Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KAI
S erena hasn’t been able to make it to class or to the coffee shop this week. I’ve been stopping by every day to drop off notes for our shared classes, despite Dominick’s warning to stay away from her. Fuck if I am going to abandon my best friend when she needs me most. My parents will be getting back in town today from their epic cross-country trip to the Southwest. I already filled them in on the situation, and they’re both more than willing to hang out with Ms. Laura so Serena can get back to her life. Serena hates asking for help and relying on others—the guilt eats at her, I know—but I am not about to let her shoulder this on her own.
Bounding up the front steps of the Malcolm home, I give a light knock on the door before letting myself in. Serena is used to my afternoon visits, so she should be expecting me. When I enter the house, I hear the low murmur of voices in the living room. One is deep and male. Shit, Dominick isn’t usually here when I come by. He better not start up with his posturing bullshit again. As I approach the living room, I realize Dominick is talking to Laura, and Serena isn’t around
“I know it feels like a big change, Laura, but I think this would be best for Serena, don’t you? I know you hate the fact that she has to work so much to support you both, and I want to help. Serena deserves to be able to live her life and know you are safe and taken care of.”
“I don’t know, Dom…it’s too much.” I pause in the hallway, just outside the door, listening, unease building in my gut. Why is Dom here talking to Ms. Laura without Serena? What is he trying to talk her into?
“Nothing is too much when it comes to Serena. I promised her I was going to take care of her and you, and I intend on keeping that promise. I am going to propose to her, so we will be family soon. Let me do this, Laura. It’s a really nice independent living facility. You’ll have your own apartment, around-the-clock care available, and they have a neurologist on staff that is an expert in memory loss.”
My heart drops when I hear the word propose come out of his mouth at the same time Laura lets out a surprised gasp.
“You’re going to propose?” Laura’s voice is excited. I hold my breath waiting for Dominick’s response.
“I have the ring already. Look, Laura, Serena won’t decide to do this on her own. I know how hard she’s fighting to keep you at home. You’re the one who is going to have to suggest this to her. If she believes this is what you want, she will go with it. Once she accepts my proposal, she will move in with me. We can sell this house to help cover the costs, and she won’t have to spend every free moment working. Don’t you want what’s best for your daughter?”
Dominick’s words slide over me like an oil slick, leaving a disgusting residue behind. I can tell Serena’s mom is buying into his bullshit. I’m about to speak up and interrupt when the front door opens behind me, and Serena walks in, carrying groceries.
“Oh hey, Kai!” Her face breaks out into the briefest of smiles before falling away when she sees my expression. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
I must be doing a shit job of hiding my feelings about the conversation I overheard, but before I can say anything, Dominick appears in the hallway, eying me with suspicion.
“What are you doing here, Malakai? I didn’t hear you knock.” His tone is accusatory, and I bristle at the underlying accusation.
“I was stopping by with notes for Serena from class today.” I look at Serena when I answer, ignoring him. That doesn’t change the fact that I can feel him staring a hole into the back of my head. Fucking prick. I can’t let Serena marry this asshole. She deserves better. I would be better. A little voice in my head speaks, and I shake it off, knowing now is not the right time to let my mind venture down that road.
Serena eyes Dominick and me warily, sensing the tension between us. Instead of feeding into Dominick’s attitude, I move to grab some of the grocery bags hanging off Serena’s arm. She follows me into the kitchen with Dom right on her heels, like he’s afraid to leave me alone with her for even a second.
“I’ve got this, Malakai. You can go now.” Dominick pushes in front of me, separating me from the bags I just dropped on the counter. The move also places him between me and Serena, with her behind him, unable to see the daggers he is glaring at me. He looks pointedly behind me, towards the front door.
“Right. Well, here are the notes from today, ReRe. If you need any help with the assignment, just call.” I pull the notebook from my backpack, dropping it on the counter. “Mom and Dad will be in town tonight. Mom already said she’s happy to stay and hang out with your mom tomorrow so you can get to work and class.”
