Page 79 of The Cost of Love

“Are we rich now?” Gabby asks, crossing her arms.

“No, but we’re good, and we will keep being good.”

“But if she does take us, what happens?” Jamal continues.

I pull him into my side and grab his hand. “Then I will keep fighting until I get you back. She is bound to mess up again, and we will make sure they know about it right away. I’ll keep coming for you guys.”

“Maybe she’s changed,” Gabby says, and Jamal shoots daggers at her with his eyes.

“Maybe she has.” I sigh. At least, hopefully, enough not to further traumatize them.

“Imani won’t be there with us this time,” Jamal says, his lower lip quivering.

Imani and I look at each other, the same realization coming over us. If she kicked me out at sixteen because I was competition, there is no way she is going to let Imani live there.

“Fuck,” she says and covers her eyes.

Gabby starts to cry, and I feel my breath shorten. I don’t want to sacrifice one sibling for the others, but the two of them can’t be without her.

“We won’t lose,” I say, because we can’t. Because it can’t just be the two of them in that house.

“You don’t know that.”

I look at Jamal as he says the words, and feel my chest tighten. I fight to keep my voice steady. “You’re right, but I’ll do whatever it takes. Even if I have to offer for her to live here. She won’t give up the opportunity to stay in this nice place and not have to pay rent. She’ll just have to let Imani and I stay, too.”

This gets him to perk up, and everyone calms down a little. It’s not ideal, but it’s a plan. It’s something, if the system fails us again.

“We’ll be okay,” I promise, knowing damn well that I shouldn’t. But I know I mean it when I say I’ll do whatever it takes. No matter what.

Chapter 31

Alex

Joy fills me at knowing that I’m meeting the kids back at that food truck I took Chanice to on our first date. The fact that it’s become a favorite of hers as well is just another string tying us together. I just hope her siblings enjoy it as much as we do.

“Alex!”

I turn to the voice of Gabby as she runs up and throws herself into my arms. The pure excitement pouring out of her at seeing me again lights up something inside my heart.

“Hey, you.” I spin her around as she giggles with her head thrown back. She extends her arms out like she is flying, launched into the air by me. When we stop, I see Chanice just watching us.

Still holding onto Gabby, I walk up to Jamal and extend my hand. “I’m Alex. I have been looking forward to meeting you.”

He shakes my hand while looking me up and down. “Yeah, well, I’m the one you really have to impress,” he says. Imani pushes his shoulder, laughing, but he doesn’t stop looking into my eyes.

“Good to know. I’ll try not to disappoint.” I place Gabby back on the ground, but she grabs onto my hand, unwilling to let go entirely.

They all stare at the menu, their eyes widening as they take it in.

“I figured we would order what we did last time,” Chanice says, grabbing onto my other hand. She looks hesitant but hopeful as they turn and look at us. When no one reacts too strongly, she relaxes a little.

We do get the same thing as before, but instead of sharing, I let them order as much as they want. Sitting on the curb near the truck, we quietly inhale the food.

“You know I never thought I would be able to give them this type of experience, but since we moved into the new place, I can do more stuff like this,” she whispers the words.

Tucking my head towards her, I enclose our conversation.

“How is the new place, and when do I get to see it?”