Page 51 of Undone

“He ain’t coming back.”

“Ever?” I ask in stunned disbelief.

Rog moved to take me by the elbow. I raised my arm evading him. “Go. Just go. I want to be alone.”

“I’m not leaving you, Luce.”

“You’re never around anymore. You’re always with him.” I nodded over to Rog.

“I-I’m sorry. We just…”

“Save it. I don’t care, Dev. Just go. I know you want to anyway.”

“That’s enough.”

“Shut up Rog. She was my best friend before you came along, and she’ll be my best friend after you hightail it like your buddy, Smith.”

“Listen up, Lucille—I’ll let this shit slide tonight ‘cause you’re taking a blow. One you didn’t see coming and that sucks. I get that. I’ve been there. But get this straight—I ain’t going anywhere. Dev’s mine. For good. She’s a good friend to ya’ and you know it. We’ll be home if you change your mind about staying with us tonight.”

“I won’t.”

I took my bag from Dev, ignored her own tear-stained cheeks and went back to the porch. Numbly, I sat in the glider. I don’t even know how much time passed as I stared out into nothing; still not believing he wasn’t coming for me. I didn’t even remember when the pledge came out and draped a blanket around me.

It wasn’t until the pink rays of dawn broke through the black, that I truly believed it was done.

Three days later…

“Hey…” Dev stood behind me in the teacher’s lounge unsure of what else to say. I’ve ignored her calls and texts. As well as her fists pounding outside my door. At least she came to check on me.

“I found a dozen red roses outside my door this morning. Was that you?”

“No. No, it wasn’t.”

“Good. Because I chucked them into the woods.”

I opened the microwave placing what’s left of my lukewarm coffee inside.

“I got into a raging fight with Rog. Over you and Smith. He won’t tell me a goddamn thing. I’m sorry, Luce. I’ll kill him for you the next time I see him.”

“You don’t know anything? Didn’t overhear anything?”

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure we were still alone in the room. “He got a call. Kicked a chair over and cursed so loud in the kitchen at Sassy’s—a few customers ran out the door. Something big and bad went down, Luce.”

“Smith?”

“No. We’d hear if it was the Prez.”

“That’s terrible. But it’s still bullshit. Smith told everyone I was his “old lady”. Now I’m just nothing? Discarded and used, like a piece of trash?”

“It is bullshit. And I’m going to get to the bottom of it for you Luce. If you want to take a road trip and show up at the goddamn clubhouse, I’m game.”

“God, I don’t know what I want anymore. To kick him in the balls or hug him and tell him he fucked-up but it’s not too late to fix this.”

“Why not do both?” She shrugged.

“I’m done chasing men, Dev. I’m not some club whore who shows up needing dick. I won’t go begging for him to come back.”

“Whoa. Luce—I’ve never seen you this angry.”

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