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“You’re right. That was the wrong form of words. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be. You don’t have the right. You’re nothing and nobody to me.” I had never been so angry in my entire life. Resentment bubbled out of every pore.
I turned to Rocky and Kayla.
”Come on. Apparently, I need to fill in some paperwork about the dea—” the word stuck in my throat. “—about Dad. Then I just want to go ho—” I couldn’t finish. “—I can’t go back there. Not with all Dad’s things there and his smell, and everything. That place is all him. I can’t.” Fresh tears streamed down my face.
“Okay, so come back to mine.”
“I can’t, Rock. I’m not good company right now. I don’t want to encroach.”
“You don’t need to be good company, or any kind of company. You can stay in my room, and I can crash with Xavier. I’m sure Erykah won’t mind, under the circumstances.” Erykah was Rocky’s roommate in their teeny-tiny apartment way off campus from the prestigious Heathcote University where they both studied.
“In the dorms?” I couldn’t think of anything worse.
“Trinity Hall? Ewww! That place is such a frat boy haven. Nope. His off-campus apartment. I’ve been staying there a lot, anyway.” Wow. It really was on between the two of them. And of course, like Drew, not only did he have a penthouse room at the elite Trinity Hall, but he also had somewhere off campus to stay. This was a level of rich I hadn’t even fathomed before knowing these guys.
“No, I can’t do that to you, or Erykah. It’s not fair.”
“You can stay with me. Take Jamal’s room, and he can share with Jamela.” Kayla was so sweet.
“No, Kay, I can’t do that, it’s even more of an inconvenience. Thanks anyway, but I’ll figure something out.”
“You can take the suite at The Place. You can be there for as long as you like. You’ll have it to yourself. I’ll sleep at Trinity Hall.” As much as I wanted to tell him exactly where to stick his hotel room, it was the best offer on the table. The only person who’d be inconvenienced was him, and it was a pretty minor inconvenience, and way less than he deserved.
“Okay.”
“What?” Rocky and Kayla spoke at the same time, their heads snapping sharply toward me, looking at me as though I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had, but not over this particular issue.
“It’s fine guys. It’s just somewhere to crash and cry, and not be surrounded by shit that reminds me of my dad, but it also won’t inconvenience you guys.” Both women looked at me as though I’d lost my mind, and maybe I had. “It’s okay. Honestly.”
Rocky folded her arms, and glared at Drew. She looked every bit like a mother scolding her child. “If you’re sure.” She pursed her lips, for added effect.
“I am. Love you both.”
They circled me, and hugged me close, as we sobbed together. I had no idea how long we stayed like that, but when I looked up through puffy eyes, and a tear-stained haze, Drew had gone.
* * *
Hours later when we walked out into the hospital parking lot after dealing with the administrative details pertaining to Dad’s death, I was not at all surprised to spot Drew in the dark, his face illuminated by his phone screen as he tapped away.
As always, he had his feet crossed at the ankles while he leaned against the hood of his truck. He looked up when he heard me approach, and immediately stood up straight shoving his phone hastily into his pocket.
“Hey.”
“You waited.”
“Of course. I’ll drop you at the hotel. Get you settled in.”
I turned to Rocky and Kayla who were hanging back awkwardly. “I’ll be fine. Honestly. You go.”
Rocky looked dubiously from me to Drew and back again. Her raised eyebrow said it all, but she said it aloud anyway. “You’re totally sure? The offer of my place is still there. Anytime.”
“Mine too,” Kayla chimed in.
“I know. You guys get home. We’ve done what we can here today. And thank you. I couldn’t have done it all without you both by my side. I’ll speak to you in the morning.” We hugged, and said our final goodbyes, then I turned back to Drew, staring him down. He stared back, but if I wasn’t mistaken, he was missing his usual swag.
“You ready?” I nodded, no longer meeting his eyes. “Okay, let’s go.”
