time.”
“I thought I would ask again.”
“What are you cooking today?”
“Nothing. I’m going to eat a salad. I don’t feel like cooking. Today was rough.”
“Mondays are always something else. When is your first race?”
“At the end of November.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that it was that close.”
“Yes. I need to try and see if I can run that 5k again.”
“You haven’t tried it.”
“I have but that was at the beginning when I first started running daily.”
“You need to hit it at least two more times before the real race. You need to see your average time.”
“I know my average time. Not where I want to be,” she laughed.
“It’s going to get better. Your first race. Don’t expect to be your best time. Just give it your all and then see how long you can go without walking.”
“I already know that I couldn’t do it. I can’t run a mile without stopping to walk.”
“That needs to change.”
“How?” she asked holding her hand on her head.
“You need to use that app that you have to do the timed runs. It helps a lot. You also need to run somewhere that doesn’t have distractions. I know that energy is weird.”
“It was. I can’t believe that they were really acting like they wanted to kidnap me.”
“Who?”
“Some car pulled up and followed me.”
“I’m not even going to say anything. I need to get this money, leave a mark and come back. I don’t see this—
“Enjoy your time and don’t stress about me. I have people that don’t mind pulling up if I need them too.”
“And don’t have those men at your house because that’s going to cause another issue.”
“Here we go again.”
“I’m trying to save you a case or two. Men, don’t work like we do. They don’t like when other men are in the picture.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I know from experience. You remember that drama I had at my house a few years ago with those two guys.”
“Where one pulled up and then another one thought it was a good idea to act a damn fool about it.”
“Yes. I remember that. Didn’t your boyfriend at the time shoot the other one?”
“Hell, yes. I was so shocked and confused.”
Brinley started laughing.
“That was a scary time. The guy didn’t even want to go to the hospital.”
“You know men are stupid.”
“He didn’t want them to know that he got the worst end of it. But he started the whole situation.”
“Ego. You know that gets bigger than their balls.”
“You ain’t shit,” she laughed.
“I’m telling the truth. I’ll keep the guys away unless it’s a booty call.”
“The only calling you need to do is the police.”
“For what?”
“To keep a trail of what the racist people are doing to you. They’re only doing that because you’re black. Don’t let them tell you any different.”
“Alright, Quinn.”
“Don’t alright Quinn me.”
Chapter Six
There was a knock on Brinley’s door. She paused as she pulled her dinner out of the oven. There was another knock before she was able to grab the door.
“I’m coming. Give me a minute.”
“What are you doing?”
Brinley looked at the clock and shook her head.
“Who is it?”
“Come and answer the door to see.”
“I know that better not be my mother at the door.”
“And if it is. You won’t find out.”
“Why are you talking to me through the door.”
“Because you won’t answer it.”
“Do you know what time it is?”
“I do but apparently you don’t.”
Brinley unlocked and opened the door. Her mother walked straight in without saying a word.
“Good evening to you too.”
“Um huh.”
“What brings you to this side of town?”
“I heard about you running and stuff.”
“Ma, I’m grown.”
“And?”
“I don’t need you checking up on me. I know how to be an adult.”
“Do you really? I see you’re eating chicken nuggets and fries again.”
“It was fast and I didn’t have to make a mess in the kitchen tonight. I had a hard day.”
“Is that right?”
Brinley’s mother was in mid-50s with a head full of gray hair. She was a few inches taller than Brinley and most people mistaken her for her grandmother instead of mother. She was wearing a green sweat suit with white tennis shoes.
“Don’t you look right cute?”
“I try,” she smiled.
“Besides me running outside what else brings you by?”
“I can’t come by?”
“I didn’t say that you couldn’t. But it’s kind of late for you to be outside. A phone call would work.”
“I know but I wanted to see your face.”
“You seen it, now you can leave.”
Her mother started laughing.
“Childish. We should sit down and have a conversation.”
“What is this about?”
“I don’t believe that you’re making a big deal for me stopping by.”
“Ma, it’s 8 o’clock.”
“You act like I’m an old lady. I’m outside a lot at 8 o’clock.”
“Doing what?”
Her mother smiled and walked into the kitchen.
“Ma’am?”
“Yes ma’am. What’s up? Are you naked?”
“I’m at home. I can walk around naked all I want to.”
“I didn’t say that you couldn’t but why?”
“I like being free and out of those work clothes once I get home.”
“Okay. Whatever makes you happy. You don’t have any wine?”
“I don’t. I finished the last of my stash over the weekend with Quinn.”
“Quinn, how is she doing? I haven’t spoken or seen her in a while.”
“She’s good.”
“That’s good.”
“I’m glad that you’re here even though this visit is weird.”
“For who? Not me. You’re the one that’s acting all weird.”
“I am because I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” she laughed.
“Well, I’m here act like you love me.”
Brinley cut her eyes at her mother as she dipped her nuggets in the bbq sauce.
“What?”
“When are you going to make me a grandmother? I’m ready to hold and smell a baby.”
“Are you going to raise it too?” she asked mid bite.
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“How did you think that it was going to survive? I’m not ready to be a mother, let alone a single mother.”
“Who said that you had to be a single mother?”
“Ma, I’m not dating anyone seriously.”
“You need to change that.”
“I know you didn’t drive thirty minutes one way to ask me about a baby?”
“I d
id not. I thought I would bring it up since I haven’t mentioned it in a while.”
Brinley started laughing as she closed her robe. She could feel a draft.
“So, why are you running?” she asked as she came around to join her on the couch.
“I’m training for the 5k marathon at the end of the month.”
“With all of those people?”
“What people?”
“You know what people I’m talking about.”
“I do but black people run them too. That’s actually how I found out about it.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute.”
“Well, believe it.”
“I need to meet this person. He or she has to be a unicorn.”
“So extra.”
“I know but seriously I came because I heard about the car that was following you earlier this morning.”
Brinley almost choked on her soda.
“How?”
“I have ears and eyes everywhere. What did they say to you?”
“Since you have ears everywhere, why don’t you tell me? Or was it someone that you sent to bother me because you don’t want me running the race?”
“I would never scare you like that. That’s cruel.”
“It is but they did it.”
“Be careful. You never know what people have on their minds.”
“I know what that person was up to. I’m being safe. I have my weapons.”
“Don’t be afraid to use that gun that I got you for your birthday.”
“I don’t have that thing here.”
“And why not?” she asked standing up.
“I’m scared of guns.”
“But we went to the gun range and you did good.”
“Yes, because I was in a class. I knew once I left that place that I wasn’t going to use a gun.”
“Brinley, this is not the time to get scared of protecting yourself. Please get that gun out of storage and carry it with you. I don’t want to see you on the news for a murder.”
“Why is everybody acting like I’m going to die soon?”
“Who is everybody?”
“Quinn cut up before she left.”
“So, you’ve been having issues since you starting running outside?”
“I haven’t. It’s only been a couple of times. I got it though.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that you’re fine but I need to know that I’m not going to see you on the news.”
“I’m not. I’m going to change my routine up and everything.”
“Yes, try every other day or something. Do evening one day and morning the next.”
Running Deeper Than a Race Page 4