She exhaled. “Yeah, I do too. I don’t know yet if I’ll go back to Oregon when I’m done with school, but I can’t imagine always living so far from him.”
“Not a Cali girl, Zadie?”
“I don’t really fit in here.”
“It’s a big state.”
She breathed out a laugh. “That’s true.” She slid her fingers through my hair. “I don’t really know what I’ll do. What about you? Are you a Cali boy, Amir?”
“Can’t picture myself anywhere else. I don’t think I’d fit in at a wildlife sanctuary in Oregon.”
“It’s a big state.”
That made me laugh. “You trying to get me to move to Oregon with you, mama? Is that what this is?”
“No, I’m not that naive.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nothing.” She cupped my forehead again, spreading warmth all over my pain. “Shhh. Close your eyes. No more talking.”
I wanted to argue with her, but there was a railroad spike driving through my skull every time I spoke, so I took orders, shut my fucking mouth, and closed my eyes. I’d done nothing in my life to deserve this kind of treatment, and truth be told, I’d stolen it for myself.
I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about it either.
My conscience was so clear, I fell asleep with my head on Zadie’s tits, her hand in my hair.
When I woke up, she was gone, the sheets cold. I didn’t like it, but she’d be back. And I’d decided I wasn’t letting her go at the end of the semester.
She’d be pissed I was reneging on our agreement.
But what did she expect? Everyone knew there was no honor among thieves, and I had every intention of stealing my soft little princess and keeping her as my own.