Chapter 26 Avalon
twenty-six
Avalon
December
Zeke’s spent the last few nights over here.
I don’t know what he’s telling the guys or if the guys are even aware that he hasn’t been sleeping at home, but I don’t care enough to ask.
The whole situation already feels weird.
I don’t know when things started to change, but with him staying here these last few nights, it no longer feels like a no-strings-attached relationship.
I didn’t even ask him to stay with me past that first night; he just came here after his game the next night and then spent the whole day here on Sunday.
And then yesterday, I gave him a copy of the key, which could’ve been a mistake on my part, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t nice to come home to him after class yesterday.
He told me on Saturday that he would stay with me until my mom came home… I don’t think he expected her to still be gone.
But she is.
And I haven’t heard from her in nearly a week. Neither has Jay. Which only means one thing, she’s fallen off the wagon.
“Hi,” Zeke mumbles, his eyes opening to meet mine. I wouldn’t say I was staring at him; I was just admiring how peaceful he looked. “Did you sleep okay?”
He asks me this question every morning, and every morning, I lie to him. I sleep better knowing he’s here, but my mind also races, wondering if a call is going to come about them finding my mom’s body.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I did.”
He yawns, scratching the top of his head before stretching his arms above his head. “Any news?”
“Nothing.” I give him a sad smile. “You should probably go home. I don’t know when she’ll be back, and it’s unfair to you, you know, staying here. Neither of us expected it to be this long.”
“It’s my morning breath, isn’t it?”
As weird as it is to say this, I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve grown accustomed to hearing Zeke’s gravelly voice in the morning. Both have become a comfort.
“Seriously, Zeke. Obviously, you can still come over for our little booty calls. You even have a key to help you with that, but I think we’re getting too comfortable here.”
“What’s wrong with that?” He sits up. “Are you ashamed to admit we’re becoming friends, Stewart?”
I’m afraid part of me feels like we’re becoming something more.
“We aren’t friends, Harris. Never will be.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” He drags himself out of bed and strides over to my side. “I’m gonna shower; you wanna join me?” He cocks an eyebrow, but I jokingly push him away.
“You’re on your own for this one, buddy. I’m hungry.” I stand up and brush past him.
“Suit yourself.” He smacks my ass before disappearing into my bathroom, causing me to laugh as I head into the kitchen.
Which is pretty bare. The fridge is empty, aside from a few takeout containers, which are only there because Zeke doesn’t know how to come over without food.
So much for breakfast.
I guess I could have leftover Mexican food. Or maybe some pizza. Pizza’s always good in the morning.
As I reach for the pizza, I hear keys jingling and the lock's turn.
The lock to the front door.
I turn, and through the threshold, my mom walks in laughing; a guy I’ve never seen before walking behind her.
“Oh, mija!” She smiles when she sees me as if she hasn’t disappeared for nearly a week. “I’m so glad you’re up.”
“Oh, mija? You’re gone for a week, and that’s all you have to say?” She walks toward me, grabbing my face between her hands.
“I meant to call, but my phone died, and Ronnie didn’t have a charger.” I can smell the alcohol on her breath, which confirms everything I’ve thought for the last few days.
She relapsed.
“Mami, apestas a alcohol,” I whisper.
“Avalon, we have guests; it’s not polite to speak Spanish in front of guests who don’t understand.” She squeezes my shoulders harder than necessary, almost as if she’s trying to tell me to shut up. And then I notice the glossiness in her eyes—she’s using drugs again, too.
“Where have you been?”
“I told you, with Ronnie.” She points to the guy she walked in with, the one still standing in front of the open door. “I just came to pick up some of my things.”
“Who’s Ronnie?” I stare at the guy behind her.
I don’t want to be a judgmental bitch, but Ronnie looks just like every crack addict I saw when I was in health class.
Maybe a little fuller in the face, like he was just in rehab recovering, but his white skin is starting to turn back to a pale gray that makes him look sick.
“That’s Ronnie,” she says it like I’m stupid.
“How do you know Ronnie?” What I really want to ask is if she met him on the streets. If she went to him to get high. If she’s really just back to steal money from me again.
“I met him in AA.”
I let out a breathy laugh, “Unbelievable.”
“We went to dinner on Thanksgiving and just really hit it off. I haven’t felt this way in years, mija. He just gets me.”
“So, what? You guys both gave up on trying to get clean?”
“I didn’t give up, Avalon. We had a couple of drinks.”
“I haven’t heard from you in—”
“I told you my phone was dead.”
“And you couldn’t find a phone to tell me you’re still alive?”
“You’re being dramatic. I’ll be spending a lot of time at Ronnie’s, okay? So, if you don’t hear from me, I’m there. Feel better?”
“No, I don’t feel better,” I mutter. “You told me this time was going to be different. You promised me this was going to be different.”
“Tomé un par de putos tragos, Avalon! Dios, soy un adulto. I can have a few drinks and not get lectured about it.”
“No, you can’t, that’s the problem. You can’t just have—”
My bedroom door opens, and Zeke walks out, freezing in the doorway with wide eyes when he realizes what’s happening.
“So, I can’t have a couple drinks, but you can have guys over whenever you want?”
“Zeke’s a friend. He’s been here because you weren’t. He wanted to make sure I’m safe, something you’re unfamiliar with.”
“I don’t need to put up with this. I’m grabbing some of my things, and then I’ll go.”
“So, you’re moving out?” I ask. “Moving in with your new fling?”
“No. This is still my house, and I’ll be back whenever I damn, please. You just don’t need to worry about where I am now.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” I mumble as she walks into her room, Ronnie following her, then slamming the door behind him.
I run my hands through my hair, releasing a shaky breath as Zeke pulls me into his arms. His lips meet the top of my head as he rubs circles on my back.
I thought getting a call that they found her dead in a ditch was the worst possible outcome of this situation, but I was wrong.
Somehow, this is worse.
Knowing she’s slowly going to disappear back into the fog of drugs and alcohol—
And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.