“For fuck sake, Brevin,” Tina snapped. “How do I know you haven’t murdered her and stuffed her in a box in your basement or something?”
I took the phone away from my ear and called in the direction of the living room, “Chevonne, can you tell Tina you’re okay?”
“I’m okay!” came Chevonne’s voice loud and clear into the kitchen.
“Happy?” I asked the woman on the other end of the line.
“I will not be happy until I see my friend,” she said.
“Don’t worry.” Knowing full well it would piss her off even more, I added, “I’ll take good care of her.” And then I hung up.
CHAPTER 9
Chevonne
Brevin came backinto the living room five minutes after he called for me to prove to Tina that I was okay. He was carrying another two mugs filled with steaming hot liquid.
“I have tea and I have hot chocolate,” he said. “Which would you prefer? If you just want to cradle one of them in your hands to warm yourself up some more, that’s okay too.”
I smiled up at him. “I’ll take the hot chocolate. I think I could use the sugar.”
He handed me one of the mugs and took his seat by my feet again.
“What did Tina say?” I asked him. I took a tiny sip of my hot chocolate. Too hot to drink, but just holding it close to my body was exactly what I needed. I could wait.
“She was afraid I’d murdered you.” He looked appropriately concerned at the concept.
I rolled my eyes. “Tina can be dramatic when she wants to be.” On second thought, I shook my head. “Scratch that. She’sdramatic all the time. Wait. You’re not going to murder me, are you?” I teased.
“After I went to all that trouble to save your life? What an inefficient use of my time that would be.”
I laughed and he smiled; that gorgeous grin that lit up his face in high school was still there.
“I really do regret that we didn’t get a chance to get to know each other back when we were eighteen,” Brevin said. “I know I was an idiot when we were in the musical, but after that … I guess my parents were a lot like your friend. They kept control over everything I did, even though I was technically an adult. It wasn’t until I had real money of my own that I got free from them.”
“And now? Do you still talk to them?”
He dropped his gaze to his cup clutched in both hands. “Only when I have to.”
“I’m sorry if I brought up something you don’t like to think about.” I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I was too far away. Instead, I tucked my toes under his thigh. Brevin gently held my uninjured ankle with his warm hand.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I just wish they’d been more … normal, you know?”
“Yeah.” I wondered what it would take out of me, both physically and emotionally, to make a clean break from Tina. So much of our lives were tangled together, from groups we both belonged to on social media to yoga and fitness classes we took together. Then again, I couldn’t afford the classes anymore anyway if my job wasn’t secure. I wouldn’t be able to afford my apartment much longer, and moving meant I might not be able to keep Princess.
All the thoughts made me sigh, which made Brevin turn his gaze to me again.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. “Because I’m getting hungry, so I could whip us both up some dinner.”
“That would be great, thank you.” I smiled at him, truly grateful for everything he’d done for me. “I had a granola bar when I was sitting under the tree, but I have no idea how long ago that was. It seems like a different time.” One in which I counted on Tina for my well being. I rolled my eyes and snapped back to the moment when Brevin spoke.
“Is there anything you’re allergic to? Any intolerances? Dislikes?”
“I’ll eat just about anything,” I said, appreciating his concern.
“Well, I’ve got steaks I can cook on the barbecue on the covered deck, along with … hmm. Baked potatoes would take an hour outside. But I have rice and I could do baby carrots. Or I have the ingredients for grilled cheese.”
“Whichever you prefer. I’m good with either.”
