Page 27 of Mabilia

“You are driving away the first boy I’ve ever actually cared about. If Tommy breaks up with me because of you, it won’t be him breaking my heart. It’ll be you doing it,” I tell my father before walking out of the dining room.

“Sis, wait up.”

I turn at the sound of Lex’s voice.

My little brother reaches up and wipes the moisture off my face. “Don’t cry. I hate seeing you cry,” he says. Lex has always been gentle with me. He really does hate it when I’m upset. “And since it’s Papa who made you cry, I can’t exactly kill him.”

“I’m fine. Just tired, Lex.” I smile, trying my best to reassure him.

“If this guy really means this much to you, then don’t let anyone take him out,” Lex says.

“I don’t plan to. Thanks.” I bend forward and kiss his cheek before turning around again. I need to get out of this house.

Chapter Eighteen

“Yo! Wait up, man. Where you running off to?” Denny calls out as he jogs to catch up to me.

“The bar. I want to get an early start,” I tell him. We’ve just finished our last lecture for the day. Mabilia asked how I juggle it all. I told her Denny runs most of the bar shit for me. It wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t tell her how much of a time-suckthat place still was. I need to make time to see her, which means I need to get an early start on getting shit done at the bar.

“Why?” Denny asks.

“Because unlike you, I have other things I’d rather be doing than hanging around an old bar.”

“Other things like Mabilia?” He shakes his head.

“What’s your problem with her?” I fold my arms over my chest and glare at him.

“I don’t have a problemwith her. She’s a cool chick. My problem is how reckless you are beingwith her,” Denny says.

I told him about the whole mob boss encounter the other night. I haven’t seen Mabilia since then. It’s been three fucking days since I’ve seen her, other than through the screen of my phone. I wonder if this is how crack addicts feel when they’re hankering for their next hit.

“I’m not being reckless. I know what I’m doing,” I tell him.

“Famous last words,” he says.

I check the time. It’s almost three. “Change of plans. I’ll meet you at the bar. Later.”

“You know guys our age get arrested for hanging around high schools,” Denny yells after me as I walk off.

I hold up my middle finger over my head at him. Mabilia is more mature than both of us put together. She’s eighteen. Two years younger than I am. It’s not that fucking much.

I pull up in front of her school a few minutes later and send her a message.

Me:

I’m waiting for you out front.

Mabilia:

Out front of where?

Me:

Your school.

Mabilia:

Men get arrested for doing that, you know.

---