“Yup.” Despite what I’d just said about coming clean, there was no way I was going to tell Yvonne that I had demanded a extra hundred from Odell for myself. It made sense for me to get while the getting was good. “Shoot for at least twenty from him today,” I suggested.

“Okay, sweetie. Mr. Cunningham’s nephew brung his truck back a little while ago. I’ll be taking off in a minute.” Yvonne tucked some loose strands of her hair behind her ears. She looked at me like she was so proud, it made me almost bust open. It had been a long time since I seen so much love and admiration in her eyes. She looked downright dreamy. “But before I go, I want to tell you something else.”

“What?” I gazed at her from the corner of my eye. That dreamy-eyed look was still on her face, so I knew that whatever she had to tell me wasn’t going to be too bad.

“Milton, I knew the day I met you that we was going to do well, so long as we worked as a team. I ain’t never met a man as focused as you.”

I hoped she didn’t praise me too much more. I didn’t want to get giddy and say or do something that would embarrass me. It was a good thing I was cool and calm enough to stay cool and calm. Her compliment embarrassed me a little anyway. I wasn’t nowhere near being shy, but I sounded like I was when I replied. “Thank you, baby. And you know how I feel about you. As a partner, you right up there with Willie Frank.” There was something about being humble that made me feel good about myself.

“I can’t get no higher than that,” she squealed. Then she let out a little giggle and kissed me again before she whirled around and skittered out the door.

CHAPTER 7 - YVONNE

CHAPTER 7

YVONNE