Running From the Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

those light brown, almond shaped eyes, the smooth brown skin, a little darker than his, and that hypnotic slanted smile.
    The girl was only about five feet five inches tall, and slim and curvy. He could assume she was with that tall unfriendly-looking guy, but even if that were true, the girl didn’t seem the slightest bit disturbed by what was going on around her.
    “Thinking about all this is making my head hurt,” he thought aloud. “Maybe I should just do everything in daylight and stay inside at night.”
    Jelani walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Tired eyes above a scraggly goatee stared back at him. He mostly preferred the bald head with goatee look, but occasionally the facial hair would get on his nerves and he would shave it off. Deciding he wasn’t tired of it just yet, he pulled out the electric shaver and gave it a good trim before washing his face and starting the shower. “Time to get the day started.”
    Just as he was about to disrobe, his phone rang to the tune of “Duel of the Fates,” from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace . He picked up the phone and rolled his eyes. “Oh, Melinda,” he breathed. “Must be bored.” He answered the call. “Hello?” he said, reaching his arm into the shower to turn off the water. “Yeah, just getting the day started. Whatcha got?”
    Melinda’s voice was like silk flowing through the phone. “Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me, love? I was bored and thought I’d reach out, since I haven’t heard from you in so long.”
    “We spoke two days ago and I’m glad it’s me you turn to when you’re bored.”
    “You know what I mean, honey. And it feels like it’s been longer than just a couple days. I want to see you. What are you doing today?”
    “Washing my hair.”
    There was laughter on the other end of the line. “Nice. So does that mean you don’t want to see me? Are you mad at me about something?”
    If he had been standing in front of her, Jelani was positive he would see her bottom lip poked out and her chin in that cute little wrinkle that she was so good at. The girl knew how to be cute, he had to give her that.
    “No, I’m not mad at you at all. I’ve just got some things going on that I need to sort through right now.”
    “Why don’t you take a break and let’s do something today? Maybe catch a movie or get something to eat?”
    Translation: I’m out a minimum of fifty bucks for today. “You have something in mind you wanted to see?”
    “I’ve been wanting to see The Sainted Sinner since I saw the trailer six months ago.”
    Suddenly, Jelani felt sleepy again. “ The Sainted Sinner ? Seriously? You want to subject me to a movie about a prostitute who went on to own her own brothel, met a female monk, and changed the brothel and everyone in it to a place of worship before she was murdered, and then, later recognized by the Catholic Church for her goodly deeds?”
    “You sound like you’ve already seen it.”
    “In a moment of disbelief, I read an article about it.”
    “The story might do you some good.”
    Jelani almost laughed. “Because I’m always out whoring around, right?”
    “Because you might find it inspirational, smart ass. You know it’s supposed to be based on a true story.”
    “And that is going to make me more inclined to see it?”
    “That and the prospect of seeing it with someone who would like very much to see it with you.” There was a pause, and Jelani realized she’d just hit the ball in his court.
    “Can I call you when I get out of the shower? You just caught me about to jump in.”
    “Mmm. You know you shouldn’t tell me things like that unless you don’t mind me picturing you naked.”
    “Maybe I don’t mind.”
    “Maybe I’ll come over and join you.”
    “Don’t say it unless you mean it.”
    She giggled, and it was that cute, girlie giggle that he didn’t really care for. “I’ll talk to you after you’ve gotten all prettied up,