25
As my driver puts in the address, he turns around to look at me. "Listen, the fare is gonna be a little bit more, okay? It’s a pretty long way out to JFK."
"It’s okay," I reply, not even looking up from my phone. I don't care about the money anymore.
We’re about three minutes into the drive through the morning New York traffic when my phone vibrates. I look down and a genuine smile actually touches my face. It’s Kiki.
"Kiki!" I answer. "Oh my god, are you back in New York?"
"No," she says, sounding confused. "Are you in New York?"
"Yeah, but I knew that—"
"Wait, wait," Kiki cuts me off. "Ty called me. He told me I need to check up on you and make sure that you're okay. What the hell is going on, Erica?"
My heart skips a beat. "Tyler called you?"
"Yeah. I didn't even know that dude had my number still. I didn't even realize he had it."
"I told him it was another contact outside of my parents," I admit, feeling a bit sheepish. "I’d rather he not call my parents if something happened, so... I had you listed for emergencies."
"Yeah, well, what would make Ty call me and tell me that?" Kiki asks, her voice rising. "He says you came to come find some guy in New York. What the fuck, Erica?"
"It’s a long story," I say, leaning my head against the cool glass of the car window. "It’s one of my friends and he’s... kind of falling off the wagon. Hard."
"And I know damn well you’re not telling me everything," she retorts. "Because I know you don't come chasing some guy up and down New York just for that."
"I did it to Tyler!"
"You did it to find out if Ty was telling the truth. Then you dropped him like a drag queen death drop."
If I wasn't so nervous right now, I would laugh. It feels so good just to hear her voice.
"Kiki..."
"Hold on..." she says, her tone shifting. "Is it that guy King?"
"Yes," I whisper, closing my eyes in a mix of embarrassment and shame. "Yes, it’s him. I’m worried about him."
"What the hell is going on?"
"It’s a long story and I’m literally on my way to the airport right now."
"Okay, so you got a little bit of time then. Talk."
I don't tell her everything.
I can't.
I tell her that we had sex a few times and how he sadly started to lose his faith.
I tell her about my neighbor Xander and how King showed up at my door with flowers, only to watch his face go dead inside. I tell her how he just disappeared from life, like that was the one thing that finally broke him.
"Oh my god, Erica," she says, sounding exasperated. "You stupid girl. He’s in love with you."
"I thought that at first, but... I don't know. I thought it was just infatuation or... because he doesn't act like that now."
"Yeah, because you broke his heart!"
"Well, Kiki, how the fuck was I supposed to know the dude was in love with me?
!" I snap, feeling the frustration bubble up.
"He made it seem six ways till Sunday that he didn't want to have a relationship with me.
He had to keep his vow to God and all that shit.
He made it very, very clear that he was not about that life. "
"The same way Ty did," she says pointedly.
"Exactly! You think I was going to fall into that trap again? Chase after someone who made it clear he doesn't want a relationship? Why would I make the same mistake twice?"
"I don't know," she says with a heavy dose of sass. "Why would you keep fucking him then?"
"Because..."
"Because you love him. I could tell you loved him when I met him, and I can't really blame you. The boy is fine, but it sounds like he has some fucked-up issues. All that glitters isn't gold, baby. I know that dick probably goes crazy, because crazy dick is the best dick, but... sometimes you got to leave things alone. And if Ty is telling me that he’s worried about you... him of all people, with the kind of lifestyle he leads? That’s saying something. "
"Yeah, of course Ty would say that," I mutter. "He’s just jealous of him."
"I don't know, Erica. He’s out there doing his thing. He went out of his way just to look out for you," Kiki says, and I can hear the genuine worry in her breath now. "Is King dangerous?"
I hesitate for a second. The memory of the saw blade whirring inches from my face flashes behind my eyes.
"Oh my god... Erica, no. Get your ass back to Tennessee," she says, picking up on my silence.
"He was just having a bad trip!" I lie, the words rushing out. I don't want her to panic. If she gets too worried, she’ll call the cops or my parents, and that will ruin everything. "He didn't know where he was, but I don't think he's dangerous or anything."
"What does that mean?!"
"He gets a little... horny. But he’s not dangerous."
"Getting a little horny seems like a bonus," she says, suspicious. "So why did you hesitate?"
"I gotta go. I’ll tell you... I’ll keep you posted."
"Erica, don't make me call your mom."
"Everything is fine! I swear to God, y'all are blowing this so far out of proportion."
"You're chasing this guy around New York who has this fucked-up past. I just feel like you're not telling me everything."
She’s right. And since Ty apparently didn't tell her the specifics, I'm sure as hell not going to tell her that King is the ex-drummer for Black Marroh.
She’ll look him up, see the killings and the jail time, and lose her mind. That’s the last thing I need. If she runs her mouth and reporters get involved, it’ll be a circus, and that would probably drive King to kill himself.
I’m not doing that. "I love you. I promise I'm just going to help him out. Please, if you love me, do not say anything."
There’s a heavy, long sigh on the other end. "All right. But just keep me posted and don't do anything stupid. Please, for the love of God."
"Thanks, babes. Miss you."
"I miss you too. I wish I was there so I could have seen you."
"We'll see each other soon," I tell her.
I hang up and sink back into the seat, watching the concrete jungle of New York begin to give way to the airport outskirts. It’s going to be a long ride.
???