“Now that I can’t drink, you’re drinking for two?”
“Just tonight. The rest of the time, I’ll be sober in solidarity.”
She grins. Her smile makes the entire room brighter. I hardly feel hungry anymore because I feel perfectly content to stare at Aricia and feast on her appearance instead. I’m sure Aricia’s actually hungry.
“We’re really going to do this then?” she asks.
“Of course,” I tell her. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“Because it’s crazy.”
“Nothing could be crazier than how we got together,” I remind her. “So let’s promise to make the rest a smooth ride.”
“Thank you,” she says. Her tone is blunt, almost chilling. My eyes meet hers and for a moment I wonder if she suspects or knows what I did with my family in Miami. But then she relaxes and I remember that I’m dealing with a defense attorney.A pretty fucking smart one.
“I love you, Aricia. I would do anything for you.”
“I know that.”
“So that’s it then? We’re getting married. I’m happy.”
Beyond happy. Aricia laughs, like there’s something funny about me confessing my deepest emotions to her. There’s no feeling more dangerous than happiness in the mob, none more vulnerable. But I feel safe sharing it with Aricia.
“So am I, Peter. Let’s promise to only get better with age.”
“That’s an easy promise to make.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Keyonah P Edwards
Istared at the 8 x 10 photograph of my brother’s face, watching the light reflect off his bald head. I can’t believe he’s gone. I know it’s been a few months and I’ve had plenty of time to get used to his absence, but every time I walk into my condo, I see the candle and picture, and remember… he’s dead.
My phone rings right on time. His ex-wife promised to call me, but she hasn’t told me why.
“Keyonah? Is that you?” My ex-sister-in-law sounds surprised to hear my voice. I feel unwanted on impact, even if she clearly doesn’t mean anything by it. Everything puts me on edge these days.
“Hey, Aricia. It’s me.”
“How’s it going?”
My gaze moves from my brother’s photograph to the eviction notices taped to my door. I keep peeling them off the front of my door and sticking them on the inside because it’s too embarrassing to keep them on display for the neighbours to see.
“It’s all good around here.”
I jump back as a small cockroach scuttles under the door and walks aimlessly towards my roommate’s sneakers. I step on it and pray that the crunch isn’t audible over the phone. It’s thetype of paranoid on-edge thought you have when you’re stuck in a situation like this.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get in touch,” Aricia says. “We had a hard time sorting through Kennard’s will, but we’re finally ready for you to come out to Buffalo and sign the documents. Can you come any time this month?”
Fuck. I totally forgot that she mentioned that after giving me the news about Kennard. I feel bad for Aricia after the way my brother treated her. He cut me off when I threatened to tell her about my friend who saw him on Grindr. I had a complicated relationship with Kennard that I mostly didn’t think about because of my real life problems.
Like the insane asshole I’m hiding out from right now, for example.
“I… I don’t know, Aricia. It’s expensive to get all the way up north.”
“I can pay for your plane ticket.”
“I don’t have my ID anymore.”
