Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Blue
A s I re-read Pandora’s post—out loud so West can listen as he drives—I’m still in shock from all the shit she just spewed. It’s official. She’s a bigger bitch now than she was before, which I didn’t even realize was possible.
“She has the entire city on the lookout for us, encouraging them to follow us just so they can report back. It’s like, to hell with our safety and wellbeing. All that matters to anyone is that they get a glimpse into our fucking lives.”
“I know,” West nods, “but we’ve been through this before, and we’ll get through it again.”
I breathe deep when it feels like my head might actually explode. Because that’s the thing! We shouldn’t have to go through it again. Once was enough—having our every move clocked, living in fear.
West takes a left, and despite the night being dark and moonless, I recognize the area. We’re within a few blocks of my old high school—South Cypress High. This neighborhood brings back so many memories. I swear it feels like just yesterday that I was walking home with Jules, gossiping about who was dating who, fantasizing about our futures. Back then, we thought we knew everything.
I remember the pit in my stomach when I got the acceptance letter for Cypress Prep—courtesy of my brother secretly submitting an application on my behalf. That move changed everything. I hated it at first, but if it hadn’t been for that transfer, I never would’ve met the love of my life.
West has no idea what thought just inspired me to slip my hand into his, but he smiles anyway, then lifts my hand to his lips, placing a kiss there.
“We’ll be fine, Babe.”
It shouldn’t be so easy to calm me, but just like that, his words settle my heart. I stare straight ahead when we stop at a red light, trying to ignore the three teen girls pointing when they spot us in the wild. Our windows are tinted, but that probably only makes it more obvious it’s us. Even more so than if they could see our actual faces.
In my peripheral vision, I notice them all pulling out their phones, then there’s that telling glow illuminating their faces as they type, and finally their cameras flash. It’s impossible not to roll my eyes, because I know what they’re up to. They’re doing Pandora’s bidding, sending pictures, updating her on our whereabouts.
Just relax, Blue. Maybe she’ll get bored and lose interest.
It would be great if I could convince myself to believe that, but I know better. Pandora has always been, and will probably always be, completely obsessed with our lives.
“And she’s not making it any easier to get close to Tiffany,” I say, getting revved up all over again. “The first chance she got to point out that we did dinner without her, she took it.”
West kisses my hand again, and I get the feeling it’s meant to coddle me before he speaks. Possibly saying something I won’t want to hear.
“So, did you all intentionally leave her out, or… was it just an oversight?”
I roll my eyes. Not necessarily at him, but just at the general idea of having to explain this.
“While I understand that Tiffany’s important to Sterling, Lexi’s important to us . Nothing against Tiff, but we’ve got history with Lexi. And it’s been so long since we’ve all just been able to… you know… hang out. So, yeah, okay. Maybe we left Tiffany out on purpose, but if Dez moved on with some new guy, you can’t tell me you all wouldn’t choose Ricky over him.”
When West arches a brow, I can practically read his mind. He’s agreeing with me, knowing I’m right. So, when he doesn’t dwell on the whole Tiffany thing, I move on, too.
“And speaking of Lexi, can you believe the shit Pandora just said about her?” My voice is even more shrill than before, and I’m willing to bet West wishes he had earplugs. “I mean, as if things between her and Sterling aren’t already tense enough, now Pandora goes and throws Matt’s name into the drama.”
West nods. “Yeah, I’m guessing I’ll have a flood of text messages hitting my phone once Sterling sees it. Especially that shit about Matt being a better father to Jaxon than he is.”
I can already imagine how livid Sterling will be. He’s made it abundantly clear that, above all else, his relationship with his son is the most important thing.
For several seconds, the only sound to be heard is that of the engine humming as we drive. I glance toward West, and his brow is raised in this weird way.
“What?” I ask.
He doesn’t speak at first, and it looks like he’s holding back. “Just saying. Are we sure Matt isn’t in the picture?”
As badly as I want to say with certainty that he isn’t, I’m not entirely sure I believe Lexi’s cover at dinner. We all know Matt would’ve made her his years ago if it’d been up to him. Who’s to say that, with Sterling out of the picture, their close friendship didn’t evolve into more?
“I… don’t know, but that’s beside the point,” I huff. “The point is that none of this shit is Pandora’s business to expose. I’ll just never understand why she gets off on what she does.”
