Mine For A Moment

Chapter 17

Micky

I sat on the toilet while Kayon relaxed in the bathwater. He'd asked me to roll him a blunt and stay close.

"I'm sorry I froze up earlier," I said. "I'm not always quick on my feet."

"You couldn't have changed anything..."

"Lonzo just knew what to do. He knows you."

"That doesn't change how I feel about you," he said quietly. "But apparently he knows me better than I thought."

I hesitated.

"I saw you two," I admitted. "I opened the curtains for just a second... and I saw him hugging you."

"I can't tell you what that was," he said quietly. "Because honestly, Mick... I'm not sure."

He leaned his head back against the towel, and tears slid down his face.

"I'm being stupid questioning you about him when you're already in pain," I said. "Just forget I brought it up."

"No," he murmured. "I owe you an explanation... I just don't have one." His voice cracked.

I set the blunt down and knelt beside the tub, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"I don't need one," I told him gently. "If whatever he did made you feel better... I'm grateful."

"I didn't know your heart could physically break because of someone." He rubbed his chest. "I don't know why I actually..." He bit down on his lip. "Why I actually thought she was really coming for me."

"People get caught up in that drug lifestyle," I said gently. "They get addicted to it. She probably wants to be better... she just isn't there yet."

"Get in here with me." His eyes opened and met mine.

"I don't think sex is what you need right now, Kayon. It won't make you feel better."

"But it's what I want."

"Finish your bath, smoke this blunt. Grandma's cooking. We'll eat, curl up on the couch, and stay up all night talking."

"Ugh," he groaned. "I wanna fuck, Mick. I've been talking all day."

"I just don't feel right with everything going on. I'm sorry."

"A'ight... can I finish my bath alone?"

"Because I said no to sex?"

"I swear I ain't mad. Just let me be alone for a few minutes. Go pick a movie." He pulled my face toward him and kissed me.

I stood up and left.

**********

Malani was sitting on her bed when I stepped into her room.

"How is he?"

"Trying to be strong."

"His mom's such a bitch."

"She definitely is." I sat down on my bed.

"So... not that it's any of my business," she said, "but Lonzo likes Kayon too?"

"Yeah."

"Wow." She scratched her head. "I'm shocked. You've got competition, bestie."

"We're not official," I said with a shrug.

"You want to be?"

"Now... I don't know."

And I really didn't. I wasn't sure how deep things ran between him and Lonzo.