Page 23 of Beautiful Broken Love

“Yeah. So?”

“So, what can I do to get you out of bed, sis?”

Nothing. There was nothing she could do to get me out of this bed right now. If I could have, I would’ve molded to it.

When I didn’t answer, she yanked the cover down, and I tried yanking it back up, but she had a better grip and threw the whole thing onto the floor.

“Davina, come on. I need you to get out of bed. I love you too much to let you rot in here.”

“I’m grieving,” I grumbled, pressing a hand to my forehead.

“Oh,nowyou want to grieve?”

I frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“All you do is work, and if you’re not working, you’re pretending to be busy with other things. The only reason that rebranding party isn’t happening is because Tish didn’t think it should be so close to Lew’s birthday. You agreed with her for a reason. I’ve hardly seen you cry since the week he died.”

I burrowed my face into the pillow. I hated that she was right. Other than that day I’d realized he was dead, I hadn’t cried much—not because I hadn’t wanted to, but because I’d known that if I did, I wouldn’t stop.

There had been a few tears here and there, but I’d never really sat and let it hit me. I’d never let the emotions take over until I was a blubbering mess who could hardly breathe.

“I bought your favorite Native soap—that coconut-and-vanilla one you like. I went to Target while you were sleeping and got some of that, a new body scrub,andsome DOVE chocolates. I know you love those.” I cracked one eye open, and she was smiling as she slid closer. “Yeah, I got you with the chocolates, didn’t I? All you have to do is walk to the kitchen and get them.”

“I don’t feel like getting up, Tavia.”

“Please get up, Vina. If not for me, do it for Lew.”

At the second mention of his name, both of my eyes peeled open, and that quick action made my head throb. I stared at my little sister in all her natural glory—her golden brown skin and big round eyes. The tiny mole above her upper lip, which girls from our school used tothink she penciled in. Her full lips, which always made her look like she was doing a cute pout.

The tips of her straw-size locs were long enough to touch her collarbones, but today she had them pulled up into a pineapple. She was one of those people who didn’t need makeup to stand out. She was effortlessly beautiful and had been since she was born.

“Lew wouldn’t want you stuck in bed like this so close to his birthday, and you know it.” Octavia’s eyes glistened, and I don’t know what it was about her eyes that day, but they caused a wrenching in my chest. My sister wasn’t much of a crier, either, but I think seeing me like this was doing something to her.

Oh, God.I couldn’t bethatperson—the type to ruin someone’s mood through bitterness and selfish acts. She needed me just as much as I needed her right now.

“You’re right.” I pushed up on one elbow and gazed down at my ratty shorts and the UNCC hoodie that Lew gave me when we first started dating. Well, he didn’t give it to me. It was more that I kept it because it was comfortable and never gave it back.

“Yeah?” Octavia’s sad brown eyes lit up as she grinned. She hopped off the bed and said, “Cool. I’ll get you some Advil.”

She hurried out of the room, and I hoisted myself up to rest my back against the headboard. I cradled my head in one of my hands, sighing.

When Octavia returned and passed me the ibuprofen and a bottle of water, the doorbell rang.

“Who is that?” I asked.

Octavia went to the window to peer out. “Not sure. There’s a white van with flowers on it.” She glanced at me before leaving the room again.

I heard some distant chatting after she answered the door, a laugh from Octavia, and then the door closing again.

When she returned, she said, “It was a flower delivery. Are you dating somebody and didn’t tell me?”

“What? No! What are you talking about? They’re probably from someone at work. The whole company knows I rescheduled the party so I could have time to myself.”

“Oh.” Octavia’s eyes bounced around. “Well, come on. Go shower, and I’ll make you a really late breakfast, lazy ass. Something greasy should get you back on your feet.”

I huffed a laugh, then palmed my head again. “Oh my gosh, Tavia. Don’t make me laugh right now, please.”

Octavia planted a hand on her hip. “No one told you to drink a whole bottle of wine last night. That was your grown-woman choice, and now you’re paying for it.”

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