I thought I had, and hoped I wasn’t so ugly that he didn’t even bother to remember it.

“My name Shivana.”

He just nodded and didn’t say a word. Talking about home made me remember I should call it.

“I need to use your phone,” I told him.

“It’s right next to you,” he said, and I saw a gleaming silver cordless on the end table next to the couch.

“In private.”

“Oh.”

He got up and I followed. He took me to what was most likely the grown folk’s bedroom. It was almost nicer than the living room. Everything—the comforter, curtains, even the carpet—was white and cream. I wondered why the carpet at our house was a nasty, spotted-up gray. I wondered why his uncle and aunt were still living here if they had money for all this. There was a fancy, old-fashioned cream-and-gold phone on the glass nightstand. Without saying a word, he walked out and shut the door. Right when I picked up the receiver to get ready and dial, he came back in.

“Don’t call long distance,” he said.

“Don’t worry,” I snapped back, and held my breath to make my call. It was 10:17. Ma should be knocked out cold. I exhaled as soon as I heard Aunt Jewel’s voice.

“Golding residence,” she said, most likely expecting her man.

“Aunt Jewel?”

“Shivana?”

“Hey,” I said sheepishly, waiting for a cuss-out. Even Aunt Jewel had the potential to flip over this.

“Hey! When are you coming home?”

Just from that, I could tell Renelle hadn’t been there. At least not yet.

“Well, I wanna stay the night at Nakesha’s,” I lied, stalling for time to figure out what to say after Renelle talked to Ma. Because deep down, I knew she was going to.

“On a school night? Shivana, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“I know, but she broke up with her boyfriend so she came over to help me babysit ’cause she upset.”

“Nakesha doesn’t live that close. How you all gonna get there? You’re not taking the bus this late.”

“Her daddy comin’ to get us.”

“Well, I don’t know … you need to ask your mother.”

“No! I don’t want you to wake her up. I know she sleep by now. Just put her a note on the refrigerator. She ain’t gonna see me anyway before she go to work.”

“Hold on. Lemme get a pen to take down their number and address.”

Damn Aunt Jewel always trying to do shit the right way!

“Oh, you need her daddy to call you?”

“No. Shivana, I trust you. You’re a young adult. I just want to know in case anything happens and we need to reach you.”