The Realest Ever - By Keith Thomas Walker Page 0,41

his pocket.

“You know he’s in prison now,” Donovan told Kyra.

“No, but I’m not surprised,” she said. “What’d he go for?”

“Robbery,” Donovan said. “It was another ice cream truck.”

“Nuh-uhn!”

“For real.” But Donovan couldn’t keep a straight face. “Nah, I’m just kidding.”

“I knew you was lying!” Kyra cracked up. “Do you remember his sister? You know she used to like you.”

“Ewww, stinky Stacy?” Donovan hadn’t thought about her in years.

“Yeah!” Kyra laughed. “She always used to come around when y’all were playing street football. She used to sell candy that she stole from the grocery store. I wonder what happened to her.”

“Stacy got married to a dope boy,” Donovan informed. “She had four kids by him, and she had the nerve to look surprised when the police kicked in their door and hauled her man off to jail. Funny thing is, I taught Stacy’s oldest boy when he was a freshman. I had to go to her house a couple of times because of his attendance.”

“Did she remember you?”

“She did,” Donovan said. “While I was there, she started flirting with me. It was sad, to see her down and out like that.”

“I’ve been there,” Kyra said. “Hell, I’m there right now.”

“At least you still have hope,” Donovan countered. “And you want your kids to do well. That’s one thing that separates you from women like Stacy…”

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

The best friends were still on the phone an hour later. Talking to Kyra was the highlight of Donovan’s day. He missed having a friend he could say anything to. Kyra was eager to hear about everything she missed when she went to Arkansas. She listened to Donovan’s stories in wide-eyed amazement.

Donovan didn’t realize how late it was until he received another call. He glanced at the caller ID and got a sinking feeling in his gut.

“Damn.”

“What’s wrong?” Kyra asked.

“Brianna’s calling me. I was supposed to call her before I went to sleep, but I forgot.”

“Ooh. You in trouble.”

“I know. Thanks.”

“I’m sorry. Don’t tell her you were on the phone with me. Good night.”

“Goodnight,” Donovan said and accepted his other call. “Hello?”

“What you doing?”

“Brianna?” She sounded so stuffy, Donovan wasn’t sure it was her.

“I thought you were going to call me before you went to bed.” Her voice was rich with sorrow.

“I’m sorry. I forgot,” Donovan said. “What’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

“What were you doing?” she asked, ignoring his question. “Were you asleep?”

“No, I was…” Donovan stared into the darkness. Once again the little devil on his shoulder urged him to lie. But Donovan’s conscious was already eating him up because he didn’t tell Brianna about buying Kyra groceries. If he continued to hold things back from her, that would mean he and Kyra did have something secret going on.

“I fell asleep, but Kyra called and woke me up. I was talking to her.” Donovan’s heart raced while he waited for a response. Brianna didn’t say anything right away, but Donovan noticed her breathing became labored. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know I should’ve called you before I went to sleep. I don’t want you to think I was talking to her instead of you on purpose.”

Brianna’s breath hitched. Donovan could hear the moisture in her nose. He rubbed his face, his expression pained. Earlier he asked God for a sign. Surely this was it. Brianna’s suffering was God’s way of telling him to end their relationship, because for whatever reason she was unwilling to do it herself.

“Look, Brianna, I’m sorry, but we–”

“It’s okay,” she said.

“Huh?”

“That you were talking to her. It’s okay. I understand.”

Bewilderment replaced Donovan’s worry. “Obviously it’s not okay, Brianna, if you’re crying like this.”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she said. Her voice was grief-stricken, but he could tell she was trying to be strong. “I thought I couldn’t be with you anymore. I was ready to let you go. But I took some time to really think about it, and I realize it’s me not you. I’m worried about your friend because I don’t trust you around her. But you never gave me any reason not to trust you. I’ve been acting like a fool. I know Kyra needs to be in your life, and I won’t say anymore negative things about her. I’m the one who has to change, not you. I love you, Donovan. I don’t want to lose you.”

What? Donovan sat up in bed, blinking wildly. Did she just stop me from breaking up with her twice in four hours? He almost told her Nah, it’s too late for