Royce’s face changed right away.
“That’s actually a good idea,” he said. “You going alone?”
“Yeah. I think I need to be alone right now.”
“Aight, cool. Just let me know when and where, so I can handle business and keep in touch.”
“I most definitely will. As a matter of fact, I’ma book everything today.”
Royce stayed a little longer, and we talked wedding details, business, and a few other things, but once he left, the house got quiet again. Too damn quiet. The kind of quiet that made my thoughts louder.
So I booked the trip.
I ended up choosing Saint Lucia.
I ain’t want Italy. I ain’t want nothing tied to old blood, old memories, or old ghosts. I wanted somewhere warm, somewhere far, somewhere I could sit with my thoughts without feeling like I was drowning in them. Somewhere private enough that I could disappear for a few days and nobody would bother me.
A week later, I was on a plane with one bag, my phone on do not disturb, and no plan other than surviving the next few days without losing my shit.
The villa was secluded, sitting high enough to overlook the water. It was peaceful, beautiful, and quiet…everything I thought I needed. But the truth was, you can fly across the world and still bring every demon in your carry-on.
The first two days, I barely did anything, but drank and slept.
I sat on the balcony and stared out at the ocean until my eyes burned.
Every now and then I checked in with Royce, handled what needed handling, then went right back to shutting the world out.
By the third day, I was tired of sitting in my own misery. So, I threw on some shorts, a T-shirt, and made my way down to one of the beachside spots not too far from where I was staying.
The place was laid-back. Not too crowded. Just enough people to blend in without anybody paying me attention. I was halfway through my drink when I saw Melissa’s fine mean ass.
At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but nah… it was really her.
She was sitting alone at a table near the edge of the deck, the ocean behind her. She had on a simple sundress, her shades pushed up on top of her head, and even from where I was sitting, she looked tired. Not physically tired. Soul tired. Like life had been chewing on her and she was trying her hardest not to let it show.
My eyes stayed on her longer than they should have.
The last time I had seen her, she was storming through Club 4 Play with a bat in her hand, rage all over her face, ready to knock Jordan’s head off his shoulders. She had been loud, shaking, cussing, hurt. Damn near falling apart right in front of me but still swinging like hell. Back then, she looked like chaos.
Now she looked quiet.
Still hurt… Still guarded… But quiet.
And for some reason, that did something to me.
I leaned back in my chair, watching her for a second longer before I looked away. I told myself to leave it alone. Just because I knew her didn’t mean I needed to go interrupt whatever she had going on. She was clearly out there for a reason.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen and frowned before answering.
“I said I’m good,” she snapped, keeping her voice low but sharp. “No, I don’t need nobody checking on me every five minutes. I came out here to get away for a reason.”
She went quiet for a second, listening.
Then she sighed. “I know. I’ll call later.”
When she hung up, she rubbed at her forehead and stared out at the water again, and I thought to myself.
