Mills and I decided to head for the bank to split the money. We settle on half-and-half of course and with my half, I can’t wait to put some use to it. I know with this money, things will start to look up for me. What I didn’t know was that Mills is planning on moving sooner than I initially thought.
“You and Lorie gonna have babies soon, too?” I ask, attempting to ease into it the best way I can.
He laughs as he opens one of the drawers to his dresser. I lean against the frame of his door and watch as he walks from his dresser to his closet. He shuffles through it until he pulls out a large suitcase. “No babies. It’s just time for us to actually start living on our own.”
I nod because I completely understand. “All the way to California, though? You get on my nerves but that’s so far away. It’s definitely not going to be the same without you around.”
“I know.” He drops his suitcase on the bed to turn and face me. “You’ll be alright, though. Keep doing what you’re doing now. You’re right on track—just don’t fuck up with Natalie again.”
“I won’t. I’ve learned a lot this past month. Letting her go is something I never should have done. It won’t happen again.”
“Did she take you back?”
I smirk. “Yep.”
“For good? She’s done with whoever she had on the side?”
“She’s done,” I tell him.
“Good. She’s good for you. Lorie and I decided moving next month is best. I have a ton of shit to pack so it’s best to get started now,” he sighs.
It’s not usual for my heart to plummet for Mills but it does. “Next month,” I repeat.
He nods, shrugging. “Yeah. She’s already found a teaching job over there. I can work for Tike again. He’s been telling me that I should move up to a better position. Thought I’d take him up on it this time. The only reason I didn’t before is because I didn’t want you to be offended by it.” He looks me over, his eyebrow arching. “You aren’t going to cry, are you?”
I shake my head with a dry laugh. “No it’s just going to be weird without you around—I mean you piss me off to no end but you’re my brother. We’ve been stuck together for years. To split is going to feel . . . different.”
“Trust me, I know,” he sighs. “But this is where you take off. You and me both. This is where we learn. We can’t always be together but we know where our hearts are. You’re my brother so you know I have nothing but love for you. I know you’ll be fine here with Natalie and if shit starts to go downhill, you call me. If you need advice, pick up your phone. I’ll always have time for my baby brother.” He winks and I nod.
“I guess I love you, too, man.”
“I know you do. Lorie tells me I’m handsome every day. I’m sure you feel the same way. Who doesn’t?”
I laugh hysterically as he winks at me. “Maybe I should consider you the fag.”
“Never that, brother,” he chuckles, making his towards his dresser again.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I check it.
Annoying Bitch.
I walk away from Mills’s room to go for the living room. Pressing the phone to my ear, I answer it, my tone irate.
“Nolan, listen to me. This is important.” The panic behind Sharon’s voice makes me hold back on my attitude.
“What is it?”
“I followed Tyler to school. He’s been watching Natalie from his car and even after she went inside. He’s been sending negative vibes lately so I thought it would be best to figure out what’s going on with him. He’s back at it again—the date rape drugs and things I thought he had given up on. The night at the party, that’s what it was. He put something in Natalie’s drink. He was my main reason of coming to Miami. I had to check on him. He stopped answering my calls a while back when I wanted updates with him and her—”
“Hold on,” I snap, cutting her off. “He drugged Natalie?” I pull my keys out of my pocket and rush for the door. Slamming it behind me, I dash down the stairs of my complex.
“I don’t know but I think you should come to Miami-Dade. This started as a joke—as a game—but he’s