“It’s nothing. I’m Ethic,” he introduced, offering her his hand. “This is Ezra, but we call him Eazy; and that little girl with the screw face is Bella.”

“Alani,” she answered, as she extended a dainty hand of her own. She handed him the pie box she had been holding.

“What’s this?” Ethic asked, as he took it from her hands.

“A thank you gift for fixing the car,” she said. “A pie. Do you like pie?”

“I’m afraid to say no. The way you come in her barking on my employees, I don’t want to be on the receiving end of that mouth,” Ethic said, smirking.

“I deserve that,” she said, with a small laugh. “It’s just been a rough week. I’m sorry for bringing drama to your place of business. I really do appreciate you working with me, regarding my car. Thank you, Ethic.” Her tone of voice was so sincere, as if no one had ever done anything for her a day in her life. In fact, no one had. Alani had worked hard, getting a job at a local restaurant, working under the table at just 12 years old. Nothing had been given to her. Not even a pair of panties was handed to her. She had earned everything on her own. She didn’t have much, but what little she had attained, had been bought off the sweat of her own back. This simple gesture wasn’t so simple to Alani because Ethic was giving her what many people neglected to see value in…time. He took time out of his schedule to get her to work, when he owed her nothing at all. Or so she thought.

She climbed into the passenger seat and admired the butter-colored leather inside. My ass even sinks into these seats differently, she thought, as she made herself comfortable.

The sounds of Kendrick Lamar kicked through the speakers, not too loud as to draw attention, but loud enough to vibrate the seat she sat in. As Kendrick spit verses about being alright, Alani wished she could believe him. Her life was out of focus and she was stumbling through it with tear-blurred vision. She knew she had been demanding, ungrateful, and downright rude, regarding her car.

“And I know you said it’s on the house, but I will pay you back every penny. I’m good for it,” she said.

He didn’t respond. He acknowledged her words with a nod. Or was he nodding his head to the beat? Was she killing the vibe? Was Kendrick’s words forewarning her to shut the fuck up and ride? She glanced in the backseat, noticing that the kids had fallen asleep.

“Your kids are beautiful,” she complimented. Why the hell am I making small talk? She thought.