I nodded and we slipped into silence. “I’ve been thinking. I’ve spent my entire life not knowing what real friendship is. I look at you and Grim and Tarek and the way you three are with each other—I mean, Tarek called, and no one questioned him. Neither you or Grim hesitated or thought of your own safety. Both of you came running. And Bunny and Xman?”
“Ellie—we come running because we know Cobra would do the same thing.” Maia replied. “He’s proven over the years we can trust him. He’s proven he has our backs even if we’re acting like assholes.”
I chuckled.
“And you can have that.”
“Doubt it.” I cleared my throat. “Tarek was right—karma is now kicking my ass because I’ve been an asshole for far too long.”
“I’m sure that’s not how it works. And if Tarek said that, he was probably angry.” She walked over to sit beside me. “After all, you did accuse him of rape.”
“I’m so tired of still paying for that one mistake.” I rested my head on her shoulder Suddenly, it was as though I couldn’t control my muscles to hold my head up.
“Then do something about it.” Maia told me.
“Like what?”
“First, refuse to live in that moment.” Maia explained. “You’ve had the talk with Tarek, now have it with your father. Put your foot down by telling both these men what you want. Apologize one final time to Tarek then ensure they know you’re going to live apart from the mistake.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Of course, it is. Look, as humans we do fucked-up things all the time.” Maia paused. “Take it from me—I’m a cop. I’ve seen some messed up bullshit you’d never believe. I know what human beings are capable of—the evil they’re capable of. What you’ve done to Tarek was wrong and could have led to all kinds of trouble, but it didn’t. You can’t dwell in that place.”
“After that, what?”
“Tell your father, he can take it or leave it. Then, tell Tarek you want him, and you’re willing to learn and grow.”
“Did that already.”
Maia laughed. “So, you’re doing it backwards.”
I sighed. “I think we could have been friends in another life, Maia.”
“Another life?” She asked. “Well, we’re in this one now. I say we start here, hmm?”
“Really?” I lifted my head.
“You’re not a bad person, Ellie. Maybe back in the day. I mean, as teenager girls we all did stupid things.”
“Did you accuse the guy you had a crush on of rape?”
“Well, some worse than others. But what defines you now, is how you go on from that.” She rubbed my back. “Tarek is a smart man. Trust me, he’ll figure things out inside himself then face you. He’s making love to you—that’s something.”
I giggled. “It’s something, all right.”
“Bad girl!” Maia teased.
“Maia?” Tarek called from the hall. “Ellie?”
“In here!” They chorused.
“We got something!” Tarek replied.
Both Maia and I looked at each other then darted out the door.
Cobra
When night fell,there was still no movement at the building. It was almost as if the lead we’d gotten was wrong. Something wasn’t right. Grim and I exchanged looks while Maia scratched her head.
