I heard the phone being set down, and her calling for Malachi in the distance.
“Everything okay?” he asked, his voice sounding clear as if he had just entered the room. I had gone from seeing and talking to him every day to silence for months. Hearing my best friend’s voice after everything that had happened, just instantly slammed me in my chest like hurricane-force winds… taking my breath away. It was strange to hear his voice again, even over the phone.
“Someone’s on the phone for you,” Rose explained, bringing me back to the present moment and reminding me to breathe. “Hand me that baby.”
I hadn’t met their son yet. He was only a few months old, and I didn’t even know his name. It was just another failure to add to my ever-growing list. For so long, I could tell you what Malachi had for breakfast each day. Now, it was wild howlittleI knew about his life.
“What?” he asked over the phone, his voice as grouchy as I remembered. I swear that man was only happy with his family, and sometimes me. Or at least hewashappy around me.
“Hey, Malachi,” I mumbled.
The line was quiet. Too quiet. I couldn’t even hear him breathing. I wondered if he had hung up after hearing my voice.
It was what I deserved.
“Malachi?” I asked.
“Holy shit,” he mumbled, “Rome? Is that really you?”
“Yeah… umm… I was wondering if we could talk about some stuff if you have the time.”
He audibly exhaled, and I could hear him sit down. “I always have time for you, Rome. What’s going on?”
“I don’t even know where to begin…” I explained truthfully.
“The beginning would be best.”
He was right. I took a steadying breath and told him…everything.
I told him about Bec, about the letters she had been receiving, and the rumors her father was spreading. I told him about Bec and me entering into a fake relationship for her job, and how it has since evolved into something real. I told him about the incident, about watching Bec be snatched away from me. I even told him how helpless I had felt in those moments, and the fear that had flooded my veins.
I told him everything I could think of, the words falling out before my brain had time to catch up to it all. It was over an hour of me explaining the details and situations of the last few months. I even told him about my realization that I was drawn to grouchy assholes like him, which wasn’t necessary, but apparently I talk when I'm nervous.
Malachi didn’t interject, didn’t ask questions, simply hummed in occasional acknowledgment, letting me know he was listening. He was never much of a talker, but it worked out because I was.
When I finally got to the end of the story, I paused, waiting for him to respond. To yell at me for what I had done, and for ignoring him for over half a year. Maybe ask questions about the letters Bec had been receiving, or the incident that had occurred.
But of course, none of that was his first question.
“You actually have a girlfriend?” Malachi asked, clearly shocked. “Like a real, breathing girlfriend? Not just a fling? Or a one-night stand?”
I huffed a laugh, “After everything I just told you, that’s what you’re hung up on? Me having a girlfriend?”
“Do you blame me?” He asked in a joking tone. “No offense, man, in the entire time I’ve known you, you haven’t even shown interest in having a real relationship. In fact, I remember you having to wear ballcaps and hoodies when we went out because of the amount of scorned lovers you had.”
“Scorned lovers?” I laughed.
“Mmhmm. Don’t you remember all the times you would pretend to be withmeto avoid a previous hookup?” God, I hadn’t remembered that, but it had been hilarious to see how red Malachi got at the insinuation. “Rome, I didn’t know you knewhowto have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t,” I admitted. “I have zero idea what I’m doing, but she’s still here, so I must be doing something right.”
Malachi laughed, “I guess you are. She’s lucky to have you. Truly, brother. Anyway, what is it exactly that you need from me? How can I help?”
“Wait, what?” I asked in shock, “That’s it? No other questions? No other concerns?” I could just imagine him rolling his eyes at me. God, I should have realized how similar he was to Bec. Maybe I did have a type.
“Rome, remember what you always used to tell me when you did anything for me? Even if it was just listening to me on the rare occasions I would open up… ‘It’s what friends do,’” he said, mimicking my voice. “So I’ll ask again… what do you need from me?”
I closed my eyes and took a steadying breath. I did not deserve to have Malachi as a friend, not anymore.
