Page 11 of The Wright Man

A full-on, biscuit-went-down-wrong, eyes-watering, shoulders-heaving choke.

Maleek.

The boy I used to basically share a brain with.

The boy who taught me how to throw a punch and then let me practice on him.

The boy who beat up bullies for me, but always saved me the last fruit snack.

The man I hadn't spoken to in four years.

Chapter Two

Angelica

Bella had the nerve to look at me like she hadn't just casually dropkicked my nervous system.

"You alright?" she asked with concern. "Need some juice or somethin'?"

"I—what?" I sputtered, dabbing at my mouth with a paper napkin and trying not to pass out. "Maleek is what?"

"Coming home," she repeated, calm as ever. "Moving back into Miss Dana's house. You know, across from Dad's."

I heard her. But my brain was still buffering.

Tina sat up straight, eyes wide with surprise. "No way! For real?"

Bella nodded, smug like she'd just been waiting to be asked for the details. "Yup. I guess Miss Dana left the house to him after all. Daddy said he was coming back last week to move in. Might already be here."

Already be here.

As in: already-walking-the-same-street, breathing-the-same-air, maybe-showing-up-at-the-grocery-store here.

My hands went numb. My chest went tight and still, like a door I'd left cracked open had just swung shut on its own.

"Wow," Tina said, her tone softening. "Well… it's been a long time coming. I still write to him from time to time, and he calls me when he can, but I haven't seen him since…"

She trailed off. Bella stopped chewing.

I could feel their eyes slide toward me. Quick. Careful.

The silence that followed stretched too long. Just past awkward. Just into painful.

Bella picked at a biscuit. Tina didn't blink.

I knew why. We all did.

No one had seen Maleek since my wedding.

Since I married Gavin.

Since everything changed…

No. Fun sister time.

I didn't look up. Just focused real hard on the gravy on my plate. Stirred it with my fork like it might reveal a way to teleport out of this moment.

"Maybe we'll all link up, now that he's back," I said finally, my voice too chipper to be sincere. I didn't even look up from my plate.