Page 30 of An Uphill Battle

“Naw. That sounds just fine. Good luck to ya and all, but I’m done with this topic. Let’s play someMadden.”

Raising my nearly empty can to him in a toast, I tell him, “Let’s doit!”

15

Azalea

It’s beenthree days since what I’m now calling “The Incident.” This morning, I woke to the sound of my incoming text alert, only to find I have around fifteen missed calls and about thirty texts—the majority of them from Myla Rose. Her texts start off calm and grow increasingly panicked. Reading through them, I feel a bit guilty that I didn’t think to callher.

Myla Rose:How was yourholiday?

Myla Rose:Are you hitting up the malltonight?

Myla Rose:Hello? Sister-girl!

Myla Rose:Are you okay? Cash just got home fromSimon’s.

Myla Rose:Az, I’m gettingworried.

Well, that’s a lie. Ididthink to call her. I just chose not to, knowing it was her first major holiday with her sweet little family. Instead, I took my ass right on home and sulked. I’m talking full-blown messy-bun, Drake’s shirt and sweats, puffy eyes and all. I drag up my keyboard and start tapping out a text to her when a new one comesin.

Myla Rose:AzzyJo, you answer me right thissecond!

But before I get a chance, I hear someone start pounding on my front door. Pulling back my sheer lace curtain panel, I see that it’s Myla Rose, with Seraphine and Magnolia in tow. I trudge down the steps of my apartment and throw open the front door, squinting at thesunlight.

“Oh, sister-girl, you’re in a bad way,” Myla says, shuffling past me and into the livingroom.

“Where’s B-Man?” I ask, ignoring hercomment.

“With his daddy. Now, spill. I know shit went down with Drake, but Cash wouldn’t gimme any details. Stupid bro code. So c’mon, right now,missy!”

Seraphine tugs a piece of hair that’s escaped my bun as she walks past. “Sometime today! We’re not getting any younger!” She perches on the arm of the couch, next to where Myla Rose is seated, and Magnolia walks over, claiming the empty cushion next to her. Which leaves me to take the love seat opposite them, andholy hell,it feels like I’m facing a really well-dressed firingsquad.

They sit quietly, listening as I tell them everything, and I meaneverything.I tell them about our hookups, and his sweet words, and how I’ve always been too scared to believe him—too scared to take another leap after the first Kelly fiasco. I tell them how he ignites a fire in my bloodstream that burns me from the inside out, and I tell them about our date at FIRE, and how he took Kelly there first. By the time I make it to the end of the whole sordid tale, all three girls are wearing mirrored expressions of wide eyes and droppedjaws.

“Well, certainly didn’t see allthatcoming,” Myla Rosemutters.

“You didn’t? Because I kinda did,” Seraphine counters. “I mean, my Lord, you two even being in the same room ratchets the temperature up about twenty degrees. I’ve always thought y’all had a secret thing, and yay me! I wasright.”

“No. Boo you! You were only halfway right. Because apparently, all we had was a ‘thing.’ Nothing more. Never anythingmore.”

“Oh, honey. I’m not so sure. Do you think you might have overreacted? Just a touch?” I train my glare on my best friend, but she’s feeling just as fiery as her red hair this morning and doesn’t back down. “For real, AzzyJo. Did you even let him get a word inedgewise?”

My shoulders droop, and shaking my head, I whisper, “No.”

“Didn’t think so, you stubborngirl.”

I’m about to try to defend myself when Seraphine’s phone starts buzzing up a storm. She glances at the screen and immediately starts for the door. “What’s wrong?” Magnolia asksher.

“Dad’s nurse says they need me back. I gottago!”

“Is Uncle Dave okay?” Magnolia asks, darting up to follow hercousin.

“I don’t know,but—”

“C’mon, I’ll drive,” Magnolia says, and I cringe just a little because the girl is an awfuldriver.

“Let us know what’s goin’ on,” Myla and I holler after them. Then it’s just me and Myla Rose. Neither one of us speak. She’s busy texting on her phone, probably telling Cash that something’s up with Seraphine’s dad. Bless her. His doctors aren’t sure how much longer his heart can hold out, and I’m not sure she can handle losinghim.

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