Page 19 of Risks

9

Alison coerces me into jogging withher Sunday evening after Toya heads back to Los Angeles.

I think it’s her way of catching upsince we haven’t hung out much the past few days, and she’s leaving for NewYork in the morning.

We slow to a gradual pace once wereach the bend in the park that takes us back to the start.

“So, how’s Toya doing?” she asks,hands on her hips while panting hard.

Wiping the beads of sweat from myforehead, I take a deep breath and answer truthfully, “I’m not sure.”

She pinches her brows together.“What do you mean?”

I motion to a park bench and plopdown.

When Alison sits beside me, Iexplain, “Ever since hearing about her grandfather’s death, she’s had thislook. It was there at the airport today.”

“What kind of look?”

“Like she’s fighting somethinginside, and I feel it has to do with her father.”

She nods slowly. “You think Toyawants to meet him?”

“She told me she doesn’t. But I believein her heart she does.”

Her gray eyes constrict, studyingme. “V, what are you planning?”

Confident in my decision, I tell herseriously, “I’ll find Toya’s father for her.”

“What?” Alison dips her head back inwonder and splays her hands. “If Toya says she wants nothing to do with him,you need to respect that.”

“She doesn’t mean it, Ali. I knowToya. Hearing that her grandfather died affected her. She’s trying to hide it,but she can’t conceal things from me.” I look across the vast park to thefamily of four relaxing in the grass. They seem happy, laughing together. “Toya’sstubbornness will stop her from finding him, and I definitely don’t want toquestion Lisa about it. So, I’ll do it for my girl.”

Alison turns her head from side toside and rises from the bench. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Straightening, I state with certainty,“I do. I’m helping Toya fill the missing piece in her heart that she’s hiddenall these years.”

“Fine. Whatever happens, I’llsupport Toya.” She motions for us to resume jogging.

A part of me is sure I’m doing theright thing. Another side is fearful of how my girlfriend will react.

10

Varen’s right.

I can’t spend my entire college lifemoping when I’ve wanted the experience since I was a kid. I have to enjoy it.

Maybe joining a club will keep mymind off missing him so much, and I’ll make more friends.

The only one that has my interest isthe writers club. At the end of my final class, I check the administrativeoffice for information. A meeting starts in fifteen minutes, so I walk to thestudent center and locate the designated room.

Pausing in the doorway, I look atthe members talking happily. One guy with light brown skin and a girl wearing ahijab is among the few. Diversity is always a good sign, but being the onlyblack girl can often be emotionally draining.

A curvy girl with freckles and shoulder-lengthwavy auburn hair glances my way. Her lips stretch into a kind smile thatreaches her sea-green eyes, and it settles my nerves a bit.

She excuses herself and walks over. “Hey.I’m Courtney.”

“Latoya.” I shake her outstretchedhand.

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