Page 53 of The Wright Man

A shaky breath left her like it had taken something with it.

"She laughed, but I could tell it hurt to say it."

I turned over slowly, needing to see her face.

Her eyes were red. Wet. Brave.

She stared up at the ceiling like if she looked at me, we'd both break.

"I don't want her to go," she whispered as a tear fell.

Something in me shattered. "I don't either."

The flood broke from behind my ribs, and the tears came—hot and blinding and deep.

I wept like the little boy I still was.

Sobs that tore themselves from deep in my gut and shook my whole body.

Angelica reached for me without hesitation. Pulled me into her chest, her fingers sliding into my braids, her other hand cradling the back of my neck.

She held me like I was keeping her together too.

No words. No pressure. Just arms that knew me and weren't afraid of my sharp edges.

I held onto her like the world was ending. Because, in a way, it was.

We cried ourselves hollow.

Eventually, with her forehead pressed to mine, our arms tangled around each other, we drifted off to sleep.

Our parents found us like that.

And for once, they didn't tell us to separate. Didn't ask questions. Didn't make a sound.

They just let us rest.

And I never forgot it.

* * *

Maleek

Now

She didn't see me at first.

I'd barely knocked when I pushed the door open, and there she was—fidgeting in front of the mirror like she was the one trying to make a good impression. Like she hadn't already knocked the wind out of me the second I saw her in that dress.

She fussed with her braids, smoothed the fabric over her hips, twisted at the waist like she was checking for flaws only she could see. The mirror caught the angle of her jaw, her lashes fluttering low, the soft pout of her lips as she debated whether her lip gloss had faded too much.

She looked nervous.

Angelica Reed. Nervous. Over me.

I cleared my throat gently, and she startled.

"You left before I could give you this," I said, holding up the small gift I hadn't meant to hang onto this long.