would often fall asleep with that thing on, then turn it off at some point in the night. I guessed she was tired if that hadn’t happened yet.
Back in the living room, I thought to charge my phone. I yawned big and hard, eyes heavy as I headed for the duffle. After getting the charger, I found the outlet behind the sofa to connect for power. As I plugged the charger into the phone, it chirped.
Ashton: Don’t OD on your favorite thnxgvg dish.
That made me laugh unexpectedly. What type of message was that? Who sent stupid shit like that? Old people?
Me: yeah. okay.
I giggled, then lifted my head at the sound of a gate opening outside. From the front view, I couldn’t see anything. It was likely a neighbor.
Ashton: What’s your favorite dish anyway?
I quickly replied.
Me: spaghetti
My eyes were so heavy, but I refused to fall asleep. I decided to hit up the weird, bossy human again.
Me: and why the hell are you up?
Ashton’s first response came right away, and the second appeared as I was reading the first.
Ashton: What part of the game is fuckin spaghetti at thnxgvg? You half Italian or something?
Ashton: I have no fuckin clue. I was tired as hell when I got home then woke up out of nowhere. Hope I didn’t wake you up.
He should have been tired. Ashton’s crazy ass got up after the concert and hanging out with his friends last night and ran laps on the track. Worst of all, he made me go with him. Dude was dedicated to fitness.
Me: looks like my family won’t be doing dinner this year. get some sleep Spence. you need it. goodnight.
And so he’d know this conversation was over I sent another.
Me: this thing is about to die. see you at the airport on Friday.
I needed to be on guard for a monster. Getting caught up with Ashton would only distract me. He weakened me.
Not tonight. Tonight, I’d be strong and fight my ass off.
I jumped to my feet, heart banging against my bone cage. My eyes wildly swung around the living room and kitchen for movements. Then I heard the shower turn-on. Seconds later, I heard the toilet flushed. I swallowed hard when I realized my mother had gone into the bathroom. She was up.
Of course, she was. It was daylight, and she had to work. I must’ve fallen asleep at some point. The last time I remembered checking the clock, it was close to five in the morning. I looked down my body at my boots and crumpled clothes. My head was foggy and mouth dry as a damn desert. Did Paul come in?
How the hell did I fall asleep?
Feeling weak and disappointed, I snatched my Blackberry from the crease of the sofa, yanking it from the charger. It was six-eighteen. Still a little disoriented but determined for answers, I charged to the back of the trailer. My mother’s bedroom door was open. The television was off, but the room was empty. I searched the other room—my bedroom—wanting to be sure he wasn’t here. That was empty, too.
Going back to the living room, I was relieved, but angry with myself for falling asleep. How could I have done something so stupid? Again. I plopped myself down on the sofa, thinking of my next move. Come hell or high water, I was leaving Millville today.
Chapter Six
-THEN-
“And what’s your mommy’s name?”
“Ka-wen!” she mispronounced with confident accuracy.
“And what’s your daddy’s name?
“Easy!” She slapped her little forehead, rocking back on my thigh. “Ba-wick!”
I shook my head. “No. What’s his real name?”
She smiled, embarrassed, but aware of her error. “Da-da-shawn”
My mom, hers, and the rest of my family in the living room, watching, cheered her on. She wasn’t through, though.
“Deshawn, what?” I challenged.
Keyonna considered it for a few seconds, then shouted, “Lee! Da-shawn Lee!”
“And what’s your godfather’s name?”
I could see my mother’s painful smile in the background. I knew this holiday—the first without Brick—would be hard.
Her little finger pushed into my chest. “You!”
My brows shot up, admonishing her. “I have a name.”
“Ashton. Uncle Ashton,” she answered with confidence, and the whole room sighed and awww’d.
I sucked in a breath. “I got a last name, too, Keyonna Lee!”
Her little head tossed back, and she laughed. “Spencer, god!” Her eye roll-game was to die for.
“And what’s half?”
She paused. “Fifty percent.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s three quarters?”
“Seventy-five.” She blinked, thinking hard. “Percent.”
“Uhn-huhn. And what’s a quarter, young lady?”
“Two…” She hesitated. “Twenty… Twenty-five percent!” Keyonna, so relieved, laughed at her near miss.