Go Fund Me

It’s going to take a while to clean this place up. I unbutton my cuffs and roll my sleeves up to the elbow. This I can do. It will make me feel better to contribute in some way.

“Why don’t you go rest? I’ll take care of all of this,” I say.

“No way, it would be easier if we do it together. I wouldn’t dare leave all of this on you,” she says, side-eyeing me.

“Fine, we’ll work together. As long as you don’t say I can’t help at all,” I tease.

“Fair enough,” she says with that stunning smile and glowing brown eyes.

She kicks off her shoes and moves towards the sink. I love how short she is next to me. It’s sexy. Closing my eyes, I remind myself not to go there.

“Wash or dry?” she asks.

“Whichever you prefer, I’m good.” I shrug.

She hands me that towel and shifts to the sink to turn on the water. We fall into a comfortable silence as we work. I don’t notice I’m staring until she looks up at me with a brilliant smile.

“What?” She asks, as her eyes dance over my face.

“Nothing,” I reply and focus back on the dishes.

Shaking her hand dry, she reaches for my forearm. I turn back to meet her eyes. She opens and closes her mouth a few times.

“Thanks for tonight. Running interference and everything. You didn’t have to, but I appreciated it,” she finally says.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say and wink.

She laughs, but I can see more in her eyes. As if she didn’t say all she wanted to. I give a warm smile.

“Can you believe they brought that guy here?” she says, turning back to the dishes in the sink.

“What? He was a catch,” I say, holding back my laughter.

“Then I can give you his number,” she says, looking at me to roll her eyes.

“He gave you his number?”

“Yup, not that I plan to call.” She replies and shrugs.

“Why not? He seemed nice.”

“Ugh. Don’t you start. Did my mother rub off on you?” She teases. “I don’t know. He wasn’t my type.”

“What is your type?” I say the words before I can clamp my mouth shut.

She turns to lean her hip against the sink. Her arms fold across her chest, drawing my attention. I force my eyes back up to hers. She’s looking up at the ceiling before meeting my gaze again.

“I like my guys down to earth, you know? Not afraid to make things happen, but not chasing anyone else’s approval either. I want a guy that makes me feel safe. Someone that listens to me, someone I can listen to.

“Oh, and sorry, but that guy was way too short,” she says and laughs.

I reach behind her to turn the water off as I see it rising. Her breath hitches and our eyes lock. It’s like I’m sucked into her orbs. Heat surges around us and I want nothing more than to lean in and take her lips.

“Wh…what’s your type?” She breathes bringing me back to my senses.

I take a step back. My eyes dropping to my shoes.

“I don’t really have one,” I lie to keep from telling her that she’s the one. My type in every way.

“Come on,” she says, tilting her head at me. “I remember you having the most swag, back in the day. What kind of girls did you pull in, with all of that?”

I shrug. “Never the type I wanted.”

Her phone rings pulling a groan from her lips. Her shoulders sag as she moves to find it and answer. My jaw works as I wonder if that’s Stanley.

I pinch my eyes closed in frustration. I don’t need to worry about Allison’s love life. I need to get my freeloading ass out of her house so she can get on with her life.

“There’s a video. Oh my God, Allison. You had to be scared out of your mind. I can’t believe what happened. You downplayed this so much,” my sister cries into the phone.

“What video?”

“I’m texting it to you now,” India says. “I knew Ro was no joke but damn! He was whipping ass before that punk shot him.”

I tune out my sisters to watch the video that comes through to my phone. I watch it at least three times. A shiver runs through me as I’m thrown back into that night. I truly didn’t know if he would survive.

“Wow,” I say, as tears stream down my cheeks.

I went into doctor mode that night to save his life. Watching it now, as I’m removed from the scene…we were both lucky. The guy Roark had knocked out had come to while I was working to stop the bleeding.

He could have hurt us both or taken the car they were after in the first place. Anything could have happened. I don’t even remember half of the things that I watch play out before me.

“I don’t remember him much, but I’m so glad he was there for you,” Erica says.

“Can we talk about how hot he is now though?” India says.

“Okay, so it’s not just me?” Erica says.

“Nope, but Ro has always been fine as fuck,” India laughs. “Girl, back in the day he had this swag about him. Like…damn!”

“Seriously, India?” I chide.

“Oh please. You know good and well you drooled over him when you met him. First white boy I saw you break your neck over,” she giggles.

“Whatever,” I huff. “I think I should use this video for the go fund me. You know, to let people see what he did for me. Make the connection.”

“Wait, go fund me?” Erica says.

“Yeah, I was talking to Daddy about wanting to help Roark out and he suggested I do one. I don’t know where to start but I think the video would help,” I say and begin to chew on my lip.

“I got this,” Erica says. “I’ll have it up by the morning. With any luck, we can get this to go viral.”

“That would be awesome. He’s such a great guy. What happened to him was so messed up. I would love to see him get his life back,” India says.

“I hope we can get enough for him to make some steps in the right direction,” I say. “I want to make sure he’s secure when he leaves. I think he’s itching to go.”

“Are you chasing him away?” India asks.

“No,” I grumble. “I think he considers himself a burden.”

“Mm,” my sister returns.

“Whatever.”

“You two are crazy,” Erica laughs. “You leave it to me. I’ve got this. You know this is what I do, boo.”

“Okay, do it. Let me know if you need anything,” I reply. “Talk to you guys later.”