“The truth hurts. Comfort lies. Which one you want?”
My lips trembled. “Truth.”
King nodded once. “Bet.” He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the Halloween lights flickering on the diner across the street. Then, he turned back to me. “Rome set me up,” he said flatly, no hesitation. “He didn’t pull the trigger, but he made sure mahfuckas knew where I was.”
“How?”
“He was the one that called me but he ain’t really want shit. Just asked where I was at. I thank God you wasn’t on that corner with me. Remember, I told you to start walkin’ towards the party?”
Tears burned my eyes again as I covered my mouth. “You mean to tell me, all this time… Rome knew?”
“Knew? Sky, I’m tellin’ you this snake mahfucka planned the shit. He wanted my spot, my throne, andyou. Hebeenwantin’ you. Don’t act like you ain’t see how the nigga used to look at you.”
“I thought I was imaginin’ it,” I said weakly. “I thought he was just tryna be there for me.”
King gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah, he was there aight. Waitin’ for his chance. And you gave it to him.”
I looked up, eyes flashing. “Don’t do that. Don’t make it seem like I wanted him. You died, King. Youdied. I was broken. Rome showed up when nobody else did.”
He stared at me hard. “And you let him touch what was mine.”
I stood up fast, tears and anger mixing. “What the fuck was I supposed to do? Crawl in your grave and die too?”
He took a step toward me, jaw clenched, voice rough. “Nah. You supposed to remember who the fuck you were.”
Silence filled the room, thick and electric. I dropped my head, tears falling. “You think this shits been easy for me? Huh?”
He exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face. “Nah. I know it ain’t. I just—” He stopped, eyes softening. “I just hate that he got to hold what I built.”
That broke me. I turned away, grabbed my weed bag from my purse, and started rolling a blunt with shaky hands. My tears kept falling onto the leaf, making it harder to close. King sat back down on the bed, watching me now. When the blunt was rolled, I lit it and took a long pull. The smoke filled my lungs and calmed my shaking just a little.
I exhaled slowly and wiped my face. “I never stopped lovin’ you,” I whispered.
King nodded like he heard that in his bones. He leaned back on his hands again. “You remember the day we got married?”
A sad little laugh slipped out. “How could I forget?”
He smirked. “You had that short ass white dress on, hair slicked back, lashes crazy. Your mama cussin’ my ass out.”
I smiled through the tears. “You showed up late with your niggas drunk off Casamigos.”
He chuckled. “And Reverend Alton still did his thing. We said them vows and then the whole hood pulled up to the reception. Even Miss Carol’s old ass from the community center was droppin’ that ass on the dance floor.” Laughing, I closed my eyes and my memory took me back there.
The music was blasting. The night air smelled like jerk chicken and liquor. King had me on his lap, grinning like a kid as everybody clapped when we kissed. He whispered in my ear, “You my forever, you hear me? Even when I’m dead and gone, I’m still gon’ find my way back.”
I laughed, swatting his chest playfully. “Don’t say shit like that.”
He grinned. “I meant that shit, though. I’ll love you even when I’m gone, Sky Pie.”
I opened my eyes, staring at the smoke floating up to the ceiling. I passed the blunt toward him. “Still twirl them like a pro.”
He grinned. “‘Cause you learned from the best, baby.”
I took it back, another drag, tears falling again. “I’m gonna make sure Rome pays. For everything. For you.”
He leaned forward, eyes glinting. “He’s gon’ get his, baby.”
We stared at each other, breathing heavily, hearts racing, and then suddenly we were on each other. King gripped the back of my head, and I fisted his hoodie as we kissed like we were starving for each other. It felt so real, and I couldn't help but wonder how.