“It’s the attention.”
I glance toward West. “You really think it’s that simple?”
He shoots me a look, like he can’t believe I just asked that. “Seriously? Just scroll your socials for ten seconds and tell me if that’s not what motivates everyone these days.”
He’s right. And I can say that without even opening my phone.
“Ugh, she’s fucking up my vibe. Since she can’t be reasoned with, I’m going to manifest the shit out of her finding another way to get her dopamine fix.”
“ There’s my girl,” West laughs, still holding my hand as we drive.
The ride only calms me a little, but I’m determined to make good on my declaration. I’m done letting Pandora ruin my night.
“Almost there.”
At West’s words, I glance out the side window, peering up at the street sign as we pass by.
“Any of this look familiar?”
Granted, there are a few more vacant lots and abandoned houses, but this city could get leveled to the ground, and I’d still know my way around with my eyes closed.
He takes a quick look when I point to a small car wash on the left. “That was hunter’s first job,” I say with a smile. “He loved it because the tips were good, but all it took was one winter to convince him to quit.”
A memory flutters in, and I see it playing out before my eyes like a movie. Hunter was so proud bringing home cash every day—tips from customers, proof of a job well done. Then, I remember the soul-crushing look that followed. When my greedy mother would pluck it from his fist, turning up her nose as she asked, ‘Is this it?’ I’ve never asked my brother what turned him toward the lifestyle he chose—a lifestyle that eventually landed him behind bars—but I’m willing to bet it has roots in those moments. Those feelings of not being enough, or feelings of being worthless because our mother equated his value to how much money he brought into the family.
My eyes slam shut for a second when what started as a pleasant memory turns sour. Thoughts of my mother tend to have that effect.
“That playground right there? That’s where I had my first kiss,” I say with a grin, despite the glare it earns me from West.
“I swear to God, Blue, if you say your first kiss was Ricky-fucking-Ruiz, family or not, I’m?—”
“Stop,” I cut in. “First of all, we both know you and Ricky are in a solid, deeply committed bromance, so… save it. And second, it wasn’t him. His name was Peter, and we were ten. It was… sweet.”
West glances my way again, and my smile turns into laughter because I swear I can hear his thoughts.
“Sweet? Sounds like you still think about this dipshit.”
Another loud laugh bursts from my lips, hearing him pretend he’s actually annoyed.
“All the time,” I play along. “As a matter of fact, I still have the ring pop from when he proposed a week later. I turned him down, but I told him to look me up in the future. You know, in case I’m not happy.”
Instead of keeping his eyes on the road, West stares at me now, and the longer he holds that look on his face, the louder I laugh.
“Well, good thing you’re fucking happy.”
“Mmm…” I scrunch up my face, implying he shouldn’t be so quick to assume.
“Damn.” He finally breaks character to laugh. “Know what? Fuck this. Give me this guy’s last name. I’m showing up on his front porch to beat his ass. And he has you to thank.”
“Wait, you sure you want to do that? For all we know, he’s bigger than you, and he won’t be the one getting his ass beat.”
At first, West is silent, smirking as he stares at the road. “No way you just said that.”
I can hardly breathe, holding my stomach because it’s in knots now.
“For the record, there’s not a chance in fucking hell I’d lose,” he promises, and the air of cockiness in his tone makes my heart race.
Always has.
Always will.
“Maybe, but a first kiss is pretty hard to compete with, you know.”
He slams on the brakes when we get to the stop sign, and a breath hitches in my throat when he lets go of my hand to grip my chin instead. With one rough motion, he pulls me closer, bringing my lips to his. The heat of his mouth covers mine the next second, and as my eyes fall closed, a kiss sets me on fire from the inside out.
He backs off, and his green stare burns a hole into me. “As long as I’m your last everything , who gives a shit who any of your firsts were.”
There goes that cocky tone again, and I don’t hate the way those words sound rolling off his tongue. Because we both know he’ll get his wish.
“Last everything,” I promise, then plant another kiss on him before he eases onto the gas.
On our right, the outline of a building comes into view. It’s set back on a deep, overgrown lot. The dark windows seem sinister from the street, like a hollowed-out corpse where a soul used to dwell. This place was once a central hub of the neighborhood—a recreational center for local kids. It closed when I was fourteen or fifteen due to funding issues, but before that, I spent many afternoons here when school let out. Usually, I popped in to play basketball and keep myself sharp during the offseason, but other times, I’d get help studying for big exams. My parents weren’t around much, so sometimes the staff here were all I had. As was the case for many of the other kids, too.
