Page 44 of Bear
“You were sleeping. I need girl time.”
“Girl time, huh? In other words, yall need to sit in my house and talk shit about me?” His smile was devastatingly gorgeous. I brought my shoulders up around my ears in a shrug.
“Maybe,” I sang.
“Yeah okay, Cecily. Y’all can hang out here. I don’t care. Just know I have a delivery tonight.”
“Can I go with you?” I asked before I could stop the words from tumbling out.
“You don’t need to be around that shit.” He stood up and headed toward the steps.
“I want to be aroundyou.” I grabbed his hand in mine before he walked upstairs and he sighed. I could see his walls tumbling down.
“I’m leaving at eleven. Sharp.” He headed up the steps and I squealed a little. That was his way of telling me that if I wasn’t ready by then, I wasn’t going.
I opened the front doors for Kareema and we rushed into a tight embrace punctuated by happy screams and rocking back and forth. “Oh my god, I’ve missed you. It’s literally been three days and I’ve missed you.” Kareema blew in like a summer breeze with a bag slung across her body.
“I’m so happy to see you,” I sighed.
“You’re glowing.” She touched my hair and walked around me in a full circle. Her hazel eyes were calculating and scrutinizing. I already knew what that look was. “You’re supposed to be grieving. Not glowing like a fucking ray of sunshine.”
“Kaiden’s mom told me the guys who killed him were found dead.” I walked with Kareema further into the house. I heard the shower start upstairs and I pictured Bear naked looking like a statue of perfection.
“That’s amazing. That’s what the fuck they get.”
“Exactly. I still feel responsible though.” The storm cloud of guilt that momentarily vanished when I was around Bear was back and raining all over my glow. I hated it. I hated that I felt like such a fucked up person. I hated that Kaiden was gone.
Kareema and I settled in the kitchen. I made her a cup of coffee then I made Bear one and set it to the side. “You know that wasn’t your fault, Cecily. I hate how you keep beating yourself up over it.” Kareema’s pretty face fell into a frown.
“I keep telling myself it wasn’t my fault but the fact that he’s not here keeps telling me otherwise.”
“You have to forgive yourself. I don’t know how it’s going to happen but you’re not going to move forward until you do.”
“I know. And on top of everything with Kaiden, my mom is sick.” I nibbled on my bottom lip while I recalled the horror of Mom not remembering me.
“Sick like how?” Kareema asked, sitting her mug down. I spilled everything about my mother’s declining memory and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. “Oh, Cecily, I am so sorry. You should have called me over the night you got here. You’ve been going through hell. I’m staying the night and we’re getting drunk. Tell Bear there’s nothing he can do about it.” The mention of Bear must have made something light up in my eyes because Kareema looked at me incredulously. “There’s more you have to tell me isn’t there?” She set the coffee mug down and took in my entire appearance from head to toe. “Bitch…whose shirt is that?” She aimed her perfectly manicured pink nail at me and I cleared my throat a little, trying my best to stave off the blushing. “Why are you in here with the I-just-got-finished-fucking face?” Bear’s heavy footsteps headed toward the kitchen then his handsome face came into view.
“Good afternoon, Kareema,” he said, picking up his mug.
“Hey, Bear. Long time no see.” Her eyes roamed over him from top to bottom, then she looked at me.
“You know I’m always busy. You and Cecily are welcome to hang here tonight. I have a few business things to take care of later but make yourself at home.”
“Are y’all finally fucking?” Kareema blurted with a straight face. Her hazel gaze swung from me to Bear and I hid my face behind my hands.
“Wow. Look at you. Just come right out the gate with it, huh?” Bear chuckled then pulled up a stool beside me at the island. “You know me better than that, Kareema. When have I ever let you or anyone else in on my personal life?”
“You let Cecily in,” she smirked.
“She’s the closest person to me. She’s an exception.”
“Looks like she’smorethan an exception.”
“Oh, she is.” His searing gaze fixed itself to me. It was sticky like hot glue. “I’m sure she’ll tell you everything you want to know. I, however, don’t take part in girl time. Here.” He pulled out a small roll of money from his pocket and set in between Kareema and I. “Go get some liquor and food. Unwind. Please.” He flashed a smile before walking toward the door, coffee in hand.
“Okay, thanks, Bear,” I grinned.
“Go get dressed,” he told me.
