Page 59 of Rue

“I will! I will… just… give me a sec, okay?” she managed to smile, then closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

Geo’s lips on her neck surprised her as she opened her eyes and blushed, glancing at him before sitting up and drinking more wine. It tasted awful, but she hoped it would make her forget. It would numb her and take her somewhere else.

She didn’t eat much of her dinner, nibbling slowly as she looked around at everyone talking but not contributing to the conversation. As soon as she put her fork down, she leaned close to her mom and held her hand in both of hers, just happy she was there.

Suddenly, it was all over, Davon’s dad standing and saying they had to go.

Geo stood immediately as well, waving the orderlies over.

Spinning, Sailor hugged her mom and tried not to cry as everyone else got up to go. Justin’s step-mom was already drunk and loud as she laughed about having to go ‘tee-tee’ for the third time in the last hour. Sailor hardly heard, gripping her gramma’s hand and holding tight to her mom, wishing they could stay alittle longer.

“Rue, they gotta go. They wasn’t s’posed ta be out this late. We’re keeping them men past they shift, they got families ‘n shit,” Geo called.

Sailor stood up, wiping tears away, then kissed them both before hugging them again and letting Geo lead her out.

“Hey,” Davon called as Geo helped her into his SUV. “Congrats, Say! Good job and thanks for carry’n me through alla it!”

Sailor gave him a nod but didn’t answer as Geo got in behind her and sat down, pulling her close. She couldn’t speak as Mig pulled away, tears welling as she watched the orderlies get her mom and gramma into a van.

“You good, Rue?” Geo asked, taking her hand in his, then pulling her fingers to kiss. He frowned then, then sat up. “Where’s your ring?”

Sailor looked at her hand, her other hand, then felt around her lap. “I don’t know? I didn't take it off, Geo! I didn’t! I… it was loose, it must have come off when I washed my hands in the bathroom!”

“Go back,” Geo told Mig irritably.

Geo pulled her back inside, ignoring the men putting all the tables back to rights and going back to the bathroom. She checked the sink, the stall, and then the sink again, confused. There was a cover on the drain, it couldn’t have gone down!

“It should be here!” she shook her head, then went out and checked the floor near where she had sat. Geo asked the owner about it and asked if anyone had found it or turned it in. The owner promised no one had, they were the only ones who had been there.

Geo’s face went dark then, and he pulled Sailor back out to the car.

Sailor was terrified. What would he do to her for losing a ring that expensive?

“I’m sorry!” she told him, feeling like she might throw up. “I didn’t mean to, I swear, I didn’t!”

“Hush, Rue! I ain't mad at you. Mig, where that fool Justin live? Go ta his house, now. Hurry up!”

Mig nodded, pulling it up on his phone as he pulled out.

Understanding hit Sailor. His stepmom, who’d gone to the bathroom three times after they’d been in there. The only one who’d gone in there.

Rue didn’t know what to say as they pulled up in front of Justin’s house, how to convince Geo not to hurt anyone.

Mig started to get out, but Geo forstalled him. “Nah, man, I got this,” Geo hissed, getting out of the car and slamming the door.

“Fuck,” Mig whispered, watching him go to the door warily.

Geo opened it and went in without knocking. Sailor moved up, gripping the front seat as Mig rolled the passenger window down a few inches. She could hear a man yelling, it sounded like Justin’s dad.

A moment later, Justin yelled a single word. “No!”

A woman screamed, and then there were two pops, making Sailor go cold all over.

“Fuck,” Mig whispered again, then turned to his door to get out.

Geo came storming out of the house before Mig had his foot on the ground, looking pissed.

Once he got closer, Sailor saw a spray of blood on his white shirt and up his neck and cheek. He was livid as he got in the car and slammed the door again. “Go,” Geo ordered Mig darkly. “Here,” he spat at Sailor, holding the ring out to her.

---