Page 6 of The Sweetest Devotion

I lifted and dropped my shoulder. “Probably see about that Lakers game.”

Savon sucked his teeth. “They ain’t doin’ too hot this season.”

They weren’t, but it still beat a loud club or packed bar. “Next time, Von.”

He made a face but didn’t push. Instead, he crossed over to me and pulled me into a hug as he patted my back and dapped me up. When he reeled back, he caught my eye. “Stay up, king. You too important to too many people. You ever just wanna vent, play ball, watch a flick or somethin’, let me know. Weallgo through it.”

My heart softened at his words, because I should’ve known he’d be there for me. “Thanks.”

“And don’t think we ain’t noticed you haven’t been around the center either,” Savon went on, getting on me for abandoning my work at the local community center.

I wasn’t a role model, far from it, but through my trials, wins, and losses in the streets, I’d taken it upon myself with Savon to volunteer at the center to help young guys out, to steer them in a better direction than what we’d chosen.

I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Yeah, I’ma get back on that. I definitely dropped the ball.”

Satisfied, Savon backed off. “A’ight then, stay safe and be careful.”

We lived in Bedford Heights, a city in Los Angeles County in southern California. Or LA, if you weren’t familiar with the area. From the time we were about twelve or maybe even younger, Savon and I stayed in the streets, and we knew the ins and outs of the havoc that lingered. I kept a piece in my house, so I wasn’t worried. I had too many battle scars to be naïve when traveling alone at night as well. The Heights wasn’t an entirely bad place, especially in recent years, but there was still trouble if you weren’t watching your back.

I went and lifted one of the doors to the garage so Savon could ride out.

“You sure?” he asked me one final time as he drove on by to leave.

For a moment, I considered it, closing up the shop early and dipping out for the night. Breaking my depressing ass routine of home and work.

Glancing at the empty garage where only the sounds of the flat screen in the lobby could be heard if I left the back office door open awaited; I really wasn’t missing out on much if I cut out for the night.

Still, I wasn’t quite ready to make my return to a social life. “Next time, man.”

Savon sighed, shaking his head before driving off into the night.

Instead of going back inside, I hung back, giving into temptation. Succumbing to my nicotine cravings.

I really need to quit.

Recluse or not, these days, I wasn’t doing anything that was bad for me anyway. A cigarette was the least of my worries.

3

I didn’t knowwhere I was going. I didn’t have a plan. And while I wasn’t an expert, I had a feeling this was a major no-no in Running Away 101.

My first instinct was to go home.Rookie move, I realized. My penthouse was the first place my mother would look and send security to get me.

It didn’t leave me with many options. As I sat behind the wheel of my Lexus, I raced through all the places I could hide out until the coast was clear. It was almost hopeless until Jadyn came to mind.

The last thing I wanted to do was drop by unannounced, but I had no choice.

Once I crossed the city limits from Hampton Hills to Culver City and then into Bedford Heights, I let loose the biggest sigh of relief.Home free.

Nothing but twelve miles and at least forty minutes were wedged between me, my parents, and Cain. My parents knew about Jadyn, naturally, but they didn’t know where she lived. It provided me refuge, a means of a potential escape from it all.

Well, almost. At some point, Iwouldhave to go home and face what was laid out for me. For now, I needed a little time to adjust and get used to the idea.

I suddenly felt too young and trapped. Maybe if I knew the guy,lovedhim, had a choice, then getting married wouldn’t faze me.

But I didn’t, and I felt a buzz of panic creeping under my skin. I couldn’t?—

POP!

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