Page 65 of Red Snow
“Boom, there it is!” Marcus exclaims as he turns to face me. “She said something about past girlfriends not being as fun as her, and I bet you didn’t like it because it made you think about how much fun you and Stacey used to have. Ain’t that right?”
“Ugh. Fuck you, Marcus,” is the only response I give him, because of course he’s right. I didn’t like that Brandi said that, because the first thought I had when I read that text was that she is nowhere near as awesome as Stacey is. Was. Is.
“Yep, just like I thought,” Marcus replies, laughing at me. “You don’t think she’s on Stacey’s level, which I admit she’s not, and when she said that, you didn’t like it. Come on, man, just admit it.”
“Even if that was true, which I’m not admitting it is, what does that even mean?”
“That you’re not over her, man. You still love Stacey and you’re still defensive of her, even when she’s not your girl.”
I don’t respond to that. I know Marcus knows me better than anybody else, so even if I don’t tell him he’s exactly right, he already knows it. I do still love Stacey, and I’d do anything to be with her, but she won’t have me, and that makes everything more difficult when it comes to other women. Brandi is doing everything right, but when I start comparing her to Stacey, none of that matters. She just ends up being the girl who isn’t Stacey.
“Look, man,” Marcus continues as we approach the turn that will take us to Jeffrey Chapman’s trailer. “I think you need to move on. Stacey is a fantastic girl who I fucking adore, and who I truly believe is a perfect fit for you.”
“Marcus, that does not make me feel better!”
“Hold on, let me finish, psycho. You guys were great together, but she’s obviously doing her best to get over you, and you can’t force her to be with you. So, the only thing you can do is move on from her too. Not saying you need to jump right into a committed, lovey-dovey relationship with Brandi, but if you move on from Stacey, everything with Brandi will be a lot easier.”
“Dude, you’re only saying that shit because you’re all in love with Yolanda,” I reply.
“I’m not disagreeing with you there,” Marcus says, and I look at him with furrowed brows. “What? Yes, I admit it. I love Yolanda. We’ve been seeing each other for about six months now, and it’s true, I love her. She loves me too, and you’re my best friend, so I want you to be happy too. Just like I am.”
“Well I appreciate that, but are you serious? You’re really in love with this girl?”
“Yeah, I am. My player days are over, bro. I’m not saying we’re getting married tomorrow or anything, but I really think she could be the one, man.”
“Wow,” I reply as I step on the brakes to make the turn onto Jeffrey’s road. “As crazy as that sounds, and as hard as it is to believe, I’m happy for you, man. Seriously. I know I’m going through my own shit, but seeing you happy is important to me, and I’m thrilled that you found someone who takes you there. That’s dope.”
“Thanks, man,” Marcus says with a happy smile. “I want the same thing for you, though, Jarrod. You deserve happiness too, and if Stacey is moving on, you’re gonna have to if you ever want to be happy. I think you need some closure.”
“Yeah, and how do I get that?’
“You need to call her.”
“What? Hell no. That’s exactly what she told me not to do.”
“I know, but fuck all of that. You need to call her, and talk to her about if you guys are seriously, truly over. If she says you’re really done, never to be together ever again, then you know it’s a wrap and it’s time to move on. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but it’s the start you need.”
I think about everything Marcus has said on this drive, and I know he’s right.
Something in him has changed. He seems so much happier and sure of himself. I’m sure Yolanda has something to do with that, because I remember the feeling. When Stacey and I were head over heels for each other, I felt the same way—fucking untouchable. She was my rock the same way Yolanda is obviously Marcus’s. It’s really shitty to think that’s over for me now, but Marcus has it exactly right. If I want to be happy, with Brandi or anybody else, I need closure from Stacey. I know what I have to do, but it’ll have to wait, because the police car in front of ours just flicked on its lights as we approach Jeffrey’s trailer.
“You’re right, bro,” I tell Marcus as I bring the cruiser to a stop. “It’ll be hard as fuck, but you’re right. I need to give her a call. Thanks, man.”
“You’re welcome. Anytime. Now let’s go arrest this motherfucker.”
Marcus and I hop out of the car and quickly walk up to Jeffrey’s trailer. All is quiet from the outside, but who knows what the hell is going on inside. After a personal call from Danielle to Judge Bartow, we got the arrest warrant first thing this morning, just like she said we would, and now it’s time to make good on it.
With the warrant in my hand, I climb the three steps to the front door and bang on it the way cops are known to do. I want him to know it’s me that’s here to take him down. Initially, I don’t hear anything from inside, so I knock again, calling out to him this time.
“Open the door, Jeffrey,” I yell into the door. “It’s APD, and we have a warrant for your arrest. Refusing to open the door is only going to make things worse, so don’t fuck around. Open the motherfucking door, Jeffrey!”
I bang for what feels like ten minutes, and my hand is starting to feel numb from the cold. After a while, I turn around and look for Jeffrey’s truck, and I see it’s sitting right where it was the last time we were here. So where the fuck is he?
“His truck’s here, but he’s not?” I ask Marcus, who looks concerned now.
“I don’t like this,” he answers as he ascends the steps and positions himself in front of me.
“What, you think he’ll only open the door if you knock?” I snip at him.
