Prima Donna by Keisha Ervin Read Free Book Online

wanted to believe that the Jamil who looked her in the eyes and confessed his undying love, sang to her at night and even broke down in tears over her was the real him. But his actions kept showing her that he was an unreliable, selfish liar. He would continue to take her through unnecessary drama for the simple fact that he could. McKinley just prayed that he wasn’t with another chick. She couldn’t go through that kind of pain again.
     
    “ Has he ever done anything like this before?” Kristen asked, sitting on the couch Indian style.
     
    “ No.” McKinley continued to pace the room. “The longest we’ve ever gone without speaking is maybe two days, but that’s when we’re mad at each other.”
     
    “ Does he have a house phone at his apartment?”
     
    “ No, just his cell.” McKinley massaged her forehead.
     
    “ You don’t know any of his friends’ numbers, so you can call and see if they’ve talked to him?” Kristen quizzed.
     
    “ No, and besides, Jamil would kill me if I called his friends lookin’ for him,” McKinley said, flushing in distress.
     
    “ Mmm.” Kristen arched her eyebrow, shocked by her answer.
     
    “ Well, I don’t know, friend.” She picked up the bag of hot popcorn and resumed eating.
     
    Not the one to give up, McKinley went to her contacts on her cell phone and pressed Jamil’s name. After two rings she was forwarded to voicemail again.
     
    “ Oh, my God!” She mashed down the End button. “Like really? This nigga is straight up sending me to voicemail.”
     
    “ Wow.” Kristen shook her head.
     
    “ Like I swear to God I’ma fuck him up when I see him,” McKinley fumed. “I mean like who proposes to someone then disappears for four days?”
     
    “ Jamil.” Kristen couldn’t help but laugh.
     
    McKinley stopped mid-stride and glared at her.
     
    “ Word?” She shot Kristen a look that could kill.
     
    “ I’m sorry. You left yourself wide open for that one. Look,” Kristen put down the bag of popcorn, “on the real, try callin’ him one more time and if he doesn’t answer then fuck it. Don’t call his ass no more.” She flicked her wrist.
     
    “ That’s easier said then done,” McKinley retorted indignantly. “This ain’t just some nigga. This is the man I’ve been wit’ for the last three years of my life. I can’t just sit back not knowing whether he’s dead or alive. What if something happened to him? Then what?” She threw her hands up in the air.
     
    “ You don’t know his mama’s number? I mean damn,” Kristen responded, not knowing what else to do.
     
    “ No, they don’t speak.” McKinley ran her hands down her face.
     
    “ Then call him again, stalker.” Kristen rolled her eyes and took a sip of her soda.
     
    McKinley eagerly dialed Jamil’s number, praying this time he would answer.
     
    “ Hello?” A little boy answered the phone.
     
    “ Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” McKinley took the phone away from her ear to make sure she’d dialed the right number. “Is Jamil there?”
     
    “ This is me,” the little boy replied, cheerfully.
     
    “ No, sweetie, I’m looking for Jamil,” McKinley repeated, but in a louder tone as if the boy was deaf.
     
    “ This is me, silly lady.” The boy chuckled.
     
    “ Ummm,” McKinley looked at Kristen confused, “is your daddy there?” she probed.
     
    “ Are you serious?” Kristen mouthed.
     
    “ Yeah. You wanna talk to him? ’Cause he makin’ me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich right now,” the boy said.
     
    “ Yes. Can you put him on the phone?” McKinley asked, feeling faint.
     
    “ Okay.” The boy put down the phone. “Daddy. Telephone.”
     
    “ What?” McKinley swore she heard Jamil say in the background.
     
    The next thing she knew the phone went dead and she was left with silence. Shocked by what just took place, she stood paralyzed in the center of the floor.
     
    “ What happened?” Kristen asked, genuinely concerned.
     
    Anxiety