Adrienne didn’t say another word, just opened the front door and went inside. Amiyah stood there for a moment, then she did something I didn’t expect. She rushed into my arms and hugged me tightly.
I stood there frozen for a moment before wrapping my arms around her. Tears spilled from my eyes as I cradled her against my body. She would never know how much I needed this.
“I love you,” I whispered. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry.”
“Miyah, get your ass in this house,” Adrienne yelled.
She pulled away from me. Going into her bag, she pulled out a scrap piece of paper and a pencil before scribbling something down on it.
“That’s my number,” she said, thrusting it into my hands. “If you have a phone, text me.”
I looked down at the paper and wiped the tears from my eyes. “Thank you.”
She offered me a light smile. “I’ll work on Adrienne. She’s not the hardass she thinks she is.”
She kissed my cheeks before going into the house and closing the door. I stood on the porch for a moment, clutching the paper in my hands. It wasn’t what I hoped for, but it was a start. After stuffing the number in my crossbody, I hurried down the front steps and back across the street. Just as I made it to the end of the street, I looked back to see a car pulling in the yard. I paused in my stride to see my mother getting out.
She still had her youthful look, still as beautiful as ever. It was a shame she had the looks, but her spirit was so damn evil. I never understood why she hated me so much. I tried to be a good daughter. I tried everything I knew to make her proud of me…to make her love me, and nothing was ever good enough. It was like my very existence pissed her off.
How could I compete with hate?
If she didn’t want me, I would have preferred she’d gotten an abortion or given me to someone who did want me. She could have given me to my aunt and uncle for that matter. Instead, she chose to keep me so she could mistreat me. I wondered if her hatred of me fueled her denial about Rodney. There was no way she couldn’t have known. I wasn’t a mother, but when it came to my sisters, my instincts were always on point. Shehadto have known something.
I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t realize she was staring at me, squinting. Anger found its way to her face when she realized who I was. Throwing her things on the ground, she began storming across the street. I turned and sped toward the corner where people were getting on the next bus. I climbed on and quickly swiped my bus pass before taking a seat. The closer she got, the more anxious I became. I prayed everybody boarded quickly so we could leave.
I didn’t fear Kennedy. I simply didn’t want an altercation with her right now.
She tried to get on the bus, but the driver stopped her.
“You need a bus pass, ma’am.”
“Fuck you and your bus pass. Come here, bitch,” she yelled at me.
“Ma’am, you need to vacate this vehicle before I call the cops.”
She glared at him before her eyes settled on me. “Stay the fuck away from my house and my kids. If I catch you over here again, your ass is mine.”
She turned and stormed off the bus. Everyone was looking around, trying to figure out who she was talking to. I relaxed my face, trying to match their concern and hide my guilt. Settled into my seat, I watched as she made her way back down the street. I knew in my heart that this wasn’t over. The shit had only just begun.
Chapter 12
Killian
I tossed my wallet and keys into the bowl beside my front door and kicked off my shoes.
Today had been a long day, and all I wanted to do was sip on a beer, kick my feet up, and watch some football. I headed into the kitchen to grab the beverage and something to snack on while I relaxed. I’d just settled on the couch and turned on the television when my phone began to ring.
I groaned. I just knew it was work calling, and I’d just left the place. Begrudgingly, I placed my items down and dug in my pocket to retrieve the phone. My brows furrowed as I read the unfamiliar number on the screen.
“Hello?”
There was silence on the other end of the line. I pulled the phone from my ear to make sure they hadn’t hung up, and sure enough they were still there.
“Hello?” I said again.
“Killian.”
The sound of her voice made my ears perk and me sit up straight.
