More Than A Favor

Chapter 16

RILEY

MATTIE LEFT EARLY THIS MORNING.

Her girlfriend picked her up and since she's done with her classes, she's going to spend thanksgiving with her girlfriend's family. Sutton's going in the same direction, she's also spending thanksgiving with her partner's family. His name is Josh Jefferson and his dad owns the top brokerage in Warren so I have no doubt that wherever she's staying will be aesthetic. I'm happy for her. Both of my friends really.

Sutton is just about ready to go. Her laptop's packed and she's wearing her glasses today (without me having to say it) with her hair in a messy bun.

Kianna is still packing like her flight isn't in two hours. Her mom bought a ticket already that she can't cancel and if I know anything about Kie, she wants her mother's cooking for Thanksgiving. She speaks highly of her Mom's candied yams, collard green, mac & cheese and cornbread.

"He's here." Sutton pipes up from the living room couch. She holds onto the handle of her suitcase and pulls it on the floorboard. The wheels screech on her way to the door when she comes to a halt and faces me. "I'll call you and Kie."

I nod at her. It's not enough though because she reaches out and pulls me in a hug so aggressively, I think I accidentally knocked her glasses off. Luckily, it's intact on her face and I press my arms to her back, fingers gripping her cable knit sweater. I love my friends so I'm obviously going to miss her. I'll miss her reading her scripts out loud and asking for my opinion. I'll miss her hooking her arms with mine whenever we're going somewhere. I'll miss her peeping into my phone to see what's going on there although it should be my business and privacy. I'll miss her staring at her laptop screen for hours without wearing her glasses because she's stubborn.

When we pull away from the hug, I say, "Be safe okay?"

Sutton flashes me a soft smile. "You be safe."

"You know I will." I promise her, pulling the door open to help minimize her struggle with her all luggage. "Don't worry about me."

"Bye Kie!" She bids, putting her suitcase through the door first. "See you soon."

Kianna's voice ring out in the apartment from her bedroom. "Bye Sue! Use protection!"

That makes Sutton laugh. At first she suppresses it but the laugh jumps out eventually. "I will!" She says and then she's out the door. Josh meets her there and I watch him grab the handle of her suitcase, then asks if she's okay. Sutton answers and that's when Josh turns his head and sees me at the door.

He's good for her. They're good for each other. Josh has that boy-next-door thing going for himself.

I wave a hand. "Hi Josh. Take care of her and drive safely kids!"

He nods and then they're gone.

Thirty minutes later, Kie asks me to sit on her suitcase. So I do. She zips it up easily and I get up when she's done and let her grab the rest of her things. She's wearing the outfit. White Sweatpants and a baggy sweater—all white— and because her hair is orange at this moment, Kie looks like a marshmallow on fire.

"Are you sure you won't be lonely? The apartment sounds dead already." Her eyes do a quick glance around the living room area.

"I'll be fine Kie. I promise. I'll be busy."

Kianna didn't look convinced. "And you're sure there's nothing we can do about Jade?"

"What you can do is enjoy your thanksgiving break and have a safe flight. Will you do that?"

She hugs me instead of answering directly. After releasing her, I get the door and let her go. Now that the front door's closed and I'm the one left behind, the apartment really looks dead and lonely.