Page 129 of The Sweetest Devotion

“Nah,” he said as he opened the envelope and leafed through the bills. “We straight.” He lifted his gaze to mine. “Tell Dominique it’s whatever.”

“Stand on it,” I let it be known. “Don’t come around him no more.”

Skinny shrugged as he waved me off dismissively. The debt was paid and he couldn’t care less. It showed as he joined back up with his crew and they left in their herd.

I watched them leave down the street from the park until they were a safe distance away.

Slowly, I faced Savon. “I had it.”

Savon chuckled. “Looked like you was about to get jumped by a group of middle schoolers.”

They hadn’t been big or intimidating at all. I managed to loosen up as I slapped Savon’s arm.

Movement to my right caused me to look over and catch Dominique approaching. His hands were in his hoodie and his shoulders were hitched up.

“Everything okay?” he asked warily, looking around for any signs of his old friends.

“It’s settled,” I announced.

Savon reached out and jabbed Dom’s shoulder. “Be smart next time, D. Don’t go mixin’ yourself up with stupidity like that. Some people are going up, and some are going south. You gotta surround yourself with people who only want to elevate you and see you do better.”

Dominique nodded, a tiredness to his eyes. “I know, Von.”

“If you ever find yourself in a jam again, you know you can call up me or Keith, right?” Savon pushed on. “I got a cot you can lay your head on, too.”

Dom’s lips trembled as he accepted Savon’s hug and let him embrace him. We were out in the open, so it wasn’t “cool” to show affection, but fuck it.

“We love you, man,” I let it be known. “So the same way you don’t want me disappearin’, don’t go doin’ anything that’s gonna have you missin’. Okay?”

Dominique nodded, scratching at his plaits. “I’ma be good, Keith. I swear.”

Savon playfully swatted at the back of Dom’s head. “Good, now stay yo’ ass in school.”

Dominique groaned as we crossed the lot for the parking area. “Here y’all go with this shit.”

Savon looked at me as I looked at him. Together we smacked the back of Dom’s head and chuckled when he called us out on it.

I was sure Dominique’s future would be solid. After all, I planned to be around to see him through.

25

Jadyn wasat her laptop typing away as old-school R&B played in the background. Candles were burning on the surfaces of her nearby bookcase, and a glass of wine was close enough for her to reach out and steal a sip.

I almost felt in the way of her creative zone, but we’d made plans that Saturday evening.

Truthfully, I felt a little antsy being back in Bedford Heights for the first time in three weeks. While I’d FaceTimed and called Jadyn regularly, I hadn’t seen her in forever. Not to mention someone else I felt way too tempted to stop by and see.

Keith gave me my space and as much as I valued his respecting my need to keep a low profile, I missed him all the same. I almost felt pathetic wondering ifhemissedme. He was older than me, more mature and serious, and knew what he wanted. In reality, I was wasting his time, and I feared he’d realized that with all the time put between us.

“Ooh, turn that!” Without tearing her attention away from her screen, Jadyn waved her hand in my direction.

An all too familiar classic was now beginning to play and I felt my forehead crease in confusion. “What’s wrong with this song?”

Jadyn swiveled around in her chair and shot me a pointed look. “I need positive vibes only for this scene I’m writing.” All of her hair was secured up in two big buns, making way for the stern expression on her face to shine through.

“Oh-kay?” I still didn’t get it.

“?‘Don’t Leave Me’ by Blackstreet is total emotional manipulation. The whole song they’re talking about ‘going insane’ and twisting some poor woman’s arm to stay in a relationship. It’s not romantic, it’s psychotic…sorta like your fiancé.”

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