Page 93 of The Wright Man

I followed her off the porch, toward the side gate. It was quieter there. The music and laughter muffled by the wall of the house.

She leaned against the fence. Picked at her nails. Didn't look at me right away.

"I'm going away for college," she said, voice too casual. "In New York."

I blinked. "What?"

She looked up at me. "Gavin and I both got in. It's a good school. He already put down a deposit, and—"

"You're going with him?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

She nodded. "Yeah. I mean... we talked about it. It just makes sense."

It didn't. Not to me.

I looked away, jaw tight. "You always said you were gonna go to Howard. Close to home."

"Plans change, Leek."

I didn't say anything.

She stepped toward me. "We'll still talk. I'll call. We'll text. I'm not disappearing."

I let out a bitter little laugh. "You really think Gavin's gonna let you stay close to anybody once he's got you out there alone?"

Her face shifted. "He's not like that."

"Yeah," I said. "He is."

She folded her arms. "I can handle it."

"You shouldn't have to," I snapped. "Not from somebody who claims to love you."

Her mouth opened, then closed again.

The silence stretched between us.

Then she softened. "You're my best friend, Maleek. That's not changing."

But everything was changing.

I didn't have the grades to get into her school. Between all the fights, suspensions, and the month I missed after Mama died, my GPA barely made it out alive.

I hadn't applied anywhere.

Hell, I was still flipping burgers part-time just to help Cap cover Kareem's court costs. I couldn't do that forever. And now... what? Just watch her leave?

I thought about the Marine recruiter who came by school right after Kareem's sentencing. Tall dude. Firm handshake. Talked about discipline. Purpose. Brotherhood.

I took his card. Said I'd think about it.

I hadn't stopped thinking about it since.

Now? I was out of reasons not to call.

I looked at Angelica. The girl I'd loved in a thousand silent ways since I was five years old. The only person who ever made me feel like I wasn't built wrong.

And she was leaving.