Page 22 of Krash & Bern

“I didn’t expect to see you today,” I admitted as I placed my hands in my back pockets and leaned on my heels for a second.

“Yeah, you ain’t invite me… I saw all the posts yo’ people tagged you in. I figured my invitation was lost in the mail.”

“Um… something like that…”

He chuckled. “You weren’t going to invite me to your going away party? A nigga spent over five years as your best friend… I should have expected it, though. You had your big twenty in May and didn’t invite me to that either.”

“Things have been so rough between us, Key…” I trailed off. The words to continue were lost in the turmoil of emotions I felt in the moment.

“I’m to blame for that,” he admitted. “I haven’t made the last few months easy on you. I haven’t accepted we’re really over, but I have no choice now. You’re about to be thousands of miles away from me. There’s no more fighting left.” His voice was drenched with sadness.

“Is the party still going?” he asked.

I shook my head. “The last of the guests are leaving now. Why?”

“If I help clean up, can I have a few hours of your time?”

“Sure,” I agreed.

For the next half hour, Krash helped my parents and me clean up the backyard. Then, I helped my mother move the leftover food into storage containers. I planned to make a decent dent in the food before I left on Monday. Once everything was put away, I let my parents know I’d be spending some time with Krash, and we headed out.

Climbing into his car, I thought back to the black Nissan Altima he’d had when we first started our trips. Since then, he’d saved up for a nice Audi. His boxing matches were starting to pay off. I didn’t doubt if he kept on the path he was on, he’d be a legend in the sport. His name would one day be on the same lists as Roy Jones Jr., Archie Moore, and Michael Spinks.

“Where are you taking me anyway?” I asked after a few moments of silence.

“Back to the apartment. I got some things I want to give you and just have some alone time with you,” he explained.

I nodded my understanding. “Okay, Keyshawn.”

“You got everything ready to go?” he asked.

I nodded. “I do. My bags have been packed. Everything will be in storage until I come back.”

“If you come back.”

I shook my head. “Houston is my home. This is a great city to settle down in and start a family. I’m only going up north because of the school. I don’t plan to set any roots. Everyone I love is here.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel and merged into the exit lane. When he pulled up to our—his apartment, he helped me out, and we made our way up to the front door.

“Call me a poetic nigga, but I brought you here because this was where the beginning of our end began.”

I chuckled. “You’ve been watching Hallmark movies?”

“Maybe. I needed to tap into my romance bag. I know that’s one of your favorite genres, so I wanted to take a page from your books and make this a memorable moment for both of us.”

My chest tightened as my heartbeat increased. “Keyshawn…”

He pushed open the door, and we walked in. “I wanted to send you off with a couple things I want you to have.”

He pointed at the box sitting on the coffee table. I walked over to the box, and my eyes blurred from tears. Inside the box were several frames of pictures from our time together. Our homecoming pictures, graduation pictures, and arcade selfies were neatly encapsulated in the frames.

“I… Thank you, Key.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” He cupped my face in his large hands. I leaned into the warmth of his embrace. My eyes closed briefly as I tried to brand this moment in my memory forever.

“I’m sorry we’re letting distance break us up, but I promise if I ever get another chance, I won’t fuck it up.” His words made my body quake.

“I’m not leaving forever, Key. I’m coming back, and I hope you cash in your promise to me.”

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