Chapter 55
Victor
After the ceremony, Kerri stayed behind, saying that she would get a ride home with friends.
What she didn’t say was that she would be gone all goddamn day.
I know she should be able to celebrate, but Gabbi and I wanted to take her to dinner to celebrate, not to mention we’re dying to see what she and Chloe were talking about.
Gabbi told me goodnight an hour ago and asked me to come to bed, but I told her I wanted to wait up for Kerri.
I’m starting to regret that decision as the minutes tick by.
Just then, I hear the familiar sound of a motorcycle pulling down the street.
Well, at least I know that Trip is home safe.
I walk over to the front window to peek out, and I see Trip pulling up to the house with a passenger on his bike.
A passenger wearing the exact same hoodie that Kerri has.
I roll my eyes and run my hands through my hair, letting a groan slip from my lips.
Keeping my eye on the two on the bike, I see them both standing next to the bike now, with their helmets off.
They’re just standing there, not too close, kind of awkward actually.
I think I’ll just put them out of their misery.
I open the door and step out onto the front stoop, the fragrant smell of roses wafting up from Emma’s planters. “Hey guys,” Trip immediately takes a couple of steps back from Kerri, but both of them wave and hold genuine smiles on their faces. Maybe it’s not what I suspected.
“Mr. S,” Trip hollers.
“Trip, call me Vic for fuck’s sake, you’re a graduated adult now. Congratulations, by the way.” Trip nods and smiles.
Kerri turns to Trip and says something, then walks over to me and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Dad. We’ll catch up tomorrow, is that cool?” She looks tired.
“Of course.” I bring her in for a hug and kiss her on top of her head, “Goodnight, sweetheart, I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.” Then she walks into the house.
When I turn to say goodnight to Trip, I notice he’s walking over to me. “Hey Mr. S…I mean, Vic?”
I move toward him so we’re both standing on the walkway in front of the house. “Yeah, Wildman, what’s up?”
Trip rubs his hand across the back of his neck, like he’s nervous. Oh god, please don’t be about Kerri. “I wanted to talk to you about the um…” He won’t make eye contact, shit, it’s about Kerri.
“About what, buddy?” I’m trying to sound calm.
“About the fire.” I can feel shock splatter my face. “Before you get mad, I just want to explain that I legit did not do it.”
“But...” I’m bracing for what’s to come.
“But,” he finally looks me in the eye, “I know who did.”
“WHAT?” Calm down, Vic, breathe. Shit, don’t scare the kid. “Sorry, okay, that was a shock. Go ahead, explain.”
Trip breathes out slowly but keeps eye contact. “I can’t tell you everything, Vic, but I can tell you there’s a guy who hangs around school. He’s a problem for this area and tends to target pretty girls.” My teeth grind, and my heart starts to pound.
“Trip, tell me, did he…”
“NO. I promise, the girls were not touched. Look, I can’t really say anything else, and I know that you probably wanna go to the cops with this information, but I’m asking you not to, at least not yet.
” Trip stops, and I give him space. It feels like there’s more that he wants to say, so I remain quiet.
“I’m leaving soon.” My eyes go wide. “Please don’t ask, okay? I just, I just need you to know that I’m gonna take care of it before I leave, so please just, don’t say anything.”
“Trip, I don’t know what to say. I mean, where are you going?
Do your parents know? Are you okay? This all seems really cloak and dagger.
” This is confusing, and honestly, I don’t give a shit about the house; no one was hurt, the rest is all material.
I’m a little nervous about where Trip is going and his plan.
Trip huffs a laugh at my questions. “Mr…Vic, I swear, I’m okay. I’m planning on talking to you and my parents soon. I swear I’m safe.” He’s confident in his answer and doesn’t waver in his stance, so I take it for what it is.
“Okay, Wildman. Thanks for letting me know. I won’t say anything. I’m glad you were there to help my girls. We’ll never be able to thank you enough.” I reach out and bring him in for a hug, “I love you, bud.”
“Love you too, Vic.” I wrap my arms around him, the way I would my own son, and squeeze him hard, trying to communicate how much he means to me and my family.
“Now, do I need to ask about you and Kerri?”
Trip freezes, “Umm…” Just as Trip opens his mouth, a loud noise sounds off from my pocket, accompanied by vibrations.
I reach down in my pocket and pull out my phone, seeing Cookie’s name on the screen.
“Saved by the bell, Wildman.” Holding up my phone and nodding at Trip, I mouth goodnight as I press the green button.
“Hey, Cook!” I’m glad to see his name on my screen. D said he’s been doing well, but I always feel better after I speak to him myself.
“Hey, Kid! How’s it going? I heard congratulations are in order. Tell my daughter I said I’m proud of her!” He makes himself laugh so hard, and all I can do is laugh back.
“Yeah, no problem, Cook. I’ll be happy to tell my daughter that you said you’re proud of her.” A smile remains on my lips. I’m glad that he seems to be back to himself.
“I know, I know. I have my own divas to worry about. I just wanted to call and give you shit…aaand also to congratulate Kerri. We couldn’t be more proud of her, for real man.”
“Thanks, Cookie, I appreciate that. How ya been? D treatin’ you okay?”
His voice lowers to a whisper, “Kid, you gotta call D, man, call the dogs off. He’s up my ass all day, every day…”
“What the fuck?!” I hear a muffled voice and a scuffle over the phone. Then the sound gets clear, and I hear another familiar voice. “This mother fucker….Hello? Kid?”
“D? Is that you?” I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up. “You keepin’ Cookie hostage?”
“Man, this fucker…shut up, Cookie…” I can hear Cookie cackling in the background, which makes my body shake with more laughter. D sounds so irritated. “Kid, this is the shit I deal with on the reg. But not for much longer, huh, Cook?”
“Nope!” I can hear Cookie yell in the background. “Fucker’s leaving me, can you believe that shit, Kid?”
“Cookie, you just made Kid think I was holding you hostage.” I can hear D’s eye roll, and there’s Cookie laughing again.
“Are you guys drinking?”
“No, Cookie hasn’t had a drink in weeks, and I’ve been layin’ off while I’m here. This is just pure, unadulterated Cookie being Cookie.”
“For real, Kid,” I hear Cookie crowd the phone with D, “we just wanted to call and tell Kerri congrats. Give her our love, okay?”
“Okay, Cookie. Thanks, man. Try not to give D too hard a time, yeah?”
“Yeah, yeah, oh, tell my girl I said hi too. Love ya, man! Later.” Another crackle falls from Cookie’s mouth as he hangs up, not giving me the chance to argue about whose girl Gabbi is. I laugh out loud to myself, shaking my head. Asshole.