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“Nah, I called because you disappeared on me.”
My stomach tightened. “I didn’t disappear. The event was over.”
“You left without sayin’ bye.”
“Juvie…”
“What, Juicy? You gon’ give me another bullshit excuse?”
I opened my mouth to say something, then snapped it shut. He stared at me through the screen for a few seconds, and I hated how easily he made me feel seen without doing shit.
“I see you,” he finally said. “Stop actin’ like I don’t know when somethin’ wrong wit’ you.”
I swallowed and looked back at the road. “You don’t know me like that anymore.”
His face softened just the way it would when I knew him best. “That’s the problem, Juicy. I think I still do.”
Three days had passed since the youth center event, and I was still in the same space. Every time Juvie texted me or made a joke, my stomach flipped. I caught myself looking forward to talking to him. The guilt was eating me alive. I sat in front of his fiancée, laughing and smiling, and now I was letting myself get emotionally attached to her man. I was so glad that Emery had two days off. My brain needed to recalibrate.
I sat in the Kroger parking lot, waiting for Selene. She was meeting me here, so we could catch up and do our grocery shopping together. It sounded weird, but this was the type of shit Selene found joy in. When I heard speakers rattling beside me, I didn’t even need to look up; I knew it was my sister. I slung my purse over my shoulder, shut off my car, and stepped out. Whatever weed she was smoking was seeping right out of her truck.
“Now, this bitch knows she don’t need to be grocery shopping while she’s high,” I muttered, pulling my coat tighter.
Her tints were so dark that I couldn’t see what she was doing while I stood outside in the fuckin’ cold. Her music was still knocking like she didn’t have a care in the world. I banged on her window hard as hell.
“Selene, come the fuck on, bitch! It’s cold!”
Her music stopped first. Then, her engine shut off. This lady stepped out, slow as hell, followed by a cloud of thick-ass smoke. I looked her over, and she looked good. Prada shades, a fur-lined leather coat, and if you knew Selene, she loved a shark boot.
“Damn, Savi. Relax. You wanna hit the weed so your mean ass can calm down?” she said, sliding her purse over her shoulder.
“Hell no,” I replied, looping my arm with hers. “I’m cold. Let’s go, Smokey.”
Inside, Selene only grabbed one cart. She had five people to shop for, and she wanted to share a cart. I didn’t say anything; I just shook my head and followed her down the produce aisle. Selene pulled out her phone, checked her list, then got right to it. I only needed a few things, so I grabbed what I needed and waited for Selene. Once she was done, we moved to the meats.
“What’s been going on with you, Savi? Shaina said you’ve been dodging her calls and shit. And I know if you answered for me, and not Shaina, you either did something stupid, or you’re about to,” Selene said, picking up a pack of chicken.
I sucked my teeth and folded my arms across my chest. “What’s that supposed to mean, Lene?”
She lifted her shades and turned toward me. “First of all, you’re answering a question with a question. Secondly, you’re defensive off top. And you’re ignoring Shaina, which is something you never do. So, again. Tell me what’s going on with you.”
“Lene… Not right now,” I whined.
“Nope. That whining shit works with Mommy. That shit don’t fly with me. Tell me now, or Ima call Shaina, and she gon’ make you spill it.”
I dropped my arms to my sides and stared at her. Selene stood in front of me, arms folded across her chest, waiting for me to speak.
“Lene…”
“Savannah Nicole…”
“Oh, my God!” I screeched.
She pulled out her phone and shook it. “Yup! Oh, my God! Spill it. Now.”
I snatched up a pack of chicken breasts and tossed it into the cart, trying to get the words out. Selene squinted at me, looking just like Mommy. She started scrolling through her phone, and I knew she was about to call Shaina.
“Okay! Y’all were right!” I blurted out.
