Still Dunno

Chapter 37 - Worse Than I Thought

Jamey's POV

I was driving to meet Christopher at this restaurant I'd never heard of. Christopher sounded weird on the phone, and something was definitely up. I just didn't know what.

Stephanie swore it wasn't good.

"You shouldn't go," she said.

"I have to go," I said.

"Why? Because he's your cousin? He's an asshole! He's knee-deep in this shit with Joslyn, and you don't want to get involved!"

"Steph, I have to go talk to him. He sounded..."

"Fucked up?"

"Weird," I corrected her. "On the phone. Christopher is close to Joslyn. I'm sure he's worried about her."

"Christopher doesn't worry about anyone but himself," Stephanie mumbled.

"You don't even know him," I argued.

"I know what he did with Cleo. I know he fed her drinks of alcohol all night to get her into bed, and when they got caught, he turned around and blamed her."

"I know Chris is pretty determined when he gets something stuck in his head. It's hard for him to take the word no, but he didn't force himself on Cleo. Cleo even said that!"

Stephanie stared at me.

"I know she's your friend..."

"And he's your cousin. It's hard to see family for their true colors," Stephanie said and went to walk away from me.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her against me.

"Let me go!"

"Don't be mad at me," I said softly, dropping my arms.

"I'm not. Christopher is your family, and you two were close, but he isn't the same guy you have known."

I nodded.

"Be careful, please," she said, touching my face.

"Chris won't hurt me. Besides, I'm meeting him at a restaurant and driving myself."

Stephanie nodded. "Call me when you're done?'

"You'll be out with your friends," I said. " I don't want to be that boyfriend."

Stephanie laughed. "You aren't; besides, my friends don't even know you are my boyfriend. Just call me so I know you are okay."

"Okay," I said, kissing her sweetly on the lips.

I pulled into the little parking lot and got out of the car. It was a small Chinese restaurant that looked deserted, except there were lights on. I went inside. Christopher was sitting at a table with a menu in front of him and a glass of beer in his hand.

I walked over to him and sat down.

Christopher jumped. He looked on edge.

"Dude! You scared me!" He exclaimed.

"Sorry," I said.

"No worries, thanks for coming," He said.

"Yeah, how have you been?"

I didn't need him to answer to know how Christopher was.

He looked exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes, and his hair was messy and shiny with oil from not being washed. His clothes were crumbled, and he had a five-day-old beard growing in.