“Hey.” I returned her hug, but my eyes were on River.
When she released me, I went to hug Momma Dana.
“I’m sorry.” I held her in my arms for a moment and rubbed her back. I wanted to go to River first, but I knew once I did, I wouldn’t let her go.
“Thanks for coming,” Momma Dana said once I released her.
River was next to her father’s bed, holding his hand. Her cries made my chest feel heavy.
“Of course. I’m here for anything you need.”
I walked to Jordan and hugged him. I held him for a little bit while he broke down.
Once I released him, I made my way to River.
“Hey, Babygirl.” I rubbed her back as she continued to cry.
She stood and fell into my arms.
“I got you, baby,” I whispered as she kept her head buried in my chest.
I held her tighter as her loud wails pierced the air. I kissed the top of her head as her brother watched.
I placed my hand on the side of River’s face and lifted her head. I couldn’t help myself when I kissed her lips. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need me for.” I kissed her again. This time, I noticed the frown on Jordan’s face.
“What the fuck is this?” he shouted.
“Not now, J,” I told him as I continued to hold River.
I knew we needed to talk, but this wasn’t the right time.
“Fuck you mean, not right now. Why the fuck are you kissing my sister while my father is lying here dead!”
His wife stepped behind him and put her hand on his back, trying to calm him down. That didn’t work because the next thing I knew, he was in my face.
I released River because I didn’t know what Jordan would do.
I put my hand on his chest. “J, I’ll tell you everything when the time is right.” I tried to reason with him to defuse the situation.
“Nah, fuck that!” He pushed my hand away.
Without warning, Jordan punched me in my shit.
I heard our mothers gasp.
“Jordan!” River and his wife called at the same time.
I licked the inside of my cheek and cupped my jaw. That shit hurt, but I wasn’t going to give him the reaction he was looking for.
“I’m gonna let that shit slide because shit’s emotional right now.” I glanced over at River.
“Don’t look at her. Matter of fact, stay away from her like I told you niggas before!”
“Jordan, calm down,” his mother said as she put her hand on his back. “Now isn’t the time for this.”
He looked around the room. “Y’all knew about this shit?”
Nobody answered. I knew how things must have looked to him, but it wasn’t like that. Everything that I didn’t want to happen happened. I didn’t think my friendship with Jordan was over, but I knew it would take some time to fix it.
