Don’t let that video upset your day. We’re going to figure this out, and your story is going to right a lot of wrongs. You got this, and you’re not alone. <3
Dream:
Whose ass in Lyle do I need to beat? Call me when you can, friend.
Dad:
When will you learn to stop provoking the people who keep these communities safe? Pastor Jefferies sent me this video, and I couldn’t even respond.
Her father’s message made her pause as the thumping in her ears began. She hated the blind trust he put in law enforcement. She didn’t want to call her own father a sellout, but when he said things like this, it got challenging to describe him in any other way.
What was bothering her most, though, was the evident disappointment and disgust dripping from his words. Joseph Avery II had a way of reaching her that no one else could.
Mr. Hill:
Checking on you. Call me as soon as you can.
Nahla tossed her phone on the bed and closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths before opening them again. She hadn’t even opened her eyes good, and her day was already starting terribly.
She got out of bed and went to the restroom. As she brushed her teeth, she noticed that her hand was trembling. She placed her free hand over her chest, and her heart was thumping against it. Frustrated with herself, she rolled her eyes. She wanted to put her father and the sheriff out of her mind and go about the rest of her day, but it was proving to be a difficult task.
Once she finished brushing her teeth, she went straight to the shower, hoping the water and steam would soothe her. As she washed, she tried to recenter by taking more deep breaths.
It wasn’t working.
She felt tears run down her cheeks and made no moves to wipe them away. She hated showing weakness, especially whenit came to her father. He had been the same way all her life, but it never stopped her from hoping their relationship could be different one day. She just wanted a parent who appreciated and loved the person she was, but what she had was a father who wanted nothing more than to change everything about her.
Moments like this made her miss Atlanta. At least she had distance from the cause of her broken heart. It was easier to pretend everything was good when thousands of miles separated her from this reality.
Ugh.I hate this so much,she thought.
It wasn’tjusther father’s words or the lying sheriff that was overwhelming her. It was the fact that she was only sure that three of the people who texted her phone this morning actually cared about how she was doing, and one of them she had only met a couple of days ago.
It was wild how much closer she felt to people who weren’t her flesh and blood than she did to those who were. Mr. Hill and Dream had her back. Time and loyalty had proven that. And Capri was just as solid. They didn’t have time in their corner, but Nahla could just tell—the Porter siblings were keepers.
Speaking of the Porters . . .
Although she had all these messages to respond to, the only person she cared to speak to at this moment was Cannon. The day before had been a whirlwind. When she woke up yesterday morning, she did not expect the night to end the way it did. She had no regrets, though.
Nahlahadbeen inebriated last night, but she meant everything she said to Cannon. She was feeling him more than a little bit; she could only hope that he meant what he said too.
Once she was moisturized and dressed, she glanced at her phone again. Hesitantly, she grabbed it, knowing she couldn’t avoid the messages for long. With another deep sigh, she left her room. Her first stop was the kitchen, and the sight beforeher distracted her from her depressing thoughts for a moment. Cannon was standing in front of the stove, shirtless. The gray band of his boxers was barely visible over the cream-colored sweatpants he wore, and a fresh pair of white socks graced his feet. The view was immaculate.
“Good morning,” she said, stepping further into the kitchen.
Cannon turned around and flashed her one of his rare smiles. That one gesture settled something in her.
As he examined Nahla’s face, his smile dropped, and a frown replaced it. Cannon placed the spatula he was holding on the counter and approached her. Wrapping his arms around her, Cannon asked, “What’s wrong?”
Now, Nahla was frowning. There wasplentywrong, but his smile had low-key fixed it. He had her smiling, too, so how in the world did he pick up on the fact that something was bothering her?
“Your eyes are red. Your lips are puffy.”
Nahla rolled her eyes. Her eyes were dramatic. They would get red at even the slightest hint of tears. She should have looked in the mirror after her shower.
“I’m sure it looks worse than it actually is. I just let out a few tears in the shower.”
Still holding on to her, he asked, “Why?”
