asked if there was any way she could repay me. Don’t be too mad at her.”
“I’m not mad at her. But I’m wondering why you decided to call, since I told you not to speak if you see me.”
“You gonna hang up on me?”
Kelli watched the branches sway in the gentle evening breeze. She hated how well Brian knew her. If she was planning to hang up, she would’ve done it already. She sighed into the phone. “Just tell me why you called, Brian.”
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Monica.”
“Stephanie told you?”
“No.” Brian paused. “Monica and I are good friends. She told me.”
“Well. Thank you anyway for letting me use the laptop.” Her tone didn’t exactly sound thankful.
“I was glad to do it.”
“So that’s why you called?”
“Actually, no. I need to talk to you about something. Would you be willing to come to the studio? I can pick you up.”
“Brian, seriously . . . first a phone call, and now you think I would go somewhere with you? Why are you acting like we’re cool?”
“I know we’re not cool, Kelli. I know you hate me. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. It has to do with my album.”
“I know you hate me.”
Kelli remembered her thoughts just before her phone rang. The forgiveness thing. Only, she didn’t feel like forgiving him. Having an attitude with Brian had become second nature.
Darkness was settling in. She looked at her watch. Almost eight thirty. “Where’s the studio?”
“In my house.”
“Your house?”
“I set it up in the basement. I promise I won’t keep you long.”
“Why can’t you just tell me what it’s about?”
“I need to tell you in person. It’s something that’s been on my heart for the last four days, and I can’t shake it.”
Kelli was frustrated with herself for even considering it. His album isn’t your concern. Tell him no and be done with it.
If he had called any other day, that would’ve been easy. But after that Bible study . . . plus, she had to admit she was curious. Whatever the reason, something in her wouldn’t let her dismiss this. “I can’t stay long,” she said finally, “and I can drive myself.”
“That’s fine, but I’m right around the corner at Home Depot picking up mulch and other yard stuff for Grandma. I could scoop you up and bring you back, no problem.”
Ugh. “Fine, Brian.”
“Thanks, Kel. Be there in fifteen.”
A MILLION MEMORIES FLOODED KELLI’S MIND AS SHE opened Brian’s car door and got in. How many times had he rolled by her house to pick her up? She remembered the day his great-uncle gave him a car, a hand-me-down with more than 150,000 miles and a good amount of rust, but Brian was thrilled. He drove straight to Kelli’s, and they celebrated with a trip to the Science Center, chatting nonstop as always.
Now he drove an SUV, and instead of easy conversation, she wasn’t sure what her first words would be.
He backed out of the driveway, glancing at her. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Her eyes dusted him, then moved out the window.
He drove slowly down the street, peering at the houses. “Remember we used to wonder who actually lived over here?”
Kelli took a good look around herself, remembering what it was like to ride the school bus through the neighborhood. “We thought they must be millionaires.”
“With no problems.”
“Yeah,” Kelli said. “I’ll have to ask Cedric and Cyd if that’s true.”
Brian turned onto Clayton Road. “So how do you like being back in the Lou?”
Kelli shrugged, her honest answer. “I’m sure it’ll start looking up when I find a job.”
“Doing what? What’s your field?”
Weird. They didn’t know even basic information about each other anymore.
“Public relations and communications. Best-case scenario, I’ll be able to work on behalf of organizations whose mission and message I can get excited about promoting.”
“Sounds perfect. You’ll be really good at that.”
She nursed her own question, not wanting to show interest in his life, but she couldn’t resist. “Never would’ve guessed you’d be rapping. How did it happen?”
“Long story.” Brian’s expression changed as he reflected. “What I did to you . . . to us . . . to the baby”—he blew out a sigh—“it haunted me for weeks when I went away to college. I had nightmares where I would call you and say, ‘Kelli, stop, I changed my mind. Don’t do it!’ Then I would see this empty cot in a clinic and no one in sight. Shook me so bad one night I got out of bed and on