Dominick crosses his arms over his chest, trying to intimidate me when he speaks again. Joke is on him though, this chucklefuck doesn’t intimidate me. Not where Serena is concerned.
“I’m sure Serena appreciates your offer, but that won’t be necessary. We’ve got it covered.” Serena steps out from behind Dominick, her brows furrowed in confusion. She doesn’t know about his plan to send her mom away, and I don’t think she’s going to like it. It’s on the tip of my tongue to speak up and say something. To warn her, but before I can, Serena shoots me a small smile, soothing some of the anger that is threatening to boil over.
“Thanks for stopping by, Kai. I’ll call you if I have any questions. Tell Grace and Luther I said hi. They’re more than welcome to stop by when they get settled in.”
I look at my best friend. Really look at her. I see the quiet pleading in her eyes and the stiffness in her posture. She’s uncomfortable, and she doesn’t know how to handle it. I can see her pulse fluttering in her neck and the way she’s nervously biting her lower lip. The tension between me and Dominick is causing her distress, and I refuse to be the reason for her discomfort, so I nod and back towards the door.
“Sure thing, ReRe. I’ll see you in class.” I leave without another word but with the undeniable feeling that I am losing my best friend.
Later that night after helping Mom and Dad unload their RV and get unpacked, I’m sitting in the living room staring into space when my mom plops down on the couch next to me, pulling me to her, forcing me to lay my head on her shoulder like I used to as a kid.
“What’s going on Kai, baby?” I don’t know how she knows, but somehow, like always, she does. I’ve never been able to hide from my mom, and any time something is weighing on me, she is there—with a hug and comforting words—ready to ease my burden.
“Nothin’, Ma. Nothing at all.”
Mom tuts her disapproval at my response. “It doesn’t sound like nothing to me, baby. Come on, talk to me. Is it about that handsome new boyfriend Serena has?” I let out an involuntary groan at the mention of Dominick, and Ma’s face lights up like she hit the jackpot. “I knew you’d figure it out eventually. I had a feeling it would take having some other man show some interest to finally light a fire under your ass.”
“Ma, what? No. It’s not like that.” My protest is halfhearted at best, and my mom quirks an eyebrow at me, giving me her “don’t bullshit me” look.
“Okay, maybe it’s like that. But it can’t be. Serena is really into this dude, even if he’s a complete douche-nugget.”
“Douche-nugget?” Mom lets out a chuckle as she echoes me.
“Such a douche-nugget. He won’t leave Serena alone with me—he told me to stay away from her! Can you fucking believe that shit? She’s my best fucking friend. Who is he? Some asshole getting his dick wet.”
“Malakai Demetrious Roberts! Watch your mouth.” Mom smacks the back of my head, and I give her a contrite look.
“Sorry, Ma.”
“You’re right though, he does sound like a douche-nugget. Have you talked to Serena about your feelings?”
“No. How can I when I’m not even sure what my feelings are? I just…I just want the best for her, and I don’t think he’s it. She deserves the world…”
“And you want to be the one to give it to her.” Mom chimes in, and I can’t bring myself to deny it.
I do want to be the one to give it to her. It’s been her and I for so long, and I just assumed it always would be, even if I didn’t recognize the feelings I had buried for her.
“Yeah, Ma, I want to be the one to give it to her. But now she’s with?—”
“The douche-nugget,” Mom interjects.
“Yeah, the douche-nugget, and I’m too late. I overheard him talking to Ms. Laura today, and he’s planning on proposing to her. They’ve only been dating for a couple of months. Who does he think he is?”
“It sounds like he’s a man who knows what he has and doesn’t want to let it go. Now the question is, what are you going to do about it?” Mom never minces her words, and I wince at her no-nonsense question.
“What can I do about it? She doesn’t feel that way about me.” Dejected, I lean back, dropping my head on the couch, closing my eyes. All I can see is Serena. Serena’s bright smile. Serena’s golden honey-colored eyes. Serena’s halo of curls. All I can see is her.
“Are you sure about that?” With that final question she gives me a hug before leaving me to wallow in my self-pity.