Page 116 of Panther's Magpie
“Then it won’t be,” he tells me. “If you feel that way, then she does too. All boats have to weather the storm. It doesn’t mean they don’t take on damage. It’ll take some fixing, is all.”
“Wow. That was actually really deep,” I tell him, looking back at him.
He shrugs. “I heard Kim say it once.”
I laugh. “Never change, Meek.”
“I wouldn’t want to. I like who I am.”
Looking over at him, gratitude fills me. We haven’t had a chance to talk about what he did for me. He took a life. That has to weigh on his soul, yet he did it for me.
“Thank you, Meek.”
“You should really thank Kim.”
I shake my head. “No, for what you did. With Ava.”
“Any brother would have done it for you.”
“I know.” I sigh. “I mean, thank you for taking that sin on for me. I know killing someone is a weight. I didn’t even do it, and it still weighs on me. Thank you for taking the brunt of that.”
“It doesn’t.”
I frown. “It doesn’t?”
He’s quiet for a moment. “It doesn’t weigh on me. I killed her because she was hurting you. You are my friend. My best friend.”
My heart stutters in my chest. He thinks of me as his best friend?
He turns to me. “I don’t ever want to see you hurt.”
“You’re my best friend too,” I tell him.
I mean it. Meek has been the brother to spend the most time with me outside of Calloway. He was the first one I really got to know, and he’s the one who seeks me out to talk.
I didn’t realize it, but he’s right. He has slowly become one of my best friends.
“Good, then no need to thank me. I did what needed to be done. She is gone and cannot hurt you anymore. Besides, her voice grated on my nerves. I never did like her.”
I let out a small laugh. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I just did. Do you want me to tell you again?” He looks confused.
I love that about him. He is very matter-of-fact. It’s endearing the way he speaks. I never have to question if he means what he says because he wouldn’t say it otherwise. He’s the most honest person I know.
“You really think this shit with Aspen can be fixed?” I ask, needing the reassurance.
“I do. Trauma affects people in weird ways. I think that once she realizes that her anger isn’t for you, she will come around.”
I grab his arm, squeezing it. “Thank you.”
“Yeah. Sure. We should go for a walk.”
Just like that, he changes the subject, pulling me from my pity party.
I take one last look at the hall before I follow him out.
Aspen will come back to me eventually. I just need to give her time.
