Chapter 16

16

N eko

Two Weeks Later

I'd been staying at The Rose Valley Hotel since everything went down. I had enough money to get my own place, but I didn't really want to. This was going to be the first time in my life that I lived alone, and I was in no rush for that. After telling my folks what went down, they told me I could come back home, but I didn't want to. I wanted to go back to the home I shared with my best friend and the woman I loved, but I knew we'd never be able to get back to that.

After I got my things out of the house, Malik blocked me and changed the locks. I had no choice but to respect his decision to be done with me. I wished I could tell him things were over between me and Mal and that kiss was a slip up, but it really didn't matter. We'd bonded, made love and fucked, and fallen in love. I would never downplay that.

I'd reached out to Laura to apologize, and she told me it was okay. She told me Malorie was going back to Memphis with her, which surprised me. I was happy Mal would be able to be near her mom, but I hated feeling like I'd created tension between her and her brother. When I reached out to her and asked her if we could talk before she left I was surprised she said yes. At the last minute she changed her mind and sent me a text instead.

The 1: I'm so sorry. What we did was selfish. We never should have taken it there. Even though I don't regret it, I hate it cost you my brother. If it makes you feel better, he hates me now too. ?? I know eventually he will forgive me and I want the same for you. I think it's best if we keep our distance. He needs you and you need him. Romantic love isn't worth me losing my brother and you losing your best friend. Fix things with him… for me. Please. I love you. Goodbye.

It didn't matter how many times I read the text, all I could do was shake my head. I didn't have my best friend, I didn't have my woman, and I wasn't sure my relationship with either of them would ever be the same again.