“Then I should stay in the friends camp, right?” I bite back a groan and rub the scraggly beard on my face. At least I don’t need my sight to do that.
“You might have to. Should we tag Raimo in on this?”
“Nope. He’s friends with Val. His view might be tainted.”
“Or it might give a needed perspective.”
I think through the logic. “Call him.”
The phone rings, then pauses as Raimo connects. “Yo, what’s up, Javi?”
“Hey, Raimo. Crank’s on the line too.”
“Crank, you good? It’s almost midnight.”
“I don’t have any more words. Javi, you tell him.” I don’t want to hear Raimo’s reaction, but I can’tnothear it either.
After Javier brings him up to speed, the line is eerily quiet.
“Raimo?” I ask cautiously.
“Dude, get your girl.”
18
Val
My mind is whirling.
All the way home, Jabari’s side of the story rings in my head. He didn’t cheat on Jackie. Now I’m faced with the reality that my sister might not be as innocent as she’s always portrayed herself. What did he mean by it “got ugly”? Had she been abusive? Destructive? The phrase is about as vague as one can get.
I hate it.
I want to drive to Jackie’s house and demand answers, but then I’ll have to give answers of my own. Like why do I care? Am I ready to admit to my sisters that Jabari is a good friend, and I’mnotashamed of him? Because keeping this a secret certainly points to shame and that I’m up to no good. I came into this friendship with good intentions. No one should be left alone to deal with trauma by themselves. Only now my good intentions are causing me angst. I befriended a person whose name is mud in my family.
“What do I do, Lord?” I cry out in the silence of my car and hear nothing but the pitiful whine in my voice.
The Lord would probably tell me how I’m breaking so many codes and allegiances by befriending Jabari. Or maybe He’d say I’m helping a hurting man and doing right.
“Or maybe it’s grayer than those black-and-white thoughts, Val,” I murmur to myself.
I turn into the parking garage and wave my fob to let me in. Soon I’m parked in my personal spot and heading for the elevators.
Whatisthe right thing to do in this situation? At first, Jabari seemed hurt I might not sit with him at church, then changed to being understanding later. Which reaction is the truth?
Before I can unlock the door, it swings open.
My mouth drops as I take in Fran, who’s wearing pink sweats. “Are you going somewhere?”
“What about you?” she sputters. “Are you coming home?Now?”
“Maybe.” I bite my lip.
Fran lets out an incredulous laugh. “Who were you out with?” She folds her arms across her chest.
“Um, excuse me, Pot. But don’t you have somewhere to be?” I glance at my smartwatch. “At midnight?”
Just then a notification flashes across my watch. Yikes. I forgot to text Jabari. Despite the obvious staring Fran is doing, I respond.
