“So, Tony, you're good friends with Derek?” I ask.
“Yeah, we've been friends for a real long time.” he sets his phone down to give me his full attention. “We grew up next door to each other. I was always over his house,” he answers me.
“Oh, really?” I didn't know he grew up with Derek. My skin tingles with anxiety. I wonder if he knows about us. I never saw him back then. I never saw anyone. More than a few times I went to Derek's house, but I was quiet and discreet. I always waited in the back, just like he told me to.
Neither of us wanted anyone to know.
I bite the inside of my cheek rather than snooping anymore. I need his number though. Or something. I need to get ahold of him, but asking his friend when Derek could’ve left it for me just seems desperate. Sandra sits down next to me with her egg whites and three strips of bacon. It smells too good. I snag one of the three pieces, and she playfully acts like she’s going to stab me with her fork.
Tony takes the opportunity to grab a piece for himself while she’s distracted with me, and I practically snort when she sees. Her mouth drops open in shock. Like he truly betrayed her for stealing a strip of bacon.
I lick my fingers as she takes her last and only piece and mutters, “Vultures.”
Tony hands her back half of his stolen strip, and she snags it like he’s gonna rip it away from her if she doesn’t take it right then.
I have to admit, they’re so stinking cute together.
Wanting to know more about the guy that's making my sister so happy, I ask Tony, “What do you do for a living?”
“I work with Derek,” he says easily.
“What does he do?” I ask him, mostly because Derek’s answer was so short and vague last night.
“He has a business. A bunch of ‘em. He kinda runs the town.”
He runs the town? What the fuck does that mean? I wait for Tony to say more, but he just continues eating his breakfast.
My skin tingles with anxiety. He can’t still be dealing drugs. Derek was so much smarter than that. The thought makes my stomach flip.
I stir the cereal around in my bowl of milk. I don’t have much of an appetite anymore. I push the bowl away and try to calm down.Runs the town.What’s there to run? I gather my hair and pull it over my shoulder. All I can think is that he’s doing shady shit. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. I want to question Tony. I want straight answers, but at the same time, I just don’t want to know. Knowing I’d rather hide from the truth than deal with whatever it is that he’s doing makes me cringe. I’m like one of those mothers I hate, enablers. Women who turn a blind eye while their children go further and further down the wrong path. I feel sick just thinking about it.
I drag one of my books that was on the edge of the table closer to me and flip it open. The letters seem to blend together as I read them. All the black and white print is mixing and turning grey. I blink a few times and flip the page.Just one more semester.
I look up at the sounds of running water and dishes being stacked together.
Tony and Sandra are washing the dishes together in the large porcelain farmhouse sink. I'm rereading the last paragraph I just read. I can't concentrate.
I can’t think about anything except Derek. My phone rings and I look at the number, but I have no idea who it is. The caller ID just displays numbers on the screen. I debate on not answering, but then it hits me.It could be him.
“Hello?” I answer as calmly as possible, trying not to seem like I’m dying inside for it to be Derek.
“Morning, sweetheart.” A wave of relief and something else go through my body when I hear his voice. “What are you up to?” he asks.
I can’t help the smile on my face as I tap a pen on my textbook. I’ve always been so conflicted when it comes to Derek. I can’t help that I want him. I’m drawn to him, even knowing it’s wrong.
My face flushes as I realize Tony and Sandra are watching me closely.
“Uhh, nothing. Just studying,” I say quietly, turning away from my audience. “How about you?”
I can hear Sandra whispering something not-so-quietly to Tony. I close my eyes and just ignore them.
“Not much.” He’s gonna ask me out. I can feel it. My eyes pop open as I wait to hear the words. God, I feel so young and naive again. “I was just thinking about you, and I need to see you again. You wanna go out tomorrow night?” he asks.Yes!
I start to answer how I would have all those years ago.Of course.Whatever you want. I would have followed him anywhere back then.
But this time, I hesitate. We were two dumb kids in puppy love. Now we’re adults, and this is real life.
And I need to know what hisbusinessis. I tap the pen a little faster on the textbook.