Holding on to his braids, she tipped his head down to look at her. “I will not be in a relationship with someone who has drugs around him.”
He nodded. He didn’t want that either. “I’m cleaning it up.”
“No, you’re enabling bad behavior.” She took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm down. “What happens the next time Kofi does something illegal? Are you going to bail him out?”
“It depends. Probably.” Huffing, he reached for a towel. “He’s my brother.”
“And my mother died a crack whore alone on the street. It didn’t matter what I wanted. She didn’t want a different path than the one she was on.”
“Kofi isn’t the same,” he muttered, grabbing his deodorant and swiping before he went to find clothes.
She followed him, close on his heels. “Kofi is letting himself be led down a dark path. He’s not going to turn around. The question is, are you going to let him take you down with him?”
“Of course not.” He scowled at her as he reached past her clothing in the closet and pulled out a shirt for himself.
She folded her arms, staring at him. “It seems like you are. Do you really think you won’t be implicated in drug charges? You’re a bad boy soccer player with a reputation for violence on the field.”
He shook his head. “I’m just spirited.”
“No one will have a hard time believing that you’re into drugs,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “They’ll tar you with the same brush. What’ll happen to Ortiz?”
“If I ever need a lawyer, I’m calling you.” He rubbed between his eyes. “Jules, let me get dressed and take care of things. I’ll fix it, I promise. Then I’ll come back—"
“You’ll come back?” She froze, blinking at him. “You’re actually leaving?”
“To go to London to clean up this mess.” How had she missed that?
“Now?” She stepped forward. “You’re leaving now? In the middle of the night, knowing I have the mediation with my father today?”
He frowned. “You’re going to do great. I know you are.”
“That’s not the point.” She stared at him with her glittering pale-blue eyes. Then she shrugged out of his shirt and went into the closet.
He exhaled. Great—now she was upset. He went back into the closet. “Jules—”
“No,” she said firmly, pulling on some clothes. “You don’t need to explain.”
“But—”
She turned around and put her hand on his cheek. “I get it. We didn’t have any promises. We always knew our time would end. It’s just ended sooner than I expected.”
He scowled at her. “I’m coming back for you.”
She shook her head, continuing to get dressed. “What’s the point?”
“I love you,” he said succinctly, reaching for her. “I’m not just going to walk away from you.”
“Except you are. You’re picking Kofi’s future over your own.” She smiled sadly. “I have no reason to expect that you’ll do anything differently the next time. Given what you said, you believe Kofi takes precedence over everyone.”
He dropped his arms. She didn’t understand.
She bent down to put on her shoes. “Have the hotel bag up my things. I’ll come by this week to pick them up.” She strode toward the door, picking up her purse along the way. At the threshold she paused and faced him. “Good luck, Danny.”
He stood there like an idiot, half-dressed, until the door in the outer room clicked shut and she was gone.
Twenty-One
Danny left.