It's memories like this that fuel my vision, reminding me why vulnerable communities like this one need these facilities.
Because the phrase ‘it takes a village’ isn’t just a phrase.
It’s reality.
“Come on.”
I can feel West looking at me like I’m crazy when I unbuckle my seatbelt, and then open the passenger-side door.
“What are you doing?”
I glance toward the building, tucking my phone into the pocket of the hoodie I stole from him on our way out of the house. “I need a closer look. It’ll take two seconds.”
I give him my best puppy-dog eyes, and as the look on his face softens, I know it’s working, and my expression morphs into a smile.
“We’ll be quick,” I promise, then I don’t give him a chance to talk me out of it, because I’m out of the car the next second.
West climbs out too, but with far more caution than me. He scans our surroundings, and our vastly different upbringings are on glaring display right now. I imagine he sees potential threats everywhere he turns. But me? All I see is home.
Taking his hand when he rounds the front of the car, I lead us closer to the building, imagining it all cleaned up, warm light beaming from the windows, a freshly-paved parking lot, a new fenced-in playground. I see this place being everything it was back in the day and so much more.
The car alarm chirps behind us, and I purse my lips to keep from smiling at his paranoia.
“What are you thinking?”
West’s question rings inside my head as I stare up the brick facing, letting it all sink in—the potential, the work it’ll take to bring this place back to life. A million questions flow through my mind, but there’s one that’s significantly louder than the rest.
Is it worth it?
And the answer is just as loud and bold as the question.
Yes.
“I’m thinking… this place feels right,” I say back. “It’s right in the heart of the community, in walking distance from the high school and middle school, and it’s available for a steal.”
West glances up at it, too. “Possibly because it’s in shambles,” he says with a laugh. “You’re sure you don’t want something that’s a little more… finished?”
I’m already shaking my head. “The location is too perfect. That’s what matters most.”
He studies me for a moment, completely silent. But then, his mouth curves with a smile. A soft kiss presses to my forehead, and I lean into his side, feeling his arm settling around my shoulders.
“Then, if this is what you want, it’s yours. We’ll call and have it all taken care of tomorrow.”
My heart tugs at his gesture, and it isn’t lost on me how fortunate I am. Not many people who grew up here on the southside have access to the resources I do, which is why I’m compelled to give back.
“Let’s do it.”
At my words, he squeezes me tighter, but then doesn’t proceed to rush us back toward the car like I expect. Instead, he can’t take his eyes off the building either.
“It’s perfect, right?”
A small laugh leaves him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… yeah. It kind of is.”
His response makes me even more giddy, knowing he sees it, too. It’s so strange how things have come full circle. As a kid, I never would’ve imagined having the means to come back to the southside and make a difference, but standing here, preparing to make an offer on this building, it’s real.
West’s arm tightens around me, and I glance toward him as he speaks.
“So, I can’t help but notice how close we are to your dad’s place,” he says. “You… think we should stop by?”
The question is completely loaded, because we both know I haven’t seen my father since returning home. And we both know that’s because that relationship has been an emotional rollercoaster. So much that I only started calling him Dad within the last few years. I guess I’ve been standoffish since returning to Cypress Pointe because… Actually, I don’t really know why.
I mean, we’ve talked once or twice, we text, but that’s been the extent of it. However, if I’m being honest, there were a few times I actually wanted to stop by. I just… didn’t really know how to go about it.
What would I say when I got there?
Would it be awkward because I’ve waited so long?
Do I even know how to interact with this new, sober version of Mike Riley?
I take out my phone to glance at the time. Scar should be home now, and knowing she’ll be around takes the edge off a bit.
“Okay,” I say with a sigh. “You’re right. We should go.”
“I’m not trying to push or anything. I just?—”
“No, I want to go,” I assure him. “It’ll be fun.”
My smile is forced, and my words are filled with hope. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about getting my hopes up about the Riley clan, it’s simple.
I shouldn’t.
Because outside of my sister, Scar, the others have this uncanny knack for letting me down.
Here’s hoping tonight will be different.