Page 83 of Until the Ink Dries

I couldn’t help but smirk. I stood to my full height, towering over her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, then kissed her cheek.

“Thank you. I guess I got a few calls to make.” I told her.

I walked around her and took the stairs a few at a time. I packed as quickly as possible before booking a red eye flight for tonight. After booking my ticket, I called Jordan, who answered out of breath on the third ring.

“What’s up?” he asked.

I could hear his trainer in the back coaching him to keep pushing, so I knew he was working out.

“I need Shirah’s number,” I said, getting straight to the point.

The clanking of weights was loud in the background. Jordan told his trainer to hold up before giving me his undivided attention.

“What you need her number for?” he asked.

“Why yo’ ass got to know everything before you do something? I need to figure out where Willow lives in Sterling Point.”

I grabbed my keys from the dresser, then closed up my suitcase once I looked it over to make sure my toothbrush and soap were inside.

“Aight, hold up wit’ yo’ simp ass.”

I shook my head and waited for a text with her number to come through, only for Jordan to click over with Shirah on the line. He got on my damn nerves sometimes.

“Jordan, you know I’m working, so this better be good,” Shirah said with a pop of her gum.

“Girl, calm yo’ ass down. Benny wanted to ask you something,” he responded.

“Shirah, I just need Willow’s address in Sterling Point. This some shit I could have texted you.”

“Ohh, maybe, but it’s just not as good as hearing you ask me. My girl really got you down bad, huh?” she asked.

This was exactly why I wanted to just shoot her text, but Jordan had to go the extra mile and call.

“If I agree, can I get the address?” I asked.

Jordan and Shirah burst into laughter like I’d said the funniest thing in the world. In a minute, I was hanging up and pulling up on her parents for the shit.

“Maybe,” Shirah said in return, playfully.

“Aight, I’m not fucking with y’all. I’ll pull up on her peoples before I allow y’all to aggravate me. Thanks, but no thanks.”

That caused them to sober up.

“Wait, Benny. I’m just messing with you. I’ll send over the address. Give me your number. I hope my girl knows how lucky she is. I’m sure she will be happy to see you.”

I rattled off my number to her and waited for the text with the address to come through. Once it came, I thanked her, then hung up. I hoped she was right because pulling up unannounced was a big risk. But for her, I would risk any bit of pride I held left.

Iblew a breath as I sat the heavy box down by my front door. My back was aching, and my feet were on fire. I’d been on go since I got back here a few days ago. When I made the decision to leave Sterling Point and move back home, it was all the motivation I needed. I was mostly taking my clothes, electronics, and my kitchenware. Everything else was either being given away, donated, or thrown away.

Everything of Ellis’ had been packed up and he’d come to retrieve it. While his visit to Rose Haven was finally the end, him getting his shit was the benediction. When I opened the door to give him the box, I felt absolutely nothing for him. That’s how I knew it was really over.

“So this is it?” he asked, shuffling his weight from side to side.

“That’s what I said.”

He shook this head. “I hate it had to end like this, Willow. I really did love you.”

“Like I said, Ellis. You loved the parts of me that fit into your world.”

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