Page 84 of The Fallacy of True Love
Papa must have been in a good mood because he let me go without pressing me further. I beelined to my room and reminded myself to be thankful that I had a home to return to. Family who cared.
I often took those things for granted, forgetting that some people had neither.
Like Maya.
Of all the scenarios I’d thought of about her past, her parents abandoning her as a baby never crossed my mind. It was something I only heard about on TV—something that happened, but never to people I knew.
Not anymore.
No wonder she was so independent. She had to be. I couldn’t imagine what she’d gone through, and I’d felt like a fool complaining to her about being stuck in school. My issues seemed trivial compared to hers.
Yet she hadn’t told me off. She’d tried to comfort me—awkwardly, sure, but it only underscored that those conversations didn’t come easily for her. Still, she’d tried. That alone made the effort ten times more valuable than any pretty, well-composed speech.
Was she in her room, prepping for work? Did she head out early? What if she had, and the landlord gave her a hard time for checking out?
I should have stayed in case she had any trouble.
Pulling out my phone, I unlocked it and found an unread message from Maya.
Maya
yday didn’t suck. thx for keeping my chair warm.
u can call me maya. NEVER camaya
Alonzo
Got it. I’m glad you let me stay. Maya. :)
I caught myself grinning as I headed to the shower.
It was official. I was into this girl—and even though I couldn’t afford to take time away from studying, I was already thinking about finding a way to see her again.
Chapter Thirty
Cam
Nikki
status report?
Cam
blood-free. i dsrve a reward
Nikki
get through the week like that and i’ll have your favs ready when you get back
Cam
im holding u 2 that
Nikki
as long as you’re nice to lonzo too ;)
Eric
