“I have to tell you something.”
“Okay, tell me.”
“I will, just not now.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Give me some time, okay? I promise I’ll tell you soon.”
“I’ll give you one week, Cin, and then I expect answers.”
“Okay, one week,” I agree.
I can’t keep still, so I do sets of pushups. She looked guilty. Maybe she wants to get back with Trevor. Well, too fucking bad. That’ll only happen over my cold dead body. There’s no going back. I refuse to share her again. She’s mine. I had no idea being shipped to North Carolina would change my outlook on life, and I have Cin to thank for that. She already has my heart, but I’d give that girl much more.
“Hey,” Ricky greets me.
“Just because I left the door open a little doesn’t mean you have an invitation to come inside.”
“I need to speak to you in my office.”
Oh fuck, this can’t be good. I follow him into his office, surprised to find the old man there. Ricky closes the door then perches on the corner of his desk.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
“It’s better if you have a seat.” Ricky motions to an empty chair.
I remain where I am.
“Suit yourself,” Ricky says.
“Arthur, are you using cocaine again?” the old man asks.
The motherfucker has never been good at subtlety.
“I thought we were going to ease into the conversation.” Ricky sighs.
“No, I’m not,” I reply.
“Show him.”
Ricky pulls a small clear baggie from his pocket. “This was under the dining room table. Is it yours?”
“Yes.” There’s no point in lying. Damn, I never thought about looking for the baggie.
“So, you’re on drugs again!” The old man springs to his feet.
“Sit back down, before you have a heart attack and find yourself alongside your son in a nursing home.”
“How can you be so calm about this?” Ricky asks.
“I was going to get high, but I didn’t.”
“And we’re supposed to believe you?” my grandfather asks.
“I don’t give a damn what you believe, but to get you off my back, I’ll take a drug test.” I walk towards the door, considering the matter over.
“You brought drugs into my house with the purpose of getting high, regardless if you didn’t,” Ricky says. “That’s a big fucking deal.”
