Outcast Read Free Page B

her off and continued walking toward the MARTA station. He made it to the platform just before the train doors closed, jumped in, and found a seat.
    A broad-shouldered dark-hued man with short, cropped, twisted locks sat across from him, motionless. He was dressed in a pair of oversized blue jeans that sagged at the waist and showed the top of his striped boxer shorts, and a wife-beater T-shirt that exposed excessive tattoos on his arms. The name CALVIN was etched around the side of his neck, and a distinguishing scar cut from his left ear and ended in the middle of his otherwise flawless skin near his mouth. Despite the mirrored sunglasses covering his eyes, Tirrell could feel them boring a hole through him. His bearing would have bullied most men, but not Tirrell.
    â€œDude, what the hell are you starin’ at?”
    The man stood and Tirrell stilled for a fight. The few people around them moved nervously in their seats as the announcement of the next stop filtered through the speaker. A couple of passengers advanced quickly to the door, keeping a watchful eye on the pair. As the train came to a stop and the doors sprang open, the man laughed and sauntered off. Tirrell rode on to the Kensington stop, got off the train, and connected with a bus that took him the rest of the way.
    He bought a pack of cigarettes, gum, and a beer at a gas station on the corner across from the apartment complex where his girlfriend lived with her cousin. He hadn’t seen her since she visited him in North Carolina eight months earlier and he couldn’t wait to surprise her.
    It was Thursday night and, for the most part, Tasha Parker was a creature of habit. That was one of the things he liked about her. Her predictability was also one of the things that frustrated him at times. Still, he was sure he would find her at home after a long day on her feet at the hair salon where she worked. She didn’t go out much and when she did it was hardly ever during the week. As he thought about the possibility of sex and a good meal, he decided to pick up a bouquet of the half-wilted flowers that sat in a bucket of water near the cash register.
    A short hike to the complex and he was at her door praying that her cousin wouldn’t be home. He knocked and covered the peephole with his fingertip.
    â€œWho is it?”
    â€œIt’s the police,” Tirrell shouted, trying to disguise his voice.
    Tasha didn’t respond.
    â€œOpen the door, ma’am.”
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œWe have a warrant to search your apartment.”
    â€œYou what? Um, I’m gonna need to see some ID.”
    Unable to maintain the pretense, he laughed. “Open the door, baby. It’s me, Tirrell.”
    The lock clicked and the door flew open almost as soon as he announced his name. The cocoa-skinned five-foot-eight-inch female jumped into Tirrell’s arms and kissed him.
    â€œOh my God,” Tasha squealed. “What are you doin’ here?”
    â€œAin’t you glad to see me?”
    â€œWhat do you think? I’m just surprised, that’s all. What would you have done if I wasn’t home?”
    â€œI would’ve camped outside your door until you got here. That’s how much I missed you, girl.”
    He held her at bay and examined her as if it were the first time they’d met. “Damn, look at you. You look good!”
    â€œI’ve been working out.” She blushed. “I’ve lost twelve pounds.”
    Tirrell smacked her rear. “You know you don’t need to lose none of this here.”
    Tasha giggled.
    Tirrell took a couple of steps into the apartment, dropped his duffel bag, and set the tangled mess of flowers on the coffee table. He laid her down on the sofa and rested his weight on top of her. The heat between them caused his nature and his temperature to rise simultaneously. In one movement, he pulled her tank top up over her head, exposing her plump, bare breasts, and