Caught Up by Amir Abrams Read Free Book Online Page A

out, spreading his arms out holding up a bunch of shopping bags. “Leave dat li’l girl alone. We tryna roll out.”
    Hazel Eyes sucked his teeth, waving him on. “Yo, relax, fam. I’ll be dere in a minute.”
    â€œYou better go before they leave you,” I said, pulling out my cell as it vibrated. It was a text from my mother telling me she was outside waiting for me.
    â€œNah, we good, yo. Them ninjas ain’t goin’ nowhere. I’m da one wit’ da keys; feel me? And it’s my whip so dey move when I move. I’m sayin’ though. I been sittin’ out here waitin’ for you to clock out, ma. So what’s good? You gonna let me get dem digits? Or are you gonna keep stylin’ like you don’t want me to have ’em when we both know you do?”
    I felt myself heating from the inside out just listening to the way he spoke while watching him lick his lips in between each sentence. “I wasn’t styling,” I said defensively. “I was at work and you and your goons were being loud and embarrassing. Besides, I know you probably have a bunch of girls’ numbers in your phone already so it’s not like not having mine is going to be the end of the world for you.”
    â€œNah, it’s sumthin’ light. I ain’t even on it like dat, feel me? I’m checkin’ for you; period, point blank. So what’s it gonna be?” He pulled out his shiny new iPhone. “Bless a ninja wit’ dem numbers, yo.”
    My mother sent another text. Without much thought, I sent her one back. Lied and told her I was finishing up my shift and was punching out in five more minutes. I felt bad for lying, but whatever guilty feelings I might have had were quickly dismissed as I watched Hazel Eyes type in my number, then call me.
    â€œA’ght, bet. You can’t get away now. You mine now. I got you on lock, Ken nedy.” He smirked. “Yeah, you thought I forgot ya name, huh? And I ain’t even have ta look down at ya nametag.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, right.”
    â€œYo, check it. Since you ain’t tryna chill tonight, I’ma get ready to bounce. I’ll hit you up later tonight, a’ight?”
    I nodded. “Okay. If you want.”
    â€œA’ight, bet.” I eyed him as he turned to walk off.
    â€œWait. I don’t even know your name.”
    â€œIt’s Blaze, babe.”
    I tilted my head. “Blaze? Why they call you that?”
    He winked. “Why you think? ’Cause I’m hot like fire ’n’ I gets it in like dat.”
    Â 
    â€œSo you gonna let me get up in dat, right?” Blaze asks in between large bites of his grilled turkey sub from Charley’s. We’re at Bridgewater Commons up on the third level sitting at one of the tables eating. We’ve been talking on the phone for the last three nights, and this is like . . . a date, I guess.
    But I had to tell my mom a small fib last night just so I could be with him. I told her I was riding to Connecticut with Jordan and her father to pick up her sister, Amina, from Yale. Well, it wasn’t a complete lie. Jordan and her father are picking up her sister from college today. I’m just not riding with them.
    After three nights of texting, Skype, and talking on the phone, I was ready to get my summer rolling. So when he texted me last night and said he wanted to spend some time with me today, I had to see him. The tricky part was trying to figure out how I could get out of the house for the day. So I lied.
    And now... here I sit on a Saturday at two in the afternoon staring at this boy with greasy, oil-slicked lips and a mouthful of food, chomping away.
    I furrow my brows. Give him a confused look. “Huh?”
    He tilts his head. “Yo, c’mon, ma. Don’t front. You know what it is, yo.” He reaches for a napkin and wipes his mouth. “I’m sayin’. We gonna hit up dis movie real